Chapter Forty-Five: Far Too Troublesome

As soon as the call connected, Sang's mother anxiously asked Sang Yijia, "Jiajia, are you alright?"

"Your older brother has already handled the trending topic on Weibo," her mother said, worry evident in her voice. "Jiajia, don't pay attention to those people."

"They're simply jealous and envious of you."

"Mom, I'm fine." Sang Yijia understood her mother's reaction—similar incidents had happened before. The original Sang couldn't bear the curses aimed at her, confronting each person to argue her case. But she was inexperienced in verbal battles and always lost, leaving her so upset that her chest ached, almost landing her in the hospital.

To Sang Yijia, that behavior was both reckless and naive.

Her mother's voice faltered, surprised by Sang Yijia's calm reply. "Jiajia, are you serious?"

"Yes." Sang Yijia nodded, her tone softening instinctively, "Mom, I'm really okay."

"I can handle these things myself." She just wanted to let the incident simmer a bit longer.

But her mother disagreed, "Your business is everyone's business."

"Don't worry, your father has no objections this time." Sang's mother hadn't told Sang Yijia about the recent live broadcasts—Sang Zheng had been glued to the computer, unwilling to miss a single second.

"Your father knows you truly want to let go of Shen Jin." Her mother also watched the broadcasts, though not as obsessively as Sang Zheng, tuning in when she had time.

"Jiajia, your father and I just want you to be happy. If you’re unhappy in the entertainment industry, just come home." Her mother finally relaxed, but couldn't help sharing her thoughts, "The entertainment world is too chaotic."

"Mom, I know. I’ll leave the industry when my contract ends." Sang Yijia had mentioned this before, but felt her parents didn’t fully believe her.

She had no choice but to let time prove her resolve.

"Are you eating?" Her mother checked the time—it was late and the broadcast had paused. Glancing at the huge screen, she saw only staff eating, not Sang Yijia or Lu Wenchuan.

"It’s mealtime, so just focus on eating. Don’t worry about anything else. Your father, your mother, and your brothers will handle everything." Her mother urged Sang Yijia to relax once more.

"Alright," Sang Yijia agreed.

Before hanging up, she gently said, "Mom, thank you."

And thank you for this opportunity to feel the warmth and care of family.

"Why are you being so polite?" Her mother shook her head with a smile. They chatted a while longer before ending the call.

Sang Zheng had been watching his wife's movements. When she put down the phone, he snorted, "How is she?"

"Our daughter isn’t bothered about those things; she told us not to worry." Sang's mother's expression softened, "Jiajia has truly grown up."

"We won’t have to worry about her anymore." She noticed Sang Zheng's face was off, so her smile faded. "You’re not happy that our daughter is sensible?"

"I'm happy! How could I not be?" Sang Zheng widened his eyes, pointing to the live broadcast projected on the TV. "But the real issue is, our daughter is eating in a private room with a strange man!"

"Who are these people? Aren’t they supposed to be working? How can they not film this? Aren’t they worried our daughter might get bullied?" Sang Zheng anxiously got up and paced around the sofa. "No, I need to call and ask."

His wife stopped him, "You always said you wanted our daughter to bring her boyfriend home. Now she’s with someone else and you’re unhappy?"

"This is just a show, it’s all fake!" Sang Zheng’s eyes widened.

She couldn’t help but laugh. "I think that young man seems quite decent."

During the broadcast, Lu Wenchuan was gentle and attentive to Sang Yijia, polite yet not distant. She found him quite agreeable.

Sang Zheng retorted stubbornly, "He’s no better than that Shen Jin kid. Neither of them are good!"

—

After the call, Sang Yijia returned to the private room and saw Lu Wenchuan still engrossed in his phone. She remembered how, before entering this story, her own constant phone use caused severe cervical issues. Crowded or stuffy places would trigger headaches, fever, nausea.

Medication was useless; only proper rest helped.

Later, for work convenience, Sang Yijia bought a tablet, much larger than her phone screen, used with a stand and a Bluetooth keyboard—she could work anywhere.

Noticing her gaze, Lu Wenchuan looked up, his dark eyes asking if something was wrong.

Sang Yijia cleared her throat and quietly sat down, her eyes drifting to his phone. "Do you often work with your head down like this?"

"Occasionally." Thinking she wanted to chat, Lu Wenchuan told his secretary to exit WeChat and placed his phone face-down on the table.

"It’s nothing." Sang Yijia wanted to say more, but seeing him stop working, her suggestion seemed pointless. Yet without saying anything, there was nothing to talk about between them, and the atmosphere quickly grew awkward.

Fortunately, the waiter knocked.

The dishes were served.

Sang Yijia exhaled softly. If it were a business negotiation, she could converse, but with Lu Wenchuan, their fields were so different she didn’t know what to say.

The lunch passed in silence, both quietly eating.

Afterward, they returned to the rustic cottage with the program staff.

They were told Yan Ningsi and Bian He were off being punished, while Lan Qing and Shen Jin would return in the afternoon.

Now it was midday break—free time.

Sang Yijia went upstairs to rest. Just after washing her face, she received a call from Mo Yani.

"Jiajia, the video is ready." Mo Yani found the company team surprisingly cooperative; work that usually took three or four hours was finished in two.

"We’re planning to focus the topic on your concern for a friend. Is that okay?" Mo Yani hesitated. Sang Yijia and Lan Qing weren’t friends at all—they were more like enemies.

"Hmm..." Sang Yijia fell silent. She and Lan Qing couldn’t be called friends; the original Sang and the heroine were adversaries.

"Let’s make it about healthy eating and not excessive dieting," Sang Yijia decided after a moment, her brows slightly furrowed. "Also, find someone to write an article promoting science, not superstition, and publish it."

Mo Yani licked her lips, listening to Sang Yijia’s instructions.

"By the way, what about those people we planned to sue?" The scandal had passed days ago; now nothing could be found online, but those slanderous users hadn’t issued any clarification.

Sang Yijia felt it was taking too long.