After Transmigrating, I Joined a Dating Show with the Fake Heiress Actress - Chapter 39

The three women looked at Bai Man, their eyes filled with urgent concern.

 

Bai Man’s heart trembled violently as the answer formed in her mind: It’s not worth it.

 

She turned her head and mentally communicated with the System: I’m not going back.

 

System 388: Uh… Host, I’m not sure if I should say this, but you have to promise not to hit me after I do.

 

Bai Man had a premonition she was being played by the System. Frowning, she said, Just tell me.

 

System 388: Headquarters, adhering to humanitarian principles, has decided that both you and your original body must agree before either of you can return to your respective bodies. Therefore, they’ve arranged a communication session between you and your original body. What do you think? Host, aren’t you impressed by Headquarters’ thoroughness?

 

When Bai Man didn’t respond, System 388’s enthusiasm waned. Host, should we connect now?

 

Bai Man glanced back at the three women, her gaze lingering on their bodies. Can they see her too?

 

System 388: It’s not impossible, but you’ll forfeit your mission reward, Host. Think carefully.

 

Bai Man didn’t hesitate. “I don’t need the reward. Connect the call.”

 

System 388: Please wait.

 

Bai Man turned to Bai Shanheng and Xu Mengjie. “I’ll talk to her now. You can see her.”

 

Bai Shanheng and Xu Mengjie’s mouths dropped open. They shuffled closer, following her to the sofa.

 

Su Qingwan remained frozen in place, her lips pressed tightly together as she stared intently at Bai Man.

 

She desperately wanted to rush forward and confess, “I love you. I want to spend every day with you. Can you stay for me?”

 

But she couldn’t. Beyond the fear of rejection, she couldn’t face Bai Shanheng and Xu Mengjie. She couldn’t selfishly deprive them of the chance to reunite with their biological daughter.

 

Just then, a voice echoed in her mind: If you can’t change things, then be selfish for once.

 

No, she thought. How would that make me any different from “Bai Man”? I want to change, but I refuse to become the person I despise.

 

System 388 worked quickly. Within minutes, a massive hundred-inch screen materialized diagonally above Bai Man, and her holographic image appeared before them all.

 

Bai Shanheng and Xu Mengjie instantly recognized the face. It bore an uncanny resemblance to their daughter’s, both delicate and endearing.

 

“Manman,” Xu Mengjie choked out, staring at the screen.

 

The “Bai Man” on the screen looked surprised. After a moment of silence, she said slowly, “Mom, Dad, I’m sorry. I was being stubborn before and caused you so much worry.” She pressed her lips together. “Also, could you please pass on my apologies to my adoptive parents?”

 

Bai Man’s furrowed brow slowly relaxed as she heard this. “You don’t want to switch back?”

 

The “Bai Man” looked away, then met her gaze directly. “That’s right. I want to stay here. Don’t be upset. You know better than anyone how difficult those awful parents of yours are, and that brother of yours—he shows up at the company every day just to make his presence known, demanding everyone call him ‘CEO Bai.’ Pfft, does he even deserve that title? I’m the one running the whole company, working my butt off, and he just wants to sit back and reap the rewards? What a joke!”

 

Before Bai Man could respond, the “Bai Man” turned her attention to Bai Shanheng and Xu Mengjie. “Mom, Dad, let me tell you, I’m living the high life now! I’m the CEO of a publicly listed corporation. Everywhere I go, people call me ‘CEO Bai.’ It’s exhausting, running around all day, but I still have to deal with those awful parents of yours on top of everything else.”

 

Seeing Su Qingwan, “Bai Man’s” expression shifted slightly, her lips pursing. “What are you doing at my house? Didn’t I tell you not to come here?” She waved her hand dismissively. “Forget it. With my current status, arguing with you would be beneath me.”

 

She turned to Bai Man. “I know you don’t want that despicable pair to get their way.” She patted her chest. “Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, they won’t succeed. In exchange, you need to be kinder to my parents. Otherwise…” Her eyes darted around. “Otherwise, I’ll bankrupt your company and leave you with nothing.”

 

Bai Man’s lips twitched slightly. Whether she returned or not, the company’s fate was irrelevant to her.

 

Still, she relished the thought of thwarting those three.

 

“If you don’t understand something, go to Guan Shan. He’s usually quiet, but he sees things more clearly than anyone else. If he refuses to help, just call him ‘Senior Brother.'” She turned to Bai Shanheng and Xu Mengjie. “You don’t need to ask—I’ll take good care of them.”

 

System 388: Warning! Strong magnetic interference detected. Communication will be terminated shortly.

 

Bai Man asked, “Is there anything else you want to say to her?”

 

Bai Shanheng understood and cautioned, “Manman, always act within your means and don’t push yourself too hard.”

 

Xu Mengjie nodded repeatedly, tears streaming down her face. “You must take good care of yourself over there. Don’t worry about us.”

 

“Don’t worry, I’m doing great here,” Bai Man said, her cheeks flushing slightly. “I’ve always wanted to be a CEO, and now that my wish has come true, I’ll cherish this opportunity.” She glanced at Bai Man. “I won’t let such a massive company fall apart under my watch.”

 

“There’s a bank card in the safe, the password is 666888. I didn’t have time to transfer the funds, but there’s plenty in there.” Su Qingwan still harbored doubts about Bai Man’s capabilities.

 

However, as long as Bai Man didn’t make any rash moves, the foundation she had already built should be enough to weather the next five years, barring any unforeseen disasters.

 

Bai Man, however, was dissatisfied. She puffed out her cheeks. “What do you mean? You don’t believe in me? Let me tell you, I—”

 

Her voice vanished along with the screen in mid-air.

 

Su Qingwan could no longer stand still. She rushed to Bai Man and grabbed her hand. “You’re not leaving, are you?”

 

Bai Man gave a soft hum in response.

 

Su Qingwan’s heart finally settled. Noticing the lingering gaze on her hand, she quickly withdrew it, her face flushed with embarrassment.

 

Unseen by her, Bai Shanheng and Xu Mengjie exchanged a knowing glance. Qingwan seemed to treat Manman differently.

 

“Let’s eat. The food must be getting cold,” Bai Shanheng said, stepping forward. He had been worried about his daughter’s well-being, but seeing her thriving and more confident than before filled him with paternal pride.

 

Yet he couldn’t help but feel sorry for Bai Man. From his daughter’s tone, it was clear Bai Man’s company was substantial. Having personally experienced the hardships of entrepreneurship, he knew the immense effort Bai Man had poured into building her business empire. Now, all that hard work might be handed over to his daughter, or even destroyed.

 

He paused, turning to look at Bai Man, his words caught in his throat.

 

Sensing his thoughts, Bai Man shook her head slightly. “She’s right. I haven’t lost anything.” It would take time and effort, but she could rebuild an even greater business empire that belonged solely to her.

 

Seeing this, Bai Shanheng felt not relief, but even deeper sympathy for Bai Man.

 

After dinner, Su Qingwan followed Bai Man into her room, her mind blank.

 

Wherever Bai Man went, Su Qingwan trailed right behind, even into the bathroom.

 

Determined to stop indulging Su Qingwan, Bai Man braced one hand against the bathroom door, trapping Su Qingwan in her arms. Su Qingwan’s cheeks were flushed with wine, her eyes glazed with a hazy allure that made Bai Man want to tease her.

 

Sensing danger, Su Qingwan tried to pull away.

 

Bai Man didn’t give her a chance to escape, hooking her chin with a finger. “Don’t want me to leave?”

 

Su Qingwan nodded obediently, her gaze fixed on Bai Man’s lips.

 

“Why don’t you want me to leave?” Bai Man coaxed.

 

Su Qingwan didn’t hear a word Bai Man said. Her entire focus was on Bai Man’s cherry-red lips, opening and closing. A voice inside her urged, Bite them.

 

Driven by this inner command, she leaned in toward Bai Man’s luscious, crimson lips.

 

Five centimeters, four centimeters, three centimeters…

 

Bai Man watched Su Qingwan’s face loom closer, the dark impulses within her clamoring. This is what you wanted, they hissed.

 

Without waiting any longer, she leaned in and kissed Su Qingwan.

 

She had intended to keep it brief, but Su Qingwan unexpectedly wrapped her arms around Bai Man’s neck.

 

It was an invitation.

 

Bai Man’s hands circled Su Qingwan’s waist, drawn deeper by her sweet, intoxicating scent.

 

Su Qingwan’s soft moans and her impossibly tender body stimulated Bai Man’s senses with each passing moment. She craved more.

 

But not now. Su Qingwan was still drunk, and their relationship remained undefined.

 

Bai Man pulled away from those irresistibly kissable lips, her voice husky. “I need to shower. You should go.”

 

Su Qingwan’s lips, now flushed and glistening from their kiss, tilted her head and gazed up at Bai Man, her reaction a beat slow. “Promise you won’t leave.”

 

Bai Man couldn’t meet her eyes, a hint of helplessness in her voice. “I promise. I won’t leave. Not now, not ever.”

 

Only after receiving the exact answer did Su Qingwan sway slightly and take a few steps. She stopped abruptly, turning to look at Bai Man. “I can shower with you.”

 

Bai Man, at her wit’s end, grabbed Su Qingwan by the shoulders and pushed her out of the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

 

The loud bang of the closing door startled Su Qingwan.

 

She looked around, realizing she was in Bai Man’s room.

 

The memory of their kiss in the bathroom flooded her mind. She instinctively touched her lips, her face flushing crimson.

 

The sound of rushing water made her restless. Unable to wait for Bai Man to come out, she covered her face and fled.

 

In the hallway, she nearly collided with Xu Mengjie, who was carrying two glasses of milk.

 

Xu Mengjie quickly stepped back. “What’s wrong? Why is your face so red?”

 

Su Qingwan turned her head away, stammering for a long moment without uttering a word.

 

Seeing this, Xu Mengjie’s suspicions were confirmed. She moved closer to Su Qingwan. “Do you like Manman?”

 

Su Qingwan remained silent, her entire body tensing.

 

“If you two can be together, your dad and I will finally have peace of mind,” Xu Mengjie sighed. She had once worried deeply about her daughters’ happiness and even fantasized about them being together. But after witnessing their immediate hostility toward Su Qingwan, she had reluctantly abandoned the idea.

 

Seeing their interaction downstairs earlier had rekindled her hope.

 

Su Qingwan’s heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled. She had expected Xu Mengjie to dissuade her, given Bai Man’s otherworldly origins.

 

“Why don’t you take this milk to Manman?” Xu Mengjie said, handing her the glass.

 

Su Qingwan immediately shook her head and hurried toward her room.

 

At dawn, Su Qingwan quietly peeked out of her room, glanced around to confirm Bai Man wasn’t there, and then tiptoed downstairs.

 

But the moment she opened the door, Bai Man was standing right in front of her.

 

Her legs moved instinctively, already shifting to the side before her mind could catch up.

 

Bai Man withdrew her gaze from Su Qingwan’s slightly flushed ear tips and asked, “So early? Where are you going?”

 

Su Qingwan quickly withdrew her leg, avoiding Bai Man’s gaze. “I… I wanted to get to the studio early.”

 

Bai Man didn’t believe her for a second. It was clear she was embarrassed about what had happened last night.

 

“After breakfast, I’ll drive you there,” Bai Man said, striding toward the refrigerator.

 

She retrieved the steak Xu Mengjie had marinated in advance and placed it in a skillet to sear slowly.

 

Seeing this, Su Qingwan’s initial awkwardness began to fade, replaced by a flicker of disappointment. Had Bai Man already forgotten their kiss from last night?

 

The thought that she might be the only one dwelling on that kiss filled her with a suffocating anxiety. She didn’t even notice Xu Mengjie coming downstairs.

 

Xu Mengjie was about to ask what was going on when she heard the sounds from the kitchen. She quickly averted her questioning gaze and rushed toward the kitchen. “Let me handle this. You go relax.”

 

Knowing she wasn’t great at judging steak doneness, Bai Man ceded the cooking to Xu Mengjie, stepping aside to watch her work.

 

System 388: Host, I’ve received a recall notice from the base station. After all the time I’ve spent with you, you’ll definitely miss me, right?

 

Before Bai Man could respond, System 388’s voice chimed in: One last reminder: you have to be proactive when pursuing a girl. No one will wait around for you. Alright, I’m really leaving now.

 

After two attempts to mentally summon System 388 went unanswered, Bai Man finally accepted that it was truly gone.

 

After breakfast, Bai Man intended to drive Su Qingwan to the studio, but Su Qingwan declined, citing her own car. Bai Man had no choice but to concede.

 

Arriving at Jiayue Studio, Su Qingwan temporarily set aside her disappointment and instructed her assistant to gather everyone for a meeting.

 

The assistant acted swiftly, and within ten minutes, all members of Jiayue Studio had assembled.

 

“I’ve called this meeting to gather your opinions,” Su Qingwan began, glancing at the artists who were whispering among themselves. “As planned, we’ve been focusing all our efforts on preparing for next year’s Star of Tomorrow Variety Show. To conserve our resources, we’ll be temporarily suspending all public appearances. I know this arrangement has caused some discontent, as it affects your livelihoods and requires you to cover all expenses.”

 

“In a month, there will be an open audition variety show. I hope everyone will consider participating.”

 

Yin Xiao was the first to raise her hand. “I’ll go.”

 

Seeing this, the two artists standing next to Yin Xiao also raised their hands.

 

Su Qingwan added, “I forgot to mention that starting today, the studio will no longer provide meals, only accommodation.”

 

Hearing this, Su Qingyue couldn’t stand it any longer. She pulled Su Qingwan aside and whispered, “You didn’t say anything about this yesterday.”

 

“Which agency or studio in the entire entertainment industry provides meals for its artists?” Su Qingwan retorted.

 

Su Qingyue was stumped, but she argued, “But that’s exactly what attracted everyone to our studio in the first place!”

 

“It’s about quality, not quantity,” Su Qingwan replied before turning and walking upstairs.

 

The remaining three artists, realizing there was no turning back, immediately chimed in unison, “Sister Wan, I want to participate too!”

 

This outcome was exactly what Su Qingwan had anticipated. She was satisfied, but Su Qingyue was not.

 

Su Qingyue stormed into the room. “Do you really have to go this far just to beat me?”

 

“It’s not about winning against you,” Su Qingwan said, turning to look at Su Qingyue. “Director Zhang is casting for the second female lead in his upcoming web drama. Take Yin Xiao to audition. And resolve the conflict between Zhu Yue and that young actress properly.”

 

“I’ll try to persuade Zhu Yue to apologize,” Su Qingyue said, frowning. She was still dissatisfied with Su Qingwan’s instructions and wanted to argue.

 

But Su Qingwan cut her off. “From what I understand, Zhu Yue wasn’t at fault. Why should she apologize?”

 

“If she doesn’t apologize, how will we suppress this? You don’t know how vicious those online trolls can be—they’ll drown Zhu Yue in their spit.”

 

Su Qingwan frowned. Her schedule had been packed, and she hadn’t paid much attention to this matter. She never imagined Su Qingyue would handle the conflict this way.

 

She stared intently at Su Qingyue. “This is precisely why you’re in charge of public relations—it’s your responsibility.” She turned away. “If you can’t handle it, I’ll have to hire professionals to take over.”

 

Su Qingyue exploded. “You want to replace me?” She stormed up to Su Qingwan, forcing her to look her in the eye. “From the Studio’s founding until today, I may not have achieved great success, but I’ve certainly put in the effort. Su Qingwan, you can’t just discard me like a worn-out donkey after it’s done its work!”

 

Su Qingwan clenched her fists at her sides. Even now, Su Qingyue refused to acknowledge her own shortcomings, blaming her instead with accusations of “discarding a worn-out donkey.”

 

Suppressing her rising anger, Su Qingwan said coldly, “Isn’t resolving issues for your artists your duty as a manager? Or have I forgotten to pay your salary on time every month?” She pointed to the door. “Now, please leave.”

 

Meanwhile, the official Weibo account for Love Knock Knock Knock was also exploding.

 

The chaos stemmed from a post released earlier that day: “Two new guests will be joining the third episode’s filming! Stay tuned!”

 

Beneath the post, over a hundred thousand comments from netizens had already flooded in.

 

I’ve already fallen for the Wanman CP, and now you’re telling me two new guests are joining? Are you out of your mind?

 

I stayed up all night watching the first episode, and the Wanman CP is just too good. I declare that if Bai Man isn’t in the third episode, I won’t watch it.

 

Me too! I strongly demand Bai Man be brought back!

 

 

“Love Knock Knock Knock” without Bai Man is incomplete.

 

The people who should be kicked out aren’t, yet they kicked out my beloved Bai Man? Production Team, did a donkey kick your brains out?

 

Anyone can be replaced, but not the Wanman CP! I’m locking them in place right now!

 

I suggest kicking out the scummy girl and the love-obsessed idiot. They’re too eye-searing to watch.

 

 

The further Director Xu scrolled through the comments, the tighter his brow furrowed. Out of the hundred thousand messages, eighty thousand demanded Bai Man’s return.

 

He had just persuaded Bai Man to withdraw, and now he was supposed to shamelessly beg her to come back? What would be left of his dignity, or the Production Team’s reputation?