"Whеn I'm оut in рubliс, I reprеsеnt thе еntirе Lu family's reрutаtion. Thеre's absоlutеlу nо rооm for the slightеst mistake. If I were to havе а sudden оutburst, forgеt Lu Sui—mу аunt аlonе wоuld strаnglе mе." Wu Mаngmang was verу сleаr about the rеason.
Just thinking аbout that sсеnаriо mаdе Wu Мangmang shuddеr invоluntarilу.
"It sееms yоu've lеаrned to rеstrаin yоurself," Wu Yong remаrked.
If this acting соmрulsion сould be restrаinеd, thеn it cоuld nо lоngеr bе сonsidеrеd abnоrmal—just а way tо spiсе uр life during bоring mоmеnts.
Wu Мangmang was tаken aback for а moment befоre snaрping bасk to rеality with a smile. "It seems so."
Recovering from her illness didn’t bring the joy she had imagined. Instead, it felt like losing an old friend who had laughed and cried with her for many years.
"By the way, your Weibo style seems to have changed a lot recently," Wu Yong said.
Wu Mangmang shrugged. "It’s not really my Weibo anymore. Or rather, it’s become the team’s Weibo. I hardly even look at it myself."
But Wu Mangmang’s follower count had grown from just over a million to tens of millions.
The Lu family’s public relations team was exceptionally capable.
Wu Mangmang’s former flashy, materialistic persona had been completely whitewashed. She had now become a charity ambassador dedicated to caring for the Earth and humanity, with most of her Weibo posts focusing on charity or other public welfare activities.
Wu Yong fell silent for a moment before asking, "Haven’t you opened a new secret account?"
Wu Mangmang laughed. "Dr. Wu, you have no idea how powerful online doxxing engines are these days. I can’t open a secret account to express a different set of opinions."
All darkness had to be buried.
In March, during the interview, Wu Mangmang was accompanied by Lu Sui to the school. The interview went very smoothly—Wu Mangmang’s professional competence was already solid, and there had been prior arrangements.
But as Wu Mangmang waited outside the conference room, watching the other candidates waiting with her, she suddenly began to question the wisdom of her decision to pursue a master’s degree.
She was starting to feel out of place—not from a sense of superiority, but from a deep-seated fear.
The youthful vitality these people exuded had completely left her.
The floor-to-ceiling windows faintly reflected Wu Mangmang’s image: beautiful, refined, elegant, and unmistakably expensive.
Traces of this could be seen in Lu Jianan, Lu Lin, Lan Yue, Shen Yuanzi, and others.
Now, Wu Mangmang’s styling was handled by professionals. Although she still had the final say on her outfits, the process involved numerous suggestions and opinions from others, and the outcome was predictable.
The clothes she once loved were now stored away in the attic or only worn casually at home.
Looking at her reflection in the glass, Wu Mangmang’s fear stemmed from the fact that she was starting to barely recognize herself.
After the interview ended, Lu Sui was waiting for Wu Mangmang downstairs. As they walked side by side across the campus, they unexpectedly ran into someone familiar.
Wu Mangmang pointed excitedly at two people walking toward them in the distance and asked Lu Sui, "Look, doesn’t that person look like Shen Ting?"
Lu Sui turned to look, and the person across from them glanced over as well. It really was Shen Ting, along with his girlfriend.
This was Wu Mangmang’s first time meeting Shen Ting’s girlfriend. Because He Yan’s background was somewhat unsuitable for public appearances, Shen Ting rarely brought her out unless they were meeting close friends.As for Wu Mangmang, her treatment was the exact opposite of Shen Ting's little girlfriend. In public, Lu Sui always brought her along, but rarely took Wu Mangmang to meet Shen Ting, Ning Zheng, and the others.
With just one glance at He Yan, Wu Mangmang understood why Shen Ting was smitten.
He Yan wore her hair in a ponytail, dressed in a white sweater and jeans, with a backpack slung over her shoulders—a fresh, student-like aura that seemed to radiate from her.
He Yan's looks could only be described as delicate and pretty, but her quiet temperament and reserved nature were key.
Standing before He Yan, Wu Mangmang felt as though she had aged considerably. It was only later that she learned He Yan was just one year younger than her.
Since they had run into each other, it was only natural to have a meal together.
It turned out He Yan was a graduate student at A University, majoring in journalism in the School of Literature and Journalism.
He Yan was very interested in Wu Mangmang, both admiring and envious of her. Anyone who could successfully secure the position of Lu Sui's girlfriend was indeed worthy of admiration.
"Miss Wu, could I interview you?" He Yan asked somewhat shyly. "I work as a reporter for the university newspaper."
Wu Mangmang's identity would undoubtedly draw attention to He Yan's report. A successful interview would also make her resume look much better when job hunting in the future.
This wasn't a big deal—just a university newspaper. Out of respect for Shen Ting, Wu Mangmang should have agreed, and in fact, the word "yes" was already on the tip of her tongue. But in the end, she swallowed it back.
Nowadays, Wu Mangmang's image was no longer just her own concern. Everything had to be carefully considered and discussed with her team behind the scenes.
Wu Mangmang pulled a business card from her bag. "You can contact my assistant Cathy about this. I'll mention it to her."
As the two were talking, Shen Ting returned. The two men were too busy, constantly receiving phone calls.
"What are you talking about?" Shen Ting asked casually.
Wu Mangmang and He Yan exchanged a glance, sharing a knowing smile before falling silent.
"I'm going to the restroom," He Yan said, standing up.
Wu Mangmang looked at Shen Ting across from her, recalling a bit of the past, and couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny?" Shen Ting asked Wu Mangmang.
Wu Mangmang leaned forward. "Do you remember the last time you asked me to act in a play?"
"I just remembered that the role I played last time was a bit like He Yan. What a coincidence—thinking about it, it really feels like fate," Wu Mangmang said. In her heart, she had already secretly given herself the title "Wu the Semi-Immortal."
Shen Ting didn't respond, seemingly uninterested in the topic.
Wu Mangmang felt a bit awkward. She had only brought it up to make conversation, as sitting in silence with him was somewhat uncomfortable.
"Is someone else managing your Weibo now?" Shen Ting changed the subject.
Wu Mangmang nodded.
"What's your WeChat? I'll add you," Shen Ting asked again.
Wu Mangmang paused for a moment before giving him her phone number.
"Accept it," Shen Ting's friend request came through quickly.
On the way back to the city, Wu Mangmang couldn't help but ask Lu Sui, "Are Shen Ting and He Yan serious?"
Wu Mangmang had met Shen Ting's parents—well-mannered gentlemen and ladies who might not necessarily accept a girl like He Yan.
Wu Mangmang had already imagined their story as a heart-wrenching novel.
Lu Sui said calmly, "Shen Ting is well aware that He Yan won't be able to enter the Shen family."Wu Mangmang couldn't help but sigh: men are all bad things.
Suddenly, Wu Mangmang felt that if He Yan had encountered someone like Shen Ting, she might have been better off meeting Ning Zheng instead—at least the latter wouldn't give her false hopes.
"Actually, He Yan didn't choose to end up like that. So tell me, if I were in He Yan's situation, would we still be possible?" Wu Mangmang asked, clinging to Lu Sui's arm.
Women always love asking all sorts of "what if" questions to gauge their position in a man's heart.
"Impossible." With a single light remark, Lu Sui shattered Wu Mangmang's belief in "true love conquering all."
"Why not? I'd still be me, wouldn'tt I? Is family background really that important?" Wu Mangmang protested indignantly. "Have you seen Pretty Woman? Don't you think it's beautiful too?"
Women's naive fantasies often lead them to believe that even if they were prostitutes, men should love them beyond all limits—that would be true love.
"Chinese families care more about these things." Lu Sui was stating a fact.
Wu Mangmang nodded.
If she had once harbored unrealistic fantasies, after being "trained" by Lu Jianan for so long, she had completely abandoned such illusions.
So, in her heart, she could only silently light a candle for He Yan.
After comparing herself to He Yan, Wu Mangmang felt immense gratitude toward Boss Wu and Ms. Liu. As soon as she returned to the city, she headed to the hillside villa.
Boss Wu was amiable and kind, while Ms. Liu was gentle and affectionate. The family enjoyed a harmonious dinner together.
The topic discussed most during the meal was Wù Dàndàn's schooling.
The city had many elite private elementary schools, but the most prestigious one happened to have close ties to the Lu family.
Without hesitation, Wu Mangmang declared that getting Wù Dàndàn admitted would be no problem at all.
After dinner, Ms. Liu asked Wu Mangmang to help her choose a yacht.
"When did our family become so wealthy?" Wu Mangmang, now somewhat knowledgeable about yachts, knew the one Ms. Liu was looking at wasn't cheap—it cost tens of millions.
Liǔ Lèwéi smiled. "Your father recently landed a few big deals. I thought it was time for our family to add a yacht. It's embarrassing to always ride on others'."
Wu Mangmang smiled at Ms. Liu and asked, "Is Dad's business doing well now?"
Liǔ Lèwéi nodded. "Much better than before."
Lu Sui's father-in-law's reputation was still quite influential.
Wu Mangmang didn't know how to feel about this.
Unhappiness was certain, but on the other hand, she reflected on whether she was being too sensitive. If she married Lu Sui, the Wu family would undoubtedly rise with the tide—could she really forbid them from leveraging Lu Sui's connections?
Yet, this inevitably gave off a transactional vibe.
"Oh, by the way, your father asked me last time if you and Lu Sui have any plans to marry? Of course, marriage is still far off, but what about an engagement? Have you considered getting engaged?" Liǔ Lèwéi asked.
Wu Mangmang fell silent.
Lu Sui had never mentioned marriage to her.
But recently, Wu Mangmang had overheard a conversation between Lu Sui and Lu Jianan.
That day, as she happened to pass by, she heard Lu Sui say, "Aunt, of course, I also hope to have a son as soon as possible."
"May might be too soon, but September should work. Making the wedding gown alone takes half a year."Having a son is a very practical issue.
But Wu Mangmang couldn’t guarantee that she could give birth to a son.
A certain famous female host had already given birth three times, causing her skin to sag and age prematurely. Unfortunately, all three were daughters, and it was said she still planned to continue trying.
Given Mr. Lu’s practicality, Wu Mangmang felt that Lu Sui might very well end up having illegitimate children if all three of her pregnancies resulted in daughters.
However, she had heard that gender selection was possible through IVF, though the process of artificial insemination was quite painful for the woman.
But Wu Mangmang didn’t want to have children so soon.
"Mangmang." Liǔ Lèwéi waved a hand in front of Wu Mangmang’s face.
Wu Mangmang snapped back to attention. "Ah, what is it?"
"I was asking about your marriage with Lu Sui. Has he mentioned it?" Liǔ Lèwéi repeated.
"No. How could that be possible? We’ve been dating for less than half a year, Ms. Liu. Aren’t you being too impatient? The Lu family’s evaluation of a potential daughter-in-law—how could they possibly approve someone without observing them for two or three years?" Wu Mangmang lied without a hint of guilt.
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