Atlas Studios

  Atlas Studios

  In the photo, Shi Hanchu was wearing black-framed glasses and a black tweed cap, lowering his head and fidgeting with his phone. Under the accompaniment of his assistant, he strode towards the restaurant with those long legs of his…


  Lin Nuan was rendered speechless.

  Bai Xiaonian’s injured legs didn’t prevent her gossipy mode from being triggered.

  “Su Manman is here too!” Bai Xiaonian enlarged the photo on her phone, pointing at a blurry person wearing a tweed cap. “Look! Su Manman!”


  The image was so blurry that Lin Nuan couldn’t tell it was Su Manman.

  “Let’s hurry to the restaurant! They might still be there! I felt there was something fishy between them the last time they filmed a movie together, and later, Su Manman confessed on Weibo. I’ll bet a bag of spicy bars that they’re already together!” Bai Xiaonian said to Lin Nuan.

  Seeing Lin Nuan remain standing there with her hands in her pockets, Bai Xiaonian reached out and tugged at the corner of her top. “Hurry! I’m not doing this just because I’m nosy. We need to eat breakfast anyway…”


  As if she would believe Bai Xiaonian…


  Lin Nuan pushed Bai Xiaonian into the elevator and went to the restaurant.

  However, Shi Hanchu and Su Manman were nowhere to be seen in the restaurant. Bai Xiaonian glanced around the surroundings and felt it was a pity. She did like the winner of the Best Actor Award, Shi Hanchu.

  Lin Nuan returned after getting food for Bai Xiaonian. She drew a tissue and wiped her hands, then stood by Bai Xiaonian’s side and said, “See what else you want to eat…”


  “Enough, enough! I don’t dare to eat too much. Over this period of only eating and not exercising at all, I’ve grown fat! If I eat more, dieting will be a tedious task after I’ve recovered!” Bai Xiaonian picked up the glass of milk from the tray and slurped down two mouthfuls. She frowned, then raised her head and stared at Lin Nuan with a helpless look in her eyes. “You’re truly a good friend…”


  Lin Nuan smiled with her lips pursed. She saw low-fat milk just now, so she brought Bai Xiaonian a glass.

  “Lu Jinnan is taking pretty good care of you. It’s only been a few days, and your face has grown rounder. Your legs are injured, but you should still return to the station in a few days! Fresh and tender young ladies are constantly appearing, so if you really wait until your legs are fully recovered to return, your ‘Morning News Daily’ anchor position might be given to someone else!”


  Bai Xiaonian knew that Lin Nuan’s concerns weren’t unfounded.

  Bai Xiaonian wasn’t a fool. She also knew this…


  It was just that, with Lin Nuan no longer around, she didn’t have any lingering feelings towards Haicheng TV Station.

  Bai Xiaonian patted the spot next to her for Lin Nuan to sit down. She had something to say.

  Lin Nuan sat down…


  “Nuan, I’m not wildly popular like you have become now, with plenty of tv stations to choose from!” Bai Xiaonian set down her glass, her expression serious. “Honestly speaking… with Miss Xia gone, I don’t have the confidence to stay on at Haicheng TV Station, so I plan to leave.”


  Bai Xiaonian didn’t look like she was joking, and neither did she seem to be acting on impulse.

  “Then what plans do you have?”


  “I paid attention when I was on ‘Morning News Daily’ previously. I heard how Weng Lin signed her contract with Haicheng TV Station back then. Miss Xia didn’t force me to sign a long contract. I have a senior at ‘National Daily’ who has asked me if I’m willing to go over to the international section, to become an overseas reporter.”


  Overseas reporter?

  “Then you and Lu Jinnan…”


  “I haven’t discussed this with him.” Bai Xiaonian tightened her grip on her napkin. “But… I think he will support me! Over the years, I have realized that a woman must have her own career and not solely rely on a man, else she would sooner or later become a man’s accessory!”


  Furthermore, Bai Xiaonian had expectations of herself!

  She had always looked up to her deceased mother, and her greatest goal was to surpass the accomplishments made by her mother.

  At least for now, Bai Xiaonian’s feelings towards Lu Jinnan weren’t great enough for her to give up her lifelong dream in order to be with him.

  Lin Nuan nodded. “Regardless of your decision, I’ll support you!”


  Bai Xiaonian grinned and reached out to grab Lin Nuan’s hand. “I knew it. My Nuan knows me the best!”


  Lin Nuan went to get breakfast for herself. When she was waiting for her coffee at the coffee machine, she was lost in thought, remaining that way until she heard someone say hello to her in English.

  “Hello!”


  Lin Nuan had thought that the other party wanted to use the coffee machine, so she raised her head and said, “I’ll be done in half a minute…”


  Upon seeing the thin and pale, sickly-looking young man—who was wearing a gray jacket and standing beside her and smiling at her—Lin Nuan noticed that his previously empty-looking eyes now had some brightness to them. He was around six feet tall, yet he gave others a frail-looking impression.

  “Do you not remember me? I’m the person who knocked into you and caused your phone to fall to the ground…” The man smiled at Lin Nuan, extending his arm, clearly wanting to get to know her. His actions were visibly slower, and there was a lack of strength in his voice. “My name is Li Muyang, pleased to meet you!”


  Lin Nuan’s gaze swept over Li Muyang’s large, extended hand. She lightly smiled as she shook hands with him, but she didn’t reveal her name. “Nice to meet you…”


  A dripping sound came from the coffee machine.

  Lin Nuan picked up her coffee mug. “I’m done using it!”


  “Wait!” Li Muyang feared that Lin Nuan might leave, so he blocked her way. “I’m sorry for being so abrupt, but I’d like to be friends with you.”


  The minute the man got close to Lin Nuan, she could smell a faint medicinal scent on him. That faint and slightly bitter smell had seeped its way into his bones; even his breath revealed that he was a person who had been sick for a long time.

  Even though this man was so thin that his eyes were deeply sunken, and even though his skin was overly fair, he still appeared handsome. The aura he exuded was unexpectedly clean and graceful.

  He maintained a distance despite blocking her way and didn’t appear to be frivolous, so Lin Nuan didn’t feel repulsed by his actions.

  The hot steam rose from the coffee in her hands, the aroma attacking her senses. The corners of Lin Nuan’s lips turned up. She treated Li Muyang’s actions as him trying to pick her up, so she spoke candidly, “I’m already married.”


  Li Muyang’s gaze fell to Lin Nuan’s hand. He didn’t see a wedding ring on it…


  Noticing where Li Muyang was staring, Lin Nuan smiled slightly. “I’m not kidding.”


  “You’ve misunderstood me…” Li Muyang stared into Lin Nuan’s eyes with those dead black eyes of his, as if seeing another person through Lin Nuan’s eyes, his demeanor brooding.

  His Adam’s apple glided up and down his throat. After managing a smile with difficulty, he spoke in a soft voice, “Your voice, it is identical to my lover’s, who has passed away. I merely wanted to talk to you. I don’t have other motives.”


  Lin Nuan’s gaze towards Li Muyang became even more guarded. Even if there was indeed sadness in this man’s eyes, she felt that this was merely a technique that men used to pick up women.

  Lin Nuan remained smiling. “Apologies, my friend is still waiting for me. Excuse me!”


  As they brushed shoulders, Li Muyang’s gaze followed Lin Nuan’s back view as she left with the food tray…