Quan Xiling clutched her forehead, glared at her brother, and then pulled her feet up onto the bed. "Those ladies from the prestigious families are so pretentious and act so aloof—it’s honestly nauseating. Now that you’ve finally stumbled upon someone so interesting, don't you think you should seize the opportunity?"
Besides, it was obvious that Quan Xijuan wasn't entirely indifferent toward Xiu Mumo. She had never seen her brother act so uniquely toward any other woman.
"Look at you, even you’ve been checking her Weibo. When have you ever logged into Weibo for a specific reason before?" Quan Xiling rolled her eyes. This brother of hers was hopeless. With emotional intelligence this low, would he ever manage to win a wife? She found it hard to imagine.
Quan Xijuan: "..." He wanted to say that he was only checking to see what she had posted that would cause Sha Jing to call him personally.
"Fine, leave the job of pursuing your future wife to me. Mom always said you couldn't pass wind in a lifetime, and I didn't believe it, but now I do." Quan Xiling curled her lip. Just watching his wife's Weibo in secret like this was useless. If that were enough to get a wife, there wouldn't be a single bachelor left in the entire Mo'an Empire. "I'm leaving."
She ran out quickly. Quan Xijuan wanted to say something, but the words were stuck in his throat.
That sister of his! Thinking about how the family was constantly urging him to get married, find a partner, and forcing him onto blind dates, it was no wonder Xiling was so focused on this.
Quan Xiling was a smart one; she had skipped grades as a child and was already pursuing her doctorate at twenty-two. She studied financial management, and because her brother had joined the military, the family business would eventually rely on her. She was a very perceptive person, believing that since she enjoyed the glory and wealth brought by the Quan family, she naturally had to shoulder the responsibility for them. Her brother had followed in their grandfather’s footsteps into the military, so she had to take over the company—she didn't trust anyone else. She could play around for another two years, but then she would have to take the reins and strive to take the Quan family to the next level.
She had her own ways of digging up information and soon found Xiu Mumo’s phone number. After thinking for a few seconds, she sent a text message.
—*Hello, Miss Xiu. I am Quan Xijuan’s younger sister, Quan Xiling. May I add you on WeChat?*
After sending it, she hugged her phone and giggled.
When Xiu Mumo woke up, it was already afternoon. She never paid much attention to Weibo, so naturally, she didn't know that the internet had shredded her to pieces. Especially the hardcore fans of Xue Anyan; there were already tens of thousands of comments under her Weibo, and the number was still rising.
Mainly, Xue Anyan’s reputation in the industry had always been decent, and with the Xue family backing her, her fans had always felt that their idol was superior, looking down on many other stars equally. Even though their idol herself was just a traffic-driven celebrity.
Now that the news was out that she was an adopted daughter and that she was so down-to-earth, it had stirred up a lot of sympathy from her fans. Simultaneously, they were naturally furious at Xiu Mumo for occupying the status that should have been Xue Anyan’s, especially after rumors spread that she was unwilling to return to the Xue family. It felt as if Xue Anyan had picked up a position that Xiu Mumo didn’t want, which triggered the fans' intense resentment. This Weibo post became the fuse. They used the most vicious insults imaginable.
Xiu Mumo touched her phone instinctively upon waking. She hadn't expected it to be past three o'clock in the afternoon; she hadn't adjusted well to the time difference, so she had slept in.
Once she opened it, she saw the public account that had been spread around, along with many messages. Pinned at the top was the latest one, claiming to be from Quan Xijuan’s sister, Quan Xiling.
Xiu Mumo sat up in bed, no longer sleepy. "Quan Xiling?" She remembered reading the Quan family records; there was indeed a younger sister named Quan Xiling who was a doctoral student and a very bright young girl.
She didn't expect a message, and a request to add her on WeChat? What was this? Had the Quan family discovered her existence? Seeing the "Sister" honorific used repeatedly, she thought, *Is she trying to win over the family before she’s even won over Quan Xijuan?*
She clicked her tongue inwardly, replied with "Sure," and added the number to her contacts. As for the rest of the messages, she only glanced at them; they were mostly from people in the Xue family, helping Xue Anyan speak up or calling her ungrateful. They were all trivial matters to her.
When Quan Xiling saw the reply, her eyes lit up. "Looks like there’s hope. Does this mean she’s interested in my brother too?" She thought it must be. For a girl so bold online, not to mention having said directly at the annual meeting that she liked her brother, and now agreeing to add her on WeChat, she must still like him.
*Excellent.* She liked this girl’s personality very, very much. After thinking for a moment, she searched for Xiu Mumo’s WeChat and clicked add. Within a few seconds, it was accepted.
**Quan Xiling:** Hello, Sister! [Cute]
Xiu Mumo hadn't met Quan Xiling in person, but she had seen photos. She was a cute girl, and the family atmosphere of the Quans was always good; the girl was very likable.
**Xiu Mumo:** Hello. Why did you suddenly add me and text me? Is it because of your brother? Did you find out that I kissed him?
She was doing this on purpose. She suspected the girl didn't know, but she didn't mind if she did; if the Quan family members were all on her side, it would be convenient.
**Quan Xiling:** Huh? Huh? HUH? YOU KISSED MY BROTHER???
"Holy crap!" she cursed out loud.
**Xiu Mumo:** Hm? You didn't know? I thought you were messaging me because you did.
**Quan Xiling:** Oh, oh, oh. I just really like you, Sister. You’d be perfect as my sister-in-law. One last question: was he a good kisser?
She was curious. For so long, very few women could even get close to her brother, and yet Xiu Mumo had managed to kiss him! Damn, that was hardcore. She had to ask.
**Xiu Mumo:** He got excited the moment I kissed him. He’s quite the closet pervert.
Quan Xiling’s heart raced and her hands trembled; she could barely hold her phone. *Is this something she can just say? Huh? "He got excited"? Where did he get excited?*
—*Ah, where? Is it what I’m thinking? My brother has a great body, he has abs and pecs.*
She was certain now: her brother had a physiological reaction to this girl, so that was definitely it. Such a beautiful, smart girl who graduated from Shangjing University—she had to help her brother seal the deal.
**Xiu Mumo:** You’re not very innocent for a young girl, are you?
Quan Xiling coughed lightly and replied: *What’s the use of being innocent? Can innocence get me a sister-in-law? Heaven knows I used to wonder if I’d end up with a male sister-in-law.*
The corners of Xiu Mumo’s eyes twitched; she nearly laughed out loud. *This little girl is quite cute,* she thought, *a lot like her little nephew—very quick-witted.*
—*We haven't even met yet, and you’re already calling me sister-in-law?*
**Quan Xiling:** It doesn't matter if we've met or not! It’s all about whether or not you’ve bagged him!
**Xiu Mumo:** 6. I’m doing an interview tomorrow, do you want to come? You can bring your brother.
**Quan Xiling:** What’s wrong? Miss him after one kiss? Are you addicted? Don’t worry, I’ll drag him there myself.
**Xiu Mumo:** OK. I won’t bother you anymore, I have things to do.
**Quan Xiling:** Got it!
Looking at the string of messages, Quan Xiling grinned. She loved how straightforward this "sister-in-law" was. Her personality was exactly to her taste; she said what was on her mind. She started thinking about how to bring her brother to the site, or at least keep him nearby, to make it easier for him to meet Xiu Mumo.
Xiu Mumo thought of Quan Xiling, and the corners of her mouth curled upward. It seemed the time to pull Quan Xijuan into her arms wasn't far off. The only question was whether Quan Xijuan was actually a member of Kill Camp. If he was, she would have to adjust her strategy; she would have to train him properly to vent her frustration.
***
Because Xiu Mumo hadn't responded after that one Weibo post, the number of people cursing her only increased. However, she didn't delete it, which made many of Xue Anyan’s "haters" actually start to like Xiu Mumo. Being cursed at for so long without deleting the post suggested she had great emotional stability and didn't care about the noise online.
Some couldn't help but become fans, while others insisted that Xiu Mumo must be ugly, which was why the official "Ask Me Anything" show didn't release her photos or videos. But many felt that was impossible, as the Xue family had appeared in public, and their good looks were there for all to see—even their biological son was attractive. With those genes, it was unlikely they would produce an ugly girl. Others argued that she had been raised in the countryside for so long—how good could her skin be? Could she even wear makeup? There was always a huge difference before and after makeup.
The internet was in an uproar, but Xiu Mumo didn't care. She only logged on for a quick look after getting into the car.
"Xue Anyan is quite good at manipulating public opinion. She posted another Weibo saying she’s coming to apologize to you in person today. The production team must have agreed," Bie Yuan noted. He had discovered that the infighting in the entertainment industry was more troublesome than a hail of bullets—it was all interconnected and quite complex.
"That's perfect. I’ve been wanting to make her lose face." Xiu Mumo leaned back and clicked her tongue. "Oh, by the way, Quan Xiling added me. She said she’s bringing her brother, Quan Xijuan, nearby today. Find someone to test him for me—don't do it yourself. I need to know if he’s from Kill Camp."
She smiled slightly, a sharp light flickering in her deep, dark eyes.
"Understood." Bie Yuan nodded. "I'll find someone to keep an eye on him and wait for an opportunity to test his skills." The Boss was really taking this seriously.
The car arrived quickly. After confirming their identities, they drove through the gate and parked beneath a building.
"Boss, we’re here." As soon as Bie Yuan parked, he glanced outside, his expression changing. "What bad luck!"
Standing at the entrance of the building was Xue Anyan, wearing a white dress and seemingly waiting for someone.
"She’s waiting for me, of course it’s bad luck." Xiu Mumo yawned lazily and stepped out of the car. "She probably won’t leave for at least an hour. Go ahead and deal with Quan Xijuan first."
"No problem." Bie Yuan knew the Boss’s temper; it was impossible for the Boss to suffer a loss, so why should he worry? He should be the one worrying for Xue Anyan—he hoped she wouldn't end up crying during the live broadcast.
The car drove off. Xiu Mumo stepped onto the stairs.
Xue Anyan’s gaze locked onto Xiu Mumo. Seeing her outfit and appearance, a flicker of jealousy crossed her eyes. She hadn't dressed up extravagantly, fearing she would outshine Xiu Mumo and be criticized for it. Her fans had always felt she looked like a "white moonlight" in white, which was why she was wearing a white dress today.
But Xiu Mumo was wearing a sharp-looking shirt and suit trousers, an ensemble that was extremely eye-catching, especially with the leather shoes on her feet. She hadn't observed her up close before, but now that she was nearby, she realized just how tall Xiu Mumo was. She was wearing high heels, yet Xiu Mumo was still significantly taller than her. *Is she one point eight meters tall?* She had worked with plenty of actors and knew their heights, so comparing herself to her, she could make a rough guess.
"Sis... Sister, I’m Xue Anyan." Xue Anyan walked over and glanced at Xiu Mumo cautiously, putting on a pitiful act.
"Stop! I didn't bully you. Stay away from me, don't try to pull a stunt." Xiu Mumo stepped aside, turned her head to glare at her, and said, "Didn't you see what I posted on Weibo? I don't have a younger sister. Don't go around calling people sister." Even if she did have a sister in the future, it would be Quan Xiling; that kind of girl was likable, but someone like this? Forget it.
Xue Anyan froze for a second, her face twisting briefly before returning to normal. "Then... can I follow behind you?" She dropped the "sister" and started using a more formal tone. She had known since the night before that Xiu Mumo didn't play by the rules, but she had assumed it was just a "hard-to-get" game played with the Xue family. Now, it seemed it wasn't that at all.
She was genuinely ignoring her.
The attention she craved was being discarded like trash by Xiu Mumo. As this thought flooded her mind, she dug her fingernails into her palms, almost drawing blood. Anger, resentment, frustration, and disgust piled up inside her, making her feel incredibly uncomfortable. A cold, chilling gaze was cast at Xiu Mumo’s back, but after only a second, it changed back to her usual innocent, "pure-as-a-lotus" look.
A smile even appeared on her face, bright and radiant. *Just wait, Xiu Mumo. Since you’ve left, why did you have to come back? Why?*
Her palms stung slightly, which made her realize just how much she hated her.
News of Xiu Mumo’s appearance on "Ask Me Anything" had spread all over the internet. Many people were interested in her, and upon seeing a new face accompanied by Xue Anyan, they immediately guessed who she was.
"Is that Xiu Mumo? The eldest daughter the Xue family brought back? Holy crap, she’s so handsome. Both pretty and handsome—her outfit is killing Xue Anyan’s look."
"I thought she was putting on an act before, but now I think she’s just following her heart. She’s stunning."
"No wonder she doesn't like Xue Anyan; they don't even look like they’re from the same world. No wonder she posted that Weibo—she really doesn't care about the Xue family."
Some of the staff began to whisper. Xue Anyan felt eyes on them; she couldn't hear the specific comments, but she could guess the gist of it. She had chosen the wrong outfit and makeup today; she had wanted to appear aggrieved, but she hadn't expected Xiu Mumo to dress like this—so grand and so handsome that she was completely overshadowed. She had to admit that Xiu Mumo’s face was also incredibly striking; she would be a crane among chickens in any crowd.
Just as they reached the elevator, Rao Xingsi arrived. His eyes lit up when he saw Xiu Mumo. "Miss Xiu, Miss Xue, you’re here." Comparing them, Xue Anyan’s looks were indeed inferior to Xiu Mumo’s. Xiu Mumo was too beautiful; even with light makeup, her natural features were so good that if she wore heavy makeup, it might be quite aggressive. With light makeup, she looked grand and elegant—in short, her beauty was highly versatile.
Her outfit was also magnificent, her overall aura cold and noble. Only one thought ran through his mind: *Can someone like this really be raised in the countryside?* He didn't think so.
"Yes. It starts at three, and it’s only two-twenty. I’m not late, am I?" Xiu Mumo nodded slightly.
"No, this time is just right. Miss Xue called me beforehand asking to come, so I let her. I also sent you a message; I hope you aren't angry?" Rao Xingsi had felt it would be impolite not to mention it, so he had sent a WeChat message, but since Xiu Mumo hadn't replied, he had been quite anxious.
"I didn't check WeChat. It's fine; I expected this." Xiu Mumo glanced at Xue Anyan out of the corner of her eye. Ever since she agreed to the variety show, she knew Xue Anyan couldn't possibly stay away. If she wanted to get closer, they had to meet. How else could she get closer if they didn't see each other?
Over the past few days, the Xue family had sent her many texts and called occasionally, all about that "coming home" business. Of course, she knew it wasn't about coming home at all; it was just a pretext to get her into an arranged marriage so they could manipulate her.
"Right." Rao Xingsi breathed a sigh of relief. He felt that perhaps Xiu Mumo was as her colleagues said—she had a plan, which was why she joined the show.
When they reached the studio, the staff were still preparing. Rao Xingsi handed over a manual. "I sent you the notes before, but these are for the studio. Our questions are mostly standard at first, and we’ll ask others later. They’re based on the most frequent comments in the live chat. You don't have any issues with that, right?"
The main thing was that she was being cursed at so severely that he couldn't imagine how many of Xue Anyan’s fans would be in the live chat and what they would ask. Even with comment moderation, there would be attacks against Xiu Mumo.
"No issues." Xiu Mumo smiled and said quietly, "Life shouldn't be too boring, right?" If it were all the same, it would be meaningless. Otherwise, why would she have posted that Weibo? If she hadn't posted it, the live broadcast wouldn't have many viewers. It was only interesting if there were a lot of people watching. Only then could she draw a clear line in the sand.
"Huh?" Rao Xingsi was bewildered. *What is she talking about?* He didn't understand.
"Keep working, I’ll look at the manual." Xiu Mumo didn't forget that someone was still staring at her.
"Right." Rao Xingsi went back to his preparations. Xiu Mumo found a chair and sat down.
"Sister." The familiar voice sounded again. Xue Anyan sat down beside her, eyes fixed on her.
"Are you incapable of understanding human language? Do I need to call a dog to bark twice in front of you so you can understand?" Xiu Mumo glanced at her with surprise.
Xue Anyan’s face turned as red as a liver instantly. "Then what should I call you? Miss Xiu?"
"That works." Xiu Mumo smiled. "Is there anything else? If not, don't bother me." She lowered her head to look at the manual again.
Xue Anyan’s chest heaved; she was about to go mad with rage. It seemed all her usual tactics were completely ineffective against Xiu Mumo.
The two sat in a stalemate until it was time to start the live stream. Xue Anyan would be the "guest companion" for the interview, meaning that after the host made the announcement, she would go on first to attract some attention and fans, and then Xiu Mumo would come on.
"Do you think that's okay?" Rao Xingsi had no choice; Xue Anyan had a higher status, and her manager had demanded she go on first, so it had to be that way. There were some accepted rules in the industry.
"It’s fine. It’s just a live interview program." Xiu Mumo wasn't about to argue over the order of appearance. She didn't care; she wasn't involved in the entertainment industry anyway.
"I see in the manual that we can see the live chat?" She was curious about that.
"Yes, the screen on the side will show the live comments in real-time, and you can all see them," Rao Xingsi explained briefly.
"Good." Xiu Mumo nodded.
At the same time, in a coffee shop about a kilometer away, Quan Xijuan sat helplessly by the window, looking at the girl across from him. "You insisted on dragging me out today just to bring me here for coffee?"
"Why not? Brother, how long has it been since you’ve spent time with me? Tell me, can’t you even come out for an afternoon tea?"