Chapter 94: Xu Xiaolu’s Unexpected Overture

Yu Lan walked to the front of the stage, gently embraced Yang Mengke, and whispered, “Congratulations. From now on, we’re colleagues.”

Yang Mengke’s emotions were visibly stirred.

At last, she could finally do something to help her brother. Until now, she had helplessly watched him shoulder so much, unable to offer any assistance. But things were different now. With her own modest strength, she could finally lighten his burden, even if only a little.

“Thank you, Teacher Yu Lan!”

“Thank you, Teacher Yang Liuqing!”

“I’ll work hard and live up to your expectations!”

Yu Lan and Yang Liuqing nodded with satisfaction. They too had witnessed Yang Mengke’s dedication over this period.

“Keep at it. Prepare well for the ‘Scroll’ program. If you do it right, this will be your pledge of loyalty to the Central Television Station, and your future will be wide open.”

Yang Mengke nodded solemnly.

Meanwhile, Xu Xiaolu left the scene with a dark cloud over her face. Before departing, the look she shot Yang Mengke was filled with venomous resentment.

“Hey, Bing, about what you mentioned last time—I agree.”

“Bing, can you really ruin her reputation?”

On the other end of the line, Zhao Hongbing’s lips curled into a lewd grin when he heard Xu Xiaolu’s words.

“What, do I need to report my actions to you now, Xu Xiaolu?”

“Getting impatient, are you? Daring to question me, Bing?”

“As long as you can get Yang Mengke to meet alone, leave the rest to me.”

Xu Xiaolu’s heart was in turmoil. She had always yearned for success, even willing to sell her own body to achieve it. But this was the first time she would build her success on betraying someone else.

She’d never thought twice about disparaging her rival, whether openly or covertly—that, she considered fair competition.

But to hand Yang Mengke over to Zhao Hongbing would be her ruin. Having observed Yang Mengke, Xu Xiaolu knew she was pure and untainted; if she were defiled, she might well lose the will to live.

Yet, when she considered that her own future had been snatched away by Yang Mengke, why should she be the one to show mercy?

When did she become so soft-hearted?

In the end, Xu Xiaolu’s heart turned cold and sinister. “Since you show no mercy, don’t blame me for being ruthless! You were the one who stole my livelihood first!”

Then she said to Zhao Hongbing, “Fine, Bing. I’ll arrange for Yang Mengke to meet you. As for Long Ling’er, you’ll have to figure that out yourselves.”

Hearing Long Ling’er’s name, Zhao Hongbing couldn’t help but shiver. She had left him with lingering trauma. But recalling his plan, he shook his head—dealing with Long Ling’er, given her intelligence, would be a piece of cake.

Yang Mengke, having just left the central television building, was intercepted by Xu Xiaolu.

Though Yang Mengke had won, Long Ling’er still bristled with anger at the mere sight of Xu Xiaolu. She harbored no fondness for such a person.

“Yang Mengke, I have something to say to you.”

Yang Mengke looked at her calmly, unable to guess what she was up to. Still, since Xu Xiaolu had waited for her, it wouldn’t be right to refuse to listen.

“Previously, we were rivals, each other’s greatest competition, so it’s natural I sometimes targeted you.”

“But surely you understand, we were both striving for our own futures.”

“We both know what kind of stage Central Television is.”

“For the sake of one’s own prospects, any tactic—whether strategic or tactical—against an opponent is fair game.”

“Now the outcome is decided. I’ve lost, and I accept that.”

“Since it’s settled, I hope we can let bygones be bygones.”

“We may not be friends, but I hope we won’t be enemies in the future.”

“My motive is clear: you’re now a Central Television host, I’m merely a host at Yanjing TV—a notch below. Naturally, I don’t want to offend you.”

“If possible, I’d like you to accept my apology over dinner—a gesture of my atonement.”

Hearing this, Yang Mengke was surprised. She didn’t care for Xu Xiaolu, but she understood and agreed with her words. She also knew how difficult it was to make one’s way alone.

“I accept your apology, but I’ll pass on the dinner. I won’t target you.”

With that, Yang Mengke left with Long Ling’er.

Xu Xiaolu didn’t press the matter. She knew some things couldn’t be rushed but required gradual effort.

As they walked, Long Ling’er asked, “When did Xu Xiaolu suddenly change her ways? She even apologized?”

“She used to be so arrogant, and now this sudden turnaround—Mengke, doesn’t this seem a little suspicious?”

Yang Mengke smiled and shook her head. “I’ll just ignore her. Suspicious or not, it doesn’t matter.”

“But what about you, Ling’er? Now that the short-term training here is over, shouldn’t you report back to your family?”

“You don’t have to stay by my side every day.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“Besides, Zhao Hongbing isn’t bothering me anymore. Now that he’s with Xu Xiaolu, he shouldn’t pester me.”

Long Ling’er shook her head. “You don’t know Zhao Hongbing. He’s always fickle and never lets go of what he can’t have.”

“Mengke, don’t let your guard down.”

“As for my family, I’ll deal with them when the time comes. For now, I’ll keep enjoying your hospitality.”

Yang Mengke looked gratefully at Long Ling’er, knowing she did all this for her.

“By the way, Ling’er, what are your plans? Don’t you have something you want to do? You can’t just drift along like this forever.”

“You need a practical goal. Charging onto the battlefield isn’t much of a dream.”

Long Ling’er glared at Yang Mengke. “Who’s the boss here, you or me? Do I need you to lecture me?”

Yang Mengke stuck out her tongue and said no more.

After spending so much time together, Yang Mengke had realized something: Long Ling’er was stubborn to a fault. Once she set her mind to something, no one could sway her. Whenever Yang Mengke brought it up, Long Ling’er would feign annoyance, and so Yang Mengke would drop the subject.

She also knew how good Long Ling’er was to her. If not for her, risking everything to protect Yang Mengke last time in Quancheng—even getting hurt herself—she might not have made it out unscathed. In the end, had Long Ling’er not revealed her true identity, disaster would surely have struck.