Tong Ya lived in an extremely elegant and chic apartment complex where just the rent for a place would start at six thousand a month.
This place was certainly not affordable for the average salary earner.
"Ah, Miss Tong Ya, you finally deigned to come back!"
As soon as Tong Ya walked in, Tang Xiaowei grabbed her arm, eyes brimming with expectation, "Where's that little girl, didn't you bring her back with you?"
Ever since seeing Tuan Tuan's photo, Tang Xiaowei had been smitten.
Tong Ya rolled her eyes, "What do you think people's kids are? To be taken back casually by you? By the way, how long has it been since you last washed those clothes? Even the paint on them is starting to smell!"
Tang Xiaowei was a cartoonist who hardly ever left home and only dealt with drawings and paint.
Sometimes when she got into her drawing, she would become completely engrossed and neglect her personal hygiene.
"Please, I'm sacrificing myself for art! Speaking of which, how did your first date go? Any gains?"
Tong Ya was slightly taken aback, then immediately lifted the bag in her hand.
"Voilà, ten deep-fried cakes!"
"No way!"
Tang Xiaowei's face was full of disdain, "Are you really favoring love over friendship? Don't forget, you skipped out on my hotpot party to go fishing for a beau! And you're fobbing me off with this?"
"Are these deep-fried cakes not specially made? Don't you want to eat some?"
"Eat, of course, I'll eat!"
Influenced by Tong Ya, Tang Xiaowei was also trying to stay in shape, so she rarely indulged in such greasy treats.
She had had her fill of takeout while being alone at home, so these sugar cakes were a nice change of pace.
But when she took a bite, she was momentarily stunned.
Though the sugar cakes had cooled down, they didn't have that unpleasant, greasy texture that normal sugar cakes get once cold.
Instead, they were just the right amount of soft and chewy, feeling like a delicacy in her mouth.
"This wouldn't happen to be a new dessert from Ba Xiang Zhai, would it?"
Tong Ya hung up the bag she was holding, "Ba Xiang Zhai?"
"Yeah, that dessert shop I took you to last time, where they sell a mint cool cake for two hundred apiece."
A burst of satisfaction filled Tong Ya's heart, seeing it as Tang Xiaowei's affirmation of Chen Yu.
"I didn't have the time to go to Ba Xiang Zhai just to buy something special for you! My man-god made these!"
Tang Xiaowei's eyes widened in astonishment, "No way! Your man-god has this kind of skill! No wonder you're so utterly devoted. With his skills, supporting you for the rest of your life is no issue at all!"
Tong Ya shrugged her shoulders, "That's why, I've already made up my mind!"
"Made up your mind about what?" Tang Xiaowei asked instinctively.
"Marry him!"
"I agree!"
Tang Xiaowei did a complete one-eighty with her attitude, "As long as you bring me sugar cakes every day, I won't just support you being a stepmom to someone else's kids, I'll even find a way for you with the Tong family side of things."
"For a few sugar cakes, you're selling me out!"
"Ya Ya, you can't blame me, they're just too delicious!" Saying so, Tang Xiaowei greedily snatched up an entire sugar cake and stuffed it into her mouth.
"He certainly doesn't just know how to make sugar cakes!"
Suddenly, Tong Ya blushed for no apparent reason, "Right, from now on, I'll have to leave a bit earlier in the mornings and won't be coming back for dinner in the evenings!"
"What are you going to do?" Tang Xiaowei was momentarily stunned.
"It's not easy for him to take care of the child alone; from now on, I'll help him with picking up and dropping off Tuan Tuan at school."
"You've got to be kidding me! We've barely started and now you're dumping me?" Tang Xiaowei made a very pitiful face.
"Didn't I say I would bring you fried cakes every day?"
At the mention of "fried cakes," Tang Xiaowei suddenly became serious.
"Go ahead, girl, for your happiness, I'm willing to make a sacrifice!"
...
At a business banquet, Fang Yuan stood with a wine glass in a conspicuously seductive pose, showcasing her alluring figure.
"Miss Fang, sorry to keep you waiting."
A somewhat short middle-aged man with a lecherous smile leaned in next to Fang Yuan.
Although Fang Yuan felt extreme disgust, she still put on a smiling face.
"Where are Mr. Huang's words coming from! You are the investor in our drama, the big financial deity of our crew. For us actors, waiting a little for you is nothing."
"Not only is Miss Fang beautiful, but she also speaks so elegantly, no wonder you've achieved today's status."
As he spoke, Mr. Huang tried to touch Fang Yuan's hand, but she skillfully dodged.
"Mr. Huang, you flatter me! By the way, I heard you're about to invest in a big commercial film. I wonder if I am fortunate enough to be part of it?"
"Of course! Given my relationship with Miss Fang, playing a small role is no big deal, but if Miss Fang could grace us, and if our relationship could progress further, not to mention a small role—even the lead actress would be no problem!"
Mr. Huang was no longer disguising his intentions and directly placed his hand on Fang Yuan's shoulder.
"Ah, Miss Fang! What are you doing here? There are several more shots waiting for you over there to be completed!"
The agent appeared most appropriately and pulled Fang Yuan back a bit.
"Ah, Mr. Huang, I'm so sorry. My Yuan Yuan has been rather busy with commercial engagements recently, and she has to rush off right now. Please forgive us, Mr. Huang."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the agent promptly pulled Fang Yuan out of the business venue and onto the nanny car parked at the roadside.
Only then did Fang Yuan drop her smile and show an expression full of disgust.
"Weren't they saying Mr. Huang was successful and talented? How did he turn out to be such a person?"
The agent quickly tried to soothe her, "That's how the entertainment circle is, many investors look even worse than Mr. Huang! Luckily we left quickly; had that scene been captured by the paparazzi, who knows what big news it would've stirred."
Fang Yuan fanned herself with her hand in an attempt to calm down.
"Next time don't let me meet with that kind of person again! By the way, how's the arrangement for faking the relationship going?"
"Don't worry, it's all set, the other party's studio has already responded! In a few days, you can subtly announce it on your social media account, but don't confirm it too firmly. It will be easier to call it off in the future."
"Got it, got it!" Fang Yuan suddenly felt a bit agitated.
Although she was now very famous, to mix in the entertainment circle, she had to spend a lot of time and energy flattering the capital bigwigs to get resources.
And to maintain the heat, she even had to cook up rumors with a popular idol she'd never met.
After all, in this business, without investment and public heat, pure popularity can't be monetized.
Suddenly, Fang Yuan had an image of Tuan Tuan flash through her mind.