Amusing Ourselves to Death Arc
Agent 12
Xin Lan took Qin Yuyan to the company, showing her around the office and helping her get familiar with the company environment. Then, they went to meet Xu Fang together.
Xin Lan brought Qin Yuyan during the daytime, and this news spread throughout the company quickly; it was something anyone with eyes could see.
At that moment, Shen Yun was outside attending to her engagements. She took a moment to check her phone and was bewildered by the numerous messages. After opening them, she wished she could reach through the internet and strangle those people who were mocking her.
Shen Yun was quick to rise, her path to stardom unobstructed. It’s unclear how many people were envious of her, both openly and secretly. Shen Yun wasn’t in a good mood lately; many people were making fun of her.
“Yun Jie, are you okay?”
Zhou Qinqin looked at Shen Yun, who was gripping her phone with a gloomy expression, and was somewhat startled.
Lately, Yun Jie’s temper seemed to be off. She often wore a cold expression and got angry with them over trivial matters. Zhou Qinqin and Miao Miao had been scolded by Shen Yun at least ten times in the past few days.
Hearing her assistant’s question, Shen Yun glanced at her sideways and put down her phone.
She pressed her palm against her hand, trying to calm herself down.
It was a done deal; although Qin Yuyan had debuted early and had some fame, she couldn’t compare to her.
Someone knocked on the door, allowing Shen Yun to proceed with the live recording. Shen Yun touched up her makeup in front of the mirror and put on a smile.
After Shen Yun left, Zhou Qinqin quickly sent a message to Xin Lan, informing her that Shen Yun’s mood seemed off.
Xin Lan replied with a concise “Keep an eye on her” and didn’t elaborate further.
Zhou Qinqin couldn’t glean much more from that response, so she took it literally and kept a watchful eye on Shen Yun.
Before Xin Lan got busy with Qin Yuyan, she introduced her to two other individuals under her wing.
Getting Qin Yuyan acquainted was of secondary importance; the primary goal was for her and Shen Yun to get acquainted.
Hadn’t Shen Yun always been eager for stardom? Xin Lan intended to transform Qin Yuyan into a mountain that Shen Yun could never surpass.
Although one could argue that this was a utilization of Qin Yuyan, their contractual agreement was based on mutual consent.
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However, Xin Lan had transformed her objective from mere benefits into something else.
Ironically, in the original storyline, Shen Yun had treated Qin Yuyan as a valuable connection, but it seemed that they were on the path to becoming archenemies now.
It’s kind of funny to think about.
However, if Shen Yun can continue to cling to Qin Yuyan in a situation like this, then her personality is certainly unique.
Shen Yun finished her variety show shoot and emerged at 8 o’clock in the evening. She hadn’t had dinner yet and was about to ask Ah Kun to drive her to a restaurant when Zhou Qinqin informed her that Xin Lan had arranged a dinner for her.
“Isn’t it another gala or a private gathering? I can’t go in this condition.”
Shen Yun furrowed her brow, and Zhou Qinqin quickly shook her head.
“No, it’s not that. Lan Jie said it’s just a casual gathering among the team, having a meal and getting acquainted.”
“Getting acquainted?”
Shen Yun emphasized the first two words, her expression a mix of a smile and seriousness, a touch of coldness in her eyes.
“Is she even deserving?”
Shen Yun chuckled with a touch of scorn. Her voice was soft, carried away by the wind.
Zhou Qinqin and Miao Miao pretended as if they hadn’t heard anything and got into the car with Shen Yun.
Xin Lan had reserved the venue in advance, and Qin Yuyan arrived second.
When Xin Lan saw him, she furrowed her brows.
The moment Cheng Zhi saw her expression, his heart skipped a beat.
“Sis, I really haven’t gained weight. I’ve been controlling my diet these days and exercising regularly. Chu Chu has been supervising me. If you don’t believe me, you can ask her later!”
Chu Chu was Cheng Zhi’s assistant, also arranged by Xin Lan.
“Have you been staying up late these days?”
Cheng Zhi’s expression dropped, and he nodded with a dejected air.
“I don’t want to pester you either. You know it yourself. If your skin is full of pits and blemishes at your age, you can forget about future endorsement deals for your face.”
“I’ll make sure to use face masks regularly from now on!”
Seeing Cheng Zhi’s expression, Qin Yuyan chuckled softly and whispered to Xin Lan, “He seems quite afraid of you.”
Cheng Zhi’s demeanor made it seem as if Xin Lan were some sort of formidable monster. In reality, Qin Yuyan found Xin Lan to be quite approachable and not intimidating at all.
Xin Lan smiled at Qin Yuyan and then glanced at Cheng Zhi before redirecting her gaze.
Cheng Zhi was unlike Shen Yun and Qin Yuyan. To him, she—or rather, the original owner—held significance.
The original owner had been Cheng Zhi’s benefactor. Without the original owner, he wouldn’t have known where he’d be right now.
A year ago, the original owner had found Cheng Zhi on the streets of Neon Country. Back then, Cheng Zhi didn’t possess the polished appearance he had now; he was somewhat rugged.
On the streets, Cheng Zhi sang “Boundless Sea and Sky” in Cantonese. His vocal range wasn’t flawless, but amidst the bustling foreign environment, when the original owner heard him, she was deeply moved.
Unlike the film and television industry, in the music world, a song that could endure must be melodious and have the power to touch hearts. Looks weren’t the most crucial factor.
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The original owner handed Cheng Zhi her business card, conveying her thoughts. Cheng Zhi was genuinely unsuspecting, so he followed the original owner back to their country without reservations.
Later, the original owner realized that Cheng Zhi’s singing ability was only average. If he intended to break into the music industry, lacking natural talent and a good singing voice would be obstacles. Nevertheless, after tidying up his appearance and changing his hairstyle, Cheng Zhi’s striking, boyish face still captured attention. Consequently, the original owner guided Cheng Zhi into the entertainment industry, arranged for instructors, and because of Cheng Zhi’s diligent efforts, he followed the original owner’s advice almost unquestioningly.
In addition to keeping it a secret from the original owner, Cheng Zhi was in a relationship.
As the dishes were being prepared, Shen Yun pushed the door open and entered.
Her entrance had a certain flair. She wore sunglasses and strode in on glittering diamond high heels, exuding elegance and beauty.
She removed her sunglasses, revealing her small face adorned with refined makeup. She smirked at Xin Lan and their group.
She was harboring some resentment, not only towards Xin Lan but also towards Qin Yuyan.
She held a grudge against Qin Yuyan and had initially planned to come for the meal directly. However, she had changed her clothes and reapplied her makeup before arriving. She was determined to outshine Qin Yuyan.
Upon entering, she noticed Qin Yuyan was only wearing a T-shirt, which confirmed her victory in her mind. While Qin Yuyan was beautiful, she didn’t hold a candle to her.
“Oh, here comes our big star.”
Cheng Zhi teased, initially wanting to call Shen Yun “Yun Jie.” However, he recalled Xin Lan’s advice about avoiding the use of “jie” (older sister) in addressing people. So, he held back. Nonetheless, given that Shen Yun was his senior, among the individuals present, he was the lowest in rank.
Despite the fact that his current popularity might be slightly higher than Qin Yuyan’s, he recognized that she hadn’t truly begun her journey. Moreover, she hailed from the Qin family. Cheng Zhi wasn’t foolish enough to cross that line, so he decided to break the ice.
“Hello, Qin Yuyan.”
Qin Yuyan extended her hand towards Shen Yun. Her fingers were long and fair, quite attractive. Shen Yun stared at them for a few seconds before shaking her hand.
Neither of them applied much pressure; they briefly touched before withdrawing.
Qin Yuyan looked at the elegantly dressed woman before her, thinking that this was Shen Yun, the person Xin Lan had been promoting. In person, Shen Yun was indeed slimmer than she appeared on television.
Qin Yuyan naturally sensed the subtle hostility from Shen Yun. She smiled and brushed it off.
Cheng Zhi silently observed the three beautiful women in front of him. Not to mention the formidable “Demon Lord” Xin Lan, even if she looked like a celestial being, Cheng Zhi didn’t dare to steal more than a glance.
Shen Yun and Qin Yuyan each possessed their own kind of beauty. Shen Yun exuded a sweeter charm, while Qin Yuyan carried a more noble and dignified aura.
Despite Shen Yun’s stylish outfit and well-applied makeup, when compared to Qin Yuyan’s simple white blouse, Cheng Zhi found Qin Yuyan to be more attractive and comfortable.
Shen Yun seemed to package herself in an alluring exterior, striving to shine. Many individuals acted in a similar manner, including Cheng Zhi himself. However, when he looked at Qin Yuyan and Xin Lan, he sensed that their radiance was innate, not reliant on external elements to glitter.
“Now that we’ve met and shared a meal, we can consider ourselves mutually acquainted. Since you both fall under my guidance, make sure to get along well.”
Xin Lan’s words were spoken in a casual manner, and her expression didn’t change even when she mentioned the need to get along well. However, the individuals seated nearby had their own thoughts naturally.
Cheng Zhi was somewhat in a daze, but he could perceive that Xin Lan’s attitude towards Shen Yun had cooled. He wasn’t sure about the circumstances, and whatever had transpired didn’t concern him. It was a matter between the two of them. Cheng Zhi decided not to think about it. Whatever Xin Lan said, he would follow.
Qin Yuyan still remembered Xin Lan’s words from the banquet.
Xin Lan had asserted that Shen Yun was destined not to shine. The detachment in Xin Lan’s tone while uttering those words led Qin Yuyan to deduce that Shen Yun’s relationship with Xin Lan wasn’t good. So, she realized that Xin Lan’s words were mere formality. Xin Lan had no intention of truly “getting along well” with Shen Yun.
Shen Yun was coldly snorting in her mind. Xin Lan was putting her in an uncomfortable situation here and expecting her to bottle up her emotions. This was unacceptable.
Recently, she had been fretting over her resources. Yet, Xin Lan continued to support her as if nothing had happened. Conversely, there was no confrontation at all.
This left Shen Yun uncertain whether Xin Lan no longer cared about her or if she still did.
With Shen Yun’s presence today, Xin Lan’s objective had been achieved.
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She didn’t need to provoke Shen Yun. She didn’t even need to use a harsh tone when talking to her.
Shen Yun was at a juncture, wavering between continuing to appease Xin Lan or breaking free from her grasp.
Shen Yun attempted to win her favor, but Xin Lan didn’t take the bait. If Shen Yun aimed to escape, she was destined to be unsuccessful.
The meal wasn’t monotonous. Cheng Zhi kept the atmosphere lively, Qin Yuyan occasionally exchanged a few words with Xin Lan, and Shen Yun sat there in silence.
She selected a shrimp and placed it in Xin Lan’s bowl.
This simple gesture altered the ambiance, causing everyone’s gaze to shift to her.
“I recall that you particularly enjoy the shrimp from the cashew shrimp dish. Have a bit more.”
Shen Yun’s eyes curved like crescent moons. When Xin Lan looked at her, there was a trace of tender affection in her expression.
Xin Lan didn’t have any reservations and savored the shrimp. The original owner genuinely favored this dish, and Shen Yun possessed her own strategies for pursuing people—she paid attention to the minutiae.
However, individuals of this nature could be exasperating, akin to being a tormenting scoundrel.
For some inexplicable reason, Qin Yuyan’s eyelid twitched. She felt uneasy and likewise picked up a piece of fish, placing it in Xin Lan’s bowl.
“Ah Lan, this is quite delectable. Give it a taste.”
Due to Qin Yuyan’s affectionate term of address, Shen Yun furrowed her eyebrows. She had never referred to Xin Lan like that, although she had used even more endearing terms before.
“She doesn’t like eating fish.”
Shen Yun said.
The original owner indeed abstained from fish. She would consume shrimp, but not fish—regardless of whether it was freshwater or saltwater fish, whether it was steamed, fried, boiled, or stewed, she didn’t enjoy it.
However, Xin Lan was eating the fish.
She selected a piece of fish meat from the fish belly in her bowl, which looked enticing in color, and placed it in her mouth to chew before swallowing.
Initially somewhat annoyed, Qin Yuyan saw that Xin Lan didn’t appear averse to it. She quietly let out a sigh of relief.
“People’s preferences tend to change.”
Xin Lan met Shen Yun’s astonished gaze, her eyes carrying a significant depth of meaning.