Chapter 42: The Contrasting Goddess, Liu Tianxian

Zhang Yang was not surprised to see Liu Yifei again so soon. He was quite confident about landing the role of Cen Chong in The Four. He had intended to give Liu Yifei a "surprise" when the time came, perhaps to show off a little, but he hadn't expected her to surprise him first.

"Yang, do you two know each other?" Lin Feng asked, looking somewhat surprised.

The history between Tangren Media and Liu Yifei was well known, even to those outside the industry, let alone those within it. During the filming of Chinese Paladin, Cai Yinnong had been keen to sign Liu Yifei, but with her godfather managing her career, she had no need for it. Liu Yifei's mother, not wanting to cause trouble on set, didn't explicitly refuse, which gave Cai Yinnong false hope. After filming ended, her mother made it clear they wouldn't sign, leaving Cai feeling played. She then allegedly paid for articles to smear Liu Yifei, and later went even further, trying to launch a "Little Liu Yifei" by constantly piggybacking on and belittling the real one. Such things were common in the entertainment industry—it was all about interests, not simple right or wrong, but rather where one stood.

After Chinese Paladin aired, it was a success, and Zhao Ling'er became one of Liu Yifei's classic roles, yet she had never mentioned it in front of the media, as if she had forgotten she ever played the part. Zhang Yang was still in university and had only been signed with Tangren for a short time, so how could he know her? Everyone else looked at them with curiosity.

Liu Yifei gave Zhang Yang a look, signaling for him to answer.

"We met during the filming of Chinese Paladin. It's been some years," Zhang Yang replied directly, providing the answer he had owed her since the night before.

"Chinese Paladin?" Liu Yifei was the first to be surprised before anyone else could react. She took a half-step back, scanning Zhang Yang with a scrutinizing gaze. Her brow furrowed and smoothed, then furrowed again, before she asked tentatively, "Are you... little Zhang Yang?"

"It's me," Zhang Yang smiled at her. "I called you Sister Yifei when we met last night. That was a pretty big hint."

Met last night!? The sense of crisis in Na Zha’s heart grew even stronger. Zhang Yang had actually met Liu Yifei without her knowing.

"What kind of hint was that?" Liu Yifei thought to herself, speechless. The current Zhang Yang was tall, handsome, and carried himself with an air of sophistication. In their brief encounter last night, he had seemed humorous and bold. The Zhang Yang from the Chinese Paladin days had been a shy, easily blushing boy just starting middle school, who followed her around calling her "big sister." She found it hard to link the two, except for those bright, striking eyes.

"If you wanted to give a hint, you should have called me Sister Xixi."

"Still playing coy with me, are you?" Liu Yifei suddenly stepped forward, reached out, and ruffled his hair, a hidden delight in her dark eyes.

Zhang Yang had been the youngest actor on the Chinese Paladin set, a pretty boy with red lips and white teeth, and was practically the pet of the entire crew. She had been the one who "spoiled" him the most, as he was underage like her but younger, allowing her to put on the airs of a senior. Her mother, Liu Xiaoli, had been very fond of Zhang Yang, and Zhang Yang’s mother was fond of her, too. The two mothers often cooked special meals for them, and she enjoyed bullying her little brother whenever she was bored. However, after Cai Yinnong started the smear campaign, she had fallen into a deep depression, and since Zhang Yang was signed to Tangren, they had lost touch.

She had felt a natural affinity for him the moment she saw him last night—