Zhuo Yunan is currently participating in an outdoor reality show. There was a famous cave scenic spot in E City, and the production team has chosen the cave as the shooting location for today. Once the shooting began, they were in a state of isolation. After finally wrapping up, she and another actor walk out of the cave together.
Outside the cave was a suspension bridge, where a crowd of enthusiastic fans had gathered. She waved enthusiastically to them from the bridge.
After leaving the cave scenic area and returning to the nanny car, Zhuo Yunan let out a sigh of relief and asked, “Where’s Kong Lu?”
The assistant next to her replied, “Miss Kong Lu said the car was too boring, so she went to stroll around the city by herself.”
Zhuo Yunan furrowed her brows upon hearing this. “She’s never been to E City before. What is she doing going out alone?”
The assistant dismissively said, “She’s probably just making an excuse to go out. Nan-jie, you don’t need to worry about her. Some people just lack self-awareness. Her parents insisted on her coming with you when you were filming. Can’t you see what they’re up to? They just want to use your screen time to showcase their daughter and hope she can debut like you in the future. But look at their daughter’s temperament. If she debuts, she’ll probably crash and burn within a month. Don’t let her drag you down.”
Zhuo Yunan responded, “Whether she debuts or not is none of my business. I just think it’s unlikely that she came to E City today just to be in front of the camera.”
“If not for the camera, then for what? Didn’t she pester you to introduce her to the director before the shoot? She even wanted the production team to dedicate a special episode for family interactions. She can really talk. Does she think the production team belongs to her family? The Kong family in A City isn’t that prominent, right? Miss Kong Lu thinks too highly of herself.”
The assistant was indignant at the repeated attempts of the Kong family to push their daughter into the filming crew.
Shameless!
However, Zhuo Yunan remained silent.
She recalled the rumors she heard in A City recently. Kong Lu even asked her specifically about her posting for the milk tea shop. Could it be that her uncle and the others couldn’t swallow their pride and sent Kong Lu to hook up with the young master of the Zhu family in Gongshui County?
She had never told anyone that she clarified things for the milk tea shop at the behest of her entertainment company’s boss. She only did what she’s paid for and never asked unnecessary questions or reveals a single word more.
But since her boss stood up for the milk tea shop, it’s enough to indicate that the background of this milk tea shop was extraordinary.
Even if he’s an illegitimate child, he must be of higher status than the Kong family. What good could Kong Lu possibly get from going to the milk tea shop?
Knowing that someone else has a partner and still wanting to interfere, isn’t she afraid of making a fool of herself?
Zhuo Yunan felt mentally exhausted from her relatives, hoping only that her cousin could grow some brains and avoid embarrassing herself at the milk tea shop.
But just as she settled back into her seat, she received a phone call.
After listening to the call, Zhuo Yunan sat up without a word, opened the car door, and prepared to get out.
Her assistant was shocked. “Nan-jie, where are you going? The production team is about to arrange for the guests to have dinner together.”
Zhuo Yunan didn’t look back as she responded, “The bowl is almost gone. How can we eat!1“to eat (this) bowl (of rice)” = be good at a job. So, in this sentence, she meant that if things go south, she would lose her job.”
Assistant: “???”
In the milk tea shop, Kong Lu watched the stiff expressions of the people behind the counter and felt ecstatic.
She knew about the relationship between Shao Ming and Zhu Tong.
She had seen a few intimate photos of the two together, but she didn’t take Shao Ming seriously.
Just a bastard, no matter whose, as long as he carried the identity of a bastard, he would never be able to rise to prominence.
Moreover, they’re both men.
Even though same-sex marriage was legal now, people’s attitudes were not something that could be changed overnight.
These two are doomed to not last long, so when Kong Lu came to find Zhu Tong, she felt no guilt.
After being rejected by Zhu Tong, Kong Lu felt embarrassed. She originally planned to buy a cup of milk tea to pick at him, but unexpectedly, he didn’t take the bait.
She used to have reservations about Zhu Tong, but after seeing them flirting face to face, she gave up on him.
What does it matter if she couldn’t get the Zhu family’s young master? Or Liu Jianbai’s newly recognized godson? When she debuts in the future and becomes as famous as her cousin, what kind of wealthy men can’t she find?
She shouldn’t have listened to her parents today and came to this rundown milk tea shop to beg for Zhu Tong’s favor.
After she figured it out, she felt superior to everyone, even showing a hint of arrogance on her face.
Before Shao Ming and Zhu Tong could respond to her mockery, it was Luo Suo who couldn’t hold back first. He furrowed his brow and said, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Nonsense?” Kong Lu smiled and looked surprised. “You guys really don’t know, do you?”
She looked at Shao Ming again. “This kind of thing I really won’t go around talking about. After all, it’s not something to be proud of. Besides, his biological father is far away in A City, but he placed his son in this remote little county. It’s probably because he’s afraid of being discovered by the main family. You guys have it pretty tough too.”
As she spoke, she glanced around the milk tea shop, disdainfully curling her lips.
Luo Suo’s brows furrowed even tighter.
Shao Ming, however, said lightly, “Oh? It seems Miss Kong did some research before coming today? You even know who owns our milk tea shop? Although my biological father abandoned me in this small county, since he opened this shop for us, it means he still cares about me. I’ll give him a call now and ask him to pay a visit to Miss Kong’s house. Do you think he’ll go?”
Kong Lu’s smug expression stiffened, apparently not expecting this turn of events.
She had also heard about Shao Ming attending Liu Jianbai’s banquet, an event her parents didn’t even have the qualifications to attend. If Shao Ming really was the bastard son of some family who attended the banquet, then her family would definitely offend someone they couldn’t afford to offend.
But she only hesitated for a moment before relaxing again.
In the prestigious families of A City, Kong Lu knew quite a few illegitimate children, even those who hadn’t been acknowledged lived well in A City. But Shao Ming… looking at how he lives now, the more powerful his father, doesn’t it prove that his father doesn’t value him?
Otherwise, why would he be sent to a place like Gongshui County? How is that any different from letting him fend for himself?
His father would never stand up for him, right?
Kong Lu thought to herself, then smiled again, “Are you admitting it yourself?”
Admitting that he’s a bastard son.
She turned to look at Luo Suo, as if to respond to his earlier questioning of her “nonsense,” but saw Luo Suo’s angry expression had already subsided, replaced by a look of disbelief directed at her.
Kong Lu: “…”
Luo Suo felt like the filter on his idol was about to break.
This person was actually Zhuo Yunan’s cousin?
How could someone so brainless say such things?
How Shao Ming’s family’s milk tea shop came about, no one knew better than him.
After graduating from junior high school, Shao Ming met Lu Lao’er while working part-time at an internet cafe. The two collaborated to develop a company management system, and after selling it through intermediaries, Shao Ming accumulated some capital and used it to open this shop.
From the moment Shao Ming came up with the idea for the milk tea shop, to obtaining all the necessary permits, to finally opening, Luo Suo was involved every step of the way. He even went with Shao Ming to buy the first batch of raw materials. A City people were not involved at all in this matter.
How could she say that this shop was opened by his “real” dad?
‘Before humiliating someone, shouldn’t she do a bit of research first? Clearly, most people from A City are a bit mentally unstable… except for Zhu Tong.’
Luo Suo was too lazy to speak. He withdrew his gaze, looking like he didn’t want to argue with someone who was intellectually challenged.
Kong Lu was dumbfounded.
Shao Ming looked at her and said, “Whether I admit it or not, it seems Miss Kong hasn’t confirmed the truth of her own information yet. Do you want to make a call and confirm it?”
Kong Lu’s face flushed red, and she angrily said, “You’re just a bastard son. Your dad abandoned you here, and you’re not willing, right? You’re getting so close to Zhu Tong, just to use his status to take you back to A City?”
Shao Ming pretended to be surprised, “Wow, you’re smart. How did you figure that out?”
Kong Lu: “You…”
She widened her eyes in disbelief.
Did this guy just admit to something like this?
Zhu Tong was standing right next to him, and he just admitted it like that?
Kong Lu’s mind was in a tangle, subconsciously looking for Zhu Tong’s reaction.
Shao Ming raised an eyebrow and looked at Zhu Tong, “Young Master, what do you think?”
Zhu Tong looked at him with a serious expression.
When Kong Lu mentioned Shao Ming’s illegitimate status, Zhu Tong’s heart skipped a beat.
He didn’t expect this matter to be brought up so suddenly by someone completely unrelated.
He tried to shut Kong Lu up, but before he could figure out a way, Shao Ming spoke up.
There was no surprise, no doubt. He reacted quickly and counterattacked with reason and evidence, almost driving Kong Lu half to death with anger.
He showed no surprise or confusion about his own identity.
Shao Ming… he had known for a long time.
How much did he know?
Had he been disappointed and saddened?
Shao Ming hid his emotions too well, Zhu Tong couldn’t tell.
He just looked at Shao Ming, with words on the tip of his tongue.
On the contrary, his emotions were quite understandable. Shao Ming seemed to sense what he was thinking, his uncharacteristic expression softened a bit, showing a hint of helplessness.
This little young master was worrying about him again.
What he had already come to terms with, what he didn’t care about anymore, now seemed to have someone else expressing the appropriate emotions on his behalf. It felt… quite strange.
Suddenly, there was silence behind the counter. To Kong Lu, it seemed like Shao Ming had lost his tongue.
Zhu Tong’s hesitation, to her, seemed like disappointment and restraint.
Shao Ming’s slight stiffening, to her, seemed like guilt and remorse.
Kong Lu felt confident and looked at Zhu Tong, “Young Master Zhu, I heard you used to spend a lot of time in the hospital and barely went to school, not understanding many things. I think I need to remind you that some people are destined to stay in the shadows. When you take others seriously, they may not take you seriously. Don’t be fooled by appearances and lose face…”
“Are you done?” Zhu Tong suddenly turned his head.
