Chapter

“Director Fan, may I ask if the news circulating today about your eldest daughter, Lian Youyou, jumping from a building is true?”

“Of course not. In fact, the person spreading this rumor clearly lacks even the most basic common sense.” Fan Chi replied unhurriedly, “Think about what that fake news claimed—sixth floor, and she’s completely unscathed? My Youyou never learned martial arts, so how could she possibly come out of it without a scratch? I advise those spreading rumors to at least make them believable.”

It was plain to see that Fan Chi had become adept at handling the barbed questions of reporters. He was no longer the nervous young actor from over twenty years ago who would be flustered whenever he was caught on camera; he was a different man altogether.

“I’d like to ask Mrs. Fan a question. Many online rumors claim that you and your stepdaughter, Lian Youyou, have never gotten along, which led to Miss Lian suffering from depression. Is there any truth to this?”

Qu Wuyan rolled her eyes, her composure falling far short of Fan Chi’s. “How many times must I say it? I’ve always treated her well. Lian Meng and I were as close as sisters—everyone in the industry knew this back then. Of course I would take good care of Lian Meng’s child. Ah, my poor friend Lian Meng, taken from us at the height of her career…”

Though Lian Meng had once won many awards and was hailed as the leading actress of her generation, she could only shake her head as she watched the pair of scoundrels at the press conference. In her view, Qu Wuyan was the real queen of acting. As for Fan Chi, he was more than just a smooth talker—he was a first-rate orator.

After all, she could only act before the cameras, while those two performed flawlessly in real life, right under her very nose.

She had suspected them, but she had still been too naïve.

It wasn’t until she announced her pregnancy and her plans to step away from acting that she caught them in bed together and saw their true colors.

Not only had Fan Chi pinned her against the wall by the throat during her struggle with Qu Wuyan, he even threatened to expose everything.

She wasn’t afraid for her own reputation; what worried her was her unborn child facing public scrutiny, and her elderly parents being hurt by the scandal.

In the end, it was her own weakness and misplaced kindness that doomed her. She had underestimated just how ruthless they could be.

She’d hoped to give birth and then divorce quietly, but she didn’t expect them to be so impatient—they made their move right in the delivery room and killed her.

Lian Meng no longer wished to see the faces of those two wretches on television; she could hardly stand the sight of them. “Turn off the TV, will you? How about some music instead? Professor, do you have a tape player in this car?”

Lu Ming didn’t bother pointing out that tape players were long obsolete. Silently, he switched the car’s system to music mode.

The song that played was Lian Meng’s own signature piece, “A Bouquet for Mr. Lu”—melodious and tinged with sorrow, it carried the flavor of nostalgia.

She had sung this theme song herself for the TV drama she’d starred in; the title came from the surname of the male lead.

“Professor Lu, I never pegged you as the vain type,” Lian Meng teased with a laugh. “Is it because of the song’s title? This is an old song now—not many young people still like it, right?”

Lu Ming didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled up his playlist. To Lian Meng’s surprise, every single song was hers.

He was actually a little fan of hers! Lian Meng couldn’t help the smile that crept across her lips.

Ever since she’d seen Fan Chi and Qu Wuyan at the hospital, her mind had been consumed by thoughts of vengeance—imaginings of all the cruel ways she could make them pay, like running Qu Wuyan down with a car, consequences be damned.

Since arriving in this era, this was perhaps the only thing that had brightened her spirits even slightly.

Almost without thinking, she asked, “Professor Lu… do you really like my songs that much?”