“I’m not going.”
Inside Fischer Restaurant, Yun Qingqing refused without even thinking.
Zhang Ying glared at her in fury.
She had schemed and humbled herself beside Gu Mingyan, swallowing countless grievances just to earn this chance to appear on the variety show together.
Yet Yun Qingqing not only failed to treasure it—she actually tried to refuse so casually. Completely ungrateful.
Gu Mingyan, however, wasn’t angry. Instead, she asked with interest, “Why?”
“Because that variety show isn’t fun.” Yun Qingqing casually made up an excuse.
She remembered very clearly that in the original plot, it was precisely because Gu Mingyan participated in Best Partners that her public reputation completely collapsed, turning her into a target of nationwide ridicule.
Ye Jinyan invested in the show to boost the “white moonlight” in his heart, Meng Xian.
As the vicious supporting female character in the book, Gu Mingyan naturally became the foil on the show—used to highlight the female lead’s kindness and intelligence—and was mocked across the internet as “an ugly imitation” and “a clown.”
Anyone could guess with their toes that the show was bound to be a chaotic battlefield full of trouble.
Yun Qingqing had no desire to get dragged into that mess, nor did she particularly want to watch Gu Mingyan—who had just bought her so many pretty clothes and treated her to an outrageously expensive meal—jump into that pit of fire.
She organized her thoughts and tried to dissuade her. “I heard Best Partners loves to torment its guests. It’ll definitely be exhausting and miserable. Mingyan, you’d better not go.”
The system prompted in her mind: 【Best Partners is an important plot node in the book. Under irresistible narrative forces, the supporting female character Gu Mingyan will inevitably participate in the recording. This cannot be avoided.】
Sure enough, Gu Mingyan shook her head. “It’ll be tiring, sure. But Jinyan-gege just invested in that show. No matter how exhausting it is, I still want to go.”
Seeing Yun Qingqing’s clearly reluctant expression, she suddenly curled her lips and tossed out bait. “Hey, Yun Qingqing. If you go with me, I’ll pay you one hundred thousand a day.”
Zhang Ying: “???”
Yun Qingqing: “!!!”
Her eyes lit up instantly, and she nodded like a pecking chicken. “Okay, Miss! No problem, Miss! I’m on standby anytime!”
What chaotic battlefield? What pit of fire?
In front of a daily salary of one hundred thousand, none of that was a problem!
Even if there were mountains of knives and seas of flames ahead, she, Yun Qingqing, would charge in with Miss Gu!
On the other hand, Zhang Ying was practically breaking down. She hurriedly reminded, “Mingyan, the official account for Best Partners already released the guest list a few days ago. If you change people last minute, won’t the production team have objections?”
Gu Mingyan replied lightly, “So what if the list’s out? It’s just a matter of making a call. What’s so difficult?”
Of course she knew what Zhang Ying was thinking, so she added, “Alright. I remember the project Splendid Years is still missing a second female lead. I’ll speak to the producer later and have you cast.”
Zhang Ying’s resentment instantly turned into delight.
Splendid Years was a major production. Even the second female lead was a top-tier resource that countless third- and fourth-tier actresses would fight tooth and nail for.
If she could secure that role, the exposure would likely be higher than tagging along as Gu Mingyan’s foil on a variety show.
She immediately weighed the pros and cons and said with a beaming smile, “Oh, I was mainly worried a last-minute change would cause you trouble. Since you’ve arranged everything, I’ll of course listen to you!”
With her heart completely at ease, Zhang Ying picked up her fork and began to focus on enjoying her 2,898-yuan Mediterranean organic vegetable salad.
After finishing the lavish late-night feast, Yun Qingqing contentedly patted her round little belly, feeling as though the food was about to reach her throat.
Gu Mingyan elegantly dabbed the corner of her lips with a napkin. Catching sight of Yun Qingqing’s silly expression, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Stuffed? There’s an auction house nearby holding a small auction tonight. Let’s go stroll around and walk it off.”
Since her employer who paid her one hundred thousand a day had spoken, Yun Qingqing naturally had no objections and stood up enthusiastically.
Seeing this, Zhang Ying selectively ignored the limitation in Gu Mingyan’s phrase “the two of us” and shamelessly followed them to the auction.
Yun Qingqing immediately saw through her plan—she was clearly preparing to display her freeloading skills again and milk Gu Mingyan dry.
Under normal circumstances, Yun Qingqing might have joked inwardly that “freeloaders of the world are one big family.” But at this moment, she couldn’t muster the slightest sense of camaraderie.
The reason was simple: in the original plot, this very Zhang Ying—who now appeared so submissive around Gu Mingyan—was the first to step on her when Gu Mingyan became the internet’s punching bag.
She had swiftly posted a long Weibo essay, tearfully accusing how many grievances she had endured during filming, how she had been treated like a maid by Gu Mingyan, portraying herself as a long-suffering white lotus and harvesting a wave of sympathy.
Yet she never mentioned a word about the resources and benefits she had gained from Gu Mingyan.
In Yun Qingqing’s eyes, that kind of behavior was a disgrace to the freeloading profession!
She prided herself on being a principled, righteous successor of socialism. Even if she mooched meals and resources, she would do so with morality and style!
Someone like Zhang Ying—who ate from the bowl and then cursed the cook, burning bridges after crossing them—was simply ruining the reputation of their craft.
After silently condemning her in her heart, Yun Qingqing stopped sparing her even a glance and followed Gu Mingyan upstairs to a private second-floor box under the attendant’s guidance.
The box was quiet and elegant, offering a full view of the auction stage below.
At that moment, the auctioneer was introducing a lot. “Next is Lot No. 37: an icy translucent yang-green jade ‘Wushi’ pendant. Starting price: two hundred thousand.”
Under the lights, the jade appeared crystal-clear and lustrous, its vibrant green gleaming with wealth.
Zhang Ying’s mind immediately began to turn.
She calculated that she should remind Gu Mingyan about losing her variety show slot, play pitiful—perhaps if Miss Gu was in a good mood, she’d casually bid on the expensive jade to compensate her.
So Zhang Ying cleared her throat delicately. “Mingyan, this jade looks so beautiful. Speaking of which, I—”
Before she could finish, Yun Qingqing, seated on Gu Mingyan’s other side, leaned forward and exclaimed in a tone like a country bumpkin entering the city, “Wow, a rock selling for two hundred thousand? That’s enough to build several big brick houses back in my hometown!”
Zhang Ying’s spell was interrupted. She shot her a cold glance. “That’s not an ordinary rock. It’s icy yang-green, understand? With this kind of quality, a starting bid of two hundred thousand is already a bargain.”
Her intention had been to belittle Yun Qingqing, highlight her own sophistication, and steer the conversation back to herself.
Unexpectedly, Gu Mingyan smiled at Yun Qingqing instead. “Don’t tell me you’ve never even touched jade before? Then I’ll bid on it for you to play with. Broaden your horizons.”
Zhang Ying: “…?”
Yun Qingqing was also a little stunned.
She had only pretended to be clueless to interrupt Zhang Ying’s freeloading attempt. She hadn’t expected Gu Mingyan to actually buy it for her.
The five hundred thousand transfer she’d received earlier was still fresh—and now she was about to be gifted jade worth hundreds of thousands?
As a simple corporate drone with a remaining shred of conscience, Yun Qingqing believed in freeloading in moderation.
She had already taken too much advantage today. Accepting the jade would feel a bit scorching in her hands.
“Absolutely not!” Yun Qingqing shook her head repeatedly. “Look, this jade is small. You can’t eat it or drink it. Why spend two hundred thousand on it?”
Gu Mingyan replied, “Use it to prop up a table leg. Toss it around for fun. Whatever you like.”
Yun Qingqing: “…”
Was this how capitalists scattered money—so wildly?
Gu Mingyan watched her expression with interest, as if deriving some peculiar amusement from it.
Zhang Ying watched helplessly as the icy, translucent jade was respectfully delivered into the private box on a velvet tray, only to be casually stuffed into Yun Qingqing’s hands by Gu Mingyan.
She was eaten alive by jealousy and unwillingly shifted her gaze back to the auction stage, hoping Gu Mingyan would also throw money around for her.
However, whenever Yun Qingqing showed confusion toward an item or marveled at its price, Gu Mingyan would unhesitatingly bid and gift it to her.
Yun Qingqing stared blankly at the growing pile of brocade boxes in front of her, feeling almost numb.
Even the bidders downstairs kept glancing up at the second-floor box, whispering curiously about which tycoon was treating the auction house like a wholesale market.
As the auction neared its end, Zhang Ying—who had gained nothing—grew increasingly restless.
The final lot was solemnly presented: an antique calligraphy scroll.
Zhang Ying had no interest in calligraphy and paintings, finding them dull and old-fashioned. But seeing that this was her last chance, she decided to go all in.
This time, she changed tactics. Instead of showing off fake knowledge, she mimicked Yun Qingqing’s earlier tone. “This scroll looks so old. The paper’s already yellowed. They can even put something like this up for auction?”
After speaking, she looked expectantly at Gu Mingyan, hoping Miss Gu would treat her as inexperienced and buy the piece for her just as she had for Yun Qingqing.
But Yun Qingqing dropped her earlier clueless act and explained, “This follows the Yuan dynasty style of Zhao Mengfu’s lineage. Look at the rounded yet forceful brushstrokes and the broad, handsome structure. I wouldn’t dare say it’s authentic, but it’s definitely a master-level imitation with real spirit.”
She had minored in calligraphy and painting appraisal in college and was quite familiar with this calligraphy master who had influenced centuries to come.
Gu Mingyan hadn’t been particularly interested in the scroll. Hearing Yun Qingqing’s words, she turned her head in surprise. “You understand this?”
“Just a little,” Yun Qingqing said modestly.
“Since you understand it so well, it means you’re fated with it,” Gu Mingyan said. “I’ll bid on it and give it to you.”
Then she turned her head and shot Zhang Ying a disdainful look. “You don’t even know Zhao Mengfu?”
Zhang Ying: “…”