Chapter 32: Clinging to Chi Ran’s Coattails

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"It’s just too pitiful to put myself in Yu Ling’s shoes. Not only was she stolen away by her stepmother, but her stepmother doesn't even love her, using her as a blood bag to nourish her own child. God, just thinking about it is unbearable..."

Yu Ling’s mood was complicated.

Her hand, which had been stroking the cat, froze mid-air. The kitten in her arms, sensing that its human servant had stopped providing service, opened its eyes in confusion and let out a weak "meow."

It was as if it were reminding her: "Get back to work!"

Pulled back to reality by the sound, Yu Ling looked at the kitten, picked it up, and set it on the floor.

The kitten, not understanding why its servant no longer wanted to provide a warm, fragrant embrace, kept batting at the floor with its soft paws, accompanied by a pathetic, powerless meow that sounded like a tantrum.

Yu Ling crouched down and stroked its head. "Go play by yourself for a while, okay? Let Mommy have a moment to herself, alright?"

Upon hearing her, the kitten actually stopped meowing.

It was as if it could understand human speech; it tilted its head and watched Yu Ling. After a moment, it reached out a paw, tapped her pant leg, and scurried away.

Yu Ling’s gaze followed it until it returned to its bed, and only then did she look away. Truly, the kitten was an angel sent by heaven to save her.

Feeling a bit thirsty, Yu Ling stood up to pour herself a glass of water. It was only then that she realized half of her body had gone numb. She rubbed her knees and slowly rose.

She poured a glass of water, but upon taking a sip, she realized it had long since turned icy, making her shiver uncontrollably. Putting the glass down, she was finally able to face the comment she had seen earlier.

If what they said was true, it meant she wasn't actually an abandoned protagonist, a realization that was, in a way, easier to accept.

But then the question arose: what had happened to the original author for her beloved work to be stolen by someone else? And since it had already been stolen, why choose now—the very day Lin Mianmian’s system disappeared—to finally speak up?

Yu Ling didn't believe in coincidences. There had to be an inseparable connection between that world and this one; she just didn't know what it was yet.

Just as Yu Ling was about to ponder further, her phone rang. She reached out and grabbed it, but upon seeing the caller ID, her mood became instantly complex.

What was meant to come had arrived. It was a call from Chi Ran.

She had owed him a favor since the day he helped her.

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Ever since that day, it felt as though a time bomb had been installed inside Yu Ling, one that could explode at any moment. Yet, she couldn't blame anyone but herself. She hadn't wanted to ruin things, but she had ruined them regardless.

Yu Ling sighed, her expression one of grim determination, as if she were facing an execution, and pressed the answer button.

After the line connected, Chi Ran remained silent.

Yu Ling counted to ten in her head before speaking first: "Chi Ran, is there something you need?"

She went straight to the point, leaving no room for polite small talk. Asking this made her feel incredibly anxious; she felt like a prisoner under interrogation, waiting nervously for Chi Ran’s verdict, her heart in her throat.

After a long pause, she finally heard him say, "You still owe me a favor that hasn't been fulfilled."

Yu Ling’s heart sank at his words, and for some reason, a bitter taste filled her throat.

She smiled bitterly and said, "Yes. What do you need me to do for you?"

Chi Ran answered quickly: "I need you to join Huanxing."

Join Huanxing?

The answer turned Yu Ling’s brain into mush. It took her a full two seconds to process what he had just said.

Her, joining Huanxing?

This condition? This wasn't her helping him in exchange for something; this was him providing her with an immense, absolute favor.

Yu Ling went silent. Was Chi Ran having some kind of massive "love-struck" outburst?

In all honesty, joining Huanxing held nothing but benefits for her. In this industry, looks used to be everything; people seemed to think movie stars had to be exceptionally beautiful or handsome, plucked right out of a crowd.

But that wasn't the case anymore. To become famous now, you first looked at how powerful your backing was and how much money they were willing to spend on you.

Huanxing was the industry’s leading powerhouse, possessing a professional star-making network and the top agents, along with extraordinary connections to the titans of the film and fashion worlds. In other words, if an actor stepped foot into Huanxing, they were not far from stardom. Even if they didn't become a sensation, they were on the path to becoming a highly respected artist known for both reputation and acting prowess.

Countless people broke their heads trying to get into Huanxing, with some even willing to pay for the chance, all for the sake of those connections in the fashion and entertainment circles.

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One had to realize that behind such resources lay vast sums of money and complex social debts; simply having the money didn't guarantee access.

Yet now, Chi Ran was personally inviting Yu Ling to join.

The "pie from the sky" had hit her square on the forehead, leaving her feeling dizzy. Her silence was caused by being overwhelmed with joy, but Chi Ran mistook it for reluctance.

Losing his patience, he asked again, "Are you unwilling? I know you've publicly stated you wouldn't join any more talent agencies. But rest assured, I guarantee Huanxing will give you the maximum amount of freedom. We will absolutely not exploit you without restraint like Jia Shang did. You can do what you want, turn down work you don't like; no one will force you. And your resources will definitely be top-tier, the best of the best..."

"Stop, stop, stop."

Seeing him getting more and more carried away, Yu Ling hurriedly interrupted. She rubbed her forehead, her head throbbing. What was she to do?

How stupid had she been? The comments had long ago said that Chi Ran was infatuated with her, crazy about her, and loved her to the point of madness. With such a golden opportunity right in front of her, she had actually acted reserved and refused to cling to it?

Yu Ling desperately wanted to travel back a few days and slap her stubborn self. Principles and pride were empty things in front of such a golden opportunity.

Yu Ling had reached a state of enlightenment: only a fool passes up a free lunch. If she didn't take it today, she wouldn't find an opportunity like this even if she searched with a lantern.

Thus, Yu Ling tried to keep her voice as calm as possible, not wanting him to detect her eagerness: "I’ll join Huanxing."

She pinched her own palm, her face turning red from the effort of holding back. She was terrified she would burst into manic laughter the next second.

After hanging up, Yu Ling threw herself onto the sofa and rolled around twice, then, looking radiant, went to the fridge to grab a bottle of wine.

Since she was in a good mood, she might as well have a drink.

The kitten, distracted by her laughter, poked its fluffy head out of the nest, eyes wide as it watched her.

Yu Ling crouched down and beckoned to it, the smile on her face impossible to suppress. The kitten ran toward her with delight and leaped into her arms.

Yu Ling hugged it tight, took a deep breath of its scent, and made a firm decision in her heart:

From now on, she was going to cling tightly to Chi Ran’s leg!