"What pure jade maiden? Hmph, shameless slut. See a man and you can’t wait to strip down and lie under him. With your kind of lowliness, why don't you just go die!" With those words, the woman shoved the microphone back, tore at Gu Yingxi's clothes, and slapped her a few times while grabbing her hair.

The woman, surnamed Lin, moved so fast that the crowd hadn't even processed what was happening. By the time the young man snapped back to reality, Gu Yingxi’s dress was already ripped, and she was weeping helplessly.

In that instant, Gu Yingxi felt as if she had been stripped naked and tossed out in the public square. She hadn't known Ouyang had a girlfriend; she didn't know any of that. She hadn't been with Ouyang for his money; she had been forced into it! But the fact remained that she had accepted fifty thousand from Ouyang. Tears welled in Gu Yingxi’s eyes. She wasn't afraid of others misunderstanding her, but she was terrified that if Brother Lan Jiu learned about all this, he would stop speaking to her.

"I—I'll pay the money back, I will…" Gu Yingxi trembled, hot tears blurring her vision, but after hearing what that woman had just said, no one believed her anymore.

The ceremony, originally intended to present awards to major movie stars and directors, instantly morphed into the spectacle of Gu Yingxi being brutally beaten. Ning Yunhuan didn't deliver the final blow. It wasn't that she didn't want to crush Gu Yingxi completely, but she had figured out the nature of people like her—they were like weeds; the more you stomped on them, the more vigorously their life force surged.

The best approach was to strike her down repeatedly, yet always leave her a thread of retreat. Once she felt ready to face the next assault, then strike again. Repeat this cycle, and eventually, no matter how strong her heart, she would reach her breaking point. People like her couldn't simply die; it was better to let her live, just not live happily.

The people from Huayu quickly covered their faces and hurried Gu Yingxi out. Among the VIP seats, matching those of the Lan family, a tall, handsome man with black hair and black eyes glanced over. His gaze lingered on the pitifully crying face on the screen for a moment. Then, he began twirling a ring in his hand, a look of absolute certainty flickering in his wolf-like eyes.

Ning Yunhuan returned to her seat, but many people had taken notice of her. The event wasn't even over before people began approaching with business cards. Having already made moves against Huayu's personnel, several top international luxury brands had now set their sights on her, hoping she would become their endorser.

When some top international luxury houses sought spokespersons, they typically favored models with a cold and striking appearance. These brands, steeped in centuries of tradition, weren't simply begging consumers to open their wallets; they didn't treat customers as gods like common merchandise. Many brands carried their own profound meaning—they embodied luxury and pride. The proud and noble expression Ning Yunhuan wore when chastising someone, that aloofness radiating from her very bones, astonished these brands. They felt that while her features might not be the most beautiful or refined, she possessed a rare quality of temperament. This quality resonated deeply with the history and intended message of many of their brands.

She had used many fine things before, but this was the first time she was being sought out for an endorsement. It wasn't just Ning Yunhuan who caught their eye; Lin Min's noble pride, fiery and intense, was also noticed by those seeking ambassadors for high-end, mature brands. Lin Min generally lacked interest in endorsements, but the idea of endorsing the same brand as Ning Yunhuan piqued her curiosity.

A very understated yet opulent brand approached this mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo, convincing Lin Min with a single sentence: They represented the fusion of charm between a young girl and a mature woman across different generations.

To be fair, Lin Min possessed devastating beauty. Even by international standards, her features were dimensional, carrying a wild sensuality combined with an innate, proud nobility. Unlike Ning Yunhuan's pride, Lin Min's cold arrogance resembled a burning flame, whereas Ning Yunhuan's coldness was a mysterious, deep chill. The foreigner, speaking flawless Mandarin, impressed Lin Min with the appeal of their differing yet complementary temperaments.

Although the matriarch of the Lan family was not required to make public appearances, there was no absolute regulation forbidding it; it ultimately depended on Lin Min's own wishes. Lin Maoshan wasn't entirely supportive of the venture, but seeing that his daughter was only endorsing a brand and posing for a few photos, rather than acting in a TV series, he tacitly agreed. Of course, the deciding factor was that if Lin Min and Ning Yunhuan endorsed this brand, they would receive all the newest products from that line free of charge in the future.

While China had no shortage of major foreign brands, some truly top-tier luxury items were reluctant to enter the Chinese market, given that the country's development lagged behind others, causing them to fall behind in certain aspects. However, if Lin Min and Ning Yunhuan signed contracts with this brand, these exclusive labels would directly establish branches in the capital city of China. Lin Maoshan recognized this potential benefit—that his daughter’s endorsement could contribute positively to China's image and status—which is why he didn't object too vehemently.

This particular brand was far superior to Green Winery; its history was even longer.

While Ning Yunhuan was busy with photoshoots, Gu Yingxi was living through sheer misery. She had become the universally reviled mistress. Especially after Ouyang Zhentian's girlfriend released information, Lan Jiu's subordinates released evidence they had been holding concerning Gu Yingxi juggling multiple men. Gu Yingxi became more infamous than ever, because people learned she wasn't just seducing her brother-in-law and carrying his child, but was also involved with Ouyang Zhentian. There were even whispers that the eldest daughter of the Li family was calling off her engagement because of Gu Yingxi.

Suddenly, many fans turned into furious detractors, nearly smashing the facade of the Huayu company building. Yet, in this chaos, and contrary to expectations, Huayu did not abandon Gu Yingxi. Instead, it seemed a large foreign consortium was interested in acquiring Huayu, along with all its contracted stars.

As soon as this news spread, not only did Huayu appear immune to the fallout from the venue incident, but the event actually drew the attention of many investors. Some were now contemplating investing in Huayu. Suddenly, Huayu's external spokesperson, instead of appearing demoralized as in previous days, was boldly declaring that the Huayu Company would one day be listed on the stock exchange.

Ning Yunhuan was too busy to pay much attention to Gu Yingxi anymore. After agreeing to the endorsement, she and Lin Min secretly traveled abroad. When they returned, an elegantly composed and confidently smiling Gu Yingnuo, wearing light makeup, had joined them on the plane.

Her reattachment surgery for the broken leg had been a complete success, and she could now walk in heels. Although pain was inevitable, seeing Gu Yingnuo maintain a composed expression deepened Ning Yunhuan's admiration for the young woman.

Despite her outwardly proud demeanor, Lin Min was actually warm-hearted beneath the cool exterior. She was direct, saying exactly what she meant without beating around the bush. Such a person could hate someone to the core, but they would also fiercely protect someone they cared for. Gu Yingnuo's ruthlessness had earned her considerable regard from Lin Min. Chatting and laughing, they soon landed in the Lan family’s villa complex.

Before boarding the plane, Ning Yunhuan had already made a call. As soon as she stepped off, she melted into an embrace that had clearly been waiting for some time, the arms holding her slightly cold.

"I'm back," she managed to whisper after a moment. Lin Min watched her with a smile. Ning Yunhuan shyly nestled back into Lan Lingyan’s arms.

"I've already arranged a car to take Mother directly back to the Lin residence," Lan Lingyan stated calmly upon seeing Lin Min in the background. The smile on Lin Min’s face faded slightly, and she straightened her back with effort. Just as Ning Yunhuan was about to speak, the car pulled up. Lan Jiu opened his coat and wrapped it around her, murmuring softly, "Don't keep her here; we haven't seen each other in so long."

It was truly rare to hear Lan Lingyan speak with such tenderness mixed with entreaty. Ning Yunhuan froze, but the refusal died on her lips. Gu Yingnuo had signed a lifetime contract, meaning Lan Lingyan could not only repair her leg but also maintain control over her, posing no threat. Thus, Gu Yingnuo was also housed within the Lan estate. Lan Lingyan's mountain compound housed more than just the one villa for Ning Yunhuan and her; Gu Yingnuo had separate accommodations arranged.

Once the others departed, Lan Lingyan scooped Ning Yunhuan up around her waist. Held in a princess carry, Ning Yunhuan listened to Lan Lingyan's unhurried footsteps, which sounded like a leisurely stroll, as she was carried directly to the car. Once the door clicked shut, in the small, enclosed space, Lan Lingyan's gaze was tender, as if disarmed: "What were you thinking about during this trip abroad?"

"Thinking of you." After nearly ten days of shooting overseas, besides missing her son and parents, Ning Yunhuan had dedicated the rest of her time to thinking of Lan Lingyan. When they had no feelings, she hadn't understood the torment of separation. Now that love existed, she understood the taste of longing. Every day she waited for Lan Lingyan’s call, smiling foolishly while holding her phone. In fact, because of the expression on her face during a past call with Lan Lingyan, one of the photographs had been chosen for that brand’s ‘Sweet Love’ endorsement series. Ning Yunhuan had seen it herself—the dewy light in her eyes, a mixture of anticipation and shyness. The photographer had captured that fleeting moment exquisitely; Ning Yunhuan loved that picture and asked for a copy.

She had finally realized: a person like Lan Lingyan, if met with genuine devotion, was impossible not to love. She loved him too. In the past, fear had caused her to subconsciously ignore his kindness. Now that Ning Yunhuan had cast aside all burdens and decided to step fully into the vortex between them, she finally understood the inexpressible nature of her feelings.

From the moment she had feared him, that fear had caused her to pay excessive attention. Sometimes, over-attention proved that the person had already settled deep within your heart.

ps: Mie Feng’s Meng Miao Jia Dao—come see the cute kitten sister leaping about, stirring up trouble in the Three Realms~ RP