In the blink of an eye, Jian Buqing and Fan Mei were subdued by the black-clad bodyguards. Jian Buqing’s twig-like arms were twisted behind his back, and even from half a meter away, Jian Yang could hear the cracking sound of his bones.

Fan Mei, at least, had seen the world. “Who are you?” she asked.

Jian Buqing, however, had lost it. Having grown up sheltered by the Jian family, he had never suffered before. “Do you know who I am?!!”

Even in anger, his voice was soft and delicate like water. Unfortunately, the bodyguards were highly professional and twisted his arms even harder, rendering him unable to make a sound.

The driver walked over and banged a cup against Jian Buqing’s head. “I know! You’re our young master’s toy!”

Bang, bang, bang!

It felt good in the hand.

Jian Buqing saw stars and nearly passed out.

Wei Wei was the first to hand Jian Yang a tissue, wiping the tears off his face. “Did you get beaten up?”

“How could that be?” Jian Yang covered his eyes for a moment. “I just got something in my eye.”

He stepped aside to apply eye drops, and the crowd of bodyguards immediately made way for him. Director Xu pulled out a chair for him in the midst of the crowd. Jian Yang, with his sticky eyelids, still remembered to thank him. “No need, no need.”

“You should sit,” Director Xu said, glancing at the room full of bodyguards.

He had no idea what kind of background Jian Yang had.

Jian Yang was feeling terrible, so he didn’t stand on ceremony. While waiting for the eye drops to take effect, he closed his eyes and held onto Wei Wei’s hand, asking, “Why are you here?”

“Director Xu just called me, so I went to find your driver. Your driver is too stubborn. I told him to just follow me upstairs, but he insisted on bringing the entire security team along.”

“What about the actors who came for the script reading?” Jian Yang was worried about his already fragile reputation.

“They’ve already been sent back. We’ll continue another time,” Director Xu said. “Once you came out, I sent them home.”

“Thank you, Director Xu.”

Jian Yang was genuinely grateful. Even though Director Xu had taken Fan Mei’s contract, he had still tried to protect Jian Yang’s reputation and even helped call for help. Considering they had only met twice, this was more than enough.

The eye drops prescribed specifically for Jian Yang by Guan Ciyan’s private hospital were much more effective than before. In just two minutes, his discomfort eased significantly.

Glancing at Director Xu and the contract in his hands, he said to the driver, “Take them outside. Our family matters shouldn’t interfere with work.”

Jian Buqing was still unwilling to give up and shouted, “Director Xu, don’t repeat past mistakes!”

Director Xu was startled. He had once worked on a film where the lead actor was exposed for being kept by multiple powerful figures, causing the film to be pulled before it even aired. But Jian Buqing was still Jian Yang’s brother—how could he spread such slander about his own sibling in front of outsiders?

Bang—

The driver hit him with the cup again, knocking him out completely.

“Director Xu,” Jian Yang said calmly, as if he hadn’t just been in a fight, “I can’t offer you something as solid as a theatrical release contract, but I will do my best to secure a collaboration with Director Wen Ye. If that opportunity arises, you will definitely be my top partner. Please consider it.”

Director Xu, however, was more concerned with something else. “These bodyguards… whose people are they, Jian Yang?”

Jian Yang felt a bit ashamed.

His relationship with Guan Ciyan was hard to explain.

Who would believe that he lived in Guan Ciyan’s house and got scolded every day?

Seeing that Director Xu was about to misunderstand due to his hesitation, Wei Wei stepped in to clarify, “They belong to Guan Ciyan.”

“Huh??” Director Xu had overheard part of the conversation outside. “Is that true?”

Wei Wei nodded. “Previously, President Guan needed to talk to Jian Yang, so he personally took him away from my film set.”

Wei Wei was telling the truth—he wasn’t even trying to vouch for Jian Yang.

Jian Yang confirmed, “I’m currently living at Guan Ciyan’s place, but it’s definitely not a sugar relationship. Director Xu, you don’t have to worry.”

Director Xu: “…Honestly, if it were a sugar relationship, I’d feel more at ease.”

Everyone knew that Guan Ciyan never lost out in a deal.

Jian Yang: “That wouldn’t work. He didn’t even pay me.”

Director Xu: ……

Wei Wei: “…..You’re obsessed with money!”

Jian Yang smacked himself on the mouth. “Director Xu, that’s not what I meant.”

Director Xu sighed. “Originally, I planned to finalize all the contracts during the script reading. That way, if Jian Buqing questioned me later, I could just say he wasn’t there at the time as an excuse. But now, after all this, I definitely won’t sign him. If someone like that joins the production, the whole set would be in chaos. I’ll have my assistant send the contract to your email. Jian Yang, I trust you—don’t let me down.”

Jian Yang was stunned. “It’s decided just like that?”

Wei Wei patted his shoulder and winked. “What else did you expect?!”

“Oh, oh.” Jian Yang bowed deeply to Director Xu. “Thank you, Director Xu! I won’t let you down!”

“You performed well at the script reading just now—I have high expectations.”

Before Director Xu even finished speaking, a sharp scream echoed from outside.

Bang—

Another hit.

The driver said, “Our young master will be using the elevator soon. You all take the stairs.”

Jian Yang pushed the door open and walked out.

His legs felt weak.

This was too much.

Every meter of the hallway was occupied by a bodyguard. Though they weren’t as massive as Guan Ciyan’s bear-like bodyguards, they could still take out a man in two punches.

At the elevator, four of them stood guard. The Jian mother and son, along with their manager, were blocked at the entrance. Fan Mei’s perfectly styled hair was disheveled as she held onto Jian Buqing. “Qingqing, let’s go.”

No wonder she managed to expand the family business—she knew when to yield and when to strike.

After descending two floors via the emergency stairs, Fan Mei suddenly clutched her chest, breathing unevenly, and collapsed onto the ground.

“Mom, what’s wrong?”

Fan Mei’s face was twisted in anger. “Ungrateful… ungrateful child.”

She pounded on the wall. “Raised him for nothing…”

Jian Buqing cried, “Mom, Jian Yang has gone too far!”

“Don’t worry, son.” Fan Mei took a deep breath. “The Jian family isn’t weak, and the Guan family has more than just Guan Ciyan as an heir.”

If not Guan Ciyan, there was still Guan Jingyu.

Fortunately, she had only sent Jian Yang to Guan Ciyan’s side. If Guan Jingyu and Qingqing could build a connection, then the Guan and Jian families could still be one.

“Poor child,” Fan Mei gently stroked Jian Buqing’s face. “You’ve suffered.”

“Mom,” Jian Buqing lowered his eyes. “I’m scared.”

“Don’t be afraid. The Jian family is yours, and the Guan family will be yours too.” Fan Mei vowed with certainty.

Although the Jian family wasn’t as powerful as the Guan family, it was still wealthy and respectable. Jian Buqing feared that he would only end up with the Jian family. Meanwhile, Jian Yang was thrilled just because Director Xu had given him a lead role contract.

Holding himself back until Director Xu walked away, Jian Yang then grabbed Wei Wei’s face and stretched it sideways, “!!! I did it! I really did it!”

Wei Wei, wincing in pain, couldn’t speak for two minutes. “You did it! But why are you pinching me?!”

“Come on, let’s go eat.” Jian Yang dragged Wei Wei to the car like a kidnapper. “Order whatever you want, but nothing over 300.”

Wei Wei covered his face. “You’re a young master of the Guan family, and you’re only treating me to a 300-yuan meal? Guan Ciyan should be ashamed.”

“Tch, I was just casually called that. If I were really the Guan family’s young master, would you even have to worry about money?” Jian Yang rubbed his eyes.

Wei Wei searched on his phone and found a nearby barbecue place. “Let’s eat this then. I didn’t even have breakfast—I’m starving.”

For two grown men, 300 yuan wasn’t quite enough for barbecue. But Jian Yang had a ridiculously small appetite—if he ate too much, he couldn’t digest it. So, when they arrived, he invited the driver to join them.

The driver looked startled. “No, no, how could I eat at the same table as the young master?”

Wei Wei shifted his gaze from the menu to Jian Yang. Jian Yang quickly explained, “He misunderstood. He heard people call me that and actually believed it.”

This time, Wei Wei wasn’t buying it. He turned to the driver and asked, “Your Guan family’s drivers have security clearance too?”

The driver answered honestly, “No, but Uncle Zhang told me that if the young master had any issues, I should call directly without needing Mr. Guan’s approval.”

“Uncle Zhang is really looking out for you,” Jian Yang muttered while scanning the menu and placing an order with the waiter.

Wei Wei thought for a moment, then casually rested his hand on Jian Yang’s shoulder. “You said it yourself—if you become the Guan family’s young master, I’ll never have to worry about getting acting gigs again.”

Jian Yang replied absentmindedly, “I’ll get you as many roles as you want, okay?”

For some reason, the driver found Jian Yang’s tone oddly familiar.

“Alright, just sit down and eat,” Jian Yang pulled the driver into the seat. “We’re all just working people—no one is more noble than anyone else.”

The driver still hesitated, but the sizzling pork belly on the grill was too tempting to resist.

This 300 yuan meal was actually the first bit of money Jian Yang had earned from Guan Ciyan—a double daily wage.

Since moving into the Guan household, he barely spent any money. Everything—food, lodging, transportation—was arranged for him.

After landing his first lead role, Jian Yang wanted to thank Guan Ciyan. Once he parted ways with Wei Wei, he started thinking about it. But Guan Ciyan never showed particular interest in anything and lacked nothing, so picking a gift was a challenge.

To make things worse, Jian Yang looked around his room: his watch? A gift from Guan Ciyan. His TV? Also from Guan Ciyan. Inside and out, top to bottom—even his underwear was provided by Guan Ciyan.

“Tsk, I’m really living off him.” Jian Yang flopped onto his bed, realizing that his only option was a heartfelt gift.

Thinking it over, he was actually pretty good at cooking.

Sure, the ingredients were bought by Guan Ciyan, but the meals were cooked by him. That counted as a contribution, right?

Jian Yang dashed downstairs in a few quick strides and started shouting from a distance, “Uncle Zhang! Uncle Zhang! What does Mr. Guan like to eat?”

At that moment, Uncle Zhang was in the small kitchen with the maids, planning the dinner menu. Seeing Jian Yang, he asked back, “What do you think Mr. Guan likes to eat?”

“I don’t know. He seems to take a bite or two of everything.”

Uncle Zhang skimmed the menu, instructing the maids to take notes. “I’ve served him for over ten years. If he had any real food preferences, I would’ve known by now.”

“Nothing in particular?” Jian Yang pursed his lips. “That can’t be. Guan Ciyan is so picky.”

His gut feeling told him that wasn’t right. If his cooking hadn’t hit the mark with Guan Ciyan, wouldn’t it all have been a waste?

“So hard to please…” Jian Yang paced around the living room.

Meanwhile, Summer (the dog) was panting as it followed him. Jian Yang reached into the fridge, grabbed some dried chicken treats, and tossed them in the air. Summer jumped up and caught them, devouring each piece in one bite.

After spending a few days together, Jian Yang had completely won Summer over with food. Though in front of Guan Ciyan, Summer still kept its distance, behind his back, the dog was practically best friends with Jian Yang.

The best way to describe their relationship? A secret affair.

On the other hand, Little Sun (the cat) saw Jian Yang feeding Summer, leaped onto his shoulder, smacked him twice across the face, and then hopped away.

Jian Yang stood there, stunned. “What’s going on? One likes me, and the other insists on hating me?”

“Oh!” Suddenly, Jian Yang had a revelation.

He grabbed the utensils, cracked some eggs, and mixed flour, mumbling to himself, “Guan Ciyan, you better remember my kindness! You’d better repay me—all forms of payment accepted: Alipay, WeChat, bank transfer, or check!”