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

"Young people are just so hot-blooded," Feng Xiaogang said slowly, leaning back in his recliner.

"Becoming famous too quickly made them arrogant, thinking they could go anywhere and pick and choose anything. They didn't understand the rules."

"That's good. Let young people know that if you don't take the path when it's offered to you, then... there might be no path left."

"That's right," Wang Zhonglei immediately echoed, his eyes turning slightly cold.

"Rules are rules. This matter can't just be left unresolved. We need to take a stand. Otherwise, everyone will follow suit, and things will become unmanageable."

Feng Xiaogang leaned back in his recliner and looked at Guan Hu: "Hu Zi, don't get worked up. Even if we lose Zhang the butcher, we can still eat pigs with hair on."

"Quickly have Old Qian gather those candidates again, whatever their name is, Fan, and pick one who's sensible and obedient to meet us. The show can't be delayed."

"Okay." Guan Hu stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and crumpled it up firmly. "Got it, let's hurry."

The topic was dropped, and Guan Hu picked up the water chestnut again, continuing to tease the cricket in a foul mood.

Old Qian had already walked to the corner and started making a phone call. The Kunqu opera was still playing softly, and the autumn sun was still warm.

Meanwhile, in the master bedroom of the hotel's penthouse suite.

Bai Mengyan struggled to regain consciousness amidst a severe dry mouth and a feeling of utter exhaustion throughout her body.

She groggily reached out and touched the side, only to find a slightly cool, soft blanket.

Before her mind had fully registered, her body had already begun recalling certain intense fragments of last night. Instantly, her face flushed bright red, and she became fully awake.

Bai Mengyan tried to sit up, but a clear soreness came from her waist and groin, causing her to gasp and fall back into the pillow.

After a while, she regained her strength and slowly moved her body to lean against the headboard. Reaching for her phone on the bedside table, her eyes widened the moment the screen lit up—

11: 07!

"Oh my god!!!"

A scream pierced her throat. Bai Mengyan frantically tried to throw off the covers and get out of bed, but her movements were too abrupt, causing her to grimace and nearly tumble off the edge of the bed.

Looking down, I saw that I was wearing a men's T-shirt that was obviously too big, and nothing else.

The chaotic memories of last night quickly surfaced, making the tips of her ears turn bright red.

Just as Bai Mengyan was panicking and didn't know what to do, there was a light knock on the master bedroom door, and then it was pushed open a crack.

Yang Chaoyue poked his head in, a gossipy smile on his face, and then quickly scanned her and the messy bed.

"Sister Mengyan, you're awake?" Yang Chaoyue pushed open the door and came in, carrying a cup of steaming honey water.

"Have some water first. Brother Shen said you should sleep a little longer. I've silenced your phone for you."

Bai Mengyan took the water glass and gulped down most of it, finally feeling some relief from her parched throat.

She pulled her T-shirt tighter around her, her face still flushed, her eyes darting around, avoiding Yang Chaoyue's gaze.

"I... how could I have slept so soundly? Oh right, the film crew! I have scenes to film this morning!"

"Relax, relax!" Yang Chaoyue sat down on the edge of the bed with a grin.

"Brother Shen has arranged everything. You can rest today or do something else. Anyway, you don't need to go to the film set."

She quickly explained why the trajectory matching team needed to be stationed on set for a meeting, and why the main cast and actors needed to be involved in the coordination. She then winked at the end:

"So, your job today is to participate in the shoot as an important member of the brand. As for the shooting location, be flexible, anyway, no one dares to check up on Brother Shen."

Bai Mengyan was stunned as she listened, but the panic in her heart temporarily subsided; he always managed to arrange everything perfectly.

"Are you hungry? I had the hotel send over some congee and side dishes, as well as your favorite shrimp dumplings, which are keeping warm in the outer room. Why don't you go and wash up first?"

Yang Chaoyue, like a considerate little butler, grinned mischievously and asked, "Can you walk? Do you need me to help you?"

"Get lost!" Bai Mengyan grabbed a pillow in embarrassment and anger and threw it at Yang Chaoyue, who nimbly dodged it.

She slowly moved off the bed, her feet buckling slightly as they touched the ground, but thankfully she managed to steady herself by holding onto the edge of the bed.

When Bai Mengyan slowly finished washing up and changed into comfortable loungewear that Yang Chaoyue had taken from her room at some point, she walked into the living room. Several light and delicious dishes were already laid out on the small dining table.

Bai Mengyan was indeed starving, so she sat down and began to eat slowly.

Yang Chaoyue sat cross-legged on the sofa opposite her, holding his phone, but his eyes would occasionally drift over, lingering on her neck, and then he would chuckle.

"Stop looking!" Bai Mengyan felt uncomfortable being stared at.

"I'm happy!" Yang Chaoyue smiled happily.

"Congratulations, Mengyan! You've achieved your goal and successfully climbed to the top! How about it?" She leaned closer, her eyes gleaming with gossip.

"Brother Shen... cough, are you... feeling alright? You seem to be walking a little..." Yang Chaoyue imitated her exaggerated staggering motion.

"Chaoyue!" Bai Mengyan's face was flushed red, and she pretended to hit her. "If you keep talking nonsense!"

"Hey, no, no, no!" Yang Chaoyue raised his hands in surrender, but his smile widened even more. "I was just worried about you! But seriously..."

She became a little more serious. "Brother Shen is so good to you, he arranged everything so meticulously. When I came over this morning, he specifically told me not to disturb you, to let you sleep until you naturally woke up, and he even told me to prepare some light food."

Bai Mengyan lowered her head to drink her porridge, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

"So," Yang Chaoyue rubbed his hands together, "Sister Mengyan, didn't I think I was clever last night? My assist was spot-on, wasn't it? If I hadn't created an opportunity to be alone with you, and then disappeared at the right moment, could you... um?"

She raised an eyebrow. "This should be considered a major achievement, right? Is there a reward? Like... revealing some details?"

"Reward you my foot!" Bai Mengyan said, both amused and exasperated. "What details are there? I'll get angry if you tell me!"

"Alright, alright, I won't say it then." Yang Chaoyue knew when to stop, knowing his new sister-in-law was easily embarrassed.

"So what are your plans next?" Yang Chaoyue asked.

"Brother Shen said that if you feel alright this afternoon and your spirits are high, you can have the makeup artist and photographer come over to try on a few new outfits for the trajectory line and shoot some promotional materials. What do you think?"

Bai Mengyan thought about it. Although she was still feeling a little unwell, she had slept for so long and her spirits had recovered considerably.

Moreover, she didn't want to lie around doing nothing all day.

"Okay, sure." Bai Mengyan nodded. "Then you can arrange it for me. But, I'm worried the final result might not be good?"

"Don't worry!" Yang Chaoyue patted his chest, "Our makeup artist is top-notch. She'll make you look radiant and won't show any signs of... cough, tiredness."

She quickly changed the subject, "Then I'll go coordinate the time and room. You take your time eating, and rest for a while after you finish."