I Love Her Because She’s Dim-Witted And Filthy Rich - Chapter 37.1  

I Adore Her for Being Silly and Wealthy

In the days that followed, Bai Yi, true to her word, never appeared in front of Duan Bainian again, which greatly relieved Su Miao.

Half a month ago, the Qing Dynasty time-travel drama she had filmed with Duan Bainian was released on the agreed-upon online platform.

As expected, it flopped.

Fearing backlash, Su Miao had mentally prepared herself early on. Even if people criticized her acting as terrible, she was determined to pretend she hadn’t seen it, ensuring her mood wouldn’t be affected.

To her surprise, it flopped to such an extent that there weren’t even people around to scold her…

For a moment, Su Miao didn’t know whether to be happy or sad.

Without the imagined storm of criticism, Su Miao took to searching for reviews of the drama on Weibo whenever she was bored.

Then, she actually stumbled upon a fan-made romantic edit of the female lead and the second female lead.

Su Miao clicked on it and immediately beamed with joy.

Hehe, this person’s editing skills are amazing!

As the actress herself, she almost believed the two female leads were a couple!

Moreover, in the video, Duan Bainian looked so ethereal. Such a celestial fairy was actually looking at her with eyes full of affection!

The more Su Miao watched, the more she liked it. After replaying it several times, she couldn’t resist leaving a “like.”

Feeling that wasn’t enough, she reposted the Weibo: [The blogger is amazing!]

With the official star reposting—even if it was just a ship for the characters—the fans instantly erupted in excitement.

Bai Yi, who saw through everything, commented: [Indeed amazing (eating popcorn emoji~)]

Seeing Bai Yi’s pointed comment, Su Miao suddenly understood why couples loved public displays of affection so much.

Because showing off your love is truly joyful!!!

Two days later, the recording of Truth After Drinks concluded, and Duan Bainian, Su Miao, and their group prepared to return to Beijing.

While waiting at the airport, several familiar fans followed their itinerary to see them off as usual.

Duan Bainian was as gentle as ever, smiling and advising the fans to stay warm as the weather turned cold. Su Miao chimed in, telling them to take care of themselves.

Once boarded and seated, Su Miao clamored for a pomelo, telling Duan Bainian to take it out of her bag.

Duan Bainian turned to look behind her. “Guan Jing, could you grab the pomelo?”

Guan Jing pulled out the pomelo and handed it to Duan Bainian. He watched as Duan Bainian tenderly and meticulously peeled it, removing the skin and seeds, and fed the small segments into Su Miao’s mouth one by one.

Guan Jing nudged Xiao Song beside him and whispered, “Do you feel like there’s something off about those two?”

Xiao Song wasn’t Su Miao’s dedicated assistant; she hadn’t been with her for several months. She had only rejoined for this program, so she didn’t notice anything unusual. She looked puzzled. “It looks normal. What did you see?”

Guan Jing had the expression of someone gossiping. “Oh, come on! Look at them. Don’t you think they’re being way too lovey-dovey?”

Xiao Song followed his gaze toward the two in front. Neither of them said a word, but they simultaneously shared a look and broke into radiant smiles.

Xiao Song wavered, hesitating for a long time. “Don’t overthink it. When they first met at Hengdian, this was how they interacted.”

Guan Jing stared at them for a while, wanting to argue, but eventually kept his mouth shut. Forget it, being too gossipy as an assistant isn’t good.

Upon landing and exiting the airport, as usual, the assistants went their separate ways, while Duan Bainian and Su Miao prepared to take a taxi back to their apartment.

Just as they got into the car, He Aizhi called.

“Bainian, you’re back in Beijing, right?”

Duan Bainian assumed it was regarding work. “Yes, Auntie, we just got off the plane. Is something wrong? Should I come to the company now?”

He Aizhi was silent for a moment. “No need. I’m at home right now. You and Su Miao come straight here.”

Duan Bainian agreed and hung up.

Su Miao asked curiously, “Was that my mom? Does she want to talk to you about work?”

Duan Bainian replied vaguely, “Maybe.”

She felt a sense of unease in her heart, hoping she was just overthinking it.

They gave the driver the new address, and the taxi turned at the next intersection.

When they arrived at Su Miao’s house, it was just in time for lunch. He Aizhi didn’t seem out of the ordinary; she warmly greeted them to eat.

Su Miao was starving. “Wow, Mom, did you prepare these dishes specifically for me? You’re so nice!”

“What are you thinking? These were prepared for Bainian. You’re just benefiting by association.”

Su Miao huffed and sat down to eat on her own.

The three of them chatted about various topics—from Disney to the variety show recording in Sanya. The meal was harmonious.

After eating her fill, Su Miao said, “Mom, didn’t you have work to discuss with Duan Bainian? Why haven’t you said anything?”

He Aizhi slowly put down her chopsticks. “There’s no work to discuss. It’s been ten days since I saw you, so I just called you over for a meal and to check how you two have been lately.”

Su Miao stood up to pour some water. “We’re great. Everything is normal.”

He Aizhi smiled. “Then I need to give you two a reminder.”

Duan Bainian’s heart skipped a beat. “What is it, Auntie?”

He Aizhi took out her phone and sent a photo to Duan Bainian. “Look at your WeChat. I sent you a photo.”

Su Miao leaned in curiously. “What photo? Why are you being so mysteri—”

The moment she saw the photo, Su Miao’s words stopped abruptly.

In the photo, two girls were embracing in an alley filled with flower vines. From the angle it was taken, it looked as though they were kissing.

Su Miao remembered. This was from a few days ago in Sanya when she and Duan Bainian had used their break to wander the alleys. After turning a corner, she had impulsively insisted on a kiss from Duan Bainian. Duan Bainian couldn’t resist and gave her a kiss through their masks. Su Miao wasn’t satisfied and insisted on pulling down the masks for a real kiss before reluctantly pulling away.

It had only lasted two or three seconds. They had specifically checked that no one was around. How could they have been photographed?

Su Miao was completely stunned, but Duan Bainian reacted first. “This photo is taken at such an angle that people would misunderstand. Someone who didn’t know better would think we were doing something.”

Su Miao regained her senses. “Exactly! Mom, who gave you this photo? Go sue them! They’re just taking nonsense pictures!”

Watching Su Miao deny it so flatly, Duan Bainian felt a complex mix of emotions. She knew Su Miao was afraid of He Aizhi finding out, so she had taken the lead in denying it to avoid causing waves for Su Miao.

However, it was one thing for her to deny it, but seeing Su Miao deny it so instantly felt like something else entirely.

He Aizhi agreed. “Exactly. These paparazzi are so annoying, always taking photos that cause misunderstandings.”

Just as the two breathed a sigh of relief, He Aizhi’s tone shifted. “Are… are you two really not like that?”

Before Duan Bainian could speak, Su Miao blurted out, “Of course not! Duan Bainian has a boyfriend!”

He Aizhi was surprised. “Bainian, you have a boyfriend? Why didn’t you report this to the company?”

Duan Bainian couldn’t help but mock herself inwardly. She didn’t even know she had a boyfriend; how was she supposed to report it?

Duan Bainian looked at Su Miao, considering how to continue the lie, but Su Miao beat her to it again.

“She only recently started dating him. Maybe because it’s not stable yet, she hasn’t told anyone. Besides me, nobody knows.”

Duan Bainian was truly amazed. Usually, she thought this “idiot” was quite dim-witted, but her reaction time now was incredibly fast.

It was just that this cleverness was being used in a way that was truly heartbreaking.

He Aizhi was half-convinced. “Is your boyfriend in the industry?”

Duan Bainian didn’t know how to answer. Since the boyfriend was purely Su Miao’s fabrication, how was she supposed to know if he was in the industry?

Just as she was about to answer randomly, Su Miao spoke for her again. “His name is Baron. He’s a screenwriter. Mom, you might have heard of him—the screenwriter for Shadow.”

He Aizhi remembered. She did have an impression of this Baron. Last time, the investors for Shadow had proactively approached the company, saying they wanted to cast Duan Bainian as the female lead. At the time, she hadn’t quite understood why such a large production would look at Duan Bainian. So, that was the inside story.

The heavy stone in He Aizhi’s heart finally dropped.

Although the company didn’t want its artists dating privately—especially someone like Duan Bainian who didn’t have much leverage—if she had to choose between Duan Bainian dating someone else or dating her own daughter, she would obviously choose the former.

He Aizhi’s brow smoothed out completely. She looked at Duan Bainian with a smile. “Although the company doesn’t wish for its artists to date, you are different. You are Su Miao’s best friend. Since you are in a relationship, as an elder, I naturally offer my blessings.”

Duan Bainian felt as if something was stuck in her throat.

She wanted to deny this so-called boyfriend. She wanted to tell He Aizhi that her daughter was her actual lover. Unfortunately, she could only think it.

On the surface, she showed nothing. Her expression was the gentle and obedient look that elders loved most. “Thank you for your concern, Auntie. I will be careful in the future and try not to let the relationship affect my work.”

Because the weight was off her mind, He Aizhi became even more enthusiastic. “Bainian, when you have time in the next couple of days, bring your boyfriend over for dinner. As an elder, I should help you vet him.”

Duan Bainian hadn’t expected He Aizhi to make such a request. She was in a difficult spot; lying about Baron was one thing, but asking him to actually come and play along was a hard favor to ask.

She smiled. “We’ve only just made it official. Nothing is certain yet. There’s no need to bring him to see you.”

He Aizhi insisted, “What does that matter? Besides, you’ll be joining the Shadow film crew soon anyway. Inviting him for a meal doesn’t have to be in the capacity of a boyfriend; it could just be as a colleague. I also want to learn more about the specific plot of Shadow.”

Su Miao was watching anxiously from the side. She was afraid Duan Bainian would refuse again. If she refused too many times, wouldn’t her mom become suspicious? It was just a meal; why was it such a big deal?

She cut in before Duan Bainian could refuse. “Oh, Mom, let him come for dinner in a couple of days. When the time comes, make sure you’re nice to him. Don’t act like a stern elder; it’s easy to scare people away.”

Duan Bainian looked at Su Miao in shock. She froze for a moment but finally chose to give in. “Alright, Auntie. I will bring him over for dinner.”

Once the agreement to bring the boyfriend for dinner was reached, Su Miao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She didn’t want to stay in this atmosphere for another second. Making the excuse that they were going to see a movie, she pulled Duan Bainian away and left the house.

Knowing Duan Bainian hadn’t driven, He Aizhi arranged for a driver to take them to the cinema. Since the lie had been told, they couldn’t take it back; the two were forced to be dropped off at a nearby movie theater.

After saying goodbye to the driver, Su Miao looked at Duan Bainian guiltily. “Do… do you want to see a movie?”

After such a meal, who would be in the mood for a movie?

She opened her phone to call a car. “No. I’m going home.”

Su Miao gave a forced laugh. “Actually, I don’t want to see one either. I’ll go home with you.”

Duan Bainian just looked at her phone and didn’t say anything.

Su Miao fidgeted with her fingers, trying to please her cautiously. “Don’t… don’t be angry. Didn’t you say the mashed potatoes at that place on the North Third Ring Road were good? Let’s go there for dinner tonight.”

Duan Bainian waved at the approaching car. “I’m a bit tired. I’m not going… the car is here.”

Neither of them spoke for the entire ride. Back at the apartment, Su Miao didn’t know whether to stand or sit. She wanted to talk to Duan Bainian—anything would do—she just didn’t want this silence.

Unfortunately, Duan Bainian was busy. First, she fetched Ergou from the pet shop downstairs, then gave him a bath and dried him with a hairdryer. Then she showered herself, threw her dirty clothes into the washing machine, mopped the floor, and hung up the laundry.

By 5:00 PM, Su Miao hadn’t found a single opportunity to talk to her.

Watching Duan Bainian stay busy all afternoon, Su Miao actually grew sleepy and unintentionally drifted off.

She was woken up by a ringing phone.

Someone was calling Duan Bainian. Duan Bainian happened to be in the bathroom, so the ringing went on for a while before the call was answered.

Su Miao couldn’t hear what the other person was saying, only fragments of Duan Bainian’s voice from the living room.

“You’re free the night after tomorrow, right?”

“I’m really grateful to you, Baron. I’m lucky to have a friend like you.”

“Okay, then at 5:00 PM the day after tomorrow, I’ll pick you up.”

The previously groggy Su Miao was suddenly wide awake.

Eh? So Duan Bainian already talked to Baron about this?

She had been worrying about how to bring it up to Duan Bainian since she seemed upset, but it turned out Duan Bainian had already made the appointment with Baron without saying a word.

Su Miao immediately scrambled out of bed and peeked into the living room, only to be caught red-handed by Duan Bainian.

Su Miao laughed awkwardly. “You already made plans with Baron?”

Duan Bainian looked at the person in front of her. Her hair was messy, her pajama buttons were crooked, and a small patch of snowy-white skin was visible at her waist.

How did I fall for someone like this?!

The more she looked, the angrier she got!

But despite her anger, she still loved her. She loved her so much she wanted to tie her to her side with a rope.

This was truly a despairing conclusion.

Duan Bainian put down her phone. “Yes, I made plans for him to go to your house for dinner the night after tomorrow. I’ll let your mom know in a bit.”

Su Miao rubbed her head sheepishly. “I… I thought you would keep making excuses to delay it.”

“If I kept delaying it, what if your mom got suspicious? Isn’t that what you were worried about?”

Su Miao started giggling. “Duan Bainian, how are you like a roundworm in my stomach?”

Duan Bainian: “…”

The following afternoon, Duan Bainian arrived at the bottom of Baron’s building on time and picked him up.

Baron hopped into the car and greeted the two in front. “Long time no see.”