Qin Ran felt stiff—completely rigid. There wasn't a part of her body that she could move comfortably. She could feel Yu Shuman's gaze on her and knew she had to turn and face her. In Yu Shuman's eyes, there was a swirl of emotions: shock, confusion, doubt, and even a hint of reproach. Qin Ran regretted her decision; she should never have impulsively revealed her identity.
Look at that—there wasn't a trace of happiness on her senior's face.
Qin Ran opened her mouth, feeling that she needed to say something, but not a single word came out. It was Yu Shuman who broke the silence first. She wasn't one to hold back, and after staring at Qin Ran for so long, her questions finally burst forth.
"Junior, why are you here?"
There it was—the inevitable question.
Qin Ran lowered her head, avoiding Yu Shuman's gaze. "Because I'm the boss of 99 Entertainment."
Yu Shuman couldn't begin to guess what Qin Ran was thinking, but she was too stunned to manage her expression. Her face was frozen in shock. Suddenly, memories of her rare conversations with the boss came flooding back, especially the ones where she had confidently assured the boss that she would become the company's cash cow and even promised to win the Best Actress award someday.
Although she had said similar things to Qin Ran, it felt entirely different knowing that the boss was Qin Ran all along. Yu Shuman's mind raced, even recalling the day she met the boss and mistakenly assumed their gender.
Despite how overwhelming the revelation was, if the equation "Qin Ran = 99 Entertainment's boss" were true, everything made sense. Of course, the company had been so supportive, and Sister Li's laid-back attitude now seemed justified. After all, if the boss was her close friend, there was no way Sister Li would make things difficult for her.
Yu Shuman's head ached. She wondered if she was still asleep or dreaming.
While Yu Shuman was too shocked to speak, Qin Ran fell silent too, unnerved by her senior's lack of response.
The servers began bringing out the dishes after the warm towels were handed out. Since it was an international brand event, the meal consisted of Western cuisine. The table was set with a full array of utensils, and Qin Ran, who had been drilled in proper dining etiquette since childhood, knew exactly how to use them. But with her senior sitting right beside her, it would have felt strange to show off her perfect manners.
So, Qin Ran decided to throw all her training out the window and just eat however she felt comfortable.
The first course was a French cream chicken pastry. Qin Ran picked it up with a fork and began eating with little regard for formality. Her somewhat bold approach caught the attention of others at the table, but as soon as they saw the name on her place card and realized who she was, they quickly looked away, pretending not to notice.
Those seated at Qin Ran's table were either high-ranking employees of 99 Entertainment, like Assistant Wu, or affiliated business partners—essentially allies. Everyone had at least heard of the name "Qin Ran," so while they might have mentally labeled her as a "tacky nouveau riche," they wouldn't dare show it.
Qin Ran had always remembered a saying: "Etiquette is a tool the powerful use to control the powerless. You only need to be humble in front of those above you. But if you hold power, no one can use etiquette to subdue you."
In her past life, Qin Ran had to maintain perfect manners to protect her reputation and business relationships, but now she had a system, albeit one that was often useless, that allowed her to live without bowing to anyone. Cooperation? She didn't need it. Caring about others' opinions? Not happening.
Seeing Qin Ran eat so casually, Yu Shuman worried that others might look down on her. She leaned closer and whispered, "Junior, you should use the appetizer fork—the smallest one with two prongs." Her voice was soft, trying to keep others from hearing. Too nervous to point directly, Yu Shuman described the fork in detail.
Despite still being in shock, Yu Shuman couldn't bear to see her junior being judged by others.
Qin Ran's heart, which had been tense, finally settled back into place at Yu Shuman's concern. She murmured an acknowledgment, picked up the correct fork, and began using it. Once the awkwardness was broken, it didn't return. Qin Ran tilted her head to share a few quiet words with Yu Shuman now and then, all while continuing to eat.
The appetizer was small and delicately plated, so it didn't take long to finish. Soon, the first course was cleared, and the second was served: French onion soup. The choice of dishes reflected the nationality of the brand's founder. While French cuisine was one of the world's top cuisines, Qin Ran didn't find it particularly enjoyable.
However, Yu Shuman's occasional reminders of proper dining etiquette made the meal much more interesting for Qin Ran.
If Yu Shuman had looked past Qin Ran to Assistant Wu, she would have seen a very peculiar expression on the assistant's face. The Qin Ran she saw at this table seemed completely different from the one she knew. Who was this person who apparently knew nothing about dining etiquette? Where had the poised and polished Qin Ran gone? The one who, after the New Year, had gone abroad to acquire companies and dined flawlessly with board members?
Assistant Wu knew Qin Ran was multilingual and had impeccable manners. When dealing with minority board members during acquisitions, Qin Ran would do her homework in advance. As her reputation grew with each successful acquisition, these businesspeople began to respect Qin Ran's dining habits.
Qin Ran's etiquette was among the best Assistant Wu had ever seen.
Assistant Wu hadn't previously considered Qin Ran's feelings for Yu Shuman; it had never crossed her mind. But today, for some reason, Assistant Wu suddenly realized the truth. The way she now looked at Yu Shuman was akin to watching a small, innocent rabbit trapped by a cunning fox. In that moment, she understood why Qin Ran had refused to reveal the truth to Yu Shuman earlier—this was no ordinary friendship; Qin Ran had deeper, hidden feelings for her.
Thinking of Qin Ran and Yu Shuman's relationship, and then of her own job security, Assistant Wu felt sorry for Yu Shuman, but her job was more important. So, she decided to pretend she didn't know anything and continued eating her meal quietly. And honestly, the soup was pretty good.
Course after course was served, all in the order of a traditional Western meal, until dessert was finished, and tea was served. At that point, the brand's founder finally stood up. While everyone had been present before the meal, unlike at Chinese banquets, there was no toasting during a Western dinner. It wasn't until the meal was over that the hosts began to move around.
The founder had a planned order for whom to greet, starting with their closest business partners, before moving on to other important companies. Specially invited celebrities and influencers were last on the list.
The founder reached Qin Ran's table relatively early, indicating their high priority. Accompanied by an assistant, the founder approached, prompting Qin Ran to stand up. Without needing a reminder, Yu Shuman stood as well. By the time the founder arrived, everyone was already on their feet. The founder greeted Qin Ran warmly, raising his glass and saying in heavily accented Chinese, "Qin, thank you so much for attending my event. I've been trying to meet with you for months, and I'm very happy you could come."
Despite the accent, the founder managed to say quite a lot.
But his pronunciation of "Qin" made Yu Shuman feel as if she was shopping on Taobao, where the sellers affectionately called everyone "dear." And that last phrase, "I'm very happy," was classic Chinglish.
Qin Ran exchanged a few polite words, though the founder's confused expression suggested he had no idea what she was saying until Assistant Wu translated. Only then did the founder smile.
After a few more pleasantries, the founder moved on. Once he was gone and everyone had returned to their seats, Yu Shuman couldn't hold back any longer. "Junior, shouldn't you explain this to me?"
Qin Ran's heart skipped a beat. She drained her drink in one gulp and stammered, "L-let's talk after we finish eating." The meal was already winding down, and once the founder made his rounds and gave his closing remarks, the evening would be over.
Before leaving the venue, Assistant Wu arranged for a photographer to take a picture of Qin Ran and Yu Shuman together. Then they were ushered into the company van and driven back to Yu Shuman's dorm. Xiao An and her team helped both women remove their makeup before leaving with Sister Li.
Once everyone else had gone, and the room was left with just the two of them, Qin Ran grew even more nervous. Yu Shuman had already changed out of her expensive custom-made dress and into her pajamas, sitting comfortably on the sofa. Qin Ran, however, still wore her formal attire, sitting stiffly on a small armchair with her legs together, head down, and silent.
Finally, Yu Shuman spoke. "Aren't you going to tell me something?"
Qin Ran swallowed and hurriedly recited the explanation she had prepared in advance. "Actually, when I graduated from high school, I inherited a large fortune from a distant relative. I didn't know how to spend it, so when you mentioned wanting to enter the entertainment industry, I thought I might as well invest in it. I hired a professional manager, and while I handle the investments, I'm not involved in the day-to-day operations."
She was lying, so Qin Ran didn't dare look up, staring intently at the floor instead. After blurting out her story, she found herself staring at the plush carpet beneath the sofa, sinking into a long, awkward silence. It felt as if she were a criminal waiting for the executioner's blade to fall.
Qin Ran waited, and waited, until she was tempted to peek up at Yu Shuman. Finally, she heard Yu Shuman sigh, a sound that reassured Qin Ran that her senior wouldn't hold this against her. As she lifted her head, she met Yu Shuman's gaze, filled with a soft melancholy. "Junior, is that all? There isn't anything else you're hiding from me, is there?"
Yu Shuman: Junior, are you sure you've told me everything?
Qin Ran: I think so...
Yu Shuman: Think?
Qin Ran: ...Actually, there is more.