"No--" Lu Ran woke up from her dream, trembling all over.

They say that time is the best healer.

But, it's been five years!

Lu Ran still can't forget that nightmare.

She got up from the bed and looked at the time on her wrist: half past five in the afternoon!

The appointment with the head of Zero Degree Magazine was at seven in the evening. If she got up and dressed now, she should just about make it.

Just as Lu Ran was about to head out, her phone began to ring.

Looking at the name flashing on the screen, her breath hitched slightly, "Hello... Grandmother..."

Before she had even finished saying 'Grandmother,' the shrill voice at the other end of the line interrupted her, "I heard you're back?"

Lu Ran didn't respond, her eyes flicking to the ceiling.

"Xuan Yuan will be getting engaged to Hao Sen soon. As for you, it would be better to stay out of trouble these days. Don't make a spectacle of yourself like you did five years ago. Remember, I..."

Not waiting for the person on the other end of the line to finish, Lu Ran abruptly hung up.

This was her own grandmother, who hadn't called her in years.

The first time she did call, it was to warn Lu Ran not to embarrass her precious little sister. Perhaps she was the one brought into the family by a stepmother!

Lu Ran stared at the ceiling for two minutes before slowly regaining her composure.

She stepped out in her high heels.

Having previously estimated the time, she arrived at the bar doorstep at about six-thirty.

No sooner had she crossed the threshold when Guo, the manager, pulled her out forcefully, "Out, out! Who said you could come in?"

"Haven't I told you already?" He exclaimed, "The cover model for this magazine is already set to be Xia Min!"

Lu Ran met his gaze with a teetering smile, "I've been maintaining contact with Zero Degree Magazine all this while, and to the best of my knowledge, they have not confirmed anyone yet. Is Guo, the Manager, blocking my entry in fear that she won't be able to compete with me?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Guo was somewhat irate, "Do you think you can compete with her? Xia Min is an A-list model, why on earth would she be afraid of you?"

"If that is the case, then allow me to go in." Lu Ran charged towards the entrance doggedly, causing Guo to immediately call over two burly bouncers who attempted to escort her outside by grabbing her arms.

With a few twists of her body, she managed to escape from their grip.

As if these two men could stop her!

She saunters boldly towards the entrance, only to be met by three or four men lined up in front of her, all armed with daggers and steel rods.

It's not that Lu Ran fears their numbers, if they decided to brawl, they may not necessarily be her match.

However, fighting with so many people would definitely result in some injuries.

The photoshoots for Zero Degree Magazine were always extremely strict. If she were to get scars from a brawl now, there's a high chance that her opportunity would be wasted.

To tolerate slight offenses is to prevent major mischief, a principle she understood deeply.

No matter, there would be another round of interviews tomorrow morning, she could always attend those.

So, she lifted her hand deliberately and turned to go.

Manager Guo hurriedly called two people over, hoisting her toward the rubbish bin next to the back door of the bar.

Looking down at Lu Ran from his position of power, his face twisted into a mocking smile, "Trash should always go to where it belongs!"

"I'm your boss, you've got to listen to me now! Go back immediately!"

Lu Ran was not angered. She just sat on the ground with her arms crossed over her chest, calmly looking at the man in front of her, "It’s a wonder you remember you're my boss!"

Manager Guo didn't want to continue arguing with her. Rolling his eyes at her, he walked back inside. He instructed the people at the door not to let Lu Ran in, no matter what.

In most places, bosses are eager for their employees to work harder and so they can make more money.

Only he was afraid that Lu Ran would overdo it.

Despite being a serious contracted model, she often had to compete with various freelance models.

Now, she had finally won this major client through her hard work. Just when she felt like success was in sight, he wanted to interfere.

This was… increasing beyond limits. If the cover model opportunity slipped through her fingers again, she'd have to consider leaving Shengchuang Media.

Lu Ran squatted beside the rubbish bin, looking at a few security guards in black uniforms standing at the door.

She cursed Manager Guo a hundred and eighty times in her heart.

A few months ago, it was Manager Guo who initiated the meeting to sign the contract with her.

At first, he wasn’t this arrogant. At most, he would arrange some lingerie and car shows which required bold performances.

But now…

The more Lu Ran thought about it, the more irritable she became. She was about to get up to grab a bite to eat to vent when she suddenly heard a sound from behind her: "Gulu…"

Patting her stomach, she slowly turned around following the sound, and her eyes landed on a chubby little face.