Chapter 27: Losing Value

Shen Xingman had already left the banquet with Qiao Yun at this point.

In the restroom, Shen Xingman washed her hands while Qiao Yun analyzed today's supernatural incident beside her, saying, "That beauty is already married—wow, I never expected that."

"He's still as handsome as ever—five years later, not a change, aloof and abstinent, practically the man of my dreams."

"But he's also way too much of a scumbag!"

"One moment he's all loving, the next he's shouting and condemning—'He still likes married women; why doesn't he like married men? He's already married yet still flirts everywhere, truly a player.'"

"……"

As expected, women are fickle—before they begged to meet someone day and night, but after meeting they turn from pink to black, even ditching and stepping on them, showing no remorse at all.

Sigh.

Good thing Miaomiao isn't here; otherwise Shen Xingman's head would really explode.

"Baby, let me ask you something—who's more formidable, your husband or that god Mr. Mu?" Qiao Yun blurted out.

Shen Xingman murmured, "Hmm... which aspect do you mean?"

"!"

Qiao Yun hurriedly put down her phone: "You think I'm referring to an aspect? Of course I mean influence."

To be frank, Qiao Yun's connections are indeed good, but she hardly knows anything about the mysterious bigwigs in high society.

Take Mu Zhihan, for example.

He's truly formidable, yet also truly low-key!

"My husband definitely isn't as formidable as him."

Mu Zhihan is actually quite easy to talk to at home, except in bed—there's nothing to discuss there.

"Why don't you go back and tell that Mr. Gou what happened tonight, so he doesn't misunderstand, and also so Mr. Mu doesn't get any ideas about you."

Shen Xingman: "……" Is it possible he already knows?

The Mu family is wealthy, absurdly so; the former Mu patriarch once controlled Yun City single-handedly, and now Mu Zhihan has inherited his position, his power certainly not inferior.

Qiao Yun worries he'll use his power and status to force Mengmeng into doing things she doesn't want; in such elite circles, a woman generally shouldn't step in lightly—if you guess right, it's a comedy; if wrong, a tragedy.

"Being with my husband is definitely better than being with other men." Qiao Yun sighed.

"Besides, isn't Mr. Mu already married? Even if we wanted to get close to him, we wouldn't have to become a mistress, would we?"

"If his wife found out, she'd show you off on the spot."

"What Qiao Qiao said is all right," Shen Xingman nodded, "but I still don't want to go back."

"Whatever you want." Qiao Yun couldn't decide on this matter.

"……"

After leaving the restroom, Shen Xingman and Qiao Yun planned to take the elevator downstairs, but her luck was bad—she ran into Lin Wan again, sweet (he) honey (mom).

She must have come a thousand miles to seek revenge.

"Shen Xingman, are you a shrew?" Lin Wan approached, questioning, her anger blazing.

Shen Xingman, however, kept a straight face: "Are you an idiot? How do you show up everywhere."

"You splashed red wine on me in public—has your character been eaten by a dog?" Lin Wan, her eyes and brows twitching with rage, continued, "And you did it in front of so many people, intentionally letting me lose face!"

"Just react to it." Shen Xingman said lightly, her emotions hardly changing, her beautiful eyes full of weariness.

Her mind was in a mess; she wanted to go home and sleep early, with no time to waste arguing with her.

But this person clearly wanted to pick a fight, making it impossible for her to leave easily: "You're in such a hurry to leave—are you afraid the investor dad will be unhappy if he's kept waiting too long?"

The words were harsh, but Shen Xingman wasn't angry; instead, Qiao Yun was led around by the nose, saying, "Lin Wan, how are you any different from Jiang Xiaoyan?"

Oh no, Jiang Xiaoyan isn't as domineering as Lin Wan—she at least knows how to put on a pitiful, delicate act, whereas Lin Wan just starts tearing into people without a word, more like an uncultured market shrew.

No wonder celebrities craft their personas; otherwise someone like Lin Wan would surely be banned sooner or later.

"Come to think of it, when I mention Jiang Xiaoyan, I recall she snatched your endorsement, right?" Lin Wan gloated, "I was wondering what wind blew the big star Shen here—turns out it was purely for resources."

"Sigh," she sighed hypocritically, "There's nothing to be done—who let Jiang Xiaoyan have a doting dad?"

In other words, a female star like you, Shen Xingman, with no background, isn't worthy of being friends with us.

"Can you shut your stinky mouth?" Shen Xingman grew annoyed.

"You can't stand hearing that?" Lin Wan sneered.

"……"

"Let me tell you, Shen Xingman," her eyes suddenly darkened, her tone vicious, "If you keep misbehaving and causing trouble, I'll make you like Shen Ran—you'll never be able to be a star in this lifetime."

Shen Ran?

Qiao Yun froze—never be able to be a star in this lifetime?

What does that mean? Those words were terrifying; she almost couldn't react.

Shen Xingman's gaze deepened, she asked bewilderedly, "What did you do to her?"

"She's been shelved." Lin Wan said bluntly, her tone light.

So casually that Shen Xingman thought it was just a joke.

"Impossible," Qiao Yun tried to counter, "Her company relies on her to make money—how could she be shelved?"

"How could it not be possible?!" Lin Wan's attitude was firmer than her words, "She offended someone—shouldn't she be banned?"

Banned?

Shen Xingman didn't even need to guess: "It was you."

Lin Wan lifted her chin to look at her, taking that as an answer, her brows dancing with delight.

"You really..." Shen Xingman's dormant emotions were stirred.

"How... how did you become so cheap?"

For the first time, because of someone else's matter, she felt choked up and speechless.

"If you think otherwise, why didn't she take the role in Xing Shuang? What a great opportunity—why wouldn't she cherish it?" Lin Wan happily watched Shen Xingman's flustered state, almost shouting with excitement, "It's all because of you! You insisted on meddling like a dog catching a mouse, and now it's fine—she's gone, she's finished; from now on in the entertainment industry, she'll be untraceable."

"Imagine this—without her celebrity halo, what will her days be like from now on? Washing dishes? Carrying plates? Or becoming a nightclub hostess?"

"Including you, too," Lin Wan stepped closer, her venomous gaze locking directly onto her pupils, "If you provoke me again, I can't guarantee what I'll do to you."

Upon hearing that, Shen Xingman took a deep breath, adjusted her mindset: "Okay."

"Let's see whether you ruin me first, or I shred your mouth first."

—!

"Qiao Qiao." As she was about to get on the nanny van, Shen Xingman stopped.

Actually, Qiao Yun knew what she wanted to say: "Oh dear, if you want to go back, I can't stop you."

Shen Xingman: "……"

Well, my dear Miss Qiao, what you just said is indeed a bit blunt.

"Fine," Shen Xingman didn't want to haggle further, only adding, "Don't rush to tell Miaomiao about tonight's matter."

Got it, hurry back.