Xu Mei didn’t care about the Cao family’s opinions.
In the past, she cared about how Qin Yi’s parents viewed her because she genuinely considered marrying him.
As for the Cao family… who cared what they thought?
They even spread word in Hunan circles that they wouldn’t let her into the Cao family. Pfft, as if she wanted to!
Cao Bo suspected Xu Mei was planning to jump ship to Tianjiao. Xu Mei held back, barely concealing the disdain in her eyes.
, What an utter idiot!
Cursing inwardly, she flashed a charming smile, “Then you’d better keep a close eye on me. If I do jump ship, I might consider taking you, my fiancé, along~”
She didn’t deny it.
Her tone seemed playful.
Cao Bo was increasingly baffled by what Xu Mei was thinking.
She definitely didn’t love him anymore, just as he no longer loved her.
If there was any love left, she wouldn’t stand by calmly watching her fiancé flirt with other girls.
The scandal’s aftermath lingered. Station Head Duan was still parading his wife, Fang Ping, to show off their love. Cao Bo and Xu Mei, a couple already drifting apart, had to put on a facade of affection too.
Moreover, Xu Mei insisted Cao Bo be her manager, making her interests more important to him now than when they were genuinely together.
For a moment, Cao Bo’s urge to flirt with pretty new girls faded.
If he were caught “cheating” now, the public would crucify him. Xu Mei would play the victim, gaining another wave of fame at his expense. Cao Bo wasn’t about to make that losing deal. As Xu Mei walked ahead, he hurried after her, lowering his voice, “You said Yu Tianlin leaked Station Head Duan’s affair. Got proof?”
Xu Mei thought, what proof was needed? Did she expect someone to deliver justice for her?
Proof is for others. After Yuan Fenghui’s nudge, Xu Mei had sorted out the web of interests. She trusted her own judgment.
“Believe it or not, I lost my role. The truth doesn’t matter anymore. But you, betting nearly everything, if you get kicked out too…”
Xu Mei said this with a smile, but Cao Bo’s face darkened.
He’d invested 5 million—not his entire fortune, but all his liquid funds.
With 5 million and his industry connections at stake, being ousted would cost him not just money but face.
Cao Bo’s expression shifted. Xu Mei sneered inwardly.
How had she ever thought this man was young and promising?
No matter. Useless men were easier to control. Xu Mei was starting to see why Liang Dan married Mr. Guan and kept their marriage going for years.
Cao Bo tried to talk more, but Xu Mei ignored him.
After the recording, she ditched him, heading to the lounge. Assistants buzzed around her—one offering water, another wanting to massage her shoulders. Xu Mei kept one assistant and dismissed the rest.
The lounge finally quieted. Xu Mei checked her phone, finding several unread messages.
“Can you really help me?”
“Why should I trust you?”
“Last time, you lost your role because of us. You must hate us.”
Xu Mei typed slowly, “Yeah, I hate you all. But who do you think I hate most?”
That question stumped the other side.
Who did Xu Mei hate most?
They probed cautiously.
“…Fang Ping?”
Xu Mei replied succinctly, “Yes!”
Actually, she hated them all.
But some people are selfish, feeling good about themselves, thinking they’re not the worst, that Xu Mei’s harm wasn’t their fault, believing she’d target her biggest enemy first and work with lesser ones.
Or rather, with no other options, they’d take Xu Mei’s olive branch.
During passionate promises, they’d trash the “yellow-faced hag” at home together. But once caught, affecting the man’s interests, he’d ditch the mistress, grovel to his wife, and offer a pittance to send the mistress away.
If the money was enough, taking it and leaving wasn’t out of the question.
But being stingy with the payoff? That’s just bullying!
Back then, Deng Shangwei offered 300,000 or a Chengdu flat as compensation. Station Head Duan, however, wasn’t even as generous as a small-time seafood boss.
A mere 100,000—fit for a provincial station deputy?
It was like dismissing a beggar!
After some mental struggle, the other side sent Xu Mei a new message.
Xu Mei opened it, laughed, her eerie laughter startling the assistant in the lounge.
“Sister Xu Mei…”
Xu Mei waved it off, “Nothing, just saw a funny joke.”
What joke could make her laugh so creepily?
The new assistant was curious but didn’t dare question Xu Mei.
Shedding her innocent facade, Xu Mei was a formidable figure to the new assistants. Her status didn’t warrant such a large entourage, but she’d made Cao Bo pay for them.
She’d said lacking a grand presence at work made others look down on her, embarrassing Cao Bo.
Cao Bo’s embarrassment was the Cao family’s embarrassment.
The Cao family, prominent in Hunan, couldn’t have a shabby daughter-in-law-to-be socializing.
The Cao family disliked and disdained Xu Mei, but she could exploit what they cared about.
Cao Bo, often infuriated by Xu Mei, had to ensure the assistants looked after her. With her as the Cao family’s fiancée, another public meltdown—like jumping off a building—was unthinkable.
The assistants, unaware of the truth, saw Cao Bo obey Xu Mei, making them revere her.
If Sister Xu Mei said it was a joke, it must be. A nobody like them couldn’t question her!
Xu Mei didn’t care what the assistants thought. She cared about the messages, glancing at the latest one.
“I’m over three months pregnant!”
So that’s it!
Xu Mei’s smile turned cold.
Not crazed for thrills at someone’s celebration, but because time was running out—her pregnancy would soon show.
That’s why they rendezvoused on the way to the celebration, ensuring Fang Ping would notice!
For their honesty, Xu Mei offered her advice.
“I think the child needs a father, don’t you?”
The other side didn’t reply. Xu Mei wasn’t in a hurry, deleting all the messages and leaving the lounge nonchalantly.
With no shoots lately and the company avoiding heavy commercial schedules, Xu Mei had plenty of free time to fish.
…
As Xu Mei transformed into a vengeful goddess targeting those who wronged her, Wen Ying’s life was particularly blissful.
Sow seeds in spring, reap a harvest in autumn.
Since *Teen Idol* launched in August, by November 1, the publisher would tally its first quarter’s actual sales, calculating and paying Wen Ying royalties based on books sold.
Last she heard, it sold over 300,000 copies. Some time later, how much had it risen?
400,000 was certain.
500,000 wasn’t unthinkable.
600,000… a bit too ambitious for a book out only three months!
*Teen Idol* had an initial print of 100,000, a first reprint of 200,000, and a second of 400,000, totaling 700,000 copies in the national market. Wen Ying estimated sales between 500,000 and 600,000. Without word of a third reprint, sales hadn’t hit 600,000.
