Chapter 76: I Know Miss Mi Is Very Urgent, But Please Don't Worry!

“O-okay, I’ll do it!”

The invitation to meet from Yang Mi, a top-tier celebrity, left Zhao Liying unable to find a valid reason to decline.

Moreover, due to her actions, a wave of negative comments had flooded the internet, with Yang Mi’s fans actively orchestrating an online witch hunt against her.

Meeting the star herself might just offer a way to resolve this issue?

Of course, Zhao Liying wasn’t foolish enough to simply show up unprepared. After hanging up, she immediately called He Ru and asked, “Sister He Ru, Yang Mi wants to meet me. Do you think there might be any problem with that?”

“Yang Mi wants to meet you?” He Ru’s brows furrowed deeply, forming a stark ‘X’.

Even with her extensive experience, she couldn’t fathom Yang Mi’s intentions.

If the purpose was to deliver an ultimatum, Yang Mi’s manager, Zeng Jia, had already called, subtly hinting that she should discipline her subordinates and refrain from “unconventional tactics.”

This incident could be minor or major; from Yang Mi’s perspective, there was no significant loss, only a small amount of unwanted exposure. A petty individual might hold a grudge against Zhao Liying for it.

But even then, Yang Mi wouldn’t bother retaliating against her.

To put it bluntly, Zhao Liying held too little importance to merit Yang Mi’s attention.

If anyone were to scheme, it would undoubtedly be Zeng Jia.

This didn’t seem like such a bad thing.

With this thought, He Ru continued, “I can’t quite understand her intentions either, but you should go see her. Apologize or explain why you did what you did.”

“In the entertainment industry, your background and connections count for everything. If you can be on good terms with Yang Mi, then do so. Even if things don’t work out, at least don’t risk her enmity…”

Zhao Liying patiently listened to the end, indicating her understanding that she had heard.

After hanging up, she returned to her room and changed her clothes, lightly applied some makeup, and then took a car to a café.

Yang Mi had said she would treat Zhao Liying to a meal, but it looked like it would be tea time instead. The urgency of the matter at hand was clear.

In less than half an hour, Zhao Liying arrived at the destination. With the small secretary accompanying her, she walked towards Yang Mi’s private room.

Knock, knock, knock! The small secretary tapped on the door for Zhao Liying.

“Come in,” Yang Mi’s voice echoed.

As Zhao Liying pushed open the door, her face wore a serious expression. “Big Sister Mi, you…”

Before she could finish the word “want”, Zhao Liying spotted Zhang Yang seated across from Yang Mi, causing her eyes to immediately widen. “What are you doing here?!?”

“So you do know each other, after all.” A hint of amusement flickered in Yang Mi’s gaze as she looked at Zhang Yang.

It seemed this time, Zhang Yang was here to repay a beauty with a favor.

“Do I know you?” Zhang Yang asked Zhao Liying, his expression puzzled.

With his acting skills, naturally no one could tell he was pretending.

“No, you don’t know me.” Zhao Liying instinctively shook her head before saying, “But you’ve helped me before. Have you forgotten?”

“Helped you?” Zhang Yang’s face lit up with realization. “Are you the one who didn’t have money for the buns last time?”

“Yes, that’s me.” Seeing that Zhang Yang still remembered her, Zhao Liying’s small face broke into a smile. “I wanted to give you my contact information to repay you, but you said if such a situation arose again, just passing on the kindness was enough.”

“I never expected to encounter you here today.”

As she spoke, a hint of confusion still lingered in her voice.

Why was Yang Mi’s supposed “benefactor” present at their meeting?

“That is quite a coincidence,” Zhang Yang nodded, his expression genuinely surprised.

Witnessing this exchange, Yang Mi exclaimed, clearly astonished, “You two really didn’t know each other before?”

“Not at all.” Both Zhang Yang and Zhao Liying shook their heads simultaneously, then exchanged a smile.

Yang Mi was left speechless.

…Are you two not putting on an act for my benefit?

“You don’t even know her, so why would you ask me to meet about her?” Yang Mi leaned forward slightly, almost touching the cake on the table.

Her words astonished and puzzled Zhao Liying. Yang Mi had invited her for a meeting because of this “benefactor”?

From what Yang Mi said, it still seemed like she wanted to help?

Zhang Yang, not taking his eyes off his target, spoke up: “Miss Mi, to be precise, I need to help both of you, and perhaps even more so you.”

This answer only deepened the confusion for Yang Mi and Zhao Liying.

“Are you sure you’re helping me?” Yang Mi shot a glance at Zhao Liying, her expression growing slightly stern.

Initially, she had no idea about the Weibo incident; it was Zeng Jia’s phone call that informed her. The subtext was clear: Zhao Liying, with her shallow understanding, had tagged along because they’d both been part of the Palace Locks and Pearls crew. She was trying to ride Yang Mi’s coattails.

Yang Mi couldn’t hide her disdain for such people and had no intention of acknowledging her.

Not long after hanging up, Zhang Yang called, wanting to meet and discussing the Weibo matter in person.

Since Zhang Yang had helped her before, and she happened to have time, she decided to honor the request.

Zhang Yang refused to reveal any details, instead instructing her to contact Yu Zhen for Zhao Liying’s contact information and arrange a meeting.

At the time, Yang Mi had guessed that Zhao Liying and Zhang Yang were acquainted, with the latter wanting to play mediator.

But now, it seemed things weren’t so simple?

“He’s definitely trying to help you,” Zhang Yang replied with certainty.

“Then spill already!” Yang Mi playfully smacked his hand.

She truly was impatient!

“Victoria, I know you’re anxious, but let’s take things slow,” Zhang Yang said, retracting his hand.

Yang Mi rolled her eyes, exasperated, while Zhao Liying chuckled at something he’d said.

Zhang Yang turned to her. “I checked your Weibo page - you’re Zhao Liying, right? And according to Baidu, you were born in ‘87. Can I call you ‘Sister Liying’?”

Zhao Liying waved her hand, indicating it was fine.

Zhang Yang pointed at the empty seat at the table. “Sister Liying, please have a seat. We’ve got time to chat.”

Zhao Liying swiftly took a seat and turned to her young assistant. “Xiao Fang, close the door behind you. You can find a spot over there and order whatever you’d like to eat.”

Assuming neither Yang Mi nor her “benefactor” would try anything untoward, there was no need for her assistant to accompany them.

“Alright, Sister Liying,” the assistant said, closing the door behind her.

Zhang Yang pushed a piece of cake towards Zhao Liying, then took out a laptop from the backpack beside him.

Yang Mi watched silently.

The scene felt eerily familiar.

Last time at Lou Wai Lou, Zhang Yang had shown them footage from his crew—and he’d done it in much the same manner.

“Can you explain now?” Yang Mi urged, her face expressionless.

Zhang Yang opened the laptop and pulled up an edited video, positioning it between Yang Mi and Zhao Liying so both could see.

Zhao Liying struggled to tear her gaze from the cake to the laptop, but once she did, she became instantly engrossed.

The video showed Zhao Liying being mistaken for Yang Mi over four consecutive days.

On the first two days, fans tried to grab signatures through car windows and doors.

The footage was zoomed in close, making it clear that Zhao Liying and her assistant were continually saying, “I’m not Yang Mi.”

There was also a clip from within the “Palace Locks and Pearls” set.

Someone had approached Zhao Liying right after she changed for a photo, still calling for “Yang Mi.”

When the video finished, Yang Mi was silent.

Zhao Liying stared at Zhang Yang, astonished. “Are you some kind of paparazzo?”

“That’d be a waste of talent,” Yang Mi remarked.

Zhang Yang remained silent.

Yang Mi also fell quiet.