After waiting for a day and a half without receiving any reply from Zhaoye, Gu Lan'an couldn't help but call to inquire, but was hung up on twice. She was certain that Zhaoye wouldn't come anymore, and her mood hit rock bottom. She analyzed, in frustration, all the possible reasons why Zhaoye didn't agree to attend the gathering.

Zhao Ye wondered if his previous life's admiration for his mom was fake. Or was it because his mom later joined a reality show that he truly started to admire her, and it hasn't changed? Speaking of which, in his previous life, he only admitted this admiration for himself after his mom made a comeback and joined a reality show. Exhausting all possible reasons why Zhao Ye wouldn't attend his own gathering, Gu Lan'an finally narrowed it down to the last one. He tilted his head, observing Anna who was happily selecting clothes for him, and asked with a displeased expression, "Mom, are you planning to stay idle at home for a lifetime and let Dad support you?"

"Ah, then what? Your dad doesn't let me act in films." Anna held up the blue suit in her hand and gestured towards Gu Lan'an, dissatisfied, before setting it down and moving on to look at another piece.

"Why have you become so corrupted?" Gu Lanan looked at her with disdain and began instilling new ideas into her. "Listen, as a woman, you must learn to be self-reliant. Having your own capabilities is the only way to truly make it. Otherwise, when you grow old, you'll easily be abandoned..."

"Stop, stop, stop!" Anna couldn't stand it anymore. She threw the clothes in her hand and looked at Gu Lan'an with a puzzled expression. "Son, why are you suddenly talking about this? Weren't you supportive of me staying at home peacefully and enjoying my old age before? Why are you now asking me to be self-reliant?"

"In the past is the past. Isn't it different now?" Now that I have a wife, you have to think about the future development of both my wife and me. If he admires you, it will naturally be advantageous for me in many ways.

"What's the difference?" Anna asked, puzzled.

"Before, my dad was still fascinated by you. But after all these years of being together, he has grown tired of you. If you don't separate from him for a while, your relationship is definitely over." Unable to reveal the real reason, Gu Lan'an used her dad's disapproval as an excuse.

"You're right, son. I can't believe I didn't think of that." Anna pondered.

"Yeah, just look at my dad, his company's secretaries are all attractive girls, but he is easily swayed. Although you are beautiful, over time, he will get tired of your looks too." Seeing her wavering, Gu Lan'an continued to fan the flames.

"Mmm, you're right." Anna pouted and hesitated for a moment before pulling out her phone. While dialing the number of her former agent before retirement, she said to Gu Lan'an, "Sister Lan'an, your sister doesn't have time to dress you up. Pick a dress for yourself and wear it to the party. I'm about to make a comeback."

"Go on, go on, give it your best." Gu Lan'an waved her hand and glanced at the meticulously designed clothes by the fashion designer. She then sat on the stool and started playing with her phone. Without Zhao Ye's presence, this birthday banquet couldn't ignite even a trace of enthusiasm in him, even though he was the protagonist.

After settling the matter of returning to work, it was already almost 7:30. Anna glanced downstairs at the many people chatting in the room, and went directly to her own room to change into a black evening dress, paired with silver high heels. She put on Julie's "Sacred Pact" diamond necklace before heading towards Gu Lan'an's room, planning to go downstairs together with him. However, when she arrived at Gu Lan'an's room, she saw that he was still huddled on a stool playing with his phone.

"Hey, you little rascal, why haven't you changed your clothes yet? Don't you know the guests will be here soon?" Anna hurriedly walked over to Gu Lan'an and took his phone, complaining as she picked out clothes for him. "Really, you're already an adult, but still so helpless in life. Even changing clothes requires your mother to personally handle it."