Chapter 123: A Choice Between Two

The living room returned to silence.

Sang Zheng turned his head to glance at Sang Yijia, who was watching the TV drama intently. Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and a smile curved his lips. He then joined her in watching the show.

Sang’s mother emerged from the kitchen and saw the scene before her. It reminded her of more than ten years ago when father and daughter would sit in the living room watching TV, waiting for lunch to begin.

She smiled softly. “Sang Zheng, come over and help out.”

“Alright, I’m coming.” Sang Zheng obeyed his wife’s words, setting down the remote and rising. “Yijia, watch whatever you want.”

“Okay, Dad. You go help Mom.” Sang Yijia’s gaze never left the screen; her dark, shining eyes remained fixed on the television.

Sang Zheng recalled how, over a decade ago, she had given similar distracted replies.

At first, Sang Yijia found the Romance of the Three Kingdoms uninteresting, but as she watched, she became engrossed.

Sang Zheng went to help in the kitchen, barely noticed by her. When she came back to her senses, no one was beside her, but on the coffee table lay a plate of freshly cut fruit salad, generously drizzled with dressing.

The sweet and tangy aroma made Sang Yijia lick her lips. She picked up the bowl and, with a silver fork in hand, ate while continuing to watch.

From the kitchen, Sang’s mother observed and chuckled, “Yijia seems never to have grown up.”

“Hasn’t the daughter already said?” Sang Zheng, after washing the greens and pouring out the water, began fresh rinsing. “In our home, she will always be the little princess.”

Sang’s mother wanted to ask Sang Zheng about his feelings toward Lu Wenchuan, but recalling how the older man would grow jealous and angry whenever Lu Wenchuan was mentioned, she decided against it.

While the couple busied themselves in the kitchen, the servants found no tasks and wisely left the living room, respecting the intimate family atmosphere.

Sang Yijia watched the TV for a while longer. Her phone, casually placed on the coffee table, vibrated, and a message notification popped up.

It was a WeChat message from Lu Wenchuan.

She lowered her gaze, glanced at the screen, and opened it.

“Are you home?”

Sang Yijia quickly typed a reply and sent it. Shortly after, Lu Wenchuan sent another message.

“The production team just called me. Did you get the notice?”

Frowning at the message, Sang Yijia exited WeChat and checked her call log—no missed calls.

“No,” she replied.

Seeing her lukewarm response, Lu Wenchuan’s lips pressed tightly together.

Standing by his desk, the secretary dared not breathe.

After a moment, noticing Lu Wenchuan was still tense, the secretary’s hands trembled as he held the documents. “Mr. Lu.”

“Put it down.” Lu Wenchuan lifted his eyelids to glance at him. “Later, check with the dating show team about when recordings can resume, then arrange the schedule.”

“Yes.” The secretary wanted so badly to tell Lu Wenchuan there were countless pressing matters in the company and that the president shouldn’t be going on variety shows but should stay in the office working diligently. Yet, as Lu Wenchuan’s subordinate, he had no right to dictate his boss’s actions.

“Also, prepare a meeting gift,” Lu Wenchuan recalled that last time he came empty-handed, but now that Sang Yijia had regained her memory, a gift was necessary.

“Keep it simple and ordinary,” he instructed.

“Understood.” The secretary made notes meticulously.

“Mr. Lu, here is a contract that requires your signature.” Seizing the chance to bring up another matter, the secretary hurried through, “President Qi requested a week off. Should I bring the contract from Huihong for your review?”

“Tell Qi Bin he has one day. If he can’t return, then he never needs to come back.” Lu Wenchuan signed and handed back the documents. “If he asks about anything else, just say that a younger sister will marry eventually.”

“Choosing a man who knows her well isn’t bad.”

The secretary neither wanted to know nor discuss this, but had no choice.

Lu Wenchuan glanced at his phone. Sang Yijia hadn’t replied further, and he had nothing more to say. After a moment’s thought, his long fingers tapped the screen.

“Rest well. See you at the next show.”

Sang Yijia read his message, tilted her head thoughtfully. Both Yan Ningsi and her family believed Lu Wenchuan was interested in her, but she did not feel that way. She worried she was overthinking.

Now, it seemed Lu Wenchuan was trying to make conversation, but somehow not really.

She couldn’t figure it out. Pressing her lips, she shook her head repeatedly and put down her phone.

“Since it’s come to this, just accept it.”

“Let everything take its natural course.”

The drama continued. After two pieces of fruit, Sang Yijia decided to wait for the meal and stopped eating.

—

The official announcement for the film "Asking the Immortal" had been released, tagging the lead actors Shen Jin and Lan Qing.

Once the post went live, the entire internet erupted in commotion.

“Can Shen Jin and Lan Qing continue working in the entertainment industry?”

“Qingqing has already explained—it wasn’t her last night.”

“How many people haven’t checked the clarification notice?”

“It’s been said repeatedly—it’s not Qingqing.”

Although Lan Qing’s impersonation of the eldest Miss Lan had lost her some fans, a large portion of her devoted followers remained.

After Jian Hong posted the clarification, some fans pooled money to buy trending spots. While it didn’t reach the top three, it was certainly within the top ten.

“Your fans are actually somewhat useful,” Jian Hong said, lips curling as she scanned the trending topics and comments, thinking how foolish some fans could be—believing everything others said.

Lan Qing still had over a million followers on Weibo, which eased her worries considerably; the incident’s impact wasn’t severe.

“Sister Hong, the movie is confirmed, but what about the show?” Lan Qing had signed the contract. The production had paused the show after the incident, but could she return now?

If not, it would have some effect on her.

Jian Hong hadn’t expected Lan Qing to still be thinking about that. She glanced over and said, “Not clear for now.”

“But there’s another drama looking to work with you,” Jian Hong shifted the topic. “The male lead hasn’t been finalized yet, but President Huang said you’re the female lead. If not, they won’t invest.”

Lan Qing was momentarily stunned—it was the first time she realized having a financial backer wasn’t a bad thing. At least the producer and director would have to consider her feelings.

Seeing Lan Qing’s expression change, Jian Hong raised the corner of her mouth. “Now you see the benefits?”

“You didn’t like the boss I introduced before and insisted on finding one yourself.” Jian Hong had come to see Shen Jin as unreliable.

“If you go back on that dating show again, I’ll tell the producers to separate you and Shen Jin.”

“Look at Lu Wenchuan and Bian He. Which one do you think is better?” Jian Hong didn’t yet know Lu Wenchuan’s true identity and had no time to investigate, so she thought of him as just an ordinary programmer at Shengchuang Technology. No matter how rich, there were limits.

Lan Qing was taken aback. Lu Wenchuan and Bian He?

“I’ll think about it carefully.”

The editor just notified me that we've advanced~~~ There will be extra updates from Monday to Tuesday next week~~~~ヽ(°▽°)ノ

(End of chapter)