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Andy chuckled and shook her head.
“It’s just a feeling. When you were talking just now, you came across so gentle—it gave me this… almost maternal impression. Don’t be offended, okay?”
She chose her words carefully. She wasn’t sure what term fit best, but that was her genuine first impression: maternal—a presence that felt warm, trustworthy, and quietly powerful.
Fan Shengmei frowned, thought for a moment, then accepted the description.
“I’ll take that as a compliment. At the very least, it means I have a kind of strength about me.”
Guan Ju’er nodded in agreement. Since their trip back from the villa, she had felt the same way—Sister Fan seemed much more composed now.
But noticing Andy’s uneasy expression, Shengmei asked:
“Andy, do you have something on your mind?”
Andy froze. She hadn’t realized it was that obvious. After a pause of hesitation, she finally shared what had been weighing on her—her situation with Wei Wei.
“At first, chatting with Brother Wei online was really fun. But after meeting him in person… I can’t say it’s unpleasant, just that sometimes it feels… awkward, uncomfortable. I don’t always like the way he talks. He likes to analyze every person he meets, and I feel it’s a bit too one-sided. But then I wonder—maybe it’s just me, maybe I’m not good at socializing.”
Maybe it was the atmosphere Shengmei created, but Andy found herself voicing what she had been struggling with all along.
Shengmei didn’t answer right away. Guan Ju’er set down her fork, took a sip of water, and said slowly:
“Honestly, I think Brother Wei is a little too calculating.”
Andy turned to her. Guan Ju’er continued:
“His eyes are always sizing people up, like he’s putting a price tag on them. Even though he seemed fun enough at the villa, I kept feeling uneasy around him. Maybe I’m just too sensitive.”
Andy, however, disagreed.
“You’re not being too sensitive.”
Shengmei was even more direct.
“The real question is, Andy—do you actually want to stay with him or not?”
Andy looked confused.
Shengmei smiled and explained:
“Andy, you don’t need to overthink this. You’re capable, smart, and strong. You can handle any problem on your own, and you’ve got friends and bosses who’ll support you. So if you feel unhappy, you can simply leave him. But if you want to keep trying, then you need to be firm in your own thoughts.”
Guan Ju’er lost the thread halfway through.
“Sister Fan, what do you mean by firm in her own thoughts?”
Andy also didn’t quite follow.
Shengmei took another bite of salad before clarifying:
“I mean, don’t let Wei Wei’s words sway you.”
“You already said you dislike the way he critiques people. That’s exactly when you need to be careful not to let his opinions influence you. Sometimes, the influence creeps in so subtly we don’t even notice—it works little by little.”
“When he comments on others, he’s really pushing his own worldview onto you. That’s when you need to watch out for one thing: manipulation.”
Guan Ju’er blinked in confusion.
“Manipulation? What’s that?”
Thanks to her sharp mind, Andy understood immediately. She explained calmly:
“Pick-Up Artist—PUA. It refers to men who use psychological techniques to attract and control women.”
Shengmei suddenly remembered—the term hadn’t yet taken on its full meaning in this time period. She corrected herself.
“Or let’s just say—psychological suggestion.”
“You need to be careful of his words and opinions. Don’t let his evaluations of you influence how you see yourself—or how you judge others.”
This time, Andy understood.
In truth, from the beginning, she hadn’t always agreed with Wei Wei’s views. But because of her own lack of sensitivity in social matters, she would sometimes unconsciously accept his judgments about people. That was, after all, something hard to avoid in relationships.
Seeing Andy lost in thought, Shengmei quickly shifted the topic.
“Alright, let’s eat before this turns into a midnight snack!”
The three of them finished dinner quickly and headed back in Andy’s car.
Once they returned to 2202, Fan Shengmei immediately began organizing her research—information and notes for her foundation product reviews.
By preparing everything in advance and drafting scripts, she could be more confident when recording. She also made time to study more about skin types.
Terms like combination oily and combination dry—things that would later become buzzwords—she carefully noted in her script.
After removing her makeup, Guan Ju’er noticed Shengmei working intently in the living room and stopped, curious, to watch for a while.
“Sister Fan, all this looks so professional.”
Different techniques for different areas—like blending foundation into the pores along the nose—left her amazed.
Qiu Yingying, who had just started training for her new café job and spent all day studying coffee, overheard and rushed over too.
She froze the moment she saw the notes.
“Sister Fan! What is all this? It looks like sorcery!”
She stared at the page as if it were written in code.
Guan Ju’er explained about Shengmei’s video project, and immediately Yingying’s eyes lit up with excitement.
“Sister Fan, I want to! I want to! I want to be your model! Will I become as beautiful as you?”
Shengmei could only smile helplessly.
“Little Worm, it’ll take time. I still need to learn more first. Later, I’ll design makeup looks that suit you best.”
Yingying clapped her hands in delight, grinning from ear to ear, and hugged Guan Ju’er in her excitement.
“Guan Guan, we’re going to be on TV!”
Shengmei burst out laughing.
“Oh come on, Little Worm. It’s nowhere near that stage yet—what TV are you talking about?”
But Yingying didn’t care. She was too thrilled.
“Then I’ll show my parents for sure!”
Seeing her so happy, Shengmei let it go.
Yingying even promised repeatedly:
“Sister Fan, don’t worry. When you’re recording, I’ll be quiet as a mouse. I’ll fully support your work!”
Shengmei felt touched and pinched her cheek, not forgetting Guan Ju’er either.
“Alright then—when we get results, you two will share the credit. And Sister Fan will treat you both to dinner.”
At the mention of food, Yingying’s joy doubled. She nodded enthusiastically, unable to contain her grin.