After Marking a Paranoid CEO [Transmigration] - Chapter 49

“Xia Youxi, it’s really you!”

At the recording studio, a woman in a short skirt, sunglasses, and a ponytail approached. Her features were meticulously crafted, as if every detail had been precisely calculated. She had a “smiling lip” with full, plump vermilion, which, paired with the red lipstick, gave them a slightly swollen appearance at first glance.

On the way to the studio, Xia Youxi had overheard the program director discussing the guests. Guan He, the originally scheduled guest, had been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances and replaced by a rising star with even greater fame.

This woman was that rising star—Lin Yue. Since her debut, Lin Yue had cultivated a sweet and charming image, earning her the nickname “Sweetheart Angel” from fans who praised her beauty, kindness, and dedication to rescuing small animals. Every drama she starred in became a massive hit, and her debut film even won her the Best Newcomer Award. Just yesterday, she had received the Best Actress award at an obscure film festival, prompting her fans to declare her “Queen of the Silver Screen” everywhere.

Despite all the glowing praise, Xia Youxi knew the truth: this woman was none other than Lin Xi, the wealthy bully who had tormented Ying Feifei in school and tried to disfigure her.

Now, having changed her name and entered the entertainment industry, Lin Xi showed not a shred of remorse. Instead, she acted as if nothing had happened, calling Xia Youxi by her name with feigned warmth.

A wave of disgust surged through Xia Youxi. She still remembered the vision the “Mysterious Force” had shown her: her frail self being pushed to the ground by her tormentors, mud smeared across her face, their innocent yet cruel laughter ringing in her ears. “Little vixen,” they had taunted, “if we scar your face, will you still be able to seduce anyone?”

If Ying Feifei hadn’t intervened, Xia Youxi’s face would likely have been ruined long ago.

She smiled at her former tormentor and greeted her politely, “Sister Lin.”

Another guest, Mo Lan, approached and, noticing their exchange, asked, “Do you two know each other?”

Lin Yue stepped forward, looping her arm through Xia Youxi’s, and smiled at the female Alpha. “Yes, Sister Mo, we’re alumnae. I’m her senior, actually.”

“Well, you’ve got company then,” Mo Lan teased.

Lin Yue’s smile grew even sweeter. “Indeed, Sister Mo, what a coincidence! I’ll have to catch up with Xia Youxi later.”

Mo Lan, sensing she was intruding, excused herself and walked away. The atmosphere immediately turned icy. Lin Yue removed her sunglasses, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized Xia Youxi in silence before letting out a soft sneer. “So, you lucked out and became an Omega. After all these years, you’re still as good at seduction as ever. I heard Guan He and Mu Huayue nearly came to blows over you at the celebration banquet? You really are a vixen—seducing both Alphas and Omegas.”

A curved smile framed eyes devoid of warmth. The inner corners of her eyes were unnaturally wide, giving her a slightly unsettling look up close, especially with the whites of her eyes rolling upward, strained and unnatural.

Xia Youxi feigned innocence, meeting Lin Yue’s gaze with a counterattack: “Sister Lin, your eyeshadow doesn’t seem to be blended properly.”

“Tch,” Lin Yue scoffed. With filming about to begin, she had no time for further taunts. Her face hardening, she summoned the makeup artist. Staring at her flawless eyeshadow in the mirror, she cursed under her breath: “Damn it, that little brat.”

After all these years, she’s grown bold enough to mock me?!

Lin Yue rushed back, grabbed Xia Youxi by the shoulder, and tried to drag her into the shadows for a confrontation. But as soon as her hand made contact, Xia Youxi’s body went limp, collapsing backward and dragging Lin Yue down with her. Whether by accident or deliberate manipulation, Xia Youxi’s weight pinned Lin Yue’s arm, as if dislocating it. The pain forced a scream from Lin Yue’s lips: “F—!”

The curse died in her throat as she noticed the onlookers. She quickly adopted a delicate demeanor, rubbing her arm and apologizing in a saccharine tone: “It hurts so much. Xia Youxi lost her balance and made me yell so loudly. I’m so sorry.”

The director rushed over, helping her up and asking, “Are you alright, Artist Lin Yue?”

Lin Yue smiled and shook her head. “I’m fine. Let’s start filming. I’ll get it checked out at the hospital after work. We can’t let this delay our schedule.”

“Artist Lin Yue is so dedicated,” the script supervisor behind the director remarked approvingly.

The director smiled warmly. “If you feel unwell at any point, please let us know immediately.”

Lin Yue nodded gently. “Mm-hmm. When the time comes, Brother, you’ll have to give me the ‘black screen’ treatment, okay?”

The director chuckled heartily. But when he glanced at Xia Youxi, who was standing awkwardly nearby, his expression turned cold. He clapped his hands to address the crew. “Everyone, get ready to start filming. Before we begin, I want to remind you all: regardless of where you come from, remember this is a reality show. We’re here to capture your most authentic selves. I expect everyone to take this seriously and avoid any unprofessional behavior. If the show airs and receives negative reviews, don’t blame us for ‘misleading editing.'”

The host’s teasing remarks were met with polite laughter from some of the guests, but Xia Youxi could see in their eyes that they had already labeled her as a “connections hire” due to the Guan He and Mu Huayue incident. Combined with Lin Yue’s passive-aggressive comments earlier, they likely now saw her as a troublesome troublemaker.

A bad start indeed, she thought, nodding without offering further explanation.

As filming began, the production team, following tradition, played a game of “destiny’s decree.” All the guests drew lots to choose their teammates, and Xia Youxi was unfortunate enough to be paired with Lin Yue.

“Ah, my teammates are Xiaoxi and Yangyang!” Lin Yue exclaimed, holding up her red slip of paper, her eyes narrowing into slits. She hugged her other teammate, Yangyang, then pressed her arm against Yangyang’s, immediately feigning pain with an exaggerated cry. The minor artist, whose stage name was Yangyang, panicked, repeatedly asking, “Sister Lin, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“It’s nothing, nothing,” Lin Yue replied with a gentle smile, her voice soft and sweet like a sweet little angel. But Xia Youxi knew that she had just become Lin Yue’s new target.

Xia Youxi immediately rushed over, bowing low and apologizing profusely, “It’s all my fault. I admire Sister Lin so much that when you arrived, I was so mesmerized by your beauty I lost my balance and made you catch me.”

She then clutched her waist, feigning soreness, and said through gritted teeth, “Don’t worry, it’s entirely my fault. I’ll handle all the heavy lifting from now on.”

Lin Yue’s hostility was barely concealed beneath her sweet smile as she declared magnanimously, “Oh, Xia Youxi, you’re our only Omega. We can’t let you exhaust yourself.”

Yangyang chimed in, “Yeah, I’ll do it. Even though I’m a Beta, I’ve been working out and can handle heavy loads.”

Lin Yue glanced at Yangyang, her dissatisfaction evident, then patted her shoulder with exaggerated enthusiasm, “Oh my, you’re so toned!”

Yangyang chuckled awkwardly.

Xia Youxi remained silent, observing the scene. The reality show felt less like a competition and more like a crucible testing both acting skills and character.

It truly lived up to its name: Let’s Challenge!

Xia Youxi chuckled inwardly as the Production Team began distributing mission cards. This show was remarkably daring, giving the guests only a single ultimate mission and leaving the execution entirely up to them. Their mission for this episode, themed “Fighting for Dreams,” was to “create an unforgettable show.”

It was an open-ended challenge. To spice things up, Lin Yue deliberately set a trap for Xia Youxi, feigning humility and saying, “Artist Xia, this is your domain. Since you’ve participated in talent shows before, you must have plenty of experience. Why don’t you lead us this time?”

For a newcomer with little experience, this would have been a hot potato, ripe for mistakes. But Xia Youxi had been navigating the entertainment industry for years. After her debut, she had even personally planned and executed her own concerts, handling every detail herself. This was familiar territory. Why would she refuse such a golden opportunity to shine?

“Me?” She feigned hesitation, her eyes scanning Lin Yue’s barely concealed smugness. Pressing her lips together, she chuckled softly. “Alright then. Since Sister Lin is so supportive, I can’t refuse. I’ll give it my all to help our team create an unforgettable show!”

Lin Yue froze, stunned that her standout role had been so easily conceded, even turned against her with the claim that she “supported” it. Trying to reclaim it now would only backfire, so she decided to let Xia Youxi proceed. She doubted a newcomer from a poor background could possibly stage a truly impressive performance.

Tilting her head, Lin Yue smiled and agreed, “You’re really something. We’re counting on you, then.”

Yangyang, oblivious to the underlying tension, simply nodded, “Then we’ll leave it to Yousey.”

Xia Youxi immediately took charge, researching venues and strategies. The Production Team had restricted the event to Beiyang City, so Xia Youxi studied the map and selected several suitable locations: traditional performance venues like the Municipal Theater, livehouses, and the Stadium, as well as outdoor public spaces perfect for street performances.

Securing official venues required significant funding, while outdoor locations might only need permits. Xia Youxi consulted her teammates. Yangyang was indifferent, but Lin Yue said, “I think official venues would be better. To be honest, even though I’m an actress, I’ve always dreamed of being a singer. If you can make my concert dream come true, Xia Youxi, I’ll love you forever!”

A chill ran down Xia Youxi’s spine. She understood that Lin Yue wanted the best stadium.

This was impossible. She couldn’t raise the project funds or complete the mountain of paperwork and approvals within ten days. She could only say, “Sister Lin, do you want to sing? I can make that happen.”

Lin Yue, notorious for her off-key singing and past ridicule, took Xia Youxi’s words as a challenge. She arched her brows and replied with a smile, “Then I’m truly looking forward to it.”

Xia Youxi smiled back, her dimples flashing, her voice sweet, “Then let’s go practice singing.”

Lin Yue assumed this was part of the group rehearsal and readily agreed. She never expected Xia Youxi to play so unpredictably. Instead of heading to the studio, Xia Youxi led her to a shopping mall, where she negotiated with the staff promoting a product and tricked Lin Yue into performing on stage.

“Our production team’s budget is limited, so we’re resorting to busking to raise funds. This is the first time Best Actress Lin Yue has ever sung in a mall! Let’s give her a round of applause, shall we?”

The crowd erupted in applause, with some heckling, “Wow, it’s the Nightingale Lin Yue! I’ll donate a hundred if she sings a song!”

Xia Youxi grabbed the raffle box from the table and placed it by the stage, using it as a donation box. “I heard that! Our performance in ten days depends on all of you. We look forward to seeing you there!”

Lin Yue wasn’t a strong singer, and now she was being put on the spot with phones recording her from the audience. With no way out, she reluctantly took the microphone and introduced herself in a coquettish voice. Xia Youxi had chosen the theme song from a TV drama Lin Yue had starred in. As soon as Lin Yue started singing, she completely lost the melody, sending it plummeting to the Antarctic. The audience erupted in laughter, declaring it was worth coming just for that.

While singing, Lin Yue would cover her mouth and giggle sweetly whenever she forgot the lyrics, playing the part of a charming ditz. But only she knew the venomous thoughts swirling in her mind. She loathed Xia Youxi and desperately wanted to storm off the stage, slap her across the face, and strip her naked in front of everyone.

After finishing the song, she bowed with a smile and announced to the crowd, “Next up, let’s switch things up! Please welcome the rising star of the new girl group, Yousey, to perform ‘Abracadabra’!”

The song was a foreign pop hit, and Lin Yue was convinced that Xia Youxi, a high school dropout, wouldn’t be able to sing it. She stepped off the stage, watched the staff set up the track, and waved Xia Youxi over. “Don’t be shy, come on!”

This is like getting a pillow when you’re already sleepy, Xia Youxi thought.

That day at a certain high-end establishment, bored and restless, she had listened to this song repeatedly. She reluctantly climbed onto the stage, and as Lin Yue tried to step down, Xia Youxi grabbed her arm and pointed to the amplified headset she had just received from the staff.

As the rhythm kicked in, Xia Youxi began to dance. Her heavenly voice poured from the cheap microphone, making the earlier “car crash” performance seem like a fluke.

“Wow, Yousey is amazing!” Yangyang exclaimed from the crowd. “Singing and dancing live without even breaking a sweat!”

The audience was stunned. Some people scratched their heads, frowning as they asked Yangyang, “Is there a QR code? This is incredible! I want to pay to watch her!”

“One more song!”

The crowd grew more fervent, but Xia Youxi continued singing on stage. Lin Yue held the microphone, watching the radiant girl beside her, feeling like nothing more than a decorative prop. She wanted to throw the microphone down in frustration, but she forced herself to smile stiffly at the audience.

A clip of the scene was posted online by netizens, becoming a variety show spoiler that immediately went viral. Underneath the post, comments flooded in:

Lin Yue looks like a complete idiot.

Thank you, Yousey, for healing my ears!

The double-cute girls are actually kind of ship-worthy.

The competition ended on the first day? Unforgettable!

Sitting in her nanny van, Lin Yue unleashed a torrent of vulgarities, completely abandoning her sweet and delicate daytime persona. With a curse, she hurled her phone out the window. Hearing the smash, she began yelling again: “Stop the car! You—go pick it up. If it’s broken, buy me a new one!”

The car screeched to a halt. Assistant Wang cautiously stepped out and retrieved the shattered phone from the busy street. When she turned back, the van had already sped away.

Lin Yue continued her tirade. The show’s production team had installed cameras at designated locations, recording 24/7. The villa where all the contestants were staying was also under surveillance. Her outburst could have serious consequences, so she had no choice but to restrain herself for now.

She reached for her phone to call her sugar daddy and whine, only to realize it hadn’t been returned yet. Another frustrated curse escaped her lips: “Fvck.”

Late at night, Xia Youxi was in her room, applying a face mask and discussing the next day’s plans with Yangyang, when they suddenly heard a woman’s muffled sobs from downstairs. Looking down, they saw Lin Yue’s assistant covering her face and crying. The two exchanged a knowing glance without a word. Turning around, they saw Lin Yue standing there with her arm in a sling, looking like she had a broken arm.

“I’m so sorry,” Lin Yue said, approaching them with a sincere expression. “I never imagined Xia Youxi’s little push would dislocate my shoulder. The doctor said it was lucky I came in when I did, or it could have been much worse. I’ll be relying on you two a lot from now on.”

Xia Youxi knew Lin Yue would try to shift the blame onto her. She had no choice but to play along. “No problem, Sister Lin. You can practice your singing in the room tomorrow. We’ll handle everything else.”

“Oh, I can’t do that,” Lin Yue refused.

Participating in the show was all about getting more screen time to attract fans. Hiding in the room would defeat the purpose.

The next day, the three of them continued to move as a group. However, Lin Yue’s injury forced her to constantly play the victim while simultaneously projecting an image of unwavering resilience. Even Yangyang, the rookie known for her dramatic flair, sensed something was off and kept her distance.

After nine days of frantic preparations, the moment for their final performance had arrived.

Xia Youxi led her team to the banks of the Beiyang River. The nighttime scenery here was breathtaking, with towering skyscrapers, dazzling lights, intricately designed bridges, and pleasure boats gliding along the water—an ideal setting for an open-air performance.

Having obtained prior approval, they found the already bustling area nearly overflowing with crowds. They had scouted the location beforehand, borrowed sound equipment from a street performer, set up a makeshift stage, and even prepared a special surprise.

As the opening host stepped forward, Lin Yue snatched the microphone, beaming at the audience. “Thank you all for coming to our open-air performance! We hope tonight will be an unforgettable night for everyone!”

Lin Yue’s fans erupted in cheers. She waved back, then deviated from the planned script to announce the first act: “Next up, it’s Yousey, the Center Position of our rising girl group ‘Not Defined’! She’ll be performing the team’s new song. Let’s give her a round of applause!”

Yangyang froze, turning to Xia Youxi. “Isn’t that supposed to be the finale?”

Xia Youxi sneered. They were pulling out all the stops, likely planning to embellish the footage in post-production. She waved her hand, smiled, and strode onto the stage, calmly taking the microphone. “Yes, I’ll be singing a new song composed for me by my teammate Huang Ruo—”

She began to sing, her voice lending a gentle, narrative quality to the ballad.

Coincidentally, Mu Huayue was resting in a high-rise nearby. Noticing the commotion below, she frowned slightly and asked Wen An, “What’s going on over there? Why are there so many people?”

Wen An, ever quick to respond, replied, “It’s the filming for ‘Let’s Challenge!’ Miss Xia’s group is performing there today.”

Mu Huayue remained silent, quietly opening the window. The familiar, tender voice drifted up, and she rested her cheek in her hand, nodding absently.

The night was beautiful, and the girl on the distant stage shimmered with light. Though her face was indistinct, Mu Huayue imagined she was smiling.

The thought that the silly girl didn’t know she was here suddenly sparked an idea. Mu Huayue turned to Wen An and instructed, “Contact the hotel manager.”