Chapter 51: Just Right

Gu Yancheng was always composed in his actions; since he said so, it must be true. Yu Wanqing exchanged glances with Ye Yaoyao. The three of them tried their best to eat, but Gu Yancheng had to watch his weight; Yu Wanqing and Ye Yaoyao’s appetites weren’t large, so they couldn’t manage much, leaving a lot unfinished.

If they had to pay for this themselves, it would be heartbreaking. But Gu Yancheng had already assured them someone else would settle the bill.

Gu Yancheng snapped his fingers and called the waiter in. “Check, please.”

The waiter bowed slightly. “Sir, your bill has already been settled.”

“By whom?” Yu Wanqing asked.

“A Miss Qin,” the waiter replied.

“Qin? Qin Miao?” Yu Wanqing was astonished.

So this was Qin Miao’s first step in negotiating with Gu Yancheng?

Now, all three felt at ease. Qin Miao had paid; the wasted food wasn’t their money.

“Now you see?” Gu Yancheng asked smugly.

The waiter hadn’t left yet and hesitated before saying, “Mr. Gu, Miss Qin asks if you’d be willing to step into the next private room for a brief conversation.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Yaoyao and Yu Wanqing looked at Gu Yancheng.

As the saying goes, it’s hard to refuse someone who’s fed you...

Yet Gu Yancheng wasn’t buying it. He refused without hesitation, “No. Pass on my thanks to Miss Qin for her hospitality tonight.”

“Yes... certainly.” The waiter left awkwardly.

Yu Wanqing excitedly patted Gu Yancheng’s shoulder. “You really know how to get under someone’s skin.”

Ye Yaoyao laughed along, feeling a guilty thrill at the audacity.

Yu Wanqing looped an arm around Ye Yaoyao’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s go. I’m afraid Qin Miao will bite if she pays and doesn’t get what she wants.”

The three hurried out, almost running.

Once outside the private room, Gu Yancheng had to be fully guarded. His popularity was high, but his foundation was unstable; any rumor could be fatal.

In the adjacent private room, Qin Miao watched the three depart, their backs full of joy, and clenched her teeth in anger.

She could have recorded the scene and posted it online, but it would be pointless.

It would only earn Gu Yancheng’s enmity.

Damn Ye Yaoyao—this was surely her idea. Otherwise, Gu Yancheng would have at least come over for a brief chat.

She truly didn’t understand how these men’s minds worked—how could they be drawn to a cunning woman like Ye Yaoyao?

Qin Miao slammed the door.

Ruan Ruoshui jumped in fright, her body trembling as she nervously asked, “Miao Miao, what are we going to do? How does Yancheng know Ye Yaoyao, that woman?”

Gu Yancheng was Ruan Ruoshui’s idol; she had admired him since his debut. Later, hearing that he was collaborating with Qin Miao, she was ecstatic, insisting Qin Miao introduce her no matter what.

Just now, she learned Gu Yancheng was dining next door and nearly lost control, wanting to rush over, but Qin Miao said he’d come by himself, so she restrained her excitement.

After waiting so long for him to finish eating, Ruan Ruoshui thought they would finally meet, but Gu Yancheng left directly, together with that annoying Ye Yaoyao!

Ye Yaoyao—how is it that she’s everywhere?

“Why are you panicking?” Qin Miao was already irate and snapped at Ruan Ruoshui, “If you think I’m incapable, you can go find someone else to introduce you to Gu Yancheng.”

“Miao Miao, I didn’t mean that...” Ruan Ruoshui knew she was powerless. Since leaving the Ye Corporation, she’d found a job with an absurdly low salary and heavy workload.

After work, all she could do was daydream over Gu Yancheng’s videos and photos—her only solace.

Without Yancheng, she felt she would die.

“You can’t rush things—just let me handle it,” Qin Miao insisted, unwilling to lose face. “Trust me, I’ll make sure you marry Gu Yancheng and become his wife.”

“Compared to Ye Yaoyao, you’re infinitely better.”

Ruan Ruoshui’s agitation was soothed. “Alright, I’ll wait for your good news, Miao Miao.”

With that, she blushed and smiled, her mind uncontrollably picturing a future with Gu Yancheng.

Seeing her like this, Qin Miao rolled her eyes in silent exasperation.

How could anyone be so foolish?

Ruan Ruoshui, with her three-thousand-yuan monthly salary, working herself ragged every day, never even looking in the mirror to see her true self.

Someone like her, does she really deserve Gu Yancheng?

If Ruan Ruoshui weren’t still useful, Qin Miao would have cut ties long ago.

Before Gu Yancheng entered the entertainment industry, his agent had scrubbed all his information.

At first, Qin Miao hadn’t known about Gu Yancheng’s connection to Ye Yaoyao—it was he himself who leaked it.

He wanted Qin Miao’s defeat to be thorough.

It gave Qin Miao a splitting headache.

With Gu Yancheng and Ye Yaoyao so close, Qin Miao’s chance at the role was slim to none.

If she didn’t get it, she’d make sure Ye Yaoyao didn’t have it easy either.

Ye Shen, Beitang Mo, Gu Yancheng!

Ye Yaoyao was involved with so many men at once—Qin Miao refused to believe that Ayan wouldn’t mind.

If only she could remind Ayan of her own virtues, winning the role would be just a matter of asking.

With that in mind, Qin Miao sent the photo to Shen Yan.

“Ayan, is that you beside Yaoyao? I’ve called you so many times and you haven’t replied—are you angry with me?”

Shen Yan, upon receiving the photo, immediately recognized Gu Yancheng.

Feng Yuqi always reported Ye Yaoyao’s every move to him.

He’d heard when Gu Yancheng entered the entertainment world as a star.

What was this kid up to?

Shen Yan zoomed in on the photo countless times. Ye Yaoyao was in the middle, Yu Wanqing and Gu Yancheng pressed close to her by the riverside, her body pressed against Gu Yancheng’s.

This detail, Shen Yan scrutinized again and again.

Reason held him back; he didn’t immediately demand an explanation from Ye Yaoyao.

Beitang Mo’s words had made him reflect.

“It’s not me—it’s Gu Yancheng,” Shen Yan typed back.

“So it’s Gu Yancheng! They looked so intimate, I thought it was you. And with Yaoyao’s best friend Yu Wanqing there, I thought Yaoyao was introducing you to her best friend.”

Qin Miao’s rapid messages were meant to make Shen Yan suspect there was more between Ye Yaoyao and Gu Yancheng.

Following Qin Miao’s suggestion, Shen Yan’s first reaction was indeed anger.

He took a deep breath, reminding himself to stay rational and analyze carefully.

He was losing his mind.

Shen Yan felt he had changed.

Before, no matter how tough work got, he remained completely calm; now, whenever Ye Yaoyao was involved, he started to lose control.

Feng Yuqi watched from the side, observing Shen Yan closely.

After so many years with Yan-ge, it was the first time he’d seen him like this.

As expected, even heroes falter before beauty.

If Yan-ge couldn’t handle it, how could he?

“Don’t you know Gu Yancheng? He almost became the lead actor in your next project,” Shen Yan replied.

That “almost” was perfectly placed.