My girlfriend is from the future!

"It seems... this canary you've been raising doesn't want to be tormented in your hands anymore."

Yu Naoqiu glanced one last time at Wen Liang on the stage, whose shoulders were trembling slightly with excitement. She then turned to He Tianran, whose gaze was fixed in one direction, and teased him.

Wen Liang's behavior caught the "writer" off guard. The man knew this girl was strong-willed, direct, and always did things her own way, disliking being restrained. But what was she doing now? This auction had nothing to do with her; didn't she know that? By raising the price herself, she was indirectly proving her worth; didn't she understand that?

She said she would pay ten million herself...

Is she crazy?

Where did she get ten million?

He Tianran, who manages the company, knows the details, and Bai Wenyu, who manages the artists on stage, knows them even better. Neither of them doubts that Wen Liang's future value will far exceed the figure reported tonight. However, the future value will not be immediately realized. Wen Liang is indeed popular now, but she is far from being able to casually pull out ten million.

As the entire audience descended into chaotic whispers and speculation over the earth-shattering figure of "ten million," Wen Liang herself was also gripped by the number that had slipped out and the immense pressure of reality that followed. Her bare shoulders trembled slightly from the very beginning, and no matter how hard she tried to remain calm, it was to no avail...

until……

A hand rested on her shoulder.

The hand was hardly warm; when it touched the girl's skin, it felt slightly cool. But it was this coolness that brought a sliver of clarity to the burning heat in her heart.

It was Bai Wenyu. The older woman gently raised her hand and gestured to the microphone that Wen Liang was still holding tightly. Her movements were elegant and without any coercion. The girl subconsciously let go of her hand and allowed Bai Wenyu to take the microphone.

"It seems that no artist can help but love their 'muse,' and even our most dazzling 'rose' tonight shines with such beauty and independence thanks to this set of jewelry that perfectly complements her..."

Bai Wenyu's voice came through the microphone, calm and soothing, instantly silencing the noise in the room. She did not directly reject Wen Liang's bid, but rather interpreted Wen Liang's rebellious act as an extreme love and desire for jewelry itself, taking into account the brand's meaning.

The mother still wore that composed and professional smile befitting a top auctioneer, but now that smile held a hint of… affability when looking at similar things.

"This dedication to beauty and courage to express it is very moving, and it also proves Bulgari's unique vision in choosing Ms. Wen as a 'brand ambassador'."

The executives and clients in the audience, realizing what was happening, first gave a few scattered ovations, which then spread like wildfire and quickly became a widespread applause.

It must be said that Bai Wenyu's remarks were the finishing touch to the bidding process just now. Not only did he save face for everyone and prevent the scene from falling into an awkward silence, but he also added a touch of brand value at the end.

As the applause subsided, she smoothly shifted her focus, her gaze sweeping across the room, her tone still gentle, yet carrying an undeniable authority:
"However, in accordance with the usual practice of tonight's charity auction, in order to ensure the clarity and fairness of the bidding process, the right to participate in bidding is limited to our esteemed clients. Ms. Wen, as our specially invited artist friend who has come to witness this wonderful event, has shown a priceless passion for her beloved items, and moreover..."

Bai Wenyu's words were impeccable, retaining ample flexibility and grace. She paused, then smiled elegantly:
"And I believe that one of the gentlemen present will certainly not hesitate to do me a favor and turn this fleeting memory into an eternal treasure..."

As she spoke, her gaze finally fell on He Tianran almost imperceptibly. Her eyes were calm and expressionless, yet they carried an invisible pressure.

The mother didn't say it explicitly, but everyone present understood that the only person who could reasonably accept Wen Liang's "ten million" and turn this farce into a "beautiful story" was—

He Tianran.

The man instantly understood his mother's meaning. Without further hesitation, he stepped forward, raised his glass, raised his eyebrows, and made his offer:

"Then let's do as Miss Wen says, ten million."

The rare moment of understanding between her and her son brought a smile to Bai Wenyu's face. The female auctioneer's gaze swept across the entire room:
"Ten million. Mr. He Tianran has offered ten million. Are there any other guests willing to pay for this beautiful scene inspired by the 'muse'?"

Yu Naoqiu's lips twitched, but in the end it only turned into a barely audible snort, and he did not make another offer.

Even a wealthy heiress like her would have to think twice about a price tag of ten million, wondering if it had gone beyond the scope of the "game" of bickering between her and He Tianran.

After three bids with no one responding, Bai Wenyu gently brought down the auction gavel, producing a crisp and resolute sound.

"Sold! Congratulations Mr. He! And thank you Ms. Wen Liang for letting us witness such a perfect match between beauty and jewelry."

A hammer is fixed.

The applause rang out again, this time not only with a touch of appreciation for the dramatic turn of events that were then cleverly resolved, but also with an unspoken understanding of the "muse" metaphor.

Wen Liang stood on the stage, the spotlight still shining on her, but the light seemed to be coated with a soft filter by Bai Wenyu's words.

Bai Wenyu, with her superb skills and rhetoric, not only resolved her predicament but also draped her in a magnificent cloak of "artistic muse" in front of everyone, preserving and elevating her dignity and style.

She turned her head slightly, looking at Bai Wenyu, who was elegant and noble beside her, as if he could turn stones into gold with a flick of his wrist. Then she looked at He Tianran, who had given her ten million and whose expression was unreadable. Her heart was filled with mixed feelings. The decisive impulse she had just felt had now turned into a deeper sense of bewilderment and a sense of destiny that was being carried forward by an invisible force.

"Xiao Liang, remember how you feel right now."

During the break between changing stages, Wen Liang, who was completely disoriented, heard a seemingly unintentional word of advice.

The young actress turned her head to look at the woman who was as composed as ever. Several more items were about to be auctioned, and she was currently looking down, organizing the information on the auction table.

This woman, whose temperament was somewhat similar to Cao Aiqing's, never showed any sign of panic in Wen Liang's memory. The only thing that could make her lose her composure was the last time at the Shanhai meeting, when she showed indignation and defense when the 'young' He Tianran was making a fool of himself by trying to remove her from the variety show.

As they descended from the stage, He Tianran walked towards her. Today, they had been involved in various activities, including surfing, walking the red carpet hand in hand, and then this incident at the auction. Even though they were inside the venue, countless eyes were watching them.

To avoid appearing awkward, Wen Liang still took the man's arm, but at the same time, she said something unusually weak:
"Don't talk, just stay silent... I want to think about it carefully."

He Tianran was taken aback, then remained silent, simply letting her hold his arm as he watched his mother continue the auction.

As each item was bid on and the auction drew to a close, the man's arm, which had been held by Wen Liang, gradually became numb. Just as he felt the time was right to say something, Wen Liang spoke first, uttering a seemingly nonsensical remark:

"Do you remember... when I was facing the shady practices of my agency, you also spent ten million to invest in my company and pulled me out of the mire."

"I... don't remember that specific..."

The "writer" honestly replied that since he awoke, although he had figured out most of the situations that happened around the original owner, there were still many gaps in the details.

"Then you should remember the suggestion the 'lead singer' made to me in the park a few days ago."

He Tianran silently took a sip of the champagne that was already empty.

"I remember that day... the conversation didn't go very well."

"Please apologize to...no, He Tianran...I'm sorry...I'm sorry..."

Feeling the arms tighten, He Tianran glanced sideways and saw that Wen Liang, who was usually arrogant, was now hanging her head. She was looking at the floor, which was illuminated by the shifting light in the room. Every time the light moved past her feet, a few wet drops would appear there...

"I suddenly feel... ridiculous... All this time, I've been smug about being different, indulging in my own willfulness, believing that love is all that matters, and spouting the foolish notion that I'd smash my head against a wall even if I hit one, completely... completely ignoring the fact that I'm still penniless, incapable of actually breaking down the wall, yet stubbornly using love to hold you hostage, dragging you down into this murky water you shouldn't have gotten involved in in the first place..."

With her head bowed and her face hidden, Wenliang inhaled deeply, then exhaled intermittently, mixing words and phrases. Although her inner thoughts were slightly blurred by her sorrow, she emphasized every word and every sentence with extra weight.

Sensing her growing emotions, He Tianran glanced around, then slowly turned to the side, using his back to shield her from some unwanted views. Wen Liang immediately released her clasped hands and pressed her forehead against his chest as he turned around.

The man held a wine glass in one hand and placed the other on her lower back, hovering a few inches away, but to outsiders, the gesture was intimate enough… “I was so stupid… so stupid… I… I used to hate how much I hated your calculating and hesitant nature, and now I hate my own ridiculous naivety. I thought being together was everything… But… but I clearly didn’t want to be a commodity with a price tag, but I only stepped into your world a little, and reality beat me to a pulp, almost making me a laughingstock, a spark that would be extinguished at the slightest touch…”

It seems that everything that happened today has indeed seriously shaken Wen Liang's sense of self-worth.

“...A Liang, your potential value far exceeds the number you just reported.”

"But that was all I had."

That's all I have.

To go bankrupt to integrate into the life of the one you love...

Wen Liang asked himself...

Can you do it?

Impulsive actions are not the answer; rather, the calm that followed taught her to be fearful.

If she had only been an observer, Wen Liang might not have felt so much; if she had continued as before, only talking about love with He Tianran, she might not have encountered this situation.

But it has nothing to do with others; I'm only talking about myself...

Only when a person is willing to take a desperate gamble can they truly see their own worth on the scales of "reality".

So, faced with this reality, Wen Liang realized how ridiculous her previous words, which had encouraged He Tianran to fight for love and live and die for it, seemed at this moment...

To put it bluntly, if it weren't for He Tianran's constant support, Wen Liang might not even have the right to walk the red carpet with him today. And the amount she risked everything to say was just a negligible part of the assets he currently possesses.

The auction ended, and after a brief speech, Bulgari executives took the stage to announce the official start of the party that night. Immediately afterwards, a pre-arranged band began playing some upbeat music.

Wen Liang raised her head, her emotions had recovered, but the tear stains in her eyes were still visible.

“Tianran, if it were just me... it would be very difficult for me to help you recover on my own. Hiss... Whew... what’s going on? I’m actually a little glad that Cao Aiqing knows about your situation…”

She took one last deep breath, seemingly not wanting He Tianran to be affected by her emotions, and surprisingly, she started joking about herself...

Looking at her forced, relaxed smile, He Tianran couldn't help but offer words of comfort:
"Ah Liang, there are often things in life more important than material possessions..."

"I know……"

This time, Wen Liang interrupted the man before he could finish speaking.

“But if I want to stand beside you on equal footing, I have to improve some of my own problems, instead of… yelling and nagging like before, constantly clinging to you.”

When Wen Liang said those words, she was already very calm. Her firm and clear-headed expression was reflected in He Tianran's pupils...

It seems like things have changed, yet it seems like nothing has changed...

"I……"

"Brother Tianran..."

Just as He Tianran was about to say something, Yu Naoqiu walked over gracefully. The lights in the room were now on full blast to accompany the band's music. She first looked at Wen Liang, whose eyes were misty but whose demeanor was stubborn, and then at He Tianran, who seemed a little lost. She let out a soft, mocking laugh.

"Heh, big star, could I borrow your boss for a bit so he can dance with me for a song?"

Today, the scene has become a vibrant social spectacle, with graceful waltzes and couples embracing and twirling, their elegant attire and swaying figures in the shimmering light of the crystal chandeliers.

"Nao Nao, you go first..."

“Sure… I’m a bit tired too, I’d like to rest for a bit.” Wen Liang took over, raised her hand, quickly wiped her eyes with her fingertips, and took a step back, widening the distance between her and He Tianran: “Miss Yu, please.”

Her behavior of being so "sensible" surprised Yu Naoqiu, who was expecting a good show, and even He Tianran found it unbelievable...

Wen Liang stopped looking at them, turned around, and walked towards the relatively quiet dining area not far away, leaving the dance floor, made up of lights, music, and ambiguity, to the men and women behind her.

He Tianran watched her walk alone to the edge of the hustle and bustle. The words of pleas for her to stay rolled in his throat, but he couldn't bring himself to say them.

Yu Naoqiu had already reached out and grabbed his arm, her soft body pressing close, pulling him towards the dance floor with undeniable force, her voice filled with the joy of a victor:

"Let's go, Brother Tianran, the music is just right."

He Tianran was half-pushed and half-forced into the dance floor, but her peripheral vision couldn't help but follow the red figure heading towards the corner, until she picked up a glass of water, turned her back to the dance floor, and slowly sipped it, completely blending into the shadows in the background...

Wen Liang didn't turn back. She was afraid of causing more trouble, and also afraid that she wouldn't be able to stop overthinking. So she looked around and finally spotted a figure in the distance...

She got up and walked over.

During the journey, she replaced the water in her glass with a glass of champagne.

"Mr. Bai..."

Bai Wenyu, who was gazing at her son's clumsy dancing on the dance floor, didn't look at her. She simply hummed in agreement and gave a brief instruction:
"sit."

Wen Liang sat down as instructed, opened her mouth, but heard Bai Wenyu casually say:

"Don't say thank you. You should know now that your gratitude is worthless."

Wen Liang, who was also born with a prickly nature, frowned slightly, but quickly, she said in a pleading tone:
"Mr. Bai... I was thinking that this is a rare opportunity, could you... introduce me to some... 'new friends'?"

Bai Wenyu's gaze finally shifted from his son to the female celebrity who had been stealing the spotlight all day. It was as if only at this moment could he truly take a good look at her.

"With what you're like now?"

Wen Liang was taken aback, but did not react.

Bai Wenyu carefully examined this once arrogant girl for a few moments, then took out a lipstick from her handbag. She unscrewed the cap, peeled off a piece of red with her index fingertip, and then rubbed it with her thumb to blend it out.

"Come……"

"Ah."

Seeing the other person's actions, Wen Liang understood what they meant.

Bai Wenyu lifted Wen Liang's chin with one hand, and with the other, using his lipstick-stained index finger, gently filled in the missing light in the corners of the girl's eyes and brows, where tears had washed over them. (End of Chapter)