Chapter 37: Jealousy, Contracts, and the Shen Xingman Effect

……

【Sorry everyone, something happened at my home, I can't continue today, sorry. I'm not in a good state, can't write, sorry. You all hold off for a few days, I'll adjust my state, it'll get better, sorry.】

Mo Jiu: "Gu, are you trying to make a move on Miss Shen?"

Gu Qiuyan shakes his head: "I wouldn't dare touch Mr. Mu's little lover."

He says intriguingly: "But the little girl next to her is quite cute."

"……" Little lover? Little lover? Little lover?

Ah, right, right, right, the wife is my husband's little lover.

Mo Jiu tsk tsk helplessly: "Yan, you're really such a scumbag."

If he remembers correctly, among the many girls here, two are his ex‑girlfriends.

But he surely doesn't remember.

Tsk tsk, scummy beyond cure, the topmost deep affection of the rich families, truly deserved.

"Can you stop calling me Yan?" Gu Qiuyan heard a shiver of goosebumps.

Mo Jiu: "Alright, Yan."

Gu Qiuyan: "???"

At this moment, Jiang Xiaoyan was staring at Gu Qiuyan without blinking.

He wore a gray suit, sat very upright, his facial features were sharply defined, high nose bridge, thick eyebrows, thin lips, light eyes, a faint glint that carried a hint of allure.

—He's so handsome, so rich, the most striking aristocratic young master Jiang Xiaoyan has ever seen, without equal.

That deadly attraction made her want to walk up to him and greet him immediately!

But the atmosphere on the scene was too harmonious, she couldn't find any opening.

"Hey, look at that beautiful girl, that's Shen Xingman, a super super big star."

"Indeed, if that face were used for livestreaming, they'd earn tens of millions a month."

"Come on, her figure is also amazing, not just tens of millions?!"

"……"

Jiang Xiaoyan felt increasingly uneasy; unconsciously, a poisonous snake named "Jealousy" was devouring her nerves.

If, she says if.

If Shen Xingman didn't have that face, she definitely wouldn't become famous; with her personality and background, even being a third‑tier star would be fine.

Moreover, she doesn't think she's lost—at least now, her resources in the fashion world are far better than Shen Xingman's.

Shen Xingman is still diligently picking dishes for Miaomiao, and hasn't replied to a WeChat message from an hour ago.

【Baby, the matter is already settled, when will you come back?】

Shen Xingman stared at the screen for a while, then replied: 【Soon, soon】

Miaomiao squinted and said, "Qiao Qiao seems to miss us a lot."

"Yeah, we need a quick resolution."

Shen Xingman put away her phone, waited until most people left, then glanced at Mo Jiu.

This guy might truly have "Shen Xingman allergy"; as soon as he sees Shen Xingman staring at him, he quickly bows respectfully, not daring to say a word.

Timid.

"Miss Shen, let's discuss our cooperation."

Gu Qiuyan appears to be talking to Shen Xingman, but actually keeps a sidelong glance at Miaomiao.

The white steam from the food rose over the table, giving the girl's milky skin a beautiful pink flush, adding a hazy beauty, like a little fairy in a wonderland—cute, soft, sweet—making one want to cradle her in the palm and cherish her.

When others speak, she's eating; when others eat, she's still eating.

Her digestive system is quite impressive.

"Okay."

Shen Xingman replied, then smoothly snatched the fork from Miaomiao's hand, whispering: "Stop eating, babe, watch how your sister handles the luxury stuff."

"……" Shen Xingman, are you a plain girl???

Gu Qiuyan says softly: "As for the contract, we already discussed most of it with Ms. Qiao this afternoon; if there are no objections, we can sign now."

Shen Xingman: "Sure."

Jiang Xiaoyan listened nearby, quietly listening; in a place unseen by others, her star‑purple nail polish seemed to embed into her flesh, and the word "signing" landing behind her ear made her eyes turn jealous red, her heart burning.

"Any additional terms?" Gu Qiuyan glanced sneakily at Miaomiao.

Shen Xingman shook her head: "No."

"……"

Jiang Xiaoyan witnessed the entire signing process; she felt like a clown standing in a corner, embarrassed and ashamed.

The Yanying endorsement! What a dazzling, brilliant fashion resource!

Countless international stars would break their heads trying to get it, but for Shen Xingman it's just a meal's worth of time.

Too smooth, too unbelievable, truly jaw‑dropping.

Jiang Xiaoyan had ample reason to suspect that she must have cozied up with Yun City's Gu family money god.

After all, rumors say the chance of a domestic entertainment star getting the Yanying endorsement is like turning a sausage back into pork—a probability almost zero.

The more she thought, the angrier she became, the more upset she felt.

She couldn't stand the feeling of being ignored; she turned pale and green with anger.

"Gu Zong,?"

"……"

Hmm, no one paid her any attention.

Then the next moment, the agent sent her a message: "You won't get the second female lead of Star Frost."

"Shen Ran has broken the contract with Tianyi!"

"I heard Qiao Yun paid the penalty for her."

Jiang Xiaoyan froze, almost dropping her phone in fright; she bit her lower lip hard, her face flushing as if it were about to explode.

The word "termination" already lodged in her throat, and then the other side mentioned Qiao Yun; in an instant she felt her breathing stutter, her tongue dry and stiff.

Why Qiao Yun again? She just won't go away?!

And that bitch Shen Xingman, not only stole her spotlight tonight but also meddled in Star Frost's casting; an ugly duckling, a country bumpkin, with little money at home, yet she commits plenty of sins abroad.

Jiang Xiaoyan needed to vent, so she excused herself to the restroom.

"Xiaoyan, your complexion looks off," someone asked, "Did something happen?"

Jiang Xiaoyan froze, her expression stiffening into a forced smile: "No."

Shen Xingman glanced at her slowly, her gaze steady, saying nothing.

"Miaomiao, wait for me a moment." She said, then left her seat.

Miaomiao blinked: "I'll wait for you to come back."

"Hmm."

In the restroom, Jiang Xiaoyan touched up her makeup before the mirror, trying to stay calm, but the disgusting things kept replaying in her mind like a revolving lantern, each scene driving her to a thunderous rage; finally, when the anger peaked, she slammed her lipstick onto the floor, feeling dizzy and hot‑headed.

What a great opportunity!

The second female lead of Star Frost would be such a wonderful chance for her!!

It's a huge IP, hotter than Summer, and if Shen Xingman teams up with Pei Jun, netizens will surely denounce them; her playing the second female lead would be a guaranteed profit, gaining popularity through the "Jin Huan" role and also capturing the hype ripped from CP fans, yielding both reputation and traffic!

She could even kick Chen Cheng's Summer aside for this role, but fate didn't favor her; she messed up.

Shen Xingman, that bitch! She'll get her comeuppance sooner or later!

【Sorry everyone, something happened at home, I can't continue today, sorry. I'm not in a good state, can't write, sorry. Please wait a few days, I'll adjust my condition and get better, sorry.】

Mo Jiu: "Gu, are you trying to make a move on Miss Shen?"

Gu Qiuyan shook his head: "I wouldn't dare touch Mr. Mu's little lover."

He said intriguingly: "But the little girl next to her is quite cute."

"..." Little lover? Little lover? Little lover?

Ah, right, right, the wife is my husband's little lover.

Mo Jiu clicked his tongue helplessly: "Yan, you're really so trash."

If he remembers correctly, among the many girls here, two are his ex‑girlfriends.

But he surely doesn't remember.

Click, utterly beyond redemption, the richest family's most devoted, truly deserving.

"Could you stop calling me Yan?" Gu Qiuyan shivered all over.

Mo Jiu: "Alright, Yan."

Gu Qiuyan: "???"

At that moment, Jiang Xiaoyan stared at Gu Qiuyan without blinking.

He wore a gray suit, sat upright, his facial features sharp and defined, high nose bridge, thick eyebrows, thin lips, light eyes, a faint glint that carried a hint of allure.

—He's handsome, wealthy, the most striking aristocratic young master Jiang Xiaoyan has ever seen, without equal.

That deadly attraction made her want to rush forward and greet him immediately!

But the atmosphere on stage was too harmonious; she couldn't find any opening.

"Hey, look at that beautiful girl, that's Shen Xingman, a super duper big star."

"Indeed, if that face were used for livestreaming, they'd earn tens of millions a month."

"Come on, her figure is also amazing, far beyond ten million?!"

"..."

Jiang Xiaoyan felt increasingly uneasy; unknowingly, a poisonous snake called "Jealousy" was devouring her nerves.

If—she's just saying if.

Shen Xingman doesn't have that face; she wouldn't become that famous. With her personality and background, even a third‑tier status would be decent.

Moreover, she doesn't think she's lost—at least now, her resources in the fashion world far surpass Shen Xingman's.

Shen Xingman is still diligently serving Miaomiao dishes; the WeChat message from an hour ago still hasn't been replied to.

【Baby, everything's taken care of, when will you return?】

Shen Xingman stared at the screen for a while, then replied: "Quick, quick."

Miaomiao squinted together and said, "Qiao Qiao seems to miss us a lot."

"Yeah, we need to settle this quickly."

Shen Xingman put away her phone, watched as people left, then glanced at Mo Jiu.

That guy might truly have "Shen Xingman allergy"; as soon as he sees Shen Xingman staring, he quickly bows respectfully, daring not utter a word.

Timid.

"Miss Shen, let's discuss our cooperation."

Gu Qiuyan appeared to be speaking with Shen Xingman, but his peripheral gaze was on Miaomiao.

The white steam from the food rose over the table, giving the girl's milky skin a lovely pink flush, adding a hazy beauty like a little fairy in a wonderland, cute and sweet, making people unable to resist holding her in the palm of their hand, cherishing and protecting her.

When others speak, she's eating; when others eat, she's still eating.

Her digestive system is quite impressive.

"Okay."

Shen Xingman answered with a sound, then snatched the fork from Miaomiao's hand, quietly saying "baa": "Don't eat it, babe, let's see how your sister handles high‑end luxury."

……Manman, are you a high‑end pretentious girl???

Gu Qiuyan said softly, "As for the contract, we have already discussed most of it with Ms. Qiao this afternoon. If there are no objections, we can sign now."

Shen Xingman: "Alright."

Jiang Xiaoyan listened nearby, quietly listening. In a place unseen by others, her star‑purple nail had embedded into the flesh, and especially the words "sign the contract" landing in her ears made her eyes turn jealous red, burning her heart.

Gu Qiuyan asked, "Any additional terms?" He sneaked a glance at Miaomiao.

Shen Xingman shook her head, "None."

……

Jiang Xiaoyan witnessed the entire signing process; she felt like a clown standing in a corner, embarrassed and ashamed.

The Yuanjing endorsement! What a dazzling, brilliant fashion resource!

Something that countless international stars would break their heads trying to obtain, but for Shen Xingman it's just a meal‑time matter.

Too smooth, too unbelievable, too jaw‑dropping.

Jiang Xiaoyan had ample reason to suspect that she must have cozied up with the Gu‑family wealth god of Yun City.

After all, there's a rumor in the circle that an interior‑entertainment star getting a Yuanjing endorsement is as likely as turning a sausage back into pork—practically zero.

The more she thought, the angrier she became, the more upset she felt.

She could no longer stand this feeling of being ignored; she was so angry her complexion turned green then white.

"Gu Zong,?"

……

Hmm, no one answered her.

Then the next moment, her manager sent a message: "【You can't get the second female lead of Xing Shuang.】"

【Shen Ran has terminated the contract with Heaven's Will!】

【I heard Qiao Yun paid the penalty for her.】

Jiang Xiaoyan froze, almost dropping her phone in fright; she bit her lower lip hard, her face flushed explosively red.

The word "terminate" had already lodged in her lungs, and when the other side mentioned Qiao Yun, she instantly felt short of breath, her tongue root drying out.

Why Qiao Yun again? Is she that lingering?!

And Shen Xingman, that scoundrel, not only stole her spotlight tonight but also meddled in Xing Shuang's casting; an ugly duckling, a country bumpkin, with little money at home, yet commits plenty of despicable acts outside.

Jiang Xiaoyan needed to vent, so she used the excuse of going to the restroom.

"Xiaoyan, your complexion looks off," someone asked, "Did something happen?"

Jiang Xiaoyan halted, her expression stiff, a forced smile: "No."

Shen Xingman leisurely glanced at her, eyes steady, saying nothing.

"Miaomiao, wait for me," she said, then left her seat.

Miaomiao blinked, "I'll wait for you to come back."

Mm.

In the restroom, Jiang Xiaoyan touched up her makeup in the mirror, trying to stay calm, but those disgusting things replayed in her mind like a revolving lantern, scene after scene driving her to a thunderous rage; finally, when the anger peaked, she slammed her lipstick onto the floor, feeling dizzy with fury.

What a great opportunity!

The second female lead of Xing Shuang is such a wonderful chance for her!!

This is a big IP, hotter than 'Summer', and if Shen Xingman collaborates with Pei Jun, they'll surely be condemned by netizens, but her playing the second female lead guarantees profit: she can gain popularity through the role 'Jin Huan', and also capture the hype generated by CP fans, achieving both reputation and traffic.

She could even kick Chen Cheng's 'Summer' aside for this role, but fate and will didn't align; she misstepped.

Shen Xingman, that scoundrel! She will eventually get her comeuppance!