Chapter 128: A New Recording Begins

Sang Yijia had very little to pack—just the items she had acquired since her arrival, including her laptop, desk, chair, light clay, and various other small trinkets.

Mo Yani watched as these things were collected, her lips twitching, though she said nothing. The moving company made quick work of it, clearing the space in no time.

Her new residence was at the top of Lanshui Yuan, a two-story duplex with a massive terrace. Sang Qibo had purchased the entire top floor, spanning a total area of over five hundred square meters. Sang Yijia could not quite remember the exact size, only that it felt incredibly vast and spacious.

Upon learning that the entire floor belonged to her, Mo Yani felt a strong urge to ask if she was in need of a housekeeper, though she managed to suppress the question several times. Sang Yijia had visited before and seen the images sent by the designer; the renovation had been completed through round-the-clock work. Overall, it was perfect—perhaps just a bit too large.

"Jiajia, aren't you afraid living here all by yourself?" Mo Yani looked at the nearly one-hundred-square-meter living room and then at the nearby floor-to-ceiling windows. The glass was entirely transparent, offering a sweeping view of the nearby nightscape. It was fine to glance at from a distance, but Mo Yani worried her legs would go weak if she stood too close. It was simply too high up.

"Not at all." Sang Yijia shook her head, directing the movers to place her computer, desk, and chair in the study.

Curious, Mo Yani followed her to take a look. It was a genuine study, over fifty square meters in size, with several rows of bookshelves arranged neatly. In the center sat the computer desk and chair.

"This is wonderful." For anyone who loves to read, who hasn't dreamed of owning a study like this? When Mo Yani was a student, she had hoped to become a bookstore clerk, but reality had made her an agent—a broke agent at that. A pang of bitterness struck her heart.

"This is only part of it." Sang Yijia led Mo Yani to another room. Sang Qibo had originally suggested adding more walk-in closets, but Sang Yijia had refused, opting to convert all those spaces into studies—dedicated rooms for her books.

Mo Yani looked at the organized shelves and paused. "Are you planning to collect them one by one?"

"Yes." It was Sang Yijia’s greatest wish to buy all the books she loved, store them, and flip through them whenever she was free. Even just looking at the shelves filled with books provided a unique sense of healing.

"There is a gym over here. Do you want to take a look?" Sang Yijia asked.

Mo Yani shook her head repeatedly. "No, no need." She was worried that seeing more would only make her feel even more miserable and tempt her to quit her job to become Sang Yijia’s housekeeper.

"Alright then." Sang Yijia was quite happy. She finally had a home of her own. Even if it might only be for a short time, her heart couldn't help but leap with joy.

"Aside from the gym, there is also a media room and a karaoke room," Sang Yijia said, pointing in one direction. "And the rooms across the way are the guest areas." She had arranged these to make it convenient for her parents and brothers to stay over.

"Mm-hmm," Mo Yani replied, not daring to look further.

Then, a thought occurred to her. "I actually thought you would buy a place over at Calisi." After all, it was very close to the company.

"I did, but it's still under renovation," Sang Yijia answered calmly. "My third brother bought the whole place. But the original decor here matched my aesthetic, so I didn't tear it down; I just made some minor adjustments. Plus, I really like the landscaping at Lanshui Yuan, so I moved here instead."

"Got it." Mo Yani chose to keep her mouth shut.

***

The first day of the variety show filming involved the production crew visiting the guest's home to get a glimpse of their living environment, effectively introducing the viewers to the guest's lifestyle.

Mo Yani originally had no intention of staying, but after seeing Sang Yijia’s luxurious home, she reluctantly stayed for the night. She enjoyed over an hour of bath massage and wished she could even sleep in the bathroom. When Sang Yijia found out, she was left both amused and exasperated, suggesting Mo Yani try out the brand-new full-body massage chair.

Mo Yani spent the entire night roaming the mansion, becoming increasingly envious of Sang Yijia’s life. She even considered encouraging Sang Yijia to stop working and just go home to live the life of a "salted fish" (a couch potato). Unfortunately, her suggestion was rejected. Because of this, Mo Yani couldn't sleep all night—perhaps the mattress was simply too soft for a working-class person like her.

Consequently, when the production crew arrived, Mo Yani opened the door with dark circles under her eyes.

"Good morning." Mo Yani let out a yawn, her short hair a mess. Without even looking, she turned around and let the crew in. "Jiajia is in the gym, you can go straight over there." She yawned again. She had intended to wake up early, but she had fallen asleep just as the sky was beginning to brighten! Fortunately, this was a recording and not a live stream, or her reputation would have been ruined.

The crew was the same group from last time. The junior director looked at the massive living room and the decor, unable to help but swallow hard. The cameraman had seen many luxury homes, but he still couldn't help but feel a sense of longing.

Taking advantage of the moment the crew was distracted, Mo Yani smoothed out her hair. "The gym is this way."

"Right, right." The director regained his focus, looking at the layout as he walked. "How many square meters is this place?"

"Over five hundred, I think," Mo Yani replied, then added, "It was a gift from Jiajia's third brother."

The director felt a surge of envy; he wished he had a brother like that too.

They reached the gym. Mo Yani knocked on the door. "Jiajia, the production crew is here." As she spoke, she pushed the door open.

Sang Yijia happened to be doing sit-ups, and the cameraman immediately focused the lens on her.

Having been exercising for a long time, Sang Yijia’s sportswear was soaked, though it wasn't very noticeable because it was black. Under the lens, her flat stomach was exposed. The original owner hadn't exercised much previously, so her "vest line" (toned abs) had already faded. Sang Yijia didn't think much of it, but Mo Yani felt a sense of regret—if only it had been caught on camera, the audience would surely have been envious!

"Has Jiajia been exercising consistently?" the director asked. Artists usually maintained an "idol image," and it wasn't uncommon for them to "package" themselves before the crew arrived.

"No," Sang Yijia answered truthfully. "I only started exercising recently."

"What was the reason that made you start?" This answer genuinely puzzled the director, prompting him to follow up.

Sang Yijia paused, as if reflecting. "I suppose I just want to live a little longer."

"???" Mo Yani blinked and gave a subtle, meaningful cough. The cameraman’s attention was diverted to her.

"Jiajia is just joking, don't take it too seriously," Mo Yani said with a smile. "The reason for exercising is actually quite simple. We took on a public welfare endorsement a while ago, and Jiajia was deeply inspired after seeing the project. That's why she’s been sticking to her workouts since we returned."

Sang Yijia glanced over but did not contradict her.

Mo Yani breathed a quiet sigh of relief. "Jiajia, is your workout time up?"

"Yes, just now." Sang Yijia had woken up at six in the morning for a fasted workout, and it was now seven-thirty. That was enough.