My girlfriend is from the future!

The world is full of goodwill, and the world is all good.

This old saying was vividly demonstrated outside the VIP channel of Hongqiao Airport. Those top brands that are usually aloof and picky about borrowing clothes are now swarming in like sharks smelling blood.

Ironically, He Panshan had repeatedly warned his two sons not to be too high-profile in public, which was the way of life for his generation. But for He Tianran, whether he wanted to or not, the popularity and media attention he generated was already comparable to that of top male stars today.

If his debut work, *Heart's Thousand Knots*, made Bai Lingye famous and also helped him achieve success, making him more than just a "rich second generation" in people's minds, then from the fermentation that began with his first Vlog with Wen Liang, to the explosive popularity of *Wild in My Heart*, and his recent performance in *A Day in My Life*, he has not only earned himself a reputation for "turning lead into gold" in the content field, but has also made this man, who should have been working behind the scenes, more visible than anyone else...

Moreover, he seems to know how to turn his identity into traffic, and then turn that traffic into leverage...

This is a characteristic of his generation.

That seemingly casual post on the plane has already garnered over 50 likes. Before the banquet even started, the entertainment section of the internet was already trending with the topic "What will Wen Liang wear to Bulgari tonight?"

Although He Tianran did not name anyone in that post, the answer was already self-evident based on the Bulgari attendance list tonight.

It's worth noting that Bulgari only gave Wen Liang the title of "Brand Friend" for attending the dinner. This sudden surge in popularity must have made Bulgari ecstatic, as if they had made the right bet. No wonder other brands are envious and willing to lower their standards to offer their own gowns. Once the dress is confirmed, it will definitely generate another wave of buzz.

……

……

Four o'clock in the afternoon, on the banks of the Huangpu River.

The Bulgari Hotel's penthouse presidential suite, with its 460-square-meter space, is larger than the apartment He Tianran rented in the port city. It has three living rooms, one of which has been temporarily converted into a top-notch private dressing room. The hangers are filled with haute couture gowns from several top brands, both current and past seasons, sparkling and dazzling.

"The venue for this gala dinner is ROJO Art and Culture Space. The red carpet event starts at 6 PM, and A Liang's appearance is scheduled for 6:20 PM. Because the organizers want to generate buzz for 'Wild in My Heart,' they've arranged for her to appear after Gu Qiaoman and Sui Chulang. Her interview will last five minutes. Oh, and Director He..."

Listening to his assistant's report, He Tianran turned his gaze away from the confluence of the Huangpu River and the Suzhou Creek. He swirled the red wine in his hand, raised it, brought his mouth and nose to the rim of the glass, took a small sip, then turned around and asked:
"what happened?"

"When the organizers delivered the jewelry, they asked us if we wanted to walk the red carpet together."

He Tianran shook his head: "I'm not here on a mission, why should I walk the red carpet? I'll just go straight into the venue."

One of the important functions of the red carpet event is media photography and exposure. Celebrities need to use this opportunity to showcase the latest jewelry and gowns of the season, which can be said to be the most important part of their work. However, for special guests like He Tianran, this requirement does not apply.

"Since you've already made such a fuss, you might as well go with Wen Liang. It will be good for both of you."

Bai Wenyu was flipping through the information Bulgari had sent when He Tianran walked over and sat down. Instead of immediately agreeing, he focused his gaze on the all-English jewelry catalog in her hands and asked:
"Looking at the catalog for this jewelry showcase?"

"Um……"

Bai Wenyu nodded: "Bulgari wants me to organize an impromptu auction during the party."

"They do know how to make the best use of people..."

“I hope you can do the same.” Bai Wenyu said casually, looking at He Tianran: “I know you don’t care about these things, but these brands are willing to ‘lose money to gain publicity’ for you. If you don’t go to the red carpet and let Wen Liang walk alone, then the popularity and traffic you generated today will be reduced by at least half. If you want to do this again next time, it won’t be so easy.”

When it came to business operations and celebrity exposure, Bai Wenyu was quite professional. He Tianran was surprised to find that his mother, who had recently been quite critical of him, hadn't made fun of him about this. Just then, she turned to Yu Naoqiu, who was picking out jewelry not far away, and said:
What do you think, Nao Nao?

"Ah...? Aunt Bai, you mean..."

"Do you think Tianran should go with Wenliang?"

Even the usually shrewd Yu Naoqiu showed a hesitant and helpless expression at this moment.

He Tianran finally understood that his mother was still holding a grudge about that office incident. She thought that her son was having an affair with Yu Naoqiu, so she used this incident to test Yu Naoqiu and disgust others. Maybe when she saw the beautiful women around her son, she would back down?

"I think... it would be better for Brother Tianran to be more high-profile this time, just like Aunt Bai said, since this topic has already been hyped up."

Yu Naoqiu offered a fair piece of advice: even if she had a hundred reasons to be cunning, she still had to handle this matter more tactfully.

"Yeah, while the topic of 'A Day in the Life' is still trending these days, maybe he and Wen Liang will be trending again tonight. Let's just go with this decision."

Bai Wenyu made a light summary, while Yu Naoqiu remained silent and looked at He Tianran.

Thinking back to how Yu Naoqiu had wanted to meet her parents and forced her to confess her relationship, He Tianran chuckled to herself. Now that she couldn't even get past Bai Wenyu, what was the point of talking about a formal relationship?
He Tianran never expected that his difficult mother would one day become an asset to him.

However, he still has the "alliance" act to play out with Yu Naoqiu. Even though Yu Naoqiu is still wavering between the two He brothers, if things get too ugly, wouldn't that be tantamount to pushing her towards He Yuanchong's side?

Upon thinking of this, He Tianran put down his wine glass, slapped his thighs, and stood up from beside his mother.

“My dad always warned me to avoid appearing glamorous in front of the camera, because for people like us, there are only two outcomes when we're on camera: either we become famous or we get into trouble. So I've always been very resistant to appearing in the spotlight of fame and fortune, because if the latter happens, all the glory I've accumulated can be ruined…”

As the man spoke, he walked to Yu Naoqiu's side. The meaning behind his words was the same as the reason why he had asked Yu Naoqiu to fabricate psychological cases for him in the first place. It was also to let the other party know that the agreement between them was still in effect.

"Go and look at the catalog with your aunt. Tell me what you want tonight, and I'll bring it to you."

"Really?"

Yu Naoqiu's eyes lit up. No woman doesn't like jewelry, just as no woman doesn't love beauty.

"What, you think I'm lying to you? Do you remember that game we used to play?"

"Oh--"

Yu Naoqiu suddenly understood. She raised her right hand, pinched her thumb and forefinger together, snapped her fingers with a "snap," and softly called out:
"Action—!"

Not far away, Bai Wenyu's gaze involuntarily fell upon the two of them. Seeing He Tianran turn around and open the door to the other office cubicle—apparently to go discuss the red carpet arrangements with Wen Liang—Yu Naoqiu briskly walked over and sat down beside her, asking:
"Aunt Bai, how are the new products this time?"

What were you guys playing just now?

"A hint of a psychological game."

"hint?"

"Well... Brother Tianran gets nervous on camera, he needs to be in a performance state... um, just think of him as... all he's doing from now on is acting."

He Tianran told Yu Naoqiu that if she thought he was lying to her, she should shout "Action!" and he could pretend to be a patient with dissociative identity disorder and perfectly fulfill their agreement.

As the saying goes, when the truth is taken for a lie, the lie becomes truth; He Tianran certainly wasn't lying...

Yu Naoqiu simply doesn't believe in anything.

……

……

"I want to... speak with Wen Liang alone."

"Sure, it's Director He. A few brands want us to send them some cool and refreshing looks. Remember to take some photos later."

"……it is good."

He Tianran entered the room, Wen Liang was still in the fitting room, and outside, Li Lan had just finished tidying up the clothes the girl would be changing into. After hearing this, she gave a few instructions, picked up her notebook, and left.

The door behind the man closed gently again, creating a separate space.

The air was filled with the distinctive scents of high-end fabrics, leather, and new clothes, mixed with the damp, chilly air blowing in from the Huangpu River outside the window.

He Tianran didn't urge him. Instead, he walked to the edge of the sofa armrest and sat down. The door to the fitting room in front of him was closed, and behind the frosted glass, the outline of an alluring body was clearly projected...

The shadow's owner appears to be bending over, the curves of his back and hips magnified by the light and shadow, forming a full and rounded arc, carrying a silent allure.

Then, she straightened up, raised her arm to tidy her hair, and the shadows of her armpits and the sides of her chest flashed across the glass, like moonlight accidentally illuminating the undulations of mountains. As she moved, the fabric rustled very softly, striking the hearts of the viewers.

The light shifted and flickered as she moved, her hazy outline sometimes clear, outlining the taut, supple curves of her thighs and heels; sometimes blurred, leaving only a warm, alluring halo...

The shadow didn't deliberately flaunt its allure, but its blurriness only fueled the imagination; every undulation carried a naturally sculpted, vibrant sensuality.

He Tianran watched quietly, without looking away or making any further moves, only unconsciously tapping his fingers lightly on his knee.

The door lock clicked softly.

Wen Liang pushed open the door and came out.

She must have just finished trying on an outfit and came out to pick up a new dress, because she was only wearing a sports bra, without makeup, her long hair casually tied up, clearly revealing her silhouette that had been blurred behind the glass earlier—

A full bust, a narrow and slender waist, straight and powerful legs, and a pert, peach-like bottom that the tight-fitting boxer shorts couldn't cover.

The girl was shocked by the man's silent appearance, but she quickly regained her composure, raised her chin slightly, and accepted his gaze with generosity and frankness.

He Tianran's gaze drifted away from Wen Liang's alluringly sculpted abs, and he casually picked up a minimalist black dress from the hanger. It was devoid of any superfluous embellishments, except for a deep V-neck at the back that plunged to her waist, held together only by a few delicate ribbons—sleek and sexy.

"this?"

"I tried it. The backless design does go well with a necklace, but Bulgari's focus this time is on the combination of earrings and necklace. The pink rubellite tourmaline needs a certain color to match the outfit or some negative space to complement it. All black... would swallow up some of its brilliance." The professional analysis was devoid of any personal emotion, as if the awkwardness between the two of them at the moment had never existed.

He Tianran hung his clothes back up, put his hands back in his pockets, and turned to face her:

"Li Lan said that several brands are waiting for your looks."

"Okay, I'll send her the photos of the three final options."

Wen Liang walked to another row of clothes racks and precisely picked out a dusty pink strapless pleated dress:
"This Armani piece has a color that echoes the jewelry, and the cut is simple and elegant enough."

She then pointed to another dress, a nude pink that gradually faded to smoky gray:
"And this Marchesa dress, the light movement of the skirt when you walk adds visual focus and prevents the jewelry from looking isolated."

Finally, her fingertips rested on a red one-shoulder dress:

"It's the same Armani style, but among all the dresses from this brand, only these two are made of top-quality silk and fabric. The quality is impressive, and the colors are eye-catching. If you have to choose one of the three, what do you think, boss?"

She threw the choice back to her, speaking in a businesslike tone.

He Tianran did not answer immediately, but walked to the sofa and sat down. After a while, the girl saw that he did not answer, and then started comparing clothes on her own.

"During the red carpet event, the organizers asked me if I wanted to go with you."

Wen Liang paused slightly as she was adjusting her skirt, but did not turn around.

"Oh? What did you reply?"

“I initially refused,” He Tianran paused, “but my mother felt that since the hype had already been built up, we might as well go all the way.”

Wen Liang finally turned around, her face expressionless, but her eyes were slightly deeper.

"So? Mr. He has decided to condescend to accompany me on this trip?"

"Do you think it's beneath you?" He Tianran retorted.

"Isn't that right?" Wen Liang tugged at the corners of her mouth, her smile devoid of warmth. "You've never liked these kinds of occasions, but now, for my sake and for the sake of certain people's suggestions, you're forcing yourself to cooperate with the performance. Not only do you feel awkward, but I also feel out of place."

"It seems you have a lot of opinions about me. What I told you last time..."

He Tianran pinched the bridge of his nose.

"nothing."

Wen Liang turned back, cut off the conversation, and continued to examine the details of the smoky pink dress:
"I'm just an artist. I follow the company's arrangements. If the boss tells me to walk the red carpet, I walk. If the boss tells me to cooperate with hype, I cooperate. As for what the boss is thinking, don't say it's for my sake. That would put a lot of pressure on me... If you're not used to this, then change to a personality that can make its own decisions. I'm fine with that."

She spoke the last few words so softly and quickly that they almost disappeared into the air.

She recognized almost immediately that He Tianran had become the "lead singer"...

This is actually easy to tell, because only the "lead singer" would think so much about Wen Liang, which is a good thing, but at times, the girl hates this kind of...indecisiveness.

"Cool and warm".

He called her name in a low voice.

Wen Liang stopped moving, but did not turn around; her back looked somewhat stiff.

“Look at me,” he said.

The air stagnated for a few seconds.

Outside the window, the long, drawn-out whistles of ships echoed across the Huangpu River.

Wen Liang slowly turned around. Her face remained expressionless, but her usually bright and piercing eyes were now veiled with a thin layer of mist, showing wariness and a hint of barely perceptible... grievance.

“That day in the park, I said those things…” He Tianran paused, as if choosing his words carefully, “not to push you away, nor because of anyone’s advice.”

He stood up, took two steps closer to her, and stopped at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

“I’m just thinking that the name ‘He Tianran’ now represents more than just a person. It represents the company, the career, and the expectations and livelihoods of many people. I can not care about what others think of me, but I cannot ignore the impact it has, especially on you.”

The man's gaze fell on the girl's face, carrying a complex emotion, both close and distant.

Wen Liang listened quietly, her chest rising and falling slightly. She suddenly smiled, a smile tinged with self-deprecation.

"He Tianran, you're doing the most willful and outrageous things on one hand, and on the other hand, you're thinking of taking all the consequences upon yourself. Aren't you tired?"

She took a step forward, closing the distance between them, and looked up at him.

"I'm asking you, if... I mean if, there were no company, no projects, nothing to do with your future or my future, no of all this messy people and things, just right now, just you and me, would you want to walk down that red carpet with me?"

Her gaze was intense, with her usual stubbornness, as if trying to pierce through all of He Tianran's pretense and concerns, and reach the most genuine answer in his heart.

He Tianran's Adam's apple bobbed.

The fitting room was brightly lit, illuminating the exquisite clothes and jewels filling the room, and it seemed as if countless tiny dust particles were dancing in the beams of light.

Outside the window, the gray-blue Shanghai skyline and the winding Huangpu River create a dreamlike scene of prosperity.

Surrounded by such extreme material wealth and fame, she asked the simplest yet most difficult question.

He Tianran remained silent, and deep within his eyes, something seemed to be struggling and colliding fiercely.

After a long silence, he uttered a sentence that sounded like a sigh of relief:
"...Red suits you."

"what?"

I said...I will.

The brief words, almost uttered with a sigh, made Wen Liang walk straight over without hesitation, wrap her arms around He Tianran's neck, and bury her face in his shoulder.

The action was swift and decisive, reflecting her characteristic directness.

He Tianran paused for a moment, then his hand finally landed on her soft back.

Do you do this every time you get close to me?

"What kind?"

“Like this.” Wen Liang raised her head and looked directly into his eyes. “You want to get close, but you’re also ready to back off at any time.”

Her gaze was so bright, it seemed to pierce through all his disguises.

“I know what you’re thinking…” Wen Liang continued, “You’re calculating the risks of every step and weighing the cost of every choice.”

"Isn't this what adults should do?"

He Tianran finally spoke, his voice low and deep.

However, a naive yet smug smile appeared on Wen Liang's lips:

"But you just answered 'yes'!"

This girl, as always, is like a flame, bright and scorching, never hiding her heat.

He Tianran clearly remembered what that feeling was like; it was—

I want to touch it, but I'm also afraid of getting burned.

Embracing this intense heat, he could foresee the possible outcome.

Their relationship has always been like this: either they drift apart through restraint, or they burn to ashes through indulgence.

There is no middle ground, no possibility of escaping unscathed.

His hand remained on her back, as if confirming the authenticity of her warmth. In this world full of calculation and weighing of options, her directness became the sharpest weapon.

He Tianran lowered his eyes and saw her slightly reddened ear tips.

At this moment, all pros and cons analysis becomes meaningless.

The man tightened his arms, pulling the girl into a deeper embrace. (End of Chapter)