Chapter 3

Yan You nearly choked on her own anger. Her chest heaved violently as she struggled to think of what to do before slumping onto the sofa.

Wen Zhiyu sat on the opposite corner of the sofa. After a moment of silence, she spoke, "Can you drink? The media is swarming outside; we'll probably have to schmooze later."

Yan You shook her head. "No, alcohol is bad for my health. And it tastes awful."

Wen Zhiyu's assistant, Meng Shu, finally snapped. She shot to her feet. "How can you be so delicate, an Alpha? Fine, you can't kiss or act, but you can't even drink? Are you going to leave Zhiyu to handle all those reporters alone?"

Yan You was startled by the sudden outburst. The sisters were a study in contrasts: one sat with her leg crossed, her eyes deep and inscrutable; the other stood nearby, her gaze burning with hostility.

Suddenly, Yan You remembered the note that Wen Zhiyu's late wife, Yan You, had allegedly left behind, which the media had leaked.

The one who harmed me is my wife, Wen Zhiyu.

From the beginning, she was after my money. Using that Permanent Contract variety show, she gradually tricked me into trusting her, turning my unconditional love into her pawn. When I fell from the cliff by the sea, it wasn't an accident—Wen Zhiyu pushed me herself.

Call the police!!!

Looking at the two women before her, one exuded the aura of a gang boss, the other the image of a bodyguard. Yan You slightly regretted agreeing so quickly.

"Well... I guess I could have a little."

Before evening, Yan You rested in her room. She had initially worried that she might wake up back in Year 2622 and miss out on the payment Wen Zhiyu had promised. As it turned out, she had been overthinking; returning to Year 2622 was far more complicated than she imagined.

Still, she decided to make the best of it.

Yan Huiwen wouldn't allow her to travel abroad, but returning to Jinghe City twenty years in the past was a unique cross-temporal journey in itself. Plus, the pay was substantial—she could treat it as a summer job. As long as she behaved properly, worked diligently, and avoided provoking Wen Zhiyu, she should avoid the same fate as Yan You.

Jinghe City at this time wasn't much different from how it would be twenty years later, still in its rapid development phase. The buildings that would later fall into disrepair now appeared more exquisite. The entertainment industry was still raw and unadulterated by plastic surgery, an era where talent and genuine skill reigned supreme.

Take Wen Zhiyu, for example: after her meteoric rise to fame, she remained at the top for over a decade, weathering even a major family scandal without falling. Her resilience was undeniable.

This was likely the most vulnerable moment of Wen Zhiyu's career.

Yan You accompanied her throughout the evening, holding a champagne flute and making polite conversation as they mingled. Wherever they went, the investors and producers offered perfunctory congratulations, but under Wen Zhiyu's subtle hints and veiled warnings, none dared to suggest a collaboration.

Perhaps it was because Yan You bore such a striking resemblance to Yan You, the ill-fated Mayor's Daughter, that these people clustered around her, their attention both flattering and irritating.

Finally, at nine-thirty, Yan You slumped onto a corner sofa and yawned. "Enough yet? Can't you see they're all avoiding you like the plague? They're terrified of getting involved with your family's mess."

Wen Zhiyu was well aware of this. But her pride wouldn't allow her to humble herself and beg for help. Yan You's blunt words felt like a brutal trampling of her dignity.

She set down her glass, turned, and strode toward the door, ignoring the greetings of acquaintances along the way.

The money hadn't been paid yet, and she'd already offended them. With nowhere else to go, Yan You hurried after her.

Once outside, the cold wind seemed to clear her head slightly.

Remembering her earlier words and watching Wen Zhiyu's high heels click rapidly ahead, she realized she'd spoken out of turn.

Wen Zhiyu walked straight to the parking lot and headed toward a van. The door swung open, and Yan You scrambled in after her.

"Didn't you say you weren't going to get married? How did you end up tying the knot anyway?" The voice came from the driver's seat.

Yan You knew that voice better than her own. She turned sideways to lean forward and her eyes widened when she saw who was driving. She instinctively grabbed the door handle, desperate to escape.

But the doors were already locked. As the car pulled out of the parking lot and into the night, Wen Zhiyu leaned back in her seat, propping her forehead with her hand. She sighed deeply. "That idiot dared to be the first to say she wasn't getting married. With all the officials and directors present, I couldn't let all the money I spent on the wedding go to waste. Plus, I might have been able to close a deal. On a whim, I asked Yan You to marry me in a fake marriage."

Bullshit! Asked? You threatened her!

And this cold-hearted woman had never wanted to marry Chu Ao in the first place? She'd changed her mind at the last minute and used an honest person like her as a scapegoat?

Sensing the familiar gaze, Yan You didn't dare retort. She quickly glanced at the rearview mirror and met Yan Huiwen's sharp eyes. She forced a smile and raised her hand in a wave. "Hi!"

What's going on? Why is Mom here too?

Yan Huiwen nodded at the mirror, then abruptly turned to address Wen Zhiyu about something else, as if she didn't recognize her own daughter.

Something felt off. Yan Huiwen was well-preserved, but she was forty-eight this year. Years spent in an office had given her a rounder face and a less toned figure than the woman in the car.

Moreover, this Yan Huiwen had not a single wrinkle at the corners of her eyes.

As the car stopped at a red light, Yan Huiwen glanced at Wen Zhiyu in the rearview mirror. "This is good. I met with Director Zhu today and spent ages convincing him to give you a gig."

"What kind of gig?" Wen Zhiyu asked. "One that specifically requires married people?" She leaned her head against the window, sighed, and said, half-seriously, half-jokingly, "Honestly, it doesn't even have to be marriage. If I had to remarry or get back together with someone just to get the job, I'd do it now."

"That won't be necessary. It's a dating reality show, and you and your newlywed Alpha will need to participate." Before Wen Zhiyu could react, Yan Huiwen added, as if anticipating her protest, "Don't be so resistant. You've always been known for your cool, intellectual image, and you've never used other celebrities for marketing. This is your chance. As long as you don't let your real-life sharpness, nitpicking, and impatience show—and instead showcase the side audiences love—you might just be able to turn things around."

"Will this even work?" Wen Zhiyu was skeptical. She had always wanted to prove herself through her own abilities. "Just smiling and playing games on a show to win over audiences? That kind of popularity is fleeting—I'd rather just hold a concert."

This variety show is probably that "Permanent Contract" one, Yan You thought. Wen Zhiyu really has no foresight. She later became a huge star thanks to that show, and now she's looking down on it?

This means I'm the one who ended up marrying her, somehow replacing the original Yan You. I wonder if this will affect her future career.

"My dear miss, stop being so picky. You need a concert to perform at first. You haven't had any work in six months—we should be grateful we even got this gig."

Yan Huiwen slammed on the brakes, pulling over to the side of the road. She got out, walked around to Wen Zhiyu's side, opened the door, and stared at her seriously. "Do you realize that if you keep being so picky, you'll become a nobody in this industry? Not to mention you don't even have a choice right now. This job only fell into our laps because the original person was in a car accident."

Hearing her mother's familiar, stern tone, Yan You instinctively straightened her back and rested her hands on her knees, even though she wasn't being scolded.

Wen Zhiyu wasn't much better. Although she was two years older than her manager, Yan Huiwen, the latter had always been tough and never indulged her. She sat up, cleared her throat, and her voice was even colder than Yan Huiwen's:

"Understood. We'll do everything as you say."

"If this doesn't work... I'm sorry, but I'll have to resign." Yan Huiwen stood in the yellow light of the streetlamp, silhouetted against the glow, her expression unreadable to Wen Zhiyu and Yan You.

A smile played on Wen Zhiyu's lips. "I know. You've been through a lot these days, Huiwen." With that, she grabbed the door handle and yanked it shut, leaving Yan Huiwen outside the car.

Yan Huiwen stood for a few seconds before returning to the driver's seat. As the car pulled away, Yan You could feel the atmosphere inside grow even more tense.

This variety show must be really important to Wen Zhiyu, she thought. If it fails, will she just disappear? And will her mother, Yan Huiwen, lose her job too?

As her heart churned, Yan Huiwen softened her tone. "Miss Yan, as friends, surely you'll help Wen Zhiyu with this, won't you?"

It was clear Yan Huiwen didn't recognize her, and Yan You saw no reason to get involved in their messy situation. She wasn't the real Yan You; appearing on the variety show might not even benefit Wen Zhiyu.

Just as Yan You was about to refuse, the car rounded a bend. The streetlights slanted through the window, and in her peripheral vision, she caught a glint on Wen Zhiyu's face.

It was light reflecting off tears.

Yan You instinctively turned her head toward her own window. When someone's crying, she thought, they probably don't want a stranger to see them.

But this only made the reflection clearer.

Wen Zhiyu was still wearing her white toast dress. Her eyes stared blankly ahead, tears silently sliding down her cheeks, her lips pressed together. The back of her hand gently brushed her cheek as she sat there, fragile as a glass cup about to shatter, making one afraid to approach.

It was a world away from the prickly, guarded woman she'd been earlier that day.

Yan Huiwen continued, "Regarding the performance fee, we can split it three-seven, with you taking seven and her taking three. Since you're willing to enter into a fake marriage with Zhiyu, you must be close to her. Now that a friend is in trouble, helping is the right thing to do. If she manages to turn things around in the future, both Zhiyu and I will be deeply grateful to you."

Yan You remained silent.

"To be frank, outsiders see Wen Zhiyu as a superstar, adored by the masses. But the slightest scandal could bring her down. She doesn't care much about money, but if she can't sing, it would be worse than death for her. Have you ever heard Zhiyu's songs...?" As she spoke, she pressed a button on the van's screen, and music began to flow softly through the cabin.

Yan You was tone-deaf and didn't particularly enjoy listening to music, nor could she discern any nuance. Yet even as an outsider, she had to admit that Wen Zhiyu's voice was melodious and resonant.

Yan Huiwen continued, "Moreover, this time Zhiyu is completely dragged down by her father. Her parents divorced long ago..."

"Enough! Stop talking!" Wen Zhiyu coldly interrupted Yan Huiwen.

Yan You turned her head to look at her. Wen Zhiyu, arms crossed, gazed out the window, radiating an aura that clearly warned others to stay away. She really doesn't like people bringing up her father, Yan You thought.

Yan You sighed. She hadn't expected her mother and Wen Zhiyu to have such a history.

She couldn't bear to see Yan Huiwen humbling herself and begging Wen Zhiyu to agree to the plan. A wave of sympathy washed over her. Actually, pretending to be a married couple on a variety show might be fun. Plus, they're paying.

The compensation for celebrity appearances would be substantial. By the time she returned to Year 2622, she might even become a small-time heiress.

As she daydreamed about striking it rich, a strong, sweet fragrance suddenly filled the car. At first, Yan You sniffed, trying to identify the scent.

But the next moment, she immediately rolled down the window and clamped her hands over her mouth and nose. "Pheromones!?"

Cold air rushed into the car, diluting the scent slightly.

Only then did she turn around and see Wen Zhiyu leaning back against the seat, her face flushed crimson, her back rigid. Her pale arms stretched toward Yan Huiwen, her voice low and strained. "Get me an inhibitor, quickly!"