Chen Die ran into her apartment in one go, panting, feeling an unbearable heat somewhere on her body.

She threw her bag on the sofa, hesitated for a moment, then ran to the window to look. Wen Liang’s car was just driving away.

After standing at the window for two seconds, she was suddenly alarmed—just now when they were in the car, could someone have photographed or seen them?

Then she remembered that Wen Liang’s car windows couldn’t be seen through from outside, so there was no need to worry about this issue.

Her head was still dazed from what had happened earlier. After startling herself several times, she finally sat down on the sofa, exhausted.

She couldn’t focus on continuing to read the “Ah Xiao” script, so Chen Die decided to take a shower first.

The bathroom was filled with misty vapor.

Hot water poured down, hitting her skin. It quickly made the mirror and glass foggy with condensation.

After finishing her shower, Chen Die stepped out. Water droplets on the mirror converged and slid down in streaks, creating a mottled pattern.

Before she could put on her clothes, through these mottled patterns, she saw several faint red finger marks below her chest.

“…”

Her face heated up, and she cursed Wen Liang again in her heart. Not daring to look anymore, she quickly put on her clothes and shuffled out in her slippers.

Chen Die allowed herself to calm down for a while. The rain had come down fiercely and was still heavy.

She sent Wen Liang a message asking if he had arrived home.

[Wen Liang: I’m home. What are you doing?]

[Chen Die: Getting ready to read the script.]

After sending the message, she began reading the script seriously.

It was another serious drama film. By the time she reached the end, she couldn’t help but shed tears. Chen Die immersed herself in the emotions for a while, then messaged Fang Ruan saying the script was good.

The company would negotiate with Ye Chiqing’s mother, Huang Sheng. Because Chen Die would be recording “Three Meals a Day” in a couple of days, the movie role audition was scheduled for the day after the variety show recording.

Ye Chiqing accompanied her on that day.

For this role, Huang Sheng had only contacted two actresses. The other one Chen Die also knew—a former schoolmate who was one year ahead of her.

Huang Sheng had done thorough preparation before casting, understanding their strengths and specialized areas, so the audition process was much simpler. They tried a scene, then changed into qipaos to see how they looked, and it was over.

Chen Die’s figure appeared even more exceptional in a qipao—slim waist, perky buttocks, swan-like neck, and skin as smooth and fair as silk. With her hair curled, she looked extremely appealing.

Ye Chiqing praised her profusely and took several photos of her.

Chen Die’s face and figure didn’t need any editing at all. Even casual photos looked magazine-quality. Ye Chiqing found her increasingly beautiful and even posted the photos on her Moments.

She immediately received a flood of likes and comments.

There was even a former friend whom Ye Chiqing disliked asking where the qipao was made.

She rolled her eyes and replied: What do you know? It looks good not because of the qipao, but because of her face and figure, understand?

While replying, Ye Chiqing asked: “Do you have plans later?”

“No, why?” Chen Die said.

“Let’s go have a meal together.”

“Let’s go then.” Chen Die changed out of her clothes and packed up her things.

The two of them said goodbye to Huang Sheng and left first.

They chose a restaurant for their meal.

“Fuck,” Ye Chiqing cursed, looking at her phone.

Chen Die looked up: “What’s wrong?”

“Wen. Liang,” Ye Chiqing said, enunciating each syllable, “liked my post.”

“…”

She shoved her phone in front of Chen Die, showing the Moments page where, among many likes, there was one from Wen Liang.

“It’s so fucking ironic. I added him when I was set up for that awkward blind date last time, and he didn’t give a single damn. I thought this old man Wen didn’t even use Moments, but it turns out he does like posts.”

Ye Chiqing imitated a fan’s tone, drawing: “Die-mei’s qipao photos have brought glory to my humble Moments.”

“…” Chen Die smiled helplessly, “I also thought he didn’t use Moments.”

“Hmm?”

“To be honest, I don’t think he’s ever liked any of my posts.”

“What?” Ye Chiqing was stunned, blinked, and finally managed to say, “Then I’ve really sinned.”

“…”

“But you don’t post on Moments often either. If you were to post a qipao photo of yourself, Wen Liang would definitely like it instantly, probably leave more than a dozen comments, and then—” Ye Chiqing smiled mischievously, “he might take you home and not let you leave the bed.”

Chen Die couldn’t stand her: “That’s enough of your imagination.”

Just as they were speaking, the wind chimes at the restaurant entrance jingled, and another group of people came in.

Chen Shuyuan led the way, followed by three of her girlfriends.

Both Chen Die and Ye Chiqing noticed them and exchanged a glance.

The widespread criticism of plagiarism online didn’t seem to have affected Chen Shuyuan’s mood. She was still smiling and chatting with her girlfriends.

Ye Chiqing frowned, feeling that they had miscalculated.

She immediately grabbed her phone and took a photo of the smiling Chen Shuyuan, sending it to Chen Shao.

[Ye Chiqing: What kind of impressive person is this fake sister of yours, not affected by so many people criticizing her?]

Initially, she and Chen Shao hadn’t taken immediate action regarding this plagiarism incident precisely because they maliciously wanted netizens to teach Chen Shuyuan a lesson. After tormenting her for a few days, they would then unhurriedly revoke her competition qualification.

Who would have thought there could be such a shameless person in this world?

Chen Shao didn’t reply immediately, probably busy.

Though Ye Chiqing didn’t know what someone like Chen Shao would be busy with.

Chen Shuyuan hadn’t noticed them, and her voice carried clearly through the quiet restaurant.

In reality, Chen Shuyuan’s heart wasn’t that strong. During the first few days when the plagiarism was exposed, she was so frightened by the overwhelming criticism and mockery online that she didn’t dare look at her phone. But later, Lin Quan went to communicate with Chen Shao about this matter. After observing for a few days and seeing no response from the organizers, she felt reassured.

Perhaps influenced by childhood rumors about true and false heiresses, Chen Shuyuan had an almost obsessive stubbornness about her identity as a member of the Chen family.

So when she later saw people online saying the investors were protecting her, Chen Shuyuan felt a sense of satisfaction.

The appetizers were served. Chen Shuyuan took a sip of soup and tucked her hair behind her ear: “I haven’t been out to eat in so long.”

“Don’t let those things online affect your mood. They’re just bored and can only be keyboard warriors,” her friend consoled.

Chen Shuyuan nodded and sighed: “I can’t explain myself now. Am I that stupid to dare plagiarize a script from a major director like Feng Zhi?”

Her friend asked curiously: “Then what happened?”

“I bought the script from another screenwriter. The competition was for micro-film directors, right? How could I know I’d be so unlucky that among all the scripts I screened, I bought a plagiarized one.”

“Where is that screenwriter now?”

Chen Shuyuan shrugged: “Can’t contact them now. They’ve blocked me. I’m even suspecting it was all planned by the current second-place winner. I heard they were the ones who reported me.”

“But it’s good that your brother is involved. The organizers won’t care about a mere second-place contestant. Your brother investing in your film means the money stays in the family.”

Chen Shuyuan smiled: “Indeed, it’s fortunate that my brother invested in the competition.”

“Shuyuan, why don’t you let your brother explain to you? Just say the plagiarism wasn’t your fault. At most, you’d only be guilty of insufficient preparation.”

Chen Shuyuan’s hand holding the chopsticks paused, and she smiled: “Forget it, his involvement might get him criticized too.”

“By the way, what’s the relationship between that Chen Die and your brother?”

After the incident at the fashion exhibition, there were rumors in the socialite circle that Chen Die was Chen Shao’s real cousin, while Chen Shuyuan was just an impostor.

There were many untold secrets in the business world and many illegitimate children whose stories were widely known but never openly discussed. But Ye Chiqing’s words at the exhibition sounded like she was accusing Chen Shuyuan of being the cuckoo in the nest.

Chen Shuyuan’s face darkened upon hearing this: “What relationship could they have? I’ve known Chen Die since high school. She had already hooked up with Wen Liang by then. Her methods are quite impressive.”

“What? She and Wen Liang have known each other for that long?”

“Yes. Back then, Wen Liang wasn’t favored in the Wen family. His mother died early, and his father’s new wife had given birth to a younger son. In the Wen family, there wasn’t even a set of tableware for him at meals. Isn’t Chen Die clinging to him because of this? People like us wouldn’t dare to think like that. Someone like her, for a better life, there’s no shameless thing she wouldn’t do.”

Chen Shuyuan was about to continue when her friend opposite desperately signaled to her with her eyes.

She stopped mid-sentence and turned her head.

A pair of high heels stood before her, adorned with crystals—the very pair Wen Liang had bought for Chen Die at the exhibition.

Before she could react, Chen Die had already delivered a slap to her face.

With a crisp “slap” sound, Chen Shuyuan’s head turned to one side.

There weren’t many people in the restaurant, but there were a few customers who were stunned into silence for a few seconds by this sudden commotion. Then, recognizing Chen Die, they immediately began gossiping.

“What are you doing?! You did something unscrupulous and now won’t let others talk about it!”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

Chen Shuyuan’s girlfriends immediately started clamoring.

“Shut up,” Chen Die glanced at them, her face full of disdain, as if she found it beneath her to speak to them.

She was already considered tall among girls, and she was wearing thin high heels, giving her a natural height advantage.

“Chen Shuyuan,” Chen Die looked at her.

“I originally had no intention of kicking you when you’re down over this matter, but it seems you haven’t understood the situation. So let me explain it to you carefully.”

“Regarding the plagiarism, you say you bought someone else’s script. But weren’t you participating in the all-original category? You wanted both fame and profit without shame, using someone else’s labor. How dare you say you were tricked by that screenwriter.”

Chen Shuyuan’s face stung painfully, and she was so angry her chest heaved violently.

“As for my relationship with Chen Shao, since you’re all so curious, I’ll tell you myself.”

Chen Die took out her phone, dialed Chen Shao’s number, and put it on speaker.

As soon as he picked up, Chen Shao’s usual greeting came through: “Sister, looking for me?”

Chen Die narrowed her eyes slightly and smiled, casting a light glance at the people in front of her. Chen Shuyuan was silent now, and so were her girlfriends.

“Yes, I have something to ask you. I just ran into Chen Shuyuan and was chatting with her.”

Chen Shao seemed to have realized the purpose of her call and laughed casually: “Oh, is that idiot bullying you again?”

Ye Chiqing: “…”

Chen Die: “…” That direct “idiot” almost made her feel sympathy for Chen Shuyuan.

“Weren’t you just talking about asking Chen Shao to help clarify? Why not tell him now?” Chen Die said, bending down to hold the phone near Chen Shuyuan’s mouth.

Ye Chiqing watched Chen Die and couldn’t help but want to laugh.

When this person confronted others, she was unapologetically savage, yet somehow still seemed cute.

Chen Shuyuan was so angry her eyes reddened. She snatched Chen Die’s phone and hung up.

“Chen Die, don’t go too far!” she said in a low voice.

Chen Die didn’t mind that the call was disconnected. She straightened up and folded her arms: “How am I going too far? I’m just patiently explaining what your friends were curious about.”

Chen Shuyuan didn’t dare continue the conversation. She picked up her bag and was about to leave, but Chen Die blocked her shoulder and pushed her back.

She was about to speak but noticed from the corner of her eye that people around were filming videos of them. She had to bend down to Chen Shuyuan’s ear: “I’ve tolerated you long enough. If you dare gossip about me and Wen Liang behind our backs again, you’ll see what happens.”

Having said that, she smiled at them as if nothing had happened: “We’ll be going first. Enjoy your meal.”

Ye Chiqing stopped her: “Wait.”

“Hmm?” Chen Die paused.

Ye Chiqing extended her hand towards Chen Shuyuan: “Hello, I’m one of the organizers of the Micro-Film Director Competition, Ye Chiqing.”

Chen Shuyuan naturally wouldn’t shake her hand, but she also hadn’t expected that one of the organizers would be Ye Chiqing who had publicly humiliated her before.

Ye Chiqing didn’t mind at all and smiled as she withdrew her hand: “Regarding your script plagiarism, I’m personally informing you that your participation in the competition is, as of this moment, canceled.”

Chen Die had seen someone filming a video at the time and guessed this incident would be uploaded.

Sure enough, by the time Wen Liang came to Li Fan Xin Yuan to find her that evening, the video had already risen to the trending topics, with a “hot” tag beside it.

These days, whenever Chen Die was in Yan City without work, Wen Liang would come over after work.

Although he hadn’t mentioned it again after Chen Die rejected him in the car last time, Chen Die could still see the base nature of men in his subtle actions.

So inhuman!

The video didn’t capture Chen Die’s initial slap, but it recorded everything said afterward, including Ye Chiqing’s final words.

On the Micro-Film Director Competition’s official website, the original second-place winner had already been promoted to first place.

People had been indignant about this matter for days, standing up for Feng Zhi and the second-place contestant. Now that there was finally a turning point, many attributed the credit to Chen Die.

My Die-mei is so cool!!!

I’ll always love the “Hairpin Flower” crew wuwuwuwuwuwuwu (////) Even though Director Feng, at his level, didn’t speak up, Die-mei was like a fearless newborn calf. This is exactly how to deal with such people!!

Amazing, our wealthy heiress has an investor brother and an organizer bestie.

Ah… I’m so satisfied.

I’ll always love Chen Die!!!

Why are beautiful women so adorable even when they’re being savage…

…

Wen Liang had just finished a work call. He sat down beside her, his arm around her shoulders, twirling her hair, leaning against her as he watched the video again.

The video didn’t capture Chen Die slapping the person, but there was a text explanation.

Wen Liang glanced at the text and smiled: “You slapped her?”

“…”

His question made Chen Die inexplicably embarrassed. She said softly: “Yes, I was too angry at that moment and couldn’t help it.”

Wen Liang took her right hand and opened her palm: “This hand?”

“Mm.”

“Does it hurt?”

“…”

Wen Liang asked casually as if he hadn’t heard about the slap Chen Shuyuan received.

He was used to being cold and hard, but Chen Die wasn’t. Hearing him ask like this, for a moment she felt as if they were the big villains bullying the weak.

She pursed her lips, leaned into Wen Liang’s embrace, and said softly: “It hurt a little when I slapped her.”

Wen Liang started laughing.

In the past, he might have said she was being delicate, but today he seemed to be in a good mood. He even pretended to massage her palm.

After massaging for a while, he asked: “How did she make you angry today?”

What made Chen Die rush over and slap her wasn’t the earlier part about deflecting blame for plagiarism, but the later part where she talked about Wen Liang.

She just couldn’t stand hearing people talk about Wen Liang like that.

Seeing that she didn’t answer, Wen Liang squeezed her hand: “I’m asking you.”

“She spoke too offensively.”

Wen Liang: “About you?”

“The things she said about me are the same old stuff I’m tired of hearing. This time she brought you into it.” Chen Die paused, as if recalling her words, and frowned again. “So annoying.”

Wen Liang’s grip on her hand paused, and then he smiled again.

He found it increasingly amusing, chin lifting slightly as he stroked Chen Die’s head, laughing for quite a while.

Chen Die turned to glance at him, asking sincerely: “Have you been in too good a mood lately? Even Chen Shuyuan dares to talk about you.”

“Listen, baby,” Wen Liang embraced her and said softly.

Chen Die was nestled against him, his mouth right by her ear. His voice was magnetic, with a slight nasal tone, like a deep bass speaker, and he was saying “baby.”

For a moment, Chen Die felt as if she was experiencing what Qu Fang had felt upon meeting her—a lustful feeling toward Wen Liang. Half her body felt numb.

She blinked gently and raised her head to look at him.

Wen Liang said languidly: “The princess doesn’t need to use her sword to slay dragons.”