25: The Interview

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And this woman still thought he knew nothing, truly believing herself clever.

The instant Lu Yuyao saw the man’s cold, stern gaze, anger surfaced on her beautiful face. “Brother Jinyan!”

Her fury turned into laughter. She stepped forward in her black high heels, lightly laid one hand on Feng Jinyan’s shoulder, and leaned toward his ear with slightly parted red lips. Her breath carried a fragrant sweetness as she drawled softly, “I know about your relationship with Doctor Ye. If Auntie finds out that you’ve locked her up in the villa… tell me, what do you think she’ll do?”

Feng Jinyan arched a handsome brow. He truly had not expected Lu Yuyao to tear off her mask so quickly.

Two years earlier, when Lu Yuyao returned from abroad, his mother had deliberately taken him to the airport to meet her. That was when he finally met the girl he had heard about since childhood.

She was graceful and generous, yet warm and clingy—overall, a fairly likable young woman. Unfortunately, Feng Jinyan had never felt that way about her. He knew he had not yet moved on from what had happened six years ago, so he had simply treated her as a younger sister, albeit one who could be rather spoiled and coquettish.

Today, however, he realized that he had mistaken her completely. Lu Yuyao’s possessiveness was far stronger than he had imagined. Her attitude of destroying whatever she could not have struck him as almost laughable.

Did she really think her threat would work?

Feng Jinyan pulled her arm down and gave a low, amused laugh. “You’re welcome to go complain. But let me remind you of one thing: from now on, your career in show business—and the Lu family itself—may not have a smooth road ahead.”

Lu Yuyao froze. Only then did fear begin to sink in.

She had acted on impulse. She had actually dared to threaten Feng Jinyan.

“Brother Jinyan, I’m sorry. I only said those things because I like you so much. Please don’t take them to heart, all right?”

The young woman’s eyes reddened, as though Feng Jinyan had bullied her.

But faced with her pitiful expression, Feng Jinyan remained unmoved. “You know how I feel about Ye Xiangwan. So stop clinging to me and telling me you like me. Do you really think the matter between Ye Xiangwan and me is something outsiders can interfere in? For the sake of the relationship between our mothers, you’d better not make this any uglier than it has to be. That will only benefit you and the Lu family.”

Feng Jinyan had never been a man of many words, yet he had said so much to her today. Every word, however, had been a warning.

Lu Yuyao bit her lip and did not dare speak again. After giving her a cool glance, Feng Jinyan turned and walked away.

Once he had left the set, Feng Jinyan called Ling Zhanyi.

“Have someone keep an eye on Lu Yuyao. She may be with our company, but she only came into the entertainment industry to have some fun. Don’t let her cause any trouble.”

“Yes, Master Xiao.”

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Feng Jinyan walked to the window and leaned back against the glass, one leg bent. In front of him, the harried production staff were busy conferring with the lighting crew, while several workers passing by greeted him respectfully with smiles.

Everyone else was rushing about, but he alone felt hollow inside.

He rubbed the phone Ling Zhanyi had bought for him earlier that day for a long while, then dialed a number.

“Hello. The number you have dialed is switched off. The…”

Ye Xiangwan had not turned on her phone. At that moment, she was dragging her suitcase off a high-speed train. A wave of warmth greeted her, and she gazed at the unfamiliar city before her with a trace of bewilderment.

She had not wanted to come south. Being one step closer to Feng Jinyan made her feel oppressed from the depths of her heart. But if she went north at this time of year, she did not want her suitcase to hold nothing but a few down jackets.

Besides, she had not rented a place, and there was nowhere to send her belongings. Most of the money she had saved over the years had gone to Huo Siqing. At this point, she simply no longer had the luxury of being picky.

Still, she was not worried about beginning life anew. After all, she had paid back everything she owed over the years.

From now on, in this small third-tier city, she could finally stop wandering and begin living for herself.

Alone, she carried her suitcase out of the station. People could always find a way to survive, couldn’t they?

The interview here was nearly ready to begin. Feng Jinyan sat on the sofa in the lounge, a cigarette held between his fingers, though he had not smoked it.

He had never liked smoking. But after Ye Xiangwan left him, he had developed an addiction.

Before long, Ling Zhanyi hurried in. “Master Xiao, the reporter scheduled for the interview has arrived. Miss Lu is ready as well.”

“Mm. Any news from Ye Xiangwan?”

“Not yet…”

Ling Zhanyi handed him the phone. After glancing at it, Feng Jinyan rested his head against the back of the chair and rubbed his brow wearily.

He knew that what he had done to Ye Xiangwan had been beastly. But that day, he had truly been driven mad with rage. Whenever he thought of how she had deceived him from beginning to end, it felt as if something inside his body had exploded, leaving his organs torn apart with pain.

Knock, knock, knock.

The door suddenly sounded. A member of the production staff called from outside, “Master Feng, the reporter is here.”

Feng Jinyan crushed out the unfinished cigarette and walked out.

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The lights had already been set up. The interview was arranged in one corner of the set, with a cabinet in the background. On top of it stood a framed photograph of Feng Jinyan and Lu Yuyao facing the camera.

The cameraman took his position. After the reporter exchanged the usual polite pleasantries with them, the questions began.

“Master Feng, everyone is eagerly anticipating the new film Rebirth, directed by the great Ma Kaihong. People are especially interested in the female lead, who is truly beautiful.”

Lu Yuyao gave the camera a shy smile and hurriedly said, “Not at all, not at all.”

“I heard that you and Miss Lu knew each other before this. Is that right?”

Feng Jinyan gave a slight nod and answered succinctly, “Yes.”

“Yes, our families have been close for generations. We were even betrothed as children…”

The moment Lu Yuyao finished speaking, she covered her mouth and looked at Feng Jinyan in alarm. Then she leaned toward him and whispered, “This isn’t a live broadcast. They can edit it out, right?”

Feng Jinyan narrowed his eyes slightly. Then he lowered his gaze and casually flexed his wrist. “You already said it. Do you really expect an entertainment reporter to conceal news this explosive for you?”

He knew perfectly well what Lu Yuyao was trying to do: use the media to declare her claim on him. Even if she later terminated her contract with his company, she would never be able to shake off the label of being his childhood sweetheart.

“Hahaha… Well, Miss Lu has already said it, and it’s good publicity for the film. So let me take the liberty of asking: what exactly is the relationship between the two of you…?”

How could the reporter possibly let such a major scoop go? He immediately pressed on, afraid that if he waited even a moment, he would lose the chance.

“She only returned to the country a few years ago. We’re just ordinary friends, nothing more.”

Not knowing what else Lu Yuyao might say, Feng Jinyan answered evenly before she could open her mouth.

“Hahaha… Since we’re on the subject, Miss Lu, are you as curious as the rest of us about Master Feng’s famously secretive romantic history?”

Lu Yuyao glanced at Feng Jinyan, then smiled with extraordinary shyness.

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