"I have no money to support you, I have nothing, and in a couple of days, even this company will be taken away. What do you expect me to support you with?" Yan Ziqing said, collapsing into despair, "Go to my mother, go to Yan Shixiu. Why do you keep pestering me?"
"Because you’re my sister," Xie Yu said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Those two have nothing to do with me. No matter how much you deny it or struggle, the same blood flows in our veins. You can’t shake me off. Who asked you to set such a good example? The way you’ve sucked Yan Shixiu’s blood, I can suck yours just the same, totally fair. When you betrayed Yan Shixiu back in the day, he didn’t say a word. Now I just want you to support me and you’re full of excuses? Isn’t that a bit stingy? You have to be more generous!"
Yan Ziqing was so angered she felt like she was going to die, standing awkwardly in the middle of the office, wanting to fight back but feeling utterly drained.
"Sis, you better think of a way to make money fast. Otherwise, I don’t know how long I can hold back my gang of brothers."
"Where am I supposed to get money for you?" Yan Ziqing shouted.
"There’s a wine tasting event in a couple of days. I’ll take you there, and you’re sure to find a long-term meal ticket."
Yan Ziqing had come to realize that her brother was always thinking of selling her out.
"Don’t think of running away, oh. Outside of heaven, many eyes are watching you. Let’s just live happily together as siblings."
Xie Yu, as it turns out, affirmed that old saying: a scourge for the scourge.
In the morning, Tang Ze led the team from Peak Entertainment to the Yancheng TV station for a team dialogue. The TV station highly recognized Peak’s capabilities, but made a request hoping that An Lan would help boost the program’s profile.
Tang Ze relayed the news to Shi Lan to ask for her opinion, because after all, she had planned to step back from the spotlight. If she helped out with the program, it would mean she couldn’t retire from public view.
"Okay," Shi Lan said. "Yan Ziqing’s contract will come out in a few days, and then it will hang under the name of Peak."
"How are you feeling, Yan...?"
"Why should I feel bad?" Shi Lan inquired.
"There’s a rumor going around outside..."
"What rumor?" The tone of Shi Lan became slightly more dangerous.
Tang Ze quickly stopped himself: "Nothing, I’m just concerned for Yan."
Shi Lan knew what Tang Ze wanted to say; the entire world was now spreading rumors about the mysterious origins of Yan Shixiu, and everyone was searching for his biological mother.
"Got too much time on your hands?"
Overwhelmed by the big shot’s frightening presence, Tang Ze hurriedly hung up to get back to work.
In her past life, Shi Lan’s reputation was widely criticized. Although she was extraordinarily capable, she was also tagged with an array of labels. Of course, she didn’t care about those labels on herself, what with being called cold-hearted and ruthless, treating family like dogs, and being exaggeratedly accused of having many people’s blood on her hands.
She always brushed those accusations off with a laugh.
But when these baseless claims were projected onto Yan Shixiu, she found she couldn’t remain indifferent.
She could be maligned, but not her lover.
She could be slandered, but not her lover.
The young miss had been known for her protectiveness for more than a day or two; how could she be absent this time?
So, in the morning, she had Sun Ling go take pictures.
"Boss, will this really divert the attention?"
"Send me the pictures," Shi Lan said without a second thought.
Vast farmland, fruit trees, grape trellises—seems the young miss is really going out to sell the farmer persona.
@An Lan: "People who are beautiful have already started farming while the ugly ones are still gossiping."
@Kun Kun’s Lover: "Hahaha... Did An Lan really go farming? That’s hilarious!"
@sweet Han: "It should be said, a super genius who knows ten languages, can play the violin, and can act, has really started farming. My feelings are complicated."
@Really scared: "If not for the villa in the background, I would really believe she went farming. [Smile]"
@Sister Hehua: "First of all, I won’t admit that I’m ugly, and secondly, why do I smell a hint of an affair from this Weibo post?"
@AloneBeautifulJK: "I smell it too... just get this little urge to ship?"
@Tianlai Zhiyuan: "??? What affair? Isn’t An Lan talking about farming? Where’s the affair? What kind of eyes do you all have?"
Before long, the topic of #AnLanFarming climbed up the trending search list, and moreover, it did so in an utterly ridiculous manner.
Other artists would go to great lengths to buy a spot on the trending list, to no one’s attention, but for this young lady, due to the sheer contrast, making it to the trending search list was a piece of cake.
What’s most important is the hidden message she’s released, truly thought-provoking.
Who are the ugly ones gossiping about now?
And who else is there these days?
Back when An Lan was trapped, Yan Shixiu had stepped forward to protect her; now, was it An Lan’s turn to return the favor?
Netizens watched the excitement with glee.
Not long after, the young lady posted a second set of photos.
@An Lan: "Raised two Kings of the Forest to watch over my orchard. [Smile][Smile]"
In the video, it was the luxury car brothers, sprinting across the farm.
@Fairy Banban: "To hell with the Kings of the Forest, An Lan are you trying to kill me with laughter?"
@IsPopoYeah: "What the heck is this darting shadow?"
@Qingchen Xiaoyu: "Cat: I’ve taken on everything, the farm’s too big, mom I’m lost."
@Lai Pipi: "By the time the cat finishes running around the farm, it’ll have grown up, hahaha~"
@Seventh Aunt: "So cute, too lively, right? I want to know their two names."
Beneath this post was Shi Lan’s reply: "Ferrari and Maybach, also known as the luxury car brothers."
What followed was another burst of laughter.
@singJiang: "Hahaha, this is so An Lan."
@Xiaoyu toto: "It’s clearly just a normal Weibo post, why is it so funny?"
That morning, netizens were tickled pink by the Weibo posts sent out by Shi Lan,
until she posted the last one.
@An Lan: "Now that everyone’s happy, can we please stop discussing other people’s family affairs?"
@YYono: "OMG!! An Lan actually did stand up for Yan Shixiu!"
@Yoyo: "Got it, won’t discuss anymore!"
@-Zhaozhao: "So, An Lan was lively for a whole morning just for this?"
@IAmAFake: "Last time An Lan and Binbin had an incident, Yan Shixiu also helped An Lan, this is just too tear-jerking."
@PureSago: "Regardless of who Yan Shixiu’s biological parents are, does it affect his integrity? Does it affect his excellence? I really don’t think there’s anything worth gossiping about. What really surprises me is An Lan’s defense, these two don’t have much interaction, right? But just... kinda makes me want to ship them."
After Yan Shixiu finished his morning work, he prepared to go home to pick up Shi Lan.
However, on the way, he learned about the young lady’s Weibo posts defending him.
In this world, she was the only one who would still face him head-on, knowing full well the barrage of gunfire waiting on the other side.