C38 Difficult

Ye Tian's sleep was anything but restful. Her body ached, and the sporadic gusts of cold wind only intensified her discomfort.

Finally, after enduring over two hours, the mall opened its doors. She quickly thanked the security guards and made her way inside.

The warm air of the mall enveloped Ye Tian the moment she stepped in, reviving her spirits as she let out a deep sigh of relief and headed straight for the fifth floor.

The fifth floor was deserted, clearly reserved by Ziyan's team, who arrived fashionably late, half an hour later.

Seated on an unconventional chair in the open area, Ye Tian watched Ziyan approach with an entourage, walking tall and proud, prompting a cold laugh from her.

"Yo, Ye Tian, my apologies. We got caught in traffic and arrived late. You haven't been waiting too long, have you?" Ziyan had spotted her the moment she stepped off the elevator and, eager to throw some jibes her way, made a beeline for her.

Despite Ziyan's condescending gaze, Ye Tian sat with her legs crossed and head tilted upwards, exuding confidence from her seemingly subordinate position.

With a sharp laugh, Ye Tian retorted cheerfully, "It's fine. Your traffic jam was quite the spectacle. Anyone would think you lived out in the sticks."

Ziyan, expecting to see Ye Tian flustered but instead finding her composed and biting, struggled to keep her cool as she replied nonchalantly, "Oh, right, I heard there was a mix-up with the time. Having you wait out in the cold like that, I do feel a bit embarrassed."

"No worries. The security guard's room was nice and cozy. Maybe you should give it a try?" Ye Tian replied with a sardonic grin, refusing to be outdone.

"And let's not forget, we've known each other since we were kids. You know I've never been the sharpest tool in the shed. Getting the time wrong like this, I must have been influenced by you," she continued, her words laced with barbs.

Unable to best Ye Tian verbally and unwilling to make a scene, Ziyan could only shoot her a glare before strutting away in her high heels.

Tsk, a pig with zero brain capacity trying to play mind games with me? Hilarious.

Ye Tian pursed her lips and pulled out her camera from her bag to communicate with the videographer.

Even though it was still early, a group of eager fans had already arrived at the venue. The staff briefly held them back before letting everyone roam freely.

The mall was buzzing with activity. Ye Tian spent the whole morning discussing plans with the videographer, and before she knew it, lunchtime had arrived.

To boost Ye Ziyan's popularity, her team had spared no expense. They had even prepared lunch boxes for the fans; everyone present would receive one.

Taking a break, Ye Tian felt a troubling sensation in her stomach that seemed to be spreading, and she started to break out in a cold sweat.

Could it be the heat from the blowers?

She wondered to herself, just wanting to get through the day. Despite her lack of appetite, she thought about the afternoon's workload and forced herself to go get a lunch box.

But as she approached, a staff member informed her that those were for the fans. The staff's meals were to be collected backstage.

"Backstage" referred to the area behind the large electronic screen. With a weary body, Ye Tian made her way there.

Behind the screen, she found Ye Ziyan, who was preening in front of a full-length mirror. Upon seeing Ye Tian, Ziyan raised an eyebrow and gave a mocking smile.

"Here for the food? There it is, just grab it and eat," Ziyan said, pointing.

Ye Tian followed her direction and saw a lone lunch box lying in a corner.

It was clear that Ziyan was trying to provoke her. Feeling increasingly uncomfortable in her stomach, Ye Tian ignored her and picked up the lunch box, only to find that it was different from the others. The food looked unappetizing, and it was cold.

Her face fell, and her icy gaze met Ziyan's challenging stare.

"Have you had enough? Do you find this amusing?" Ye Tian asked, her voice cold, as her physical discomfort amplified her inner turmoil.

Ziyan's mocking smile widened as she stepped closer, her high heels clicking on the floor. She stopped in front of Ye Tian and whispered, "Of course, it's always fun to mess with you."

She eyed Ye Tian's tightly pressed lips, her eyes brimming with smug satisfaction.

"Don't fool yourself into thinking I can't handle you. If I wanted to, squashing you would be as simple as crushing an ant!"

Even though Gu Qinian had advised her not to engage with that wretch, trouble had found her again. It had been a struggle to settle things down, and she certainly wasn't looking to stir up more drama. However, that didn't mean she wouldn't seize an opportunity to make life difficult for her!

Ye Tian's gaze hardened as she observed the malicious look in her adversary's eyes, but then she suddenly curved her lips into a chilling smile.

"Well then, show me what you're made of. But just a word of caution—don't lift a stone only to drop it on your own foot."

With that, she shoved the cold boxed lunch into her arms and walked away.

Back in the main area, she took her seat to rest. A sudden chill enveloped her, with a wave of coldness spreading through her stomach.

She inwardly cursed, suspecting her temperamental stomach was acting up again, and quickly headed to the water dispenser for some hot water.

But the people nearby intercepted her, handing her a bottle of mineral water with a scowl.

"Why do you need hot water? That's for the fans. This will do for you."

Holding the icy bottle, Ye Tian's brow furrowed as she directly challenged them, "I just saw other staff getting hot water. Is it not allowed now?"

The person shot her a scornful look in response. "Quit your yapping. Take it or leave it."

Ye Tian bit back her frustration, noticing the growing attention from onlookers. She had no choice but to hold her tongue.

Damn Ye Ziyan and her tricks! I'm not feeling well today, but I'll let you have your moment!

Gritting her teeth, Ye Tian tossed the water aside and returned to her seat.

Drinking that water, given the fragile state of her stomach, would likely end with an ambulance ride.

She bore the discomfort, wishing for time to speed up.

Ugh, why hasn't this fan meeting started yet? Let's get it over with already!

Lost in thought, she was suddenly summoned to the backstage area.

Her instincts kicked in, signaling that Ye Ziyan was up to no good once more.

And indeed, as she entered the temporary makeup room behind the scenes, she found it empty—save for Ye Ziyan herself.

"What's your problem? You have nothing better to do than to hover around me all day. Are you secretly in love with me or something?"

With an impatient click of her tongue, Ye Tian squeezed past the doorway and leaned against the wall.

At those words, Ye Ziyan grimaced in distaste. "Spare me the nausea. I called you here to let you know that you'll be wearing this costume for a photo shoot with me this afternoon."

She gestured towards the heap on the couch. Ye Tian's gaze followed Ziyan's pointing finger, and the sneer at the corner of her mouth slowly faded.

There, on the sofa, lay a clown costume.