Page 26

Li Qianqian hurriedly lowered her head, not daring to let the people beside her see.

No, she couldn't cry. Wouldn't that make her seem far too melodramatic?

Cai Jinbai's gentle voice sounded. "Did something upsetting happen? If you don't mind, I can listen."

Fat Gold Ingot materialized in the air, gleaming gold. Aside from Cai Jinbai and Xuan Yu, no one could see him. He bounced onto Cai Jinbai's shoulder, his chubby ingot body leaning forward as though examining Li Qianqian.

This was another person blessed with Proper Wealth whom he had found for his master.

She was currently troubled by some matters, but that was fine. With his master stepping in, every difficulty would soon be resolved.

The golden ingot proudly puffed out his little body.

Li Qianqian was introverted, inarticulate, and poor at socializing—a socially anxious person through and through. But she loved reading. Her home was filled with books, and she enjoyed immersing herself in the worlds within them even more than she enjoyed writing the stories in her mind onto paper.

She was a novelist, capable of writing words that were either magnificent or heartwarming, and she had indeed done so.

Her pen name was Green Grass Qianqian. She was quite popular online, and books she had written had even been published, deeply loved by readers.

Yet although Li Qianqian was not good at talking with people outside, she was a girl with dreams. She wanted to become a screenwriter, personally adapt the novels she had written into scripts, and take part in filming them.

Those works were her beloved children. She wanted to see them eventually appear on screen and be seen by more people.

For this dream, and with her parents' support, she gathered her courage and worked hard to become an outstanding screenwriter. But in the end, she discovered that society was nothing like she had imagined.

There was a gap between reality and dreams, and some people who seemed gentle and decent on the surface were actually skilled at plotting behind the scenes.

Perhaps Cai Jinbai had appeared at just the right time. His appearance, temperament, and manner of speaking made people let down their guard and develop a favorable impression of him without realizing it. Or perhaps she had reached her limit. These matters had been buried in her heart for so long that they were nearly suffocating her, and she desperately needed someone to confide in. A stranger was even better; at least she would not feel burdened after saying it all.

So, after hesitating for two seconds, Li Qianqian spoke.

She had a very close friend named He Tao. The two had grown up together and shared an intimate bond.

He Tao's boyfriend, Ruan Ming, was a well-known screenwriter who had participated in quite a few major productions in the industry.

Therefore, when He Tao learned that Li Qianqian also wanted to become a screenwriter, she asked her boyfriend Ruan Ming to guide her, teach her how to become a screenwriter, and bring her to work on film sets for experience. This should have been a good thing, but when Ruan Ming gradually realized that Li Qianqian was extremely talented at screenwriting and that the new script she wrote while studying was also excellent, he secretly developed other thoughts.

Li Qianqian had painstakingly written a new script and wanted to use it as her stepping stone to officially becoming a screenwriter.

Since Ruan Ming was He Tao's boyfriend and had helped her so earnestly before, she had not been very guarded. She showed the script to Ruan Ming first.

In the end, Ruan Ming said the script was no good, that it would definitely not suit the public's tastes or become popular if filmed. He asked her to give him the original manuscript so he could revise it. Li Qianqian gave it to him, but afterward, there was no further news.

She said softly, "Ruan Ming wouldn't answer my calls. I went directly to the production set to find him, only to discover that the newly launched production was using the new script I wrote..."

The character settings and story progression were the same; only the names had been changed.

But after Li Qianqian discovered it, Ruan Ming revealed his true face, utterly fearless.

"He said I had no evidence proving that I wrote the script." Tears streamed down Li Qianqian's face. She blamed herself for misjudging him and trusting Ruan Ming so easily, even giving him the original manuscript. She was so stupid—she had no experience at all.

She had no background and no one to rely on, while the production's director was related to Ruan Ming.

Ruan Ming had even said that if she came looking for him again, he would tell He Tao that she had tried to seduce him and make the two of them fall out.

Li Qianqian raised a hand to wipe her tears and choked out, "Peach is already talking about marriage with Ruan Ming now. I'm afraid, afraid..."

"You don't dare say it." Cai Jinbai handed her a handkerchief to wipe her tears. "You're afraid that if things blow up, they'll reach an irreversible point. Or that your friend won't trust you and you'll lose her. Or that you won't be able to prove what you say, leaving your friend caught in a difficult position?"

"Mm." Li Qianqian answered quietly and accepted the handkerchief, but did not use it.

The handkerchief was of such fine material and looked expensive. She did not want to dirty it.

Cai Jinbai said, "But first, you need to understand one thing: your friend's boyfriend is not worth entrusting her life to. Letting them continue is what would truly hurt her."

"If, after you tell her, your friend doesn't trust you and instead firmly stands by Ruan Ming's side, then your friendship is worth reconsidering as well."

"It is always better to say this than not to say it. Don't let yourself regret it later. Now, would you like to call your friend?"

Li Qianqian could not help but ponder Cai Jinbai's words.

She truly did not have much social experience, but that did not mean she understood nothing.

Li Qianqian was highly gifted in screenwriting, with delicate writing. Otherwise, Ruan Ming would not have thought of stealing her script.

But Ruan Ming had also seen through Li Qianqian's personality. He knew full well that she cared deeply about her friends, was dependent on others, and lacked experience in handling matters.

If he used He Tao to threaten Li Qianqian, then with Li Qianqian's personality, she would not dare come looking for him again.

Besides, even if she did come, Ruan Ming was fully prepared to deal with her.

Thus, Li Qianqian was nothing to fear for Ruan Ming.

But he would never have imagined that Li Qianqian would meet Cai Jinbai today.

Faced with Cai Jinbai's suggestion, Li Qianqian suddenly stood up, clutched the handkerchief tightly, and gathered her courage. "You're right. I'm calling Peach!"

She acted as soon as she decided. After the call connected, He Tao's lively, upbeat voice came from the other end. "Hello, Qianqian."

Li Qianqian stammered, "Pe-Peach, I have something to tell you."

"What is it?" He Tao asked in confusion. "Go ahead, I'm listening."

Li Qianqian then blurted out everything about Ruan Ming stealing her script and threatening her in one breath. "Th-that's what happened, Peach. Do you believe me...? Ruan Ming is a bad person. I don't want you to be with him in the future. You might get hurt."

Her voice grew softer and softer, and the more she spoke, the less confidence she had. She could not tell what He Tao's reaction would be.

The phone was utterly silent. Only after Li Qianqian finished did He Tao speak. "Qianqian, where are you now?"

"I-I, I'm at the park—the roadside park where we always take walks," Li Qianqian answered instinctively, dazed.

He Tao said, "Tell me the name of that script and what it's about."

Though she did not understand why He Tao was asking those two questions, Li Qianqian told her.

Then He Tao immediately said, "All right, wait for me in the park. I'll be right there!"

With that, she hung up.

Li Qianqian stared at her phone, then looked up helplessly at Cai Jinbai. Wh-what did that mean?

Cai Jinbai smiled. "Do you trust her?"

"Of course I trust Peach!" Li Qianqian said.

It was precisely because she treasured her so much that she feared losing her.

Cai Jinbai said, "Then that's enough. I'll wait here with you."

The two sat back down on the bench.

Cai Jinbai casually stroked the wrist around which Xuan Yu was coiled. The tiny dragon nudged his fingertip with his horn.

The dragon horn felt like jade—cool to the touch and very comfortable to stroke.

So Cai Jinbai stroked him twice more, from head to tail.

Xuan Yu was accustomed to this. When Jinbai's hand reached his tail, he curled around his finger and tugged it, refusing to let go. Hmph. My true form is much more handsome than that fat ingot. Jinbai really likes me best.

While Cai Jinbai secretly played with Xuan Yu for quite a while, Li Qianqian sat anxiously beside them.

After a long while, He Tao finally came running over, panting heavily.

Li Qianqian shot up from the bench.

From a long distance away, He Tao shouted, "Qianqian, look! See what I brought!"

She pulled out a stack of papers from the bag she carried and came over to hand them to Li Qianqian.

One look told Li Qianqian that the stack of papers was the original manuscript of her script.

He Tao said proudly, "After you told me, I immediately went to Ruan Ming's house. He happened to be on set at this time, and I still had the key to his place. I searched forever before I found it. Hmph, good thing I've been dating him long enough to know his habits for hiding things. He hadn't had time to throw it away yet..."

"Peach!" Li Qianqian threw her arms around her.

He Tao hugged Li Qianqian back and comforted her. "Don't cry, Qianqian. You should have told me sooner. Ruan Ming is nothing but a piece of trash. He's only a boyfriend—if this one's no good, dump him. Even if we were engaged or married, couldn't I still break it off or get divorced? Compared to him, you're the most important person to me."