"Xuanxuan, the film crew will be arriving at our house soon. Are you really not going to prepare at all?"
The elegantly made-up woman frowned slightly, looking helplessly at her bare-faced daughter beside her.
Ning Fei, an acclaimed actress who skyrocketed to fame at eighteen, retired from the industry at twenty-five to marry a non-celebrity, then made a miraculous comeback at thirty-three, sweeping all three major film awards within three years before retiring again after forty.
Now approaching her fifty-first birthday, she still maintained a slender figure and striking beauty, with the faint lines at the corners of her eyes only adding to her graceful maturity.
But at this moment, Ning Fei's brows were furrowed in visible distress.
Ning Yuxuan was Ning Fei's first child—her most beloved, her only daughter.
Yet at some point, their conversations had dwindled, and her daughter had grown increasingly impatient during their time together.
Especially after falling in love, Ning Yuxuan had thrown herself entirely into her relationship with her boyfriend.
Ning Fei wasn’t opposed to her daughter dating, but that boy seemed to bring her to tears every other day—clearly not the right person for her.
Hoping to spend more time with her daughter and mend their strained relationship, Ning Fei had agreed to join the reality show Dearest Mom.
Today was the day for filming the preview segment, and with the crew set to arrive in half an hour, her daughter sat absentmindedly, clutching a cup of tea in a daze.
Ning Fei was about to urge her again when Ning Yuxuan’s phone suddenly rang on the coffee table.
Seeing her daughter still lost in thought, Ning Fei leaned closer to check the caller ID—
Gu Yunhao, her daughter’s boyfriend.
Ning Fei had disliked the boy from the start and hadn’t hesitated to voice her concerns.
But nearly every mention of Gu Yunhao ended in an argument between them.
After a particularly heated fight some time ago, Ning Fei had resolved to keep her disapproval to herself.
"Xuanxuan, it’s Yunhao," she said softly.
At that, Ning Yuxuan seemed to snap out of her trance, picking up the phone and answering the call.
"Yuxuan," came Gu Yunhao’s voice from the other end. "I... I need to talk to you about something."
Leaning back on the sofa, Ning Yuxuan took a slow sip of tea. "Go ahead."
Her tone was noticeably colder than usual, but Gu Yunhao didn’t pick up on it.
He had never truly cared about this girlfriend, so how could he possibly detect the subtle shift in her voice?
"Yuxuan, let’s break up," Gu Yunhao declared.
A beat of silence.
On her end, Ning Fei watched her daughter’s expression with concern.
Meanwhile, Gu Yunhao assumed Ning Yuxuan was either scrambling for a way to beg him to stay or holding back tears to guilt-trip him.
Glancing at the girl beside him—the one he actually loved—he steeled himself and continued, "Yuxuan, I know this might be hard to accept right now, but—"
He was cut off by a cool, composed voice.
"Sure, I agree," Ning Yuxuan said casually, as if discussing what to have for dinner.
Gu Yunhao froze. After a moment, disbelief colored his voice. "Yuxuan, did you hear what I just said? I said we’re—"
"I heard you perfectly, Gu Yunhao," Ning Yuxuan interrupted again. "But unless you have hearing problems, I shouldn’t need to repeat myself, right?"
Gu Yunhao had never heard Ning Yuxuan speak to him like this. Stunned, he found himself at a loss for words.
Ning Yuxuan, however, remained unfazed, even letting out a faint chuckle. "That said, breaking up is fine—just don’t forget to return the things I gave you."
She continued leisurely, "The custom-tailored suit I got you this month, the limited-edition watch from last month, and... well, forget the rest. We were together for over a year, after all. I can’t be bothered to tally everything else."
"Ning Yuxuan, you—"
"Enough," Ning Yuxuan ended the call. "I have things to do later. Contact me again once you’ve gathered everything."
...
Hanging up, Ning Yuxuan rolled her eyes.
She had just been inexplicably pulled into some transparent space and forced to listen to an AI drone on about some ridiculous, melodramatic plot—annoying enough as it was.
And then Gu Yunhao had to call right at that moment.
The man she had once idolized, the one she thought could do no wrong, now filled her with nothing but disgust. Even his voice grated on her ears.
Was this what it felt like to wake up and break free from the story’s control?
After hearing the full plot, Ning Yuxuan finally understood—the world she lived in was actually the setting of a wealthy-family romance novel, and she was the villainess hopelessly in love with the male lead, Gu Yunhao.
Gu Yunhao, pressured by his family into dating her, had fallen head over heels for the sweet, innocent female lead instead.
Of course, the male lead of a novel would never outright cheat. So Gu Yunhao had resorted to emotional neglect, even trampling on her dignity, until she became an "unreasonable, hysterical woman"—giving him the moral high ground to finally dump her.
Now that she had snapped out of it, it was as if a fog had lifted from her mind. She couldn’t believe the things she had put up with before.
What kind of delusional, lovesick fool had she been to tolerate such a trashy man?
As for demanding those gifts back, it wasn’t about the money.
Her mother had invested her early earnings from the entertainment industry into real estate, securing financial freedom for the family long ago. Neither she nor her brother had ever wanted for anything.
But that watch had been a limited-edition piece her younger brother, Ning Shiyue, had gone out of his way to have a friend bring back from halfway across the world. And the suit? Ning Fei had used her industry connections to commission it from a renowned overseas tailor.
Ning Yuxuan refused to let her family’s thoughtful gifts remain in the hands of someone like Gu Yunhao.
"Xuanxuan..." Ning Fei’s concerned voice pulled Ning Yuxuan back from her thoughts.
Ning Fei looked at her daughter, at a loss for how to comfort her.
Though she hadn’t heard Gu Yunhao’s side of the conversation, she had caught the word "breakup" loud and clear.
She had watched for so long as Ning Yuxuan poured her heart into this relationship, compromising again and again.
To be dumped out of the blue now—her daughter must be utterly heartbroken.
Those cold words to Gu Yunhao were surely just bravado, masking unbearable pain.
The thought made Ning Fei’s heart ache. "Xuanxuan, I bought your favorite sea bass. Once Shiyue and the film crew arrive, I’ll cook it for you."
Hearing her mother’s voice, Ning Yuxuan’s expression softened.
How wonderful it was to have her mother safe and sound before her.
In the ridiculous novel plot she had just been subjected to, she—the villainess—met a tragic end. Not only did she lose the male lead, but she also became the female lead’s foil on the show, despised by the entire internet.
By the story’s conclusion, crushed under the weight of online vitriol, she had climbed onto a rooftop, ready to end it all.
In a desperate attempt to stop her, her mother rushed forward and managed to save her, only to lose her footing and plummet from the 22nd floor.
The book described it like this: "Ning Yuxuan stared at her mother's unrecognizable body, tears streaming down her face in stunned silence. Finally, she understood—everything she had pursued over the years had never truly belonged to her. It was her insatiable greed that had harmed everyone around her, including herself."
In the original story, the villainess "Ning Yuxuan" seemed to have lost all reason, treating anyone who opposed her relationship with Gu Yunhao as an enemy—even her own mother and younger brother, who genuinely cared for her.
In the end, her mother died from the fall, her brother succumbed to depression and took his own life, and the family was utterly destroyed.
At this thought, Ning Yuxuan took a deep breath.
Now that she had awakened, she would never allow these tragedies to happen again.
“Mom,” Ning Yuxuan said to Ning Fei, her voice laced with a hint of coquetry, “I’d like the fish braised in soy sauce.”
Ning Fei’s eyes first widened in surprise, then brimmed with unconcealable joy.
Over the past two years, the distance between her and her daughter had only grown. When was the last time Xuanxuan had spoken to her so sweetly?
Even if her daughter was only turning to her temporarily after being hurt by her boyfriend, Ning Fei was more than willing to embrace the moment.
"Of course," Ning Fei replied eagerly. "Braised perch—it’s my specialty."
Today was the filming day for the preview segment, and the production team had instructed them to capture some heartwarming scenes. So, she had bought all of Xuanxuan’s favorite ingredients to prepare a homemade lunch.
Ning Fei’s cooking skills were passable at best, but the dishes her daughter loved had been practiced countless times, making them second nature.
Noticing that Ning Yuxuan was still gazing at her with what seemed like affection, Ning Fei’s heart melted into a puddle.
Her daughter had been wronged.
"Xuanxuan," Ning Fei said softly, "what’s on your mind?"
Ning Yuxuan smiled. "Just thinking—could you add extra sugar to the fish? I like it sweet."
Meanwhile, inside a van.
Ning Shiyue asked tersely, "How long until filming starts?"
His assistant, Ding Yan, checked the time. "Relax, Shiyue! The live stream begins at 11:30. We’re about five minutes away—we’ll definitely arrive early!"
Ning Shiyue shot him a glance. "Who said I was in a hurry?"
"Right, right, no hurry," Ding Yan conceded outwardly, though internally he rolled his eyes. After three years as Ning Shiyue’s assistant, how could he not see through him?
Despite his aloof demeanor, Ning Shiyue deeply valued his family.
When Ning Fei had suddenly asked him to appear in the preview for Dear Mom, he had canceled a scheduled audition for a high-profile TV adaptation—even arguing with his agent over it.
That series was based on a massively popular IP and helmed by an acclaimed director. Everyone believed it would be a surefire hit.
While Ning Shiyue’s status didn’t guarantee him the role, such a rare opportunity was something many actors would kill for. Yet he had walked away without hesitation.
Not only that, he had instructed his team to keep the audition a secret from Ning Fei. Ding Yan knew it was to spare her any guilt.
The moment their morning schedule ended, Ning Shiyue had rushed them into the van without even stopping for water.
There had been plenty of time to rest before leaving, but he’d insisted on hurrying home.
The van turned into the villa district, winding through the streets before coming to a stop.
After giving his assistants a few instructions, Ning Shiyue stepped out and opened the villa door.
The first person he saw was Ning Yuxuan.
She met his gaze, her lips curving slightly. "Mom went to touch up her makeup. She’ll be out soon."
Ning Shiyue froze.
Since their argument a month ago, this was the first time Ning Yuxuan had initiated conversation—let alone smiled at him.
After the initial surprise, a flicker of irritation replaced his bewilderment.
If she was this cheerful, it had to be because that Gu guy had sweet-talked her again.
"I’m going to change," Ning Shiyue said flatly, still dressed in his work suit.
He turned and headed to his room without another glance at her.
Two minutes later, Ning Fei emerged, makeup refreshed. "Xuanxuan, does my makeup look alright?"
Ning Yuxuan studied her carefully before nodding. "Perfect. You look beautiful!"
Ning Fei relaxed.
Ning Shiyue, however, remained in his room long after claiming he’d just "change clothes."
Ning Fei knew her son well. He had always been quiet, and adulthood had only made him more reserved.
Now, he was probably lingering to avoid an awkward silence in the living room.
After a while, the villa doorbell rang. The production crew entered, equipment in hand.
The show followed the popular format of live streaming paired with an edited version. Viewers had already flooded the chat, eagerly waiting.
[Can’t wait to see my goddess Ning Fei! I just rewatched her films—she’s absolutely mesmerizing. Three generations of my family adore her!]
[After all these years in retirement, Teacher Ning is finally doing a variety show! So excited!]
[Heard Ning Shiyue will be there today. Ready for some eye candy! Honestly, I’m here for Ning Fei and Shiyue—couldn’t care less about the daughter.]
[What’s the daughter’s name again? With a mom like Ning Fei, she can’t be that bad, right? Why does everyone dislike her?]
[Oh, you must not know. That Ning Yuxuan acted in something once. She’s decent-looking, but her acting was a train wreck—literally face-destroying.]
[Her personality’s worse. I saw a vlog from a co-star’s set, and her attitude was terrible.]
[+1. Even Ning Shiyue seems to dislike his sister. Hope the crew knows better than to give her too much screen time.]
At 11:30, the live stream began.
The camera first focused on Ning Fei’s face.
Time had been kind to her. Even in her fifties, under the unforgiving HD lens, her beauty was breathtaking.
Amidst a flood of admiring comments, Ning Fei greeted the audience warmly.
Then Ning Shiyue appeared, and the chat exploded with fangirl screams.
To build suspense, the crew deliberately avoided showing Ning Yuxuan—who, aside from a minor role in a flop drama a year ago, was practically an unknown.
This omission sparked speculation.
[Isn’t this season about mother-daughter bonds? Why only show mom and the brother?]
[Maybe the sister threw another tantrum. Word is she’s got a terrible temper. Maybe the director’s avoiding drama.]
[How does someone with a mom and brother like this manage to ruin family harmony?]
On screen, Ning Shiyue was calmly greeting viewers when he suddenly frowned.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" He turned slightly, addressing someone off-camera.
A sweet, clear voice replied, "Hmm? Oh, I was just thinking—your clothes smell really strong."
Ning Shiyue: "..."
Known for his rebellious and untamed demeanor, often dubbed by fans as the "B-King of China's entertainment industry," Ning Shiyue actually wore an expression akin to flustered irritation.
"It's all because your clothes have overrun the walk-in closet, forcing you to hijack my wardrobe!" he grumbled. "How else would my clothes end up reeking of your perfume?"
...
