Thank You for the Invitation, I Successfully Held Hands with the Best Actress - Chapter 17

In the kitchen, the unique buttery aroma from cooking wafted through the air. In front of the three-tiered electric oven, three women leaned against the countertop, chatting while eating freshly baked cookies.

Ning Yu was eating the most enthusiastically, her cheeks puffed out as she stuffed pieces of white toast into her mouth. Cookie crumbs still lingered at the corners of her lips, her eyes sparkling with sheer delight.

Wen Mianmian blushed slightly, lowering her head as she asked, “Ning-jie, is it really that good?”

Ning Yu didn’t hold back her praise, giving a thumbs up. “Absolutely amazing, even better than the ones from bakeries.”

Zhu Wen, standing nearby, asked with a teasing tone, “Mianmian, since you’re so skilled, who’s the cake you’re making for?” Her raised eyebrows carried obvious gossipy implications.

Wen Mianmian’s ears gradually turned red, but she didn’t deny it. “It’s… for CEO Ming. Her birthday is in two days. I wanted to make her a cake myself, but I’m not sure if I can succeed, so I’m… practicing first. When the cake comes out, you must try it and give me some suggestions for improvement.”

Aw, Mianmian is truly devoted to CEO Ming. This is exactly why I can’t ship Ming Jue and Mu Qiu—I can’t bear to see Mianmian heartbroken.

Ning Yu’s sweet talk is quite aggressive, huh? Surrounded by two beautiful omegas, laughing and chatting—I really wish I could switch places with her.

After driving away Actress Mu, she still has two options left. Her hunting range is pretty wide.

Ning Yu noticed the overflowing affection in Wen Mianmian’s eyes but inwardly shook her head regretfully. Of course, Ming Jue would want to spend her birthday with Mu Qiu. According to the original plot, Ming Jue would invite Mu Qiu to her birthday party in advance, and as a close friend, Mu Qiu would naturally agree.

But that “birthday party” was actually a candlelit dinner for two, with Mu Qiu as the sole guest.

The original story didn’t detail what happened during their romantic dinner, but Ming Jue seemed to have been rejected. After the dinner ended, she drove her sports car to the suburbs to clear her mind and didn’t return to the Heartbeat House that night. Thus, she never knew Wen Mianmian had waited all night for her to come back and eat the cake.

Ning Yu took a sip of hot milk and turned to Zhu Wen. “Why did you and Xu Yi come back so early? Was the convenience store operation task halfway up the mountain completed that quickly?”

But as soon as she spoke, she saw Zhu Wen’s face darken like coal, realizing she had touched a nerve.

“Good grief, what a nightmare! How did I end up with Xu Yi, that absolute disaster?” Zhu Wen rolled her eyes dramatically. “After hiking for just ten minutes, he demanded to take a cable car—on a hill less than a thousand meters high, where there isn’t even a cable car! Then he asked the filming crew for a ride in a patrol cart meant for security. In the end, we didn’t even make it to the convenience store before turning back.”

Ning Yu’s lips twitched, recalling the scene from the original story where Xu Yi shamelessly sprawled on the ground, refusing to ride a tricycle, forcing Zhu Wen to take charge. Xu Yi was truly… “unfathomable.”

You could never predict what outrageous stunt he’d pull next.

“Then why did he choose the mountain-climbing task?” Ning Yu asked curiously.

Zhu Wen pursed her lips. “He thought Gao Mi would pick it.”

Ning Yu’s eyes flickered. “Oh? Too bad Gao Mi didn’t choose it after all.”

Zhu Wen shrugged, “Looks like I’m the sucker here. Pray I never get paired with him again for a CP. But, Sister Ning, I watched your live stream with Actress Mu this afternoon—seems like there’s something special going on between you two.”

Ning Yu: “…Miss Zhu, if I recall correctly, you’re the editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine, not an entertainment gossip columnist.”

“Same difference, same difference. Want to know some of Actress Mu’s little habits and preferences? My colleague has compiled exclusive insider info—should I send you a copy?”

Ning Yu gestured toward the camera with her chin, “No need for that exclusive info. Miss Zhu, you might want to watch your words before trouble finds you.”

As if suddenly remembering, Zhu Wen covered her mouth and glanced at the camera—this live show was really quite troublesome.

Speak of the devil—Mu Qiuyan had been drawn into the kitchen by the buttery aroma at some point unnoticed.

Ning Yu noticed she’d changed into casual yellow sportswear, her smooth, beautiful long hair tied up in a high ponytail, with soft headbands securing the stray hairs at her forehead.

Zhu Wen asked, “Going for a jog?”

Mu Qiuyan nodded, “Drank too much sweet soup this afternoon—need to burn it off.”

Ning Yu: “Then mind the time and remember to come back before dinner.”

Without even lifting her eyelids, Mu Qiuyan turned and walked away coldly.

Ning Yu started feeling a headache coming on.

Wen Mianmian and Zhu Wen both wore expressions of sympathy.

Yet, just five minutes after Mu Qiuyan left, Ming Jue came downstairs in a lightweight purple tracksuit. Ning Yu narrowed her eyes—it looked like the same style as Mu Qiuyan’s, just a different color.

The three women’s gazes shone like searchlights on Ming Jue, who twisted her waist exaggeratedly while sidestepping, trying too hard to appear casual, “My waist seems to have gotten thicker lately—must be lacking exercise. I’ll go for a short run. Don’t wait for me at dinner—I’ll eat out.”

Keep pretending, why don’t you.

No way you don’t know about Mu Mu’s pre-dinner jogging habit.

Planning a ‘chance’ jogging encounter, huh? This old trick never fails.

Ning Yu suddenly felt stifled and resentful, directly calling Ming Jue out, “President Ming, stop twisting—if you’re too late, Actress Mu will have run too far ahead.”

Ming Jue’s movements instantly turned stiff and mechanical, “What are you talking about? I wasn’t planning to run with Qiuyan. I’ve always jogged before meals—just coincidence we happened to do it at the same time.”

Her evasive words refused to acknowledge the open secret of her feelings for Mu Qiuyan.

Ning Yu feigned surprise, “Ah, my mistake then. I thought you were planning to ‘accidentally’ bump into Actress Mu for a romantic jog, then use some expiring coupon as an excuse to invite her to check out that trending snack shop nearby.”

Ming Jue froze mid-waist-twist, face stiffening, “How could… you must have misunderstood.”

“Right, right. Such a ridiculous and low-level tactic would be beneath President Ming. How silly of me—my sincere apologies, President Ming.” Ning Yu widened her eyes, one hand propping her cheek, radiating adorable innocence.

Ming Jue’s fingers dug deep into her palms—was this tactic… really that low-level?

“Earlier when Actress Mu left, she looked really pissed,” Ning Yu said thoughtfully. “I think trying to cozy up to her now would just come across as annoying.”

Ming Jue: Really? I’m a bit doubtful.

She turned to Wen Mianmian instead, “Mianmian, is Qiuyan in a bad mood?”

Wen Mianmian pressed her lips together and nodded.

Ning Yu cut in again, adding her own dramatic spin, “Ah, it’s all my fault. I accidentally made her angry, and I wanted to apologize, but she just won’t pay me any attention.”

Her troubled expression came effortlessly, her full-blown theatrics leaving the audience in awe.

“President Ming, to avoid getting caught in the crossfire, maybe you shouldn’t go.”

Ming Jue hesitated, torn, his face flushing red before he finally gave up on the idea of leaving.

Watching Ming Jue head upstairs to his room, Ning Yu curled her lips into a radiant smile. She grabbed a napkin, wiped her mouth, then strode energetically to the door to change into sneakers.

“I drank too much sweet soup this afternoon—gotta burn off some calories. That’s just the kind of artist I am, so strict with my figure management. So… don’t wait for me for dinner~”

She placed a finger to her lips, giving the camera a soft “shh,” then turned and walked away.

Wen Mianmian, Zhu Wen & the audience: Damn, that’s so you!