The employees of Wanqing Entertainment all thought it was the popularity of *The Best Intern* that had put pressure on Yu Linwan, turning her into the irritable mess she was now.
But Cheng Feiran, Wanqing's top star who had attended Madame Camille's banquet with Yu Linwan, knew better. Yu Linwan's outbursts had nothing to do with the show's success—it was because of the way Xia Qingtian and Mr. Gu interacted so naturally in the first episode.
Their intimacy was obvious even to outsiders.
[**"Iced Americano, please."**
**"You have a sensitive stomach. Why are you drinking iced coffee?"**
**"Then... change it to a hot latte."**
**"Yes, please wait a moment."**]
A conversation like this was definitely not something you'd expect between a boss and an intern on her first day!
Not to mention the frequent eye contact between Xia Qingtian and Mr. Gu—anyone could tell there was something going on between them!
Cheng Feiran glanced through the glass office door at Yu Linwan, who was growing increasingly agitated, then pulled out her phone and sighed.
Sure enough, the internet was already buzzing with shipping hashtags.
[**"I originally tuned in for Dr. Li's daughter, but I ended up getting hooked on Mr. Gu and Xia Qingtian's sweetness! OMG!"**]
[**"Hot guy and beauty together—so refreshing to watch! They're such a perfect match!"**]
[**"I always wondered why a socialite like Xia Qingtian would sign with Gu Entertainment. Turns out she had ulterior motives!"**]
[**"Am I the only one who thinks Mr. Gu had his own reasons for signing her?"**]
[**"The way Mr. Gu looks at Xia Qingtian is so tender it could drown a person!"**]
[**"Rich heiresses really are different. Fluent in three languages, all for business use! Life is so unfair!"**]
[**"I officially renounce all Xia Qingtian ships from *First Step to Love*! From now on, I'm a 'Qingtian-Yaoyang' shipper!"**]
[**"Xia Qingtian and Gu Yaoyang—even their names sound like a perfect couple! Any fanfic writers out there? I beg for content! CEO spoiling his little secretary—I'm all in!"**]
...
"Ugh..." Cheng Feiran swiped away, not wanting to read any more, and turned to leave with a shake of her head.
No wonder Yu Linwan was furious.
But really, who could she blame?
It wasn’t Gu Yaoyang who had unilaterally broken off their engagement and married someone else.
---
Meanwhile, at Z City First Hospital, Li Xiaoxiao was watching *The Best Intern* on her laptop while hooked up to an IV, her face flushed with excitement.
Back then, she’d felt sorry for Xia Qingtian, thinking how hard it must be to work as Mr. Gu’s secretary—she couldn’t even join them for lunch! But now… it was all sugar!
Just then, there was a knock on the hospital room door. Li Xiaoxiao paused the show and called out, "Come in."
The door opened, and in streamed over a dozen young men and women, carrying flowers and fruit baskets, all looking deeply concerned.
"Xiaoxiao, how are you feeling?"
"OMG, I can’t believe something so terrible happened to you!"
"This is so scary!"
"What did the doctor say? When can you leave the hospital?"
"Everyone at school misses you so much~"
"Xiaoxiao, you have to get better soon~"
...
Surrounded by these people, Li Xiaoxiao felt like she’d been thrown into a duck pen—the cacophony of voices made her head throb. But she could only force a smile and exchange pleasantries.
*Someone save me…*
"Sorry, the doctor said my sister needs a quiet environment to rest. Could you all leave, please?" Li Xiaozhong appeared with a stern face, effortlessly shooing them away with a few words.
"Xiaozhong~~" Li Xiaoxiao stretched out her arms toward him, her eyes practically sparkling with admiration. "My dear brother~"
"Don’t pull on the IV line, or you’ll have to get stuck again." Xiaozhong pressed her restless hands back down with a frown. "So troublesome."
"Hehe." Li Xiaoxiao chuckled awkwardly before asking, "Are you doing okay at school?"
If even she, hospitalized, couldn’t escape these sudden "close friends," Xiaozhong must be having an even harder time.
"It’s fine. I’ve never been friendly with anyone, so at most, people just point and whisper." Xiaozhong shrugged. "But those people disturbing your rest are really crossing the line."
"Honestly, I’m not used to it. Before, the only one close to me at school was Qingtian. Since her attendance wasn’t great, I was often alone… We barely even spoke to the others." Li Xiaoxiao sighed. "But ever since Mom and Dad became 'Dr. Li and Wife,' suddenly everyone acts like we’re best friends."
"Get this—even our class monitor, who once fought with me and Qingtian, was bawling her eyes out like she was terrified I’d die. You’d think I was on death’s door or something." Li Xiaoxiao pursed her lips. "So over-the-top."
"Just ignore them." Xiaozhong met her gaze. "You’re still you. Only those who truly see your worth deserve to be your friends."
"I know. But it still makes me feel a little guilty." Li Xiaoxiao lowered her eyes. "Back when Qingtian was getting asked for autographs, I even made some sarcastic comment about how nice it must be to be famous."
"Thinking back, I never considered Qingtian’s feelings at all. What I said was really childish. Now that I’m in her shoes, I realize how many fake people must have swarmed around her—those drawn to the Xia family name or her fame."
"Being surrounded by people like that… never knowing when a friendly hand might stab you in the back, or when they’ll vanish the moment someone better comes along…"
"Just imagining it is exhausting. Qingtian really had it tough…" Li Xiaoxiao exhaled heavily.
Xiaozhong didn’t respond, his expression growing pensive.
Then, another knock came at the door.
"Again?" Li Xiaoxiao panicked, pulling the blanket over her head. "Quick, tell them I’m asleep!"
With a sigh, Xiaozhong opened the door—only to freeze mid-sentence. After a pause, he said, "I’m going to get food for my sister. Should I bring you something?"
"Sure, thanks." Xia Qingtian didn’t stand on ceremony, smiling as she stepped aside to let him pass before entering the room.
"Qingtian! It’s you!" Peeking out from under the blanket, Li Xiaoxiao immediately brightened. "If it’s you, I don’t have to hide."
"Wow… your room is kind of terrifying." Xia Qingtian’s eye twitched at the sight of the overwhelming number of flower bouquets and fruit baskets. "Does this make me look bad for showing up empty-handed and planning to mooch dinner off you?"
"Oh, shut up!" Li Xiaoxiao huffed. "Always so dramatic."
"Haha, occupational hazard." Xia Qingtian grinned, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I was worried you’d be lonely, but clearly, I overthought it."
"Ugh, don’t even start." Seizing the moment, Li Xiaoxiao formally apologized, leaving Xia Qingtian a little flustered. The two laughed it off and moved on, shifting the conversation back to *The Best Intern*.