An Yi looked around the towering building, quietly amazed.
They rented out this entire massive place—all for Yilan Media?
Back then, he had only given Nie Qinglan ten million, hadn’t he?
Forget company operations—just the rent for this building alone must cost a fortune!
Suddenly, An Yi understood the allure of being a wealthy young woman.
A true revelation!
What was he even working so hard for?
Yilan Media, this small company, had risen to become a giant in the entertainment industry in such a short time.
An Yi knew his dear father-in-law, Nie Chengwen, must have played a crucial role.
Noticing An Yi’s awestruck expression, Xue Yuanyuan muttered under her breath, "Country bumpkin."
"What did you say?" An Yi turned and pressed.
Xue Yuanyuan huffed, "Nothing!"
An Yi studied her face and frowned. "Have you been crying?"
Though she had touched up her makeup, her eyes were slightly red and swollen—clearly, she had been in tears.
"No!"
Xue Yuanyuan stubbornly turned her face away, sniffling.
She had cried, but she refused to show her vulnerability in front of this jerk.
"Hey, little girl, you’re a big star now. Countless men have your posters on their walls, worshiping you as their goddess. What’s there to be sad about? Come on, smile."
An Yi tried to comfort her.
After all, this girl had joined Yilan Media to chase after him.
He might not be a saint, but he wasn’t heartless either. Offering some solace when a fan was upset was the least he could do.
"Hah, goddess? Do you know what they call me?" Xue Yuanyuan sneered in response.
"A pretty face with no talent?"
An Yi raised an eyebrow. After the audition, he had casually looked up Xue Yuanyuan’s background and knew a bit about her.
She had skyrocketed to fame overnight because of a coconut milk ad.
In today’s fast-paced internet age, fame could come and go in an instant.
But with fame came backlash.
Xue Yuanyuan said bitterly, "They call me 'Milk Bottle.'"
An Yi:
"Well… can’t really blame them for that."
An Yi discreetly glanced at her proportions and swallowed hard.
The only one who could rival her in that department was Lin Mei'er!
Even Master Mu, who descended from the immortal sects, would have to admit defeat.
"They call me a useless bimbo who only relies on her chest. They say I’m a flirt, a slut who seduces men, that I’m shameless, that I’ve disgraced my family’s name, that I should just die…"
Xue Yuanyuan’s voice cracked as tears spilled over. "They never stop. I don’t understand—what did I do wrong? Why do they hate me so much? I’m just living my life honestly, not stealing or cheating. What right do they have to say those things?"
Watching her cry, An Yi fell silent.
Slander could destroy a person. Public opinion was terrifying.
The ones hiding behind their screens, venting their negativity at strangers, were the real monsters.
The keyboard warriors might be shy students, polite office workers, or even innocent-looking "big-dick cuties" in real life.
But in the virtual world, they could craft a holier-than-thou persona, judging others with self-righteous morals.
"Alright, don’t pay attention to those irrelevant people."
An Yi stepped forward and gently hugged Xue Yuanyuan.
This girl was pitiful—alone, with no one to rely on.
Right now, he was her only emotional anchor.
Feeling the warmth and solidity of An Yi’s embrace, Xue Yuanyuan froze. Tears welled up again, and her face flushed red—whether from anger or embarrassment, she couldn’t tell.
This bastard! This jerk! Taking advantage of her when she was emotionally vulnerable!
So unfair!
Yet Xue Yuanyuan buried her face in An Yi’s shoulder, gripping his clothes tightly as tears fell.
She had been carrying too much pressure. Right now, she just needed someone to lean on.
Even if that someone was a scoundrel!
At that moment, Wang Qian emerged from the restroom, his head still reeking despite being washed repeatedly. His face was grim.
Then, he saw this.
In an instant!
Unspeakable rage filled his chest!
Xue Yuanyuan—dubbed "Milk Yuan" by fans—was being hugged by a man!
Wang Qian’s face twisted with fury.
After all, half the reason he joined Yilan Media was for Xue Yuanyuan!
The other half was for Shangguan Qianqian!
But when Wang Qian recognized the man’s face, he spun around and bolted! No force on earth could stop him!
He’d just washed his head—he wasn’t about to get it stuffed again.
Still…
Glancing at the photo on his phone, Wang Qian grinned.
Milk Yuan was at the peak of her fame, with countless men drooling over her.
Hah! Getting handsy with her? Kid, prepare to be cyberbullied to death!
"Feeling better?" An Yi asked gently once Xue Yuanyuan had cried herself out.
Xue Yuanyuan sniffled, too embarrassed to meet his eyes.
Not only had she broken down, but she’d done it in front of the pervert she hated most!
This complicated feeling left her unsure how to face An Yi.
At least he hadn’t taken advantage of her.
Somehow, this guy—who had once groped her—didn’t seem so detestable anymore.
An Yi spoke softly, his voice clear and warm. "In life, you’ll meet all kinds of people. You can’t make everyone like you."
Xue Yuanyuan stole a glance at his profile, her cheeks tinged pink.
This guy… looked kinda handsome when he was serious.
"For example…"
An Yi scanned the surroundings but couldn’t find a good analogy. He looked around again, then said, "For example, boobs!"
Xue Yuanyuan:
"Most men like round, perky ones, but there are always weirdos who prefer flat ones.
They’ll say, 'Flat ones are prettier—yours are just ugly lumps.'
But would you flatten yours just to please them? Obviously not!"
An Yi spoke earnestly. "The lesson here is: stay true to yourself. When people try to force their standards on you, hold onto your principles. Take things step by step, steady and sure."
Xue Yuanyuan was stunned.
Though his words made sense…
Why did they sound so perverted?!
An Yi continued sagely, "Take me, for instance. Some call me a loser, a creep, but I never listen—because I know I’m not!"
Noticing his downward glance, Xue Yuanyuan instinctively covered her chest.
An Yi averted his gaze and declared righteously, "Because I believe—a clear conscience fears no accusation! Heaven watches all, and justice will prevail, clearing my name under the bright sky!"