Wen Ying’s photos differed from her in person. After all, makeup for the camera accentuated her features.
In reality, she appeared smaller.
And cuter too.
He Zhen felt something might be wrong with him.
He had always liked girls like Rebecca, who met all his expectations.
Since he already had a girlfriend, why was he paying attention to another girl?
Just because of some vague sense of familiarity?
It was completely illogical!
To He Zhen, anything illogical shouldn’t happen.
He could delete all his search history and suppress any stirrings of familiarity.
Wen Ying mentally declared a breakup with her ex. By some cosmic coincidence, though He Zhen had no memory of his past life, he made a similar choice at that moment. He looked away, leaned down, and kissed Rebecca’s cheek, earning her bright, bell-like laughter.
Wen Ying turned to look. He Zhen gently held Rebecca’s waist, the young couple perfectly matched in appearance and aura.
No matter what, Wen Ying genuinely hoped He Zhen would find happiness.
In her past life, Wen Ying had many regrets. He Zhen not ending up with his first love, Rebecca, was one of them.
In this life, she hoped He Zhen and Rebecca wouldn’t part.
A slight commotion came from the restaurant’s entrance.
More guests had arrived.
The hostess was visibly excited, not expecting a celebrity to dine there that night.
It was Li Mengjiao, wearing a baseball cap, recognised by the staff.
Beside her was Wang Shuang, the two bickering until Li Mengjiao was spotted by the hostess.
Xie Qian trailed behind them.
The restaurant was very close to the hotel where the film crew stayed. After filming, Li Mengjiao said she was hungry, so Wang Shuang suggested going out to eat.
Wang Shuang wanted to try some Shanghai street food, but Yuan Fenghui sternly warned him not to take Li Mengjiao wandering. Li Mengjiao was a star now, and Shanghai wasn’t like Chengdu. Crowded places could cause chaos, like when Yun Chen was recognised at a mall and had to hide in a bathroom. It was one thing for a male star, but a female star hiding in a bathroom? If the press caught it, the story would carry a certain stigma.
At the critical moment, Xie Qian suggested eating at a nearby restaurant, and Yuan Fenghui immediately agreed.
Compared to Wang Shuang, Xie Qian seemed far more reliable to Yuan Fenghui, capable of handling any crisis. She trusted him to look after Li Mengjiao.
Though it wasn’t entirely fair, Li Mengjiao and Wang Shuang, being academic underachievers, needed the discipline of a top student like Xie Qian.
So, Xie Qian brought Li Mengjiao and Wang Shuang to this restaurant.
Xie Qian wouldn’t admit he chose it deliberately.
The restaurant was close to the hotel, so they could return quickly after eating, reducing the chance of Li Mengjiao being mobbed if recognised.
Even if she was spotted, the upscale restaurant’s clientele likely wouldn’t get too excited.
And, well, he could walk back with Hamster afterward.
That last consideration was just incidental.
As Xie Qian entered, Wen Ying had just sat back down. His eyes scanned the restaurant, not immediately spotting Hamster but noticing He Zhen and Rebecca.
He Zhen, Dai Chenglan’s son, 21 years old, studying in the UK.
In an instant, He Zhen’s profile flashed through Xie Qian’s mind.
To wage war, one must know the enemy.
Xie Qian knew the woman abroad didn’t yet take him seriously. He wasn’t in a rush to prove himself either. While she underestimated him, he had already investigated her connections through Xie Jinghu.
Her family had fallen, and she had little support in China. Her biggest backer was Xie Jinghu.
Due to pressure from his uncle Xie Yuping, Xie Jinghu couldn’t openly support her, so he helped through proxies like Zhao Dong and Dai Chenglan.
Zhao Dong and Dai Chenglan had partnered to start a low-profile company called Silan Biotech. Though Dai Chenglan had only one son, He Zhen, he was still a student abroad and couldn’t yet involve himself in the family business.
Xie Qian recognised He Zhen only because of his near-photographic memory. There was no need to focus on or guard against He Zhen now.
“Collective guilt” wasn’t Xie Qian’s style. He Zhen being Dai Chenglan’s son didn’t make him a bad person. Judging someone by their parents would mean Xie Qian, with a deadbeat father like Xie Jinghu, had no chance of being good.
Even if He Zhen later helped Dai Chenglan or Xie Jinghu’s mistress, it would be a normal choice given their differing positions.
Xie Qian recognised He Zhen but hadn’t acted when Wen Ying suddenly sprang from her seat.
Why was Xie Qian here?
He Zhen hadn’t left yet…
Wait, why was she nervous? Xie Qian didn’t know He Zhen.
Even if he did, he wouldn’t know He Zhen was her boyfriend in her past life.
Wait, that logic felt off. Even if Xie Qian knew who He Zhen was, she shouldn’t be panicking.
Her reaction was like being caught cheating by her boyfriend… Bah, how could she have impure thoughts about her idol?
Wen Ying went through a whirlwind of mental gymnastics, but her body was more honest than her mind. Her stomach, which had stopped hurting, began to ache faintly again, clearly from nerves.
Li Mengjiao spotted Wen Ying and asked the staff to seat them at the table next to hers.
Li Mengjiao, famous but down-to-earth, was charming and sweet, and few could refuse her. The staff led the trio to the table beside Wen Ying.
Wang Shuang’s expression was odd.
No wonder Xie Qian chose this restaurant.
Even for a simple meal, Xie Qian had such hidden motives. Truly a master!
“Xie Qian, what are you guys doing here?” Wen Ying finally found her voice. A guilty person’s eyes wander, and hers instinctively darted toward the entrance. He Zhen had paid and left with Rebecca, leaving only their retreating figures.
Xie Qian followed her gaze, frowning slightly.
He had always suspected Wen Ying knew Dai Chenglan, though she denied it, and he hadn’t pressed her.
Now, it seemed Wen Ying not only knew Dai Chenglan but also her son, He Zhen?
That didn’t make sense.
He Zhen had been abroad for years. Wen Ying, before her high school entrance exams, had barely left her small hometown. How could she know these people?
And it wasn’t just knowing them.
Wen Ying was nervous!
Xie Qian knew her tells when she was guilty.
Why was Hamster so nervous?
So what if she knew them? Did she think he’d stop being her friend over it?
Xie Qian felt an odd sensation, hard to describe but faintly unpleasant. His voice came out stiffly, “We’re here with Li Mengjiao to grab some food.”
Wen Ying’s stomach ached faintly, her eyes drifting, which to Xie Qian looked even guiltier.
The physical pain dulled her thinking, and she completely missed Xie Qian’s displeasure.
Wu Chunqin’s gaze lingered on Wang Shuang and Xie Qian. Which one had Chen Ru suspected of being Wen Ying’s early love interest?
It had to be this Xie Qian.
Chen Ru definitely didn’t know a boy had come with Wen Ying to Shanghai!
