Tan You chuckled. "That’s right. From now on, no one’s going to push me around."

After tidying up the kitchen, Tan You went back to studying the math competition book. The Beauty System, which had been silent for days, finally reappeared. It could clearly read the room; knowing Tan You was busy with important matters, it had tactfully stayed out of her way.

Now that Tan You had some free time, it began urging her to go out and complete a mission.

The little snow-white puppy stood up on its hind legs. "Host, let’s go do a mission! Come on, let’s go!"

Tan You drummed her fingers, then suddenly put down the book. "Alright, let’s go. I did promise I’d buy you a skin later."

The puppy had been fine before she said that, but the moment she did, its face lit up. Its fluffy tail wagged so fast it looked like a pinwheel, and its mouth stretched wide in what looked like a grin.

"Host, you’re the best to me!"

The moment she heard those words, Tan You’s vision went black, and she was instantly transported to another world. When she came to, the scene before her nearly blinded her.

A crowd of reporters stood before her, each holding a microphone. Behind them was an army of photographers, all aiming an arsenal of cameras at her. Looking at their faces, Tan You’s expression flickered slightly. She knew instantly what point in time she had arrived at.

Just then, a microphone was shoved in front of her. "Miss Lu, Qi Yu just posted her marriage certificate with Hu Yize online. What are your thoughts on this?"

Tan You lifted her gaze, her dark eyes locking onto the reporter. His eyes were filled with anticipation and unconcealed malice. The anticipation was for her to drop a huge scoop, which would boost his reputation in the industry.

The malice was obvious. After all, he’d taken money from Qi Yu’s side. He was just doing the job he was paid for, so of course he had to give it his all. But as his eyes met Tan You’s, the paparazzo’s heart skipped a beat. ’Why do I get the feeling things are spinning out of my control?’

After the entertainment reporter asked that question, more voices chimed in, all essentially asking for Tan You’s opinion on Qi Yu and Hu Yize’s marriage.

Tan You smiled faintly, glancing at the microphone nearly touching her lips. "I wish them the best. May they have a long and happy life together."

The reporters hadn’t expected her to say that and were momentarily stunned. But someone else quickly spoke up. "Miss Lu, your agency announced today that you’ll be participating in a dating show in a week. Is that true?"

"Were you provoked into making this decision?"

"Miss Lu, can you tell us more about it?"

Tan You raised an eyebrow. "It’s a job arranged by the company. No one notified me about it beforehand."

"As for being provoked, that’s just baseless talk."

"I’ve never been on a dating show before. It could be fun. I’ll just treat it as a new experience to broaden my horizons."

After fending off the reporters like this, Tan You proved to be as slippery as an eel. No matter what traps they set, she wouldn’t fall for them, giving them no opportunity to twist her words.

Finally, Tan You scanned the crowd of reporters. "If there are no more questions, I’ll be leaving. Also, I have a personal habit of carrying a voice recorder. If any of you decide to selectively edit or misinterpret my answers, I’m sure you wouldn’t want to receive a letter from my lawyer."

At her words, the expressions on several reporters’ faces changed. One said awkwardly, "Miss Lu, carrying a voice recorder... that’s not exactly a good habit, is it?"

Tan You just smiled. "I’m just protecting myself."

The reporter who had asked the first question had a short temper. "Miss Lu, by doing this, you’re clearly setting yourself against all of us reporters..."

"What kind of reporter are you?" Tan You casually grabbed a microphone. "How many moving, impactful stories have you written? How much of society’s dark side have you exposed? Instead of reporting on important public issues, you spend all day chasing celebrity gossip."

"Taking things out of context, making mountains out of molehills... and you call yourself a reporter? Stop insulting the profession. Sucking up to the powerful and kicking those who are down, you think everyone is like you? If you have nothing else, get out of my way. Every word I speak to you now is a waste of my time!"

Shoving the microphone back at the reporter, Tan You pushed through the crowd and strode away. This public confrontation with the press was a risky move on her part. But since Qi Yu and Hu Yize had made their move, she had to strike back.

However, Lu Wen was in a weak position right now. If the focus remained on the romantic entanglement between her and Hu Yize, she would clearly be at a disadvantage. So, Tan You decided to take a gamble and stir up a different kind of trouble.

This would draw the public’s attention elsewhere, pulling Lu Wen out of this melodramatic love triangle.

As she entered the company building, a young assistant following her said timidly, "Sis, Sister Qin won’t be happy about what you said. And the company..."

Tan You was nonchalant. "If she’s not happy, she’s not happy. I’m not happy either..."

Before Tan You could finish, a sharp, middle-aged woman rushed out of the elevator. The moment she saw Tan You, her eyebrows shot up. "Lu Wen! How could you speak to the reporters like that?"

Tan You looked at her with a half-smile. "Like what? I’m the one who should be surprised. I found out I was going on a dating show from an entertainment reporter, not from you."

Sister Qin’s eyes immediately darted away, but she quickly raised her voice. "Lu Wen! I’m your agent! Would I ever do anything to harm you?"

"You wouldn’t harm me," Tan You said slowly. "You’d just sell me off for a good price so you can turn around and cultivate that promising new talent you’ve had your eye on. What was her name again? Su He? It’s Su He, right?"

"I’d really like to meet her sometime. I hear she’s good friends with Qi Yu."

Sister Qin hadn’t expected Tan You to know so much. Her face paled. Forcing a deep breath, she squeezed out a smile. "Wenwen, dear, I can be a bit loud sometimes. I absolutely didn’t mean to lose my temper with you..."

"The dating show is a great project, and there will even be celebrities from Country H participating... The company saw your potential, that’s why they recommended you to the production team..."

"Besides, you’re single..."

Tan You fiddled with her sunglasses. "Is that so? By your logic, I should be thanking the company? Thanking them for colluding with others to stab me in the back?"

The term "backstabbing" might not have been in vogue yet, but Sister Qin clearly grasped her meaning.

She took a deep breath. "The company gave you other options. For one, you could renew your contract..."

Tan You scoffed. "Renew my contract? I have no intention of doing that."

"My contract with the company expires next month anyway. I can’t be bothered to waste any more words on you people."

With that, Tan You walked straight to Lu Wen’s private lounge at the company. In the past, Lu Wen had been one of the company’s rising stars. While not a top-tier A-lister, she was still one of the big names.