Chapter 5: Official Announcement

The room was silent.

Even Lin Yun on the other end seemed to sense something was wrong. “Keke? Say something? Is Yan Yunzhi in bed with you or what?”

Ning Ke: “…”

She wanted to sew Lin Yun’s reckless mouth shut.

Yan Yunzhi: “Sorry, I’m right here. I did hear your conversation.”

Lin Yun: “Ah…”

What had she just said?!

She went silent, her embarrassment practically seeping through the screen.

Ning Ke took a deep breath and pretended nothing had happened. “Stop joking around.”

Yan Yunzhi asked, “Little Lin, what were you two discussing?”

Lin Yun: “Sister Azhi, let Keke explain. I’ll hang up now.”

The Yan and Lin families had ties going back, so Lin Yun addressed her as “Sister Azhi” naturally.

After the call ended, Ning Ke said awkwardly, “She’s babbling nonsense. Ignore her. It’s nothing.”

Yan Yunzhi didn’t leave. “What did you want to ask me?”

Ning Ke paused. “Lin Yun is directing a show and wanted to know if you’d be a guest. I told her you don’t have time. Never mind.”

“But,” Yan Yunzhi smiled deeply, “I do have time. I can do it.”

Ning Ke: “You can?”

Yan Yunzhi nodded. “The tour’s over. I’m home with nothing to do. Besides, you gave me a sweater today. Isn’t it only right that I return the favor?”

Ning Ke pressed her lips together.

Fine. That was such a Yan Yunzhi reason.

If someone gave her one ounce of kindness, she’d repay three—never owing anyone a cent, always drawing polite, distant lines.

Since she’d agreed, Ning Ke had nothing more to say. “Okay. I’ll tell Lin Yun tomorrow.”

Yan Yunzhi hummed in acknowledgment. At the door, she paused and turned back. “Get some rest. Your face mask is drying. Remember to wash it off.”

Ning Ke said “Oh” dismissively.

The moment Yan Yunzhi closed the door, Ning Ke lunged to the mirror. She saw her face, pale beneath the mask, and froze.

What kind of female ghost was this?!

And she called this “gorgeous face, hot body”?

How could she let Yan Yunzhi see her looking like this?!

Ahh!

—

The next day, Ning Ke had a schedule.

An Yu picked her up to film a public service VCR sending New Year wishes to children in the mountains.

On the way, Ning Ke texted Lin Yun: “Yan Yunzhi agreed to the show.”

Lin Yun replied instantly: “Oh my god! Ning Keke! You’re my goddess! I’ll give myself to you!”

Ning Ke: “Get lost.”

Lin Yun: “You’re so mean. I’m heartbroken QAQ.”

Ning Ke: “Send the contract to my house. I’m busy today. Contact her yourself.”

Lin Yun: “Yes yes yes! Perfect timing, the promo team is hounding me for progress.”

Matter handled, Ning Ke stopped thinking about it.

When they reached the shoot location, Ning Ke found a crowd of celebrities standing outside as she got out of the car. She spotted Tang Xi chatting with several seniors, her smile demure and polished.

Ning Ke didn’t like small talk. She stood to the side with her arms crossed.

An Yu muttered, “She’s such a social butterfly.”

“Everyone in this industry is a schemer. You think people really fall for that fake innocent act?” Ning Ke shook her head. “Alright. Let’s go in.”

Before the shoot, Ning Ke got a call from Lin Yun: “Ke-Keke! Your Yan Yunzhi is so cooperative! I sent the contract and she signed it no questions asked. I asked if we could announce it today, and she said anytime!”

Ning Ke: “It’s no big deal. Look at you getting excited!”

Lin Yun: “Of course I’m excited! I thought she’d say no.”

For years, Yan Yunzhi had carried an air of detachment toward fame and fortune. She’d rarely even done world tours, declined CCTV gala invitations, and never appeared on entertainment variety shows. Yet she’d agreed to a random online web show!

Ning Ke touched her ear and looked away. “Who knows what she’s thinking.”

Anyway… she had never understood that woman.

Lin Yun: “Haha! Whatever her reason, go look at Weibo! I had the official account post a teaser.”

Ning Ke: “Mm. Hang up now.”

She had three frequently used Weibo accounts. Her main account was off-limits per Xu Jian’s orders. Her alt account had become her own biggest fan account by accident—after she’d once posted her precise schedule to prove she hadn’t been meeting some actor at night during a black-bashing trend. The third was her favorite tiny account, for sharing daily little moments.

She logged in with her tiny account.

The Perfect Partner official Weibo had posted an anonymous teaser: genius violinist, cool beauty, tall and slender. Not many people fit all three criteria, and fans soon guessed it might be Yan Yunzhi.

The post’s engagement was low. Ning Ke casually commented “Looking forward to Teacher Yan Yunzhi” to contribute some traffic.

The VCR shoot began.

It was a common format: each person filmed a short segment, then everyone sang a song together, with the copyright fees going to charity.

Ning Ke wore a red sweater, a vivid, gorgeous shade. She faced the camera, her smile radiant. “I hope you’ll all see a bigger and broader world someday.”

Just one line of dialogue, but she’d practiced it at home many times yesterday to make sure she got it right.

After her segment, Ning Ke checked her phone. Lin Yun had just messaged: “The show’s official account posted the second guest teaser! Remember to repost from your main account!”

Ning Ke: “OK.”

She logged into her tiny account first and found it had been reported so much she couldn’t comment for days. She frowned. “Are these people insane? Why are they blocking my little account?”

Looking closer, her repost with Yan Yunzhi’s name tagged had wound up on the public feed, where Yan Yunzhi’s fans found it. Some big fan accounts had started sprinkling passive-aggressive comments, saying Teacher Yan wasn’t someone a nobody show could just use for clout.

Yan Yunzhi’s fans were this fierce?

Fans act, idol pays. Ning Ke decided she’d settle the score with Yan Yunzhi tonight!

Pushing that aside, Ning Ke switched to her main account and saw the second all-cast teaser: “Looking forward to @Ning Ke @Yan Yunzhi @Jiang Lin @Yu You.”

She’d already asked Xu Jian’s opinion last night. She reposted with one tap and was called back for the next segment.

As soon as she wrapped, An Yu rushed over with her coat. “Sister Ning, you must be freezing. Brother Jian came too—he ran into Teacher Gao Qi at the door and they’re chatting.”

Xu Jian was a people person who could talk to anyone. Ning Ke guessed it was about a role audition. “Got it. There’s one more little bonus segment, then we’re done.”

Lin Yun said she’d come by for dinner, and Ning Ke said fine. With nothing else to do, she opened Weibo again. Still annoyed about her blocked small account, she saw an avalanche of red notifications on her main account.

Yan Yunzhi had reposted Ning Ke’s post: “Hello, everyone.”

Wait—why repost HER post instead of the official account’s?

Whatever. Yan Yunzhi only had a few million followers, so why so many notifications?

Ning Ke was staring at her phone when An Yu called out, “Sis. Tang Xi.”

Ning Ke put down her phone and looked over coldly.

Tang Xi was passing by, chatting with male actor Chen Xian from her agency. She stopped. Of all the narrow roads—Ning Ke had once been paired with Chen Xian for a drama, enduring forced CP marketing and endless abuse from his fans.

Tang Xi, in her usual soft voice, said, “Ning Ke, I heard Yan Yunzhi is joining your show. How did you manage that? Can you teach me?”

“Teach you?” Ning Ke never minced words. “Sorry, you’re not worthy.”

Tang Xi’s face fell. “Ning Ke!”

Chen Xian held her back. “Why bother with her? Her show is as dead as dead gets. Who cares if she got Yan Yunzhi!”

Chen Xian had learned his lesson tangling with Ning Ke before—he’d grabbed her hand to force a CP moment and gotten slapped for it. He’d wanted to hit back but was stopped, told she wasn’t someone he could afford to offend.

Ning Ke found it amusing. “Don’t speak too soon.”

With no one else around, Tang Xi smiled. “True. My dating show just announced its cast, and the trending topics are buzzing.”

But her little assistant’s face went pale. She tugged at Tang Xi’s sleeve. “Sister Tang…”

Tang Xi frowned. “What?”

“Hasn’t Teacher Tang Xi noticed?” Xu Jian had appeared out of nowhere, Lin Yun in tow. His peach-blossom eyes curved in a smile. “Remember to have Yang Ming buy more ad space.”

Lin Yun held up her phone. “Looks like your show’s engagement isn’t as good as ours. So which show is the dead one, Miss Tang?”

Brother Jian said he was buying a top-3 spot—it landed straight at #1 trending! Too powerful!

Ning Ke glanced at her phone. Best Actress Qin Pei and Best Actor Gao Qi had reposted the teaser—and they’d reposted HER post.

Not exactly her post… more precisely, they’d reposted Yan Yunzhi’s repost of hers.

@Gao Qi: Looking forward! //@Yan Yunzhi: Hello, everyone //@Ning Ke: Repost

@Qin Pei: So happy! //@Gao Qi: Looking forward! //@Yan Yunzhi: Hello, everyone //@Ning Ke: Repost

This trending topic probably wasn’t bought by Xu Jian. It had genuinely exploded.

Tang Xi’s face went white. Ning Ke notoriously had terrible connections in the industry—why would Gao Qi and Qin Pei suddenly repost her post?!

She’d worked so hard to build a connection, only exchanging a few words with Qin Pei!

Ning Ke surveyed her. “Teacher Tang Xi doesn’t look so well. But it suits your fragile little flower persona. Remember to take a selfie and post it to milk your fans.”

Tang Xi: “What nonsense are you—”

Before she could fire back, a commotion arose behind her. She turned and saw a man and woman approaching.

It was none other than today’s VCR director—Best Actor Gao Qi—and his wife, Best Actress Qin Pei. The couple had won their titles at a young age. In recent years, Gao Qi had moved into directing and gained even more fame.

Qin Pei led the way, with Gao Qi a step behind.

Tang Xi had been angling for the female second lead in Gao Qi’s new film. She’d only just gotten in touch with Qin Pei yesterday, who’d promised to reply today. Why were they here now?

A vague sense of dread crept over her, but she stepped forward with her hand extended anyway. “Teacher Qin Pei, Teacher Gao Qi…”

Ning Ke, instantly guessing they were there about Yan Yunzhi, walked toward them with her own hand extended.

Tang Xi stood closer to the door, her hand still hanging in midair. Ning Ke had also extended hers—the rivalry was painfully obvious. Tang Xi’s face twisted with hatred as she stared at Ning Ke.

But Ning Ke merely swept her gaze past her and walked by, stopping only before Qin Pei with a sincere smile. “Teacher Qin, Teacher Gao, hello. I’m Ning Ke.”

Two hands hung in the air. It was, unmistakably, a test.

Qin Pei turned her head, amused, sizing up the two: one smiling open and bright, the other clutching her clothes with a complicated expression.

The contrast could not have been clearer. This wasn’t a hard choice.

She thought for a moment, then—under the watching eyes of the crowd—took Ning Ke’s hand directly. “Hello, Ning Ke. A pleasure to meet you.”

Ning Ke’s smile deepened. “The pleasure is mine, meeting both teachers. I’m honored.”

She didn’t know what Yan Yunzhi had done. But since it was something Yan Yunzhi had won for her, she was determined to seize it.

She wouldn’t… let Yan Yunzhi down.