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Shengmei hung up the phone without hesitation. She had said everything as clearly as she could. In her heart, she felt she had already gone above and beyond her duty.
Two thousand five hundred yuan a month—enough to support her entire family back in her hometown.
She would never again let them suck the life out of her like leeches.
Never.
Not only that, she was already thinking of ways to get the deed to the house back in her own hands. If she didn’t, Fan Shengying would surely find a way to mess things up, and the down payment she had worked so hard to cover would all go to waste.
By her estimation, it was about the time when Shengying would start getting into fights again.
Shengmei sighed. What sins did I commit in my past life to deserve a family like this?
But she didn’t dwell on it for long. Complaints were useless. What mattered now was her own work. Her side business was finally showing real results—the speed at which these videos could turn into money made her eyes light up. No wonder so many people in the future would rush to become internet celebrities. It’s because it’s actually this profitable.
That evening, Andy dropped by 2202, invitation cards in hand.
“Shengmei, I have two tickets to a banquet tomorrow. Would you like to come with me?”
Shengmei’s eyes lit up. She practically snatched them from Andy’s hands.
“Really? That’s perfect! When is it?”
She was already calculating in her head. If it were tonight, the timing would be tight—she wouldn’t have enough room to record her tutorial and get ready. But if it were tomorrow, she could record a look inspired by the event and adjust her editing timeline accordingly.
Andy smiled at her excitement, thinking she had indeed guessed right.
“Don’t worry, it’s tomorrow afternoon. Do you need me to help you prepare anything?”
Relieved, Shengmei waved her hand.
“No need, I’ve got clothes for the occasion. Thank you, Andy—you’re really helping me out here!”
Yingying, who had been eavesdropping, leaned closer.
“A banquet? Like the ones in TV dramas? It must be so grand and classy. Shengmei-jie, are you going there to find a rich boyfriend?”
“What nonsense!”
Shengmei quickly smacked her arm and cast a flustered glance at Andy.
It wasn’t entirely Yingying’s fault—after all, in the past, Shengmei had indeed loved attending banquets and nightclub openings, hoping to meet a wealthy man who could change her fate.
But now her focus had shifted.
“I’m only thinking about making money right now! I need to figure out what kind of makeup tutorial to film for this. I’m going to get busy.”
She waved them off and disappeared into her room.
Andy, watching her retreat, couldn’t help but nod in admiration.
“She really is decisive.”
Yingying chimed in, eyes wide with sincerity.
“Shengmei-jie has been so serious these days. She looks up so much information and fills pages of notes every day—it’s impressive!”
Andy was genuinely amazed. With this kind of dedication, success was only a matter of time.
Meanwhile, Shengmei was already rehearsing her new script:
“Hello everyone, today’s makeup lesson will be a little different. Since I’m attending a banquet with a friend, I’ll show you a makeup look suitable for formal occasions. For banquets, the key is elegance and composure. The foundation must be flawless, not too light or frivolous…”
On the day of the banquet, Shengmei woke up early and started recording. She couldn’t risk something going wrong at the last minute. She had even spent hours the night before perfecting her script.
Shengmei slipped into the slim red dress she had chosen for the banquet. The fabric hugged her curves perfectly, accentuating her figure. She stood in front of the camera, turned once in a slow circle, and smiled.
“This is my outfit for the banquet. Isn’t it beautiful? And of course, the final touch—perfume! The right scent leaves a lasting impression. Whether for work or a date, perfume is essential.”
She spritzed a cloud of perfume around her, briefly introduced the fragrance, and ended the recording.
When she opened the door, Andy was already waiting in the living room with Guan Ju’er and Yingying. The moment they saw her, their eyes lit up.
“Wow! Shengmei-jie, you look stunning! Like a fairy!” Yingying gasped.
Shengmei arched a brow at Andy.
“Well, Andy? What do you think?”
Andy took her in carefully from head to toe before giving her an answer without hesitation.
“Very beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.”
Pleased with the praise, Shengmei smiled, picked up her clutch, and left with Andy for the car.
On the way down to the garage, Shengmei turned to Andy.
“Do you mind if I record a short clip in your car?”
Andy nodded.
“Of course, go ahead.”
Without a hint of embarrassment, Shengmei opened her phone and started recording.
“Right now, I’m heading to a banquet with my friend. Usually, I’ll bring along a clutch bag with some essentials—like a compact cushion for touch-ups and, of course, lipstick…”
After a couple of quick lines, she ended the recording.
When she glanced at Andy beside her, Andy was watching her with undisguised curiosity.
“What is it?” Shengmei asked with a laugh.
Andy hesitated, then smiled.
“It’s just… I’ve never seen this before. Or seen you like this. You’re so professional. I can’t help being curious.”
Curiosity was natural.
In the years to come, everyone would be used to bloggers and influencers talking this way—but right now, this world was still new, and Shengmei was borrowing from the future.
She explained with a chuckle:
“It’s all just smoke and mirrors. Like a teacher explaining to students. And I’ll admit something—filming in your car is intentional. I want my viewers to think I’m a rich woman. That image helps me gain followers.”
Andy frowned slightly, puzzled.
“Why does making people think you’re rich bring in followers?”
She genuinely didn’t understand. To her, an expensive image meant nothing if the audience could never meet that person in real life.
Shengmei sighed softly. This is what it means to never worry about money, she thought. Andy’s innocence was enviable. But she put that aside and patiently explained:
“Right now, short videos are still new. You see a lot of mysterious accounts—people wearing masks, never showing their real faces. Viewers keep watching because they’re waiting for that reveal. Does it really matter what the person looks like? Not really. But curiosity makes people stay.”
Andy immediately shook her head.
“No. I wouldn’t care about that.”
Shengmei smiled knowingly and pressed on:
“You might not. But when you see the same masked person’s videos again and again, curiosity builds. Is he handsome? Is she beautiful? That itch is human nature—it’s about the urge to peek behind the curtain. Call it curiosity, or simply the love of joining the crowd.”