Being the Diva’s Rumored Girlfriend [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 18

Mi Man had never hated her own inarticulateness more than now.

She didn’t want to agree. She had no intention of getting involved in the affairs between those two, nor did she even want to touch upon anything related to Cheng Jing.

All she wanted was to quietly record the show and live her life steadily.

Seeing Mi Man’s conflicted expression as she stared at her, Yao Xuan couldn’t understand why her request was so difficult to answer. She could only continue, “My uncle’s situation is only temporary. Besides, even without those resources, Cheng Jing would still be the center of the group. That won’t change.”

Mi Man pressed her lips together and finally shook her head. “I’m sorry.”

“Mi Man…?”

“I think it’s better for the two of you to resolve your own issues.”

Mi Man looked up at her with an apologetic gaze. “I have things to do, so I’ll head out first.”

She turned and descended the stairs in one swift motion.

The autumn chill hit her the moment she stepped outside, and Mi Man suddenly realized she hadn’t brought a jacket. The sudden gust of wind made her shiver.

But she didn’t want to go back. The atmosphere there made her want to flee.

After buying a snack at the convenience store, Mi Man wasn’t in a hurry to return. She was afraid that seeing Yao Xuan and Cheng Jing together would only make her feel worse.

Sitting on a chair by the convenience store’s glass window, she absentmindedly poked at the salad in the paper box with her chopsticks.

She remembered—she and Cheng Jing had known each other since they were very young. Because they were close in age, Mi Man had been her companion since kindergarten.

And it was during middle school that she realized she had different feelings for Cheng Jing.

Being alone with her made her nervous, yet after they parted, she would inexplicably miss her.

Mi Man couldn’t stand Cheng Jing dating boys, and naturally, she couldn’t accept her dating girls either.

Sometimes, Mi Man truly felt she was the most detestable one of them all.

The salad in the box was now a mess. After taking a few bites, she found it tasteless. Checking the time, she figured Xiao Xiao would soon be urging her to return.

Buying a sandwich, Mi Man finally left the convenience store.

Holding the bag, she aimlessly walked toward the company. Just as she was kicking a pebble along the crosswalk, she noticed a red sports car following her at a leisurely pace from the corner of her eye.

Mi Man was curious. She wasn’t some big celebrity who needed to hide her face in public, and the convenience store was only half a block from the company. Going through the trouble of disguising herself would be pointless.

As the red sports car slowly pulled up beside her, Mi Man was taken aback.

Was this person here for her?

The tinted window rolled down, revealing Mu Yunshu’s exquisite face.

Mi Man stared at her in surprise, momentarily at a loss for words.

Since her return, Mu Yunshu had seemed busy. Over the past half-month, she had only sent Mi Man a few messages before falling out of contact.

Mi Man had secretly wondered if she had been discarded. But seeing Mu Yunshu tag her sporadically on various social media platforms, she figured the woman must still be satisfied with her.

After all, she was a decent enough subject for publicity.

“Are you heading back to the company?”

Mu Yunshu was dressed exquisitely today—flawless foundation paired with coffee-toned eye makeup, and her lips painted a tempting vintage red that accentuated her captivating charm.

It made Mi Man’s heart race uncontrollably.

Damn, this woman was just too gorgeous!

“I—I was just about to go back to practice dancing,” Mi Man stammered, averting her gaze nervously. “What brings you here?”

Could she be looking for her?

Wasn’t this a bit too forward???

Mu Yunshu rested her arm on the car window, a faint smirk curling her lips. “I came to see Fu Yilan.”

Hearing that name, Mi Man’s expression dimmed slightly. She nodded and said, “President Fu is at the company today. You should be able to see her if you go now.”

Watching the visibly disappointed girl, Mu Yunshu felt an inexplicable itch in her heart. Tilting her head, she smiled. “Well, since we’re heading the same way, hop in.”

Who could refuse an invitation from a beauty?

Delighted, Mi Man circled the car and settled into the passenger seat. There was no denying that luxury cars were in a league of their own—even the interior felt incredibly comfortable.

From the outside, the car looked sleek and compact, but inside, it was surprisingly spacious and cozy, with an unmistakable aura of wealth lingering in the air.

Especially seeing Mu Yunshu casually driving a sports car worth millions—it was downright mesmerizing. In an instant, Mi Man forgot all about her earlier frustrations.

As she drove, Mu Yunshu asked, “Have you eaten yet?”

Mi Man nodded.

Mu Yunshu sighed regretfully. “I was planning to have your boss treat me to a meal. If you hadn’t eaten, I could’ve taken you along.”

The remark left Mi Man puzzled. Were Mu Yunshu and her boss that close?

“Are you here to discuss a collaboration with President Fu?”

Mi Man glanced at the woman beside her, confused.

The world of top executives felt so distant to her that beyond business dealings, she couldn’t fathom what else might bring them together.

Mu Yunshu chuckled softly, steering the car into the underground parking lot.

“Actually, I didn’t just come to see your boss today.” She parked the car and turned to face Mi Man, her gaze lingering. “It’s been a while since we last met. Don’t you miss me at all?”

The words sent Mi Man’s heart into a frenzy, her face instantly flushing crimson.

Her mind buzzed with confusion. What did Mu Yunshu mean by this? If they were filming and acting affectionate, she could chalk it up to the demands of the show. But here they were, alone in an underground parking lot—why was she still saying such flirtatious things?

“I…” Mi Man’s eyes darted around nervously, unsure where to put her hands.

Mu Yunshu, who prided herself on her composure, couldn’t help but smirk at the reaction. Reaching out, she gently lifted Mi Man’s chin, forcing their eyes to meet.

Honestly, the girl’s flustered response was just too adorable.

Her round eyes widened, her entire face burning red under Mu Yunshu’s touch. Instinctively, Mi Man tried to lean back, but the car’s confined space left her nowhere to retreat.

With a soft click, Mu Yunshu unbuckled her seatbelt and slowly leaned in closer.

The distance between the two grew increasingly close. Without the restraint of a seatbelt, Mu Yunshu could lean in as much as she pleased.

“Why so nervous?”

Mu Yunshu stopped just two centimeters away from Mi Man’s face, her expression amused. “Is this your first time being this close to someone?”

Mi Man clutched the seatbelt tightly, flustered and at a loss. “I… I’ve never been in a relationship before…”

Though Mi Man was delicate and adorable, she had always preferred girls. On top of that, her artist contract explicitly forbade dating, leaving her romantic history practically blank—aside from her unrequited crush on Cheng Jing.

Mu Yunshu’s eyes brightened, unmistakable even in the dim car interior.

She… seemed pleased?

Mi Man was puzzled. Why?

But Mu Yunshu clearly had no intention of answering. She simply withdrew the teasing hand and pulled back.

“Let’s go. I’ll walk you up.”

Mu Yunshu stepped out of the car, leaving behind a still-trembling Mi Man, who took a long moment to compose herself before following.

The elevator ride was silent, both lost in their own thoughts.

After pressing the floor button, Mu Yunshu leaned against the corner. She glanced at Mi Man, then extended her hand.

“Give me your hand.”

Without waiting for a response, she took Mi Man’s palm in hers.

Mi Man could only note how warm Mu Yunshu’s hand was—so unlike her own.

“Your hands are soft,” Mu Yunshu murmured, leaning in with a teasing grin. “If you’ve never dated, does that mean you’ve never held hands with anyone either?”

The question felt like being cornered by a rogue on the way home, sending a shiver down Mi Man’s spine.

What was with this woman?

She looked so proper, yet her demeanor was downright mischievous!

Cornered, Mi Man stiffened defensively. “No, I have held hands before.”

Though, if pressed, she couldn’t actually recall how it had felt.

Just as the two were lost in their exchange, the elevator doors slid open.

Mi Man turned—and her heart dropped.

Cheng Jing stood outside, a water bottle in hand. She froze at the sight of the two inside.

When her gaze landed on their intertwined fingers, her brow furrowed.

Noticing Mi Man’s sudden tension, Mu Yunshu followed her gaze. It took her a moment to place the face—the lead dancer of Star Girls, the one always front and center.

Mu Yunshu studied her. Cheng Jing carried herself with elegant poise, her long black hair and cool gaze undeniably striking.

As Mu Yunshu appraised her, Cheng Jing turned to meet her eyes.

“Teacher Mu,” she greeted, her tone polite but icy. “Hello.”

Simple words, yet devoid of warmth.

Mu Yunshu didn’t consider herself unapproachable, but something about this woman rubbed her the wrong way.

They shared a similar aura—cold and untouchable.

Mu Yunshu nodded slightly and gently pulled Mi Man closer to her side, then said to the person standing at the elevator door: “Aren’t you coming in?”

Cheng Jing nodded and stepped inside as well.

After the elevator doors closed, the confined space seemed to grow thin on air. Mu Yunshu could sense Mi Man’s tension, though she didn’t understand why the little thing had gone completely rigid.

But this opportunity to hold her like this… wasn’t bad either?

Mi Man remained oblivious to Mu Yunshu’s restless hand at her waist, her mind entirely consumed by the terror this elevator inspired.

Could this be the legendary… battlefield of love???