Chapter 22

The scammer was startled. In this remote area, there were no other cars passing by at the moment, and no surveillance cameras nearby.

Unlike during peak tourist season, when countless cars passed through daily, allowing him to stop vehicles by the roadside and extort money.

If he ran into someone tough who refused to pay, the cars behind would usually urge him to move aside to avoid delays—those were the best opportunities to make money.

But now, with no one around, setting aside their ruthless words, even if he got beaten up and tossed onto the roadside, he’d still have to pay for medical expenses, making it a losing deal.

Just as he was thinking about backing out, the girl inside the car continued, “Or we could just drive straight over him. At most, it’d cost a few hundred thousand in compensation. Worst case, I’ll buy fewer outfits next season.”

Then, a male voice followed, “No need. Running him over would at least clear the road. My sister is so capable—always thinking ahead. I’ll reward you when we get back.”

Hearing this, the scammer was utterly baffled. What kind of spoiled brats were these? He saw the driver getting back into the car without hesitation.

Realizing the engine was revving, the scammer, who had been faking an injury, immediately bolted away with astonishing agility.

The whole ordeal didn’t take more than a few minutes. Once they got down the mountain, they quickly made a phone call, and the local management bureau responded right away, promising a crackdown on these scam artists harassing tourists.

As they drove past, they already saw bureau vehicles heading up the mountain.

Looks like even if her family’s money was being thrown away like water, those few hundred bucks weren’t that easy to take.

By the time they got home, it was already evening. They hadn’t eaten anything all day, but none of them had much appetite, so they just snacked on the food Jiang Muti had stocked in the car.

Jiang Yunjuan wasn’t in the habit of keeping snacks in his car. Before, he only kept bottled water.

It was Jiang Muti who noticed he often worked late and disliked eating out, so she started preparing snacks for him, reminding him to eat something if he got home late.

Old Yun was heartbroken when he heard they hadn’t eaten all day. He quickly ordered the kitchen to serve dinner and also gave a brief report on the family and company matters.

The official affairs had already been sorted out into categories by Old Yun, and nothing major had come up.

The only notable event was that the two dogs had spent the whole day playing with Yun Cheng. Now, he was enthusiastically bringing them back.

This guy hadn’t realized that Jiang Muti and Jiang Yunjuan were already home. He was holding some beef jerky, happily feeding the dogs while heading inside.

But just as he rushed in, he bumped straight into Jiang Yunjuan, who had just finished dinner and was walking out of the dining room.

Yun Cheng was caught red-handed. On top of that, with his earlier attempt to snatch someone’s little sister in the morning, both new and old offenses were piling up.

“Wait, Brother Yun, let me explain! I wasn’t feeding them—I was eating it myself!”

But the two dog brothers didn’t cooperate at all. Smacking their lips, they eagerly stretched their heads forward for more.

Jiang Yunjuan raised an eyebrow and swiftly grabbed Yun Cheng, who was about to make a run for it, and gave him a good beating.

Jiang Muti, sipping a glass of juice, watched the whole scene unfold with a grin. The two huskies, thinking their master was just playing with their “big brother,” excitedly howled and ran around in circles, cheering them on.

Jiang Muti almost choked on her juice from laughing too hard—she had to be careful drinking it.

—

After returning from the ancestral tribute, Jiang Muti felt that the bond between her and her brother had grown even closer. If before it was mostly indulgence and warmth, now there was a deeper understanding and shared empathy.

Because of Jiang Yunjuan, she also developed a stronger sense of identity with her current life, genuinely seeing him as her real older brother.

As a result, their tacit understanding as siblings grew day by day.

While the familial ties at home became stronger, time outside did not stand still.

First, Qiao Yuqi’s song was finally released to the market. Along with his cameo role, he became an overnight sensation, trending everywhere as people curiously asked who this multi-talented newcomer was.

The character he played was already well-liked—it was the teenage version of the male lead in a hugely popular national drama. Although his screen time was limited to flashbacks, the massive fanbase of the main character naturally viewed him favorably.

His stunning debut, princely appearance, and slightly melancholic aura made his performance stand out. Unlike most newcomers who struggle with stiffness and awkwardness, he handled it effortlessly.

Setting aside acting skills—since discussing acting in idol dramas often kills the conversation—his ability to create a mesmerizing dream for countless young girls was a textbook example of success.

After all, Qiao Yuqi is good at this..

People were still reeling from his breathtaking first appearance when, by the end of the episode, they rushed to check the credits, frantically searching online for information on this unfamiliar yet handsome face.

That’s when they realized the ending theme song had changed.

It wasn’t unusual, since the show was already past its midway point, making a theme song change reasonable.

But as soon as they heard it, they found it surprisingly captivating. Paired with the ending visuals, it made the entire episode feel like a feast for the senses.

Then, some observant fans noticed that the name of the actor playing the new character was the same as the singer of the ending theme.

Not only that—he had also written the lyrics and composed the song himself.

Qiao Yuqi.

His name shot up the trending charts, climbing rapidly.

This was how the entertainment industry worked—one moment of brilliance could trigger a massive frenzy. And the more people dug, the more they realized his talent wasn’t just a one-time surprise.

Unlike mass-produced idols who rely on vague attributes like personality, character, or taste to attract fans, every new detail about him only reinforced the undeniable fact—this was a once-in-a-generation genius.

In no time, Qiao Yuqi attracted a devoted following of fans drawn to both his looks and his music. His new song skyrocketed onto the charts, landing in the top three overnight with astonishing download numbers.

That was when people realized—he didn’t debut as an actor but as a singer.

A living testament to the idea that while he could easily rely on his face alone, he chose to succeed through sheer talent.

With his looks alone, even if he had no skills whatsoever, any experienced agency could have immediately molded him into a top-tier idol.

Qiao Yuqi’s debut song was out, and his album was already in the works. The preparations had been mostly completed in advance.

This had always been a meticulously planned debut, so of course, everything was proceeding smoothly under the company’s professional management.

Despite now officially stepping into the entertainment industry and being incredibly busy, Qiao Yuqi hadn’t taken a leave of absence from school.

“Of course I won’t take a break,” Qiao Yuqi said. “My grades are already good enough to get into a top university in the country without any issues. Right now, the label that defines me is talent—if I suddenly take a break from school, it would only lower my credibility.”

“The majority of fans are still students, and parents are more willing for their children to idolize role model-type celebrities.”

“Getting a good college entrance exam score, choosing a refined and prestigious major—having an academic halo in this industry, especially among the new generation where low education levels are common, is an undeniable advantage.”

Jiang Muti nodded. Since he was going for the ‘gifted genius’ persona, he couldn’t afford to leave such an obvious flaw open to criticism.

She said, “There’s still more than half a year until the college entrance exam. Can you handle it? Don’t end up spacing out when the test comes around because you ran out of energy for studying.”

“I won’t. How hard could it be?” Qiao Yuqi chuckled. “My plan was always to be noticed by a production company before graduating high school.”

“But regardless of how things turned out, I had to consider the possibility of success. So I already finished the entire high school curriculum and reinforced it multiple times.”

“Tsk tsk!” Jiang Muti clicked her tongue. “No wonder you made it big.”

How many teenagers dream of becoming a star? Almost all of them. But 99% only daydream about it, and even the few who take action rarely grasp the right approach.

In the original novel, it was only mentioned that he would become a superstar in the future, rising to the upper-class elite and competing with the male lead for the female protagonist.

But in reality, all the preparation, effort, talent, opportunities, and countless obstacles he had to overcome—

The brilliance of his life, the joy of seeing his dreams gradually come true—these were far more than just a simple, throwaway line about “making it big” to serve the female lead’s charm and the readers’ fantasies.

Talent and hard work shouldn’t be trivialized like that. So even though Jiang Muti had originally disliked him, watching him step onto the path of success made her feel a sense of admiration.

Of course, Qiao Yuqi had no idea that when she said, “No wonder you made it big,” she was actually referring to a future where he would one day stand at the pinnacle of the entire industry—something he couldn’t even imagine yet.

He assumed she was just talking about his current popularity and shook his head with a smile. “Now? This kind of attention is nothing.”

Seeing that he understood this well, Jiang Muti found him a bit contradictory. Wasn’t becoming a celebrity all about enjoying the attention? Forget the whole ‘music dream’ talk—if anything, that was the most vain and restless kind of ambition.

Yet despite his young age and sudden rise to fame, he didn’t show the slightest hint of arrogance or conceit. Even now, when everyone at school treated him differently because of his newfound stardom, he remained as sociable and tactful as ever.

If it were her, she figured she’d already have her nose in the air by now.

Compared to her, he almost seemed like the one who had been reborn—his level of awareness was just too unreal.

Then, Qiao Yuqi handed her a USB drive. “This won’t be released until next month, but I’m giving you an early copy.”

Jiang Muti took it. Objectively speaking, Qiao Yuqi’s songs were pretty good—the kind that every young person would have on their phone. Given how impressive his last release was, she was actually looking forward to this new one.

Still, she couldn’t resist teasing him. “Hey, isn’t this technically leaking the track?”

Qiao Yuqi raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t this the privilege of the upper class? If you want something first-hand, it’s always available.”

“Oh wow, why do I hear a hint of cynicism in that?” Jiang Muti laughed.

Qiao Yuqi wasn’t the least bit offended. “What’s there to be cynical about? One day, I’ll be part of the privileged class too. And to be honest, I like these rules.”

His unapologetic ambition and confidence left Jiang Muti a little astonished.

But as class was about to end, and the teacher blew the whistle to gather everyone, the two of them got up from the bleachers.

It was PE class, and since two classes were having it together, they had been chatting during the free activity period.

Maybe it was because she had been the one to introduce him to certain connections at the beginning, or maybe it was because she always gave him the right reactions, but whenever Qiao Yuqi made progress, he tended to tell her first.

Jiang Muti originally didn’t care about the process—she just needed him to succeed and return the favor when she needed it.

But witnessing firsthand how a future superstar rose step by step was far more impactful than she had imagined.

She adjusted her initial lazy and indifferent attitude and began to take it more seriously.

As they walked down the steps one after another, they saw Li Xi standing not far away, watching them with a complicated expression.

Jiang Muti understood immediately. In the original novel, the three of them remained entangled for so long not just because of various twists and turns but mostly because the female lead struggled to recognize her true feelings.

She had always been a special presence in the life of the male supporting lead, growing up as childhood friends. It was only natural for her to enjoy his kindness and to develop a possessive attachment to him.

That wasn’t unusual—at this age, even seeing a close friend get closer to someone else could stir jealousy, let alone such a tangled and unclear relationship.

If Jiang Muti were in Li Xi’s position, she wouldn’t just stand there, struggling with her emotions—she would have already done everything in her power to drive away the eyesore.

But this wasn’t her problem, and she wasn’t the type to tiptoe around irrelevant people.

So she simply glanced at Li Xi, said nothing, and calmly walked past her.

Compared to her composure, Li Xi was struggling to suppress the storm raging in her heart.

She stepped forward and stopped in front of Qiao Yuqi. “What did you just give her?”

Ever since their fallout during the summer break, their relationship had remained strained.

She was too stubborn to lower her pride, and he was too busy with work to deal with personal matters, leaving their conflict unresolved.

Li Xi’s frustration and unease had only grown heavier over time, reaching a boiling point when she saw Jiang Muti getting so close to him at school.

Still, since their interactions seemed limited to the occasional casual conversation, she had managed to hold herself back—until now.

The scene she just witnessed shattered her restraint. Ignoring their ongoing cold war, she directly confronted him.

Qiao Yuqi chuckled at her words. “What about Zhou Lu? Wouldn’t he be unhappy knowing you came to talk to me?”

Li Xi snapped, “Now you suddenly care about avoiding suspicion? Before—”

She stopped mid-sentence, realizing that bringing up his past behavior—his open feelings for her despite knowing she was with Zhou Lu—would only make her position seem more unreasonable.

For the first time, her thoughts were in complete disarray. She knew she had no right to question him, yet she couldn’t stop herself from doing so.

Forcing herself to stay composed, she changed the subject. “That’s your latest work, isn’t it?”

Seeing that Qiao Yuqi didn’t deny it, she pressed on, her voice trembling slightly. “You used to share all your work, all your progress and achievements, with me first.”

But instead of softening, Qiao Yuqi’s gaze darkened. There was a sharp edge in his expression that was almost aggressive.

“But you don’t have time to share these things with me anymore,” he said.

Li Xi instinctively wanted to step back, but her anger pushed her forward. “So now you’re sharing them with someone else?”

Qiao Yuqi let out a light laugh. “I know what you’re thinking. But you’ve got it wrong—what I have with her is a much more practical relationship.”

“Don’t romanticize things too much. It won’t make anything easier, understand?”

“What do you mean?” Li Xi was not satisfied with his vague answer.

Qiao Yuqi patted her on the shoulder. “You’re smart, you’ll figure it out.”

He then brushed past her and returned to the class line, leaving her standing alone, her face dark with displeasure.

Having known him for so many years, Li Xi knew exactly what he meant. He was essentially calling her petty and meddlesome.

He had always been like this—kind and attentive when everything was fine, but once he got angry, his response was harsh and cutting.

It was exactly this unpredictable cruelty that made her think she would never develop any other feelings for him.

But now he was upset because of another girl? Or was it just that he had grown impatient with her?

Lost in thought, Li Xi walked back to her class line, completely absorbed in her own world, unaware that Zhou Lu was also standing with a dark expression.

He had been playing basketball with his teammates during class and hadn’t noticed his girlfriend’s mood. It wasn’t until it was almost time to gather that he saw her, looking lost and out of sorts after the brief argument with Qiao Yuqi.

Recalling how she had acted the last time she saw Qiao Yuqi getting close to Jiang Muti, Zhou Lu wasn’t stupid.

He had vaguely noticed that his girlfriend had some unresolved feelings, a line she hadn’t fully figured out yet.

While the main and supporting characters in the book were tangled in their emotions, Jiang Muti seemed unbothered. She finished her afternoon classes and was thinking about what to eat for dinner.

Her parents would be coming back soon, but for some reason, she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease.

So, she spent her days thinking about ways to please her older brother, hoping that if anything came up, he would step in for her.

Jiang Yunjuan thought his sister had gotten herself into some trouble at school. “Come on, what mess do you want me to clean up for you?”

“No, nothing—hey, why do you think I’m so unreliable?” Jiang Muti said unhappily. “Only an idiot would leave evidence of their bad deeds. I’ve cleaned everything up before it became a problem.”

Jiang Yunjuan nodded, saying with a meaningful tone, “Oh—”

Jiang Muti, irritated and embarrassed, realized that he had just managed to extract from her the fact that she had been up to some things recently. She had cleaned up everything outside, so it hadn’t caused any trouble for him.

Fuming, she didn’t even bother to think about dinner anymore and didn’t do the usual tasks like peeling shrimp and picking fish bones for him.

This made Jiang Yunjuan regret his actions. He had tried to be clever, thinking she would handle things without causing trouble. Why did he have to point it out?

Jiang Muti was sulking for several days, but eventually decided it was time to act. She was ready to show off today. After school in the afternoon, she waited for Yun Duo to arrive so they could leave together.

But before her car arrived, another car stopped in front of them.

The window rolled down, revealing Zhou Lu’s face. He looked at Jiang Muti and said, “Get in, let’s talk!”