Quan Xiling’s face darkened as she glared at Quan Xijuan with her almond-shaped eyes.
"Fine. Let's go for afternoon tea. Big brother will give you his entire afternoon."
Quan Xijuan knew all too well just how persistent his sister could be when she set her mind to something. If he didn't do as she wished, there was no telling what kind of scene she might cause.
"Oh, right! It’s almost three o'clock. Sister Xiu’s livestream is starting. Should we watch it together?"
Quan Xiling’s eyes lit up as she pulled out her phone.
The café was quite busy at this hour, yet it remained relatively quiet, with people in every corner hunched over laptops, working. Some were even binge-watching shows, taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi.
"Hmm." Quan Xijuan had known all along that Xiu Mumo was livestreaming that afternoon and had secretly intended to catch a glimpse of it himself, though he hadn't expected his sister to drag him here for it.
"Don't think I don't know you want to watch. You've been checking your watch every few minutes—aren't you just trying to time it? Talking about how you have no interest in Sister Xiu while being so obsessed with the stream... I see you've learned to be a hypocrite."
Quan Xiling pursed her lips and rolled her eyes.
Quan Xijuan: "..."
Xiling and that sharp tongue of hers!
At exactly three o'clock, the stream officially began. As soon as it started, netizens flooded into the room.
Because "Ask Me Anything" was a live interview show that refused to be bought off, they rarely featured trending celebrities. Most of the audience on the web—whether they were "black fans" or die-hard fans—could ask unpredictable questions, and the production team didn't want to risk an ugly scene. Besides, a simple interview show had no way to inflate follower counts. Therefore, they usually stuck to veteran actors, musical theater performers, or business figures. In the entertainment industry, the show was essentially an educational program; if you didn't know the guest before, you’d know them after watching.
But Xiu Mumo was the hottest topic right now. It had only been a day, and the hype was indescribable. Before the host even began to speak, thousands of viewers had already swarmed the room.
[Here we go! Let's see what the Xue family’s eldest daughter actually looks like.]
[I’m so punctual! My timing is perfect. Where is Xiu Mumo? Come out and show yourself! How dare you talk about Xue Anyan like that?]
[Hilarious, is everyone just here for the face? What an ugly name.]
[Seriously, why give Xiu Mumo center stage? Does she even deserve it?]
[Wait, personal attacks are one thing, but now you’re attacking her name? What’s wrong with her name?]
[The PR team is here already? Does Xiu Mumo have paid shills now? Is the Xue family trying to protect her?]
The comments moved at breakneck speed. While the sentiments varied, anyone entering the room could tell it was incredibly lively. The "Xue Blossoms"—Xue Anyan’s fanbase—were particularly dissatisfied with Xiu Mumo, as that Weibo post had left a bitter taste in their mouths.
"The fans are so enthusiastic! I didn't expect so many people to join us this quickly." Rao Xingsi’s eyes shimmered with delight. He hadn't imagined this stream would draw such massive traffic. "Trending stars" truly lived up to the name; even a small Q&A interview attracted a massive crowd.
"Alright, without further ado, welcome to this episode of 'Ask Me Anything.' Regarding the recent hit campus idol drama, I’m sure many of you know exactly what I’m talking about—"
[“Early Summer Lemon,” it has to be! Ahhhhh, Yan Xiaoxiao and Meng Chi!]
[I knew they’d mention this. Isn't this just baiting for traffic? It’s disgusting. Using Anyan’s hype to promote this Xiu Mumo—she’s trying to break into the industry, isn't she?]
[I ship them so hard! It’s so good! If they were together in real life, I’d go insane.]
[Watch the show, don't be a psycho and drag the actors into it.]
"It seems many of you guessed it. That’s right, it’s 'Early Summer Lemon.' Our guest today is Xiu Mumo, the biological daughter of the couple who adopted Xue Anyan—the actress who played the female lead, Yan Xiaoxiao. But before we get to her, I have a surprise. Let’s see if you can guess what it is."
Rao Xingsi teased the audience with a hint of suspense.
[? Can you just get on with it? More of this nonsense?]
"The surprise is—Xue Anyan, who played Yan Xiaoxiao, is here with us today as a special guest!"
He knew he couldn't delay any longer, especially with a livestream; otherwise, he’d be roasted. Plus, this was live, and time was limited.
[What the hell? My Anyan is there? For real? Her temper is too good—she’s still willing to be a special guest after being insulted like that.]
[Must have been the Xue family’s demand, right? After all, Xiu Mumo is their biological daughter.]
[Heh, she’s their biological daughter, so does that mean the adopted one is no longer their daughter?]
"Let’s welcome Xue Anyan." Rao Xingsi looked toward the side.
The fans in the chat waited, many "Xue Blossoms" flooding the screen with "Xue Anyan" and "Love you," along with slogans like "Fly bravely!" Only occasionally did someone ask about Xiu Mumo, wondering why she wasn't the one appearing first. But those comments were quickly buried; not many people seemed to care.
Xue Anyan walked out wearing a white dress, her face lightly made up to give off a fragile, ethereal vibe—the kind of character she often played in dramas. She was stunning at first glance.
"Hello everyone, I’m Xue Anyan." She took a seat to the side, leaving the center chair for Xiu Mumo.
[Ahhhhh, it really is Anyan! Yanyan, fly bravely, we’ll chase our dreams together!]
[Damn, why give Xiu Mumo the center seat? Does she deserve it?]
"I’m just a special guest today. The important one is Miss... Xiu." Xue Anyan looked at the camera with a smile, then hesitated, clearly realizing something and correcting her address on the spot.
[Yanyan is even afraid to call her 'Sister' now? She must have seen that Weibo post, right? This must have been a last-minute decision.]
[Heh, they give her the center seat and bring her on the show to boost her fame, but she won't even call her 'sister' and gets scolded for it. Disgusting.]
[Even a random girl on the street would call her sister. Being the biological parents' adopted daughter, and one 'sister' breaks her down? She must be jealous of our Yanyan!]
The comments were filled with twisted logic, but at the end of the day, Xue Anyan simply had more fans.
"That’s right, today’s interview focuses on Miss Xiu, who is waiting just off-stage. Let’s welcome Miss Xiu Mumo!" Rao Xingsi smiled, gesturing toward the side of the stage.
The cameraman knew how to capture the moment and cut straight to Xiu Mumo. She had short hair, a white shirt with the top button undone, black suit trousers, and small leather shoes. Each step she took on the stage echoed slightly. She walked up the stairs, her figure slender and tall, her back held perfectly straight, exuding a cold and aloof aura.
When the camera landed on her, for a split second, it looked as if a dashing young man had walked onto the stage. The barrage of insults in the comments stopped, and the screen went blank for a few seconds.
[Ah??? Ah??? Ah???]
[What the hell is this? This is Xiu Mumo? I thought she was just a pretentious 'white lotus,' but she’s a bombshell!]
[Ahhhhh, Sister, kill me! So handsome! I suddenly understand why she posted that Weibo message.]
[We haven't even seen her full face yet, what's so handsome about her? Too much testosterone, maybe? Looks like a guy.]
[Is the person above sick? Go get some help.]
Xiu Mumo walked onto the stage, circled around to the front, and sat in the chair. She looked directly into the camera and a faint smile touched the corners of her lips.
In that instant—the chat froze again.
[Who said she isn't handsome? Drag them out here! Damn, Sister, can we date? I’m a girl, is that okay?!]
[This face and this aura... honestly, it reduces Xue Anyan to dust. She’s tall, handsome, and beautiful, but you’d never mistake her for a man.]
[Damn, I want to switch sides. Is this what a 'divine face' looks like? No wonder the whole Xue family is good-looking—how could they give birth to an ugly daughter?]
Many were stunned by Xiu Mumo’s beauty. Even with their preconceived notions, this face stunned them at first glance. Moreover, they could all tell she was wearing barely any makeup—essentially a "naked" look, with only a hint of lipstick to brighten her complexion. Even so, she was so beautiful that anyone trying to downplay her looks would fail, especially with Xue Anyan sitting right next to her for comparison. To belittle Xiu Mumo’s looks was to imply Xue Anyan was even uglier.
The fans weren't stupid; at most, they’d mutter, "She’s not that pretty," but if anyone challenged them, they’d retreat behind "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
Because of the massive buzz, many casual viewers were instantly converted into fans. That face was genuinely beautiful, and she was exceptionally tall. Xue Anyan had met Xiu Mumo before, but she hadn't expected to be so obviously overshadowed. Seeing the comments, she could barely keep her composure.
"It seems the fans were very much looking forward to meeting Miss Xiu. Now that you’ve seen her, what do you think? How does she differ from your imagination?" Rao Xingsi smiled, signaling the staff behind the scenes. They caught his drift and immediately reposted the unedited pilot film to Weibo.
This drew even more attention. People already in the room invited others to join, and the viewership exploded. The staff behind the scenes were grinning from ear to ear; they hadn't seen such a surge in exposure and followers in a long time.
[Sister, kill me! That’s all I can say!]
[Don't call her 'Sister,' call her 'Husband' or 'Big Brother'! Did you forget she doesn't like being called 'Sister'?]
[You really know how to be snarky.]
[Hilarious. But damn, she’s so handsome. If she enters the entertainment industry, I’ll support her 100%.]
The chat was a storm again. Xiu Mumo kept her eyes on the comments and introduced herself with a smile: "Hello everyone, I’m Xiu Mumo. 'Xiu' as in cultivation, 'Mo' as in silent, 'Mo' as in doomsday. My temper is average. I won't get angry unless you provoke me."
Her tone was cold, her voice dropped to a register that carried a "boss lady" energy—cool, handsome, and perfectly in sync with her aura.
[Her voice is amazing too. A top-tier 'cool girl.' She’s on a completely different level than Xue Anyan. Can the fans stop hyping the other one?]
[She’s so tall, too. I’m curious, how tall is Xiu Mumo?]
"Our Teacher Xiu has a bit of a humorous side. We have a three-minute pre-heat period. During this time, you can answer the questions being asked in the chat. Irrelevant comments won't be shown on the screen. Please include a name when asking a question so we know who it's for, alright?" Rao Xingsi had realized a way to amplify the hype and threw out the standard script.
"I have no problem with that," Xiu Mumo said with a light smile.
"I don't have a problem either," Xue Anyan said, her voice soft and fragile.
[I’ll go first. How tall are Xiu Mumo and Xue Anyan?]
Seeing the first question, Xue Anyan smiled. "The height rumored online doesn't match my real height. I’m 175cm."
Xiu Mumo’s eye twitched as she glanced at her. "You’re 175cm?"
[Look at that, she’s targeting her again. Is she sick? Always targeting our Yanyan.]
Xue Anyan’s expression stiffened, her demeanor wilting. "Teacher Xiu, do you have some sort of problem with me?"
"No. I’m 179.8cm. With flat leather shoes, at most I’m 183cm. You’re wearing ten-centimeter heels and you’re still shorter than me. Is it wrong for me to ask?" Xiu Mumo’s expression was neither mocking nor serious. "As long as you don't jump around in front of me, I couldn't care less. I’m just posing a reasonable doubt. Your fans might believe you, but that doesn't mean everyone has to. If you don't believe it, we can measure our heights on the spot. I don't mind. Can you?"
"Don't act like I’m bullying you. If you have a persecution complex, go see a psychiatrist. Don't go around pinning labels on me."
Her temper was such that she would never take a loss; no tricks worked on her. She had navigated the "tea-industry" masters, let alone a simple "white lotus" like this one.
Xue Anyan’s face turned from blue to purple. She truly hadn't expected this to go so differently from her plan. *This is a live broadcast, right?* She thought she’d at least be given some face, but instead, she was exposed on the spot.
She wasn't 175cm; she was 170cm. But her team had always marketed her as being tall. After all, nobody would specifically measure her height, and even in flats, she wore insoles. It was common in the industry—many male actors did it too to satisfy the height fans wanted.
[Hahahaha, I’m dying! Getting called out on the spot? I can tell Xiu Mumo is really tall, but there is no way Xue Anyan is 175cm.]
[Agreed, I have to admit that. She doesn't look 175cm. 175cm isn't even that tall for a guy, but for a girl, it’s really super tall.]
[Yanyan said she’s 175cm, so she must be! If you don't believe it, just measure it on the spot! Our Yanyan isn't afraid, but I doubt Xiu Mumo is actually 179cm, right?]
Before other questions could even be asked, the chat was in complete chaos. As an industry insider, Rao Xingsi knew full well that Xue Anyan wasn't 175cm, but lying about height was standard practice—it meant nothing. Still, he hadn't expected Xiu Mumo to be so pointed—or rather, it didn't look like she was targeting her; she just seemed to hold her in total contempt.
"Alright, alright, it’s just a question about height. Maybe the previous measurement was wrong, right, Teacher Xue?" Rao Xingsi looked at Xue Anyan with a smile, offering her a way out.
It was clear Xiu Mumo wasn't someone who would let things slide, especially since she wasn't an industry person. She had suggested measuring on the spot, and she might actually do it. It was better to steer away from it.
"Indeed, the last measurement was a long time ago." Xue Anyan made an awkward pivot. "This is an interview show, it’s not really appropriate to measure height, right, Teacher Xiu?"
"Hmm, whatever you say." Xiu Mumo raised an eyebrow, not bothering to argue.
[Getting slapped in the face, aren't we? It’s obvious she’s not tall enough. Falsely reporting height and getting called out immediately.]
[It’s obviously Xiu Mumo picking a fight. I can tell she just can't stand seeing Yanyan doing well.]
[Exactly! Maybe she’s afraid Yanyan will take her place in the Xue family?]
[Hilarious. Can you guys get one thing straight? Xiu Mumo is the biological daughter!]
Some casual viewers were annoyed to the point of laughter by Xue Anyan’s fans; they seemed to have no brains. Could a normal person even suggest the idea of "stealing her place in the Xue family"? If Xiu Mumo hadn't been kidnapped, how would the Xue family have ever adopted a daughter in the first place? No matter how you looked at it, Xue Anyan was the one who had benefited.
Xue Anyan gripped her fingers so hard her nails dug into her palms. Her face was not looking good. If it wasn't for the sake of making Xiu Mumo look arrogant, she never would have come here.
"Are we going to keep answering questions from the chat, or are we going to proceed with a normal interview?" Xiu Mumo cast a glance at Rao Xingsi.
"Two more minutes," Rao Xingsi replied with a smile.
At this point, Xue Anyan didn't dare say a word. She realized Xiu Mumo didn't play by the rules and was terrified of saying something that would lead to another exposure. After all, this was a live broadcast, not a show that could be edited later.
*
At the café, a few minutes earlier.
Quan Xijuan and Quan Xiling were wearing headphones, staring at their phone screens. When they saw Xiu Mumo on the side of the stage, Quan Xijuan’s breath hitched. A scene from the private room flashed through his mind—when she was close enough that he could see the fair skin of her neck and the color of her lips.
His ears turned red, heating up.
This was the first time Quan Xiling had seen her future sister-in-law, and she almost screamed in the café. She was so handsome—her future sister-in-law was just too cool!
"Big brother, are you even worthy of Sister Xiu?" Quan Xiling thought of his push-and-pull rejection and cast a sidelong glance at him, speaking softly.
With a sister-in-law like that, if you’re interested, you’d better lock it down. Did he really think no one else would pursue her?
Quan Xijuan’s eye twitched: "?"
Was this really his sister? Was she a fake?
"I’m not joking. With her looks, her presence, and the title of the Xue family’s eldest daughter, I’m sure countless people are dying to pursue her." Quan Xiling looked directly into his eyes. "Big brother, you need to think clearly. Are you really not interested in Sister Xiu? Feelings are about who gets there first. Just because she’s interested in you now doesn't mean she will be forever. A woman like Sister Xiu is mentally and capably strong. Once she truly decides to give up, even if you turn back, she’ll never look at you. She’ll only think you’re pathetic."
She meant every word.
Quan Xijuan paused, as if surprised that Xiling would talk to him like that.
"Think about it seriously. In all these years, have you ever felt this way about anyone else? Sometimes, don't trust your reason too much—trust your biological reactions instead." Quan Xiling scoffed and stopped paying attention to him. If her brother still didn't get it, he didn't deserve her.
Quan Xijuan: "..."
Why did he feel like his sister was disgusted with him? He couldn't help but dwell on what she’d said.
"I’m going to the restroom." Quan Xijuan stood up abruptly, informed his sister, and turned to head toward the bathroom.
Outside, in a nearby parking space, Bie Yuan sat in the driver’s seat of a car, wearing headphones and tapping his fingers on the steering wheel while watching the livestream. When he saw his boss walk on stage, he couldn't help but whistle. "Boss is really cool."
A few minutes later, a man’s voice crackled through his earpiece.
"Brother Yuan, the target is approaching the restroom. Should we just test the waters?" The man’s voice was cold and steady, brimming with anticipation.