Chapter 7: The Green Tea Schemes Again

Hearing this, Ye Yao couldn't help but laugh. She was increasingly convinced that Shen Yan and Qin Miao were a match made in heaven—their minds worked in exactly the same, peculiar way.

She folded her arms, using her elbows to keep some distance between herself and the others.

"Shen Yan, are you trying to play the domineering CEO with me? That doesn't work on me. Sometimes the gap between people is wider than that between a person and a pig."

As she spoke, she craned her neck and whispered in Shen Yan's ear, "For example, Qin Miao is into your tacky CEO routine, but I’m not."

With that, she dipped her head and easily slipped out from under Shen Yan's hand.

But Shen Yan was relentless—he caught up, pinned her against the wall, and lifted her chin.

Ye Yao shot him a glare. What a clingy pest!

"Was it you who canceled Qin Miao's endorsement?"

"So what? Is there a problem?"

"Why did you cancel it?" Shen Yan asked, though he already knew the answer.

He tried to suppress his turbulent emotions. Ye Yao’s indifferent attitude made him deeply uncomfortable.

She used to insist on being with him, and now she didn’t care?

"Because I find her annoying."

Ye Yao knocked away his hand. "If President Shen wants to play the protector, why not try your domineering tactics on President Ye? See if you get what you want."

"Unfortunately, President Ye is quite picky—not just anyone is to his taste."

Her smug expression made Shen Yan suspect the two of them really were involved.

The feelings he’d tried to suppress surged up again.

At that moment, someone knocked on the floor-to-ceiling window. Qin Miao stood there, dressed in matching couple’s outfits with Shen Yan.

"Ah Yan, am I interrupting something?" Qin Miao asked, looking lost.

Shen Yan straightened, gave Ye Yao a cool glance, then walked over to Qin Miao and wrapped his arm around her waist.

Qin Miao started in surprise. So, Ah Yan must have discovered Ye Yao’s true colors and chosen her instead!

Becoming the young mistress of the Shen family was now just around the corner.

After making his intentions clear, Shen Yan looked back at Ye Yao, expecting her to finally drop the act.

But in the next moment, Ye Yao simply walked past the two of them and left.

Sometimes, she really had to thank Qin Miao.

Outside, Ye Yao rolled her eyes and dismissed the entire episode from her mind.

She hadn’t forgotten why she was here.

Ye Yao watched the stream of actresses coming and going, searching for a suitable spokesperson.

Ye Group was an international company, so naturally, the chosen celebrity had to have a sophisticated look. After scanning through all the stars present, Ye Yao finally settled on a target.

The incident on the balcony had left Qin Miao in a foul mood. As soon as Ye Yao left, Shen Yan's demeanor changed abruptly.

Determined to climb the ranks, Ye Yao forced herself to stay energetic.

Meanwhile, Qin Miao, holding a glass of wine and swaying her hips, made her way toward Zhao Heyue, one of the most popular stars.

Zhao Heyue was no ordinary figure—born into a wealthy family, she joined the entertainment industry purely as a hobby. It was said that many who got close to her ended up with enviable opportunities.

Wasn’t that better than sleeping with some boss?

Zhao Heyue had just finished exchanging pleasantries with someone when she turned to see Qin Miao’s beaming face. Her expression darkened.

After all, someone from her background always had access to the real stories.

Qin Miao’s reputation as a homewrecker was well known, and Zhao Heyue had no respect for her.

"Miss Zhao... Senior Zhao, my name is Qin Miao. It’s a pleasure to meet you," Qin Miao greeted nervously.

"You’re the Qin Miao involved with Shen Yan, right?" Zhao Heyue’s tone was unreadable.

Best to confirm the identity before losing her temper—it wouldn’t do to berate the wrong person.

Qin Miao froze, then nearly burst with happiness. She knew that photo would come in handy!

"Yes... that’s me."

"So why are you introducing yourself to me? With your connections, shouldn’t I be the one trying to curry favor with you?" Zhao Heyue was famed in the industry for her zero tolerance for crooked behavior.

Qin Miao took it as small talk and continued to flatter her. "Oh, Senior Zhao, you’re too kind. I’ll have to rely on your guidance to make it in this circle."

"Don’t count on me. We’re not the same kind of people," Zhao Heyue replied, barely containing her irritation.

If it weren’t for Shen Yan’s sake, she would have scolded Qin Miao to her face already.

How could a homewrecker dare to show her face in public?

"Senior Zhao, we’re all in the same industry. How are we not the same?" Qin Miao frowned. Why did she feel such hostility from Zhao Heyue?

What had she done?

Zhao Heyue’s patience was wearing thin. She took a deep breath, but in the end, couldn’t hold back.

"It’s people like you—those who stop at nothing, who knowingly become the other woman and have no morals—who ruin the reputation of our whole industry!"

Once she’d said it, Zhao Heyue felt a wave of relief. Her manager tugged at her sleeve, shooting her frantic looks to control her temper.

After all, offending Shen Yan’s beloved was never wise.

Hearing this, Qin Miao understood. So someone had been slandering her behind her back?

Was it... Ye Yao?

Of course. Ye Yao had climbed up the social ladder with Ye Shen’s help—people would believe anything she said.

No, she couldn’t let Ye Yao tarnish her name like this.

Qin Miao lowered her head. When she looked up again, her eyes were red. "Senior Zhao, I don’t know where you heard such rumors. Ah Yan and I are truly in love. We care for each other deeply."

"I don’t understand—how did I become the homewrecker in everyone’s eyes?"

Her voice rose just enough to attract attention from those nearby.

If Ye Yao wanted to spread rumors, so be it. She would let everyone know that Ye Yao couldn’t get over Shen Yan and had even ended up in Ye Shen’s bed!

She would see that wretched woman utterly disgraced.

Zhao Heyue loathed the teary, manipulative routine of green tea types. With a helpless sigh and a shake of her head, she turned to leave.

But Qin Miao grabbed her arm. "Senior Zhao, you can’t go! These things need to be clarified—they affect my future in the industry!"

Zhao Heyue shook her off. "What’s there to clarify? We’re all adults. I can make up my own mind."

The commotion was causing a scene. Ye Yao, who had planned to approach Zhao Heyue for a collaboration, decided to step in.

"Ms. Zhao, I have a business proposal to discuss with you. Do you have a moment?" Ye Yao didn’t spare a glance for Qin Miao.

Qin Miao's tricks were always the same, without an ounce of originality.

But her appearance only further inflamed Qin Miao.

"Ye Yao, it’s you, isn’t it? Ah Yan loves me—why did you call me a homewrecker?" Qin Miao accused pitifully. "You’re already with Young Master Ye, yet you still can’t stand to see me and Ah Yan happy?"

Ye Yao: ...?

Maybe she should change her name to Scapegoat; everything seemed to get blamed on her.

The bystanders, sharp as ever, immediately grasped that these three were entangled in a love triangle.

At that moment, both Ye Shen and Shen Yan arrived, each standing behind their respective charges.

Zhao Heyue looked back and forth between Ye Yao and Qin Miao, wondering if she needed her eyes checked.

How could anyone pass up such a bright beauty for a green tea schemer?

Were men and women’s aesthetics really this different?

Ye Shen put his arm around Ye Yao’s shoulders. "Yao Yao, are you alright?"

Ye Yao shook her head. "I’m fine. It’s just all so baffling."