It was no wonder the author had him sleep through a whole book.

Otherwise, if he woke up halfway, there would be no chance for the protagonist.

As Ning Qiuxiu came down the stairs, Zhan Qingyue hung up the phone precisely at that moment.

Seeing the pitiful look on Miaomiao’s face, she said, “Why are you bullying Miaomiao again?”

“I’m training its willpower.”

“……What does a dog need willpower for?” Ning Qiuxiu was exasperated.

It was hard enough being a dog in your household, especially if it was a stubborn Siberian Husky.

Zhan Qingyue, calmly peeling an orange from the coffee table, said, “Of course it does. Today’s lesson is: resisting attractive temptations.”

Ning Qiuxiu: “???”

This… was seriously messed up.

“Did it steal something?” Miaomiao was greedy and playful but had never been known to steal food, at least not from what she had heard.

“Yes,” Zhan Qingyue said seriously, “It stole my peach.”

“……” Peach? Ning Qiuxiu realized that Zhan Qingyue was just taking his frustration out on the dog.

She walked over, and Miaomiao looked at her with a pitiful expression, making small “mm, mm” noises from its throat.

Ning Qiuxiu patted the dog’s head and said, “Go ahead, Miaomiao.”

As she did, the beef strips on Miaomiao’s nose fell off.

Though Miaomiao wanted to eat them, it still hesitated.

—It clearly knew who was in charge in the house.

“Oh, you poor dog,” Ning Qiuxiu said, feeling a pang of sympathy for the little creature.

She nudged Zhan Qingyue and said, “Stop teasing it!”

Dog lovers would strongly agree.

At his wife’s command, Zhan Qingyue finally relented and told Miaomiao, “Go ahead and eat.”

When Miao Miao got the signal, it happily lowered its head and gobbled up the beef jerky strips.

After finishing, it wagged its tail and looked longingly at the bag on the coffee table, hoping for more.

Ning Qiuxiu thought, “Seriously? You’re so shameless just for some food!”

Ignoring Miao Miao, Zhang Qingyue slowly peeled an orange and handed a slice to Ning Qiuxiu, asking, “No work before the New Year?”

“There are a few announcements, but they’re light. It’s almost like having none,” Ning Qiuxiu said as she tasted the orange slice. “Hmm, this orange is so sweet.”

Seeing Ning Qiuxiu eating, Miao Miao shifted its gaze from the beef jerky to the orange, wagging its tail and eyeing the fruit in her hand.

It seemed to think it looked delicious too.

Ning Qiuxiu gave it a slice.

Zhang Qingyue thought, “… Humans are not as good as dogs.”

However, Zhang Qingyue noticed that Ning Qiuxiu had lost weight over the past half month.

Her once bright eyes now looked even bigger, and her face seemed so small it made Zhang Qingyue question if it was smaller than his hand.

“Cancel your work,” Zhang Qingyue said decisively.

“… Are you channeling a domineering CEO today?” Ning Qiuxiu asked. “It’s fine. Most of the work is in A City. If I don’t keep up with exposure, people will forget me.”

Zhang Qingyue looked at her with a half-smile.

Ning Qiuxiu felt a chill. “What’s up?”

“Miss Ning, when you say that, it makes me think you’re seeking my support without giving anything in return, just to stay in the spotlight.”

“???” Ning Qiuxiu was puzzled. “You’re overthinking. I always say this.”

“Don’t hide it,” Zhang Qingyue continued, “I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll allow it.”

The impact of his younger brother’s excessive spending to promote his girlfriend had made Zhang Qingyue realize that while women being independent doesn’t mean they don’t need support, they still need some encouragement.

Today was a good excuse, and he wasn’t going to let it pass.

Ning Qiuxiu was speechless. “Your interpretative skills are quite something.”

However, Zhang Qingyue insisted, and since Ning Qiuxiu needed to study the script for The School Bully and prepare for filming after the New Year, she had a few commitments she couldn’t push aside.

With Zhang Qingyue’s approval, she had Qu Hua reschedule some of them.

The remaining two were in A City, so Zhang Qingyue didn’t press further.

The male and female leads for The School Bully and the filming schedule were set.

After the New Year, they would start shooting, which was a tough situation for Ning Qiuxiu.

Director Xiao required her to slim down to 85 pounds.

With all the festive food during the New Year, it was cruel to have to control her diet.

One of the unavoidable projects was Vivi’s Spring/Summer collection appreciation party, which invited eight popular stars.

The event not only showcased the Spring/Summer collection but also sought a spokesperson.

Vivi was a top-tier brand, and many female stars were eager to secure their endorsement.

Although Ning Qiuxiu had the opportunity to attend this high-profile wine event, it was due to her company’s efforts to secure an invitation.

The event was primarily interested in big-name celebrities with massive followings.

Ning Qiuxiu wasn’t sure who else would be attending, but she remembered from the book that this wine event featured a scene where Ji Weilang would attend and, thanks to the protagonist’s special aura, end up winning a major endorsement deal.

As a career-focused heroine, she was aware that even an accomplished actress like herself might not match the charm of the protagonist.

Ning Qiuxiu was not concerned about her own career but was very interested in how Ji Weilang was faring after being pulled from the investment.

She was worried that Zhan Qingyue might be negatively affected by the plot’s twists.

Therefore, she used this opportunity to investigate the current situation.

The event required all attendees to wear the brand’s clothing and get their makeup and styling done at the designated location.

Vivi’s team provided Ning Qiuxiu with a more androgynous outfit, giving her a chic, sophisticated look.

“Wow,” said Qu Hua, her eyes lighting up as she saw Ning Qiuxiu’s completed look. “Qiuqiu, you look amazing in this outfit. Vivi’s stylist has a great eye. The androgynous style really suits you and makes my heart race!”

Ning Qiuxiu: “…Is it really that impressive?”

“Yes, yes, yes,” Xiao Chi chimed in. “You look so good, I might just be converted!”

Ning Qiuxiu couldn’t help but glance at herself in the mirror.

Vivi’s brand typically caters to high-fashion looks, so the outfit was designed to be androgynous—white lettered t-shirt, casual pants, and a small blazer.

It was a typical androgynous style.

It was her first time trying such an outfit.

She had been worried about pulling it off because her appearance was more sweet and suited to dresses.

After hearing their praise, she felt the outfit looked quite stylish and unique on her.

However, when she arrived at the venue, she saw that other female stars were dressed in enchanting, fairy-like outfits.

She felt like she stood out like a sore thumb.

Was she no longer the little fairy in others’ eyes?

If she had the chance to turn back time, she would definitely skip participating in the bamboo rat show.

A single misstep seemed impossible to correct.

In the waiting area, the male and female stars didn’t know each other.

After Ning Qiuxiu exchanged polite greetings, she noticed that everyone seemed uninterested in making small talk, so she decided to keep to herself to avoid being seen as ingratiating.

However, her attention was drawn to a male star who she couldn’t help but look at several times.

Qu Hua noticed her gaze and whispered, “That’s Lu Renjia from Yixing. Don’t stare at him just because he’s handsome. It’s unbecoming.”

“…I wasn’t!”

Ning Qiuxiu had been eyeing the English plaid blazer on the guest, admiring its casual yet stylish look.

Previously, when she didn’t have a boyfriend, she’d often think about buying such clothes for her future partner.

Now, she turned to Qu Hua and said, “Brother Qu, could you check with Vivi’s representative if they’re selling that blazer? I’d like to get one.”

Qu Hua understood immediately and winked at her, saying, “No problem! For Chu Chu’s love, I’ll make sure to snag one for you.”

“… I hope you’ll keep your promise if they say it’s out of stock.”

Qu Hua went to inquire with the staff, while Xiao Chi went to get her some milk tea. With the event still 20 minutes away, Ning Qiuxiu was bored and about to pull out her phone when she heard commotion outside.

The break area was temporarily partitioned off, so she could see what was happening outside.

It was Ji Weiliang arriving fashionably late.

Ji Weiliang was dressed in a stylish nude-colored gown, floating gracefully.

The event was public, and even Ning Qiuxiu, with her relatively low profile, had six bodyguards provided by Qu Hua to keep fans and media at bay.

Ji Weiliang, however, had only one assistant and no additional bodyguards.

The waiting media and fans rushed over to her.

The star aura was undeniable.

While other stars without bodyguards might be crushed or face incidents, Ji Weiliang walked the red carpet gracefully, surrounded by a crowd of admirers, chatting and smiling at fans and media with ease.

The atmosphere was very positive, and it seemed likely that she would make headlines and secure more endorsements.

Ning Qiuxiu couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.

Even if Zhang Qingyue withdrew his investment, Ji Weiliang’s situation seemed stable for now, and she might even receive support from another investor.

“Miss Ji,” a reporter with a loud voice asked as they approached, “I heard rumors that your studio has lost funding and is facing a financial crisis. Does this have anything to do with your attending the event alone?”

The crowd fell silent at the mention of Ji Weiliang’s studio’s financial troubles, which hadn’t been publicly announced.

The reporter’s question surprised everyone, but Ji Weiliang remained composed and smiled, acknowledging, “Yes.”

The crowd gasped.

“However,” Ji Weiliang continued smoothly, “this is a Vivi event. I don’t think it’s appropriate to discuss personal matters here to attract attention. Please focus on Vivi’s exhibition instead. Thank you for your understanding.”

With that, she clasped her hands together and gave a polite bow before entering the break area.

Ning Qiuxiu couldn’t help but admire Ji Weiliang’s skillful handling of the situation.

It was clear that there were reasons behind her success as an ambassador.

Just as Ji Weiliang settled in, there was another wave of excitement outside—the official representatives from Vivi, the big investors, had arrived.

Ning Qiuxiu felt a mixture of disbelief and frustration as she processed the revelation that the seemingly clueless “Tianxia First Hammer” was actually the son of Vivi’s big boss.

The unexpected encounter with Tang Shao and his brash behavior only added to her dismay.

When Tang Shao insisted that she help him get an introduction to Chi Yu, Ning Qiuxiu felt cornered.

His casual demeanor and blunt approach were a stark contrast to her own expectations of how business and endorsements should be handled.

The fact that he had already secured her as a brand ambassador without her consent was frustrating.

As she walked back home, feeling the weight of the day’s events, she couldn’t help but resent the way things had played out.

The fact that Vivi’s team had gifted her the English plaid blazer did little to ease her frustration; it felt like a small consolation prize for the larger problem at hand.

When she returned home, she found Zhan Qingyue practicing walking in the living room.

His concern was evident as he asked, “What’s wrong? Did someone bully you?”

Ning Qiuxiu recounted her encounter with Tang Shao and her frustration over the forced endorsement.

She expressed her displeasure, “I really didn’t want to be put in this situation. It’s not fulfilling to be given something like this.”

Zhan Qingyue, still focusing on his walking practice, chuckled lightly. “If you really don’t want the endorsement, let your manager handle it. There will be other opportunities. As for the ‘discipleship’ thing…”

He smiled with a hint of amusement. “Since it’s the New Year, and I’m quite free, why not indulge him this once?”

Ning Qiuxiu’s mood lifted slightly at his understanding response.

It was clear that Zhan Qingyue was trying to make the best of a frustrating situation.

Her annoyance with Tang Shao and the sudden turn of events would likely take some time to pass, but at least she had Zhan Qingyue’s support and reassurance to help her through it.