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Chapter 13: Meeting Tan Qishen’s Mother

Yan Man had no objections. “Sure, where are we meeting?”

“Lu Garden, a place you’re familiar with.”

Luo Xi handed Yan Man a black card with gold trim, imprinted with the logo of Lu Garden and the location of the private room.

Yan Man could hear the teasing in her tone and gave a helpless smile. She used to go to Lu Garden just to coax Tan Qishen back home. This was the first time she was going for something of her own.

But Lu Garden was Tan Qishen’s private club—it didn’t normally host outsiders. How had Director Hu managed to arrange a meeting there?

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. Director Hu and President Tan’s mother are good friends,” Luo Xi said with a wink. “You haven’t met President Tan’s mother yet, have you?”

Yan Man shook her head.

How could she have met her?

She never planned to.

“Aunt Wan is a Yue opera performer. Director Hu was once her mentor before she switched to directing.”

“Just behave naturally. Director Hu already likes you a lot. No need to be nervous.” Luo Xi patted her shoulder.

“Not just Director Hu—even if Aunt Wan were there, I’m sure she’d appreciate you.”

Yan Man smiled, but internally scoffed.

Appreciate her for what?

For tricking her son into falling for her?

“Wait—Tan Qishen’s mother is going to be there?” Yan Man suddenly became alert.

“No, no. I was just saying if she were. Why are you so tense?”

“Oh, thank goodness.”

Yan Man let out a breath of relief.

There really was no need to meet his mother.

Luo Xi thought she was shy and teased, “Ugly daughter-in-law still has to meet the in-laws eventually—”

Yan Man didn’t want to hear the rest. She quickly cut her off with an excuse.

“You don’t need to transfer the money for the bag you wanted. It’s my gift to you.”

She placed a small, delicate designer bag into Luo Xi’s hands.

That did the trick—Luo Xi immediately stopped talking.

“Oh my god—babe, how did you get this? I couldn’t even buy one through 20 different resellers!”

Luo Xi’s eyes were glued to the item. She looked like she was ready to scream.

It was a new limited edition, with only 99 sold worldwide—total prestige points.

As one of the top names in fashion, even someone with Luo Xi’s status and connections hadn’t been able to snag it. So how had Yan Man?

“Just lucky, I guess,” Yan Man replied flatly. “I’m off to get ready for the dinner.”

Luo Xi grinned and saw her off like a VIP guest. “You owe me a fancy dinner sometime!”

Yan Man nodded, put on her sunglasses, and left the company.

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7 PM

Winter nights had already fallen over Beijing.

On the way to Lu Garden, Yan Man sent Tan Qishen a message.

[Yan Man]: I’ve got a dinner tonight, might be home a bit late.

After sending it, she closed her phone with practiced ease.

Tan Qishen never replied in under 30 minutes.

“Miss Man, I’ve sent you Director Hu’s full filmography.”

Yan Man had asked Shen Jie to compile all of Hu Suling’s directed films. Though her mother was a fan of the director, she herself hadn’t watched many of her movies—only two, to be exact.

She had read the script Luo Xi gave her, and pretending she wasn’t interested would’ve been a lie.

It was a script written like it was tailor-made for her—and directed by an internationally acclaimed filmmaker.

Since fate had accidentally made her a model, why not keep going? She wanted to take on every challenge.

“Thank you,” she said, clicking on one of the movies to watch.

A third of the way through the film, her car arrived at the courtyard gate of Lu Garden.

The general manager was waiting at the door, as all guests here were VIPs.

He opened the car door, and upon seeing Yan Man, was briefly stunned. “Miss Yan…”

Yan Man stepped out of the car in a knee-length black wool coat and high heels, nearly as tall as the manager. She handed him the invitation card.

After checking the room number, the manager seemed oddly relieved and respectfully led the way. “This way, please.”

He brought her to the second floor of Area A, to the VIP lounge—taking the farthest elevator, as if deliberately avoiding something.

Though Yan Man found it odd, since there were elevators much closer, she didn’t question it. Sometimes, it was better not to stir the pot.

“Please, go in. Director Hu is already waiting.”

Yan Man was surprised. She had arrived nearly an hour early—how had Director Hu arrived even earlier?

Seeing her confusion, the manager explained, “Director Hu had another engagement here earlier this afternoon and decided to stay and wait for you.”

Yan Man understood and relaxed a little. She thanked him.

She knocked gently. Upon hearing “Come in,” she pushed the door open.

The private room was styled like a presidential suite—but instead of a bed, there was a dining table.

As she stepped in, she was surprised by the scene before her.

Two middle-aged women were seated at the table. One had short, stylish hair—Director Hu Suling, whom she recognized.

The other woman was elegant and graceful, with rich black hair pinned up, dressed in a light purple modern Chinese outfit, and a strand of exquisite jade beads around her neck.

Her entire presence radiated refined wealth and ease—clearly not from just any wealthy family.

This graceful lady was also quietly studying Yan Man.

Yan Man looked at Hu Suling. “Hello Director Hu, I’m Yan Man.”

She spoke respectfully and nodded at the two women.

They both looked slightly surprised—they had assumed it was a staff member knocking.

“Miss Yan? You’re here quite early,” said Director Hu, rising to greet her with no airs despite her status.

Seeing the situation, Yan Man quickly grasped what was going on—the other woman must’ve been Hu’s guest from the earlier gathering, who had lingered.

“I was worried about traffic, so I came early.”

Her apology was polite yet tactful—not making others feel awkward or coming off as self-important.

“This is Wan Heng, a Yue opera performer,” Director Hu introduced.

Though she didn’t mention Wan Heng’s family background, the surname alone—and Luo Xi’s earlier mention—made it clear to Yan Man who she was.

Her fingers stiffened around her handbag, and her smile froze slightly.

Tan Qishen’s mother.

What a small world.

Wan Heng had gentle eyes, but somehow, the longer she looked, the more it felt like she was sizing Yan Man up.

Could she have recognized her?

With Tan Qishen’s resources, it wouldn’t be hard to investigate his girlfriend.

Yan Man’s nerves were jangling—but the next second, Wan Heng stood up and gave her a small, polite nod.

Her tone was friendly, so disarming that no one would guess she was the matriarch of the powerful Tan family in Beijing.

“Sorry, Miss Yan—I lost track of time chatting. I’ll leave you two to it.”

Their meeting had technically ended earlier, but as old friends, she and Director Hu had stayed to catch up. She had intended to leave soon—just didn’t expect Yan Man to arrive so early.

Yan Man quickly replied, “It’s no problem at all, Ms. Wan. I came too early.”

Wan Heng smiled and said instinctively, “Come, have a seat.”

Yan Man was momentarily stunned, but sat down two seconds later. “…Thank you.”

Wan Heng then exited the room, leaving just Yan Man and Director Hu.

Hu Suling smiled faintly. “Don’t mind her—this club belongs to her family, so she feels more like the host than I do.”

Yan Man just smiled without responding.

Of course she knew this place belonged to Tan Qishen. She had once come here to beg people countless times.

Now that Wan Heng was gone, Yan Man finally felt herself relax a little—the tension was gone.

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