After the Vicious Supporting Female Character Became the Heroine's Cat - Chapter 24.3

Shen Yunmiao downed the small cup of wine in one go, showing full respect.

Little Cheng Zong grew even more unsettled, even entertaining the thought of knocking over that wretched drink. But she was, after all, human and not truly a cat, she wouldn’t do something so foolish as to embarrass Shen Yunmiao.

Shen Yunmiao sat down again. The wooden table was quite long, with Zuo Ying and her seated at the easternmost end, facing each other. At that end stood a vibrant dragon-head fruit platter, from which a wisp of smoke curled upward.

As Shen Yunmiao settled into her seat, Zuo Ying suddenly shifted her chair. Her movements were gentle, yet the eyes of those around subtly turned their way, filled with surprise.

Zuo Ying smiled and said, “Shengran always bumps into me with her chopsticks when she eats. I’d rather not sit next to her.”

And so, the joke was lightly brushed aside. Everyone at the table laughed, but in their hearts, they were as clear as a mirror, they knew Zuo Ying had something she wanted to say to Shen Yunmiao.

Shen Yunmiao understood this as well. Without showing any change in expression, she tightened her hold on the cat in her arms, though the smile on her face grew even brighter. Under the dim, hazy lighting, her beauty resembled an embroidered lotus, as graceful as shifting flower shadows beneath the moonlight.

Zuo Ying was in no hurry to eat. Instead, she picked an orange from the fruit tray, peeled it, and handed half to Shen Yunmiao. “I heard they use southern varieties here. They’re supposed to be very sweet.”

Shen Yunmiao thanked her and accepted the orange, lowering her head to eat it slowly.

Cheng Jianian, nestled in her arms, could clearly see Zuo Ying’s eyes and knew she intended to discuss business matters with Shen Yunmiao. Zuo Ying seems reasonable enough, she thought. It’s obvious Miao Miao is a thousand times better than Qiao Jingshu.

But then again, could Zuo Ying be involved in Jian Shen’s car accident?

Her round, cat-like eyes narrowed slightly, taking on a scrutinizing gaze.

Zuo Ying didn’t notice the change in the cat’s expression but steered the conversation toward her. “Miss Shen, I haven’t formally introduced myself. I’m Zuo Ying. We met last time.”

She smiled faintly. “Your little cat was there too that day. And if I recall correctly wasn’t Young Master Ji also present?”

The cat was merely a pretext, it seemed Zuo Ying really wanted to ask about Ji Hanfeng.

Shen Yunmiao understood perfectly. Setting down the orange, she looked up with a gentle smile. “Yes, Young Master Ji and I were high school classmates. We happened to run into each other that day, so he gave me a ride.”

A ride?

Zuo Ying recalled how familiar the two had seemed that day and thought to herself, They’re definitely more than just high school classmates, and it certainly wasn’t just a simple ride.

Still, she showed no sign of doubt on her face and merely said, “I heard yesterday that you also attended Jincai High School. What a coincidence, our President Cheng also went to Jincai. In fact, you two were in the same graduating class.”

Heard? More like deliberately investigated, Shen Yunmiao thought, her heart sinking slightly. Instinctively, she stroked the kitten in her arms a couple of times.

Little Cheng Zong grew anxious upon hearing this. Zuo Ying really knows how to ruin the mood. Miao Miao’s time at Jincai was nothing short of a nightmare. Why bring up such a sore subject?

To comfort her, she stuck out her tongue and gently licked Shen Yunmiao’s fingertips, cleaning off the orange juice that had stained her fair skin while leaving behind a faint, damp trace of her own.

Shen Yunmiao snapped out of her thoughts and nodded calmly, without much reaction. “What a coincidence indeed. I know President Cheng we were in the same class. But she was always the star of the school, while I was rather unnoticed.”

Though she said this self-deprecatingly, Zuo Ying replied, “You’re too modest, Miss Shen. With such beauty and having tested into University A, your grades must have been excellent. How could you have gone unnoticed?”

The usually well-behaved Little Cheng Zong nearly bristled at this. Though she too believed Miao Miao was a radiant, heaven-sent talent, Zuo Ying’s tone, as someone in a “superior position,” carried a hint of interrogation.

But soon, the damp, snow-melting scent enveloped her once more. Shen Yunmiao’s soothing presence calmed her down again.

“You flatter me. Just call me Yunmiao. My classmates at Jincai are all exceptionally talented, I’m merely average at best.” Shen Yunmiao met Zuo Ying’s probing gaze head-on, unflinching. “People like President Cheng and Young Master Ji are truly outstanding. I feel rather inadequate in their presence.”

This was clearly a distancing tactic. Zuo Ying felt satisfied with this clever response she intended to mentor Shen Yunmiao, but only if the girl had no connection to her boss’s rumored love interests. Otherwise, she might end up causing trouble for herself.

Zuo Ying patted Shen Yunmiao’s shoulder with a hearty laugh. “Hahaha, Yunmiao, you certainly know how to speak! We’re all ordinary people here. How often does someone like President Cheng come along? But Yunmiao, I believe you won’t remain ordinary for long. You’ll soon become a shining star.”

“So, future star, have you considered which branch to perch on?”

The reference to “a fine bird choosing the right tree” was Zuo Ying’s way of openly asking if Shen Yunmiao wanted to join Mercury Entertainment.

Shen Yunmiao thought of the person who hadn’t appeared for months, feeling a sharp, needle-like pain piercing through her heart.

Should she go?

If she were to enter the entertainment industry, Mercury would undoubtedly be her best choice. Moreover, with Old Master Cheng’s unexplained assistance last time, Qiao Jingshu definitely wouldn’t dare make any reckless moves again.

But going there would mean becoming an artist under that person’s management.

Recalling what she had previously confided to the kitten in her arms, Shen Yunmiao felt unsettled. Speaking of which, today seemed to be the summer solstice.

Reason told her that finishing this drama was enough, the earnings would suffice to complete her studies and even support her through several years of graduate school without working. Yet emotion placed an irresistibly tempting box in the distance, luring her to step forward, then further still.

What if? What if she knew nothing unaware of the injustices she’d silently faced because of herself, unaware of how much effort each step closer would require. If they could meet, perhaps that person might even come to like her?

Some things remain beautiful precisely because they’re unknown. Shen Yunmiao hesitated.

Zuo Ying noticed her indecision and assumed it was due to the previous incident with Qiao Jingshu. She expressed understanding and assured, “Yunmiao, since you know President Cheng, you should be aware that she highly values order. She wouldn’t allow chaos within the company. You can think it over carefully, I’m just offering a suggestion.”

In truth, Zuo Ying was playing with words. She knew better than anyone what her boss was really like. To put it nicely, the boss valued order; to put it bluntly, she eliminated anything that stood in her way without hesitation.

The so-called order naturally benefited its creator, who else could that be but the boss herself?

Such a person was a cold-blooded businesswoman, a competent superior, but certainly no savior for the vulnerable.

Unexpectedly, the beautiful girl across from her smiled, appearing to wholeheartedly agree. “I know. President Cheng is a very good person.”

Zuo Ying: “…”

Now that’s professionalism. She couldn’t bring herself to say such things. Honestly, she now felt it would be a shame if this girl didn’t join Mercury Entertainment.

But “President Cheng” was utterly satisfied at this moment. She was quite pleased with Zuo Ying’s words that sounded like praise, and absolutely thrilled with Shen Yunmiao’s near-confession.

It felt as if she wanted to transform into a human right then and there to showcase her great, righteous side so that Miaomiao wouldn’t keep misunderstanding her because of the despicable actions of others.

After Zuo Ying finished what she had to say, she returned to her seat and continued eating.

She didn’t notice that Li Shengran, sitting across from her, had slowly clenched his hand under the table, his lowered gaze dark and brooding.

The meal lasted a long time, as its real purpose wasn’t just to eat. Shen Yunmiao, worried that the kitten might be hungry, kept secretly pulling dried fish from her pocket to feed it.

Little President Cheng ate to her heart’s content.

But soon, an unexpected turn of events occurred.

By the koi pond, mist curled around, and lotus blossoms floated on the water.

Jian Shen, holding a lotus petal, frowned in confusion after listening to her assistant’s report. “How could the car just get impounded like that?” she wondered aloud.

She had stepped away from the table to speak with her assistant by the koi pond and unexpectedly ran into Li Shengran, who had come out to fetch some wine. Li Shengran smiled and said, “No worries, I can arrange a car from the company to pick you up.”

Jian Shen quickly declined, “It’s fine, I’ll just make a call and have someone bring the car over.”

Li Shengran insisted, “This place is quite remote, and non-member vehicles have to park far outside. Don’t trouble yourself. Zuo Ying and I are leaving together soon you can take my car. The driver can drop you off and then bring the car back afterward.”

Jian Shen hesitated and glanced at her assistant, who quickly waved her hands. “It’s no problem, Director Jian, Mr. Li. I can just grab a shared e-bike. Just make sure you and Miss Shen get back safely.”

After a moment’s thought, Jian Shen agreed that this would indeed be more convenient and nodded. “Thank you so much, Mr. Li. We really appreciate it.”

Li Shengran waved it off. “No trouble at all.”

It wasn’t until they were about to leave that Shen Yunmiao learned of this change in plans. She didn’t have much to say, but the cat in her arms froze in astonishment. This was almost too easy she had been wondering how to get Jian Shen out of the car as well, and now Jian Shen and Miaomiao were riding together.

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