Chapter 2

When Wen Tang was eight years old, she made her debut in the popular family drama “Our Family” as the youngest daughter. As a child, she was delicate and adorable, like a porcelain doll, instantly melting hearts with her appearance. Her acting talent was evident; she portrayed the daughter of the male and female leads with such depth and vitality that she garnered much praise and affection.

This role marked her entry into the entertainment industry. Now, Wen Tang is a well-known rising star with undeniable acting skills. However, due to her penchant for dating young men, she has been labeled as frivolous and unfaithful, attracting public criticism. Despite this, she has amassed a massive fan base over the years. Recently, her starring roles in several hit dramas have made her the center of attention.

Wen Tang’s upcoming drama, “Hear Your Heart,” is filming in Ling City. At just past ten o’clock, Wen Tang arrived fashionably late to the filming ceremony.

She wore a face of exquisite beauty, cold and aloof, with Liu Meifen walking beside her and two assistants trailing behind them.

Her arrival drew countless stares.

In the industry, Wen Tang’s reputation as a diva is well-known. When the crew of “Hear Your Heart” learned that Wen Tang would be replacing the easygoing Jiang Qianya as the female lead, they braced themselves, as if preparing for a major event.

As expected, Wen Tang lived up to her reputation, arriving late not only for the final fittings but also for the opening ceremony, making everyone on the set wait for nearly an hour.

Wen Tang’s star power was so immense that she was treated like royalty, with no one daring to criticize her or rush her. Even the renowned director Zhou Sheng, who had been anxiously waiting for an hour, greeted Wen Tang and her entourage with a bright smile and a wave as if nothing had happened.

“Finally, you’re here!” Zhou Sheng exclaimed, his voice filled with relief. “I was beginning to worry I might not see you.”

He addressed Wen Tang, but then turned to Liu Meifen, “It’s rare to see you here, Sister Fen. What brings you along today?”

Everyone knew that Liu Meifen managed all of Wen Tang’s business dealings and schedules. Despite being extremely busy, she rarely appeared on set.

Liu Meifen, with a warm smile, replied, “I just missed seeing you, Director Zhou, so I decided to come along.”

Her words were flawless, hiding her true feelings behind a mask of politeness. Zhou Sheng was delighted, laughing heartily and leading them into the crowd.

Zhou Sheng had worked with Wen Tang before and knew Liu Meifen even longer. Although Liu Meifen could be demanding, her high emotional intelligence and ability to handle people made her a valued partner.

As soon as Wen Tang and her team arrived, milk tea and pastries were delivered to the set. Liu Meifen, ever the gracious host, distributed the refreshments with aplomb, swiftly defusing the tension caused by Wen Tang’s tardiness.

The new drama, “Hear Your Heart,” was a modern fantasy series starring Li Huanyan, a rising star who, despite his growing popularity, still couldn’t match Wen Tang’s status. The original female lead was Jiang Qianya, who had resigned from the role, reportedly due to dissatisfaction with the male lead and the production’s lower quality. However, her official statement claimed it was due to a schedule conflict, portraying herself as regretful and helpless.

Jiang Qianya was known for her ostentatious display of purity and high status, which contrasted sharply with Wen Tang’s more straightforward approach. Their rivalry was well-known, with both sides frequently throwing subtle jabs at each other.

Wen Tang was initially reluctant to take over Jiang Qianya’s role, but the power of capital was undeniable, and she had to comply despite her reservations.

Though Wen Tang’s public persona was often criticized, she approached her work with dedication and professionalism. Her talent, beauty, and box office appeal made her a sought-after actress, attracting investors and directors alike.

At the set, everyone had a cup of milk tea, even the temporary workers, leaving no one left out. Liu Meifen was busy mingling with the director, producer, and investors, while Wen Tang, who was not fond of socializing, took a seat provided by her assistant Yang Yang. She remained aloof, wearing sunglasses that obscured most of her face, revealing only her delicate features and long, slender legs.

Wen Tang was used to the attention her beauty drew, and she observed the set with a casual air. Her presence was commanding, and the other actors, mostly newcomers, were overshadowed by her star power.

She noticed one person in the crowd who stood out, seemingly alone and not part of the crowd enjoying the refreshments. Removing her sunglasses to get a clearer view, she asked, “Who is that?”

Her assistants, Yang Yang and Ke Xin, immediately turned to look. The man in question had strikingly handsome features, with a prominent nose and a cool, thin-lipped smile. His youthful and charming appearance made him stand out.

It seemed Wen Tang had already found a new interest, moving on quickly from her previous relationship with You Yang.

Ke Xin hesitated, aware of Liu Meifen’s stern warning before she left. Whispering in Wen Tang’s ear, she said, “…Aunt Fen said it’s absolutely not allowed this time, or our wages will be deducted.”

Yang Yang, also cautious, added in Wen Tang’s other ear, “Yes, Sister, at least wait until Aunt Fen leaves before making any plans?”

Yang Yang then gave a pointed look towards Liu Meifen, who was mingling with others in the crowd.

Wen Tang was merely curious about the identity of the bold individual who had ignored Liu Meifen. Hearing their concerns, she was almost amused.

Was she that impatient, like a lustful spirit reincarnated?

Wen Tang didn’t bother to explain and gave the two assistants a sidelong glance. “Do you think it’s her who pays your salary or me?”

Both assistants, who had worked with her for several years, stood up straight and responded in unison, “Of course, it’s you, Sister!”

Ke Xin assured, “Don’t worry, Sister. I’ll take care of what you just mentioned right away.”

Yang Yang added, “We’ll guarantee the task is completed!”

With that, they dispersed.

When Liu Meifen finished socializing and looked for the assistants, she noticed they were no longer by her side. She glanced around and asked, “Where are they?”

Wen Tang shrugged and didn’t say a word to Liu Meifen.

In recent years, the conflict between them had escalated, reaching a point where they could barely tolerate each other. Liu Meifen often complained that Wen Tang was becoming more disobedient, but Wen Tang was a person, not a puppet, and couldn’t always conform to her mother’s wishes.

Liu Meifen, however, paid no further attention to the assistants and focused her energy on Wen Tang. She gestured for Wen Tang to stand up. “Let’s go, the opening ceremony is about to begin.”

The ceremony, initially planned for 9:30 AM, finally started at 11:00 AM.

Wen Tang, as expected, stood at the center of the stage, with the male lead, Li Huanyan, by her side. Li Huanyan was handsome and had a cool, pale complexion, the type that was very popular with young girls. He had the quintessential male lead looks, but Wen Tang had always been indifferent to male leads.

As she waited, Wen Tang scanned the crowd, her gaze eliciting a variety of reactions—people preening, showing excitement, elation, and even a hint of anticipation.

Wen Tang was all too familiar with these reactions.

She had even had someone strip and lie in her bed before.

Did she seem that easy?

She ignored the crowd and finally focused on the bold individual who had dared to defy Liu Meifen.

He wasn’t the most handsome, at least not compared to Li Huanyan, but he had a unique aura—quiet, cold, and aloof, as if uninterested in everything around him. At that moment, he was looking elsewhere, his face expressionless. When he noticed Wen Tang’s gaze, he briefly met her eyes before calmly turning away.

Wen Tang had never encountered a man who disregarded her so completely.

One should trust their instincts.

He was indeed quite arrogant.