Angela Ma had plotted her seduction for so long, only for it to fizzle out halfway through.
"Don't worry, Jiro Hirayama's got it covered," Rona Muir said confidently. "With him at the company, no one dares slack off. Last time, someone secretly called him a pretty boy, saying he only got the job because of me, the rich lady. Guess what happened next?"
When Ethan Yin received the news, he was silent for a long time before he finally said, "This is for the best."
At least she survived.
After all, Helen Jiang and Emma Yin didn't even leave a trace behind.
Charles Yin is so desirable, how could he not have women chasing after him?
Why don't those women dare to make a move? Because they don't want to die!
Leaving Cecilia Gu at home, Rona Muir hopped in her car and sped off to the Open Audition site.
He tried so hard to persuade Angela Ma, but she just wouldn't listen.
He really did everything he could for her.
Angela Ma's whole ordeal disappeared without even causing a ripple.
However, Cecilia Gu eventually found out about it.
Cecilia Gu sighed and said to Rona Muir, "I've always believed that sincerity could win hearts. I've held onto that belief since I was a child. But I never imagined there would be so many hearts in this world that just can't be warmed, no matter what you do. Lydia Lin was like that back then, and now Angela Ma is too."
This Open Audition is seriously brutal!
"It just feels like Angela Ma changed too quickly. It's only been three years—how could she end up like this?" Cecilia Gu sighed in frustration. "I used to treat her well!"
"Hmph, so what? With a mother like hers, what good could come of it?" Rona Muir shook her head. "Stop thinking about all that. The selection is about to start. As the one with the final say, aren't you going to check it out?"
"Check out what?" Cecilia Gu asked curiously. "It's just the preliminary selection. The TV station's handling it, I just have to wait for the results."
Rona Muir said, "Sure, the TV station is more professional with these things, but are you really at ease?"
Cecilia Gu laughed. "Why wouldn't I be? I already told them—I'm just here to help sift through the masses, but whether they've found a real gem is up to them. If there isn't a suitable candidate, I'll just pick someone from the crowd and see if feelings can develop. For the three of us to get married together, I'm really giving it my all."
Rona Muir shook her head. "Then I won't bother with you. I'm off to watch the fun!"
"Huh? You're going to watch the excitement—what about the company?" Cecilia Gu couldn't help but ask in surprise. "One of us is at home resting, the other is out having fun—who's keeping an eye on things at work?"
"Don't worry, Jiro Hirayama's got it covered," Rona Muir said confidently. "With him at the company, no one dares slack off. Last time, someone secretly called him a pretty boy, saying he only got the job because of me, the rich lady. Guess what happened next?"
Rona Muir couldn't help but burst out laughing before Cecilia Gu could ask. "Jiro calmly slipped her a little something, and the poor employee was too weak to come to work the next day. He kept it up for a whole week! Her husband was in trouble—if he couldn't satisfy her, she'd probably go looking elsewhere."
Cecilia Gu was speechless!
Honestly, that is exactly the kind of thing Jiro Hirayama would do!
Well, Rona Muir certainly knows how to make use of her resources.
Jiro Hirayama's concoctions are truly undetectable...
Leaving Cecilia Gu at home, Rona Muir hopped in her car and sped off to the selection event.
Cecilia Gu turned on the TV and watched the live broadcast at home.
As soon as she turned on the TV, Cecilia Gu almost thought she was watching a supermarket clearance sale.
It was a sea of people, with colorful flags waving everywhere.
Each girl wore a number tag, and before going on stage, she had to scan her ID card so her registration info instantly popped up on the judges' computers.
The judges combined the registration info with the girls' performances to decide whether they passed or were eliminated.
This preliminary selection is seriously brutal!
No matter how impressive your application was, if you doze off on stage, you're instantly out.
Sitting in front of the TV, Cecilia Gu calculated that the elimination rate was almost ninety percent.
Well, there were over a million applicants.
If they aren't strict, when will they ever finish choosing?
Yesterday, Charles already complained to her about not being able to have the wedding right away. He was pretty frustrated about it.
If they don't pick someone soon...
It really is a hassle.
While Cecilia Gu was relaxing at home enjoying her food, Aunt Zhang came to report, "Young Madam, the second young master is here."
Ethan Yin? What is he doing here?
Cecilia Gu was momentarily surprised, then quickly said, "Let him in."
"There's another young man with him. He says he's the other male lead in this selection." Aunt Zhang smiled as she spoke.
Clearly, someone her age found this bride selection method a little hard to accept.
Cecilia Gu nodded, "So it's James Jing. Let them in."
After a short while, Ethan Yin arrived with James Jing.
This was Cecilia Gu's first time meeting James Jing in person, so she smiled and greeted him, "Wow, you're even more handsome in real life than on video."
James Jing bowed respectfully, "Hello, Mrs. Yin."
Cecilia Gu nodded and said, "Don't be so formal, have a seat."
Cecilia Gu pointed to the wicker chair across from her. "This time of year, a cup of black tea is just perfect. What kind would you like?"
"Darjeeling, please. Thank you," James Jing replied, still a bit reserved.
"Anything's fine for me," Ethan Yin answered.
Cecilia Gu nodded, and a servant had already gone to prepare it.
(End of this part—please click next page to continue reading!)
"Did you need something from me?" Cecilia Gu looked at the two men in front of her, curious. "Having second thoughts? Don't want to join the selection anymore?"
Ethan Yin smiled and shook his head. "Of course not. The choices you make for me are always the best. We're actually here to ask you for a favor."
Cecilia Gu nodded and looked at James Jing. "Is it about you?"
James Jing lowered his head, a bit nervous. "Yes... Actually, there's a girl I like. But my family would never allow us to be together. And she doesn't seem that sure about me either... I wanted to ask you to help her join the selection, and maybe help her make it to the end. That way, my family wouldn't have any objections."
Cecilia Gu squinted at James Jing. "I remember asking you before, and you said you didn't have a girl you liked."
"How could I admit it back then?" James Jing said, dejected. "My family was watching me, and I've been used to their control since I was little. I basically just went along with whatever they wanted."
"So what do you mean now? Want to quit?" Cecilia Gu asked calmly. "It's fine to cancel now—I'll just help Ethan Yin choose instead."
"No, that's not it. I just wanted to ask if you could help her join..." James Jing asked hesitantly.
Cecilia Gu's eyes flickered, but she didn't respond to that. Instead, she turned to Ethan Yin, "Ethan, do you really not have anyone you like?"
Ethan Yin's lashes trembled, and for a moment his expression was unnatural, but he answered immediately, "No."
"Do you two even know what love is?"
Cecilia Gu picked up her black tea, stood up, and looked out at the beautiful sunlight. She spoke softly, "Love is like sunshine. With it, your life is bright and colorful. Without it, everything is gray. But chasing the sunshine is exhausting. Even the mythical Kua Fu paid a terrible price trying to catch the sun. It's the same for us in real life. There's no love or abandonment without a reason. If you can give up on a relationship, it means you didn't love enough. If you don't love enough, why force it?"
"James, you might argue you're just used to your family's arrangements. But let me ask you—if this girl really joins the contest and you end up together, but she can't have children and your family forces you to divorce, what will you do? Will you stand by her, or give in to your family's demands?" Cecilia Gu asked pointedly.
James Jing's face went pale. "She wouldn't..."
"I'm just giving an example. If you never had the resolve to stay with her forever, then don't get her involved. She doesn't owe you anything and shouldn't have to pay for your ambitions and dreams. She deserves a better man—a man who truly loves her." Cecilia Gu interrupted him. "You keep saying you like her, but it's just liking, not love yet."
"Look at my garden—I've cultivated so many flowers, each one with care. They're beautiful, right? Wouldn't you want to pick one and put it in a vase to admire? But once you pick them, they'll wilt in a day and lose their chance to bear fruit forever. That's the difference between liking and loving. Liking makes you want to possess, but love is admiring her bloom from afar, watching her bear fruit and live her glorious life."
"If you don't love her, why force her to compete for you?" Cecilia Gu said calmly. "If she comes willingly to fight for your relationship, I'll support you. But if you're forcing her into this bloody battle, isn't that too much?"
James Jing tried to argue, "Maybe she wants to!"
"If she's truly crazy about you, shouldn't you respond somehow?" Cecilia Gu pressed. "Do you really deserve her devotion?"