What's Wrong with Spoiling You? [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 39

She looked back to see Tan Yun holding two flowers, hiding them from view.

 

“No…”

 

“Why? Hmm?” Yun Bo smiled as she hung the clothes in her hands in the wardrobe, then sat on the edge of the bed, crossing her legs.

 

“It’s just…” How could she say it out loud? How could she admit in front of this beauty that her flowers were smaller in comparison, so she wanted to wait until they grew bigger before showing them?

 

Even if they were small, she didn’t want to admit it!

 

“Hmm?” Yun Bo beckoned her over. “Come here.”

 

Tan Yun refused to move her hands, biting her lower lip as she stood before her.

 

“So disobedient.” Yun Bo wondered if this little fox had ever considered what might spark between them by living together like this.

 

The air around them grew warm, and Tan Yun was sure the beauty was doing this on purpose.

 

Now that the little fox stayed silent, Yun Bo saw right through her thoughts. “Flowers need to breathe at night—it’s common knowledge.”

 

“Ah?” She hadn’t expected the beauty to voice her own thoughts so directly. “I… I…”

 

“Don’t stammer. Speak slowly.” Yun Bo’s gaze remained fixed on her hands, refusing to look away for even a second.

 

“I mean… those flowers are a little small…” The word “small” was barely audible, but it still reached Yun Bo’s ears.

 

“Is that all you’re worried about?” She teased, as expected of her little fox. “Then you’ve been raising them wrong. You can’t hide them away—you have to let them be appreciated. With proper nourishment, they’ll bloom beautifully.”

 

She said it so seriously that Tan Yun almost believed her.

 

Lifting her chin slightly, Tan Yun asked uncertainly, “R-really?”

 

Yun Bo countered, “Would I lie to you?”

 

Tan Yun shook her head, biting her lip hard before hesitantly moving her hands away.

 

……

 

……

 

……

 

When Tan Yun woke up, she checked the time and realized it was already evening. The beauty had been snacking on fruit all afternoon, while she had eaten nothing and was now starving.

 

She glanced at the beauty sleeping peacefully beside her, wanting to get up and find something to eat but reluctant to disturb her rest.

 

Unfortunately, the beauty’s fingers were still mischievously clinging to her, refusing to let go.

 

She stared at the ceiling for a while before turning her head to admire the beauty’s sleeping face.

 

Strangely, the longer she looked, the hungrier she became—so much so that she couldn’t resist leaning in to take a playful bite. But just as her lips were about to touch, mere inches away, her chin was caught in a firm grip.

 

Yun Bo drowsily opened her eyes, fingers tightening slightly as she feigned ignorance. “Xiao Yun, what are you trying to do?”

 

“Yun Bo, could you let go?”

 

Thinking she might have squeezed too hard, Yun Bo immediately released her. “What is it? Let me see.”

 

Tan Yun fidgeted nervously. “I… I think… that time of the month has come.”

 

Yun Bo froze for a second before her warm hands slid down to Tan Yun’s abdomen, gently massaging. “Does it hurt?”

 

The moment she started rubbing, the pain surged like a flood.

 

“I’ll go downstairs for a bit.” Yun Bo lifted the corner of the blanket and got up, pausing to ruffle Tan Yun’s hair before leaving. “Don’t think about anything. Just stay in bed and wait for me.”

 

Tan Yun nodded, feeling a pang of sadness. She had originally planned to go out for a stroll with the beauty.

 

Yun Bo left quickly and returned just as swiftly, but this time she was carrying a package in her hand.

 

“I can do it myself,” Tan Yun said, attempting to get out of bed, only to be stopped by Yun Bo. “Just lie still. I’ll take care of it.”

 

With that, Yun Bo unwrapped the package in her hands. Seeing the state of the bed, she said firmly, “First, I’ll take you to the bathroom to clean up.”

 

Before Tan Yun could refuse, she was lifted into the air.

 

“Um, I can manage on my own…” This situation was truly too embarrassing.

 

Yun Bo gave her no chance to protest, carrying her straight to the bathroom.

 

Tan Yun lay in the bathtub, watching as Yun Bo held a warm towel. She couldn’t help but shiver. “I can do it myself.”

 

“Be good. It’ll be over soon,” Yun Bo soothed gently.

 

……

 

……

 

Looking at the alluring sight on the bed, Yun Bo couldn’t resist pinching Tan Yun’s fair, smooth cheek. “I need to go out for a bit.”

 

Tan Yun grabbed her hands before she could pull away. “I…”

 

“What’s wrong?” Seeing her pitiful, hesitant expression, Yun Bo’s heart softened again and again, wishing she could just hold her and stay.

 

Tan Yun hesitated for a moment before squeezing her eyes shut and blurting out, “Will you take responsibility for me, beautiful?”

 

Yun Bo had expected something serious, but she couldn’t hold back a laugh. Poking Tan Yun’s chest playfully, she teased, “Why should I take responsibility for you?”

 

Tan Yun’s heart sank. Covering her eyes with her hands, she felt so upset she could cry.

 

“Alright, alright, I was just teasing. Let me see if you’re crying.” Yun Bo had only meant to joke—she was more than willing to take responsibility and hadn’t meant to make her cry.

 

“I’m not crying,” Tan Yun mumbled in protest. “Go on with your work.”

 

“Still sulking, hm?” Yun Bo tried to move Tan Yun’s hands away from her eyes, but the girl stiffened, her grip surprisingly strong. Not wanting to hurt her, Yun Bo didn’t force it.

 

“Just go!” Tan Yun didn’t know what had come over her. It was as if, now that someone doted on her, she wanted to act spoiled and push her luck.

 

Yun Bo’s heart itched with affection. Kicking off her shoes, she slipped under the covers and wrapped her arms around Tan Yun from behind, gently massaging her stomach. Then, mischievously, she flicked her fingers against Tan Yun’s belly. “Do you still want me to take responsibility?”

 

The words made Tan Yun blush from her neck to the tips of her ears, her entire body taking on a tempting honeyed hue that begged to be savored.

 

Tan Yun had intended to keep teasing her, but Yun Bo had her wrapped around her finger in no time. Soon, she gave in. “Yes…”

 

“Louder,” Yun Bo said, increasing the pressure of her fingers slightly.

 

“I want you to take responsibility for me,” Tan Yun said, enunciating each word clearly.

 

Now satisfied, Yun Bo chuckled softly in her ear.

 

After a while, Tan Yun’s stomach grew warm. “Don’t you have work to do? You should go. I’ll wait here for you.”

 

Yun Bo checked the time—she could still make it. Nipping Tan Yun’s ear, she said, “Don’t fall asleep yet. I’ll have the hotel send up some food later.”

 

After a pause, she added, “Don’t meet Gu Yuan alone. Don’t believe anything she says. All she wants is to crush your confidence.”

 

Tan Yun understood. She had been avoiding Gu Yuan as much as possible lately.

 

“Can you bring back a trophy for me to show off?” Yun Bo encouraged, though she didn’t want to put too much pressure on her.

 

“I will!” Tan Yun was confident of victory. “Then wait for me to bring a trophy back for you.”

 

“Okay!”

 

……

 

……

 

When they arrived on set, Youyou was surprised, thinking she wouldn’t come tonight.

 

Yun Bo had been in a hurry before arriving, and there was still a bloodstain on her clothes.

 

Youyou spotted it immediately and asked, “Are you hurt? Should I call a doctor to take a look?”

 

Only then did Yun Bo notice it, a faint smile curling at her lips. “No need.”

 

This was something left behind by the little fox.

 

Upon entering the dressing room, the makeup artist approached with a powder puff but paused before starting, catching a whiff of fragrance on her. “Duanduan, you’re in a good mood today?”

 

The hairstylist also leaned over for a look. “It’s rare to see you smile.”

 

Yun Bo nodded. “It is a good day.”

 

Soon, a couple of people gathered around to style and apply her makeup. She closed her eyes, her mind filled with images of the little fox.

 

Before long, Youyou came over and whispered in her ear, “Ning Xuan is here.”

 

It was normal for A-list celebrities to arrive an hour or two late, but for a newcomer like her to put on airs was something else.

 

Everyone around saw through it but kept quiet—they all knew she was only acting this way because she had the backing of CEO Li.

 

The moment Ning Xuan stepped in, she tossed her handbag to her assistant and scanned the room with her head held high. Her gaze quickly landed on Yun Bo, who was getting her makeup done. With a smile, she approached to greet her. “Duanduan-jie, I finally get to talk to you this time. I’ve always been your fan.”

 

Yun Bo had no scenes to film tonight. At noon, she had asked Youyou to relay to Ning Xuan’s agent that she wasn’t available to meet and that passing along her message would suffice. Yet here she was, rushing over eagerly—proof of how desperately she wanted to cling to Yun Bo’s coattails.

 

No one in the dressing room expected her to take the initiative to greet Yun Bo, let alone with such obvious fawning.

 

Ning Xuan had seen plenty of wealthy, powerful patrons in her life. Knowing Yun Bo wouldn’t acknowledge her at first, she walked over anyway and sat beside her, putting on the act of close sisters. She struck up a conversation. “Duanduan-jie, I heard you hadn’t eaten before coming, so I bought you some local specialties. Would you like to try them?”

 

Yun Bo didn’t even open her eyes, as if she were asleep.

 

Undeterred, Ning Xuan set the food on the table. “This year’s Best Actress award is definitely yours.”

 

To anyone else, such words might have been flattering, but to Yun Bo, they carried a different meaning. Her brows furrowed slightly.

 

Youyou, who had been observing from the corner, noticed her displeasure and quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

 

“Uh, Xuan-jie, Duanduan just got here and is still feeling a bit carsick.” The implication was clear—stop bothering Yun Bo.

 

Ning Xuan had been trying to ingratiate herself for a while now, and her patience was wearing thin. Seeing that Youyou was just a newcomer, she snapped, “Then what kind of assistant are you? If you knew Duanduan-jie gets carsick, why didn’t you prepare any motion sickness medicine for her?”

 

Youyou was taken aback by the sudden scolding and froze for a moment.

 

Yun Bo, standing nearby, spoke up, her voice laced with impatience. “The people under me are not yours to discipline.”

 

Ning Xuan, accustomed to being domineering, struggled to control her emotions, fearing she might lose her powerful backer over this incident. She forced herself to say, “I may have spoken too harshly.”

 

But she was too proud to offer a proper apology.

 

To avoid further awkwardness, she quickly made her exit.

 

Only when she reached the door did she drop her smile, glaring at the ground before spitting on it in front of her assistant.

 

The assistant, long used to her behavior, waited until they were further from the dressing room before reminding her, “Mr. Li just called. He wants you to meet him at the hotel.”

 

The mention of Mr. Li only fueled her anger. She wouldn’t have slept with him if not for the role. The more she thought about it, the more humiliated she felt.

 

She pulled out her phone from her purse, repeatedly tapping on a photo, zooming in again and again. Though the person in the picture was unclear, she could guess they had a close, possibly intimate, relationship with Yun Bo.

 

“Tell Mr. Li I’m not feeling well today. I won’t be going,” she said. She was confident that once she secured the role, she’d skyrocket to fame and never have to associate with the likes of Mr. Li again.

 

The photo in her phone was her lifeline. She knew that if it were a man, it wouldn’t cause much of a stir—but fate had given her a chance. The person in the photo was a woman.

 

In her memory, no one in the entertainment industry had ever successfully survived a scandal involving infidelity.

 

The assistant, worried she might lose sight of the bigger picture, repeated, “But Mr. Li specifically asked for you today.”

 

Ning Xuan snapped, “Who pays your salary—him or me?”

 

The assistant relented. “Then I’ll call him back.”

 

Just as she was about to dial, Ning Xuan changed her mind. “Don’t bother. I’ll go on time.”

 

She couldn’t be sure if Yun Bo would still be her backer. If Yun Bo was willing to cut ties rather than let her cling on, and she also ruined things with Mr. Li, the loss would outweigh the gain.

 

The night shoot dragged on until 2 a.m.

 

Around 10 p.m., she had called Tan Yun, saying she wouldn’t be back until two or three in the morning.

 

Though Tan Yun worried, she understood the importance of her work. She secretly dressed and went downstairs to buy throat lozenges, waiting for her return.

 

Finally, as they packed up to leave, Yun Bo headed to her car—only to have her path blocked.

 

They were still inside the studio lot, so she wasn’t worried about danger. She looked up, studying the stranger before her.

 

She couldn’t fathom the depth of emotion in his eyes.

 

Not that it affected her.

 

After a long silence, the man finally spoke, his voice hoarse and heavy with regret.

 

“Duanduan… h-how have you been?”

 

She was certain she didn’t know him, assuming he was just another attention-seeking actor. She changed direction and kept walking.

 

But then he grabbed her arm. “Duanduan, can we talk?”

 

Yun Bo struggled to suppress the fury in her heart. “Please remove your hand. I won’t repeat myself.”

 

The man froze. “Duanduan, I—”

 

“Let go!” Her words came fast, laced with barely restrained tension.

 

“I…” In his memory, she had never been this cold toward him before.

 

Yun Bo grew irritated. “Sir, if you don’t let go now, I’ll call the police.”

 

“Sir?” The term carried obvious distance. Gone was any trace of past affection in her eyes—no emotion remained at all.

 

The man was stunned. “Duanduan… do you not recognize me?”

 

Only two words came to mind now: memory loss.

 

“I was wrong before. I know that now. Please forgive me—I’ll change.” As he spoke these words, a secret delight stirred in his heart.

 

The strong stench of alcohol and tobacco clung to him. Yun Bo yanked her hand free and quickly stepped forward.

 

“You’d better not follow me.”

 

She pulled out her phone from her purse, pretending to make a call. This man had used Yun Duan’s childhood nickname, which meant their past relationship wasn’t simple. Calling the police wouldn’t do her any good—she just wanted to scare him off.

 

Yun Bo took out her car keys and unlocked the door. The man rushed over, slamming his palm against her window. “Duanduan, open the door! Let’s talk properly!”

 

She shot him a sidelong glance. “Keep knocking if you’ve got a death wish.”

 

A glance in the rearview mirror confirmed his car was tailing hers. Still unsure of his intentions, Yun Bo took a detour around the block.

 

But the man’s tracking skills proved sharp—no matter how many turns she took, she couldn’t shake him off. Finally, she called Youyou.

 

Alarmed by the news, Youyou pressed for details about the man’s appearance, then hesitantly asked, “Duanduan, are you absolutely sure you don’t recognize him?”

 

Something about Yun Bo’s description reminded her of Yun Duan’s ex-boyfriend. Before the car accident, the two had been considered a golden couple in the entertainment industry.

 

After Yun Duan’s accident, rumors of their breakup spread, and they were never seen together again.

 

Yun Duan searched her memories but found only blankness. She didn’t dare answer carelessly. “I can’t recall right now.”

 

Youyou thought for a moment. “How about you call the police first? I’ll handle the rest.”

 

But Yun Duan remembered the look in that man’s eyes. If they really had a past, involving the police would only give reporters ammunition to sensationalize the story—putting her in an even worse position.

 

With that in mind, she stepped on the gas, circling the city a few more times before finally returning to her hotel.

 

The man followed all the way, stopping at the hotel entrance. He seemed to memorize the name before driving off.

 

Yun Bo adjusted her clothes slightly at the entrance and swiped her keycard.

 

The lights in the room flickered suddenly, then plunged into darkness.

 

She skirted around the sofa to the bedroom, spotting a curled-up lump in the center of the bed. “Already asleep…” she murmured, disappointed.

 

But the figure, who had been lying quietly, abruptly threw off the covers and sat up. “Nope, still awake.”

 

The light in the room flickered on, restoring the space to its original bright whiteness.

 

Then she saw the smug smile on the beauty’s face and immediately realized something was off—the beauty had deliberately said it that way…

 

“Why are you still awake so late?” Her words carried a faint hint of reproach, though it sounded more like concern.

 

“I…” Tan Yun clutched the bedsheet, “I was waiting for you!”

 

Yun Bo stared at her intently, gazing at her little fox.

 

She walked to the bedside, her voice tinged with tenderness, “Silly, it’s not like I wasn’t coming back.”

 

“I knew you’d come back.” Tan Yun spoke with absolute certainty, every word brimming with confidence.

 

Hearing this, Yun Bo felt it was enough. Her fingers lightly brushed Tan Yun’s cheek as she murmured again, “So silly…”

 

Tan Yun fumbled under the blanket with both hands before pulling out a bottle of milk. “I thought you might be hungry when you got back… so I…”

 

“I’ve already had milk.” The words carried a suggestive undertone.

 

It made Tan Yun think of that afternoon. She huffed softly, “Fine, don’t drink it then.”

 

With that, she tried to tuck the milk back under the covers, but Yun Bo intercepted it midway. “Who said I wouldn’t drink it?”

 

“Now I don’t want to give it to you.” She made a half-hearted attempt to snatch it back, waving a hand in front of Yun Bo’s face before pulling out a throat lozenge instead.

 

Yun Bo’s heart warmed. She freed one hand to ruffle Tan Yun’s hair and asked softly, “Does your stomach still hurt?”

 

“Nope!” Tan Yun patted her belly emphatically, afraid Yun Bo might try to rub it later—if she did, Tan Yun wouldn’t sleep a wink all night.

 

Watching her patting motion, Yun Bo couldn’t resist the urge to place her own hand there, to knead and caress.

 

But Tan Yun nimbly rolled to the other side, evading her devilish claws, then giggled triumphantly.

 

“What, after just a short time apart, you’re already rejecting me?” Yun Bo’s acting skills were nothing to scoff at—she instantly put on a heartbroken expression, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

 

Even though she knew it was an act, Tan Yun couldn’t help but want to comfort her. She quickly crawled over. “If I were rejecting you, why would I have prepared milk for you?”

 

Yun Bo poked her forehead. “Do it again—crawl for me one more time.”

 

Tan Yun saluted playfully before scrambling back to her starting position, ready to repeat the performance.

 

Just as she planted her hands on the soft mattress, Yun Bo issued another instruction.

 

“Arch your back a little lower.”

 

Tan Yun adjusted her posture as directed, only to realize it felt a bit…

 

Too revealing?

 

Yun Bo pulled the straw from her lips, licking away the traces of milk, then continued guiding her. “Tilt your head up slightly—it’ll look better that way.”

 

For some reason, even though she was the one putting on the show, Tan Yun felt like she might get a nosebleed.

 

Following Yun Bo’s directions, she struck the pose. When Yun Bo crooked a finger at her, she crawled forward step by step, kitten-like.

 

Yun Bo casually smoothed out a wrinkle on her pants, and Tan Yun quickly understood the hint.

 

Her hand, like a cat’s paw, lightly scratched at Yun Bo’s thigh.

 

“Such a good girl,” Yun Bo praised. “Go on, what reward do you want?”

 

“There’s a reward?!” Tan Yun excitedly withdrew her hand.

 

Yun Bo arched a brow, silently reminding her not to move just yet.

 

“Cats can’t talk.”

 

Tan Yun immediately shut her mouth and obediently meowed in response.

 

Fingers danced lightly over her lips. “Meow again for me.”

 

Recalling the movements of kittens she’d seen on TV, Tan Yun rubbed her back against the other’s arm and let out another soft “meow.”

 

The sounds that reached her ears were nothing but moans of desire.

 

If this continued, she wouldn’t be able to hold back. Holding her breath for a moment to calm down, she finally spoke, “Alright, it’s almost dawn. Shouldn’t you go to sleep?”

 

Tan Yun let out a muffled “Mmm,” still riding the high of excitement, not expecting things to end so soon—she had just imagined a hundred different positions for their little cat play.

 

With a somewhat unsatisfied look, she stared at the beauty. Yun Bo felt flustered under her gaze and pinched her waist. “Go to sleep. Don’t you have a competition tomorrow? I heard it’s being streamed online. Do you really want to show up with dark circles under your eyes?”

 

Only then did Tan Yun behave, convincing herself that Yun Bo was stopping because she didn’t want to affect her performance in the competition.

 

After Yun Bo went to the bathroom, Tan Yun stealthily pulled her phone under the covers and turned to an online forum for help.

 

Why doesn’t my girlfriend want to have sex?

 

First reply: Either she’s old-fashioned, or she doesn’t love you.

 

Tan Yun: Shut up, don’t talk nonsense. We love each other very much.

 

Second reply: Is she shy?

 

Tan Yun: Not at all. She’s always touching me.

 

Third reply: You’re too ugly and perverted. She’s not into you.

 

Instantly, she realized the crux of the issue and quietly replied: Compared to her, I really am ugly…

 

The replier, who was online, quickly responded: Then how’s your figure?

 

Tan Yun: Compared to hers… not great either…

 

Fourth reply: Don’t compare a woman’s figure to a man’s physique. First, tell me how many abs you have.

 

Tan Yun: Left abs, right abs…

 

Fourth reply: Dude, are you joking?

 

Tan Yun: Who said I’m a dude?

 

For the next ten minutes, the fourth replier vanished.

 

Fortunately, a kind soul replied: Wait a bit. I happen to have a female friend in a similar situation. Let me ask her.

 

Tan Yun replied with an “Okay,” then tucked her phone under the covers, patiently waiting for the kind stranger’s answer.

 

A while later, she received a message from Cheng Xiaoai.

 

Boundless Love: Sweetie, are you asleep?

 

Tan Yun had barely typed “Not yet” when a call came through.

 

Glancing at the still-closed bathroom door and seeing no reply from the kind stranger, she answered.

 

Cheng Xiaoai, hugging her laptop, cleared her throat and asked, “Sweetie, can I ask you something?”

 

“What is it?”

 

“How do you handle marital intimacy?”

 

Tan Yun: “…”

 

Having been abstinent for days, Cheng Xiaoai had long wanted to ask about this. Now, with her libido flaring, she pressed, “Come on, share with your big sis.”

 

Suddenly, Tan Yun realized something—she often came to this forum for help, while Cheng Xiaoai frequented it for adult content.

 

She tentatively asked, “Are you browsing the forum right now?”

 

Cheng Xiaoai didn’t hold back. “The night is too lonely. I need to relieve some… urges.”

 

Tan Yun: “Are you the one helping someone with their problem?”

 

“Yes…”

 

Without hesitation, Tan Yun hung up.

 

At first, Cheng Xiaoai didn’t notice anything amiss and continued browsing the forum. She replied to the post: Sorry, my friend fell asleep.

 

She expected at least a “thank you,” but the other party seemed to have gone offline, ignoring her.

 

Puzzled, she thought for a moment before suddenly slapping her thigh in realization.

 

After sending Tan Yun text messages for over ten days…

 

Boundless Love: So you’re the one who posted on the forum asking for help?

 

Boundless Love: Having issues in the bedroom?

 

Boundless Love: Is it her or you who’s underperforming?

 

……

 

……

 

Tan Yun could practically see someone laughing hysterically through her phone screen. Frustrated, she threw her phone on the floor and buried herself under the blankets to sleep.

 

The next day, Cheng Xiaoai received a text message.

 

Eloquent Charm: Everything’s harmonious. Both performing well.

 

Cheng Xiaoai felt this single text message alone could keep her laughing for a year.

 

Tan Yun, suffering from severe sleep deprivation, scrambled out of bed to find her phone.

 

After searching the floor for a long time, she finally spotted it on the nightstand. As soon as she turned it on and checked the messages…

 

Harmonious? Both performing well?

 

She felt deeply deceived and needed a corner to crouch in and cry quietly.

 

Yun Bo had just returned with breakfast when she saw Tan Yun’s teary-eyed expression. Noticing the phone in her hand, Yun Bo suppressed her amusement and said, “Come here, let’s eat. I’ll take you to your competition later.”

 

Head lowered, Tan Yun shuffled toward her. The sight of the lavish breakfast spread across the table instantly dissipated her anger.

 

As the beauty handed her a bowl of congee, Tan Yun carefully considered how to broach the subject indirectly.

 

She took a mouthful of congee and asked, “Yun Bo, have you been feeling any physical discomfort lately?”

 

Tan Yun deliberately avoided looking at Yun Bo’s face, giving her time to think.

 

After the question, Tan Yun blinked encouragingly, her expression saying “Go ahead, I won’t judge you.”

 

Yun Bo paused momentarily, wondering if she’d been discovered.

 

Handing her a fried dough stick, Yun Bo began peeling a boiled egg from the table.

 

Tan Yun’s eyes gleamed with intense curiosity, closely observing every movement.

 

Soon she sadly realized the beauty was hiding something significant.

 

But to her, nothing mattered as long as they were together.

 

Tan Yun voiced her thoughts directly, “Don’t worry, it’s really not an issue.”

 

Yun Bo looked up, “There’s nothing wrong with me in that department.”

 

“Huh?” No problems?… Tan Yun was confused again… Could it really be about looks and figure then?

 

Biting into the fried dough stick, she felt a pang of sadness. She hadn’t expected the beauty to care about appearances.

 

Even heartbroken, she considered plastic surgery for Yun Bo’s sake.

 

With forced nonchalance, Tan Yun suggested, “How about we take a trip to Korea sometime!”

 

“Korea? Why?” Yun Bo played dumb, though she’d already guessed. No wonder her designs were so outstanding – her mind worked differently from others.

 

Tan Yun avoided stating her real intention. Truthfully, she was quite satisfied with her face – she’d had plenty of suitors before.

 

But compared to Yun Bo, she felt inadequate. “I want to reinvent myself.”

 

“Reinvent?” Yun Bo continued the charade, “I know some local specialties there. Want to check them out?”

 

“What specialties?” Tan Yun quickly took the bait.

 

“Breast enhancement and beauty treatments.” Soon, her eyes narrowed into a sharp gaze, landing squarely on a particular part of her body. After a moment of scrutiny, she added, “The first one you don’t need for now—it’s already grown quite a bit.”

 

Tan Yun was overjoyed, lowering her head to look. Now that it had been pointed out, it did seem a little bigger.

 

The effects of massaging really were impressive.

 

Yun Bo continued, “You already have eyes and a nose—no need to get extras.”

 

This time, she didn’t address the crucial question, so Tan Yun pressed eagerly, “Is there anything that needs adjusting? Like, are my eyes big enough? Is my nose high enough?”

 

Yun Bo rested her chin on her hand, studying her. “If you changed those, would you still be you? Or are you asking whether I like your inner self or your outer appearance?”

 

The beauty was truly a master of sweet talk. Tan Yun was instantly won over by her words.

 

Why bother with plastic surgery?

 

I am who I am. If the beauty really only cared about looks, she wouldn’t have fallen for me in the first place.

 

With that thought, her heart felt suddenly lighter. She took a big bite of the porridge in her bowl and couldn’t resist adding, “Yun Bo, you’re the best.”

 

“Not as good as you.”

 

……

 

……

 

Yun Bo hadn’t received an invitation to the competition, so she couldn’t enter the venue. She could only escort Tan Yun to the competition area.

 

“Don’t be too nervous,” Yun Bo said, holding her hand as she led her to the competition corridor.

 

“If you wait outside for me, I won’t be nervous,” Tan Yun replied. She didn’t even know if the beauty had work to do today—she just wanted to be a little spoiled for once.

 

The competition corridor loomed ahead. Tan Yun’s claim of not being afraid was a lie. She glanced at the two flowers embroidered on her cheongsam.

 

“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely bring back a trophy to show off to you.”

 

Yun Bo hugged her. “Go on. I’ll wait here for you.”

 

Cheng Xiaoai had also taken an early flight. Not long after Tan Yun entered, she arrived as well.

 

Tan Yun and her model headed to the dressing room together. She had worked with this model for quite some time, and the two had developed a strong rapport. After exchanging a few words of encouragement, one went to the competition area backstage while the other stepped onto the runway.

 

She was confident that her design would stand out among the rest.

 

But reality slapped her in the face. On the runway, a dress of identical style, cut, and silhouette appeared. If not for the different patterns, everyone present would have thought it was the same dress—just created by two different designers.

 

The audience erupted in murmurs, everyone whispering to each other.

 

The waiting area had a live broadcast screen. Both Yun Bo and Cheng Xiaoai were equally stunned when they saw the two identical dresses.

 

The models only wore their assigned numbers, so the designers’ identities weren’t immediately known. Cheng Xiaoai nearly charged in, ready to confront the plagiarist.

 

Tan Yun grabbed the impulsive Cheng Xiaoai. “Don’t act rashly.”

 

“You’re telling me not to act rashly? That’s your wife in there, you—”

 

“What can you even do if you go in?” Yun Bo analyzed calmly. “Don’t make things harder for her. I’ll handle this.”

 

“You—!” Cheng Xiaoai swallowed her anger. “Who the hell is responsible for this?!”

 

“Who do you think?”

 

Cheng Xiaoai shot her a look, and the answer immediately came to mind.

 

Gu Yuan!

 

Cheng Xiaoai was on the verge of exploding. “Goddammit, is she that desperate for a beating?!”

 

Yun Bo corrected her statement, “No one would want to sleep with her.”

 

As the camera turned to the two models, the host walked out with a microphone, composed and steady, announcing, “Now, let’s invite the designers of our two models to the stage.”

 

Tan Yun and Gu Yuan walked up from opposite sides of the runway, each standing beside their respective models. The moment Gu Yuan took her place, she pointed at Tan Yun in feigned shock and exclaimed, “Your design is exactly the same as mine!”

 

Whispers immediately erupted from the audience, and from the very beginning, Tan Yun found herself at a disadvantage.

 

The judges huddled together below the stage, discussing in low voices. Tan Yun couldn’t bear the weight of their suspicious gazes sweeping over her. A sharp, continuous pain twisted in her abdomen, and she clenched her fists so tightly her palms ached, her legs trembling uncontrollably.

 

This was a major competition. She knew the more she spoke, the more mistakes she might make. Gritting her teeth, she locked her lips tightly and turned her gaze toward the cameras.

 

When her eyes met Yun Bo’s, his heart clenched.

 

He knew the little fox was silently proving to him that she could handle this.

 

After a round of deliberation, the head judge spoke up, “After careful consideration, we unanimously agree that one of these two designs is undoubtedly plagiarized.”

 

As she spoke, her eyes remained fixed on Tan Yun, as if she had already decided Tan Yun was the plagiarist.

 

The audience caught on immediately, erupting in murmurs of disdain.

 

“I remember contestant No. 8—Gu Yuan. I saw her first design. Two words: stunning. But the one next to her? Tsk tsk.”

 

“Not necessarily. The other one looks genuinely wronged.”

 

“Faking it, probably. Look at her—she hasn’t said a word this whole time, legs shaking. Guilty as hell.”

 

Even the live stream comments were flooded with insults.

 

Tan Yun watched the barrage of scrolling remarks on the screen.

 

“OMG, plagiarism this blatant? Dox No. 16!”

 

“No. 16—Tan Yun, graduated from C University, fashion design.”

 

“She’s my alum. Won tons of awards. No. 8 can’t compare.”

 

“Paid shill alert! Can’t accept someone else’s hard work?”

 

“I’m standing with No. 8. Screw this plagiarism dog, acting all pitiful. Makes me sick.”

 

“Tan Yun, you plagiarist, go explode. Your whole family should sjsgg.”

 

Gu Yuan curled her lips into a fleeting smirk, a victor’s arrogance flashing across her face too quickly to catch.

 

Tan Yun lifted her chin, standing tall against the sea of ridicule. The stabbing pain in her abdomen couldn’t stop her from smiling with confidence.

 

She—

 

I just want everyone to see that I’m not weak-kneed, I’m not a plagiarism dog—I am the original designer of this work.

 

She wanted to slap these people hard in the face. Her back straightened even more, so much so that the jeers grew louder.

 

“Damn, how shameless can you be? Standing straight doesn’t mean you can whitewash yourself.”

 

“Did your mother raise you for nothing, birthing such a cheap copycat?”

 

The head judge holding the microphone instantly darkened, making veiled accusations: “I don’t want anyone to dirty this stage. Now, I’m giving you a chance to step forward yourself.”

 

Tan Yun clenched her fists tightly—she had to endure.

 

The head judge below continued, “I think someone should know better without me spelling it out. If she still has any shame left, she’ll step down on her own.”

 

The meaning couldn’t be clearer. Standing outside, Yun Bo wouldn’t let her insult Tan Yun like this. She made a call to Youyou.

 

Beside her, Cheng Xiaoai lashed out at the head judge, “With her standards, she’s the head judge? I doubt she could’ve gotten this position without relying on plagiarism.”

 

Ironically, Cheng Xiaoai hit the nail on the head—this head judge had followed the exact same path as Gu Yuan back in the day.

 

Back then, thanks to some family connections, she had plagiarized others’ work and used her influence to sweep it under the rug.

 

Everyone in the industry knew her dirty history. Yun Bo made a direct call to the investor.

 

Coincidentally, Yun Duan was friends with the investor. The call went through quickly.

 

Yun Bo got straight to the point: “Chang En, a friend of mine is participating in the fashion competition you’re sponsoring, but there’s been a plagiarism incident. I hope you can handle this properly.”

 

Of course, she didn’t name her friend to avoid unnecessary trouble.

 

Chang En initially thought she was calling to pull strings. The plagiarism issue had already been reported to higher-ups, so he didn’t ask who her friend was, simply replying, “We’ll handle this properly.”