CEO's Sweetheart is a Super Idol-Chapter 406 - 398: A Covert Warning

A city bustling with prosperity, rain falling like a dream.

Jiaqi, Lan Yening, and the crew walked along a street filled with the lively scent of food stalls.

"Xiao Ning, thank you. If it weren’t for you, I really wouldn’t have made it through today."

"It’s no big deal. We’re all newcomers; we should help each other."

Lan Yening’s lips curved upward, like the gentle flow of spring water. He gave the other a warm smile.

Jiaqi felt a sudden shyness; this young man was simply too beautiful.

"Xiao Ning, you should eat more regularly."

"What’s wrong?"

"You’re a bit too thin."

After Jiaqi said this, her tone turned playful: "You must have a lot of girls around you, right?"

This time, Lan Yening’s face flushed: "No, not at all! I wouldn’t dare. A crowd of fans keeps such a close watch on me, they’d probably stick cameras on me if they could."

"Then why are you so skinny?"

"For the sake of looking good on camera, and besides, I’m still growing taller."

"Ah! How old are you?"

"I’m 21!"

"You can still grow taller at 21?"

"Guys can grow until they’re 24, though many stop by 20."

Lan Yening explained seriously, still marveling at the way his body worked.

At that moment, the crew had already arrived at the roadside food stall.

The assistant director enthusiastically handed menus to the two lead actors, urging them to order first.

Director Hu had intended to come, but a phone call had taken him away.

Group dinners were a common occurrence for the crew, especially since this was a film production hub. It wasn’t unusual to see "stars" dining casually outside.

Noticing how Jiaqi and Lan Yening were engrossed in conversation, the crew refrained from interrupting them.

Some even started betting on whether something romantic might happen between the two that evening.

"Xiao Ning, you really enjoy eating lamb!" Jiaqi was surprised to see him order a lamb leg.

"I’m a carnivore."

"Haha, I thought you’d be strict about maintaining your figure and avoiding these kinds of food."

"I’m not at that stage yet. I eat what I like."

Lan Yening said this as he added a serving of codfish to his order.

Jiaqi, on the other hand, ordered a pile of seafood along with a bowl of hand-pulled noodles.

After the duo finished ordering, the rest of the crew began making their selections.

"These noodles are delicious, Xiao Ning." Jiaqi unceremoniously picked up some with her chopsticks and placed them on his plate.

Lan Yening hesitated briefly but then accepted them.

"They really are good, especially with the crushed peanuts added in."

"I’ll give you some of mine if I can’t finish it."

"You eat first! Whatever’s left, leave it for me."

Lan Yening said this naturally, as it was how his mother used to treat him at home.

"Okay," Jiaqi replied softly, lowering her head.

Not far from the stall,

Xiao Li hid behind a concrete pillar, clenching her fists. Her chubby figure quivered with rage as flames of jealousy burned in her eyes.

"Witch, shameless, ugly freak—how dare she seduce my Brother Ning." Nearly exploding with anger, she almost stormed out to tear Jiaqi apart.

But in the end, her last shred of rationality held her back.

Since Su Xiaoya wasn’t around to follow them due to her exams, Xiao Li had come alone to keep tabs today.

Never did she expect to stumble upon a scene like this.

Taking out her phone, she quickly sent everything she saw to Su Xiaoya,

scheming in her mind about how to drive this wretched woman away from her dear Brother Ning.

"Xiao Ning, you look so natural when you eat, so at ease."

"Are there unnatural ways to eat?"

"Of course! Some idols I’ve encountered during filming are absolute posers."

Lan Yening couldn’t help but laugh at this comment.

"Maybe their company demands it. After all, they have to maintain their image for the camera."

"I can understand keeping up an image in front of the camera, but off-camera, their behavior is downright inhuman."

Jiaqi looked at Lan Yening with a serious expression, speaking each word deliberately.

"Haha! Jiaqi, you’re so bold!"

"Maybe it’s because I’ve been in a group for too long; sometimes I’m a little naive. Xiao Ning, are you also one of those two-faced idols?"

"...Yes and no."

Lan Yening set down his beer glass, his expression nostalgic.

"I’ve never slept with fans, never gone out messing around, and I’ve never exploited my fans for money."

"Becoming an idol was more of an accident for me, something I stumbled into."

"I’ve compromised to get roles before, but I’m not someone without limits."

As someone within the industry, Jiaqi naturally understood his words. Feeling a deep connection, she said, "Getting good resources in this circle is tough, especially the great ones."

Lan Yening nodded, his gaze profound: "Once you’re in this industry, staying clean is nearly impossible."

Jiaqi picked up her beer and downed it in one gulp, slamming the glass back onto the table.

"Exactly! They have so many ways to make us submit. So many who wanted to stay pure have been utterly destroyed." Jiaqi thought of the girl whose face had been disfigured during filming.

Immersed in this melancholy atmosphere, the two fell silent for a while.

"Xiao Ning, Jiaqi, how’s the food?"

Zhang Yuzhe suddenly appeared within the crowd, accompanied by Director Hu and Da Qiangzi.

The moment Jiaqi saw him, her entire body tensed. She found it difficult to meet the gaze of this "sponsor."

"Hello, President Zhang!" Lan Yening immediately stood up and extended a polite hand.

"Haha, Xiao Ning, you really know how to read people. No wonder you’re so popular."

"You flatter me, President Zhang. It’s all thanks to your support."

On the other side, Director Hu gave Jiaqi a subtle nudge: "Jiaqi, why don’t you greet President Zhang?"

"It’s fine. I’m actually Jiaqi’s big fan. An idol should maintain some distance from their fans."

"President Zhang, you’re too kind. This entire production is funded thanks to you." Director Hu quickly complimented.

Jiaqi, as if snapping out of a daze, stood up: "Hello, President Zhang."

Even now, she still struggled to reconcile the imposing and wealthy man before her with the sleazy figure she had once smashed on the head.

"Sit down," Zhang Yuzhe said, taking control of the table like he owned it.

Jiaqi avoided looking at the imposing Da Qiangzi beside her. Her instincts told her this man was dangerous.

"President Zhang, what would you like to eat? I’ll have the chef prepare it for you." Lan Yening warmly offered.

Zhang Yuzhe was slightly taken aback. He hadn’t expected this seemingly aloof young man to be so socially adept. It was promising—such types knew how to advance their own interests.

"Jiaqi, if there’s anything you don’t understand, make sure to consult Director Hu," Zhang Yuzhe said, his tone condescending.

Though she still felt uneasy, Jiaqi had no choice but to nod.

"Director Hu, Jiaqi is young and didn’t come from a professional background. Please guide her where she’s lacking."

"Of course. Jiaqi is quite talented; she just needs more experience."

At that moment, Director Hu shed the overbearing demeanor he exhibited on set.

Lan Yening immediately caught the hidden implications. This Zhang Yuzhe was very likely Jiaqi’s financial sponsor—or perhaps someone currently courting her.

"Xiao Ning, I just spoke with your company’s President Zhang. She asked me to look out for you." Zhang Yuzhe suddenly put on a kind face.

"Thank you, President Zhang," Lan Yening said, raising his glass. His heart skipped a beat, sensing this was Zhang Shuya’s way of warning him through this man.

Though he had some fame, he was still no more than an ant to these industry bigwigs.

Zhang Yuzhe picked up his glass, clinking it lightly with Lan Yening’s, then downed the contents in one gulp.

He glanced sideways at the silent Jiaqi and smirked: "Jiaqi, I didn’t expect you and Yu Qingjia to actually be friends. I thought you were just playing up a commercial CP."

"Sister Qingjia and I have always been friends," Jiaqi replied, still trying to decode his intent.

"The other day, Da Qiangzi saw you two having coffee together on Guanghua Road while doing some street photography. I was surprised when he told me." Zhang Yuzhe chuckled.

"Street photography?" Jiaqi looked quizzically at Da Qiangzi, who was focused on eating and drinking.

"Just a hobby of mine. I was originally a photographer." Da Qiangzi grinned.

"You’re a photographer?" Even Director Hu seemed caught off guard.

"Haha, yeah. I graduated from Rong City Art College," Da Qiangzi said with a laugh.

"So how did you end up being a driver?"

"Don’t single me out. There are Beijing Film Academy graduates selling shoes out there."

His comment elicited hearty laughter from everyone at the table, causing Jiaqi to second guess whether she had misjudged Zhang Yuzhe.