Page 26

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

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

Cai Jinbai's gentle voice rang out. "Did something upsetting happen? If you don't mind, I can be someone who listens."

Fat Gold Ingot materialized in the air, glittering gold. Other than Cai Jinbai and Xuan Yu, no one could see it. It bounced onto Cai Jinbai's shoulder, its chubby ingot body leaning forward as though peering at Li Qianqian.

This was another bearer of Proper Wealth it had found for its master, someone with golden light above her head.

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

The golden ingot proudly puffed out its tiny body.

Li Qianqian was introverted, poor with words, and not good at socializing—a person with social anxiety. But she loved reading. Her home was filled with books, and she enjoyed losing herself in the world of books even more than putting the stories she imagined into writing.

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 very popular online, and the books she had written had been published and deeply loved by readers.

But although Li Qianqian wasn't good at speaking 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.

They were her beloved children. She wanted to see her works finally brought to the screen and seen by more people.

For this dream, and with her parents' support, she gathered her courage and worked hard to become an outstanding screenwriter. Yet 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 appeared gentle and decent on the surface were actually calculating behind the scenes.

Perhaps Cai Jinbai had appeared at just the right time. His looks, temperament, and manner of speaking made it easy for people to lower their guard and unconsciously feel favorably toward him. Or perhaps she had already reached her limit. These matters had been buried deep in her heart and were nearly suffocating her. She desperately needed someone to talk to. A stranger was even better—at least she wouldn't feel burdened after saying it all.

So Li Qianqian hesitated for two seconds before speaking.

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 worked on quite a few major productions in the industry.

So 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 production sets for work experience. It should have been a good thing, but when Ruan Ming gradually realized that Li Qianqian was exceptionally talented at screenwriting and that the new scripts she wrote while studying were very good, 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 diligently before, she hadn't been too guarded. She showed him the script first.

But Ruan Ming said the script wouldn't work, that it definitely wouldn't suit popular tastes or become popular if filmed. He told her to give him the original manuscript so he could revise it. Li Qianqian gave it to him, but afterward, there was no more news.

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

The character settings and plot direction were identical; only the names had been changed.

But after Li Qianqian discovered it, Ruan Ming revealed a different face and acted without fear.

"He said I had no evidence proving the script was written by me." Tears streamed down Li Qianqian's face. She blamed herself for judging people so poorly, for trusting Ruan Ming so easily and even giving him the original manuscript. She was so stupid, utterly inexperienced.

She had no background or support, while the production's director was related to Ruan Ming.

Ruan Ming had also 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 away her tears and choked out, "Peach is already talking marriage with Ruan Ming. I'm scared, scared..."

"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 might 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're saying, leaving your friend caught in a difficult position?"

"Mm." Li Qianqian answered quietly, accepting the handkerchief but not using it.

The fabric was too fine and looked expensive. She didn't want to dirty it.

Cai Jinbai said, "But first, you need to understand one thing. Your friend's boyfriend isn't someone 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 takes Ruan Ming's side, then your friendship is worth reconsidering too."

"It's better to say this than not say it. Don't leave yourself with regrets later. Now, do you want to call your friend?"

Li Qianqian couldn't help but reflect deeply on Cai Jinbai's words.

She truly didn't have much social experience, but that didn't mean she understood nothing.

Li Qianqian was highly gifted in screenwriting and wrote with delicate sensitivity. Otherwise, Ruan Ming would never have thought of stealing her script.

But Ruan Ming had also seen through Li Qianqian's personality. He knew she cared deeply about her friends, was dependent on others, and lacked the ability to handle situations.

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

Besides, even if she did come, Ruan Ming had made ample preparations to deal with her.

So, to Ruan Ming, Li Qianqian posed no threat at all.

But he would never have expected Li Qianqian to meet Cai Jinbai today.

Faced with Cai Jinbai's suggestion, Li Qianqian abruptly stood up, clenched the handkerchief, and summoned her courage. "You're right. I need to call Peach!"

No sooner said than done. When the call connected, He Tao's lively, upbeat voice came from the other end. "Hello, Qianqian."

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

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

Li Qianqian then poured 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 stay 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 couldn't tell what He Tao's reaction would be.

The phone was completely silent. Only after Li Qianqian finished did He Tao's voice sound again. "Qianqian, where are you right now?"

"I, I... I'm at the park, the little roadside park where we often go for walks," Li Qianqian answered instinctively, dazed.

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

Though she didn't understand why He Tao was asking those two questions, Li Qianqian answered anyway.

Then He Tao immediately said, "Okay, wait for me at the park. I'm coming right away!"

With that, she hung up.

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

Cai Jinbai curved his lips in a smile. "Do you trust her?"

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

It was because she treasured her too much that she was so afraid of losing her.

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

The two of them sat back down on the bench.

Cai Jinbai casually stroked the wrist around which Xuan Yu was coiled. The little dragon bumped 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 already used to it. When Jinbai reached his tail, he curled around his fingers and tugged at them, refusing to let go. Hmph. My true form is far more handsome than that fat ingot. Jinbai really likes me best.

Cai Jinbai secretly played with Xuan Yu for quite a while, while Li Qianqian sat beside him, anxious and unsettled.

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

Li Qianqian sprang up from the bench.

From far away, He Tao shouted, "Qianqian, look! See what I brought!"

She pulled a stack of papers from the bag slung over her shoulder, walked up to Li Qianqian, and handed them to her.

Li Qianqian took one look and recognized the stack as 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. It took me ages to find it. Hmph, luckily, since I've been dating him, I know his habit of hiding things. He hadn't had time to throw it away yet..."

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

Chapter 25

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 crap, just a boyfriend. If this one isn't good, kick him to the curb. Even if we got engaged or married, couldn't we still break up or divorce? Compared to him, you're the one who matters most to me."