Chapter 37

Chapter 37: 037 – Junior Sister?

Old Ji’s face turned stiff immediately. “Elder Qu, are you dreaming?”

Grandpa Qu chuckled, unbothered. “Girl Qiao, don’t be afraid. Forget the Wang family—if it were the Huo family, I could still make them roll away on their own.”

Old Madam Qian blinked, still catching up. “What are you two talking about? Wang family? Huo family?”

Grandpa Qu’s smile faltered. He turned his head, suddenly finding his teacup very interesting, and avoided Old Madam Qian’s eyes like a guilty child.

Old Ji pressed his lips together, stubbornly silent.

In the end, Xie Yu Qian picked up his phone, opened the latest post, and handed it to Old Madam Qian.

“Master and Grandpa Qu both think the Wang family isn’t worthy of Junior Sister,” he said evenly.

Junior Sister.

Qiao Qing Yan lightly rubbed her fingertips, keeping her expression calm.

In the original host’s memories, her relationship with Xie Yu Qian wasn’t close enough to deserve that title. If it had been, the original host wouldn’t have done things like sneaking around to harass him late at night.

Which meant…

Old Ji was the original host’s master.

But why was there nothing about it in the original host’s memory?

The only ties she could find were scattered and indirect.

When she’d been blacklisted online, every director had been too scared to cast her. Endorsements were replaced overnight. Jobs vanished. Doors slammed shut.

At her lowest point, she’d suddenly been chosen as the female lead in Xie Yu Qian’s first project.

No audition. The contract went straight to signature. The lead role was decided.

Later, when the show flopped, she’d learned online that Xie Yu Qian was already a well-known director—and Old Ji’s only disciple.

Back then, Xie Yu Qian casting her had also been something Old Ji had strongly demanded of him.

After the flop, the original host never crossed paths with them again. One was a top figure in directing. The other was a rising star. Once the original host’s work was suspended, it became almost impossible for her to appear on the kind of variety shows where their circles overlapped.

While Qiao Qing Yan silently pieced it together, Old Madam Qian finished reading the post.

“This is complete nonsense,” she snapped, anger flaring. “If Xiao Qing Yan were really like what the internet says, how could Old Ji and I not know? And if the Wang family were really planning something with her, how could they not contact us?”

The recording claimed Madam Wang would “handle the judges,” rig an award for Qiao Qing Yan, and let her retire in glory.

But in reality, the panel’s attitude wasn’t some secret. Besides Old Ji, the judges had refused to give Qiao Qing Yan another award at all.

It didn’t add up.

Old Madam Qian’s grip tightened around Qiao Qing Yan’s hand. “Xiao Qing Yan, don’t be afraid. If the Wang family dares bully you, I’ll be the first to oppose it.”

She sneered. “The Wang family? Old Ji and I don’t even put them in our eyes. A son born to a second wife thinks he can make waves?”

Old Madam Qian knew more about the Wang family than Old Ji did, and she’d heard about Third Young Master Wang’s situation long before it threatened to go public.

Seeing her worked up, Qiao Qing Yan raised her hand gently, calming her. “I refused. I have nothing to do with the Wang family anymore.”

Old Madam Qian finally breathed out. “Good.”

Grandpa Qu’s brows drew together. “But that’s not right. I heard the fiancée the Wang family is about to announce is you.”

“Maybe it’s someone with the same name,” Qiao Qing Yan said lightly.

“Is that so?”

“Probably. I also heard they’re even preparing an engagement banquet.” Grandpa Qu clicked his tongue. “If you’re going to do it, you have to do the full set. Madam Wang knows that.”

Then his expression softened again. “Good thing you have nothing to do with them. Otherwise, later on, I wouldn’t want to go to the Wang family to see you.”

He laughed, as if trying to lighten the air.

Xie Yu Qian knew more than Grandpa Qu did, and he couldn’t help thinking deeper about Qiao Qing Yan’s answer.

Same surname, same given name?

With Third Young Master Wang’s temperament, would he really accept being slapped in the face like that?

He’d been bragging everywhere that he would definitely marry Qiao Qing Yan.

Qiao Qing Yan ignored the weight of his scrutiny, as if she hadn’t noticed it at all. She continued chatting politely with the three elders, calm and composed.

The elders didn’t notice Xie Yu Qian’s thoughts, either. They spoke with Qiao Qing Yan back and forth, clearly enjoying the conversation, warmth settling over the room as if the storm outside didn’t exist.