In terms of smiling, Shen Chi Yan inherited it from Gu Zhi Yan.
Both had rather cool personalities and their facial expressions weren't as varied as others.
But when they did smile, it was irresistible.
Gu Zhi Yan's smile was truly beautiful enough to bring down kingdoms.
Song Qi Nian sometimes thought, with Gu Zhi Yan being so beautiful, if Shen Zheng Hao divorced her for another woman, his taste was truly worse than Siberia's.
Shen Chi Yan's taste must have been inherited from Shen Zheng Hao.
Hmph, both are blind.
Song Qi Nian slowly walked towards Gu Zhi Yan. Facing her mother-in-law, she was still somewhat nervous.
"Sit down."
Song Qi Nian obediently nodded and sat down across from Gu Zhi Yan, feeling exceptionally anxious.
But she dared not look at Gu Zhi Yan, her beautiful deer-like eyes darting everywhere.
"Are you afraid of me?"
Hearing Gu Zhi Yan's words, Song Qi Nian shook her head vigorously.
"Then why don't you look at me?"
Song Qi Nian pursed her lips and slowly raised her eyes to look at Gu Zhi Yan. Meeting Gu Zhi Yan's eyes, which remained so clear despite the hardships they had seen, her heart pounded rapidly.
She wanted to find a topic to break the awkwardness but didn't know how to start.
Gu Zhi Yan saw Song Qi Nian's uncomfortable and exceptionally obedient demeanor, feeling a sense of wistfulness.
At first, she thought Song Qi Nian was a woman who appeared obedient but was actually deeply cunning and resourceful.
Now she realized that she was the same inside and out, sincere and kind.
Kindness was a quality everyone should possess, but Gu Zhi Yan's definition of kindness was pure goodness. Despite having endured hardship, pain, and even doubts about the world, she could still maintain truth, goodness, and beauty.
"Order whatever you want to eat, don't be shy."
Gu Zhi Yan handed the menu to Song Qi Nian. Song Qi Nian took it and gestured to her, "What would you like to eat? I'll order for you first."
"I've already ordered, I was just waiting for you."
"I'm sorry, I'm late."
"I'm not blaming you, I just didn't tell you in advance."
For some reason, Song Qi Nian felt that Gu Zhi Yan's attitude towards her had changed significantly.
Was it because she had helped her in Baiyun Village last time?
Regardless, as long as things were developing in a good direction.
While waiting for the food, Gu Zhi Yan took out a document and handed it to Song Qi Nian.
"I came to see you today, and also to discuss something with you. Please take a look first."
Song Qi Nian took the document and looked at it, then looked at Gu Zhi Yan in disbelief.
"The producer of this variety show is a good friend of mine. He knew Ah Yan was married and asked me several times. I refused him many times, but I couldn't anymore, so I came to ask for your opinion. Would you like to participate in this show with me?"
Song Qi Nian was still in a daze.
What Gu Zhi Yan gave her was a contract, which essentially invited Gu Zhi Yan and Song Qi Nian to participate in a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law variety show.
For Song Qi Nian, it was like being hit by a pie from the sky, leaving her speechless for a long time.
"If you agree, I'll call him and tell him to make arrangements. If you feel it's difficult, it's no big deal."
Song Qi Nian shook her head quickly. If she remembered correctly, Gu Zhi Yan had never participated in a variety show in all her years in the industry.
An actor is an actor. If they participate in too many variety shows and expose their true selves to the camera frequently, it would create a sense of dissonance when people see her in movies or TV dramas.
Gu Zhi Yan bringing a contract to her must have meant she considered it for a long time.
Moreover, this wasn't just any variety show, but a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law show. Gu Zhi Yan wanting her to participate, did it mean Gu Zhi Yan had already accepted her as her daughter-in-law?
Just thinking about it made Song Qi Nian very happy.
But...
Would Shen Chi Yan allow her to participate in this show?
Seeing Song Qi Nian's conflicted little face, Gu Zhi Yan seemed to have guessed her thoughts and smiled faintly, "You're worried Ah Yan won't agree."
Song Qi Nian pursed her lips tightly and nodded.
Although quite a few people knew about her marital relationship with Shen Chi Yan now, if she and Gu Zhi Yan appeared on a variety show together, the entire nation and even the world would know.
Shen Chi Yan loved Lin Qiu Tong so much and wanted to grow old with her. He would definitely not agree.
"Just consider whether *you* want to participate. You don't need to worry about Ah Yan."
Song Qi Nian was astonished. Not needing to consider Shen Chi Yan?
"I am your mother-in-law, you are my daughter-in-law. This is a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law show, not a mother-in-law, son, and daughter-in-law show. Why should I seek his opinion?"
Gu Zhi Yan's words were so reasonable that Song Qi Nian couldn't refute them.
"Regarding the remuneration, I think it's too low. If you're not satisfied, I can ask him to increase your pay."
Song Qi Nian hadn't even looked at the remuneration. She flipped to that page and her eyes widened.
Ten million!
There was so much!
Song Qi Nian looked at Gu Zhi Yan in disbelief. She called this low?
To Gu Zhi Yan, this amount was insignificant, but for her, she probably wouldn't earn this much in her entire life.
The production team could offer her so much money, surely it was because she was Gu Zhi Yan's daughter-in-law.
Song Qi Nian put down the contract and sat up straight, gesturing, "I'm just a civilian. This much remuneration is already more than enough."
"So, you agree?"
Song Qi Nian was still worried about Shen Chi Yan getting angry, but Gu Zhi Yan rarely sought her out, and this was such a great opportunity, she couldn't refuse Gu Zhi Yan.
Then she thought, Shen Chi Yan didn't like her anyway. Their relationship was already so bad, it couldn't get any worse.
But she couldn't let down Gu Zhi Yan's good intentions.
With that thought, Song Qi Nian nodded heavily.
"Good girl, then sign it."
Hearing the doting "Good girl" from Gu Zhi Yan's mouth, Song Qi Nian's cheeks flushed slightly. She took out a pen from her bag and signed her name on the contract.
Just then, the dishes were served.
Meanwhile, after finishing his meeting, Shen Chi Yan went to look for Song Qi Nian. Seeing that she wasn't at her workstation, he asked Li Nan Xun, "Where is she?"
"Miss Song went to lunch."
Shen Chi Yan was furious. That damn woman, not only was she late for work, but she ran off to eat without even seeing him after returning to the company.
She claimed to like him, but in reality, eating was more important than he was.
Shen Chi Yan rarely visited the cafeteria, and all the employees eating there were on edge, wondering why the CEO would grace the cafeteria with his presence.
The manager in charge of the cafeteria rushed out to greet him obsequiously.
"Mr. Shen, what would you like to eat today?"
Shen Chi Yan's sharp eyes swept across the cafeteria but he couldn't find Song Qi Nian.
Miao Zi Ai had earphones in both ears and was engrossed in her phone, completely oblivious to Shen Chi Yan's arrival.
Until a shadow blocked her view. She looked up and almost spat out her food.
"Mr.... Mr. Shen, you... why are you here?"
"Where is Song Qi Nian?"
Miao Zi Ai looked bewildered. "Nian Nian? I don't know!"
"Don't you two often eat together?"
"Uh... we used to, but Nian Nian said she had an appointment at a restaurant today, so I came alone."
Hearing this, Shen Chi Yan's expression turned extremely grim. He strode out of the cafeteria and called Gao Kun Lun, "Within ten minutes, I want to know Song Qi Nian's exact location."
Miao Zi Ai watched Shen Chi Yan's retreating back, her head filled with questions. What was going on?