He suddenly recalled how sweet and adorable she had been when they were younger. Every day, she’d follow him around like a little shadow, calling him “Brother Yan,” and every time he heard it, his heart would soften.

“Brother Yan, it’s time for school!”

“Brother Yan, you’re so fast at running!”

“Brother Yan, you got first place!”

….

The cute, well-behaved little girl he once knew had grown up into a beautiful and captivating woman. She no longer followed him around or called him “Brother Yan” like she used to. She was different now.

“It was something I should do,” Yan Junyi said calmly.

Su Yaya smiled. “Still, I have to thank you.”

If he hadn’t clarified things or spoken up for her, his nearly 30 million fans might have torn her apart online.

Yan Junyi gave a faint, forced smile. Though outwardly composed, his heart ached as he looked at her. “Yaya, do you remember when you scraped your knee when you were nine? It was bleeding a lot, and you were so scared, begging me through tears to take you to the doctor. I carried you to the infirmary, and once they stopped the bleeding, you cried even harder because of the pain. I told you to take care of yourself and avoid getting hurt. Because when you’re hurt, those who love you feel that pain too.”

Su Yaya blinked, trying to remember. She wasn’t the original Su Yaya, but as she kept smiling, she dug through the scattered memories left by the original host. She did find a trace of that memory.

Back then, Su Yaya had indeed hurt her knee, and Yan Junyi had carried her to the infirmary. Seeing her in pain had made his eyes tear up as he comforted her, patting her head and promising he’d always protect her, urging her to cherish herself too.

Hm, it was quite touching.

Two children, side by side—the boy promising to protect the girl. It was such a pure and heartfelt vow, one worth remembering for a lifetime.

Su Yaya nodded. “I remember. Thank you.”

Beyond this simple response, Su Yaya didn’t know what else to say. After all, she wasn’t the original Su Yaya. She couldn’t grasp the original host’s feelings or her attitude toward Yan Junyi, especially after all these years. So, when he brought up their childhood, she simply said she remembered and thanked him—a safe reply that couldn’t go wrong.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Yan Junyi’s face. This wasn’t what he wanted to hear. He had hoped she’d show self-respect and avoid the wrong path.

“Yaya, you need to love yourself and not cause yourself harm. The entertainment industry is complicated. I don’t want you to get hurt. You might think this is a shortcut now, but someday you’ll look back and regret it,” he said, his tone heavy with concern, his gaze searching hers.

“What do you mean?” Su Yaya’s confusion showed, though she forced a smile. She truly didn’t understand why he was saying this. When had she ever done something to harm herself or failed to take care of herself? His words felt out of nowhere.

Seeing her strained smile, Yan Junyi only grew more convinced of his thoughts. He looked at her with even greater pity and worry. “Yaya, you’re a wonderful person. With your abilities, you don’t need someone like President Chen or any sponsor to succeed. You could thrive on your own. Don’t stay with someone like President Chen. He’s not right for you, and you’ll only end up hurt.”

What?

How could he be so sure she’d be hurt in the future?

Su Yaya blinked, observing Yan Junyi’s expression. He seemed genuinely concerned and full of pity. Ah, but that pity was meant for the original host, wasn’t it?

Unfortunately, she couldn’t accept his good intentions.

The original Su Yaya wasn’t here, and she didn’t even know if she would return. Right now, she was the one in this body. She’d only spoken to Yan Junyi twice since taking over, and they barely knew each other. It seemed absurd to think he’d have such deep feelings for her after all these years apart.

Moreover, she currently held the title of Mrs. Chen. She and Chen Xiuqi were married, albeit by contract. Chen Xiuqi was the male lead in the original novel—a powerful, domineering CEO with a ruthless approach. Right now, her priority was to keep him pleased. Even if she had all the courage in the world, she wouldn’t dare to follow Yan Junyi’s advice. Upsetting Chen Xiuqi would be a recipe for disaster.

With this in mind, Su Yaya replied calmly to Yan Junyi, “Thank you for your concern. I know what I’m doing.”

“Yaya…” he began, but she cut him off.

“I should get going.”

Ignoring Yan Junyi’s troubled gaze, Su Yaya turned and left swiftly, as if she were trying to escape him.

Yan Junyi watched her retreating figure and murmured, “Yaya…”

Su Yaya quickly made her way back to the makeup room and stepped inside, only to look up and see Chen Xiuqi seated there. She gasped, startled.

<<<