Curiosity killed the cat.
Many know this saying, yet few can rein in their curiosity.
It’s like cigarette packs with “Smoking is harmful to health” warnings—doesn’t stop smokers from lighting up!
Wen Ying and her trio had been lurking suspiciously at the corner for a while, not going in—something was up!
Yu Tianlin’s assistant was consumed by this thought, his feet moving forward, driven by curiosity, despite his brain’s protests.
When Yuan Fenghui was an agent, she’d never have tolerated such an assistant near the Miracle Group!
In this industry, prying into others’ secrets might give you leverage, but it also earns you their hatred.
Unless you’re a paparazzo thriving on gossip, the smart move is to steer clear to avoid trouble.
Those who dive in are just asking for it.
An assistant’s trouble becomes the artist’s trouble.
But Yuan Fenghui’s influence had waned. Her old assistants were replaced, and the new ones were yes-men for the Miracle Group, blindly following Yu Tianlin’s crew, helping them deceive the company, only caring about their short-term approval, not the rightness of their “orders.”
—Brother Tianlin told me to follow them. I need to figure out what they’re up to!
The assistant convinced himself.
He crept to the door, checked the corridor was empty, and pressed his ear against it.
There were sounds inside.
The longer he listened, the wider his eyes grew.
So those three kids earlier…
While Yu Tianlin’s assistant was eavesdropping intently, Wen Ying and Xie Qian were being dragged along by Wang Shuang at breakneck speed.
“Move, move, move! Get far away, or we’ll get styes!”
Wang Shuang had heard the entertainment industry was messy, but this was his first taste of just how wild it could get.
Not that he was naive about affairs or cheating scandals, but ordinary folks didn’t play this risky, hooking up right next to a crowded celebration!
With people milling about the station, weren’t those two afraid of getting caught?
“Slow down!” Wen Ying hadn’t expected Wang Shuang to be so innocent.
Having once “caught her uncle in the act,” Wen Ying was utterly unfazed.
Xie Qian couldn’t grasp why Wang Shuang was panicking. The cheating couple wasn’t flustered, yet Wang Shuang acted like he’d been caught red-handed.
“Let me tell you—argh!” Wang Shuang stumbled, crashing into someone.
“Sorry!” He clutched his shoulder, apologising.
The person he’d bumped into shoved him back, “Don’t you watch where you’re going?”
A woman’s voice complained.
Looking closely, both sides froze.
It was none other than Professor Fang.
Beside her stood Xu Mei.
Xu Mei was dressed to the nines, her gown more elaborate than the evening’s star, Li Mengjiao.
Professor Fang hadn’t planned to attend *The Princess’s New Clothes* celebration, but Cao Bo messaged her, saying the event was crawling with ad sponsors. Skipping it to save face would only hurt Xu Mei’s chances!
Professor Fang knew the celebration was really a networking swap meet.
With Cao Bo offering a way in, she agreed to bring Xu Mei, hoping to make a splashy entrance, steal some spotlight, and maybe even poach Li Mengjiao’s resources.
Once integrity slips, all sorts of lines get crossed.
But Professor Fang was conflicted—she dared to act but not to own it, only grasping the surface of Yuan Fenghui’s tactics.
She was scheming while keeping up appearances, only to run into Wen Ying’s trio.
She felt a surge of shame, as if her plans had been exposed.
Wait, why were these three kids giving her *that* look?
This is just how the entertainment world works!
Yu Tianlin had said Yuan Fenghui would throw out all dignity to secure opportunities for the Miracle Group. If she could do it, why couldn’t Professor Fang?
“Let’s go,” Professor Fang said, shifting from guilt to defiance in seconds, ignoring the trio’s gazes with her head held high.
She’d clearly misread their looks.
Xu Mei had little to say to Wen Ying. As they passed, Wen Ying seemed like she wanted to speak but held back.
“Pro—” Wen Ying started, but Professor Fang and Xu Mei sped up, practically fleeing as if chased by dogs, disappearing down the corridor.
“You wanted to warn her?” Xie Qian asked, thinking Wen Ying disliked Professor Fang, especially since she’d taken in Pan Li.
He and Wen Ying had warned Professor Fang before, but she chose to believe Pan Li would “reform.” Adults must own their choices, and Professor Fang’s was foolish—Xie Qian found it hard to sympathise.
Wen Ying nodded, then shook her head. “I’m not playing saint. I just think Professor Fang deserves some dignity.”
This dignity wasn’t just for her—Wen Ying hoped no woman would face such humiliation.
Not that women should naively ignore their husband’s cheating, but they should at least have the right to handle it privately.
“Besides, they might not run into each other… right?” Wen Ying added. Though Professor Fang and Xu Mei were passing that spot, it wasn’t certain they’d cross paths.
Wang Shuang chuckled, “They’re heading to the celebration, right? This lot’s really something, taking turns to stir up drama!”
The poor student botched his metaphor, calling Professor Fang and Xu Mei “monster hunters.” So who’s the “monster”?
Before Wen Ying could respond, a woman’s sharp cry rang out ahead.
Piercing but brief, like a duck with its neck stepped on.
Wen Ying laughed, torn between amusement and disbelief. Her jinx of a mouth seemed to have struck again—had they collided after all?
Wang Shuang’s eyes gleamed with gossip, eager to dive in. “Going to look now won’t give us styes, right?”
He’d dragged Wen Ying and Xie Qian away earlier, but now he was pulling them back.
…
So, how did Professor Fang catch the affair?
As she and Xu Mei passed through the corridor, Yu Tianlin’s assistant was glued to the door, eavesdropping.
Seeing people approach, he sheepishly stood up.
They locked eyes in awkward silence.
In the quiet, Xu Mei and Professor Fang caught some sounds. Xu Mei blushed, and Professor Fang muttered about “shamelessness.”
Seeing Yu Tianlin’s assistant by the door, they assumed Yu Tianlin was inside, with the assistant guarding.
As for who Yu Tianlin was with, a heartthrob idol like him could summon a fling with a wave of his hand!
After a brief awkward moment, Professor Fang and Xu Mei hurried past, heads down.
To ease the tension, Professor Fang pulled out her phone to call Pan Li, wanting to know how the celebration was going.
Then came an even more awkward moment.
Pan Li’s ringtone echoed behind her—from the very room!
And Pan Li didn’t answer, cutting the call off.
Professor Fang was stunned.
Xu Mei thought Pan Li was impressive.
Hooking up with Yu Tianlin that fast?
They still assumed it was Yu Tianlin inside.
Xu Mei tugged Professor Fang’s sleeve.
They’d once pitched a publicity stunt with Yu Tianlin, which he’d rejected!
Caught red-handed now, shouldn’t he give in?
Blame Yu Tianlin for being too eager!
Professor Fang caught Xu Mei’s drift, hesitated a few seconds, then redialed Pan Li.
The shrill ringtone interrupted the room’s occupants.
Yu Tianlin’s assistant heard the doorknob turn, signaling someone was coming out. He bolted, joining Professor Fang and Xu Mei a few steps away.
Before they could process his odd behavior, the door opened, and a man stepped out.
Not Yu Tianlin.
…It was Director Duan.
Xu Mei gasped, then clapped a hand over her mouth.
