After Marking a Paranoid CEO [Transmigration] - Chapter 34

“Who did you run into?” Xia Youxi asked, her smile unwavering as she scrutinized Huang Ruo’s expression for any telltale signs. Mu Huayue wasn’t ready to publicly acknowledge their relationship, and if Huang Ruo discovered it, one of them would inevitably suffer the consequences.

Either Sister Mu would blame Xia Youxi for causing trouble by staying overnight, or CEO Mu would eliminate Huang Ruo.

Tsk, I secretly hope everything stays normal.

But Huang Ruo’s eyebrows arched, her lips curved into a smile, and her joy was impossible to conceal. She mouthed silently, “It was Sister Mu.”

What?!

Xia Youxi didn’t know whether to be more shocked that Huang Ruo had seen Mu Huayue or by Huang Ruo’s casual way of addressing the CEO.

Seeing Xia Youxi’s stunned reaction, Huang Ruo eagerly explained, “What’s wrong? You should know her! You even mentioned her during the game on the show. It’s her—Mu Huayue, the stunning CEO of Ba Feng Group!”

“……”

Xia Youxi barely managed to keep her composure. She pressed her lips together, forced a strained smile, and asked, “Are you… very close to Sister… I mean, CEO Mu?”

Xia Youxi’s eyes concealed a hint of anxiety, but Huang Ruo seemed oblivious, still lost in her own little world, covering her face with her hands as she giggled. “Sister Mu probably doesn’t remember me anymore. But I’ve always remembered her. When I was a child, I was only able to study music thanks to her support. She was like a fairy sent from heaven to save me. Ah, I really want to create something for her.”

Alarm bells rang in Xia Youxi’s mind. Suppressing her impatience, she feigned a teasing tone and asked, “Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration, Instructor Huang? You like her that much? Then what happened last night…?”

Huang Ruo sighed. “Nothing happened. There was a bug in my room, so I went to the front desk to hide and asked him to catch it. From a distance, I saw a familiar figure and wanted to chase after it, but then I remembered I was still in my pajamas, looking disheveled, so I gave up.”

“So Sister Mu didn’t see you,” Xia Youxi said, relieved.

Huang Ruo’s heart stung at her words. “That really hurts, Instructor Xia. It’s my fault for not having the courage.”

No, it’s thanks to your cowardice.

Xia Youxi smiled, this time genuinely, and patted Huang Ruo’s shoulder reassuringly. “It’s okay. There will be other opportunities. Why don’t you sign with Ba Feng Entertainment?”

After all, Ba Feng Entertainment was now controlled by the illegitimate son. Even if Huang Ruo joined, she wouldn’t have any chance to get close to Sister Mu.

Huang Ruo pondered for a moment. “My contract is expiring soon. I’ll consider it. By the way, you don’t have a contract yet, right? Has the production team approached you about signing?”

Xia Youxi, having been through this before, understood Huang Ruo’s question perfectly. Reality shows like this often had hidden agendas, with contestant rankings heavily influenced by behind-the-scenes power plays. Contestants without connections were subtly pressured to sign with the production team’s parent company to secure advancement opportunities.

Xia Youxi wasn’t sure if she counted as a “blank slate” artist. She had Mu Huayue backing her, but if CEO Mu had been pulling strings, why would Xia Youxi have been targeted from the start and nearly eliminated just days ago?

Unable to decipher Mu Huayue’s true intentions, Xia Youxi shook her head at Huang Ruo. “Not yet.”

“Then I’ll have to give it some serious thought,” Xia Youxi replied, smiling gratefully at her friend’s reminder. She took the matter to heart.

Ever since her former employer, Liulian Media Company, went bankrupt, she had been working as a freelancer. Without a company to back her, many things became inconvenient. She should have hinted at this to Sister Mu yesterday.

But when she saw Mu Huayue, she completely forgot.

What could she say?

She could only blame Sister Mu’s breathtaking beauty—a face that could topple nations, a face that made her lose her senses.

With a mix of regret and worry, Xia Youxi returned to the Island with the other contestants.

The Grand Finale differed from regular performances. It included a Solo Performance segment, and the preparation time was extended by an extra week. The Production Team designated this week as “Free Week,” allowing contestants to prepare their individual performances independently. For the first time, contestants were even permitted to leave the Island to prepare if necessary.

As Team Leader, Xia Youxi received this news first. She immediately communicated with her team members, urging them to coordinate their outings as much as possible to avoid disrupting group rehearsals.

The rebellious contestants had largely been eliminated in earlier rounds, leaving behind those determined to give it their all. When Xia Youxi proposed a plan, everyone eagerly agreed, settling on a return date roughly two to three weeks before the final performance—about four or five days before the deadline. This would allow ample time for the group to refine their synchronized dance routines and ensure neither performance felt rushed.

With the schedule finalized, Xia Youxi and her team threw themselves into intense rehearsals. This time, they had been assigned a saccharine pop song. Given that the group—excluding Xia Youxi—consisted of two Omegas and two Betas, with members who were mostly petite and delicate, lacking the striking Alpha features of someone like Sibe, the song seemed a natural fit. However, the team immediately clicked and decided to take a bold approach. They tasked Huang Ruo with reworking the melody, weaving in rap verses every few lines. What began as a cloyingly sweet tune was transformed into an empowering anthem about a fragile girl’s unwavering resilience and refusal to accept her fate.

“A seed planted in the mud, watered by rain to bloom into a flower. They say beauty is a sin,

In the practice room, Xia Youxi was working on her rap lyrics, having just jotted down an idea in her notebook, when she suddenly heard Huang Ruo humming beside her: “Me and you…”

Sounding like a love song, a teammate asked, “Sister Ruo, is that…?”

“Yes,” Huang Ruo replied. “I’m preparing it.”

With Yue’s name mentioned and the Grand Finale approaching, Xia Youxi immediately understood. She teased quietly, “For Sister Yue?”

A rare blush crept across Huang Ruo’s face as she gently patted Xia Youxi. “Aiya, don’t say that!”

Though Xia Youxi’s face still wore a mischievous grin, her heart burned with anxiety. What’s going on? A rival already? Huang Ruo’s going to sing a love song to Sister Mu in the Grand Finale… what about me?

Xia Youxi’s worries were answered a week later when Sibe visited, enthusiastically helping the group revise their rap lyrics. She even extended a helping hand to Xia Youxi: “Hey, kiddo, you don’t have a recording studio or equipment. Wanna come back with me? My company’s got everything you need.”

Just as Xia Youxi was about to decline, a director called her aside. “Instructor Xia,” he said, “CEO Guan wants to offer you a long-term contract. Here’s the draft. Take it home and review it.”

Xia Youxi left the room with a stack of contracts in her arms. After only a few steps, she spotted a familiar figure. “Sister Wen?”

The woman in the black suit turned, revealing a stern face. She nodded. “Yes, Miss Xia. I’m here to pick you up.”

Xia Youxi immediately understood and smiled. “Alright, let me grab my things from the practice room.”

She hurried back to the practice room, grabbed her backpack, and started to leave. Just as she took a step, a hand grabbed her arm. Turning, she saw the 1.8-meter-tall Sibe staring at her with a pitiful expression. “Sis, you’re leaving already?”

Xia Youxi glanced at Wen An by the door and patted Sibe’s arm soothingly, like comforting an injured puppy. “I’ll only be gone for a few days. I’ll be back soon. Be good, okay?”

Sibe, easily appeased, wagged her tail—no, she wiggled her whole body, striking a pose reminiscent of a dinosaur throwing a tantrum. “What’s so great about her anyway?”

Xia Youxi sighed, realizing she had to gently correct Sibe’s naive assumptions. “Sibe, I need to clarify something. When two people of different genders are together, ‘romantic relationship’ isn’t the only possibility.”

Xia Youxi politely gestured toward Wen An. “Sister Wen, my dear sister, is my trusted partner on the road ahead. We share a bond of camaraderie as battle teammates.”

“Huh?” Sibe scratched her perky wolf tail, confusion clouding her deep eyes. “So you two are…?”

Wen An nodded, cutting in, “We’re not romantically involved.”

Relief washed over Sibe, who slapped her palm. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? Alright, take your time. Want me to walk you out?”

“No need,” Wen An replied.

Sibe was startled by Wen An’s stern expression. She pursed her lips and stood her ground, instructing Xia Youxi, “Alright, sis, hit me up if you need anything. I’ll figure out how to get it for you.”

“Thanks, Sibe!” Xia Youxi waved, slung her bag over her shoulder, and clutched a stack of paper contracts as she and Wen An headed out.

Once they were alone, Xia Youxi couldn’t resist asking, “Sister Wen, I’m sorry for putting you on the spot earlier. But won’t Sister Mu be upset that you went along with it?”

Wen An remained expressionless. “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dare speak out of turn without CEO Mu’s explicit instructions.”

There was a hint of dry humor in her words.

Xia Youxi chuckled awkwardly. “Is that so? Heh heh.”

Wen An said nothing more, striding ahead with long, brisk steps that nearly forced Xia Youxi to jog to keep up. What could be so urgent? she wondered.

After a hurried climb aboard the private jet, Xia Youxi finally understood the reason for the rush.

Mu Huayue was already on the plane, her chestnut-brown hair casually draped around her shoulders. She sat with her head slightly bowed, idly flipping through a book. The autumn sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm, golden glow on her.

Before Xia Youxi could even set down her belongings, she hurried over. “Sister!”

Mu Huayue didn’t look up, offering a casual acknowledgment. “Sit down.”

The private jet’s cabin was spacious. Mu Huayue occupied a double sofa, while Xia Youxi deliberately chose a single seat nearby, waiting quietly.

One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.

Mu Huayue raised her head, her expression displeased. “Why are you sitting so far away? Come here.”

It’s just across the aisle. It’s not far at all.

Xia Youxi murmured an “okay” and obediently scooted closer, clutching her belongings. When she reached Mu Huayue’s side, she remained standing, head bowed, looking like a kitten who had misbehaved.

Mu Huayue sighed, took Xia Youxi’s hand, and pulled her down to sit beside her. “Fasten your seatbelt,” she instructed.

“Yes, Sister,” Xia Youxi replied, dutifully complying. The contract in her hand was tossed aside, only to be picked up by Mu Huayue, who began scrutinizing it.

“Liulian Media Company,” Mu Huayue scoffed. “Durian Platform certainly offers generous benefits. So, are you going to sign?”

Xia Youxi suspected this might have something to do with Young Miss Guan and decided to be direct. “Sister, I don’t understand these things. The instructor who gave me the contract said it was a special favor from CEO Guan. Should I sign?”