"Why are you so nervous?"
"I... am I nervous? No, not really."
"It's one thing for me to get a manicure, but why are you stretching out your hand too? Do you want one as well?"
Only then did Lin Muyang realize that, without thinking, he had also extended his hand toward the manicurist across from him.
It turned out that when Liu Yutong reached out, he had spaced out and instinctively mirrored her movement.
But instead of pulling his hand back, the guy stubbornly said,
"What, can’t men get manicures too?"
Then, he turned to the manicurist sitting across the stall and declared, "Miss, paint my nails red—bright red!"
Liu Yutong: "..."
"Red actually looks pretty good."
A while later.
Lin Muyang seemed unable to bear looking at his own hand and turned to Liu Yutong again, unable to hold back his question: "Do you know when they’ll come?"
Liu Yutong was watching the manicurist apply the first coat of pale pink polish to her nails and didn’t even glance up. "If I knew, I’d have already called the police to round them all up. No need for you to remind me."
"But don’t worry, at least tonight we’ll be fine. Those assassins would need time to prepare."
"Besides, this night market is packed with people. Too many eyes around—they wouldn’t dare make a move so openly."
She said this deliberately to ease Lin Muyang’s nerves before he gave them away.
Honestly, she used to think Lin Muyang was pretty arrogant, not the type to scare easily.
Who knew that after learning he might be targeted by assassins, he’d be this terrified?
He wasn’t even as brave as her—and all she’d done was call in a few hundred people for backup.
Though she had the ability to foresee major trends, she couldn’t predict everything.
For example, if the assassins coming after them played dirty and brought out the "great equalizer," she might really be done for.
So, it was better to have more people secretly screening the area, apprehending any suspicious individuals on sight.
That said, if the assassins really did have the "great equalizer," even her backup wouldn’t make much difference.
After all, no one’s faster than that. Unless they spotted the assassin before they could act.
But even with that risk, Liu Yutong dared to stroll around openly with Lin Muyang because she was certain the other side wouldn’t resort to such measures.
She was confident Zhao Weixiang wouldn’t let anything happen to Lin Muyang—if he did, Zhao might lose his chance to connect with the power he sought.
Too much risk.
Her past life’s experience confirmed this. After Zhao Weixiang was arrested in a crackdown, many of his close associates were swiftly taken down too—including Lin Muyang’s father.
Zhao Weixiang had ruled Bright Pearl City for years because he held incriminating leverage over people. He was skilled at obtaining such leverage, so when he was caught and knew he’d face execution, he spilled everything.
Typical of a ruthless man—when cornered, he’d drag as many down with him as possible.
In short, if Zhao Weixiang hadn’t had enough dirt on those people, they wouldn’t have fallen alongside him.
Given this, Liu Yutong could safely assume Zhao Weixiang wouldn’t let harm come to Lin Muyang. On the contrary, he’d likely use Lin Muyang as a stepping stone to achieve his goals.
So, as someone waiting to reap the rewards, knowing Zhao Tianxing and his men might get desperate and hire assassins to target Lin Muyang, how could she not have a backup plan?
For all she knew, the assassins Zhao Tianxing hired were Zhao Weixiang’s own people.
Of course, Lin Muyang knew none of this. He didn’t realize he was actually the safest one here.
Liu Yutong was the one truly in danger.
She couldn’t tell him her suspicions either—she needed him to help weed out potential threats.
Like the "great equalizer."
As long as she stayed by Lin Muyang’s side, even if the assassins had access to such a weapon, they wouldn’t dare use it recklessly.
One slip-up, and things would escalate beyond control.
Hearing Liu Yutong’s reassurances, Lin Muyang did feel less tense.
Still, he resolved to go back and talk to his old man afterward, see if he could convince him to launch a citywide sweep—strike first.
Just as their manicures were halfway done—
Not far from them, a woman’s sobs and a man’s crude insults suddenly erupted.
"We’ve walked the streets, bought the bags, I even got the director to give you more screen time during filming, and I promised you a spot in the next audition! Now my friends are throwing a party, just asking you to have a drink and sing at the club, meet some people—and you dare refuse?!"
"I... I really can’t drink..."
"Shut the hell up! Listen here, Xue Linna, don’t you dare act all high and mighty! Tonight, you’re going whether you like it or not! What’s the big deal about drinking with Director Wang and the others? Stop pretending to be some pure maiden! In this industry, you think you can keep your dignity intact?!"
Hearing the name "Xue Linna," Liu Yutong immediately looked toward the commotion.
Near a small accessories stall, a stylishly dressed girl was covering her cheek, tears streaming down her face.
It was Xue Linna, one of the previous year’s campus beauties at their university.
In front of her stood a wealthy-looking man with a brutish face, hurling vulgar insults.
Liu Yutong frowned at the scene.
"Senior Xue is still here? Didn’t she go home for the holidays? And why is she with such an ugly guy?"
She knew this senior, a year above her, had always dreamed of breaking into the entertainment industry.
Last year, Xue Linna had even approached her once, asking if she’d participate in the recording of a campus reality show, Star Campus Tour.
Liu Yutong had flatly refused.
If Xue Linna wanted to join, that was her business.
After getting Liu Yutong’s answer, Xue Linna quickly arranged some reshoots, using back view photos to blur earlier rumors. Soon, online searches for their university’s campus belle no longer turned up Liu Yutong—just Xue Linna’s photos and name.
A clever bit of preemptive PR.
For a while, her reputation had soared, at least among their peers.
But now...
Liu Yutong despised these underhanded practices—pressuring women into drinking and worse. But there was little to be done unless someone shattered these norms and cracked down on those who thought only with their lower halves.
Of course, it wasn’t just women—men faced similar exploitation.
Like the rumors surrounding Professor Xue Qian.
In short, breaking into certain circles often required paying a price—unless you had formidable talent or connections to shield you.
