After Marking a Paranoid CEO [Transmigration] - Chapter 14

Xia Youxi’s first impression of the recording base was that the production team was incredibly wealthy, having rented an entire private island.

After crossing the sea and stepping onto the sandy beach, she looked up at the lush green mountains and listened to the birdsong. The air was fragrant with the scent of flowers as she walked. Boarding a miniature train that wound its way inland, Xia Youxi spotted a sprawling white-walled, blue-roofed structure nestled halfway up the mountain, resembling a medieval royal estate.

“So extravagant! It’s like a castle from a fairy tale,” Xia Youxi murmured, gazing at the scenery.

A girl in the same train car, whose clothes and handbag were emblazoned with designer logos, glanced at her and sneered, “Country bumpkin.”

Xia Youxi glanced back, noticing the obvious knockoffs. Ignoring them, she turned to admire the passing scenery. Just then, the girl beside her let out a pointed hum and said, “The ‘E’ in Hermes is missing a line—like a letter missing a stroke.”

This was a jab at the woman carrying the fake Hermes bag, implying she was unsophisticated.

The woman bristled and stood up to argue, but the timing was unfortunate. The train lurched violently on the mountain road, sending her sprawling to the floor. As she scrambled to her feet, ready to confront her tormentor, Xia Youxi intervened, pointing to the security camera overhead. “Were you trying to get something from the back?” she asked with a smile. “The road’s too bumpy. Better wait until we stop.”

The woman scoffed, muttering arrogantly under her breath, “What’s a camera? I have connections. You can’t afford to mess with me.”

Can’t afford to mess with her?

Xia Youxi smiled at the woman, memorizing her features. She discreetly pulled out her phone and sent a Green Chat message to Mu Huayue:

[Crying Cat Emoji] Sister Mu, there’s a girl on the bus with a mole between her eyebrows. She’s so mean! She even called me “country bumpkin.” Is my outfit really that unfashionable?

At the same moment, Mu Huayue’s plane landed. As she switched off airplane mode, Xia Youxi’s message popped up.

Remembering the outfit that had gone viral earlier, Mu Huayue couldn’t help but chuckle. It was pretty country bumpkin-ish, to be honest.

But who was this girl with a mole between her eyebrows?

She instructed Wen An, her assistant, “Find out which contestant Xia Weixi is traveling with—the one with a mole between her eyebrows.”

“Understood, CEO Mu,” Wen An replied, guiding her into the private car.

Xia Youxi’s bus came to a stop at the manor gates. She handed her luggage to a staff member for safekeeping and followed the group to the preparation area for makeup.

The preparation area was a two-story villa within the manor. Each room was equipped with makeup stations and dressing rooms. The first floor was for the contestants, while the second floor was reserved for guest mentors and judges. By the time Xia Youxi arrived, the place was already bustling with activity. Among the crowd, she spotted a familiar face—Han Bei, the young miss of her former employer, Kengren Company.

It was truly unexpected that she could still participate after the company went bankrupt.

Young Miss Han hadn’t expected her to show up either. Seeing Xia Youxi’s plain attire, she sneered, “I thought you’d finally snagged a wealthy husband. Looks like you still had to embarrass yourself to get a spot. Now that you’ve left the company, what will you wear on stage tonight? You’re not planning to wear that bargain-bin outfit, are you?”

Xia Youxi smiled at her. “Long time no see, Young Miss. Seeing you so dazzlingly dressed, I assume my compensation from your company can finally be paid?”

The other artists who had also terminated their contracts with Kengren Company turned to look at her, some asking, “What compensation?” She glanced at Han Bei. “You can get compensation for terminating a contract?”

Han Bei stammered, “Well… we’re letting you continue competing, aren’t we? That’s the company’s compensation to you.”

The artists exchanged skeptical glances.

Xia Youxi had no interest in watching this drama unfold. With no space left in the room, she decided to move to another one. As she left, she bumped into the girl who had stood up for her on the bus. Before she could thank her, the girl glared at her and muttered, “Bad luck.”

Huh?

How could someone turn on her so quickly after getting off the bus?

The pressure of modern society is truly overwhelming, she thought, shaking her head as she left. She found a seat in another room and began applying her own inexpensive makeup. The trainee at the next table paused, surprised. “Sis, you’re using that?”

Xia Youxi nodded. The girl beside her had a blue-and-white ombre wolf cut, heavy smoky eye makeup, and blue contact lenses. She claimed to be an Alpha, but she looked more like a husky.

Miss Husky was incredibly enthusiastic, immediately pushing her own makeup kit over. “That cheap stuff will damage your skin. Use mine instead. It’s not super expensive, but the color payoff is way better than yours.”

Xia Youxi was preparing a light look for her debut stage and hadn’t bothered buying expensive cosmetics. Unable to refuse such generosity, she dabbed some blush and applied it, smiling. “Thank you.”

“Hehe, no big deal! Don’t mention it.” Miss Husky seemed to have won a major prize, waving her hand with a grin. A chatterbox by nature, she finished her own makeup and then sat sideways, legs crossed, casually chatting with Xia Youxi.

“Sis, your eyes are so big! They remind me of a character from an anime I used to watch as a kid.”

“Really? Which character?” Xia Youxi asked.

Is it a magical girl…?

Before the thought had fully formed in her mind, Miss Husky replied, “It’s Detective Conan.”

Xia Youxi: ……

What resemblance do we even have? She doesn’t even wear glasses.

Miss Husky quickly added, “But he’s a Beta, and you’re an Omega, right?”

Of course. In this world, all children are Betas.

Xia Youxi smiled at her. “I need to go change now.”

Miss Husky looked surprised. “Already finished drawing? It looks like you haven’t even put on any makeup!”

I really want to say this is a “natural” look, but at eighteen, skin is just naturally radiant and doesn’t need much makeup to look good. I’m so glad I’m a few years younger now. Even though I was only twenty-six before, being eighteen is different. It just makes people happy to hear.

She beamed at Miss Husky and headed straight for the changing room. Miss Husky followed her. “There are too many Alphas in this room, sis. I’ll guard the door for you!”

Thanks, but no need. I’m an Alpha too.

Xia Youxi maintained her smile.

Inside, she changed into a black-and-white tracksuit. When she emerged, Miss Husky was stunned.

“Wait, sis! Your debut stage, first impression, and evaluation—and you’re wearing this?”

Why did I suddenly start speaking with a Northeastern accent when I got excited?

Xia Youxi couldn’t help but laugh, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, this outfit is really comfortable for moving around.”

“Looks like you’re about to break out some serious dance moves.”

With that accent, it sounds like I’m about to perform something that would get censored.

Though Xia Youxi considered herself half an extrovert, she still couldn’t handle this overly friendly Northeastern Husky. Seeing the woman about to follow her, she quickly made an excuse and rushed outside for some fresh air.

The manor had no shortage of lush green lawns. Xia Youxi inhaled the crisp air and found an empty patch of grass to practice her routine. As she rehearsed, she suddenly heard applause. Turning around, she saw a woman dressed in dazzling attire, her face vaguely familiar. Even the pheromone scent carried on the breeze felt familiar.

Ah, Spicy Crayfish!

This didn’t match the protagonist’s description in the novel. She must be a background character who never appeared in the original story.

Xia Youxi guessed she was probably a judge invited for the show, but not the main one. She hadn’t paid much attention, only vaguely recognizing her. She offered a polite smile.

Perhaps there were many socially adept contestants in the audition. The judge strode directly toward her, step by step backing her up against a tree trunk.

“What are you…?” Xia Youxi couldn’t quite figure out her intentions. Even though the area was secluded and deserted, was she really trying to pull a “casting couch” stunt in broad daylight?

So even in a world as fantastical as this, such things don’t happen?

“Shh.” A hand brushed past Xia Youxi’s brow and pressed against the tree behind her. Up close, Xia Youxi noticed the Spicy Crayfish judge had strikingly European-style eyes. Though they were undeniably attractive, they seemed artificial, and despite their size, they held no warmth, constantly darting around with a shifty, rat-like quality.

The judge stared intently at Xia Youxi and said, “Wife, you’ve come back to me after all.”

What the hell?!

Xia Youxi was stunned. The Mysterious Force hadn’t mentioned anything about her original body being married!

Then why did I even enter this girl group audition?!

Dazed, Xia Youxi saw a hand reach out. She jerked her head away, but the judge tried to turn her face back. Xia Youxi quickly pushed the hand away, thinking, What the hell? You’re not Sister Mu, why are you touching my face?

Just then, the pendant that had been dormant against her chest suddenly jolted with an electric shock, searing her skin. She clutched her chest and collapsed to the ground.

“Sister Mu?”

Xia Youxi gasped for breath, her eyes darted around frantically. Unfortunately, the man beside her, noticing her distress, crouched down, blocking her view. “What’s wrong, darling? Are you okay?”

Gritting her teeth, Xia Youxi spat out, “I… don’t… know… you.”

“Huh?” The judge, visibly annoyed, tossed his hair back, revealing a faint scar on his scalp. His voice rose slightly. “Impossible! Xia Weixi, even though I’ve refined my appearance since then, how could you not recognize me? You used to chase after me relentlessly, even claiming I’d taken a wound for you and that you’d marry me. Now you suddenly don’t know me?”

“Oh, I get it now.” The judge’s tone softened, a sneer curling his lips. “You’ve grown up, become an Omega, and learned to play hard to get? You know I’m the dance mentor for ‘Show Youth’ and want me to go easy on you, guarantee your debut?”

“Then you’d better behave. Otherwise, I might just give you an F tonight.”

The stranger’s sinister smile made him seem like a villain, making Mu Huayue, who had also threatened her, appear almost righteous by comparison.

At that moment, Xia Youxi suddenly experienced a bout of Stockholm Syndrome, thinking that if she had to be obedient, she’d rather be obedient to Mu Huayue.

Ugh, what’s going on?!

“Someone’s here,” she murmured quietly. The judge, hearing her, immediately softened his expression. “Trainee, would you like me to take you to the medical room?”

“No, thank you.”

The electric shock sensation subsided, and Xia Youxi slowly stood up. Sure enough, two more people had appeared, but they weren’t Mu Huayue—they were staff members from the show. She allowed them to escort her to the medical room, and while her phone hadn’t been confiscated yet, she quickly sent two Green Chat messages to Mu Huayue.

Sister Mu, is the pendant you gave me broken? I haven’t taken it off, but it suddenly attacked me! It hurt so much! [Crying Cat Emoji]

And… and some weirdo called me “wife” and pinned me against a tree! It was so scary! I need Sister Mu’s comfort! [Shaking Cat Emoji]

Is this enough?

Having prepared herself thoroughly, Xia Youxi returned to the contestants’ waiting area.

Meanwhile, Mu Huayue had already boarded her plane back home. Before leaving, she had left Xia Youxi a rather impolite surprise.