“You mean… you agree to join the show?”
Jiang Yanzhou couldn’t help but sit up straight, for a moment doubting his own ears.
“I never joke.”
Rather than passively defending herself, Jiang Zhiwu preferred to face difficulties head-on.
Of course, she could simply make her brother turn down the program to avoid becoming a mere plot device like in the novel. However, the mudslinging and rumors that had been thrown at him in her past life were clearly premeditated and intentional.
Refusing one show was easy, but what about the next? And the one after that? Hiding would only make their opponents’ methods more covert and harder to guard against. Why should her brother be labeled with false accusations and turned into a stepping stone for the female lead’s rise to success!
Seeing that his sister had made up her mind, Jiang Yanzhou’s lips couldn’t help but curve upward.
Jiang Zhiwu looked at his obvious delight and was slightly stunned.
Come to think of it, had he invited her to join this show in her past life too?
She seemed to recall that he had, but back then, busy with work, she had refused without hesitation.
Was agreeing to accompany him on a variety show really worth this much happiness?
Zhang Wenshi was always efficient. The very next day, he delivered the drafted contract to Jiang Zhiwu.
She read through every page carefully. Once she confirmed the terms were correct, she picked up the pen and signed her name at the bottom.
While she read, Jiang Yanzhou stood nearby with his arms crossed, his jaw tight. His tone was slightly awkward and unnatural.
“Some people online say nasty things, but you don’t have to take them to heart.”
“The promotional photoshoot is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. I’ll send you the exact location later.”
Jiang Zhiwu listened quietly until he finished, then nodded in understanding.
Just before leaving, Jiang Yanzhou grabbed his suitcase and turned back. “I’m going to shoot a commercial now. If you have any questions about anything here, just message me. I’ll reply when I see it.”
He paused for half a second, then added, his voice involuntarily softening, “…Or you can ask Zhang Wenshi.”
“Got it,” Jiang Zhiwu replied.
Only then did Jiang Yanzhou turn and walk toward the car waiting outside.
Jiang Zhiwu watched her brother lean, straight back, then quickly took care of some company business.
Afterwards, she scheduled a medical check-up for the following morning.
Early detection, early treatment. To avoid the fate of dying from overwork as described in the book, regular check-ups were necessary.
She had booked an appointment at a private hospital under the Jiang Group. Naturally, the medical staff dared not be negligent when the CEO herself came for a check-up, and the examination was conducted with extreme care and thoroughness.
Blood pressure, blood tests, echocardiogram… the entire process took almost the whole morning.
Jiang Zhiwu glanced at her watch from time to time, worried about being late for the photoshoot.
When the report was finally delivered, the respected elderly doctor pushed up his glasses and reviewed every page and every item carefully, shaking his head slightly several times in the process.
Even though Jiang Zhiwu was usually calm and composed, his expression made her heart tighten. She asked in a steady voice, “Doctor, exactly what is wrong with me?”
“There are no organic lesions,” the old doctor said, putting down the report with a relieved tone. “It’s just that you’ve been sitting at your desk for too long. Your gastric motility is slightly insufficient.”
Jiang Zhiwu furrowed her brows, about to ask more.
“Just take some digestive tablets to help regulate it,” the doctor said, already writing out the prescription.
Jiang Zhiwu: “…”
In the lounge at the corner of the studio.
Jiang Yanzhou’s fingers hovered unconsciously above his phone screen. The display was lit up, showing the chat window with “Sister”, which was completely blank except for the last message he had sent yesterday.
“Mr. Jiang,” a young makeup artist stood at the door holding a powder puff, her voice lowered, “the crew outside is asking… are you ready to start?”
Jiang Yanzhou pressed his lips together. “Shoot the others first. I’ll go last.”
The girl nodded timidly and retreated, closing the door as softly as a feather.
The clock on the wall ticked rhythmically, the minute hand jumping forward another notch. Finally, Jiang Yanzhou stood up and adjusted his collar in the full-length mirror. The designer clothes accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, yet there was a trace of irritability between his brows.
Why wasn’t Jiang Zhiwu here yet?
Could it be that she was simply too busy with work to make time?
He couldn’t help but imagine the worst-case scenario.
Just like that time she promised to spend his birthday with him, only to be called away by an international phone call.
In the end, accompanying him on this show was just an insignificant matter, naturally not as important as multi-billion dollar deals.
Jiang Yanzhou forced a smile at his reflection, but it faded before it reached his eyes.
Flashlights flickered continuously inside the studio, and the laughter of other guests could be heard through the scenery panels. He leaned against the corridor wall, turned on his phone screen again, and checked the chat history. Last night he had asked, “What time will you be here tomorrow?” and she had replied, “Something came up, but I’ll try to come early.”
Who knows how much time passed before Zhang Wenshi ran in. “Yanzhou, you’re the only one left…”
Jiang Yanzhou glanced toward the entrance one last time, then straightened up.
Following behind Zhang Wenshi were several people with cameras—the promotional team from the platform, there to film behind-the-scenes footage.
“Aww, caught Mr. Jiang getting ready for his photoshoot~” the female host approached with a microphone, smiling sweetly. “Are you excited to be on the show with your sister this time?”
As the shutters clicked rapidly, Jiang Yanzhou maintained his perfect professional smile, but his eyes were empty, gazing vaguely past the camera as if searching for something through the crowd.
She wasn’t coming after all.
He turned his gaze back to the lens, his eyes feeling hot and slightly red, and spoke almost defiantly, “Excited isn’t the word.”
The host’s smile froze for a second. “Ah? Why not?”
“Because we aren’t close.”
The moment the words left his mouth, an unusual commotion arose at the studio entrance.
As if pulled by invisible strings, Jiang Yanzhou stiffly turned around.
Jiang Zhiwu stood there against the light, wearing an apricot-colored dress. There was a little dust on the hem of her skirt, evidence that she had rushed over.
She smoothed her wind-tousled curls, and upon seeing him surrounded by cameras, put on a polite smile and walked forward calmly—
Then, she raised her hand and flicked Jiang Yanzhou hard on the forehead.
*Snap.*
The studio fell instantly into dead silence. Everyone was stunned.
Only Jiang Zhiwu looked perfectly satisfied, as if she had just done something completely ordinary.
She had been wanting to do that for a while.
Useless child. Being rebellious was one thing, but to hear him spouting nonsense the moment she arrived was simply asking for a beating.
Everyone held their breath, secretly glancing at the victim’s reaction—
They saw Jiang Yanzhou raise his hand to cover his head, but his eyes behind his fingers were shining brilliantly. His lips seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, curving upward uncontrollably. His voice came out sounding awkward and wronged, “You came.”
The host wondered if she was seeing things.
Was she mistaken? Was she really not mistaken?
The top star who had been radiating a ‘stay away from me’ aura just moments ago… after getting flicked by his sister… was actually smiling a bright, somewhat silly smile that he couldn’t hide even if he tried?
Jiang Zhiwu ignored her disappointing brother, politely said her goodbyes to the host and crew, and turned to walk further into the studio.
Jiang Yanzhou quickly followed, his steps inexplicably light.
The set was already prepared, and the softbox lights cast diamond-shaped patterns on the floor.
The photographer raised his equipment and snapped away furiously at the siblings. In front of the lens, every frame they captured was naturally photogenic; there was no need to waste time adjusting angles or lighting.
As soon as the shoot was over, Jiang Zhiwu left the studio escorted by bodyguards, walking steadily in her high heels.
“Give me the umbrella.”
Jiang Yanzhou took the handle naturally from the bodyguard. With a soft *click*, he tilted the canopy perfectly to shield his sister from the sun. The movement was so smooth he didn’t even notice it himself.
Jiang Zhiwu glanced sideways at him. “Didn’t you say we aren’t close?”
Jiang Yanzhou’s long eyelashes fluttered almost imperceptibly. He looked away and replied stiffly, “That’s because you were so late.”
“Oh? So you really thought I wouldn’t come?” Jiang Zhiwu concluded, “So your sister has such bad credibility in your heart?”
Something in those words seemed to strike a nerve. Jiang Yanzhou pressed his lips tightly together and fell completely silent.
Looking at her brother’s stubborn, silent silhouette, Jiang Zhiwu felt a wave of helplessness and sighed inwardly.
When did things become like this?
It seemed that without her even noticing, the once inseparable siblings now found it difficult to even hold a proper conversation.
Sunlight spilled over the umbrella surface. Jiang Zhiwu was wondering how long this pointless cold war would last, when suddenly Jiang Yanzhou froze beside her.
His gaze was magnetized, fixed firmly on an item casually tucked into the storage pocket on the inside of the passenger door. Even through the tinted window, he could make out the paper bearing the large hospital logo.
“Jiang Zhiwu…”
“Hmm?”
Jiang Zhiwu looked up, surprised by the strange tone of his voice.
Following his frozen gaze, she saw the medical report she had stuffed by the door, with the corner peeking out.
“You just now…” Jiang Yanzhou took a difficult breath, each word seeming to be squeezed out between his teeth, “were you actually… at the hospital?” He turned back to look at her, the last traces of color draining from his face, his lips turning pale.
“I had a check-up,” Jiang Zhiwu replied simply, confused by his sudden gravity.
“So that means…” The tremor in Jiang Yanzhou’s voice could no longer be suppressed. “You’re sick?”
Jiang Zhiwu was startled, then followed his gaze down to his trembling fingers—he was pointing at the plastic bag containing medicine placed next to the report.
She watched silently as he picked up the bag.
Through the frosted surface printed with the hospital’s advertisement, the rectangular boxes of digestive tablets were vaguely visible. Stacked together inside the opaque packaging, at first glance, they really did look like prescription drugs for some serious illness.
Looking at the bags of digestive tablets, then at her brother—who had been as cold as ice a moment ago but now had eyes as red and watery as a soaked puppy—Jiang Zhiwu blinked.