Chapter Forty-Four: Tan Jin’er’s Face Full of Questions (Please Vote for the Monthly Ticket)

Yang Qing felt as if he might split apart at any moment.

He pinned his hopes on Fang Du, but what was that guy doing? He was playing on his phone!

Playing on his phone! Damn!

Yang Qing stared at Fang Du, his eyes nearly tearing at the corners, and Fang Du finally put down his phone. When he looked up and met Yang Qing's gaze, he was startled.

Hope had arrived!

Yang Qing cried out inwardly, his heart filling once more with desperate pleading as he looked at Fang Du, hoping he could help him escape this impossible dilemma where every choice was wrong.

Fang Du understood. He took a deep breath, about to step forward and rescue Yang Qing, but suddenly stopped.

Damn!

He glanced at Qin Xue and Wang Ying, whose temperament was now sharp and icy, and his scalp tingled with anxiety.

They were both heavyweights, and he couldn't afford to offend either one!

What to do… what to do… In this situation, whoever spoke up would bring trouble upon themselves—hadn't Lin Xiu Yue already kept quiet?

What was needed was someone whom both Qin Xue and Wang Ying could agree on to rescue Yang Qing.

His mind raced, searching… Suddenly, a small figure flashed through his thoughts!

Little Qiu'er! Yes, only she!

Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone again and began tapping away.

Yang Qing: (‵□′)

He felt helplessly despairing. Forget it. Fang Du was unreliable. In the end, one could only rely on oneself.

Looking timidly at the two women, he tried to speak: "Um… um, maybe… maybe together? I… I'll be quick."

As soon as Yang Qing finished, the two women spoke in unison, as if perfectly coordinated.

Wang Ying smiled elegantly: "Yes, together, that's fine. Let's go to my studio first."

Qin Xue responded gently: "Qing, I've already borrowed the equipment. Let's go."

Yang Qing: …

I want to die! Can't you let me go?

The atmosphere froze into another eerie silence. Lin Xiu Yue, standing nearby, looked at Yang Qing's face full of despair and couldn't help but feel amused.

Poor child. One is a superstar, the other is Qin Xue—both women of stunning beauty. How could it be simple? And yet he still hopes to muddle through, ha…

…

At the "Four Seasons Delicacies" shop, Tan Jin'er was taking a ten-minute break.

"Sister, have some water!"

"Jin'er sister, eat a fruit!"

Two little ones fussed over her. She took the cup from Xiao Xi'er and drank, bit into the apple offered by Little Qiu'er, and smiled with happiness, asking, "Where's Dong'er?"

Little Qiu'er arched her eyebrows: "She's sleeping, hehe…"

Xiao Xi'er laughed and bounced: "Hiahiahia Dong'er sure can sleep, hiahia… Qiu'er, let's go ride the bouncy horse!"

"No, the bouncy horse is tired from you riding it!"

"Not true, not true, the bouncy horse isn't tired…"

"…"

The two children, their voices sweet and childish, debated. Tan Jin'er shook her head with a smile and prepared to get up and continue working, when suddenly her phone chimed with a message.

Curious, she checked, and then was stunned.

Fang Du: Jin'er, call me at once, then give the phone to Little Qiu'er. It's urgent! Brother Yang is in trouble!

Brother Qing is in trouble!

Reading the message, Tan Jin'er felt her mind go blank, a wave of dizziness as if she were oxygen-starved. Her hand trembling, she quickly dialed Fang Du's number, and he picked up instantly.

"Hello! Brother Qing, he…"

She had barely spoken when Fang Du interrupted.

"Hey, Jin'er, what? Little Qiu'er misses her brother? Oh, okay, I'll give the phone to Brother Yang right now."

Tan Jin'er: ???

She was truly bewildered now. Didn't you say Brother Qing was in trouble? But now you're talking about Little Qiu'er missing her brother! What is going on!

At the TV station, behind the recording studio.

Fang Du held his phone, wearing an awkward smile as he looked at Qin Xue and Wang Ying: "Hehe… it's a call from Jin'er, Little Qiu'er says she misses Brother Yang but can't reach him."

He handed the phone to Yang Qing, complaining: "Why didn't you answer your phone?"

Yang Qing was surprised, then quickly caught on: "I had it on silent, hehe… I'll take the call now."

He grabbed the phone from Fang Du.

"Hello, Qiu'er, don't worry, brother will be back as soon as he's finished here. What? You're saying something happened to Dong'er? Speak slowly…"

While pretending to talk on the phone, Yang Qing slipped out, with Fang Du nervously following close behind.

In the shop, Tan Jin'er on the call: ???!!!

What on earth are you talking about!

What are you and Fang Du doing!

Yang Qing had escaped; with the intelligence of the two women, of course they could guess the oddity of the phone call, but neither exposed it. Instead, they continued their standoff. After a moment, Qin Xue broke the silence with a cold voice:

"Do you think you stand a chance?"

Wang Ying laughed lightly: "Why wouldn't I?"

She raised her hand to glance at it, composed and elegant: "I already have the advantage."

"Oh, really?"

Qin Xue suddenly smiled, her red lips parting: "Advantage, ha… Diva Ying, are you so confident?"

Wang Ying stepped forward gracefully, the two women standing shoulder to shoulder.

"Why not?"

"Hehe… then let's wait and see."

"Alright, I'm looking forward to it. I never thought I'd one day face off with the princess of the Qin family."

"Hehe… Diva, I'm looking forward to it as well."

With that, their exchange ended, and they each departed, leaving Lin Xiu Yue and the staff staring at each other.

Especially the male staff members, whose minds were thunderstruck.

What did we just witness! What did we just experience!

A superstar and the TV station's acknowledged goddess—two stunning beauties arguing over a man!

Damn! Is this world too fake, or are we living in a fantasy!

He… isn't even that handsome, just plays the piano well, and plenty of people do that. Why him? It doesn't make sense!

"Ahem!"

Lin Xiu Yue regained her composure, gave a cold cough, and looked sharply at everyone: "Forget what happened just now! No one is to discuss it outside, understood?"

Everyone: "… Understood."

"Good, disperse, get back to your work."

After sending them away, she turned to the timid girl with glasses, Xiao Chu, and offered a gentle smile: "Xiao Chu, I was a bit harsh earlier, don't take it to heart."

"Uh… okay."

"Do you know who that man just now was?"

"No… I don't," Xiao Chu shook her head shyly, but then thought of something: "His surname is probably Yang."

"Yang," Lin Xiu Yue paused. Her mind started to piece together the identity, connecting him to Qin Xue, and her gaze sharpened as she took out her phone to make a call.

In Chuan City, Wen Xiaorou and Li Yuexi were filming with Director Wu when suddenly Yuexi's phone rang.

"Huh? Cut! Whose phone? Don't you know the rules!"

The shoot interrupted, Director Wu barked in irritation; he'd been on edge for days.

The premiere episode had failed three reviews, and he was starting to suspect someone in the editing department was sabotaging him.

Wen Xiaorou checked her phone nervously: "Director Wu, it's my phone, sorry."

Director Wu: "… Xiaorou, phones must be on silent on set, remember that next time. Is it important? If so, go take the call."

Wen Xiaorou stuck out her tongue: "It's Director Lin calling."

"Director Lin? Lin Xiu Yue?"

"Yes, it's her."

"Then take it, probably something important."

"Okay."

Wen Xiaorou left the set to answer the call.

"Hello, Sister Lin, what's up? You nearly got me scolded by Director Wu."

Lin Xiu Yue paused, then laughed: "Sorry, Xiaorou, I didn't know you were busy. I have something to ask you."

"Oh, what is it, Sister Lin?"

"Do you know who the man with the surname Yang that Xiao Xue knows is?"

"The one Xuexue knows, surnamed Yang—you mean Yang Qing?"

"Yang Qing," Lin Xiu Yue murmured, "Do you know what kind of person he is?"

"What kind? He's a good person!"

Lin Xiu Yue: …

A good person! I didn't need to ask you that! A bad person wouldn't have two women like a superstar and a Qin family princess fighting over him!

"No, I mean what has he done—like… is he very talented?"

At this, Wen Xiaorou's voice grew wary on the other end:

"Why are you asking?"

Lin Xiu Yue: …

Judging by Xiaorou's tone, she seems… ah, this is all so messy!

She sighed deeply, then recounted everything that had just happened, waiting for Wen Xiaorou's reply.

In Chuan City, Wen Xiaorou stood rigidly, holding the phone, stunned.

Yang Qing can play piano? Xuexue and Wang Ying are confronting each other again?

This… The silent shock, the longing to be part of it!

"Ah!"

She sighed heavily, hiding the hint of disappointment in her eyes, and replied to Lin Xiu Yue:

"Yang Qing runs a shop called 'Four Seasons Delicacies' selling pancakes. Senior Sister Zhang Xue did a report on it before. His pancakes are considered the first phenomenon-level snack in Yang City. Also, you know the show we're filming now—the station issued a memo that certain things are confidential until broadcast. I shouldn't say, but since you asked, I'll tell you: he conceived this program. He's also a skilled photographer, and the first episode was filmed in his shop, with important early footage shot by him."

After a pause, Wen Xiaorou's gaze grew distant as she added:

"Those are his abilities and strengths, but they're not the most important. Do you know what matters most about him?"

Lin Xiu Yue was taken aback: "What is it?"

Wen Xiaorou spoke softly: "He truly is a good man—a kind-hearted good man."

A good man, a kind-hearted good man…

Lin Xiu Yue grew even more curious and puzzled.