Chapter 10: Don’t Quit—Quitting Will Only Bring Misfortune

Su Orange’s gaze was sharp as a knife, making the hairs on the back of Li Wanbai’s neck stand on end. “I’m the biggest flaw—what do you mean by that?”

“It’s exactly what it sounds like. Just look at that innocent stupidity in your eyes—you’re no different from any other university student these days. No experience in the workplace, no experience with people. Look at the mess you’ve made; didn’t your own company just sell you out this time? With you like this, how can I trust you to take part in a variety show on your own?” Su Orange clenched her jaw, her molars grinding. “Especially since this time, that person will also...”

She glanced at Li Wanbai’s confused face and swallowed the name, folding her arms across her chest. “Here’s the deal. I’ll go with you to the show.”

“You’ll go with me? What about your job?” Li Wanbai asked, bewildered.

Jewelry designer was, in theory, a fairly free career, but Su Orange was different. She had her own studio, her own contractors. Once you started a small business, you couldn’t afford to be as flighty as a freelancer. A freelancer only needed to support themselves; she had an entire studio of people to care for.

No work meant no money for salaries.

Su Orange waved it off, unconcerned. “I’ll just dissolve the studio, won’t I? I’ll come throw in my lot with you, become your personal assistant.

If I’m not mistaken, your company, Sunlight Entertainment, hasn’t arranged a personal assistant for you. Everything falls on your own shoulders. When I’m there, you won’t have to worry about these things anymore.”

“No, I don’t agree,” Li Wanbai blurted out.

“What’s there to disagree with? With me as your assistant, you should be secretly delighted. You won’t have to worry about the daily trivialities—after all, I’ve been taking care of you since we were kids.

And regarding the show, you shouldn’t worry either. I’ve been keeping an eye on your career these past few years. I know exactly who you get along with in the industry and who you don’t!” Su Orange gave a snort, making the decision for her. “That’s settled then. Tomorrow, I’ll dissolve the studio.”

“Wait, wait, don’t do anything rash! I don’t agree!” Li Wanbai stared in shock. Had she heard right? Did Su Orange just decide to give up a decade-long career in under a minute?

“Girl, you can’t just be so impulsive. There’s really no need for—”

“Why not? It’s not like I even enjoy this job,” Su Orange said, settling backwards into the armchair and picking up a bubbling cola from the coffee table. “The only reason I started working in this field after college was because of you—because you liked it.

I never understood why you ended up in showbiz, but I figured someone should remember who you were back in high school, remember your dreams from those days. Maybe even dreams obey the law of conservation of energy—if someone loses a dream, someone else has to fulfill it.

Yu Baichuan followed you into the entertainment world to protect you; I stayed behind to guard your old dreams. It’s the same thing.

Now that you need me, why shouldn’t I come?”

Li Wanbai pressed her lips together, a wave of bittersweet emotion rising inside her, impossible to put into words.

She could tell that when Su Orange spoke of these things, it wasn’t with any sense of emotional blackmail or moral coercion. She stated it calmly and frankly, as if stating a simple fact.

“You’re making me feel guilty,” Li Wanbai managed after a long silence.

Yet that one line summed up the tangled emotions weighing on her heart.

She’d always felt like, over these past ten years, she’d never managed to do much for Su Orange, while Su Orange had always been quietly giving everything for her. It was as if a mountain pressed on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Su Orange looked at her and sighed. “Alright, if you insist, I won’t dissolve the studio for now. But I’ll put work on hold for a while and go with you to film the show.

With you so naive and clueless, I just can’t bring myself to let you go alone. The entertainment world is a jungle—one wrong step and the mob will be after you.”

“I’m already being hounded by the mob…” Li Wanbai started to say, but Su Orange shot her a fierce glare, so she muttered, “But fine—if you want to come with me, then come. I really am drawing a blank these days.”

In fact, she barely knew anyone in the industry—just Yu Baichuan and Ye Xiruo.

And she only knew them well because one was her former idol, now her husband, and the other was her good friend from the same company.

Given her current state of mind, going on a variety show was sure to offend a host of people.

But considering her status as public enemy number one online, what did she have to lose?

Su Orange seemed to read her thoughts, and burst out, exasperated, “Nonsense! You absolutely have to maintain good relationships in the industry! Who knows what your ridiculous company is thinking—deliberately riding Yu Baichuan’s fame, courting infamy, getting you cursed by the whole internet!

Any normal person would rather hear praise than scorn. Who wants to be roasted online? I’m convinced there’s not a single normal person working at your company!”

Su Orange took a deep breath and proceeded to express her sincere concern for Sunlight Entertainment in colorful language, including but not limited to inquiring about the health of the entire executive team’s families and the peace of their ancestral graves.

These days, none of the scandals attached to Li Wanbai were true. The only real controversy was the claim that she wasn’t fit to be Yu Baichuan’s wife, and that she was always dragging him into publicity stunts.

It was all very impersonal.

Li Wanbai hadn’t solicited prostitutes, hadn’t evaded taxes, hadn’t cheated, hadn’t—well, actually, point three was still up for debate, but regardless, no one could stand on moral high ground and criticize her, much less drag her into court.

At worst, her reputation in the industry had taken a hit. Some film projects didn’t dare to actually cast her; at most, they used her name to drum up a little buzz. It didn’t really hurt her interests in any substantial way.

But if she managed to offend people inside the industry, then everything would change.

She would never have a chance to rise again.

That was the outcome Su Orange most wanted to prevent.

“Isn’t it perfectly reasonable for me to think this way? What if you manage to turn your reputation around someday?” Su Orange curled her lips. “Plenty of people have washed themselves clean and overturned everything just because they did one good deed. And you haven’t even done a single bad thing!

The only remotely questionable thing you’ve done is shamelessly riding Yu Baichuan’s coattails because he loves you—but so what?”

Li Wanbai, eyes brimming with tears, reminded her, “That wasn’t me.”

“Don’t argue. Maybe you haven’t done it yet, but that doesn’t mean you never did it before! That’s not the point. The point is, I have a feeling this variety show might just be the east wind that blows away your troubles and clears your name!” Su Orange’s eyes blazed with fighting spirit as she suddenly straightened up. “I declare the reputation-clearing plan officially begun!”

Li Wanbai sat beside her, utterly lost.

Big sister, what are you even talking about?

What is this? Is it really starting just like that?