Wen Zhiyan's voice, like his aura, was cold but not uncomfortable.
"I was also wrong," Fang Miaomiao said earnestly under his gaze.
"Get some rest. Yan An will join you on the program tomorrow," Wen Zhiyan said in a placid tone. "I'll be on a business trip for the next week, so I'll be leaving Yan An in your care."
Initially, Wen Zhiyan hadn't entirely agreed to her participating in the show with Yan An, but since Yan An was willing, he had no choice but to consent, while also having bodyguards keep a discreet watch.
"Business trip," Fang Miaomiao scratched her head. God, where was this inexplicable awkwardness coming from? "Um, don't worry, I'll take good care of Wen Yan An."
Only then did Wen Zhiyan look at Fang Miaomiao seriously.
In truth, given his circumstances, he had never intended to marry. Yet, he hadn't expected to be set up by a rival and then do something regrettable to Fang Miaomiao.
Later, Fang Miaomiao had saved his father.
For both personal and moral reasons, he felt indebted to Fang Miaomiao for life, which was why he had agreed to her request for marriage.
To him, it was merely like raising one more person.
However, he couldn't shake the feeling that Fang Miaomiao seemed a little different today.
Though he couldn't pinpoint exactly what was different.
After a long pause, he finally averted his gaze. "Thank you."
After Wen Zhiyan left, Fang Miaomiao immediately took out her phone and dialed her agent, Sister Li.
Because she had decided not to participate in that variety show.
In her past life, to gather money for her grandmother's surgery, she had been forced to abandon her studies and enter the entertainment industry. She had been tricked by her agency into signing a contract with astronomical liquidated damages.
To get out of the contract, she had worked herself to the bone, rushing from one film set to another, working non-stop throughout the year.
Finally, at the age of 35, she became the first woman in the world to achieve a grand slam of awards at such a young age and earned enough to cover the penalty.
Just when she thought she could finally lie around at home and slack off, she had woken up inside this book.
In her previous life, she had been too tired.
So, in this life, she had decided to be a contented slacker.
After all, Wen Zhiyan had plenty of money, more than enough for her to spend lavishly.
Wasn't such a slacker's life better than struggling and toiling in the entertainment industry?
"What is it?"
Sister Li's voice came quickly from the other end of the line.
"Sister Li, about that variety show, I want to back out. Could you see..."
"What did you say?"
"I said,"
"Stop right there, Fang Miaomiao. I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. "Sister Li paused, then sighed, "I know you were wronged last time, but there was no other way. And the company did compensate you, didn't it?"
Fang Miaomiao blinked, confused. She remembered how Fang Yanhuan had snatched a script that was supposed to be hers. In the past, the company would have said nothing. But now, she was Mrs. Wen, and the company had no choice but to offer her a variety show, this parent-child reality show.
It was said that a big star who had been scheduled had suddenly backed out for some reason, so they needed her to fill in.
Sister Li on the phone didn't say much more. "The crew will be at your house first thing tomorrow morning. This matter is not up for discussion."
"Hey, wait a minute, Sister Li, I'm serious."
A moment later, the sound of a dial tone came from the phone.
Well, Sister Li had hung up on her.
So, her only option was to go and talk to her properly tomorrow.
Not long after she fell asleep, she was awakened by thunder.
Was it raining?
Fang Miaomiao got up to close the balcony door and vaguely heard a whimpering cry.
The sound sent a shiver down her spine.
Images of the high-definition, unrated ghost movies she had watched flashed through her mind.
Suddenly.
There was a "bang" from outside the door.
Lightning flashed and thunder roared outside the balcony, making the bedroom feel particularly oppressive and eerie.
Fang Miaomiao could no longer hold back and yelped as she dove under the covers, closing her eyes tightly and muttering, "Wuliang Tianzun, Namo Amitabha."
Immediately after, the sobbing began to fade.
Then came a knocking sound.
The sound was so light that Fang Miaomiao almost thought it was an auditory hallucination.
Ghosts weren't usually this polite, were they?
Fang Miaomiao swallowed, gave herself a mental pep talk, and then cautiously peeked her head out from under the blankets.
Seeing that there was nothing unusual around, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, got out of bed, and tiptoed to the door.
After waiting by the door for a while, there was no more sound.
"Did I mishear?"
Fang Miaomiao opened the door with a mixture of doubt and disbelief. Suddenly, a heavy object appeared at her feet. Startled, she quickly turned on the light.
Damn it, where did this little brat come from?
The child was curled up on the floor, looking uncomfortable. His face had baby fat, and his two chubby, short hands were tightly wrapped around his arms.
Perhaps due to being too sleepy, the child on the floor didn't wake up. Instead, his lips pouted, and he rolled over to continue sleeping.
She frowned. She didn't need to guess that this little brat was her stepson, Wen Yan An. What she couldn't understand was why he was at her door.
Could it be that the cameras would arrive in the morning and capture this scene, making her trend again with the headline #FangMiaomiaoAbusesStepsonWithoutRemorse#?
The thought of a massive online backlash sent goosebumps down her arms.
She couldn't help it. In her past life, although she had experienced widespread criticism, her focus had been on acting desperately. After work, she would collapse into sleep, with no time to read the comments from her detractors.
But now it was different. The thought of Weibo exploding tomorrow gave her a splitting headache. Yet, she wondered if she was overthinking it. A five-year-old child probably wouldn't have so many schemes.
Fang Miaomiao squatted down and looked at the restless sleeping child. Finally, she let out a small sigh and gently scooped him up, placing him on her own bed.
"I owe you, little brat," Fang Miaomiao murmured as she looked at Wen Yan An, who was sleeping soundly on the bed. Unable to resist, she poked his forehead and prepared to sleep on the sofa.
Resistance came from her finger.
Fang Miaomiao looked down. The child's chubby little hand was holding her little finger, and he was muttering something in his sleep.
She leaned closer and heard a soft whisper: "Mama."
Fang Miaomiao froze. She blinked for a moment, then instinctively said, "Kid, are you asleep? Are you pretending to be asleep?"
Despite what she said, Fang Miaomiao still tiptoed onto the bed, gently patting the child's back as she soothed him. Her voice softened as she said, "Good boy, sleep. Mama will find you in your dreams."
Lightning flashed outside, and warmth filled the room.
The next morning, Fang Miaomiao was awakened by a knock on the door. The little boy on the bed had already vanished.
Startled, her sleepiness instantly vanished, and she hurried to open the door.
"Where's Wen Yan An?"
The maid at the door blinked, clearly seeing the madam in an unkempt state for the first time.
"Replying to the young madam, the young master has already washed up and gone downstairs."
Hearing this, Fang Miaomiao finally let out a sigh of relief and leaned against the door, feeling boneless. "Okay, I got it. I'll go back to sleep for a bit."
The maid nodded subconsciously, then remembered something. "Young madam, there are people outside claiming to be from the crew for your trip who want to come in and film."
Fang Miaomiao was momentarily alert again, her eyelids half-closed. She tutted. "Mhm, let them in."
After a moment, she walked through the bedroom to the bathroom. The mirror on the vanity reflected her almost perfect face.
This face was exactly the same as her face in real life, only younger.
Even without makeup, it could capture anyone's attention at a glance, especially those enchanting, peach-blossom eyes.
Fang Miaomiao sighed, "Life is not easy," and quickly washed up. She then put on loose casual wear and went straight downstairs.
As expected, when she reached the living room, she saw the little brat in casual clothes sitting quietly on the carpet, playing with his Lego. Photographers and crew members were also setting up equipment not far away.