After Marking a Paranoid CEO [Transmigration] - Chapter 28

Xia Youxi had been feeling strangely uneasy these past few days, even starting to wonder if she’d been training too hard and somehow softened up her rivals.

During their late-night training sessions, Guan He had initially gritted her teeth and practiced relentlessly, occasionally shooting Xia Youxi envious, resentful glances. But now, just days before the competition, she was actually sitting beside Xia Youxi, even grabbing her arm as she tried to leave and awkwardly saying, “You’ve been working so hard these past few days. I ordered some late-night snacks. Want to eat together?”

As a disciplined female idol, Xia Youxi never ate late-night snacks. But she had a weakness: if someone lowered their guard, she tended to soften up. So, amidst the lavish spread, she picked up a single piece of green vegetable.

Watching her eat the small piece of vegetable, Guan He leaned closer, her tone even more friendly. “Even when you’re exhausted, you still only eat boiled vegetables. You’re truly born to be an idol. Why…”

“Why?” Xia Youxi countered, looking at her.

Guan He hesitated for a moment before huffing with tsundere pride, “Why do you have to be in relationships? And not just one! It’s such a mess.”

Xia Youxi was stunned. She felt resentful. Even without juggling multiple relationships, she hadn’t managed to win over Sister Mu.

Now, in Sister Mu’s eyes, she wasn’t even seen as a person, merely a tool, a substitute, a little kitten named Yousey.

“Sigh,” Xia Youxi said with a bitter smile. “Look at me—I’m here from morning till night. When would I even have time for romance?”

Guan He hesitated. “What about Sibe? And CEO Mu’s assistant?”

“Sibe and I are just friendly colleagues. As for Assistant Wen, I swear we’re not close. Do you believe me?”

Guan He scrutinized Xia Youxi, her gaze unwavering, as if trying to see through her skull to discern the truth.

Xia Youxi met her gaze with a confident smile, showing no hint of guilt. Guan He almost believed her, but still replied, “Really? I don’t believe you.”

“Suit yourself,” Xia Youxi said, refusing to elaborate. Noticing Guan He had finished eating, she began reviewing the day’s challenges with her.

Guan He listened intently, her eyes fixed on Xia Youxi. Though she appeared focused, her gaze was distant and hollow, likely already drifting toward some gossip pond.

Xia Youxi, unwilling to waste any more time, stood up to end their overtime session for the night.

Over the next two days, Xia Youxi noticed Guan He spending less time in the practice room. Whether this was due to the “special treatment” or not, she often heard other contestants mentioning that Guan He was frequently visiting Sibe’s practice room. One day, Xia Youxi even saw the two of them confronting each other outside, avoiding the cameras.

One lowered her head further with each word, while the other raised hers higher. Xia Youxi began to suspect workplace bullying and quietly approached. To her surprise, she overheard Guan He comforting Sibe: “This is a good thing! Focusing on the stage is the best way to repay our fans. You should listen to Yousey.”

“Ah? So I’m going to be single again? After finally meeting an Omega who made my heart flutter,” Sibe sighed, her head bowed.

Xia Youxi withdrew her foot. She finally understood—they were talking about her?

Instead of practicing properly during the day, they were hiding in the shadows gossiping? And they still wanted to repay their fans?

Xia Youxi shook her head, unable to comprehend or support this. She returned to the practice room, where she continued to practice diligently every day.

Just as the performance was approaching, she heard a rumor:

She, the contestant who wore her ambition to debut and her relentless effort like a badge, was withdrawing from the competition.

What was going on?

Was Sister Mu displeased with her again?

Could it be because she’d been getting close to Guan He lately?

Surely not. Rehearsing together was allowed, wasn’t it?

Xia Youxi was completely baffled. Ironically, Guan He, the person she suspected, seemed even more clueless about the reason than she was. Guan He confidently declared, “Don’t worry, I’ll handle this! I’ll take care of it for you!”

Xia Youxi remained skeptical but politely replied, “Thank you.”

Guan He dismissed her gratitude with a shrug and a pout. “No need to thank me. I might have caused this mess myself. What a pain.”

So, is she going to talk to Sister Mu about it?

Xia Youxi imagined the scene: the privileged young miss, arms crossed and eyebrow raised, telling CEO Mu, “What a pain.”

The image was so bizarre that she started worrying about the young miss’s fate.

“Shouldn’t I handle this myself?” Xia Youxi asked.

Guan He refused her offer, sticking to her guns. “I caused this, so I’ll take responsibility. You focus on preparing for the competition. I’ll handle everything.”

How righteous!

If Guan He weren’t a privileged contestant, Xia Youxi would have wanted to become sworn sisters with her.

She nodded slightly, thanking the young miss again. “Okay, then thank you for your hard work.”

Despite agreeing verbally, Xia Youxi decided that night in her dorm that she couldn’t abandon her own efforts to save herself.

Hiding in the bathroom, Xia Youxi tapped on her smartwatch’s tiny keyboard and sent a sticker of a crying kitten. When Mu Huayue didn’t reply, she typed: Sister, someone’s trying to force me to withdraw from the competition. [Rubbing hands]

After waiting a while with no response, Xia Youxi sent another tentative message: But I don’t want to withdraw. I still remember our promise, and I want to sing your favorite song in the finals. [Kitten looking up]

Still no reply. Was she busy, or had she truly given up on her?

What did I even do wrong?

Xia Youxi frowned and sent one last message: Then can I at least participate in tonight’s performance? I’ve been practicing so hard, thinking you might be watching. If I don’t go, it will affect the group’s performance. [Kitten waving goodbye]

Still ignored, Xia Youxi had been putting on a one-woman show. Exhausted, she rubbed her forehead and gave the girl a weak smile.

The villa was empty; she was likely the only one there. But just as she stepped out the door—

Someone arrived. Was it the Production Team?

For some reason, Xia Youxi felt a sudden surge of unease. She quickly retreated inside, but as the door was about to close, a foot wedged its way in. Xia Youxi tried to stomp on it, but the foot remained unmoving, like a giant beast clinging to the doorframe. With a powerful shove, the intruder forced the door open.

Xia Youxi saw a figure: a man in a black suit and mask, nearly two meters tall, with a body sculpted from muscle—a veritable Godzilla.

Damn it.

Knowing there was no escape, she frantically reached for her smartwatch to send a message to Mu Huayue. But just as the video call connected, a syringe pierced her skin. Her mind began to drift. Through the blurring haze, she suddenly recalled the night she first met Mu Huayue.

It had been just like this—consciousness fading in an instant.

Could it be Sister Mu?

Her brow furrowed slightly, Xia Youxi sank into unconsciousness, her heart filled with resentment.

※

The furrowed brow wasn’t hers alone. Mu Huayue, miles away in her Jing City villa, was equally troubled. The vibration of her phone interrupted her work. Glancing down, she saw a small cat wearing a moon-shaped collar glowing at the top of the screen.

Her pet cat was usually well-behaved and rarely disturbed her unprompted. A video call this late at night must mean something was wrong.

Mu Huayue swiped to answer, but just as her slender finger touched the accept button, the cat vanished.

The call had been disconnected.

Her hand remained on the screen, her thoughts drifting back to her recent meeting with her mother.

Her mother had just returned from a gem exhibition abroad and immediately presented her with a gemstone brooch. The exquisite piece featured an emerald-encrusted tiger’s head crafted from gold. The tiger’s eyes were wide and its jaws agape, radiating lifelike ferocity and regal majesty.

It was the kind of style Alphas favored, perfect for pinning to a suit or formal dress, but not to her Omega taste. Still, she said, “Thank you, Mother. I love it.”

Her mother, Song Ruxue, smiled and gracefully sipped her red tea from the coffee table. “I’m glad you like it. By the way, I heard you’ve taken in another Yousey recently?”

The casual question sent a tremor through Mu Huayue’s heart. Her mother clearly knew about Xia Weixi. The jewelry box in her lap suddenly felt scalding hot. Gripping its edges, she lifted her gaze to meet her mother’s. “Yes. She’s just as well-behaved as Yousey.”

Song Ruxue set down her teacup, the porcelain clinking softly against the glass table. Her smile remained fixed as she observed her daughter’s subtly twitching eyebrows. “Huayue, how did you raise Yousey before?”

Instead of refuting her, her mother countered with a question.

Mu Huayue tightened her grip on the box. She knew what her mother wanted to hear, but she refused to answer.

Her mother answered for her. “You kept her caged, didn’t you? Cats belong indoors, preferably with surveillance cameras to monitor them at all times. Isn’t that right, Huayue?”

Though displeased, Mu Huayue maintained her composure. “Naturally. She can’t escape my control. You have nothing to worry about.”

Song Ruxue hummed in agreement. “Mom knows you’ve grown up. Then have her withdraw from the competition. After all, she’s the one who did that with you. You should bring her home for me to meet.”

“Mom,” Mu Huayue’s expression shifted slightly, the gift box in her hand nearly slipping. She quickly protested, “We didn’t do anything.”

“Oh?” Song Ruxue seemed genuinely surprised. “Isn’t she an Alpha?”

“She’s different from the Alphas you know,” Mu Huayue said, setting the gift box aside. She straightened her back, leaned forward slightly, and met her mother’s gaze directly. “Yousey is my cat. I’ll fulfill my duties as her owner and never let her disappear again like before.”

“Is that so?” Song Ruxue picked up her red tea and took a delicate sip, her gaze lingering on the crimson liquid. “You still love keeping cats, just like before. I was careless with the last one, but this time, I’ll take good care of her and ensure she stays with you for a long, long time.”

Mu Huayue maintained her posture, refusing to acknowledge her mother’s offer of kindness. “Mom, have you forgotten? The last Yousey disappeared when I left her in your care.”

“That was an accident, Huayue. You know, in this world, only your mother cares about you the most.”

Mu Huayue had heard Song Ruxue say this countless times since childhood. As a child, she was moved by these words. Later, she grew resentful, yet she couldn’t shake the emotional bond they created.

Mu Huayue leaned back in her chair, picked up the jewelry box from the table, and said softly, “I know, Mom. When the time is right, I’ll bring her to meet you. I have work at the company, so I’ll be going now.”

The mother and daughter’s reunion after a long separation ended on a sour note.

That night, after finishing her work, Mu Huayue lay in bed, restless. She kept checking “Beloved Pet Log” on her phone. Each time she saw her kitten still on the island, the weight on her heart lifted slightly.

The night passed peacefully, and even the following day was uneventful. But tonight—

It was the night Xia Weixi called her. Mu Huayue opened “Beloved Pet Log” and saw the red dot moving slowly. Zooming in on the map, she realized it had already left the villa.

Why isn’t she resting at this late hour? Something’s definitely wrong.

When she tried calling back, there was no answer.

Mu Huayue frowned slightly, grabbed her car keys, and headed out the door.