Li Mengjiao’s bold promotion of *Young Idol* on the variety show was still a secret from Wen Ying.
Until the show aired, who knew if those scenes would be cut!
If she told Wen Ying and they didn’t make it to TV, how embarrassing would that be? Li Mengjiao cared about face, after all.
Suppressing her urge to brag to Wen Ying, Li Mengjiao returned to Chengdu from Hunan the day before school started. She brought gifts for friends and a stack of assignments for Xie Qian to check… Even out of province, she couldn’t escape Xie Qian’s long-distance pursuit. That drawerful of assignments had been mailed to her.
Wang Shuang picked her up at the airport. Li Mengjiao wore a baseball cap and mask, bare-faced, unrecognised by fellow passengers.
Wang Shuang spotted her instantly, noticing she seemed thinner. While Yuan Fenghui and Yun Chen fetched luggage, he quietly asked, “Didn’t like Hunan’s food?”
No way—Sichuanese love spicy food, and Hunan’s even spicier. Hunan cuisine should suit Li Mengjiao’s taste.
Had Teacher Yuan made her diet again?
Li Mengjiao wasn’t fat at all!
Wang Shuang felt he could lift her with one hand.
Most boys his age liked slim girls. Wang Shuang’s past “girlfriends” were all thin. He didn’t demand they diet, but it was his aesthetic, and he naturally gravitated toward it.
With Li Mengjiao, though, he thought a bit of weight would be good.
, Teacher Yuan was too harsh on her!
Wang Shuang didn’t see his double standards—friends and “girlfriends” were judged differently, of course.
Li Mengjiao waved it off, “I ate fine, just didn’t have an appetite sometimes.”
It was exhausting.
Yuan Fenghui didn’t exploit her like Mr. Guan did Xu Mei, but with endorsement fees came obligations. Teacher Yuan called it professionalism. A star could lack looks, acting, or singing, but had to have work ethic. Careers had ups and downs—acting big during peak popularity meant no invites when the shine faded.
Li Mengjiao earnestly explained to Wang Shuang, “Don’t confront Teacher Yuan. It’s really just me not eating. She hasn’t mistreated me.”
Her packed schedule and the heat killed her appetite, so she naturally slimmed down. Yuan Fenghui, concerned, even took her for a health check.
“I know, I’m not daft!” Wang Shuang replied, but he felt glum.
When Yuan Fenghui approached with the luggage, Wang Shuang perked up.
Qin Yi and Qin Jiao were quick with payments. Wang Shuang’s 400,000-plus pounds from the “Shrimp King” share transfer was in hand. Following Wen Ying and Xie Qian’s advice, he used it to negotiate with his dad, Wang Jun.
Wang Shuang wanted to invest his earnings in Tianjiao’s drama production!
Wang Jun asked if he’d thought it through. The film industry was tough for outsiders. One hit could rake in profits, but the next might lose everything.
If it flopped, Wang Jun wouldn’t cover Wang Shuang’s 400,000 pounds.
Wang Shuang wasn’t scared of losses.
Business wasn’t a sure win. If he lost, so be it—he wasn’t even out of high school, he could bounce back.
Wang Jun teased him but was secretly thrilled.
If not for fear of Wang Shuang getting cocky, he’d transfer all his Tianjiao shares to his son now! Middle-aged and faithful, Wang Jun had only one heir. His fortune was for Wang Shuang—giving it early or late changed nothing.
Their family deal stayed private. Wang Shuang remained an intern producer on a 2,000-pound salary, eagerly helping Yuan Fenghui with luggage.
Once a spoiled rich kid, he’d learned to read people.
Yuan Fenghui smiled, “How’s Wen Ying’s lawsuit? No verdict yet?”
“Should be soon. Heard they got a new lawyer.”
The new lawyer exposed Wen Ying’s secret book and lawsuit to her parents. Luckily, her parents were clear-headed, not siding with outsiders against their daughter, or Wen Ying would’ve been in a mess.
Yuan Fenghui thought: a prolonged lawsuit was good. Ongoing media coverage was great publicity for *Young Idol*.
Its marketing was impressive—wave after wave of buzz, building to a big climax and twist. Life was sometimes more dramatic than TV. Scripts needed logic; life often had none!
Li Mengjiao promoted *Young Idol* on the show… When it aired, the book would get even bigger. Li, naive, might not grasp her influence yet, with endorsements at 2.8 million pounds?
Or maybe she did, using her fame to boost *Young Idol*.
Childish, but it warmed Yuan Fenghui’s heart.
Li Mengjiao’s loyalty to Wen Ying now meant loyalty to Yuan Fenghui later. Managing a sentimental, childlike artist was far better than a backstabber.
On the plane, Yuan Fenghui read *Young Idol*.
If adaptable, she wanted Tianjiao to buy its film rights.
After reading, she felt regret. The book was quality, but it didn’t suit the current market.
No rush, though. Tianjiao, a new company, couldn’t handle multiple projects. The next year would focus on Wen Ying’s original script. Yuan Fenghui had no urgent need for new scripts.
If needed, she could commission Wen Ying anytime.
Zhang Guangzhen’s scripts were good, but Wen Ying’s had more spark, better at elevating talent!
…
“Achoo!”
Summer wasn’t fully gone, and mornings and evenings had a chill. Wen Ying rubbed her nose, smiling apologetically at Zheng Zhihe.
Zheng Zhihe grinned, “What, scared your parents will cave to Lawyer Du’s persuasion?”
Wen Ying shook her head, whispering, “I’m more afraid Editor Han can’t handle my mum’s wrath. If a fight breaks out, it’d give them leverage.”
Violence solved nothing, especially with Du Li there. Wen Ying feared a failed settlement—Du Li and Han Qin might provoke Manager Chen.
Sure, Old Wen was there.
But could Old Wen really hold Manager Chen back?
, Old Wen’s family status was pretty low these days.
Zheng Zhihe was more optimistic than Wen Ying.
Unlike Wen Ying, influenced by her past life’s views, Zheng Zhihe had dealt with Chen Ru and found her rational.
Chen Ru needed to vent—for her daughter’s grievances and being underestimated alongside her husband.
Money solved most problems, but not all. The better Du Li’s settlement terms, the more insulted Chen Ru would feel!
“Just watch, you should trust your parents.”
