Lin Ran shrugged and said to Chen Buhui,
"You see, everyone shares the same attitude toward you."
Chen Buhui finally couldn’t take it anymore.
"Fine, you two ungrateful brats just wait. And you, Luo Corporation—thinking you’ll get the tech city project? Keep dreaming."
Luo Yao: "Can you take responsibility for your words?"
"Why wouldn’t I?"
Luo Yao glanced at Uncle Fu.
"Extract this surveillance footage and send it to the authorities."
"Professor Chen, don’t dwell on it. We’re in research—everything else is trivial."
Chen Buhui nodded. Upon returning to her residence, she made a phone call.
At the manor.
"Sis-in-law, thank you for driving that old hag away."
"I didn’t do it for you. It was for A’Ran."
Chen Qingtian: "..."
"Please, sis-in-law, teach me how to do business. I don’t want to act anymore."
Lin Ran: "???"
"Your boss is right here. If you want to break your contract, prepare the penalty fee first."
Chen Qingtian: "Dear cousin, my dreams are priceless. You wouldn’t crush them with money, would you?"
Lin Ran was both amused and exasperated. He’d always suspected Chen Qingtian’s brain worked differently—her logic was anything but ordinary.
Her language could be crude, but her blunt, carefree personality made it hard to dislike her.
"My wife hates people who can’t commit. A fickle woman like you trying to corrupt her? Get out of here."
Chen Qingtian didn’t budge, staring pitifully at the couple.
Luo Yao: "Want to make money?"
"Yes."
"Fine. I’ll set up a film company for you under Nuan Yao Media. You’ll be the CEO while keeping your current career."
Chen Qingtian’s eyes instantly lit up. "Really?"
Lin Ran: "???"
Luo Yao nodded.
"Really. And you can recruit all the pretty girls from Nuan Yao Media as your talent pool. Pick the most capable and attractive ones—packaging celebrities doesn’t require much skill. With enough capital backing, even a pig could succeed."
Chen Qingtian suddenly felt life was worth living again.
"Sis-in-law, you’re my savior. But let me clarify—I may be a star, but I’m not a pig."
She nearly dropped to her knees in gratitude.
Could she start her own company? Of course.
But having a corporate giant as a springboard was a whole different game.
Chen Qingtian was already fantasizing about hiring a bunch of young, handsome actors. Sitting in her office, coaching a different pretty boy every day—what a life.
Glancing around the manor, she imagined owning a mansion like this someday.
"This villa is huge. Can I pick a room to rest in?"
With Luo Yao’s permission, Chen Qingtian practically skipped with joy. If Wu Zhishang didn’t summon her back, she might stay in Shanghai for a long time.
At dinner, Chen Qingtian chattered nonstop like a songbird.
"Wow, sis-in-law, this food is amazing. You have no idea what I’ve endured in Shanghai—those crew meals are inedible. But I have to eat them, or people will accuse me of being a diva."
"Being a star seems glamorous, but the hardships? Unimaginable. I’m lucky—my background protects me. Other women trying to stay ‘untainted’ in this industry? A pipe dream."
The more she talked, the more animated she became. As a celebrity, her stories naturally revolved around showbiz.
"Our assistant director is a tyrant—yells at people like they’re dogs. Worse, he ‘discusses scripts’ with actresses at midnight. Thank goodness I’m a Chen—he wouldn’t dare touch me."
"But sis-in-law, you’re incredible. Our whole crew was buzzing about you exposing the Li family. Even I didn’t know the industry could be this explosive..."
Lin Ran finally set down his chopsticks.
"Cousin, we don’t have a ‘no talking at meals’ rule, but you’re overdoing it."
Chen Qingtian muttered, "I’m just talking. You..."
Suddenly, she froze. Lin Ran had just peeled a shrimp, fed it to Luo Yao, then wiped the corner of her mouth with his finger.
"Ugh, what kind of couple cruelty—no, single-beauty cruelty is this?"
Lin Ran’s gaze stayed on Luo Yao as he replied,
"You, a manless single woman, dreaming of raising ten or eight toy boys? Show me one first, then talk."
Chen Qingtian: "..."
That hurt.
"So men can be this devoted? Suddenly, ten or eight isn’t enough—I need more who love me like this."
Luo Yao / Lin Ran: "..."
Lin Ran: "How delusional. You think you deserve love?"
Chen Qingtian said earnestly, "Of course. I may want many lovers, but I’m not a heartbreaker—I just want to give them all a home."
Lin Ran’s face darkened. "Hah... well, I hope your dream comes true. But stay away from my wife."
"Afraid I’ll corrupt her?"
"Afraid she’ll kill you."
Chen Qingtian corrupting Luo Yao? A pipe dream.
Luo Yao was a textbook yandere—obsessed with Lin Ran alone.
Luo Yao gazed at Lin Ran with adoration, her eyes full of longing. She needed an outlet.
"A’Ran, let’s rest early."
"Okay."
Chen Qingtian mumbled between bites, "So early? What’s wrong with you?"
The nearby maids blushed.
The young mistress could be... loud.
"A’Ran, I... I want..." Luo Yao suddenly bit Lin Ran’s shoulder, as if his blood nourished her.
Moonlight drapes silken gowns, $2hispers sweet in tender sounds.
Strings in harmony entwine, $2ovebirds dream in sheets divine.
What poetry.
Late at night, too excited to sleep in such luxury, Chen Qingtian sneaked out alone.
Not wanting to disturb anyone, she wandered outside to admire the manor’s nightscape.
Even the round-the-clock staff didn’t notice her leaving.