Chapter 92/93: Xia Yangyang, You Should Be Out Messing Around, Right?

Xia Yangyang awoke to Gu Qichen's touch. He emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered and dressed, and gently patted her bottom. "Little lazy pig," he said, cheerfully, "time to get up."

Xia Yangyang was already awake, pondering a serious question: Had Gu Qichen really been drunk last night? The thought increasingly vexed her.

Gu Qichen pulled back the covers. "If you don't get up now, you'll be late," he said. "It's your first day on set."

Xia Yangyang remembered the shoot was starting today. Sitting up, she realized she had no suitable clothes. Could she go out in her pajamas?

Gu Qichen, seemingly anticipating her thought, glanced in the mirror and said, "There are clothes by your bed."

She found a brand-new dress, undoubtedly sent by Gu Qichen's assistant, though she didn't know when. She quickly dressed as Gu Qichen waited, fully prepared.

"I'll take you to A University," he offered.

Xia Yangyang hastily refused. "I'd better take a cab. If we're seen together, it'll be a scandal."

Gu Qichen had become a significant investor in the TV drama. After last night's dinner with the big boss, being seen with him would be disastrous. "What are you afraid of?" he asked calmly. "If we're discovered, we'll just announce it."

Before, Xia Yangyang would have been thrilled by such a statement. However, knowing about Shen Manbing, a knot of anxiety remained. She hadn't decided how to proceed.

"Let's not cause trouble for the crew," she said. "I'll leave first."

Xia Yangyang dashed off, leaving Gu Qichen with a colder expression. She felt depressed. After so much effort to cool their relationship, last night's events had undone it all. Why couldn't she resist temptation?

Although Xia Yangyang arrived early, Lu Yao was already applying makeup. "Yangyang," Lu Yao asked, "where were you last night? Your phone was off."

"My phone died," Xia Yangyang replied. "I stayed at a friend's place."

Xia Weiwei, also in the makeup room, loudly declared, "Xia Yangyang, you must have been messing around. You don't have any friends! You're a disgrace to the Xia family."

The entire crew knew the Xia sisters were present. Xia Weiwei, despite having few scenes, had arrived early, behaving like a spoiled, aspiring superstar. Her father's influence meant few dared offend her. Their strained relationship was public knowledge, but this level of animosity was shocking. Xia Weiwei clearly sought to humiliate Xia Yangyang at every opportunity.

Suddenly, Chen Yu entered. "I think you're the disgrace to the Xia family," she said pointedly, silencing the room. "Wearing expensive clothes and jewelry doesn't change your uncouth behavior. Your father was a wise man, but raising you was his greatest failure."