Song Moli was extremely irritated.
Ever since that man claiming to be his father appeared, along with that inexplicably annoying “older sister,” his relatively peaceful life had been completely shattered.
First, various production crews—whether those he’d just begun discussions with or those he’d already signed letters of intent with—all stood him up without exception.
Then, he was forced into signing a sibling-themed variety show.
When he first entered the industry, desperate for money to treat his mother’s illness, Song Moli had no choice but to sign what could only be described as a “predatory contract” with his company.
After skyrocketing to fame, Song Moli became one of the company’s biggest cash cows, which finally gave him at least some degree of bargaining power.
But this time, both the company and his manager were exceptionally firm. With the contract laid out in black and white, he had no choice but to compromise.
He did not need to think about it to know that his so-called “older sister” was behind it again.
His phone rang. Song Moli glanced at the screen. It was his manager, Zhang Mian.
“Song Moli!” The man’s voice on the line was anything but polite. “That variety show is signing contracts tomorrow. Give Miss Lu a call and tell her the replacement candidate’s information has already been sent to her email.”
A few days earlier, Zhang Mian had told him they’d found a suitable candidate who would pretend to be his older sister and appear on the show with him.
How ironic. His real sister forced him to join a sibling variety show, then arranged for a fake sister to appear alongside him.
Was this her way of telling him he wasn’t worthy?
When Song Moli didn’t respond, Zhang Mian raised his voice. “Hello? Song Moli, did you hear what I said?”
Impatience flashed in Song Moli’s eyes. “Why don’t you tell her yourself?”
From beginning to end, he’d had no say in any of this. So why bother involving him now?
“I told you to do it, so just do it! Why are you asking so many questions?” The man sounded as though his pride had been wounded. “Do you still want your remaining payment or not?”
With that, Zhang Mian hung up directly.
Listening to the steady beeping of the disconnected call, Song Moli’s gaze darkened.
According to his contract, the company took eighty percent of his earnings while he received twenty percent. There was not much money that actually made its way into his hands to begin with.
In the half year since his rise to fame, most of the final payments for the jobs he’d taken still hadn’t been settled, and he still hadn’t finished paying off the debts from his mother’s medical treatment.
Zhang Mian knew this perfectly well.
And his contract still had three and a half years left to run…
Of course, after that “father” of his appeared, the man had actively proposed giving him a substantial sum of assets.
Song Moli had refused.
Back then, his mother had resolutely left the Lu family. How could he possibly go back now and accept that man’s charity?
As for that so-called older sister…
Song Moli let out a self-mocking laugh.
So far, he had only met Lu Qianling once.
The way she looked at him—disgust mixed with wariness—was no different from how one would look at an enemy.
After a long while, Song Moli finally picked up his phone and dialed that number.
The call connected in less than a second.
Song Moli was momentarily surprised, but quickly spoke coldly. “This is Song Moli.”
“Mm? What is it?”
The woman’s “mm” rose slightly at the end, her tone light and lively, as though she were… in an exceptionally good mood.
Song Moli froze for a split second.
Then he said, “I’m your younger brother, Song Moli.”
He stressed the words “younger brother,” the sarcasm unmistakable to anyone listening.
Yet she seemed completely unaware, her tone remaining relaxed. “I heard you. What’s up?”
Song Moli fell silent for two seconds.
On the other end, her voice carried a hint of confusion. “Mm? Can you not hear me?”
…
Song Moli: “I can hear you.”
“Oh, that’s good then,” Lu Qianling replied.
Then she lowered her voice, as though talking to herself. “I knew it. With the latest model of iPhone, the signal shouldn’t be this bad.”
Song Moli: “…”
“So, what did you need from me?” Lu Qianling asked.
Song Moli pulled his thoughts back into focus. “The person going on the variety show with me has been decided. The information is in your email. Zhang Mian asked me to let you know.”
“Oh, that.” Lu Qianling’s voice sounded somewhat casual. “There’s no need to look at it.”
Song Moli’s eyes turned cold.
Just as he’d expected, she didn’t care in the slightest who would be appearing with him on the show.
She simply wanted to humiliate him.
But in the next second, Lu Qianling continued, “I’ve decided to participate myself. A sibling variety show should naturally feature real siblings, don’t you think?”
Song Moli: “…”
The words he’d been about to say were abruptly choked back.
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Song Moli spoke coldly, “Lu Qianling, haven’t you had enough of this boring sibling game? What exactly are you trying to do?”
Although Lu Qianling’s attitude today seemed somewhat different, Song Moli knew she was merely tormenting him in another way.
The woman’s reply sounded casually through the phone. “I just don’t want you to be harmed too badly by someone else.”
Song Moli almost laughed out loud.
Wasn’t she the person who wanted to see him ruined more than anyone?
Lu Qianling continued, “Of course, I’m also doing it for myself.”
Song Moli frowned. “What do you mean?”
Lu Qianling didn’t explain. “Alright, I still have things to do. See you when we sign the contract.”
After hanging up, Lu Qianling casually tossed her phone aside.
Everything she’d just said had been the truth.
As for what Song Moli thought about it…. Sorry, that wasn’t within her scope of consideration.
In the original plot, “Lu Qianling” had planned to humiliate Song Moli in front of a nationwide audience, which was why she had gone out of her way to force him into signing a sibling variety show.
In the end, however, she hadn’t participated personally. Instead, she was persuaded by Song Moli’s manager and agreed to let Song Moli appear on the show with another artist from the same company, who would pretend to be his sister.
“Lu Qianling” told this fake sister everything she knew about Song Moli’s background.
On the show, the fake sister repeatedly poked at Song Moli’s sore spots, deliberately provoking him.
In the end, Song Moli became a figure whom the audience perceived as having a “bipolar disorder.” Not only did this make the fake older sister appear gentle and kind by comparison, but it also turned him into the female lead’s foil in the novel.
This sibling variety show was the main reason Song Moli’s career plummeted. It was also the catalyst that caused Lu Qianling’s father to fall ill and led to the Lu family’s shares being seized.
Lu Qianling felt that, for the sake of her own happy life in the future, it was necessary for her to get involved in this matter.
Just as she was thinking, a maid walked over and stopped in front of Lu Qianling. “Miss, Chairman Lu would like you to give him a call.”
Chairman Lu—the head of the Lu family and Lu Qianling’s father, Lu Chengfeng.
Rich families really were different from ordinary people. Even making a phone call required a maid to notify her beforehand.
“I understand,” Lu Qianling said.
The maid didn’t move, looking at Lu Qianling cautiously.
Lu Qianling: “Let’s go.”
The maid finally showed a look of relief. “Yes, Miss.”
The two entered the bedroom together. The maid helped dial the number on the landline, then withdrew from the room.
So this is the sense of ceremony that comes with being rich, Lu Qianling thought.
After two rings, the call connected.
Father Lu first expressed concern for his daughter with a few words, then asked, “Sweetheart, what happened with that thirty million yuan I asked you to give Moli a few days ago?”
Lu Qianling: “…Hm?”