"Huanhuan, that Lanling Television station is yours, isn't it?" As soon as Ning Yunhuan entered the classroom, before she could even speak after Li Panpan had just sat down and waved for her, many classmates had already surrounded her. On such a hot day, being enveloped by a crowd radiating various scents, Ning Yunhuan managed a strained laugh. Before she could say anything, Li Panpan’s eyebrows shot up: "Can everyone please let Huanhuan get over here first?"

Now that she had been on television and gained more friends, she was no longer the gentle and well-behaved girl she used to be; she had become much more outgoing and cheerful. Hearing her sharp tone, although some people were unhappy, they still cleared a path, allowing Ning Yunhuan to pass. Several persistent individuals tried to crowd around again, but Ning Yunhuan had already placed her things on the desk: "Whether the Lanling Company is mine or not, given that we are all classmates, I can introduce you to interview. Whether you succeed depends on your own ability."

Once these words were spoken, many people breathed a sigh of relief. After all, they hadn't had much interaction with Ning Yunhuan before, and now she was giving them an opportunity; some felt content, but others were equally dissatisfied. However, no one dared to speak out at this moment, though a hint of displeasure flickered across their faces.

"Oh, Huanhuan, you have a boyfriend? Are you already engaged?" A soft female voice rang out in surprise. Liu Zhen was wearing a look of astonished amusement. Following her slender, fair finger, everyone indeed saw a beautiful diamond ring adorning the ring finger of Ning Yunhuan's hand resting on the desk.

Before Ning Yunhuan could reply, Du He burst out laughing: "Is that even a question?" These girls had already clustered around Ning Yunhuan, clearly forming a small clique. Naturally, those who had originally occupied seats nearby felt somewhat disgruntled, yet none dared to voice their feelings.

"Liu Zhen, stop pretending. After being classmates for years, I don't believe for a second you didn't know Ning Yunhuan had a boyfriend," Cheng Qiaomei scoffed, wrinkling her nose. She couldn't stand Liu Zhen's demeanor and often found reasons to oppose her. Seeing her speak up now, she immediately confronted her: "Asking that when you clearly know she has one—what’s so strange about an engagement? Didn't Miss Li get engaged a long time ago?"

Didn't everyone from a prominent family settle their marriages early? Li Panpan had a fiancé back then, and no one made a fuss. Moreover, back in their freshman year, Ning Yunhuan’s boyfriend had come looking for her, even confronting that Young Master Xie back then—a remarkably handsome and tall man. Now, for Liu Zhen to ask if she even had a boyfriend, Cheng Qiaomei, though blunt, was correct in everyone's view. Even the male classmates who usually found Liu Zhen pure and kind now felt she was being deliberate.

"No, that's not what I meant. Cheng Qiaomei, don't deliberately slander me like that." Liu Zhen’s cheeks flushed crimson, her eyes brimming with tears. Biting her lip, she mumbled, "Huanhuan, that’s not what I meant. I didn't know you were engaged to your previous boyfriend..."

"What do you mean, 'previous' boyfriend? Do you think he's like you, always changing affections?" Cheng Qiaomei sneered. Liu Zhen bit her lip, a wronged expression settling on her face, and fell silent.

At this point, some classmates felt a flicker of pity for her. Cheng Qiaomei had a valid point, but her aggressive tone made her seem overly forceful. "Cheng Qiaomei, even if you want to flatter Huanhuan, you don't have to target Liu Zhen like this! She didn't provoke you, yet you pick on her every other day. We’ve only been classmates for a few years, how can you still be like this?"

"Exactly..."

Watching this spectacle unfold, Ning Yunhuan remained silent, observing how the group split into two factions. Cheng Qiaomei had a fiery and direct personality, yet she was fiercely loyal, straightforward, and lacked artifice; many people held a good impression of her and enjoyed befriending her. Liu Zhen also had good social standing in the class; with her sweet and innocent appearance, coupled with her gentle and helpful nature, many liked her. Besides the male classmates who considered her a goddess, many female students were also willing to be her friends. Now that the group had divided, naturally, some were willing to argue for the person they favored.

Because of a small incident, the argument escalated fiercely. There was no major conflict initially, but now both sides felt irritated, and everyone was huffing before class started.

Ning Yunhuan smiled slightly; this matter truly had little to do with her, and she felt no guilt watching the two factions clash. While Cheng Qiaomei did speak up for her, Ning Yunhuan clearly perceived that Cheng Qiaomei disliked Liu Zhen to begin with. Though she didn't know what past grievances they held, it was certain that if Cheng Qiaomei was opposing her, they must have had private friction. This incident was merely a convenient topic for them to ignite an argument.

Having enjoyed a period of freedom over the summer vacation, their hearts were restless, and no one could settle down to listen to the lectures. The girls ended up passing notes to chat. Having received genuine elite education abroad, they had already completed the university coursework, so skipping the lessons had no real impact on them.

Due to their status, the professor on the podium dared not discipline them too strictly, choosing to pretend not to notice their furtive activities. An entire class period passed, and the morning lessons were over. Li Panpan and the others knew about the relationship between Lan Lingyan and Ning Yunhuan, so they naturally didn't invite her to lunch. As the girls walked out of campus laughing and chatting, Ning Yunhuan was stopped again at the school gate.

Having been intercepted by Gu Yingxi at the school gate several times previously, Ning Yunhuan generally held a poor impression of anyone waiting for her there. When the figure finally stopped moving and Ning Yunhuan saw it was Liu Zhen, she finally relaxed, though her expression remained displeased. Liu Zhen, having stopped, noticed the unhappiness etched on Ning Yunhuan’s face and rushed to apologize: "Huanhuan, I'm sorry. I didn't want to wait for you here, but I was afraid Cheng Qiaomei would see me, and then she’d say I was trying to flatter you again..." She paused at this point, clearly reluctant to speak ill of Cheng Qiaomei further, showing an apologetic expression:

"I misspoke earlier. I didn't know you were engaged to your boyfriend. I apologize. If there is ever anything I can help you with in the future, please just tell me; I absolutely won't refuse." Having said this, she showed no intention of lingering or pressing further, merely offering a pleasant smile to Li Panpan and the others before stepping aside.

Her demeanor softened Ning Yunhuan's expression somewhat. Although Ning Yunhuan was no longer a genuine twenty-year-old girl and wouldn't entirely trust the meaning behind Liu Zhen's words, she still nodded: "Mm."

Li Panpan and the others remained silent. Liu Zhen managed a faint smile before turning and re-entering the school.

Zhou Yuan and the others only arranged to go out together another time and didn't bring up the awkward encounter with Liu Zhen. After everyone got into the cars waiting to pick them up, they parted ways.

As expected, in the following days, students began trickling into the Lanling Company to apply for jobs. Some of these people were still unwilling to give up, clinging to the hope of pulling strings using Ning Yunhuan's name. After tentatively mentioning her name and finding it ineffective, many cursed Ning Yunhuan inwardly while simultaneously forcing themselves to be serious.

After all, they were now entering their third year of university, and the time for internships arranged by the school was fast approaching. The entertainment industry, despite its glamour, was fundamentally about accumulating seniority. If one was lucky and had powerful backing, they might shoot to fame quickly; if unlucky, one might only achieve mediocre success even after being exploited. Naturally, everyone wanted to push hard now while their youth, looks, and figures were at their peak, to avoid wasting their prime years later.

Among these applicants, several performed exceptionally well and were signed by the company. Aside from a few classmates who were destined for great fame in a previous life, the stunning and enchantingly beautiful Cheng Qiaomei was unsurprisingly selected. Furthermore, Liu Zhen, whose type was completely different, was also chosen and signed to a long, ten-year contract.

Recently, the company's performance had been improving significantly. Not only had they signed many promising stars, but with Lan Jiu's backing and the network Ning Yunhuan had accumulated from her wedding, many companies faced various restrictions, whereas hers enjoyed smooth sailing with almost no headaches. That afternoon, a magazine was scheduled to shoot covers for Li Panpan and the others in the company's studio. The advantages of having deep pockets were evident then. Besides acquiring the Fu family's company, Lan Jiu had bought the entire office building for her; it was fully equipped with all manner of photography studios, and virtually anything related to entertainment could be found within that structure.

Since taking a half-month vacation, Lan Lingyan seemed to have been assigned a mission by Father Lan and had been continuously busy for several days, not even having time for lunch with Ning Yunhuan recently. After finishing lunch at home, she arranged for a car to take her directly to the company. Before getting out, she received a call from Li Panpan. By early October, the weather was no longer as scorching hot. Ning Yunhuan walked toward the company entrance while taking the call. A line of elegantly dressed receptionists at the main lobby immediately noticed their boss arriving and quickly stepped out from behind the counter to nod at her in unison.

The elevator attendant had already hastened to hold an elevator, leaving a dedicated empty one for Ning Yunhuan and politely asking others to use the adjacent one.

"Who is that? Such a grand display," a group of delicately made-up beautiful women, linked arm-in-arm, whispered and pointed toward Ning Yunhuan, who was waiting for the elevator accompanied by bodyguards. Despite their underlying dissatisfaction, these women were not oblivious and no one dared to shout loudly. A flustered, petite figure suddenly rushed toward the elevator, shouting, "Oh no, I’m going to be late!" She nearly collided with Ning Yunhuan’s entourage before being stopped by two bodyguards.

"What are you doing? Let me go!" she shrieked, her tone imbued with an endearing petulance. Her voice was soft and tender, like that of a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, instantly captivating.

"Please step aside," the bodyguard stated expressionlessly, pushing her away without any gentleness. As the girl stumbled, nearly falling to the ground, a woman behind her stepped forward and caught her in a half-embrace, preventing her fall.

"You are going too far." When that familiar, gentle voice rang out, Ning Yunhuan could hardly believe this melodramatic twist of fate. She turned and indeed saw the omnipresent female lead, Gu Yingxi, with a distressed expression, her eyes conveying anger yet possessing an inherent, deeply ingrained seductiveness.

"Miss Ning, you are truly going too far! Can't you just talk things out properly? We are all human. Why should you be allowed to take the elevator while preventing others from entering? Must we create tiers of superiority?"

While society touted egalitarianism, such pleasant words rarely reflected reality. If anyone were truly that naive in this world, they would likely have been crushed beyond recognition long ago. Fortunately, Gu Yingxi was shielded by the halo of a female lead; otherwise, Ning Yunhuan would doubt how she managed to grow up normally without becoming psychologically twisted and dark.

The surrounding crowd watched Gu Yingxi with complex expressions. Yet, the more silence and scrutiny she faced, the more she seemed to rise to the occasion. She straightened her back, defiantly lifting her chin. Her eyes, large and almond-shaped, were particularly pitiable on her otherwise unremarkable face. She bit her lip tightly, and that fragile resilience made her ordinary features appear exceptionally stubborn, somehow drawing everyone's gaze.

The law of the female lead was clearly manifesting in Gu Yingxi at this moment. Those who disliked her became even more convinced she was putting on an act, while those who favored her were utterly captivated.

Ning Yunhuan’s two bodyguards had been assigned by Father Lan. These men had been trained under Father Lan for years; their wills were exceptionally firm, and they could not be easily charmed like the men Lan Lingyan had previously sent against Gu Yingxi. Ning Yunhuan found Gu Yingxi’s display utterly repulsive. She glanced at her once, then treated her as thin air, turning back to focus on the elevator.

"Don't leave! You haven't apologized to her. We are all the same. Even if you insist on taking a private elevator, you shouldn't treat an innocent girl this way." Gu Yingxi seemed intent on lunging forward, but the two bodyguards unceremoniously gripped her arms. She struggled resentfully, a stubborn spark in her eyes.

The crowd watching her grew larger. Not wanting to argue, Ning Yunhuan simply turned and called out to the security guards: "This area must be kept quiet. I don't want to see her again."

The guards, momentarily stunned, looked nervous. Upon hearing Ning Yunhuan's command, they quickly agreed. Hearing this, Gu Yingxi finally understood that Ning Yunhuan was the boss here. A flood of realizations washed over her. Ever since she unexpectedly encountered Li Panpan and Ning Yunhuan at the jewelry store with Qin Yi, she had lived in fear that Ning Yunhuan might report her involvement with Qin Yi to Lan Lingyan. Her own sordid life, involving herself with so many men against her will, caused her immense pain. Yet, no matter how many men held sway over her, she desperately wanted to maintain an image of purity in Brother Lan Jiu's heart. She couldn't bear to see disgust in his eyes for her, even if he wasn't with her. Gu Yingxi yearned to leave a beautiful impression in his mind—a need carved deep into her bones. After the incident with Qin Yi, she grew even more fearful that Ning Yunhuan would shatter this precious fantasy.

"You are the boss of Lanling, I know. You are someone lofty, looking down on ordinary ants like us who just want to work here. We have to beg for sustenance under you, so you despise me, you always underestimate me, you never take me seriously. Even though we were once schoolmates and shared such an intimate relationship with the same man, you are so cold, refusing to even be friends! I misjudged you before. Since you look down on me, I don't want to be your friend either!" Tears streamed down Gu Yingxi’s face as she spoke. Many people felt a surge of sympathy for her. She wiped her tears, then resolutely added, "But that doesn't mean I fear you! You are utterly unworthy of Brother Lan Jiu. You are just a worldly woman; you have nothing that makes you deserving of him. Do you think I don't know the state of your Ning family? You don't have the funds to open this company, nor the capability to buy Lanling Television. It was all Lan Jiu paying for you! All you care about is his money, his power—you just want to use him!"

Her words stung deeply, especially the two intimately linked words, "Lan Ning," standing side-by-side. She yearned for the day when she, too, could open a company with Ninth Brother’s help. She didn't want money; she only wanted the world to know that when people heard the names Lan and Gu together, they would offer their blessings for her and Lan Jiu. The very thing she envied so much, Ning Yunhuan was merely exploiting him for! She didn't cherish him at all!

"I won't give you the chance! One day, I will expose your true colors! Someone as wonderful as Brother Lan Jiu—you don't deserve to ruin him!" Gu Yingxi clenched her fists hatefully, waving her soft, bun-like hands in the air, looking quite charmingly fierce.

Seeing even the security guards steal glances at Gu Yingxi, Ning Yunhuan let out a long, exasperated sigh. Two faint flushes of red stained Gu Yingxi's cheeks from her agitation, making her ordinary face appear strangely captivating. Lost in her gaze, the guards seemed to lose the heart to restrain her and instinctively let go of her arm.

"Senior, please calm down," Liu Zhen’s gentle voice interjected. She linked her arm with Gu Yingxi’s, nodded toward Ning Yunhuan, then patted Gu Yingxi’s back soothingly while wiping her face with a tissue. Gu Yingxi smiled gratefully: "Thank you. I lost my composure just now. Are you also a student from our school?"

Ning Yunhuan couldn't recall when Liu Zhen had arrived; she must have been there earlier, but Ning Yunhuan hadn't seen her. Now, not only was Liu Zhen present, but so was her old adversary, Cheng Qiaomei. Seeing the scene, Cheng Qiaomei immediately raised an eyebrow: "A slut is always affected and dramatic. Birds of a feather flock together, faking innocence and sweetness."

Gu Yingxi’s eyes welled up again at Cheng Qiaomei's words. When Ning Yunhuan might have been the boss, no one dared speak up for Gu Yingxi in front of her. But now that Cheng Qiaomei had spoken, as newcomers to the company, Cheng Qiaomei, due to her bright and charming looks, was favored slightly more by the company. While most artists signed fifteen-year contracts, she had only signed for ten. Naturally, this bred resentment. Rivalries among artists in the same company were frequent, though major clashes were rare; constant subtle skirmishes were common, leading to various factions. It was only because Lan Biao could suppress these tensions that things hadn't exploded, as there were several second-generation heirs among the employees besides those from ordinary backgrounds.

"Cheng Qiaomei, don't go too far. What's the point in bullying two girls..." A bright and handsome boy spoke up, unable to stand by and watch Liu Zhen and Gu Yingxi be victimized. Liu Zhen's expression shifted slightly. Although she didn't want to be grouped with Cheng Qiaomei, she equally didn't want to be associated with Gu Yingxi. If Ning Yunhuan was indeed the owner of Lanling Company, this Miss Gu had just verbally eviscerated the boss. Liu Zhen had just signed in; if she immediately offended the boss, she could be shelved for a full ten years.

Even though the boy was speaking up for her, Liu Zhen felt no gratitude; instead, her expression turned subtly ugly.

"Huanhuan, it's not like that..." she started to say, but Ning Yunhuan waved her hand and turned toward the front desk, where a beautiful customer service agent in a silver-gray business suit was smiling obsequiously. "This person is forbidden from entering our company," she stated, pointing at Gu Yingxi. She then glanced at the boy who had just shown unwarranted chivalry: "This type—thoughtless, impulsive do-gooder who doesn't defend his own company's people but sides with outsiders—check his file. If he hasn't already joined our company, he is forbidden from coming within half a step, nor are any of his associates allowed near."

Having finally achieved the status of boss, Ning Yunhuan had no intention of swallowing her pride any longer. Disregarding everyone's expressions, she summarily dismissed the boy. Gu Yingxi’s face turned stark white, and she bit her lip hard. She remembered that the character 'Lan' () from Brother Jiu’s name was present within this company, and the only reason she wanted to work here, aside from earning money, was because of that very character. The thought that once she became an employee, her work ID badge would bear the words 'Lan Ning Company' filled her with a strange sense of closeness to him.

Who would have thought that Ning Yunhuan would be so intensely jealous, nullifying her aspirations the moment she arrived? Her heart twisted with anguish, yet her pride utterly forbade her from begging for love. Thus, she forcefully suppressed the pain rising in her chest, keeping her face ashen and remaining silent.