Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Shi Nian raised his eyebrows and stated, âTell me, where can I hire these Internet trolls? Weâll also hire Internet trolls. Letâs hire a whole troop and drown those rumor-mongers in comments.â
His statement made Yun Nan laugh, and she said, âStop it! How would we be any different to Yun Liu if we did that? Letâs watch the showâs next live broadcast next week together. Since whatâs done is done, we can only take things one step at a time.â
âI thought you would have Shi Xiu quit and bring her back home immediately,â Shi Nian uttered, surprised.
Yun Nan gave him a wry smile and explained, âItâs not that simple. I canât just walk in and take her away with me. Shi Xiu has signed a contract with them.
Sheâll have to pay a huge penalty fee if she quits.â
Seeing the look on Shi Nianâs face, Yun Nan added, âI know that bit of money is insignificant to you, but this concerns Shi Xiuâs reputation. We can only move forward and let this play out; we canât back out of this, or thereâll be consequences in the future.â
âIf youâre really worried, call Shi Xiu and chat with her,â Shi Nian suggested.
Yun Nan shook her head and replied, âFang Xi will talk to her. Shi Xiu signed the contract behind my back. Sheâll feel pressured if I call her now. Sheâll be more open with Fang Xi instead. I can rest assured with Fang Xi advising her.â
Shi Nian found her sudden change funny and commented, âIâm impressed; you sure thought that through quickly.â
Yun Nan sighed. âIâm an impatient person. Most of the time, I can control myself and make slower decisions. However, Iâm very impulsive when it comes to the people and things I care about.â
Noticing her disconsolate state, Shi Nian remarked, âI think thatâs a good thing. Being yourself is a form of self-respect. Donât always think of others; thatâs a very tiring way to live.â
âHe saw through me? Yun Nan thought, a little stunned.
Shi Nian was never one to procrastinate and asked Xi Cheng out for a meal. He didnât invite Liang Han and Ye Kun because he didnât want them to get involved. He liked to solve his problems directly.
His invitation was only for Xi Cheng and didnât extend to Lin Yu; Shi Nian wanted to give his buddy one last chance as friends. However, Xi Cheng wasted that chance because not only did he bring Lin Yu with him, but he also brought Gu Man and Shi Gao along.
The three women were dumbfounded when they saw Yun Nan. Shi Nian introduced them to Yun Nan. âThis is my childhood friend, Xi Cheng. This is his fiancée, Miss Lin Yu, and these two are her friends.â He deliberately snubbed the two by not introducing them by their names.
Shi Nian held Yun Nanâs arm in his as he introduced her, âThis is my wife, Yun
Nan.â
âHello, itâs a pleasure to meet you all,â Yun Nan gently smiled and greeted them.
Lin Yu returned her smile as she sized Yun Nan up and commented, âWow, youâre so pretty! No wonder Shi Nian refused to let us meet you. He must be afraid you would get snatched away.â
Shi Nian smiled slightly and replied, âThatâs right. Itâs why I only invited Xi
Cheng; I didnât even let Liang Han and Ye Kun know.â
Xi Cheng and Shi Nian had known each other since their birth, so naturally, he understood Shi Nianâs meaning. But there was nothing he could do about his tagalongs.
He extended his hand to Yun Nan and stated, âHello! Itâs nice to meet you.â âHello,â Yun Nan candidly shook his hand in response.
âGeez, thereâs no need to be so formal!â Lin Yu chuckled. âYun Nan, right? You probably donât know yet, but Xi Cheng and Shi Nian are close buddies born on
the same day in the same delivery room. These two are closer than biological brothers. They grew up together, so you donât have to be so reserved. Oh, right, I havenât introduced them to you. These are my two besties, Gu Man and Shi Gao.â
Yun Nan responded with a smile and discreetly examined the three women. She could tell in a flash that the woman Shi Nian had asked her to deal with was Gu Man.
Noticing that Yun Nan didnât say anything, Lin Yu made up her mind and deliberately arranged for Gu Man to sit on Shi Nianâs other side. Shi Nian frowned and looked at Yun Nan.
Yun Nan got the message and leaned over Shi Nian to speak to Gu Man. âThatâs a beautiful bracelet you have there, Miss Gu. Hey, Shi Nian, switch seats with me, will you? I canât see it properly with you in the way.â
Shi Nian mentally praised Yun Nan. He stood up and even helped Yun Nan get up as he exchanged seats with her. Gu Manâs expression soured when she saw the intimacy between the two.
However, Yun Nan held her sleeve, took a closer look at the bracelet on her wrist, and said, âMiss Gu, your bracelet is gorgeous!â
Gu Man disgruntledly pulled her hand away before replying in cool disdain,
âItâs not worth much.â
She didnât expect Yun Nan to retract her hands before wiping them with a wet towel on the table. Yun Nan nodded and amiably remarked, âYeah, imitation jewelry like this isnât valuable, but they are beautiful. Miss Gu, I can tell youâre a connoisseur; youâre probably only wearing this piece because you like how it looks. Indeed, not many are knowledgeable in jewelry; experts only wear these things for fun..â