Chapter 65: Isn't Ruan Ruoshui Your Best Friend?

Work was exhausting, and after returning home and bustling around for a bit, Ye Yaoyao was utterly spent. She barely struggled before collapsing into sleep.

When she awoke, Ye Yaoyao opened her eyes to see Shen Yan lying beside her, and she trembled all over with anger. Unable to contain herself, she lifted her foot and kicked Shen Yan out of bed.

Ye Yaoyao delivered Shen Yan's first rude awakening of the day.

Gu Yancheng regained his composure and was once again the career-driven man he had always been. Many of the fans who had previously withdrawn their support returned, especially some female fans who, knowing Gu Yancheng had feelings for someone, left comments under his posts, asking at regular intervals whether he had forgotten that person yet.

The entertainment industry was a chaotic place, full of all sorts. The online world was even more unruly, crawling with crooks and misfits. Gu Yancheng focused on his own work, and with his abilities and outstanding looks, he secured one opportunity after another.

The situation was not so favorable for Qin Miao, whom Gu Yancheng had publicly targeted. Her avenues were blocked, and even the lead role she had schemed so hard to obtain was now shelved due to widespread backlash. The production team demanded compensation from her for the mental distress caused.

The negative news about Qin Miao and Ye Yaoyao had only just been cleared, and now Qin Miao had landed herself in trouble again. This time, she was up against Gu Yancheng—a man who had taken the entertainment world by storm since his debut!

With nowhere else to turn, Qin Miao could only seek Shen Yan’s help. She arrived at his place around the time he was expected home from work.

Ye Yaoyao and Shen Yan had just finished dinner when she opened the door.

“Why is it you?” Qin Miao’s expression changed the instant she saw Ye Yaoyao. “Ye Yaoyao, you really are shameless. After poisoning Shen Yan, you can still cling to him as if nothing happened.”

“Qin Miao, it’s just the two of us here. There’s no need to put on a show,” Ye Yaoyao shot her a glance. “Between us, we both know who did the poisoning.”

With that, Ye Yaoyao headed for the sofa, crossed her legs, and turned on the television.

Just then, Shen Yan emerged from the kitchen, having finished washing the dishes. He dried his hands with a sanitizing wipe and asked casually, “Who’s here?”

Ye Yaoyao sat watching television while Shen Yan did the dishes—a scene unexpectedly warm, almost like an old married couple.

“You’re here?” Shen Yan glanced at Qin Miao and sat down beside Ye Yaoyao.

Ye Yaoyao instinctively wanted to move away but managed to hold herself back.

Awkwardly, Qin Miao forced a smile. “Shen Yan, I… I was hoping you could help me with something.”

She’d come for work opportunities. It had been a long time since the photo of her and Shen Yan had been made public. Since then, no matter how she tried to post anything related to Shen Yan, she found herself blocked at every turn. Clearly, Shen Yan was orchestrating this behind the scenes.

The knot must be untied by the one who tied it.

Qin Miao decided to get straight to the point, skipping over any pretense.

“Go ahead,” Shen Yan said, remaining seated.

Qin Miao looked hesitantly at Ye Yaoyao. “Shen Yan, could we speak in private?”

She had no intention of begging in front of Ye Yaoyao.

“There are no outsiders here. Just say it,” Shen Yan insisted.

Ye Yaoyao struggled to keep her emotions in check. So, Shen Yan was finally exacting his revenge. She’d thought he might be magnanimous enough to let bygones be bygones, to forgive Qin Miao for all she had done. But when faced with life and death, everything else became trivial.

Qin Miao felt nervous under Shen Yan’s gaze and threw Ye Yaoyao a resentful look.

No outsiders? Wasn’t Ye Yaoyao the outsider here?

But under someone else's roof, one had to bow one’s head. Especially after the poisoning incident, Qin Miao had agonized over coming here for a long time.

“Shen Yan, I just wanted to ask about your poisoning—how are you now?” Qin Miao’s fingers clenched tightly.

“Still alive. Not dead yet,” Shen Yan replied coldly.

“Shen Yan, the real culprit hasn’t been found, yet you’re staying here with Sister Yaoyao. Isn’t that inappropriate?”

Qin Miao had planned to ask Shen Yan for resources directly, but seeing Ye Yaoyao sitting there so self-assured put her in a foul mood. She was determined to get what she wanted and also to sow discord between Shen Yan and Ye Yaoyao.

“I don’t see a problem,” Shen Yan replied. He picked up a glass of water from the coffee table and added calmly, “After all, she wasn’t the one who poisoned me.”

The last words made Qin Miao shudder violently.

Why would Shen Yan say such a thing? Had he uncovered something? No, that couldn’t be. Grandmother’s people had assured her that they’d cleaned up every trace. Even if Shen Yan suspected, there would be no evidence.

“If it wasn’t her, then who…?” Qin Miao feigned ignorance.

Shen Yan didn’t answer, only looked up at her with cold eyes.

Watching from the side, Ye Yaoyao was thoroughly entertained. This was a grand spectacle of rivalry! Qin Miao was foolish—after all, that night it had just been the two of them, and now Shen Yan sat beside her. Who else could he suspect? Why ask such a stupid question?

“That’s all you came for?” Shen Yan frowned, clearly unwilling to discuss the matter further.

Ye Yaoyao was a little disappointed. She would have liked the confrontation to continue, just to see what happened next.

Qin Miao was shameless, but not stupid. She realized this wasn’t the right time to press the issue and quickly changed the subject.

“Shen Yan, I’ve run into some trouble at work. Could you help me out?” Qin Miao spoke carefully. “There’s a project I’m interested in, but I don’t have enough status. Could you…”

She didn’t need to finish; everyone understood what she meant.

Ye Yaoyao glanced curiously between Qin Miao and Shen Yan, eager to see how he’d respond.

Shen Yan’s expression remained indifferent, and he didn’t rush to reply. Resources? Qin Miao dared to ask him for resources right in front of her? Interesting.

If this had happened before, Ye Yaoyao might have felt indignant. But now she was merely a bystander, curious to see what would happen next.

Shen Yan’s prolonged silence left Qin Miao awkwardly standing there.

“Don’t you have a friend named Ruan Ruoshui?” Ye Yaoyao suddenly spoke up.

Before Ruan Ruoshui disappeared, she had said there was something she wanted to give Ye Yaoyao. By asking now, Ye Yaoyao forced both Shen Yan and Qin Miao to confront the issue.

“Ruan Ruoshui?” Qin Miao feigned ignorance. “I don’t know her.”

Of course she wouldn’t admit it. Ruan Ruoshui had vanished without a trace, and no one knew where she’d gone. For Qin Miao, that was a blessing in disguise. She had been worrying about how to deal with Ruan Ruoshui, and now the problem had resolved itself.

Isn’t this heaven’s favor?

“You don’t know her?” Ye Yaoyao pressed, “Impossible. When she started to make a name for herself under me, it was all on your behalf.”

She stared directly at Qin Miao, leaving her no room to escape.

Qin Miao kept her composure and distanced herself. “Sister Yaoyao, I know you dislike me, but isn’t it a bit much to pin this on me? I don’t even know the person you’re talking about. Just because you argued with her, you say she’s my friend?”

At that, Ye Yaoyao arched an eyebrow and looked at Shen Yan. If she wouldn’t even admit to knowing her, something was clearly amiss.

“You two carry on. I’m going upstairs,” Ye Yaoyao said, having seen enough. She got up and headed upstairs.

Left in the living room, Qin Miao quickly switched tactics, putting on a pitiful air. “Shen Yan, Gu Yancheng is targeting me, and I really don’t know what to do…”