By the next morning, Lin Ruijiao had already left the house. No one knew how she was reacting to the night before. She was gone without a trace—and so was her assistant.
At that moment, Lin Ruijiao sat in the back of her car, nibbling slowly on her breakfast. Her brows were furrowed, her whole face clouded with worry."Jing Jing," she asked hesitantly, "What… what exactly happened last night?"
Jing Jing pushed up her glasses and looked at her seriously. "Sister Lin, you were just drunk last night... Then President Ye took you back to your room…"
"And then?" Lin Ruijiao stared at her, eyes full of regret and frustration. How could she have lost control like that? How could she have let herself drink that much?
"After that, when I went to check on you, I ran into President Ye. She said you were already asleep and told me not to disturb you. That's it," Jing Jing recounted honestly.
"Alright." What Jingjing said matched the hazy fragments of memory in Lin Ruijiao's mind. When she'd woken up that morning, she'd found herself in pajamas—likely changed into them after freshening up. She could still vaguely recall Ye Ruihuan supporting her as she stumbled. There were traces of that memory lingering in her mind.
But she'd been so busy lately that they hadn't crossed paths much. Perhaps it was better to pretend that night had never happened.
In the days that followed, Lin Ruijiao found herself rushing from one event to the next. She appeared on variety shows and talk shows alongside the lead actors of Moonlight Serenade and Phoenix. She even ran into some old acquaintances—Zhou Yanyan, Liu Qingqing, and others.
Thanks to the success of the variety shows she'd previously appeared in, many production teams were eager to invite her. Lin Ruijiao, known for her clean image and good reputation, didn't come with a lot of baggage. But most shows still liked to play up her on-screen "sisterhood" with Zhou Yanyan.
As a result, her schedule was packed. She was out early and back late, appearing on screen after screen across the country. Even though she and Ye Ruihuan were technically living under the same roof, they barely saw each other. Ye Ruihuan had to rely on the internet just to keep up with Lin Ruijiao's activities.
The weather was getting colder by the day, and with no appealing gigs coming in, Ye Ruihuan had resigned herself to staying home, scrolling through news and clips of Lin Ruijiao online.
In one video, Lin Ruijiao wore a soft pink chiffon princess dress, her bright smile radiant and pure. She looked fresh and charming, a living doll. A smile tugged at Ye Ruihuan's lips. This version of Lin Ruijiao—so lovely—made her want to snuggle up close.
During an interview, the host asked, "So, Ruijiao, what kind of person are you into?"
Lin Ruijiao giggled shyly before answering, "Hmm... probably someone around my age, sunny and cheerful, I guess…"
Ye Ruihuan didn't finish the clip. She swiped past it, the warmth draining from her face. Every word felt like it had been said against her.
She kept watching every post, every video about Lin Ruijiao, surprised by just how many events the little rabbit had attended lately. No wonder she'd been so busy.
A strange sense of exclusion washed over her."She acted in Phoenix too,: Ye Ruihuan thought bitterly. "So why hadn't she been invited to anything?"
Online, there were still whispers about her rumored tension with Lin Ruijiao. In interviews, Lin Ruijiao had danced around the topic, brushing it off with a few vague laughs. It was a clever media strategy—avoid confirming anything while keeping the mystery alive.
There were also numerous magazine shoots circulating—most showcasing Lin Ruijiao's clean and innocent image. That was likely a lingering effect of her role in Moonlight Serenade. Her public image still leaned toward youthful and sweet.
Once Phoenix aired, perhaps there'd be a shift.
Although that image was beautiful, it was limiting. It could lock her into a narrow range of roles. And high-end brands rarely sought out actresses with that kind of "girl next door" vibe. Even with her rising popularity, Lin Ruijiao was still seen as a mid-tier celeb—one with a few scandals clinging to her past.
After combing through everything related to Lin Ruijiao, Ye Ruihuan couldn't help but start analyzing her career path, thinking about where she might go next.
Just as she was about to log off Weibo, a trending post at the bottom of the hot list caught her attention:
#ZhouYanyanAndLinRuijiaoBestieGoals#
Ye Ruihuan's expression darkened. Again?Why was Ruijiao always tied to Zhou Yanyan? Hadn't the public had enough of this "bestie duo" marketing ploy?
Curious, she tapped the link. It led to a teaser for a new variety show, packed with emotional highlights and dramatic moments. Netizens had even posted screenshots showing how close the two appeared.
Ye Ruihuan's brows pinched tighter. Her hand froze above the screen for a long time before she finally pressed play. On-screen, the two women sat on a grassy hill, sharing heartfelt stories and laughing over old memories. They held hands while walking and ended the clip in a warm embrace.
Even Ye Ruihuan couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "Besties, huh…"
Her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes clouded with something unnameable. The sight of their closeness stirred a silent storm inside her chest. A bitter smile lifted her lips as she let out a soft, mocking snort. She placed a hand over her heart—beating erratically, stalling, breaking—all because of her.
She couldn't stop herself from remembering how close Lin Ruijiao and Zhou Yanyan had been during Moonlight Serenade. Back then, their bond had been enviable.
Now, all Ye Ruihuan could feel was the sour, helpless sting of being left behind. Everyone seemed so close to Lin Ruijiao… everyone but her.
It was as if an invisible chasm had opened between them—one she couldn't cross, and one Lin Ruijiao had no intention of bridging. She closed her eyes with a self-deprecating laugh. The curve of her lips was sharp, bitter. That night, the wind howled outside. Ye Ruihuan curled up on the sofa, eyes occasionally drifting toward the door.
Finally, the silence broke.
Ye Zhi burst in, storming through the front door. "Ha! I knew you'd be here!"
Ye Ruihuan shifted her gaze lazily, the flicker of disappointment flashing in her eyes.
Ye Zhi, of course, noticed everything. "What's with that face? Not happy to see me?"
She held up a tablet and practically shoved it in Ye Ruihuan's face. "Don't play dumb. Why the hell did you spend so much money buying a foreign vineyard? A wine estate, no less!"
"The company doesn't even do that kind of business! Are we a lifestyle brand now? Or are you handing out luxury alcohol as employee perks?!"
Ye Ruihuan gave her a lazy side-eye. "It's called business expansion."
"Business—my ass! If you want to drink, use your own credit card!" Ye Zhi scanned the shelves inside the room. At some point, they'd been stocked with expensive-looking bottles. "Or are you secretly planning to start a booze empire? If so, why not go solo? What are you doing dragging Huarui Entertainment into this mess?"
"..."