Chapter 31

Chapter 31

All of this had exceeded Zheng Yushu’s plans.

Zhu Yin?

He knew that every change had come from this person.

Over the past few days, he had sent someone to investigate Zhu Yin. Her background was unexpectedly clean and simple–so clean that it resembled a template prepared for someone to find.

What made Zheng Yushu most uncomfortable was the subtle change he had clearly sensed in Lu Yao’s attitude during their calls over the past two days.

Her former wholehearted trust was gone, along with the dependence that had allowed him to decide everything for her. She had developed ideas of her own and begun trying to negotiate and set conditions with him.

“Yao.” His voice was low and gentle, carrying its usual springlike warmth.

Lu Yao’s expression softened slightly. “What is it, Brother Zheng?”

“Didn’t I mention that I was searching for a suitable assistant for you? I’ve found someone now,” Zheng Yushu said mildly.

Lu Yao answered without thinking, “There’s no need, Brother Zheng. Zhu Yin is with me now. I don’t need another assistant.”

Zheng Yushu smiled. “I’m sure your cousin is a wonderful person, but she isn’t familiar with the entertainment industry. There may be work matters she doesn’t fully understand. The new assistant I selected for you is one of the company’s best–”

For the first time, Lu Yao firmly and unhesitatingly rejected his “kindness” from the other end of the call.

“There’s no need, Brother Zheng. Zhu Yin is wonderful. I don’t need any other assistant.”

Where no one could see him, Zheng Yushu’s face darkened completely.

He kept his tone under control. “Since you trust her so much, have your cousin come meet me when there’s time.”

He pretended to sound relaxed. “Anyone who can earn such trust from my Yao must be very capable.”

Lu Yao did not answer for Zhu Yin. She looked at her instead.

Zhu Yin gestured for her to turn on speakerphone.

“Hello, Yao’s manager.” She sounded enthusiastic. “I’d be happy to meet you, but Yao is very busy on set and needs someone here. If you’re free, you can always come visit the production.”

Concern entered her voice. “Yao doesn’t have many friends here. Last time, I even heard a few people whispering behind her back, wondering whether her company valued her at all. After all, the other actors’ managers often show up.”

Lu Yao, standing beside her: ?

She stared at Zhu Yin in astonishment.

The assistant who had come from the stars in answer to her wish had always been omnipotent in her eyes. Could even Zhu Yin play the victim?

After a moment of silence, Zheng Yushu laughed. “I’ve simply been too busy with work. All right. I’ll make time to visit the set this week.”

Once the call ended, he frowned in thought. Had Zhu Yin made that remark innocently, or had she said it deliberately?

Lu Yao said softly, “I’m actually doing quite well now. There’s no need to trouble Brother Zheng by making him come here.”

Zhu Yin grabbed her hand, pretended it was the young woman’s brain, and shook it hard. “He’s your manager. He signed you. Solving your problems is his job. Why are you afraid of troubling him?”

“If I hadn’t come, wouldn’t you have been bullied to death on this set? That’s a failure on his part as your manager.”

Lu Yao lowered her head, her thoughts unreadable.

Zhu Yin pulled a lollipop from her pocket and stuck it in her mouth.

When she offered one to Lu Yao, the young woman shook her head and smiled. “I’m an actress now, after all. I have to control my sugar intake.”

On that subject, she was deeply envious. She spent day and night with Zhu Yin, who was forever eating all sorts of delicious food or lying on the sofa asleep whenever she had nothing to do.

Yet she did not gain the slightest bit of weight.

Then again, Zhu Yin was no mortal. She was an immortal who had descended to the human world with a shooting star. Immortals were naturally perfect. How could they possibly gain weight?

Filming soon resumed.

Zhu Yin sat in a chair and watched.

Barbara crouched at her feet, chewing on its tail. Whenever Zhu Yin’s hands itched for something to pet, it obediently jumped onto its host’s lap and let her rub it.

Barbara had never carried out a mission before, but it knew perfectly well that not every system had such an easy time completing missions with its host.

There was only one thing it did not understand. “Host, do you prefer human women?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Compared with the mission target in the previous world, you’re clearly more patient with Lu Yao.”

In the previous world, the host had still been a playful young woman. In this world, Lu Yao’s genuine sweet foolishness made the host seem mature by comparison.

Zhu Yin answered without hesitation, “One was a domineering CEO who criticized me every day, constantly tried to fire me, obstructed my mission, and was occasionally mentally unstable. The other is an obedient, sweet young woman who calls me her fairy sister every day. Is that really a difficult choice?”

After thinking about it, Barbara found that very reasonable indeed.

“Sister Yin.” Someone called to her from behind.

…

When Lu Yao returned after finishing her scenes for the day, she found Zhu Yin laughing delightedly.

Curious, she asked, “What made you so happy?”

Zhu Yin replied mysteriously, “Someone tried to poach someone from you.”

Lu Yao stared blankly for several seconds before understanding, and her expression immediately turned vigilant. “Who?”

On this set, the only person at her side was Zhu Yin. Who else could they be trying to poach?

The nerve!

For the first time since she had become excessively aloof, Lu Yao felt truly angry.

Someone had actually dared try to steal her fairy sister. She could never forgive that. She would sooner change managers than assistants… Wait?

Lu Yao was startled by her own thoughts.

Zheng Yushu had always been the person she trusted most in the entertainment industry. Had she unconsciously placed Zhu Yin above Brother Zheng?

Zheng Yushu kept his word. Three days later, he drove to the set.

The change had been less obvious over the phone. Only when they met did he fully sense how different Lu Yao had become.

She greeted him courteously, polite but distant.

Looking at her, Zheng Yushu felt a sudden emptiness, as though something that belonged to him had abruptly been lost.

He forced a smile. “What’s wrong, Yao? Are you blaming me for not coming to see you sooner?”

Lu Yao shook her head. “I’m just a little too immersed in my role and haven’t been able to shake it yet.”

She then introduced Zheng Yushu and Zhu Yin.

Zheng Yushu studied Zhu Yin, scrutiny hidden in his gaze. “Miss Zhu Yin, I’ve heard so much about you. You’re even more beautiful than I imagined.”

Zhu Yin extended a hand with a bright smile. “Thank you. Everyone who meets me says the same thing.”

Zheng Yushu was speechless.

He quickly recovered and smiled. “Your personality is more charming than I imagined too.”

“Mm. You’re just as smooth a talker as I imagined,” Zhu Yin replied.

Lu Yao was silent.

Both of them were smiling, yet for some reason, she felt the air between them crackle with tension.

When her turn to film arrived, she sighed in relief. For the first time, even Sun Lie’s face did not seem quite so unpleasant.