Chapter 11: Treasure Life—Refrain from Reckless Driving

The whitewashing plan, as the name suggests, is exactly what it sounds like. The mission to clear Li Wanbai’s name, the top scandal-ridden female celebrity, seemed daunting to her, but in Su Chengzi’s eyes, it was almost within reach. That night, Su Chengzi was so excited that she was practically buzzing, turning left and right beside Li Wanbai, making such a fuss that Li Wanbai couldn’t sleep, ultimately reaching out to put a stop to it.

The next morning, the dark circles under Su Chengzi’s eyes were exceptionally prominent.

She was naturally fair-skinned, and after a sleepless night, those dark rings were even more noticeable, as if someone had punched her twice.

“Duoduo, you—oh, really, there’s no need for this, is there? I’m honestly not that interested in the entertainment industry. Whether I’m infamous or genuinely popular doesn’t matter to me, so you don’t have to go so…” Li Wanbai looked at Su Chengzi, pursed her lips, searched for the right words, and finally managed to squeeze out, “...excited.”

Su Chengzi rolled her eyes. “Mind your own business! This is the kind of emotion only a great endeavor can inspire in me.

Just think about it, taking one of today’s notorious, trending female stars and completely cleaning her reputation—what a grand, arduous task that is! Only a genius like me could pull it off.”

With a light snort, Su Chengzi turned toward the entryway.

Li Wanbai asked curiously, “Where are you going?”

“Obviously, I’m going with you to the company! What, doesn’t Sunlight Entertainment have a clock-in system?” Su Chengzi put on her shoes, turned to look at her, and frowned slightly. “Why aren’t you getting ready?”

“You can’t be serious—are you really coming to the office with me? You’re not actually planning to be my personal assistant, are you?” Li Wanbai’s expression changed several times. “I understand your dedication to the whitewashing plan, but you don’t need to abandon your own job to become my personal assistant at the company. Maybe you should reconsider and find a different role?”

Jewelry designer always seemed like a wonderful profession—at least, that’s what Li Wanbai thought back in high school.

Su Chengzi, a jewelry designer with her own studio, lowering herself to be a mere assistant at her side—Li Wanbai felt frustrated for her.

“Stop feeling bad for me! If I want to be your assistant, then that’s what I’ll be! If you think it’s beneath me, then find me something else to do!

Do you have the power or the qualifications to go head-to-head with Sunlight Entertainment right now?

Since you don’t, just accept my benevolence!”

Li Wanbai’s gaze dimmed. Su Chengzi quickly added, raising her chin with a proud look, “Get yourself ready now. I’m warming up the car downstairs. I’ll wait ten minutes, no more! If you aren’t down in ten minutes, you can walk to Sunlight Entertainment yourself!”

With that, the villa door swung open and shut. Li Wanbai stood stunned for several seconds before rushing to the bathroom.

When Su Chengzi said she’d wait ten minutes, she really meant ten minutes—no exaggeration, no false promises.

They had a deep bond; same kindergarten, same elementary school, same middle and high school, and even in the end, Li Wanbai gave up the opportunity to study abroad to attend the same university as her.

Their families had been neighbors for years, so they often went to and from school together.

Su Chengzi always set a time limit. If Li Wanbai wasn’t downstairs by then, Su Chengzi would turn and leave without a word, and it usually ended with Li Wanbai buying spicy snacks to appease her.

The procrastination encoded in Li Wanbai’s genes never had a chance to manifest—it disappeared without a trace.

From a certain perspective, Li Wanbai should probably build a temple in Su Chengzi’s honor.

Brushing her teeth, Li Wanbai’s thoughts wandered.

She remembered once, when she exceeded Su Chengzi’s ten-minute limit, and sure enough, Su Chengzi wasn’t there when she came downstairs.

All Li Wanbai could think about then was catching up to Su Chengzi, and she ran right into a young man at the corner.

To this day, she still remembered the sharp scent of cedar on him.

“Are you alright?” The boy was startled, reaching out a hand. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to. Let me introduce myself—I’m Yu Baichuan. What’s your name?”

Li Wanbai, toothbrush still in her mouth, couldn’t help but smile.

Her meeting with Yu Baichuan was straight out of a romance drama, which probably explains why she’s never stopped thinking about him all these years.

Yu Baichuan in his youth seemed just within reach.

Li Wanbai slowly reached out, but her hand only touched the cold surface of the mirror.

Luckily, the mirror was icy—she shuddered, goosebumps rising, snapped back to reality, splashed her face with cold water, and rushed downstairs, already eleven minutes late.

Nervousness filled her heart, but to her surprise, she saw Su Chengzi’s figure not far away.

There was no time to think; she called out loudly, “Duoduo, wait for me!”

Su Chengzi froze in her tracks and turned abruptly, her beautiful almond eyes filled with mixed emotions.

“Why are you staring at me like that? Alright, alright, I apologize!” Li Wanbai pressed her palms together, her tone sincere. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have spaced out while brushing my teeth, and even less should I have come downstairs in eleven minutes when I knew you wanted me down in ten.”

While searching her mind for apology lines, Li Wanbai continued loudly, “But, but I don’t think it’s entirely my fault! I’ve told you before, ten minutes is just too unreasonable, you—”

She stopped mid-sentence as Su Chengzi suddenly stepped forward, wrapping her tightly in an embrace.

Li Wanbai heard her low voice by her ear, “Now I can be one hundred percent sure—you’re the Xiaobai I know!”

In these ten years, she had left countless times, but only today, only in this moment, did Li Wanbai ask her to wait.

And so, she stopped.

And so, she really waited for her.

Li Wanbai’s mind hadn’t quite caught up; she rubbed her chin and asked curiously, “So you were ready to dissolve your studio and become my assistant even when you weren’t one hundred percent sure I was really Li Wanbai?

Duoduo, you call me foolish, but you’re not exactly a genius yourself!”

Su Chengzi’s expression changed; she let go, rolled her eyes, and snapped, “Don’t meddle in princess business! Enough talking, get in the car!”

Su Chengzi was still the Su Chengzi she’d always known—sharp as ever, and talkative too.

Even her driving was as wild as ever!

Li Wanbai gripped her seatbelt, swallowing nervously. “Duoduo, I’d like to live a few more years.”

“Same old story—who are you to question the princess?” Su Chengzi mumbled around her chewing gum. “Relax, I’ve got experience. I won’t die.”

As Su Chengzi floored the accelerator, overtaking three cars in quick succession, Li Wanbai clutched her seatbelt tightly.

Cherish your life, stay away from friends who love to speed!

It was clearly just a sedan, with a windshield in front, so why did it feel like the chill wind was rushing straight at her?