I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

A clear and gentle male voice came from outside the door: "Miss Chen, it's me, Bai Zikong."

"The person who just bought that painting at the auction."

"I have something I'd like to say to Miss Chen. May I... come in?"

A complex emotion flickered in Cecilia's icy blue eyes.

Bai Zikong... that name, and that face I just caught a glimpse of.

so similar.

Like that person she now hates to the core, yet is also mixed with complex emotions that are hard to explain.

She let out a soft breath.

After all, Master Gu Yan had meticulously set up this trap for himself, even at the cost of injury...

How could she not let Master Gu Yan finish his script?

Indeed, when Chen Sinian suddenly asked her to host the auction, she keenly sensed that it might be a trap.

She knew her father too well. One second he was stammering, and the next he could speak so eloquently and movingly. This was definitely not her father's usual style.

Given that she was recently on the verge of a breakdown, she also wanted to see what her father was up to.

"Please come in."

Cecilia responded, while simultaneously manipulating the magnetism to silently move the broken metal obstacles at the doorway aside, clearing a path.

The door to the private room was gently pushed open.

Bai Zikong walked in. The first thing he saw was Gu Yan, who was sitting on the sofa, pale-faced, with bloodstains on her lips and clothes, and looked exhausted.

Bai Zikong was startled, and his admiration for Gu Yan deepened. He silently said, "Mr. Gu... thank you for your hard work."

Then, he turned to Cecilia in her wheelchair, his gaze sincere and tender.

"Ms. Chen, I noticed during the auction just now..."

"You seem to be paying particular attention to this painting."

"I think this painting belongs to someone who truly understands and appreciates it."

"So... I'd like to give it to you."

He held the exquisite wooden box containing the painting in both hands, bowed slightly, and spoke in a clear and sincere voice.

Gu Yan, who was sitting on the sofa, felt an urge to rush up and hug Bai Zikong when she saw him come in!

They arrived just in time! And they were so dedicated and meticulous in following the plot!

He truly lives up to his reputation as the perfect second male lead in novels!

Seeing Cecilia's complex and indescribable expression as she stared at Bai Zikong...

Gu Yan felt that... there was still a chance!

You can't blame Gu Yan for thinking that way.

The main problem is that the female-oriented novel is just that outrageous.

When he watched the later scenes where Cecilia and Lin Yan were constantly arguing, he couldn't help but wonder if the female lead had some kind of mental problem.

So, even after all those unexpected events, seeing Bai Zikong's familiar face now, if Cecilia were to let her romantic thoughts take over again...

In this melodramatic world of female-oriented novels, it seems... quite normal?

There's definitely a chance!

Thinking of this, Gu Yan's lips curled into a beautiful smile.

Just as Gu Yan was wondering whether Cecilia would follow the original story, Cecilia's cold voice rang out.

She didn't look at Bai Zikong, but instead turned her icy blue eyes to Gu Yan on the sofa.

"Mr. Gu Yan."

"Do you think... I should accept this gift?"

Gu Yan was thinking about the plot when she was asked a question. She was stunned for a moment, and then subconsciously avoided her gaze.

Cecilia saw his reaction and noticed that he not only ignored her but was also secretly laughing. The anger she had suppressed suddenly flared up again.

Gu Yan snapped out of her daze, somewhat bewildered.

Why are you asking me?

In the original story, didn't you agree directly, offer ten times the price, and then have your favorability rating skyrocket after Bai Zikong elegantly refused?

In order to get the script back on track as soon as possible, Gu Yan made a tough decision and simply pretended not to hear Cecilia's question.

"Oh? You beat me, and then you turn around and give the painting to Miss Chen?"

"Mr. Bai is really... gentle and considerate, he knows how to please girls."

He turned to Bai Zikong, a villainous, forced smile on his face, and said in a sarcastic tone.

When Cecilia saw that Gu Yan was ignoring her completely and instead talking to Bai Zikong, she tightened her grip on the armrest of the wheelchair.

"Thanks."

She steered her wheelchair forward slightly, reached out and took the wooden box directly from Bai Zikong's hand, her voice revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Ms. Chen, I wonder... if I might have the honor of inviting you to dinner?"

Bai Zikong was overjoyed and quickly seized the opportunity to speak politely and sincerely, as Gu Yan had instructed.

Cecilia was visibly taken aback when she heard the invitation.

Almost immediately, she turned her gaze to Gu Yan.

But this time, Gu Yan didn't even glance at her; she simply turned to the side, head down, completely absorbed in...

He started playing with his fingers, as if there were flowers on them.

Cecilia bit her lower lip, a hint of annoyance flashing in her icy blue eyes, along with a trace of... grievance that she herself didn't even realize.

She clenched her fists, her voice several degrees colder than before: "Okay. Nine o'clock tonight."

Bai Zikong's eyes lit up instantly! Overjoyed surged into his heart!

He suppressed his excitement, glancing gratefully at Gu Yan out of the corner of his eye.

As expected of Master Gu! The script is absolutely brilliant!

You should know that Ms. Chen almost never accepts private dinner invitations except for necessary business engagements!

"Thank you, Ms. Chen! Well... I'll pick you up at nine o'clock tonight!"

Bai Zikong was afraid she would change her mind, so he quickly thanked her and then, maintaining his composure, hurriedly left the private room.

Gu Yan watched Bai Zikong leave, and breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes brightening slightly.

Although the process was full of twists and turns.

The Pei family mother and daughter suddenly arrived, forcing him to hide under Cecilia's car. He even risked shortening his lifespan to forcibly treat Cecilia's rampage...

But the result was actually pretty good!

Cecilia agreed to have dinner with Bai Zikong! A good start is half the battle!

Alright, his mission as director and second male lead villain is temporarily complete.

It's time to leave.

He glanced at Cecilia out of the corner of his eye.

Although the girl accepted the painting and agreed to the invitation, a thin layer of anger still shrouded her beautiful face, and her icy blue eyes were staring coldly at him.

Gu Yan's heart skipped a beat.

Can't afford to provoke, can I still not hide?

He slowly stood up from the sofa, casually straightened his blood-stained, wrinkled clothes, and then tiptoed towards the door.

I have to get out of here!

Go back and think carefully about how to arrange the next script for this difficult female lead!

Just as Gu Yan was about to slip away from the door, seemingly about to make her escape.

"Crack! Bang!"

Suddenly, the heavy solid wood table in the private room emitted a piercing metallic twisting sound!

The metal parts of the tabletop and legs, under the control of an invisible force, suddenly deformed and stretched as if they came to life, instantly turning into two cold metal rings.

With a "click," it precisely gripped Gu Yan's wrist!

The force was just right, neither too light nor too heavy, firmly fixing him in place, unable to move.