My girlfriend is from the future!

Yu Hui's last "sister" carried a sense of habitual compromise.

Yu Naoqiu's smile deepened, as if mocking Yu Hui's appearance. She finally condescended to reach out her hand, her fingertips touching the handle of the coffee cup, but she did not pick it up.

"Renew the contract..."

She pondered for a moment, then gently tapped her fingertips on the handle of the cup, making a soft tapping sound.

"It seems like President Bai is keeping a tight rein on things? He's even forced our big star to personally come and ask 'Little President He' for help?"

She emphasized the words "Little President He" with a hint of sarcasm.

Yu Hui pursed his lips and didn't reply. He knew he had already said too much.

Yu Naoqiu didn't seem to need his answer, and continued on her own:

"However, Bai Lingye is quite clever, knowing to bypass President Bai and go directly to He Tianran. After all... young President He has always been open to beautiful women, right?"

These words were pointed, causing Yu Hui to frown slightly.

Looking at his silent younger brother, Yu Naoqiu smiled to himself:
"Sigh, there's nothing to talk about with you about these messy things, so let's just..."

When the topic of He Tianran's womanizing came up, Yu Naoqiu didn't seem to have much of an emotion. She finally picked up the cup of coffee, changed the subject, and spoke in a softer tone, which was even more unsettling.

"Let's talk about you, Xiaohui. Are you settling in well at this company? You've learned a lot from your 'Brother He,' haven't you?"

Yu Hui looked down at his coffee.
"Yes, Director He... taught me a lot. He's not only my boss, but also my mentor on the path of filmmaking. If I hadn't met him at HKU, I might not know which path to take now..."

His words were sincere, even tinged with gratitude, but this protectiveness and respect for He Tianran caused Yu Naoqiu's smile to fade slightly, and a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes.

“A mentor?” she repeated. “That sounds like… a debt of gratitude. What, now that you’ve found someone to show you the way, you’ve forgotten who gave you food, the opportunity to study at HKU, and the chance to meet your ‘mentor’?”

Yu Hui paused in stirring his coffee, his head drooping even lower.

Yu Naoqiu's words were like a knife, precisely cutting into his most painful spot: his embarrassing, unspeakable status as an illegitimate child, and the favors, shackles, and blood ties he could never truly escape from being dependent on the Yu family.

“I haven’t forgotten, sister…” His voice was hoarse.

"No?"

Yu Naoqiu chuckled softly, but there was no warmth in her laughter.

"I think you've been blinded by this false sense of 'success' and 'independence'."

Hui-zai, you'd better remember forever that you are where you are today because you have the surname Yu! Because of the lingering guilt in my heart, because my family... barely tolerated you, not because you are truly capable, or because your 'Brother He' really appreciates you!

Every word Yu Naoqiu uttered struck at the fragile confidence that Yu Hui had just painstakingly gained and built up from He Tianran.

As the saying goes, every family has its own troubles. To outsiders, the Yu and He families both appear glamorous and successful, but their internal entanglements and hardships are strikingly similar.

Both families have a son with an awkward identity who longs to prove himself but constantly runs into obstacles.

However, He Tianran and Yu Naoqiu took completely different paths in how to "discipline" their unruly brothers.

He Tianran's words to He Yuanchong were a clear warning and a drawing of boundaries, carrying a cold-blooded attitude of "family scandals should not be aired in public, but I must have the final say behind closed doors."

Yu Naoqiu's treatment of Yu Hui was more like a subtle emotional and psychological manipulation. She didn't need to roar or use any external force; she only needed to casually mention his unchosen birth and point out that everything he had was due to the Yu family's kindness and tolerance. This was enough to easily shatter the meager self-confidence he had painstakingly built up and bring him back to the cautious, timid illegitimate son he was.

At this moment, Yu Naoqiu felt the same way. She looked at Yu Hui's face, which had suddenly turned pale because of her words, and at his shoulders that had unconsciously hunched over. Her heart was filled with a cold pleasure.

This is the effect she wants.

However, considering the years Yu Hui had spent following He Tianran, the support and encouragement He Tianran had given him, the shared experience of turning their dreams into hobbies and then into a profession, and the shared passion in their eyes when they talked about the future, Yu Hui finally mustered the courage to retort:
"Sister, brother isn't that kind of person."

"Brother" is a simple title, without any surname or given name. In the company, only Yu Hui calls He Tianran that.

"Heh, Xiao Hui, don't think of your 'older brother' as something so noble..."

Yu Naoqiu turned his head slightly, his gaze seemingly looking through the glass wall of the rest area towards He Tianran's office upstairs, a knowing, almost satisfied smile playing on his lips.

"People like us..."

She paused, as if savoring the definition:

"There's only calculation in their hearts, no sincerity. Emotions are used, people are placed around. All the tenderness is just a wrapping paper to make things look more presentable in the moment of achieving their goal."

She turned back, her eyes filled with a strange empathy, as if sharing some dark truth.

"Do you think He Tianran's 'appreciation' and 'guidance' for you are purely genuine?"
Don't be naive. The way he looks at you and how I look at you are essentially the same. We're looking at whether you're obedient enough, useful enough, and whether you can be a perfectly timed pawn, placed in the right position when he needs you. And we treat each other the same way...

Yu Naoqiu chuckled softly, a laugh tinged with self-mockery and a strange excitement, as if he had found a kindred spirit.

"The only difference between us is that he and I are equals in status... We don't need 'appreciation' or 'guidance'; we can get together and devour each other without spitting out the bones simply by smelling the same blood on each other... We are beasts in human clothing."

Her gaze fell on Yu Hui, carrying a hint of mocking pity:
"And you, Xiaohui, you just happened to be standing by the cage and mistakenly thought you saw the light."

Seeing that his younger brother remained silent, Yu Naoqiu stood up.

"Don't believe me? Then come on, I'll show you how he eats people."

……

"Director He, your psychologist is here to see you again."

When Yao Qingtao left the rest area, she sent He Tianran this message, but the man didn't see it until almost ten minutes later. During that time, he had given Bai Lingye instructions on a scene, and after seeing the message, he hesitated for a moment, as if a plan had formed in his mind, but then smiled helplessly:
"It seems your solo performance will have to turn into an ensemble piece today."

"what happened?"

"We'll add a scene for you on the spot, and you'll have to take off your coat."

Before Bai Lingye could react, He Tianran had already picked up his phone and typed a message for Yu Naoqiu:
"I'm busy with something, don't come looking for me yet."

This message, seemingly a word of advice, would be perceived by He Tianran as a ploy to lure Yu Naoqiu into a trap, based on his understanding of Yu Naoqiu.

When he finished sending the message and looked up, he saw that Bai Lingye still looked bewildered, and couldn't help but urge her:

"Take it off!"

"Ah... um."

Bai Lingye did as instructed, taking off her coat and carefully folding it before placing it on the table. She then asked softly:

"and then?"

Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished putting down the clothes, He Tianran casually tossed them on the ground. Then, the man pushed off with both feet, and the sofa chair's wheels slid off the desk, moving a meter backward. The man, one hand tugging at his collar and the other patting his thigh, said succinctly:

"Come up and sit down."

"you……"

These four words instantly made Bai Lingye's face turn visibly red, and her eyes looked at He Tianran with even more alluring beauty.

"What...do you take me for?"

Footsteps sounded outside the office. He Tianran also looked anxious and could only describe the situation in the most straightforward and clear way:
"Act, more money, help me, quick!"

Footsteps approached from outside the door. The next second, Bai Lingye no longer hesitated. She took a few steps and straddled He Tianran's lap. The man felt a surge of waves before his eyes, then everything went black, and his breathing became rapid...

Well, after experiencing this all along, He Tianran finally understands that He Yuanchong's attempt to seduce Bai Lingye...

It's not entirely his fault.

The footsteps stopped at the office door.

The person outside didn't knock; instead, they pushed the office door open!

"Bang~"

The door slammed against the wall with a loud thud.

The scene inside the office instantly came into view—

The woman's coat, carelessly tossed on the ground, silently testified to the intense "battle" that had just taken place. Bai Lingye's clothes were slightly disheveled, her cheeks flushed, and she was hurriedly getting up from He Tianran's lap, her fingers unconsciously adjusting her skirt and slightly open neckline.

He Tianran, meanwhile, leaned back in his office chair, his tie loose, the top two buttons of his shirt undone, a hint of annoyance at being disturbed on his face, and... a lingering, ambiguous, mischievous smile.

When Bai Lingye saw the two people at the door, especially Yu Naoqiu's all-knowing and mocking smile, she was so embarrassed that she wanted to disappear into the ground. She quickly turned around and dared not look at anyone.

He Tianran's gaze swept lazily over, first landing on Yu Naoqiu's face. There was no panic or anger in his eyes, only a knowing "you really came" look, and even a hint of a subtle, provocative smile.

Then, his gaze slid to the afterglow behind her...

When He Tianran saw Yu Hui's face, drained of color and filled with shock, disappointment, and even a hint of collapse, his gaze paused almost imperceptibly, but the emotion vanished too quickly, as if it were an illusion.

He ultimately said nothing to Yu Hui, but simply refocused his gaze on Yu Naoqiu, as if Yu Hui's presence were insignificant.

"It seems..."

Yu Naoqiu spoke first, her voice filled with undisguised amusement and appreciation. She slowly walked into the office, her gaze sweeping over the mess as if appraising a work of art.

"Looks like we've come at a really bad time. Is Director He... personally giving acting instructions to his artists?"

She walked to the desk, lightly traced the surface with her fingertips, and then casually sat down on it, exuding charm.

Upon hearing this, He Tianran was not annoyed at all. Instead, he chuckled softly, adjusted his posture to appear more relaxed and unrestrained, and met Yu Naoqiu's scrutiny with a frank gaze.

"What?" His tone rose slightly, carrying a hint of roguishness. "Is Dr. Yu envious? Or... perhaps she'd like to join in and have some 'in-depth conversation'?"

After saying all this, in the lingering light, He Tianran, whose figure had overlapped behind Yu Naoqiu, peeked out:

"Hui-zai, close the door."

Yu Hui turned and left almost impatiently, her steps hurried, as if she wanted to escape this suffocating atmosphere as soon as possible.

He Tianran watched Yu Hui's retreating figure, his gaze deep. Suddenly, Yu Naoqiu grabbed his tie and gently pulled his face toward hers, but the woman's face remained smiling.

"Look at you, you scared them away," she scolded playfully.

He Tianran gazed at the woman beside him, a cold smile curving his lips:

"Really? I think you're the scarier one." (End of Chapter)