After Marking a Paranoid CEO [Transmigration] - Chapter 50

By the Beiyang River, Xia Youxi had finished her performance, and Yangyang had showcased a new song on her guitar. Next up was Lin Yue, the headlining act. To avoid stage fright, Lin Yue had arranged with the Production Team to lip-sync to a pre-recorded track with auto-tuned vocals, leaving her only to mouth the words.

With a sweet smile plastered on her face, Lin Yue opened her mouth to sing. But the first note went completely off-key. The expected pristine vocals never materialized—she was singing live?

The smile remained frozen on her face, but her hand gripping the microphone stiffened. She clutched her arm, feigning pain, and winced. Immediately, fans in the audience cried out in concern: “Ah, baby, stop singing! Go to the hospital!”

Those who couldn’t see her act found the performance grating.

Mu Huayue closed the window, frowning. “Who is this again?” she asked An.

An replied professionally, “Lin Yue, the current top idol. She’s a Beta, and her backing comes from CEO Xu of Jing’an Group.”

Isn’t CEO Xu Xia You’s father?

Mu Huayue didn’t react much to this. In the entertainment industry, most successful figures had powerful backers, so she wasn’t particularly surprised. What did catch her off guard was An’s next remark: “She’s also Miss Xia’s senior.”

Mu Huayue silently looked up Lin Yue. The actress seemed familiar—a rising star from the past two years. Her appearance was undeniably cute, with delicate features, but she lacked the natural charm of her “silly girl.” There was something artificial about her, especially her eyes: large double eyelids and deep inner corners that would likely look strange without makeup.

“Are they close?” Mu Huayue asked casually.

An pulled up leaked behind-the-scenes footage and handed it over. “Judging by the video, I don’t think they have much interaction. In fact, they might be like oil and water.”

“Really?” Mu Huayue took the tablet and glanced at the footage. Having navigated the cutthroat business world, she could easily see the hidden agendas at play. Her “silly cat” was finally growing up, learning how to set traps for others.

Her gaze swept down to the crowd below with a hint of pride. The young woman had already disappeared into the crowd. Mu Huayue waved her hand, signaling An to contact the manager.

With no one else in the room, Mu Huayue opened the window, letting the evening breeze carry the sound as she put on her headphones and tuned into the live feed of “Adorable Pet Diary.”

“Alright everyone, get ready! It’s almost time to go on!”

The crisp, upbeat voice in her headphones made Mu Huayue’s lips curve slightly. Suddenly, the lights along the riverbank dimmed, and the next moment, the drums began to pound. A brightly lit cruise ship emerged slowly from under the bridge, its colorful lights casting the brightest glow in the area. As the lights hit the deck, the crowd erupted in screams: “Wow, it’s Sibe—!”

“Hubby, you can play the drums too?”

The shouts drifted in on the wind. Mu Huayue zoomed in with her phone camera and couldn’t help but scoff. The ship wasn’t just carrying the flamboyantly dressed Sibe; it also held the members of Huang Ruo’s girl group, who hadn’t left their dormitory in Beiyang City.

She shifted the camera away, her expression darkening. She hadn’t noticed when several contestants from “Show Youth” had gathered on the riverbank stage, Guan He among them.

Guan He and Xia Youxi were standing so close their fingers were intertwined as they clapped hands.

The cruise ship stopped behind them, and the children took their positions. As the lively music began, the sound from the headphones merged with the outside world: “Tonight, we are all dream chasers!”

Below the stage, the “random” audience members Xia Youxi had arranged turned on their phone flashlights and waved them. From above, they looked like twinkling stars. The young man she had her eye on danced at the center, like a radiant moon being lifted up.

Mu Huayue rested her hand on the bed, her eyes filled with admiration. At that moment, An came to report, “CEO Mu, everything is arranged.”

Mu Huayue nodded. As the melody reached its crescendo, the riverside lights lit up in sequence, dancing in perfect synchronization with the music as if by magic.

Directly behind Xia Youxi, on the tall building, lights spelled out the name “Yousey.”

“Wow, look behind you!”

The audience erupted in excitement. Xia Youxi turned her head during a dance move and froze for a moment when she saw the name. She didn’t recall arranging this part.

But as she turned back, after the illuminated letters on the high-rise, Mu Huayue waved at her.

By the riverbank, Xia Youxi turned her head, striking her final pose.

As the music faded, she dropped her sweet smile and bowed deeply to the audience.

“Wow—Yousey!”

The crowd erupted in thunderous applause, many shouting her name. Xia Youxi waved gratefully, thanking them and introducing the guest friends who had helped her for free.

Lin Yue stood beside her, a faint smile on her face, but her eyes burned with resentment.

Even though it was a three-person team, all the spotlight had been stolen by Xia Youxi. Yangyang had managed to sneak in a few dance steps at the end, while Lin Yue, “burdened by her injury,” could only stand by, forcing a smile.

This Xia Weixi, Lin Yue thought bitterly, she’s seduced everyone and forgotten her school days. Provoking me again and again—does she expect me to meekly step aside and play the fool?

My performance—I deliberately played up my injury and chose an inspiring song to match the theme—now it’s all a joke!

*

Despite her frustration, the Production Team soon announced the competition results. As expected, the most…

Facing the interviewer, Xia Youxi passed the microphone to Lin Yue, who still wore a delicate smile. Covering her mouth, Lin Yue said, “What a truly unforgettable show! All thanks to Yousey. I’ve already decided how to properly thank her.”

She chuckled twice, sending a chill down Xia Youxi’s spine. Xia Youxi took the offered microphone. “Sister Lin has the highest popularity and contributed the most to fundraising. Without her and the others, tonight’s success wouldn’t have been possible.”

Lin Yue, however, couldn’t be bothered to keep up the act, merely smiling silently.

Finally, the recording wrapped up, and the crew began to pack up.

The Production Team had booked a nearby hotel for a celebratory dinner. Xia Youxi insisted on bringing her old teammates who had come to support her, even offering to pay out of pocket. This amused the Production Team, who laughed, “Instructor Xia, you’re too kind.”

After the dinner, her teammates tried to persuade her to return to the dormitory to rest. Xia Youxi was about to agree when a message suddenly arrived on Green Chat: Go to Room 2001.

It was from “Moody Sister Mu.”

Xia Youxi’s eyes lit up, and she quickly excused herself.

Guan He, remembering that the hotel belonged to the Ba Feng Group, immediately raised her guard, staring at Xia Youxi and demanding, “You’re not planning to meet someone, are you?”

Xia Youxi shook her head. “No, I just want to catch up with some of the show’s guests.”

Guan He scrutinized Xia Youxi, her brow furrowed in concern. Just then, Lin Yue, who was passing by with her arms crossed, surprisingly intervened to defuse the situation. “Oh, what are you two doing here? Xia Youxi, I was just looking for you. It’s been ages! Let’s catch up all night tonight.”

Guan He had heard about Lin Yue’s background, but she didn’t know about her past as a delinquent. She could only glance worriedly at Xia Youxi.

Left with no other option, Xia Youxi went along with it. “That’s right, Sister Lin, I’ll come over later.” She turned to Guan He with a smile. “Sister Guan, don’t worry. We’ll chat properly when we’re in Jing City in a few days.”

Guan He remained uneasy. “Alright, contact me if anything comes up.”

“Okay, good night.” Xia Youxi waved goodbye and watched her leave. As she turned to head upstairs, the elevator doors opened, revealing Lin Yue waiting outside. Lin Yue smiled warmly, her eyes narrowed. “I was looking for you, Xia Youxi. Come on in.”

Xia Youxi wasn’t foolish enough to walk into danger knowingly. She took two steps back with a smile, her back pressing against a muscular arm. Looking up, she saw a tall Alpha standing behind her.

“Lin Xi, this is a public place,” Xia Youxi warned.

Lin Yue, accustomed to acting like a delinquent, ignored Xia Youxi’s warning. With a glance, she signaled the Alpha, who gripped Xia Youxi’s shoulder and shoved her into the elevator.

The elevator numbers climbed steadily, stopping at the twentieth floor. Xia Youxi frowned. As the doors opened, she tried to bolt, but the Alpha grabbed her arm the moment she stepped out and dragged her to the left.

Out of the corner of her eye, Xia Youxi spotted the “2001” sign to her right and desperately shouted, “Sister—!”

Before she could finish the word, the Alpha clamped his hand over her mouth. Lin Yue tapped Xia Youxi’s cheek with a room card, elegantly swiped it to unlock the door, and the Alpha shoved Xia Youxi inside.

Lin Yue, seemingly confident in her control, left the Alpha to guard the door while she dragged Xia Youxi further into the room.

It was a presidential suite, the living room lavishly furnished. Lin Yue sat on the sofa, casually unwrapped her bandages, picked up the ice-shaving knife from the table, and waved it at Xia Youxi. Noticing the absence of the childhood fear on Xia Youxi’s face, she cursed in frustration, “Damn it! Do you think Ying Feifei can still save you? She’s been blacklisted for pissing off someone powerful. Or are you counting on Guan He or Mu Huayue?”

Xia Youxi hoped Lin Yue would remain silent, silently strategizing. She had called out before entering, but she didn’t know if Sister Mu had heard her. She had also sent a message, but her phone had been snatched away. A Beta stood before her, while a burly Alpha guarded the door.

Lin Yue stabbed at the ice block in her glass with an ice pick, her voice losing its delicate, rehearsed tone from the show, becoming rougher: “You won’t reach them. I specifically booked a floor with no other guests. The soundproofing here is excellent—no one will come to rescue you.”

“Aren’t you worried about getting caught?” Xia Youxi asked coldly.

Lin Yue shook her head. “We’re not the same. You haven’t even confirmed your relationship with them yet. I have my godfather protecting me—he’s a big shot. Even Mu Huayue has to call him ‘Uncle’ out of respect. Besides, I’m not planning anything drastic.”

Xia Youxi didn’t believe her. Unfortunately, she had just finished a shoot and hadn’t brought any protective items.

Lin Yue watched her with amusement. “You’ve really changed since school. Back then, you’d just cry. Now you dare look me in the eye. But who gave you the courage?”

Lin Yue hurled a wine glass at Xia Youxi. The glass shattered into shards at her feet with a crash. Lin Yue chuckled, “Kneel, and I might consider letting you go.”

Consider?

That was a lie.

Xia Youxi stared at the shards, leaning forward slightly. Lin Yue, thinking she had broken, clapped her hands and laughed. “That’s right! In my presence, you should treat yourself like a dog—”

The rest of her words were cut off by a shard of glass. She hadn’t expected the once-timid Xia Youxi to charge at her with a piece of glass. Lin Yue scrambled back, shouting for her bodyguard.

Thump, thump, thump.

The heavy footsteps of the Alpha bodyguard echoed through the room. Xia Youxi, desperate, grappled with Lin Yue, slashing at her with the glass.

Lin Yue’s confidence stemmed from her martial arts training since childhood, giving her a clear advantage. Xia Youxi couldn’t gain the upper hand, her hand sliced by the glass Lin Yue gripped. Still, she managed to leave two cuts on the back of Lin Yue’s hand.

“Hmm.”

The hulking Alpha arrived, his superior strength allowing him to seize Xia Youxi instantly. Lin Yue spat, straightened her clothes, and barked, “You’ve grown too bold, daring to resist. I was only going to make you kneel, but now I think I’ll strip you naked and roll you around on this broken glass.”

The Alpha reached out, and Xia Youxi’s heart leaped in alarm. She frantically stomped on the Alpha’s foot, struggling to break free, but the Alpha remained unmoved, like a mountain impervious to pain. Desperate, she resorted to making a scene, kicking the table and sending debris scattering across the floor.

Lin Yue, furious, rose to slap her, but at that moment, a commotion erupted at the entrance.

Ding.

The door card was swiped open, and a team of people surged into the room, their intense pheromones flooding the air. Xia Youxi’s neck twitched, as if provoked by the overwhelming scent.

The Alpha behind her released her grip, the lingering aroma of strong liquor hanging in the air. Xia Youxi suddenly remembered a detail from the original plot: Alphas releasing their pheromones was a sign of impending combat.

Seizing the opportunity, she darted aside and grabbed a shard of glass. Lin Yue, being a Beta, was unaffected by the pheromones. After a moment of stunned silence, she lunged to seize Xia Youxi as a hostage.

Xia Youxi dodged frantically, but the Alphas blocking the exit forced them into a desperate struggle in the narrow corridor.

“Xiao Xi!”

Amidst the chaos, Xia Youxi suddenly heard someone call her name. Though the endearment was the same, the voice was gentle and concerned, infinitely more pleasant than Lin Yue’s insincere tone. She turned her head and sprinted toward the speaker, while Lin Yue, startled by the newcomer and sensing the situation turning against her, recklessly raised her knife to stab Xia Youxi.

As Xia Youxi ran, she didn’t notice the obstacle she’d created herself and tripped. Just as the ice blade was about to pierce her, a figure stepped in front of her.

The blade plunged into the shoulder, staining the white shirt crimson and searing Xia Youxi’s heart.

Her wide eyes widened further as she pulled the injured person into her arms and slowly stood up, the floral and fruity scent filling the room.

The situation had become precarious. With no escape, Lin Yue raised the ice blade again, but this time Xia Youxi seized it firmly.

Cradling the wounded CEO Mu with her left arm and gripping the blade with her right, Xia Youxi, seemingly oblivious to pain, hurled Lin Yue to the ground with brutal force.

Glass shards pierced Lin Yue’s body, and her hands stung as she tried to push herself up. Worst of all, fragments had embedded in her face, one slicing her eyelid and tinting her vision crimson.

Thud, thud.

Light footsteps echoed across the floor, and Lin Yue trembled at the sound. A figure loomed before her, gripping her hair and yanking her upright. Through her bl00d-blurred vision, she heard a voice dripping with mock praise:

“Sister Lin, didn’t I tell you? Your eyeshadow wasn’t right. Red suits you so much better. See? You look so much prettier now.”