Chapter 30: Embroidery Part 1

Qiu Chao’s words were picked up by the microphone, carried on the mountain breeze, and reached the viewers’ ears with a touch of genuine, heartfelt anticipation.

But after a brief glance at each other, Yan Muyu and Qiu Chao looked away.

The stilt house they were at barely got any direct sunlight, and now the rays filtered through the gaps in the fir trees, dappling their bodies in scattered patches of light.

Xia Yuanyuan, who had come along with the production crew, sighed inwardly. She finally understood why Mai Chen had been losing it in the work group chat at midnight.

Sister Qiu’s gaze really did look like she wanted to devour Boss Yan whole.

Yet most viewers in the live stream had no clue. They were biased by the so-called aunt-in-law relationship between the two and assumed Qiu Chao’s lingering ties to the Yan Corporation stemmed from her deep-rooted feelings for Yan Kai, who was still in the ICU.

They figured the awkward, not-quite-familiar vibe between Yan Muyu and Qiu Chao was just the former little aunt looking down on her ex-sister-in-law.

And that ex-sister-in-law was none other than Qiu Chao, whose tabloid scandals could bury a person alive.

Back when she had rivals in the industry, she’d constantly get hit with smear campaigns. Any male celebrity photographed with her was spun as a relationship announcement.

It got so bad that Qiu Chao started walking red carpets alone. Leads who shared intimate scenes in movies barely acknowledged each other at award shows off-screen.

Some people were just innately seductive, and with her gender in the mix, the rumors never stopped.

Eventually, Qiu Chao stopped caring.

The farther she went, the further she left those rivals behind. When she returned, it was as a judge, her status earned through real achievements, smiling down at the ones still spinning their wheels in the same spot.

Xia Yuanyuan knew how hard Qiu Chao had it. She’d pushed herself relentlessly, especially grinding it out in foreign lands.

Maybe it was that ingrained national grit, or maybe because she’d had so little sweetness in life, but her standards were sky-high.

Not just anyone could hold her close.

Of course, Qiu Chao had moments when she considered giving up—long nights wondering if someone else might fill the void, only to find it dull and pointless.

She spent her whole year acting. If she had to fake it in bed too, she might as well shoot some adult films and make a buck.

Yan Muyu said, “If I get back early.”

Qiu Chao replied, “No can do.”

Her rebuttal came quick, her crow-feather lashes fluttering. The light spots danced across her face, each one stinging Yan Muyu’s eyes.

Qiu Chao continued, “You took the scooter. I’d always have to wait for you to come back around.”

Her tone was soft and lingering, weaving through the wind and murmurs like a silken thread.

Was she made of lotus root? Even torn apart, the strands pulled long and sticky, enough to trip someone up right there, throat itching.

Qiu Chao smiled at Yan Muyu. “You can’t seriously expect me to walk all the way home, right?”

【Yeah, two people, one scooter—making her walk back would be brutal.】

【This mountain road is seriously tough to hike…】

【The production team outdid themselves finding this spot.】

【The scenery’s gorgeous though. I’m tempted to vacation here.】

【Qiu Chao is just… that look could kill me. Why’s Yan Muyu unmoved?】

【They’re ex-aunt-in-law and sister-in-law. If it were your bro and his ex, you’d feel weird too, right?】

【No idea why, but Qiu Chao’s gaze looks like… she’s into Yan Muyu.】

【Didn’t get Yan Muyu’s type before, but now? Total enchantress vibes. Features aren’t insanely perfect apart, but together? Stunning.】

【Seductress #1… loving it!】

Yan Muyu said, “If there’s time.”

For once, she didn’t snap back at Qiu Chao. “If I’m running late getting back, I’ll message you. If Sister Xi’s passing by, she can pick you up.”

Qiu Chao said, “It’s fine. I’ll wait for you.”

Her voice lifted at the end, laced with mischief.

Yan Muyu didn’t respond. She turned, hopped on the scooter, and rode off.

The cargo pickup was at a brickyard, full of massive trucks. They checked IDs right at the entrance, and Yan Muyu pulled out her driver’s license.

Even Xing Wen, the assistant trailing her off-camera, hadn’t realized her boss had that kind of license.

It was an ancient brickyard, at least a century old.

But with industrialization, most factories had relocated, and mountain freight was a hassle, so these jobs had dwindled.

Now the brickyard had pivoted to artisanal blue bricks, with designers fresh out of top schools. Deliveries went to the town, where they’d be packaged and shipped.

Yan Muyu’s task was to haul this batch of blue bricks down to town. Folks there would handle the rest.

【Holy crap, that mountain road’s gotta be treacherous to drive.】

【This feels kinda dangerous all of a sudden.】

【Can Young Boss Yan handle it?】

【She’s rock steady. No hesitation, just takes the job and goes.】

Yan Muyu did her usual test lap around the vehicle. Her movements were smooth and confident as she mounted up, and the chat picked up the director’s nickname, flooding with “Xiaoxiao”s.

Xiaoxiao herself finished the handover and got straight to work without another word.

In a typical variety show, you’d rarely see a solo guest show up alone at a worksite like this.

Usually, they’d pair with an MC or another celeb for some playful banter. But not this show.

A little past eight in the morning, each guest’s split-screen feed showed them arriving at their assigned spots.

Liu Song hadn’t swapped back with Xi Xi. Under the blazing sun, she was picking tea, chatting cheerfully with the big sis next to her, who broke into local folk tunes.

The twenty-one-year-old chart-topping singer was right in her element. Tea picking felt like a concert, and with the production team’s edits and cultural tidbits, viewers got a real taste of the local music scene.

Xi Xi, driving the three-wheeler, found Liu Song, but the girl refused to switch back. Xi Xi could only hand over the rice cakes she’d brought to tide her over.

Who’d have thought the kid, starting at dawn, would end up fed by a gaggle of aunties? Liu Song dumped all her snack hauls into Xi Xi’s arms.

Under the tree shade, Xi Xi was geared up against the sun, while Liu Song—pale blue short hair—rummaged through her pockets, determined to share different treats with her manager.

Song Bao mumbled, “Sister Xi, don’t turn your nose up, okay? It’s seriously good. Oh, these raspberries—the best I’ve ever had.”

Xi Xi took off her sunglasses. Her looks were top-tier; back in art school, she was elite in classical dance, flute-playing top two at worst.

It was a life of pure indulgence. Even Yan Muyu from her powerhouse family envied that only-child glow, doted on by all.

People raised in constant love usually knew how to love back.

But not Xi Xi. Her control freak side ran deep, and she was stingy with affection.

Even in her last marriage, she’d invested a lot.

She knew she just picked the sharpest pet from the litter—the one who’d prop her career peak.

Too bad it crashed.

Career high achieved, but her character trashed. Xi Xi’s kinks got exposed by him, though the scumbag didn’t get off easy either—now just crooning in some bar.

But late at night, Xi Xi still heard those words:

“Have you ever loved anyone?

I admit I had ulterior motives getting with you. But you, Xi Xi? You’re not even as honest about loving me as my scheming self.”

Friends said to brush it off as a dying man’s thrash. Xi Xi knew.

Still, she never backed down from a challenge. That’s when she spotted the company’s newbie, Liu Song—the grassroots audition breakout, prodigy girl.

Pure as a just-born pup, eyes all foggy yet crystal clear. Song Bao’s temper was explosively good, almost too guilelessly honest.

She clashed with the company’s trendy styling.

Song Bao never seemed mad. Bullied as a kid? Whatever. Just like her parents’ philosophy: let it go, accept fate.

And her fate was no ordinary one—a migrant worker’s kid soaring like a phoenix.

Xi Xi managing her sparked envy and headaches alike. Managers outranked artists; no room for tantrums.

Her ex-husband Yuan Chenyi was a prime example.

But Liu Song didn’t care. Right now, she was all blissful pup, thrilled to share the goodies the aunties gave her for being cute.

Xi Xi said, “Sorry.”

Liu Song let out an “ah.” She was actually a tad taller than Xi Xi, but with the manager’s heels and Song Bao’s soft vibe, she seemed shorter.

Xi Xi said, “Overslept this morning. Made you cover my shift.”

Liu Song grinned.

She didn’t look the least bit rustic—that’s partly why her music show debut blew up. Xi Xi rewatching clips thought Song Bao was just dressed down a bit.

Foundation was flawless.

Liu Song said, “No biggie. Seeing you well-rested makes me happy, Sister Xi.”

Xi Xi said, “I should take over this job.”

She glanced at the tea hills, workers dotted among the bushes like colorful buds in a sea of green.

But the sun scorched, blindingly hot.

Liu Song pushed her away instead. “Go herd cows for me, Sister Xi. You can team up with Yingxue. The streamside’s cool, and the views are killer.”

Caught off-guard, Xi Xi opened her mouth, but another shove sent her off. Then Liu Song stuck close again. “But I won’t make it back for lunch, so can you bring me some food, Sister Xi?”

The scene blindsided fans tuning in for the prodigy singer rep. Concerts rarely showed this side— it felt refreshingly new.

【She’s such a pro at coquetry!!】

【So thoughtful! Song Bao, my sweetheart.】

【I still think their relationship is backwards.】

【The industry has always respected Xi Xi’s skills, but they pity the artists she manages… She really has to sweet-talk her own manager.】

【Liu Song… her singing is so damn good!】

【If I were an auntie, I’d spoil her rotten too. This girl is just too adorable, boo-hoo.】

Xi Xi had gone off to herd cows and actually ran into Ding Yingxue, who was headed to the Duck Farm. Their jobs looked like the easiest ones right now—they could slack off completely.

Ding Yingxue kept practicing the duck-herding whistle, and it was so awkward it burned Xi Xi’s ears. Unable to hold back, Xi Xi remarked that Liu Song would have picked it up in no time if she were here.

Meanwhile, Qiu Chao wasn’t getting any sun in the Embroidery Workshop.