After a fierce round of competition, the contestants took turns coming on stage to introduce and present themselves.
Cecilia Gu held her tablet, reviewing each contestant's profile.
Honestly, the talent show part wasn’t really that important.
What she was looking for was someone who could really build a home and harmonize with her husband.
She wasn’t picking an actress.
A lot of the girls had it all wrong, thinking that being multi-talented was the key to marrying well, just like Cecilia Gu.
Cecilia honestly wanted to tell them that love had nothing to do with all that.
Back when she fell in love with Charles Yin, she didn’t have all these talents either.
Everything she’s achieved now is actually the legacy Nora Yun left her.
The two fashion bloggers watched Cecilia Gu eagerly. Whenever she marked someone for elimination, the bloggers would come up with excuses to cut them too.
Cecilia barely spoke the whole time, leaving the task of rejecting people to the two bloggers.
It was only now that Cecilia realized why the TV station had brought in two fashion bloggers to work with her—it was so they could say the things she couldn’t.
Bloggers who mingle online are all smooth talkers; they can turn a single sentence into a bouquet of compliments.
Letting them offend people was much better than Cecilia Gu doing it herself.
The two bloggers kept their eyes on the pen in Cecilia’s hand. Anyone she marked with an X would be picked apart and eliminated.
Even in the final round, there were still a ton of contestants left.
Cecilia wanted results fast, so she was a lot stricter with her selections.
Out of ten, barely one made it through.
In the end, only eight girls matched Cecilia Gu’s standards and caught her eye.
The few who made it to the end were so happy they were nearly in tears.
Cecilia Gu immediately said, "To me, you’re all outstanding. But the Yin Family is looking for a wife, not a trophy. So I care more about upbringing and character. If you don’t make it in the final round, don’t be discouraged. I’ve reviewed your profiles—many of you have impressive academic backgrounds and overseas experience. Saint Diana Academy welcomes you to join our faculty. As Chairwoman of Saint Diana Academy, I officially invite you. If you’re interested, please contact my assistant."
"I’ll give everyone a week to rest. After one week, you’ll receive an invitation to a special location for your final challenge. I wish you all the best." Cecilia quickly wrapped up her speech.
The other two bloggers echoed Cecilia’s words, giving some fancy but mostly empty remarks.
After the livestream ended, Cecilia leaned back and finally felt a bit tired.
Her assistant, Xiao Wang, quickly brought her a cup of milk tea. Cecilia took a few sips and felt a bit better.
"It’s all done here, let’s head back." Cecilia said to Xiao Wang. "I heard Xiao Heng is back. You and Xiao A should take a couple days off and enjoy your relationship."
Xiao Wang blushed immediately. "Madam! There’s no rush for us. I haven’t decided if I’ll bring him home yet!"
Seeing Xiao Wang’s shy reaction, Cecilia laughed. "You should hurry up! Come on, let’s go."
Xiao Wang, cheeks still red, quickly followed Cecilia out of the livestream studio.
Just outside, Cecilia hadn’t gone far when a girl suddenly blocked her path.
Cecilia looked closely—it was the girl from the dessert shop the other day...
"Cecilia Gu, I want to talk to you." Lisa Li said, her face pale.
Cecilia sighed. "I think you’ve misunderstood."
"I haven’t misunderstood. I only found out today that you’re the famous Mrs. Yin. Of course, you’re already Mrs. Yin, so you wouldn’t go after Max Mo anymore." Lisa Li said, "I’m not here to cause trouble. I just want to ask for your help."
Cecilia looked helpless. "Sorry, I can’t help you. I have no obligation. I’m not feeling well, so I’m heading back."
Lisa Li blocked her again. "Can’t you help me just this once? I want to know who Max Mo really cares about."
Cecilia felt exhausted and looked at her. "What do you want to do?"
Lisa Li whispered, "Just say you’re in trouble and ask him to come save you… I’ll call him too and say I was in a car accident and want him to see me one last time…"
Cecilia’s expression instantly became complicated. "Girl, you can’t play games like this."
Lisa Li stubbornly said, "Just help me this once!"
Xiao Wang stood off to the side, his tone neutral as he said, "Mr. Mo has plenty of admirers. If every one of them came to our Mrs. Yin for help, how much could she possibly do? Testing someone's heart isn't done this way! If you don't believe me, call him right now and say something's happened to you—see if he comes or not. Honestly, whether he comes or not doesn't prove anything."
"In other words, if a complete stranger suddenly called Mrs. Yin for help, she wouldn't just stand by and do nothing. That has nothing to do with feelings—it's just personal ethics," Xiao Wang continued. "Even if she saw someone hurt on the street, she'd step in, let alone someone she knows. This is no way to test whether someone loves you. On the contrary, the moment you get caught, your trust is ruined, and no one will ever believe a word you say again. You need to think carefully, young lady!"
Cecilia nodded in agreement with Xiao Wang's words.
Lisa's eyes reddened. She kicked at something on the ground and said, "But I just can't let it go. I just want to know if he likes me, even just a little."
Cecilia smiled and said, "If that's all you want, it's actually very simple. You don't need any tests—just ask him directly. If a man truly loves you, he'll want the whole world to know you're his treasure. On the other hand, if you don't matter to him, he'll never let the world know you exist."
Cecilia reached out to Xiao Wang. "Let me have your phone."
Xiao Wang immediately handed over his phone, unlocked it, and gave it to Cecilia.
Cecilia dialed Mo Zixin's number and handed the phone to Lisa. "You can ask him if he really loves you. This is my assistant's number—Mo Zixin knows it."
Lisa instantly became flustered. "I... I... I'm not ready yet..."
"If you don't even have the courage to ask, how do you have the nerve to ask me to test his feelings for you? That's not how you should be, young lady," Cecilia said bluntly. "Mo Zixin doesn't like girls like that."
The call had already connected: "Hello? Miss Wang, what's wrong? Did something happen? Is Cecilia in trouble?"
Mo Zixin's voice came through the phone.
Cecilia just looked up at Lisa. Lisa felt a sting from Cecilia's gaze, her scalp tingling, and snatched the phone, saying into it, "Mo Zixin, it's me, Lisa Li."
There was a long silence on the other end, then suddenly his voice turned icy—so cold it cut to the bone.
Cold to the core.
"Lisa, you've really let me down! You shouldn't have gone to her." Mo Zixin's voice was devoid of emotion. "From now on, I won't see you again. Take care of yourself."
Lisa's heart ached. "Mo Zixin, I just want to ask you one thing—have you ever liked me, even a little?"
"No. Not at all," Mo Zixin replied without hesitation.
Lisa was utterly devastated.
"In your heart, is there anyone who could ever compare to her?" Lisa screamed, nearly hysterical. "Mo Zixin, you'll get what's coming to you!"
"Thanks. I've already got what's coming, but I accept it willingly," Mo Zixin said simply. "Give the phone to Cecilia. Now. Immediately!"
Lisa gritted her teeth and handed the phone back to Cecilia.
Mo Zixin's apologetic voice came through right away: "I'm sorry, Cecilia. I didn't expect her to come to you."
Cecilia chuckled softly. "It's fine, just a girl's stubbornness. What can you do? My Zixin-ge is just too outstanding!"
Mo Zixin gave a wry smile at Cecilia's words. "As long as you don't blame me."
Cecilia said, "How could I blame you? I'll never blame you in this life. We're family!"
Mo Zixin paused, his voice lowering. "This will never happen again. Cecilia... even if you don't belong to me anymore, I won't let anyone hurt you."
That promise wasn't just for this life—it was for the last one, too.
"I believe you," Cecilia said with a smile. "That girl is actually pretty pitiful. Find some time to explain things to her properly. Anyway, I just finished a livestream and I'm a bit tired, so I'm heading home. Call me anytime if you need me."
"Alright. Take care of yourself," Mo Zixin said, reluctant to hang up.
His blue eyes were filled with sorrow.
He was simply too gentle.
So much so that anyone dared to cross him and go straight to Cecilia for trouble.
Mo Zixin turned to his assistant. "Go tell Instructor Li that I have some business and will be leaving N City soon. We'll catch up next time."
"Yes, Mr. Mo." The assistant immediately went to carry out the order.
Once the office was empty, Mo Zixin finally hurled his phone at the floor.
The phone shattered into pieces in the next second.
No one can treat Cecilia like that!
No one!
Cecilia returned home, greeted warmly by Aunt Zhang, who took her handbag with a smile. "Madam, you did so well on TV today."
Cecilia couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, don't mention it. I was so nervous! I wasn't at first, but those two fashion bloggers kept staring at me... My gosh, they made me nervous just by looking!"
Hearing Cecilia say this, everyone in the room burst out laughing.