Chapter 20: Believe It or Not

Shen Xingman knows what he's thinking, but she doesn't care, and she slowly says, "If you give it to Jiang Xiaoyan, your brand will only go downhill."

Believe it or not.

At this moment, Huang Yi's inner monologue: "I believe this! I believe this!"

Shen Xingman's image is truly far more upscale than Jiang Xiaoyan's.

Jiang's father glared at her fiercely: "If you don't leave now, I'll hire someone."

Shen Xingman said nothing; she knows the embarrassment of being driven away on the spot, but it doesn't matter, it doesn't affect her ability to get on people's nerves.

Tch, who wouldn't be cheap?

When there was only one step left to the gate, Jiang Minghai sneered: "A shameless woman like you climbing any higher is useless; you're just a tool for rich second‑generation kids to amuse themselves."

"Shameless?" Shen Xingman had intended to leave quietly, but hearing that harsh remark, she stopped in her tracks, turned back, and glanced at Jiang Minghai out of the corner of her eye.

She has always shown anger on her face; if her gaze darkens, then she's truly angry.

A beautiful woman's anger is also beautiful; Jiang Xiaoyan stared at that bewitchingly radiant face under the lights, first indulging for two seconds in a futile way, then a wave of intense jealousy enveloped her whole body.

Shen Xingman has always risen to fame through her looks; fans praise her as a bewitching, desirous fairy, while haters call her a fox spirit, a demon transformed from Liaozhai.

Yet one must admit, her eyes lack the maliciousness of a sprite; they are clear and moving, meeting her extreme radiance, creating a strange tension, beautiful beyond critique.

"Dad, forget it, I know Sister Manman is upset because I stole her endorsement; I'll just apologize to her," Jiang Xiaoyan jumped in to play the bad guy.

"Apologize? Apologize for what? You did nothing wrong; the Jiang family's endorsement was always yours; others are unworthy."

"Exactly, she's just a kid in her twenties; what is there to apologize for?" Shen Xingman turned, a smile on her lips.

Jiang Minghai, angry, stood up and shouted at Shen Xingman: "Shen, I'll make a bet with you—once you step through that door, the days ahead won't be that easy for you."

Shen Xingman gently nodded, laughing lightly: "Alright, I'll look forward to it."

Jiang's father snorted.

Things that can't be presented on the table are an eyesore to look at.

"Oh, by the way," Shen Xingman said, "if I've already had my fill of anger, we don't need to order dishes, right? No waste."

Jiang's father looked angry.

"I'm waiting for you to blacklist me~"

In the nanny's car, Qiao Yun felt unloved, sighing both ways, eyes hollow and vacant.

"Some people are dead, yet she is still alive," she shook her head, "some people are alive, yet she is already dead."

Qiao Yun, on the verge of tears, said: "May heaven have no Shen Xingman."

Hell is empty, the devil walks among mortals.

"High‑end ingredients often only need the simplest cooking methods…"

Shen Xingman was leisurely browsing a small video site, noticed the volume was too high, and quickly turned it down a bit.

Umm. A bit awkward.

"...... ***" Qiao Yun, unable to bear it any longer, said, "Bao, you're finished, you know?? You've offended people you shouldn't have!"

"We can give up the endorsement, but we can't offend the Jiang family!!" Qiao Yun said anxiously, "What you're doing hits Jiang Xiaoyan's heart. She can't wait to get rid of you, this big hassle."

Shen Xingman thought for a moment, then, unusually relaxed, said: "So what do you plan to do."

"Can you show a bit of panic? Otherwise this makes me look especially…" Qiao Yun wore a plaintive expression.

"Uh…" This request is a bit demanding.

"If I'm not mistaken, the Jiang side will probably start with resources; over at Star Frost we just signed a contract, so we don't need to fear, in half a month we can join the team," Qiao Yun analyzed, "But the road ahead won't be that smooth; any resources we can touch, Jiang Xiaoyan might come in and meddle."

She paused, then asked again: "Manman, think carefully—do you have any black material before or after your debut?"

"Probably not," Shen Xingman murmured, then raised an eyebrow and retorted, "Except… marriage?"

"..." Qiao Yun was stunned, "If this gets exposed, that would be too much!"

Romance can affect the fan experience; Shen Xingman is a top idol with many male fans. Though they say they just want the sister to be happy, in reality, if you dare to have a relationship, the points will drop as fast as a rocket.

Moreover, this isn't dating! It's marriage!

That's even more explosive than any scandal.

"Don't worry, he wouldn't dare to leak it," Shen Xingman said calmly.

"What does that mean?"

"My husband is awesome." Shen Xingman suddenly looked up, a bit proud.

Qiao Yun, half‑asleep, felt something was off, "Didn't you say he was a country bumpkin?"

Shen Xingman choked, instantly speechless.

"Manman, are you really planning to hide this from me for a lifetime?" Qiao Yun asked with narrowed eyes.

Shen Xingman let out a light hiss, considered, then said: "Anyway, now he truly isn't suitable to be in front of you."

"Umm… he can't be a spy, right?" Qiao Yun actually guessed.

But this idea is far‑fetched…

Shen Xingman was a bit hesitant to compliment.

"He's a businessman, just making a little 'small' money."

"Oh, I see, a businessman's hobby is daily corpse‑faking, right?"

"Is he still faking tonight?"

Shen Xingman stared blankly and shook her head.

"If he's not faking, then we'll go back to the apartment."

Returning to the apartment, Qiao Yun told Miao Miao what had happened today; as expected, this little crazy cat gave the person's ancestors eighteen generations a thorough greeting.

I've never seen such a shameless person in my life! She's clearly trying to gamble away our Manman's fashion career to death!

It's a shame her family's Manman was born with such a beautiful face.

"Miao classmate, I've noticed you've gotten chubbier lately." Shen Xingman's focus is always different from everyone else's.

The righteous and indignant Miao Miao: "???"

"I, I'm not fat! I'm cute to the point of swelling—do you understand?" Miao Miao puffed out her cheeks, feeling terribly wronged.

Shen Xingman had wrapped filming half a month ago, and these past few days she hasn't taken her out; good grief, Miao classmate has been eating and sleeping at home, really looking somewhat… plump.

Shen Xingman teased her: "Look, those runaway double chins seem to be coming back."

Qiao Yun laughed hahaha: "Not only does she have double chins, she also has double eyelids."

"???"

Miao Miao touched her face, pursed her lips, and protested indignantly: "Can't you stop teasing me as soon as you get back?! Please, I have dignity too, okay?"

Shen Xingman: "……" Ah, right, right, right.

Qiao Yun: "……" Ah, right, right, right.

"Ding-dong—" the doorbell rang.

Miao Miao sat back on the sofa, sulking, arms crossed: "You guys go open the door!"