Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Extra

People are truly strange creatures.

Shen Sui once held Lu Li in such high regard, treating her with such importance while dismissing me as insignificant. Yet now that I’ve left him, he’s the one who refuses to let go.

Lu Li and Shen Sui remained entangled for a long time, but she eventually seemed to get on his nerves and vanished from the spotlight for a while.

During a break in filming, I was chatting with Sister Zhou. She spoke with a sigh of deep emotion.

“Who would have thought? Lu Li used to be so prominent, and now she’s reduced to playing bit parts. She’s always had such a high-and-mighty attitude and offended so many people in the past; her life is miserable now.

“Especially the people she screwed over before-they absolutely loathe her. I heard she’s playing a minor palace maid in an idol period drama recently. The second female lead is intentionally picking on her, making her redo scenes over and over. Her knees are bruised purple from all the kneeling.”

My hand paused briefly as I scrolled through my phone. After picking out three cute fan comments to reply to, I slowly looked up.

“Why are you following this stuff every day? Pay more attention to me instead.”

Sister Zhou poked my forehead, exasperated.

“You… you really don’t hold a grudge at all, do you?”

I smiled.

“There’s no need.

“I wish I could split myself in two just to get everything done. Where would I find the time to care about how others are doing?”

The road to truly joining the ranks of the elite is incredibly difficult.

Thousands upon thousands of people are trying to squeeze their way in. People more hardworking, more capable, and smarter than me are everywhere.

But not everyone has my specific experiences and resources. Attending a top-tier university made it easier to build high-quality connections. My experience successfully starting a business before university gave me a lot of confidence. And during the year I spent by Shen Sui’s side, he never hid his handling of company affairs from me. I learned so much during that time.

Perhaps in his heart, I was just a dodder flower-a parasite living off him-so he felt no need to be guarded around me.

The company is currently in its startup phase, and I’ve been incredibly busy. Sister Zhou took a stealthy look around.

“Did you and Shen Sui have a history?

“The way he treats you… it seems very different.”

I looked up and glanced at Shen Sui, who was standing not far away. Lately, he had been following me at a distance. No matter how dense a person might be, they would have sensed that something was off by now.

“We dated, then broke up.

“I have no idea what’s wrong with him lately.”

Sister Zhou let out a small, startled cry of surprise, though she quickly composed herself.

“When did this happen?

“You even kept it from me.”

After I finished telling Sister Zhou about the past, she looked at me with a pained expression.

“Don’t you want everyone to see those two for who they really are?

“So many people were attacking you back then.”

I propped my head up on my hand and looked at her, speaking leisurely.

“If I did that, wouldn’t I be tied to a stain like Shen Sui for the rest of my life?

“Whenever Jiang Zhi is mentioned, the public would rather discuss my failed relationship than acknowledge my professional strength.

“I don’t want that.”

Her academic background is excellent, but she has poor taste in men.

Her achievements are high, but her love life is a mess.

Her abilities are outstanding, but she’s still unloved.

The public loves to focus their gaze on a woman’s emotional life. I don’t need that kind of attention.

“You’re going to suffer a lot this way,” Sister Zhou sighed.

I patted her hand.

“It’s my own choice. I accept the rights and the wrongs of it; it’s not bitter.

“Don’t feel sorry for me. Look at how well I’m doing now.”

The pity in Sister Zhou’s eyes only deepened as she reached out and ruffled my hair.