To make this rumor disappear, the solution was actually quite simple. Qin Ran could reveal herself as the boss of 99 Entertainment, and once the media caught wind of it, people would realize that the boss was a young, attractive woman, and the rumor would naturally be dispelled.
Assistant Wu pushed her glasses up and presented this solution to Qin Ran.
Qin Ran placed her hand on the desk and shook her head. "Absolutely not."
Assistant Wu didn't understand and carefully laid out all the details for Qin Ran. "Boss, I think this is the best approach. In fact, many entertainment company CEOs occasionally appear in media interviews or at events. They don't show up often, but it satisfies public curiosity. If you truly want to protect Yu Shuman from any dirt, revealing your identity now is the best way to resolve this."
Qin Ran pursed her lips and stayed silent, but Assistant Wu knew that she had taken in what she said.
"Please think about it carefully. I'm heading back to the office. If you need anything, just call me." With those words, Assistant Wu left Qin Ran's study and returned to the office. Only after she left did Qin Ran slump into the sofa, feeling drained. She knew that what Assistant Wu had said was true.
Moreover, once her identity was exposed, she could openly provide Yu Shuman with resources. Even if others found out, she could legitimately claim, "When I was struggling, my senior's support gave me strength, so now that I have money, I want to give back to her."
All of these were plausible reasons, but she was afraid.
Qin Ran agonized over this decision until August. The rumor, fueled by those with ulterior motives, continued to spread wildly. Sister Li even came to find Qin Ran. "Boss, worst-case scenario, we sue them. If that doesn't work, just come forward yourself. What's there to hesitate about? Even if Yu Shuman finds out, it's not a big deal. She's close to you, and if you tell her you're wealthy, it's not like you're confessing your feelings. What are you afraid of?"
Sister Li really understood Qin Ran. Her words left Qin Ran deflated. Qin Ran hesitated for a long time, which frustrated Sister Li. "You're being stubborn! My artist's reputation is at stake, and you're still hesitating. If you don't act, I will."
But Qin Ran stopped her, saying that she would handle it herself.
Qin Ran arranged to meet Yu Shuman, saying she had something to discuss. Yu Shuman agreed with a smile, and they planned to meet at Yu Shuman's dorm. Yu Shuman prepared some braised dishes, ordered some crayfish takeout, and took out a set of beers from the fridge.
They sat on the balcony of Yu Shuman's dorm, facing outward with a small table between them, filled with food.
Yu Shuman opened a can of beer and handed it to Qin Ran, who took a sip and held it in her hand.
Looking out, they could only see the dark night and the dazzling city lights.
Yu Shuman didn't seem affected by the recent rumors. Instead, she took a big gulp of beer and exclaimed, "Ah, refreshing!"
Her dorm was air-conditioned, and the balcony was fully enclosed with glass, making it not only cool but also comfortable to sit outside.
Before Qin Ran could speak, Yu Shuman broke the silence. "Junior, did you come to see me because of those rumors?"
"Mm..."
"Hey, don't worry about me, I'm fine." Yu Shuman remained optimistic. She put on some gloves, peeled a few crayfish, placed them in a bowl, and pushed it towards Qin Ran. Qin Ran felt a bit embarrassed. "Senior, I can do it myself."
"Don't just talk. Use your hands and eat. I prepared a lot of food since you were coming."
Indeed, she had prepared quite a bit.
Qin Ran found herself at a loss for words and could only put on the gloves and start eating. She could tell that the rumors had affected Yu Shuman to some extent. But Yu Shuman also understood that the company's lack of response likely meant there were things she wasn't aware of. Rather than dwelling on baseless rumors, she focused on her work.
Yu Shuman had a lot on her plate—filming a drama, attending events, and participating in her struggling group's performances and promotions.
Her relationship with Ling Miaohan had worsened. Whenever they crossed paths, Ling Miaohan couldn't even maintain a facade, often greeting Yu Shuman with a cold face. Although Ling Miaohan was naturally aloof and rarely smiled, her deliberate coldness and distance were all too obvious.
Yu Shuman knew the reason, and even if she didn't, someone would always be there to fill her in. Some underground idols, driven by spite, would make snide comments with a hint of malice. "She must hate you because of what happened at the last event. She was dressed to the nines, and her outfit looked expensive. But that night, all the hot searches were about you. You outshone her even though you both were dressed to impress and are in the same group."
"I heard she's a rich second-generation heiress, a real princess. Being overshadowed like that must have been humiliating."
Yu Shuman dismissed their gossip with a "Don't say that," even though she wasn't on good terms with Ling Miaohan, and her junior disliked her. Yu Shuman still didn't enjoy hearing others speak ill of someone, even if there was some truth to it.
Recently, the constant rumors had been bothersome. Even in the bathroom, she overheard people gossiping, but this time about herself instead of Ling Miaohan. Some of the comments were particularly harsh, painting vivid pictures of how she had allegedly seduced the boss of 99 Entertainment, as if they had witnessed it firsthand.
She didn't like this and did what she had done before—walking out of the bathroom. The people talking about her would look awkward when they saw her. Yu Shuman would calmly wash her hands, dry them, and then turn to face them, saying firmly, "I didn't do it."
But her efforts were in vain. Even if she spoke confidently, and they nodded in agreement to her face, as soon as she left, they would continue, "Look at her, all righteous in front of us. I bet there's something fishy going on. Otherwise, why would the rumors keep growing?"
Yu Shuman felt a moment of helplessness. She didn't know how to fight back, so she focused on working hard.
Now, even her junior was worried, taking the initiative to call and visit her at home. It was clear her life was far from normal.
She wanted to reassure Qin Ran that she was fine, but after talking for a while, Qin Ran suddenly asked a question Yu Shuman hadn't expected. "If I've kept a lot of things from you, would you hate me and stop being my friend?"
Yu Shuman was taken aback and turned to look at Qin Ran.
They were sitting on the balcony, with only a small light illuminating the space. The only other light came from the living room behind them and the colorful neon lights in the distance. The soft light from the living room cast a glow on Qin Ran, who turned her head as if sensing Yu Shuman's gaze and looked back at her.
Her eyes were serious, filled with things she wanted to say but couldn't. The glasses she wore hid some of her emotions, but much of her feelings seemed to be conveyed through them.
Yu Shuman removed her gloves, placed them aside, grabbed her beer, and took a big swig.
"I wouldn't hate you. I believe you wouldn't do anything to hurt me, so I wouldn't stop being your friend."
Qin Ran hadn't even explained what she had done, yet Yu Shuman already reassured her that nothing would change between them. This visibly relaxed Qin Ran, who sighed softly. Yu Shuman couldn't help but smile. "What is it? Have you done something bad behind my back?"
"It's not something bad, but you'll find out in a few days."
"In a few days? I might be too busy then—I have a brand event to attend."
Qin Ran, of course, knew about the event because she planned to reveal her identity that day. She had delayed the company's response because she was debating whether or not to expose herself. Although there were other ways to protect her identity, she had always known that she couldn't hide it forever. Now was the best time to reveal it. There was no point in prolonging the inevitable.
Her senior had already promised that they would still be friends no matter what.
The next day, Qin Ran and Assistant Wu went to a bespoke clothing store and hired a stylist to do her hair. In this life, as in the previous one, she looked much the same, but growing up working hard was different from living a life of luxury. Many small details were different. She needed a stylist to create a look that would satisfy her.
Qin Ran didn't like flashy outfits. She was a boss, not an artist, so there was no need to draw too much attention. She chose a semi-casual, semi-formal outfit, consisting of light gray linen wide-leg pants and an asymmetrical shirt of the same color, cinched at the waist with a belt, and paired with flat sandals.
Her hair was styled slightly, just enough to look fresher, tied up in a high ponytail. Before attending the event, Qin Ran removed her round-framed glasses and awkwardly put on contact lenses.
In her previous life, she rarely wore them, even when necessary, preferring to rely on her assistant. But now, even Assistant Wu wore glasses, so she had no choice but to do it herself.
After finally getting the contacts in, Qin Ran looked in the mirror and still felt a bit unfamiliar.
The makeup artist arrived, and Lucy's apprentice hesitated outside the office door for a while before Assistant Wu called her in. She smiled shyly. "Wow, the boss is so young."
After Qin Ran changed into her outfit, the makeup artist did her makeup. When she was done, she asked, "Boss, do you need help with your jewelry?"
"No." Qin Ran declined. She opened a drawer, took out a jewelry box, and retrieved a brooch, which she pinned to her chest. The platinum brooch was shaped like a leaf and encrusted with emeralds. Although her outfit was in light colors, the brooch elevated her entire look.
Next to the jewelry box was a neatly folded handkerchief embroidered with a small white rabbit. Without hesitation, Qin Ran tucked it into her pocket. With everything ready, it was almost time for the brand event.
Qin Ran glanced at Assistant Wu. "Let's go."
Qin Ran thought to herself: Will she hate me? She won't hate me. Will she hate me? She won't hate me!