The Secret Realm of Time, His and Her Life Through the Changes

Fang Xichen sized up Zhou Yanruo and asked tactfully, "President Zhou, you've been with the company for about half a year now, and we only have the chance to meet today."

Zhou Yanruo: "President Fang, you're too kind. Just call me Zhou Yanruo or Yanruo."

"Yes, Yanruo."

Fang Xichen's voice was clear and gentle, and her tone was unhurried, which made people feel close to her involuntarily.

"I heard that Yibo encountered trouble in Xichuan this time, causing a big uproar. He was also cyberbullied for acting like a diva. Fortunately, Yanruo was also in Xichuan and resolved the crisis in time. They also organized a very successful promotional event."

"President Fang, it's all what I should do. Besides, I didn't do anything. Shang Yibo's team is very professional. This is the result of everyone's joint efforts," Zhou Yanruo said. "To be honest, I feel ashamed. The matter was caused by me. I'm just glad that it didn't cause any serious consequences. Otherwise, I would feel even more embarrassed."

Fang Xichen: "I saw the photos of you trending on social media. Yiming sent them to me. At first, I didn't take it seriously, but I didn't expect things to escalate to this extent."

Ding Jiajia: "President Fang, it's all because netizens are idle and love to watch the drama unfold. The more the fans try to clarify, the more chaotic it gets, and a bunch of trolls are adding fuel to the fire. It suddenly became a trending topic."

"However, you and Yibo in the photos seem quite familiar with each other." Fang Xichen took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Logically speaking, it's not surprising that you two know each other since Yanruo works at the group. But it shouldn't be a rumor. It seems that netizens' IQ is really worrying."

The women chatted idly, barely exchanging more than a few words.

Shang Yibo appeared at the top of the stairs.

He had changed into comfortable clothes, wearing baggy, light green knee-length shorts, and a similarly baggy white crew-neck T-shirt that wasn't much shorter than the shorts.

This doesn't look like a high-and-mighty, awe-inspiring superstar at all; he's a slam dunk master straight out of a college basketball team.

Looking further down, he was wearing a pair of black leather slippers, casually shuffling along, revealing the unruly nature of the young man.

Fang Xichen was sitting directly opposite the stairwell. When she saw Shang Yibo come down, she subconsciously let out a "Yay!" and felt puzzled.

Normally, it's not easy to get him to sit in the living room for a while, but today he came downstairs on his own initiative.

She raised her hand, beckoning Shang Yibo: "Yibo, come and sit down. I was thinking of having someone call you when it's time to eat."

Shang Yibo remained silent, but still walked over.

Seeing the three women sitting on the sofa eating snacks and chatting, he frowned, wisely found a corner, and when he sat down, he looked up and realized that he was sitting right opposite Zhou Yanruo.

Zhou Yanruo was talking to Fang Xichen, who was sitting to her right, and didn't notice him.

Shang Yibo pouted. There was nothing about their conversation that he could participate in, so he took out his phone from his pocket and browsed it casually.

He glanced at Zhou Yanruo across from him out of the corner of his eye. She looked slightly tired, her knees were together, her hands were clasped together on her knees, and she was leaning forward towards Fang Xichen with a smile on her face, responding to Fang Xichen's words.

Judging by her age, she should be 38. Naturally, she can't compare to the frank, lively, and charming young girl in my memory, but she is still fair-skinned and beautiful, exuding competence and ease. With the maturity of age, her overall temperament has become elegant, and there is also a subtle sense of aloofness.

I wonder what she's been through in the past twenty years to become the way she is now.

They've been "reunited" for several days now, but is it a true reunion or just acquaintances? Are they familiar strangers, or do they feel a slight sense of familiarity with a stranger? Even Shang Yibo isn't sure now.

In short, whether it's a "reunion" or a "reunion," the two people should at least have a proper talk, instead of living like they're constantly at war.

Shang Yibo was somewhat annoyed.

Zhou Yanruo sensed that someone was watching her. She sat up straight, and she was now face to face with Shang Yibo across the large square coffee table.

Shang Yibo was holding up his phone to cover up his secret glances at Zhou Yanruo. He didn't have time to look away, so he could only nod at Zhou Yanruo.

Their eyes met, and Zhou Yanruo smiled back at him.

To cover up his embarrassment, Shang Yibo took the initiative to speak to Zhou Yanruo, saying, "Are you getting used to it? Do you have to travel back and forth between the two places, or should Ru Shang Group hire someone else?"

"Isn't the work here just beginning? Oh, no, to be precise, it hasn't officially started yet," Zhou Yanruo said seriously. "Because I'm still on vacation, we'll see how things go when the work officially begins."

In fact, Zhou Yanruo had been secretly observing Shang Yibo these past few days: at such a young age, to have achieved so much and to have so many people who like him, it was definitely not a coincidence.

He strives for excellence in his acting career, sometimes being so harsh on himself that he becomes nitpicky.

At his age and in such circumstances, it is truly remarkable that he maintains such composure in managing his emotions.

Ding Jiajia was holding a piece of jujube paste pastry, about to put it in her mouth, when she heard Shang Yibo and Zhou Yanruo's conversation and couldn't help but interrupt, saying, "If President Zhou is too busy, can't you just hire another assistant?"

She was afraid that Zhou Yanruo would use being too busy as an excuse to decline the job as her agent. She had finally found her family from Rushang Group, so that she wouldn't have to suffer in Yihua Entertainment when she was all alone.

Shang Yibo glanced at Ding Jiajia, paused for a second, and said, "Weren't you eating snacks?"

Ding Jiajia was taken aback, not understanding why the conversation had turned from work to snacks.

"Mmm, jujube paste pastry."

"Is it tasty?"

Zhou Yanruo smiled to herself, thinking, "What a brat! Why ask others when he wants to eat it himself?"

She pushed the snacks on the coffee table toward Shang Yibo and said, "Shang Yibo, we've been traveling all day and haven't eaten much. Have some snacks too."

Shang Yibo reached out and picked up a piece of jujube paste pastry, took a bite, and said, "It's pretty good. I'm actually quite hungry."

"How about trying some butterfly cookies?"

When Zhou Yanruo saw Shang Yibo finish a whole piece of jujube paste pastry in just two bites, she noticed that back home, the aloof superstar Shang Yibo acted like an innocent child.

“Okay, but I can’t eat anything too sweet.” Shang Yibo said, reaching for a butterfly pastry, holding it between his thumb and forefinger, and holding it up to Zhou Yanruo with a smile. “I’m in the process of managing my figure. If I gain even a pound or two, can you, my manager, take responsibility?”

"I have an advertisement to shoot tomorrow afternoon, so don't eat. I can't handle it," Zhou Yanruo teased, following Shang Yibo's lead.

Shang Yibo smiled, and his smile was incredibly cute.

Fang Xichen glanced at Ding Jiajia, and coincidentally, Ding Jiajia was also looking at her.

Their eyes met, and they seemed to have the same question: "Is this still Shang Yibo?"

Fang Xichen: "Yibo, it's good for you to eat less sweets. We can eat soon. Lao Zhang just said he's already set off. Your dad should be home in about ten minutes."

"Brother, you're home already. Mom said you were coming back, but I still got back late even though I rushed. Hey, you guys made quite a fuss yesterday. Tell me, was it something you guys did yourself, or was it a real public opinion event? Is what people online are saying true? Who is that woman?" Chu Yiming pushed open the door and rushed into the living room, rattling off a bunch of questions as he went.

Fang Xichen's face darkened as she stopped Chu Yiming from talking incessantly, saying, "Yiming, how can you be so rude? Don't you see we have guests?"