After Marking a Paranoid CEO [Transmigration] - Chapter 24

Meng Chang: Take a look at this.

A video message arrived. Mu Huayue tapped the screen to open it, her smooth brow slowly furrowing into a deep frown.

The video showed a recording with only one figure in the frame: Ying Feifei.

She was chained to an operating table, her eyes bloodshot, her hair disheveled. Tears had smudged her eyeliner, leaving dark streaks down her cheeks, and her meticulously applied lipstick was smeared, making her look like a clown or a terrifying ghost.

Her gaze was ferocious, her tear-filled eyes burning with hatred. “Xia Weixi, I was blind to trust you! Even as a child, you used that face to deceive people. We shared such a beautiful night, and you’d betray me just to protect your precious status! What a waste of the knife I took for you all those years ago!”

Such a beautiful night?

Mu Huayue’s mind flashed back to scenes of Xia Youxi and Ying Feifei clinging to each other. She slammed the screen off in disgust. She remembered the silly girl telling her that nothing had ever happened between her and Ying Feifei—that their relationship had remained platonic, without even a kiss.

Was the silly girl lying to her?

Or was Ying Feifei the one lying?

Mu Huayue closed her eyes in thought. After a moment, she pulled out her tablet and sent Meng Chang a message:

“Meng Chang, can you record another segment for me?”

In the broadcast studio, Xia Youxi, still basking in the joy of her second consecutive first-place finish, remained oblivious to the fact that her “ex-girlfriend” from her original body had just exposed her. She hadn’t even noticed Sibe approaching her, whispering, “Can we be on the same team next time?”

Xia Youxi blinked in surprise, recalling Sibe’s acceptance speech after securing third place: “This is beyond my wildest expectations! I was in the teens last round, and now I’ve shot up to third! Huge thanks to my wife! You’re amazing! Oh, and Yousey, thanks for helping me choose the song. But for the next performance, I’d really like to be on your team, hehe!”

After that passionate exchange, the live comments had gone wild, claiming they were “shipping” them hard.

It had startled Xia Youxi so much that her smile had frozen awkwardly.

She was considering taking things further with Mu Huayue—how could she get too close to anyone else?

Hearing Sibe’s request, she chuckled nervously. “Well, it depends on whether the song suits us and the competition rules.”

“Alright. Wait a minute, I want to ask you something,” Sibe said, a rare hint of shyness coloring her face.

Xia Youxi quietly moved away. She didn’t know why, but even though she was trying to avoid suspicion, the live chat exploded again!

What did you just say?!

Did you two secretly decide to get married behind our backs?!

The cat-dog duo is real!

They’re locked in!

Xia Youxi felt her soul about to fly out of her body.

These kinds of comments are dangerous! If Sister Mu sees them, there’ll be trouble!

Her fears proved justified. Outside the screen, Meng Chang watched the clip, a faint smile curving her lips. She sent Mu Huayue a message: Watching the live stream? Your little kitten and that husky make quite the pair.

There was no reply, but Meng Chang wasn’t worried. She simply clicked play on the live stream again.

“D-Doctor Meng,” a weak voice called from beside her. Meng Chang didn’t look down, responding softly, “Hmm?”

Ying Feifei’s voice trembled. “I’ve already said what you told me to. Xia Weixi must be disgusted with CEO Mu by now. Can you let me go?”

“Is that so? You’re such a good girl,” Meng Chang said, setting down her phone. A gentle smile graced her face, framed by her rimless glasses.

Hope flickered in Ying Feifei’s eyes as she desperately shook her shackles. “I… I promise I won’t say a word about this after I get out.”

“You’re such a good girl,” Meng Chang said with a smile. She turned back to rummage through the metal tray, jingling the keys. Her clear, cold voice made Ying Feifei’s face light up. She strained her neck to see, but then heard a clatter as the keys slammed against the tray. Meng Chang turned back, a syringe clutched in her hand—the most familiar and terrifying object of Ying Feifei’s day.

“This is a reward for being such a good girl. Come on, time for your shot.”

The doctor, her voice warm and smiling, pushed down on the plunger. The person on the operating table writhed and screamed, but it didn’t affect her expression. Meng Chang continued to smile, raised her phone, and filmed the scene.

On the live stream, Xia Youxi had just been appointed leader of the Dance Team. She and Sibe, the newly appointed leader of the Rapper Team, visibly relaxed, breathing a sigh of relief.

CP fans flooded the chat with disappointed comments, but Xia Youxi could only offer a helpless smile to the camera, revealing her charming dimples. She chose her preferred team members, refusing to kick her former colleagues when they were down or act like a spoiled Young Miss. Her team members were all well-behaved and easy to get along with—perfect.

Sister Mu must be protecting her, she thought. I’ve been walking all morning. I wonder if Sister Mu’s Floral Heat Syndrome has flared up again.

Worried, she rushed back to the dorm after her livestream, barely noticing Sibe waving at her.

Behind her was the injured puppy, hand raised in melancholy, while in her mind’s eye, she pictured the weak yet haughty beauty lying in bed. The reality, however, was quite different. She gently knocked on Mu Huayue’s door, receiving no response. Fearing the woman had left or fainted, she anxiously pushed the door open, only to find a cold, aloof workplace demon, who waved dismissively without a trace of emotion.

She quietly closed the door, the stark contrast leaving her slightly disappointed. Still, she felt relieved that Sister Mu was safe and unharmed.

Instead of leaving, she leaned against the door. After an indeterminate amount of time, the door beside her opened. Surprisingly, Xia Youxi smiled at her, her dimples softening the other woman’s face.

Mu Huayue averted her gaze. “Sit down,” she said, turning away. Xia Youxi watched Mu Huayue gracefully take her seat, then stood beside her, smiling. Yet something about the atmosphere felt off, a subtle sense of disconnect.

“Sister?” she called out.

Mu Huayue closed her eyes, and when she reopened them, only coldness and arrogance remained. “Xia Weixi, do you miss Ying Feifei? Bow your head, and I’ll let you see her.”

The chill in her words was sharper than the woman’s face across from her. Xia Youxi felt uneasy, guessing that the melodramatic plot was about to begin. She feigned a pained expression, “Sister, I don’t want to see her.”

Mu Huayue choked slightly, her face betraying no change, though her mood brightened inwardly. She pressed on, “What if I told you I command you to bow your head?”

Xia Youxi took a step back, answering with her actions. As she drew closer, she noticed a faint smile playing on Mu Huayue’s lips. The woman flipped the tablet around, revealing the screen to her.

The moment the screen turned, Xia Youxi nearly gasped. It showed a face twisted in agony, matted hair plastered to the skin, half of the false eyelashes dangling from the eyelids, eyeliner smeared into thick black streaks by tears, and lipstick smeared into a grotesque, bl00d-red grin.

Was this… Ying Feifei?

“Please, let me go… It hurts…” Wet eyes stared upward, her voice and expression radiating profound terror. “Ah—!”

Xia Youxi didn’t know what liquid was being injected, but the person on screen began convulsing. Their screams grew fainter, their expression increasingly horrifying, and white foam bubbled from the corners of their mouth. Despite her disdain for Ying Feifei, Xia Youxi felt a pang of sorrow, and pity made her turn away.

Mu Huayue, mistaking her reaction for fear, reached out to stroke Xia Youxi’s cheek, teasingly asking, “Scared?”

Xia Youxi didn’t answer, her gaze fixed intently on Mu Huayue. Though fear flickered in her eyes, a deeper, indescribable emotion shone through—something akin to worry and pleading. “Sister,” she begged, “promise me… no matter what, at least spare her life, okay?”

As she spoke, Xia Youxi’s hand pressed against Mu Huayue’s. Despite being the one in control, Mu Huayue felt an urge to pull away from Xia Youxi’s touch.

She shook off Xia Youxi’s hand, feigning anger as she coldly asked, “You still care about her?”

Xia Youxi chased after Mu Huayue’s hand, seizing it and gently shaking her head. “Sister, the only one I care about is you. Ying Feifei is detestable and deserves punishment, but you can’t stain your hands with her bl00d!”

Mu Huayue frowned slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “It’s just a drug trial, not the executioner’s block. But for someone who doesn’t know what’s good for them, it’s better to make their fate even worse. Xia Weixi, do you understand what you need to do?”

In her mind, the timid kitten should have clung to her, desperate to prove her loyalty. Instead, the hands gripping hers loosened.

Xia Youxi stepped back, clasping her own hands, and smiled at her. “Don’t worry, Sister. I would never hurt you.”

A bitter sadness lurked in her dimples. Mu Huayue suddenly felt a hollow ache in her chest. Her outstretched hand grasped only air as Xia Youxi turned to leave. “Practice time is almost up. I won’t disturb you any longer, Sister. I’ll go rehearse my dance now.”

Xia Weixi…

Mu Huayue’s pride kept her from reaching out again. Her fingers clenched tightly as she watched the retreating figure, leaning back calmly against the sofa, propping her head up with one hand.

It doesn’t matter, she thought. The kitten has no foundation. To survive in this industry, she needs me.

She had done the right thing. For someone whose motives remained unknown, only fear could guarantee loyalty.

Whether the kitten had lied to her or not didn’t matter. Someone like her shouldn’t have dared to hope for pure love in the first place. As long as the other person stayed by her side, obedient and compliant, that was enough.

Leaving the villa dormitory, Xia Youxi glanced back at the security camera, then scurried out of its line of sight. She pulled out the pendant and stared at it intently.

One second passed, then two, then a full minute, but the pendant remained unresponsive.

Xia Youxi was stunned. No way! She’d just thrown a tantrum and nearly slammed the door, yet Sister Mu hadn’t shocked her? Was she really that indulgent?

She tucked the pendant away and glanced back at the dormitory, letting out a soft sigh.

After witnessing Ying Feifei’s miserable state and enduring Mu Huayue’s recent threats, the rebellious impulse that had surged through her earlier suddenly withered. For now, Mu Huayue remained too dangerous.

She shouldn’t be thinking about romance; she should be focusing on survival. But… did Sister Mu truly not care about her at all?

A wistful look flickered in Xia Youxi’s eyes, and a pang of sadness tugged at her heart. As she walked slowly forward, she bumped into a wolf tail—the towering figure of Sibe.

“Ah, Yousey!” Sibe rushed over to her, glancing around nervously before suddenly becoming bashful. “Um… about yesterday, does your promise still stand?”

“Ah?” Xia Youxi struggled to recall, then remembered she had agreed to answer one of Sibe’s questions. She nodded. “What do you want to ask?”

Sibe ran a hand through her hair and chuckled sheepishly. “It’s nothing, just… are you seeing anyone?”

Such a direct question.

Xia Youxi decided to crush the girl’s hopes right then and there. She smiled and replied, “What are you talking about? An idol belongs to their fans. How could I possibly be dating anyone?”

She patted Sibe’s shoulder earnestly. “We’re only standing here because of our fans’ votes. Now isn’t the time for such thoughts. We need to repay their love with the most perfect performances. As long as I’m an idol, I’ll remain single.”

Sibe froze, and even Mu Huayue, who was secretly listening in from the dormitory building, was stunned.

Has this silly girl given up on pursuing me?