Drinking too much jasmine tea can easily lead to internal heat.

The event had yet to officially begin, and staff were making their final preparations. Only the cameraman responsible for the livestream was already filming, capturing the mother and daughter in his lens.

At this moment, the comment section was teeming with fans of Ji Shengxue. They voiced their grievances for their idol.

“I heard Ji Fanxing’s guest is Ning Ze.”

“Well, now the infamous couple is here together!”

“Wasn’t it already clarified that the video was fake? Spreading rumors is shameful.”

“Who’s spreading rumors? Did you see how Ruan Lin treats Ji Fanxing? If Ji Fanxing hadn’t done something wrong, would her mother refuse to even see her?”

“Exactly. Isn’t she usually so arrogant? The moment her mother arrives, she loses her nerve and hides—must be scared.”

“Ji Fanxing sings well enough, but her taste in people is questionable. How did she end up with Ning Ze? He’s just averagely handsome, but the two of them together...”

The fans of Ji Shengxue grew increasingly outrageous, provoking the ire of Ji Fanxing’s supporters, who immediately shot back.

“What do you mean infamous couple! They’re just good friends!”

“How do you know Ji Fanxing’s mother doesn’t want to see her? Do you live on Robin Island? How do you know so much about their lives?”

“Ji Queen is number one—rumormongers, may your whole family perish! Ji Queen is number one—rumormongers, may your whole family perish!”

The quarrel in the comment section grew fiercer, with both sides on the brink of all-out war, when Ji Fanxing and Ning Ze entered the venue side by side.

The cameraman quickly shifted his lens toward them.

In an instant, all eyes were drawn to the pair.

Ji Fanxing had not only styled Ning Ze’s hair but also chosen his outfit. Ning Ze appeared striking on camera, his deep gaze seemingly able to penetrate hearts, his perfect jawline casting gentle shadows under the lights, making him look both cool and tender.

Ji Fanxing herself wore a simple and elegant black dress, her long hair draped softly over her shoulders, her makeup refined yet understated.

Together, they made a dazzling couple, perfectly matched and pleasing to the eye.

The venue, which had been somewhat chaotic, seemed to brighten with their arrival.

Suddenly, those who had called Ning Ze merely average fell silent, and those who had mocked them as an infamous couple disappeared without a trace.

Everyone was utterly captivated by Ji Fanxing and Ning Ze.

“My god! Is that Ning Ze?! He’s unbelievably handsome!!!”

“Ning Ze, please don’t quit the industry! I’d be a fan just for that face!”

“First Chu Hao, then Hailan, now Ning Ze—does Ji Fanxing have some kind of magic? Why do people beside her always look so stunning?”

The event venue was lavishly designed, with a small stage at the center for performances, surrounded by elegantly decorated tables and chairs for contestants and their guests to rest and mingle.

Upon entering, Ji Fanxing immediately spotted her mother, Ruan Lin, sitting at the central table with her elder sister.

Her mother looked as graceful and refined as ever, years of careful upkeep leaving her face free of wrinkles.

In her previous life, the last time she saw her mother had been around this time.

Later, she was driven away, imprisoned, killed... and then spent a hundred lifetimes wandering other worlds.

She still remembered, when her father exiled her abroad, her mother hadn’t pleaded for her, but had given her a key to an old apartment—at least so she wouldn’t be homeless from the start.

Thinking of this, Ji Fanxing walked over. “Mother, it’s been so long. How have you been lately?”

Ruan Lin snorted coldly, refusing to look Ji Fanxing in the eye.

She gracefully picked up her teacup, took a sip, found the taste pleasing, and gently poured a cup for Ji Shengxue beside her.

“Shengxue, this flower tea is quite nice. Try it.”

Ji Shengxue, equally indifferent, accepted the cup calmly. “Thank you, Mother.”

The two exchanged pleasantries, deliberately leaving Ji Fanxing out.

Despite being cold-shouldered, Ji Fanxing kept her composure, patiently waiting. After all, this was a public event; her mother and sister wouldn’t go too far.

Sure enough, after a while, Ruan Lin finally spoke to Ji Fanxing:

“After the way you spoke to me last time, how could I be well? Since you’re here, you owe your sister an apology.

And that boy Ning Ze is nothing but trouble; he’s led you astray. Don’t associate with him anymore!”

So her mother was in good health and had no worries.

That was good.

Ji Fanxing ignored her mother’s demand for an apology and the warning about Ning Ze, focusing instead on her health.

“Mother, jasmine tea can cause excess heat if you drink too much. Since you’re not well, it’s best not to have too much.”

“I told you to apologize! What are you talking about?!

All those years of learning propriety and virtue wasted?! I arrived on the island yesterday, yet you didn’t come to see me, and even hung up on Shengxue’s call, just so you could consort with strangers!”

At this, Ruan Lin’s anger was obvious. She slammed her teacup onto the table, causing the tea to spill.

“Mother, please don’t be angry. We’re still on camera. My sister is quite popular now, we should save her some dignity...” Ji Shengxue quickly comforted her.

Ji Fanxing was baffled. Consorting with strangers? What nonsense was that?

What kind of story had her dear elder sister spun this time?

Just as she was about to ask, a man’s furious shout from nearby caught her attention.

“Hailan! Is this how you treat your sister?! Apologize to Sisi right now!”

The voice was distant but, thanks to her keen senses, Ji Fanxing caught every word clearly.

“Hailan?!”

Hearing the name, Ji Fanxing lost all interest in arguing with her mother and sister.

Right and wrong were muddled anyway—better to see what was happening with Hailan.

She followed the voice.

Ruan Lin watched Ji Fanxing walk away without a word of rebuttal, taking her silence as tacit agreement with everything she’d just said.

Her daughter’s rebelliousness felt unfamiliar, and she shook with anger.

She had no heart to remain at the event, and let Ji Shengxue take her away.

As an established film star, her attendance at such variety events was a courtesy; if she chose not to participate, no one could stop her.

Meanwhile, in a corner of the venue, Hai Dachuan slammed his fist on the table, berating Hailan.

“You cold-blooded thing! No sisterly affection at all, only ever thinking of yourself! Your little sister took time off just to help you, and you refuse even the smallest favor! And you dare to scold her! You’re a disgrace to this family!”

Beside him stood a girl of about fourteen or fifteen, her features similar to Hai Dachuan’s, sobbing as she complained:

“Daddy! When you weren’t here, big sister yelled at me!”

“Sisi, taking other people’s things is wrong! If I hadn’t stopped you just now...”

“Let’s just forget it, it’s not a big deal.” Ye Yu, holding her fruit phone, interrupted Hailan, seemingly understanding as she spoke to Hai Dachuan:

“Maybe I accidentally dropped my phone, and the young miss happened to pick it up and was about to return it.”

“Daddy! See! Big sister wronged me again!” Hai Sisi cried even louder.

Hai Dachuan couldn’t bear to see his younger daughter in such a state, his anger burning hotter.

“After all, Hailan’s been busy with competitions and her DouHand livestreams lately—it’s been hard on her. It’s understandable she made a mistake.” Ye Yu continued to fan the flames.

“What?! You’re doing livestreams too?!” Hai Dachuan’s fury threatened to erupt from his eyes. He knew exactly what those livestreams were like; as a frequent viewer, how could he not?

How could his daughter be so shameless!

Hai Dachuan raised his hand, about to strike Hailan.

The adult man’s huge palm drew closer and closer. Childhood memories of terror surged up, and Hailan froze, unable to dodge.

The heavy hand was about to land on her.

Suddenly, a force pulled her away, and she escaped Hai Dachuan’s blow.

“Hailan, are you alright?” Ji Fanxing stepped in front of Hailan, shielding her and asking with concern.