Ouyang looked at the carefree Shu Yao, unable to suppress this thought.

While she was running around everywhere pulling strings for a role, Shu Yao, simply by being born into the right family, could get things easily, without lifting a finger.

Regardless of whether Shu Yao's future path was inside or outside the entertainment circle, as long as Director An and the Shu family were there, her road would be several times smoother than others'.

"Yao Yao, this restaurant is very famous locally. Look, there's a long line outside. Order whatever you want, it's my treat tonight." Ouyang perked up, addressing Shu Yao, and didn't forget to say to Zhang Chen, "Excuse me, I hope we're not disturbing you. It's just that there are no other tables."

"No problem." Zhang Chen smiled good-naturedly, then asked Shu Yao, "What would you like to eat? I'll go order."

Shu Yao looked left and right, puffed out her cheeks, and looked a bit disgusted.

"This shop is so small, and it's so noisy. Besides, you're all done eating, aren't you?"

Zhang Chen smiled and said: "The service here is slow. We've only just eaten the fish. See what you'd like to eat and just order."

Ouyang also said: "This sweet and sour fish looks good. Should we have the owner bring another one?"

Before Bo He could explain, Shu Yao said: "Forget it, I don't like sweet and sour dishes, they're too sour."

Ouyang quickly handed her the menu. "There are other things here."

The menu, stained by years of grease and smoke, had a yellowish sheen. Pressing a finger on it left a clear fingerprint.

Shu Yao was a girl with a bit of a cleanliness obsession. Seeing the menu Ouyang handed over, she just didn't take it.

The situation became a bit awkward.

Ouyang felt wronged but couldn't show it. She forced a smile and nudged the menu forward a little.

"Then I'll order some drinks first."

Afraid of being rebuffed again, she simply ordered a few sodas and beers, worried Shu Yao would think she was stingy.

Shu Yao had seen Ouyang's kind of attentiveness from countless others since she was a child, and she remained very calm about it.

She just wasn't very clear on Zhang Chen's relationship with them.

"Brother Chen, do you know them?"

Bo He said: "I was Senior Zhang's junior from the same university. I was under his care before. We happened to run into each other this time, so I invited him out for a meal to express my gratitude."

Shu Yao asked curiously: "How did Brother Chen take care of you?"

Zhang Chen tried to stop her: "Xiao Yao!"

But Bo He said frankly: "During my freshman year, I had a work-study job. The school cafeteria was the best gig, and if it weren't for Senior Zhang's help, I definitely wouldn't have gotten it."

Shu Yao hadn't taken her college entrance exams yet and was yearning for university life. Hearing this, she asked: "How is the cafeteria a cushy job? Don't you have to help wash dishes and move things?"

And just like that, the conversation started.

Ouyang had little interest in their topic of conversation. She wracked her brain, thinking of how to introduce herself to Shu Yao. If she could get Shu Yao to put in a good word for her with Director An, that would be even better.

The owner came over with the drinks and bone soup they had ordered.

Eager to make a good impression, Ouyang took the ladle to serve everyone soup. But as she was handing a bowl to Zhang Chen, a small accident happened. Her hand slipped, she lost her grip on the bowl, and the soup spilled onto the table, with some of it splashing onto Zhang Chen and Shu Yao, who couldn't dodge in time.

Shu Yao, who wouldn't even touch a greasy menu, couldn't possibly tolerate soup splashing on her. Even if it was just a few drops, she cried out immediately.

Ouyang was also stunned. She apologized repeatedly and quickly took out tissues to wipe them off.

"I have new clothes in my room, never worn. If you don't mind, I'll go get them for you. We have a similar build, you should be able to wear them!"

Shu Yao was furious and blurted out: "Who wants to wear your shabby clothes? You don't have to use this kind of method to suck up to me. I definitely won't say anything good about you to my mom!"

Ouyang's face instantly turned pale.

Although she did want to curry favor with Shu Yao, she would never use such a clumsy method. Besides, when it comes to flattery, it's usually an unspoken understanding. Few people would say it so bluntly.

But Shu Yao was young and didn't need to survive in the entertainment industry by reading people's expressions, so she naturally said whatever she wanted.

It stabbed right into Ouyang's heart.

In public, her face burned as if a layer of skin had been peeled off.

Shu Yao also felt very wronged and was still furious. Ignoring Zhang Chen pulling at her and trying to smooth things over, she continued heedlessly.

"It's not that you can't use connections to get ahead, but my mom says that even if you have backing and connections, you at least need to be competent at your job to establish yourself. Let me tell you the truth. After you finished filming today, I was nearby and heard my mom chatting with the assistant director. She said there are two main ways for an actor to get famous. One is to have solid skills—heaven rewards the diligent. The other is to have great talent—effortless and traceless, like a hanging antelope's horn. You don't have either. When your scene was done, my mom just shook her head. You get what that means, right? So sucking up to me is useless!"

The young girl finished her rapid-fire speech, each word like a pearl dropping onto a jade plate, but Ouyang was left stunned.

"I wasn't trying to suck up to you... no, I mean, I was originally looking for Bo He, not specifically for you..."

She stammered out an explanation, utterly mortified, feeling wronged and frustrated. Facing Shu Yao's "I've seen through it all" gaze, Ouyang felt her cheeks burn from under her eyes to her earlobes, scorching hot.

Shu Yao tossed the tissue onto the table.

"Oh, come on. You had your friend ask Brother Chen out to eat. You think I don't know why? Isn't it just to get to my mom through him?"

Pa.

It wasn't a crisp sound, more of a muffled thud.

It was just like a fish struggling for its life on a cutting board, pinned down by a hand on its vital point, unable to move.

Shu Yao's voice came to an abrupt halt.

Her gaze slowly lowered, landing on Bo He's hand.

It had been holding a teacup.

Now the teacup was shattered into several pieces, which clattered onto the tabletop.

Bo He acted as if nothing had happened. "Sorry, my grip was a little too strong just now. I'll call the owner over to replace the cup."

The others stared at her blankly.

Zhang Chen had seen her carry gas canisters in the school cafeteria—a large one on her shoulder and a small one in her hand.

He knew back then that Bo He was stronger than an ordinary girl, but thinking back on it now, he couldn't help feeling a little scared.

When they broke up, the fact that Bo He didn't beat him to a pulp—did that count as her going easy on him?

Bo He clapped her hands together and swept the fragments on the table to one side.

Then, she said to them gently, "Tonight is my treat, let's just celebrate the long-overdue reunion of a senior and his junior. No talking about work, no saying things that spoil the mood. Miss Shu, my face may not be important enough, so just consider it giving Senior Zhang some face, alright?"

Shu Yao subconsciously nodded, her expression as if she had just seen Peppa Pig dancing ballet on the dinner table.