“Ask your mother to lend you to me for a few days, and I won’t ask for any payment for the clothes, okay?”

“…!” Nian Nian’s eyes widened in fear. This cool-looking auntie turned out to be a weird auntie!

Nian Nian is not for loan.

Seeing Nian Nian shake her head like a rattle, Lin Jing couldn’t help but touch her hair. It was soft and felt nice.

She thought, “This really is Shen Mingyou’s daughter; she looks just like her.”

Noticing how people were looking at Nian Nian, Xiao Xi quickly pulled her behind and apologized to Lin Jing, “I’m really sorry. How about I take your clothes to the dry cleaners or get you a new set? Would that be okay?”

“No need.” Lin Jing replied and continued into the set.

When Lin Jing arrived, Shen Mingyou and Tang Qian, who had just finished performing, noticed her immediately.

After greeting everyone, Lin Jing walked over to Tang Qian and Shen Mingyou.

After wandering around, Nian Nian returned to her mom and quickly hid behind her when she saw the strange auntie coming.

“Boss Lin, why are your clothes dirty?” Tang Qian noticed the handprints on Lin Jing’s pants right away. It looked like someone had deliberately put them there. He frowned and said, “Who was so careless to mess up your clothes like that?”

Tang Qian knew Lin Jing was obsessed with cleanliness. She only wore spotless clothes, lived in a spotless home, and… now her pristine white suit was dirty. Even he couldn’t stand it.

Nian Nian, still hiding behind her mother, heard Tang Qian and peeked out. In a soft voice, she said, “It was Nian Nian who did it.”

Tang Qian: “…”

“Haha, I was wondering why the handprint looked so cute. Turns out my little apprentice made it,” Tang Qian said with an awkward smile. “It’s okay. Auntie Lin has plenty of clothes.”

Tang Qian knew that Shen Mingyou was Lin Jing’s best friend, so her daughter dirtying her clothes wasn’t a big deal. Lin Jing, as her aunt, wouldn’t make a fuss over it. After all, she wasn’t short on clothes.

But Lin Jing’s cold voice followed, “Who said it’s okay?”

Tang Qian: “…”

Lin Jing turned to Shen Mingyou, “You’ll have to pay for the dirty clothes.”

Nian Nian, who had just poked her head out, quickly hid behind her mother again. She didn’t want to be taken away by the strange aunt.

Tang Qian, confused by Lin Jing’s tone, chuckled nervously, “I’ll pay for it. Since my new apprentice dirtied the dress, as her master, it’s only right for me to pay.”

Lin Jing looked at him, “When did you become so generous?”

“…?” Tang Qian felt wronged. Since nothing he said was working, he chose to stay quiet.

Tang Qian is known for being very stingy—not just with others but also with himself. Who would believe that a big star like him packs up leftovers every time he eats at a restaurant?

Yet this stingy Tang Qian was even thinking about compensating Nian Nian for her clothes. Not only did Nian Nian feel a little touched, but even Shen Mingyou looked at Tang Qian with a bit more interest.

Shen Mingyou said, “I’ll pay for it.”

Since her daughter made the mess, it was her responsibility to pay, and Lin Jing had nothing to say.

“How much do the clothes cost? I’ll transfer the money to you,” Shen Mingyou said.

Lin Jing glanced at the time on her phone and said, “Forget the money, let’s have dinner together tonight.”

Shen Mingyou could tell Lin Jing wanted to talk. After thinking about it, she nodded in agreement.

Lin Jing handed over a gift she had prepared for Nian Nian through her assistant. Nian Nian took the gift, looked at her mom, and asked, “Auntie, do you know my mom?”

Lin Jing nodded. “Yes, I knew her before Nian Nian was born.”

Nian Nian’s eyes widened. It turns out Auntie and mom have known each other for a long time.

Nian Nian then looked at the people following Auntie and asked, “Is Auntie the big boss?”

Lin Jing nodded.

Nian Nian patted her chest and said, “Nian Nian is also a big boss.”

Lin Jing, who rarely smiled, couldn’t help but curl up the corners of her mouth after hearing this childish talk.

Tang Qian, sensitive to Lin Jing’s emotions, touched his chin. Seeing how easily Nian Nian made Lin Jing laugh, he thought maybe he could learn from her in the future.

That evening, after Shen Mingyou finished filming, she asked Jiang Chen to take Nian Nian back to the hotel. Children need a regular schedule and can’t stay out too late.

Shen Mingyou took a car to the hotel Lin Jing had designated. When she arrived at the private room, Lin Jing was already there, waiting.

After Shen Mingyou sat down, Lin Jing poured her a glass of wine.

Shen Mingyou picked it up and took a sip.

Later, Shen Mingyou learned that when she and Nian Nian were maliciously edited by Orange TV, not only did Jiang Chen put pressure on Orange TV, but the Lin Group and Sanyan Technology also contacted Orange TV’s top management.

Shen Mingyou realized she owed Lin Jing a favor.

But she only sent a message of thanks and didn’t contact Lin Jing after that.

Shen Mingyou and Lin Jing were once best friends. Lin Jing was very reserved and had gone to study abroad when she was young. At that time, Shen Mingyou had also settled abroad with her mother. They happened to attend the same middle school, and in that foreign country, they gradually became familiar with each other.

It wasn’t easy to become friends with Lin Jing. She was quiet, seemed cold, and rarely smiled. She often kept to herself, and Shen Mingyou’s attempts to get close to her were met with indifference.

Shen Mingyou was persistent, though. She brought Lin Jing breakfast, asked for help with schoolwork, and waited for her after school.

Lin Jing initially rejected her, then ignored her, and eventually started responding with a few words. Every little step in their friendship made Shen Mingyou very happy.

They truly became friends after an incident of discrimination against Lin Jing at school. Lin Jing was always the top student, but one teacher believed the top spot should belong to a white student, not Lin Jing, an outsider. The teacher embarrassed Lin Jing in class, but Shen Mingyou secretly recorded it on her phone.

The school they attended was an expensive, elite institution with strict rules for teachers. After Shen Mingyou handed the recording to the principal, the teacher was fired.

When Lin Jing found out Shen Mingyou had helped her, she finally let down her guard and accepted her as a friend.

Even after becoming friends, Shen Mingyou was still the one who did most of the talking, while Lin Jing mostly listened. Shen Mingyou would chat away, and Lin Jing would quietly listen, only speaking up when she disagreed strongly—like when they debated their tastes in men. Shen Mingyou liked powerful, stylish men, while Lin Jing believed men should be simple and obedient.

Lin Jing was a good listener, and Shen Mingyou confided all her worries in her. They were inseparable.

That changed when Shen Mingyou returned to China for university at sixteen, while Lin Jing stayed abroad. They kept in touch less frequently, but Shen Mingyou still often called Lin Jing to update her on life in China.

Their friendship broke down when Shen Mingyou was 18. By then, she had just entered the entertainment industry. Though excited at first, she was soon overwhelmed. She couldn’t meet her own expectations in acting, and many internet trolls harshly criticized her. Feeling down, Shen Mingyou vented to Lin Jing often.

One day, after listening to yet another phone call, Lin Jing said, “Mingyou, do you know I’ve been preparing for my graduation project? I’m tired and frustrated every day, but I still have to listen to you complain. Have you ever thought about how I feel?”

Shen Mingyou panicked and quickly apologized, “I’m sorry…”

But Lin Jing cut her off, saying, “Don’t call me anymore. Don’t contact me. Just pretend I’m no longer your friend.”