Huayu: You were supposed to be a top star, but you've become capital?

"Why not?" Yang Chaoyue took a step closer and lowered his voice, "Are you sure you can do it, Sister Mengyan?"

She was so confident calling him "husband" and "brother" online, but when she was actually in front of Brother Shen, she chickened out?

Are you really just going to watch Brother Shen get... teased like this by that old woman?

Bai Mengyan's face flushed red instantly, even the tips of her ears turned crimson.

Online banter is the same as yelling "Lin Shen, my husband!" in a fan group. But to actually do something like Tang Yan did in person, in front of a large audience...

Her heart immediately started pounding, and her earlier arrogance diminished considerably.

"I... I was just a fan's love for their idol! How can that be the same as that?" Bai Mengyan retorted stubbornly, but her eyes darted around.

"Besides, Brother Shen... he treats me like a boss to an employee, at most like a senior to a junior. How could I... I could..."

"What could that be?" Yang Chaoyue interrupted her.

"How will you know if you don't try? Look at others, even Brother Guan Shen thinks, he just does it first and then talks about it, at least he's made his presence felt!"

If you keep hiding like this, you'll only sulk. Shen-ge might really get annoyed by her methods, or... what if others misunderstand?

"Then... then what do you suggest we do?" Bai Mengyan was both anxious and embarrassed when her secret was exposed, and subconsciously grabbed Yang Chaoyue's arm.

Yang Chaoyue's eyes darted around, and a bold plan quickly took shape. She leaned close to Bai Mengyan's ear and whispered a few words.

As Bai Mengyan listened, her eyes widened slowly, her blush deepened, and she shook her head vigorously.

"No, no! This is too... too obvious. Brother Shen will definitely think I have too much of an ulterior motive!"

"Hey, just listen to me!" Yang Chaoyue encouraged. "Trust me, watch me do it!"

We can't let that old woman think we're easy to bully, right? We also need to let Brother Shen know that someone genuinely cares about him and isn't just trying to take advantage of him!

Bai Mengyan bit her lower lip, her mind in turmoil.

On the one hand, they felt that Yang Chaoyue's method was too reckless and shameful; on the other hand, seeing Yang Chaoyue's determined, even somewhat troublesome, demeanor...

Recalling Tang Yan's dazzling smile, a surge of competitive spirit mixed with anticipation quietly welled up inside her.

"...I'll try it like you said? If it doesn't work, I'll run away right away!" Bai Mengyan finally agreed, her face flushed and her voice barely audible.

"Don't worry, I've got it covered!" Yang Chaoyue patted his chest and smiled.

When the two returned to the banquet hall, the atmosphere was almost over, and the head table was having its final toasts.

Lin Shen calmly toasted everyone at the table, thanking them for their hard work over the next few months. His demeanor was impeccable, and Tang Yan also raised her glass with a smile.

After the banquet ended, Lin Shen exchanged final pleasantries with Luo Yongchang, Ma Dong, and others before heading towards the door. Yang Chaoyue immediately pulled the still somewhat hesitant Bai Mengyan to greet them.

"Brother Shen!" Yang Chaoyue flashed a bright smile, his voice clear and crisp. "Sister Mengyan and I are waiting for you!"

Lin Shen glanced at her, then at Bai Mengyan beside her, whose cheeks were slightly flushed and whose eyes were darting around, and nodded: "Okay, let's go."

Lin Shen's van was already waiting at the door, and Bai Mengyan's assistant also came over. Bai Mengyan quickly said to her:

"Xiao Zhang, you can go back with the crew. I... I'll hitch a ride with Brother Shen."

The assistant nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

The three of them got into the car. The car was spacious, and Lin Shen sat by the window, closing his eyes to rest, looking somewhat tired.

Yang Chaoyue sat in the middle, while Bai Mengyan sat in the passenger seat, and the car started smoothly.

After a moment of silence, Yang Chaoyue suddenly broke the silence with a grin:

"Brother Shen, um... when we get to the hotel later, would Sister Mengyan be willing to come to our suite for a while?"

Lin Shen opened his eyes and looked at her, somewhat puzzled.

Yang Chaoyue smiled innocently and rattled off his reasons:

"Sister Mengyan said she has a few questions about her understanding of Huo Xiuxiu's character, and she's been wanting to ask you about them for a long time, but she's afraid she'll forget because she'll be nervous filming tomorrow. Right, Sister Mengyan?"

Bai Mengyan felt a chill run down her spine when she was mentioned, and quickly nodded vigorously.

"Yes, yes, yes! Brother Shen, there are a few things I just can't figure out, and I'm afraid I might misunderstand them and delay the filming..."

Her voice trailed off as she spoke, because Lin Shen's gaze was fixed on her face.

Bai Mengyan's ears burned, and she gripped the seatbelt tightly with her fingers.

Just when she thought she was sure to be rejected, Lin Shen looked away and looked back at the flowing night view outside, and hummed in agreement.

"Don't stay out too late."

Bai Mengyan was stunned for a moment, then a huge surge of joy welled up inside her, and she almost couldn't control her expression, so she quickly nodded vigorously:

"Mmm! Thank you, Brother Shen!"

Yang Chaoyue also secretly made a "V" sign and winked at Bai Mengyan.

The hotel is one of the best in Huairou. The film crew booked several floors, and Lin Shen, as the male lead and an important investor, stayed in the best suite on the top floor.

Tang Yan, as the female lead, has a suite on the same floor, just facing a different direction, while Bai Mengyan's room is on a few floors below.

The elevator went straight to the top floor. The elevator doors opened, and the three of them stepped out. Just as they turned the corner of the corridor, they ran into Tang Yan and her assistant, who had just returned.

Tang Yan had changed into comfortable casual clothes, but her makeup was still exquisite. When she saw Lin Shen and the other two, she paused for a moment, her gaze lingering on Lin Shen's face for a second before sliding to Bai Mengyan behind him.

Her gaze lingered for a moment on Bai Mengyan's still slightly flushed cheeks, then she revealed a slightly mocking smile, her voice exceptionally clear in the quiet corridor:

"Oh, Lin Shen, you're back too..." She paused, her gaze sweeping meaningfully over Bai Mengyan again.

"But it's so late, Miss Bai, why are you on this floor? Could it be... you're here to deliver takeout again?"

Bai Mengyan's face flushed red. She wanted to say something, but Yang Chaoyue gently pulled her wrist.

Lin Shen took half a step forward, blocking Bai Mengyan's path diagonally in front of him:

"Thank you for your trouble, Teacher Tang. Mengyan is an artist in my company and also a colleague in the film crew. There are some work-related matters that need to be discussed."

As for where she is and when she leaves, that's my business, and it's also her own business.

Lin Shen paused, looking directly at Tang Yan. Although he didn't raise his voice, every word was clear:

"I will take care of my people myself, so there's no need for others to worry about them."

"Teacher Tang, get some rest too. See you on set tomorrow."

After saying that, Lin Shen said no more. He nodded slightly to Tang Yan, then gestured for Yang Chaoyue to open the door and led the two of them straight into his suite.

The door closed gently behind me, shutting out the somewhat stagnant air in the corridor.

Outside the door, Tang Yan stood still, her smile frozen on her face.

She hadn't expected Lin Shen to be so direct, even forcefully defending Bai Mengyan. His words, "My people," were spoken with absolute certainty, leaving her no room for embarrassment whatsoever.

Seeing this, her assistant leaned closer to Tang Yan:

"Sister Tangtang, should we... take a picture? Or, find an angle and anonymously leak some information to a paparazzi we know?..."

Tang Yan suddenly turned her head and stared at her assistant as if she were a fool:

"Are you crazy? What good will this do us?! The 'Tomb Raiders' series hasn't even started filming yet and this kind of news is already happening. The platform and investors will be the first to punish us! You're a self-defeating idiot!"

She grew angrier as she spoke, especially when she thought about Lin Shen's protective attitude earlier, which made her even more furious.

Tang Yan glared at her assistant, then strode quickly towards her room in her high heels, swiped her card to enter, and slammed the door shut with a "bang".

The assistant, who was locked out of the door, shrank back and dared not say another word.