The only thing that puzzled Qin Ran was, why didn't Pei Qi give that diamond to the female lead as he originally intended? Why did he offer it to her instead?
When Qin Ran saw the pink diamond, she was reminded of a plotline from the original novel. She began to wonder: was the love between the male and female leads really as unbreakable as the novel described, or was there more to it?
Not necessarily...
Pei Qi had offered the pink diamond to Qin Ran in hopes of mending the strained relationship between his company and 99 Entertainment. This kind of business tactic was all too familiar to Qin Ran, as her father had done similar things in her previous life. He had once gifted a valuable vase that her mother had meticulously bid for to a business partner simply to secure a deal. Her mother, though initially furious, eventually smiled once she realized the benefits that came with the exchange.
Now, if Ling Miaohan found out that the pink diamond Pei Qi planned to give her was first offered to someone else and rejected, she would be furious. Qin Ran's mind began to churn with mischief.
She beckoned Assistant Wu over and whispered her plan into her ear, instructing her to obtain the surveillance footage from the event and send it to Ling Miaohan.
Assistant Wu silently nodded, her eyes conveying, Boss, you're really something.
Qin Ran then took her seat in the banquet hall and soon spotted Yu Shuman entering, holding her dress elegantly as she walked. Around her neck hung a jade pendant, its rich green hue catching the light, a clear sign of its high value. The pendant, though simply crafted, was a treasure from an old, renowned jewelry store in Hong Kong. While it might not be as famous as the 120-million-yuan set of jade jewelry that debuted over a decade ago, it wasn't far behind.
Yu Shuman was unaware of the pendant's true value. Lately, whenever she attended events, she would wear different sets of gemstone jewelry. Some of them, according to her manager Lijie, were borrowed for her to wear, while others were given to her as gifts. Over time, Yu Shuman became so used to this that she no longer kept track of what was valuable and what wasn't.
When Qin Ran saw Yu Shuman wearing that jade pendant, it only confirmed her suspicions that Pei Qi's feelings for Ling Miaohan were questionable.
If Qin Ran had originally bought a gift for Yu Shuman, she could never imagine giving it to someone else instead. It was simply impossible. She would rather cut off her own hand than give away something meant for Yu Shuman.
Yu Shuman took a seat next to Qin Ran and noticed her gaze on the pendant. She lifted it and said, "Isn't it pretty? The brand asked me to wear it as part of their promotion. I have to be careful with it because it's probably really expensive."
Her senior was truly naive. There was no way a brand would loan out such a valuable piece of jewelry without first ensuring it was well-protected. The only reason it was hanging around Yu Shuman's neck was that Qin Ran had already bought it.
By tomorrow morning, the news of Yu Shuman wearing this rare imperial jade pendant would likely dominate the headlines.
Netizens had already become accustomed to seeing Yu Shuman adorned with exquisite jewelry at every event. She was often compared to a jewelry display case, with each appearance showcasing a new set of pieces, none of which were the typical seven or eight thousand yuan luxury items but rather authentic pieces from prestigious jewelry houses. The public had grown so used to this that they no longer expressed envy; instead, the most common comment became, "I hope the heavens will bless me with a best friend like Yu Shuman's, so I too can wear different gemstone jewelry every day."
Most assumed that the jewelry Yu Shuman wore was borrowed from her wealthy friend, never suspecting that it was actually gifted to her.
While Yu Shuman might be a walking jewelry display, her beauty only enhanced the appeal of the pieces she wore. Each set of jewelry was meticulously matched with her outfit, and her stunning looks tied everything together, creating a powerful combination.
Even Yu Shuman's mother, who had recently taken to browsing the internet, was aware of her daughter's close friendship with her boss. "Manman, didn't you say your boss was a woman in her thirties or forties? How did she become your best friend?" Yu Shuman didn't know how to explain and was reluctant to reveal that her best friend was Qin Ran, knowing it would only lead to more questions. So she simply smiled and said, "Yes, Mom, my boss and I have become best friends."
"Oh… but you shouldn't be wearing someone else's jewelry so casually!"
"Mom, it's not like that. The manager asked me to wear it to promote the brand. I'm not just wearing it for free." After some explanation, Yu Shuman's mother finally understood.
She urged Yu Shuman to work hard and spent some time browsing the internet, though she didn't quite grasp all the online slang. Some trending topics were only available at certain times, and if she missed them, she wouldn't see them again. As a result, she never saw the photo of Yu Shuman and Qin Ran together, nor did she realize that Qin Ran was her daughter's boss.
Meanwhile, Qin Ran continued to admire the pendant around Yu Shuman's neck. There was no denying it—this piece of imperial green jade was truly a treasure.
After two days, Qin Ran had adjusted her mood and no longer avoided physical contact with Yu Shuman as she had before. She sat next to Yu Shuman throughout the dinner, occasionally engaging in conversation. At one point, Assistant Wu excused herself and returned after a long while.
When Qin Ran glanced at her, Assistant Wu subtly nodded, signaling that the task had been completed.
Qin Ran then looked over at Ling Miaohan, who was sitting beside Pei Qi, dressed in a lavish outfit. Ling Miaohan had gone all out for tonight's event, and Qin Ran, who kept up with fashion, recognized her dress as a masterpiece from a well-known designer. It had made quite a stir at the spring-summer fashion show in May.
Ling Miaohan had managed to borrow it, showing that she had spared no expense for tonight. But despite her efforts, she wouldn't get what she wanted, as Yu Shuman's jade pendant would outshine everything else.
As Ling Miaohan dined, she seemed to sense Qin Ran's gaze and looked over. Her eyes, already cold, grew even colder when she saw Qin Ran. Qin Ran, however, merely smiled and raised her glass in a polite gesture.
This wasn't a gesture of goodwill but rather the demeanor of a winner toward the defeated. This smile would only make Ling Miaohan despise her more, but that didn't matter to Qin Ran, who also had no fondness for Ling Miaohan.
Hatred, like love, can sometimes be without reason. Just as Qin Ran had fallen in love with Yu Shuman one fateful evening at sunset, she had taken an instant dislike to Ling Miaohan after reading the novel.
Unlike Qin Ran's irrational dislike, Ling Miaohan had every reason to hate her. She had often seen Qin Ran at the filming base, where she worked as a staff member sent by 99 Entertainment. Qin Ran constantly hovered around Yu Shuman, and during the second public performance, Ling Miaohan, who was a teammate, couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.
Ling Miaohan had always been the center of attention wherever she went, but here was a staff member who completely ignored her and instead cozied up to a contestant with an ordinary background. Later, when she found out that Qin Ran was connected to 99 Entertainment, her feelings of discomfort turned into a slight disdain.
Then, Yu Shuman unknowingly kept doing things that upset her, and now she was constantly overshadowed by her. How could Ling Miaohan possibly swallow this?
When she learned that Qin Ran was the boss of 99 Entertainment, Ling Miaohan was so shocked she could hardly breathe. She couldn't understand why this woman had pretended to be poor and buzzed around Yu Shuman like a bee.
Now, seeing Qin Ran smiling so sweetly at her, Ling Miaohan couldn't help but wonder what devious thoughts were running through her mind.
Qin Ran had no idea what Ling Miaohan was thinking, but she could tell from her sharp eyes that Ling Miaohan didn't like her. Qin Ran was already imagining Ling Miaohan's reaction when she found out that the pink diamond Pei Qi had offered to someone else first was later given to her.
Qin Ran wasn't aware of the time when Yu Shuman apologized to Ling Miaohan. If she had known, she would have been even angrier. She had always protected Yu Shuman, making sure she was treated well in the industry. No one had dared to cross her. But now, out of nowhere, Yu Shuman had to apologize to Ling Miaohan.
Yes, Yu Shuman had been wrong to give people nicknames without asking, but Ling Miaohan hadn't shown any displeasure the first time Yu Shuman called her by one. And when it happened again, she still didn't express her dislike. Instead, she quietly fumed until Yu Shuman realized she had crossed a line and apologized. What kind of attitude was that? If it had been Qin Ran, she wouldn't have put up with it. If Ling Miaohan didn't like it, that was her problem, not Yu Shuman's.
After the dinner, the guests moved to a hall for some drinks and conversation. Qin Ran, true to form, didn't bother with the socializing. She never drank alcohol, only non-alcoholic beverages, and as the boss, many people were eager to stay on her good side, so no one pressed her.
Yu Shuman was in a different position. Though her popularity had risen thanks to her recent drama, she was still a new star with a long way to go. In this kind of setting, she had no choice but to take a few sips when seniors in the industry offered her a drink.
Qin Ran stood aside, watching the scene with a furrowed brow. She couldn't help but ask Assistant Wu, "Is this how they've been making her drink at previous dinners?"
The two of them hadn't been living together long, and during this time, Yu Shuman had been focused on promoting her new drama, with no major social events to attend. As a result, Qin Ran wasn't aware of how Yu Shuman was treated at these gatherings. Since Yu Shuman was still a relatively small star, she couldn't bring an assistant to these events. Little An, who usually reported to Qin Ran, didn't mention anything about these dinners.
Assistant Wu was momentarily taken aback by the question, then shook her head. "I haven't attended any of the same events as Miss Yu Shuman, so I didn't know this was happening."
In the past, when attending events, Assistant Wu had accompanied 99 Entertainment's CEO, and their goals were always clear—they were there to negotiate deals. Yu Shuman wasn't on her radar, so she hadn't paid attention to her. Lijie sometimes attended, but she was busy managing other artists and couldn't always keep an eye on Yu Shuman.
Qin Ran narrowed her eyes, downed the drink in her hand, and set the glass on a nearby tray before making her way toward Yu Shuman.