Being the Diva’s Rumored Girlfriend [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 4

Mi Man didn’t know how she made it back from Mu Yunshu’s studio. All she remembered was that before leaving, Mu Yunshu seemed to want to say something to her, but ultimately remained silent.

The streets were still crowded at 9 PM.

During this bustling hour, some pedestrians were just getting off work while others were on their way to gatherings.

Neon lights glittered.

So dazzlingly bright they almost hurt the eyes.

Sister Gu drove in silence, with only the car stereo playing a low, husky female voice softly humming a melody Mi Man had never heard before—melodious and beautiful.

The fifteen-minute car ride left Mi Man feeling drained. Perhaps after today, she could never return to how things used to be.

Mu Yunshu…

That woman’s face surfaced in her mind—the delicate features, the nose bridge Mi Man somewhat envied—all leaving a deep impression.

Resting her head against the car window, Mi Man watched the streetlights from the corner of her eye.

Was this person really going to be her publicity partner now?

Why would such an outstanding woman pair up with someone like her?

Though she was the one at fault first, Mi Man still couldn’t understand it.

As the car slowly entered the residential complex, Mi Man’s eventful day finally came to an end.

Sister Gu parked the car and said softly to Mi Man in the backseat, “Go rest for today. We’ll discuss everything else tomorrow.”

Mi Man nodded and stepped out of the car.

The summer night’s heat was oppressive, making even breathing feel uncomfortably warm. All she wanted now was to rush back to her dorm and cool off with a shower.

The idea of dating a superstar… was simply terrifying.

The moment she opened the door, a gust of wind seemed to roar toward her—

“Manman!!!”

Mu Xiaoxiao hugged Mi Man’s waist, crying out, “You’re finally back! I thought Mu Yunshu had locked you up!”

Mi Man forced a smile. “How could that happen? She’s a huge celebrity.”

“You never know,” Mu Xiaoxiao said nervously. “The bigger the star, the weirder their temper. Haven’t you heard the rumors in the entertainment industry?”

Mi Man blinked. What rumors?

Mu Xiaoxiao lowered her voice mysteriously. “They say Mu Yunshu… has some very strange preferences.”

Mi Man rolled her eyes awkwardly and closed the door. “Don’t spread nonsense. It’d be bad if someone overheard.”

Setting down her things, Mi Man casually took off her jacket and hung it on the coat rack by the entrance—then paused abruptly.

A beige long coat already hung on the shared rack—Cheng Jing’s.

Noticing Mi Man’s hesitation, Mu Xiaoxiao tilted her chin up. “Cheng Jing came back. She returned with her girlfriend not long after you left. Want to go say hi?”

Mi Man’s gaze lingered for a moment before she hung up her own coat. “No need. I’m going to shower first.”

Steam filled the bathroom as Mi Man tilted her head back under the spray, finally feeling somewhat relieved.

Though it hadn’t been a full day of running around, she still felt utterly exhausted.

Holding her favorite loofah, Mi Man lathered up with soap, the white bubbles foaming quickly against her skin—comforting and familiar.

Click—

The sound of the bathroom door opening made Mi Man pause, her eyes darting toward the frosted glass.

The bathroom was designed with separate compartments, with the sink, toilet, and shower area all partitioned off. After all, there were quite a few girls in the group, and even with two bathrooms upstairs and downstairs, it still wasn’t quite enough.

“Mi Man, are you showering?”

Amidst the sound of running water, Mi Man heard a familiar voice outside.

“Ah, yeah…” Mi Man turned her head slightly and turned up the water flow, using the noise to mask her unease.

Cheng Jing was outside.

She was probably there to wash up—Mi Man could see her brushing her teeth from the corner of her eye.

“Xiaoxiao and the others told me what happened today. Are you okay?”

Cheng Jing seemed oblivious to Mi Man’s discomfort and casually asked, “When did you and Mu Yunshu meet?”

Mi Man paused, saying nothing.

Technically, she had only met Mu Yunshu today—how could she possibly answer that question?

Admitting it was all just a ridiculous misunderstanding didn’t seem like a good idea either…

After some hesitation, Mi Man remained silent.

Hearing no response from the shower, Cheng Jing pursed her lips slightly. “If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t push. It’s getting late—finish up and come to bed soon. We have a commercial performance tomorrow.”

Mi Man nodded. “Yeah, I know.”

Not another word passed between them until Cheng Jing left.

Somehow, over time, their conversations had grown fewer and fewer. Even after nearly twenty years together, Mi Man still didn’t know how to face Cheng Jing—her once closest friend.

After all… Cheng Jing didn’t like her that way.

With a quiet sigh, Mi Man scolded herself for being so indecisive. Cheng Jing already had a girlfriend—she needed to stop overthinking things. It wasn’t fair to any of them.

Besides, she had bigger problems to worry about right now.

When she returned to the room, Mi Man saw Cheng Jing already asleep in the neighboring bed. Careful not to disturb her, she slipped under the covers and exhaled deeply.

One day at a time. Tomorrow was another chance to start fresh!

The next day’s commercial event went smoothly. Mi Man had half-expected the audience to pelt her with rotten eggs, but seeing everyone seated politely in their spots, she felt a wave of relief.

Thank goodness—her life was spared.

After their performance, Mi Man sat backstage in the lounge, sipping water.

Their group was only responsible for the opening dance, so once that was done, they had nothing else scheduled. The girls lounged around, chatting idly in comfort.

Just then, their manager pushed open the lounge door and stepped inside.

“Alright, enough sitting around,” Sister Gu said, scanning the room. “As arranged, any three of you—get changed and come out. The investors have arrived.”

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Mi Man’s girl group was just one of many under their company’s management. Though they’d gained some minor fame, leading to more commercial gigs, they were also expected to perform at parties for high-profile investors.

To put it bluntly—they were there to entertain wealthy older men at these events.

Seeing everyone’s troubled expressions, Sister Gu sighed softly and said, “Don’t look like that. This is a formal ball tonight—no one can take you away if you’re unwilling. Get changed and come out soon; it’s about to begin.”

After Sister Gu left, the group exchanged glances.

Mu Xiaoxiao tilted her head and said, “I don’t have to go. Whoever wants to can volunteer. Sister Gu said only three people are needed this time.”

A girl with long red hair glanced around and spoke up, “I’ll go. It’s just singing and dancing anyway, and we’ll earn some extra money.”

The girl beside her nodded in agreement.

“One more,” the red-haired girl said, turning to Cheng Jing. “Jingjing, will you join? You’re the best dancer among us.”

Cheng Jing was leaning against the dressing table, her girlfriend standing beside her. The two exchanged a look, and her girlfriend’s face clearly showed displeasure.

Mi Man, observing this, spoke up, “I’ll go.”

All eyes turned to her.

Mi Man smiled at the group. “I’m not bad at dancing either, and earning some extra cash sounds good.”

Mu Xiaoxiao gently tugged at her skirt and whispered, “I thought you didn’t like these kinds of events. Why volunteer?”

Mi Man shook her head. “I just want to see what it’s like.”

Seeing Mi Man had already agreed, Mu Xiaoxiao couldn’t persuade her further. She let go of her skirt and shot Cheng Jing a glance.

She really couldn’t understand what was so great about that woman, making Mi Man so infatuated.

She even preferred that Mu Yunshu—at least she had the guts to stand by her actions, with both attitude and means.

Once decided, Mi Man and the other two headed to the changing room, leaving the rest to their idleness.

Meanwhile.

In the VIP lounge upstairs, Mu Yunshu tossed aside the magazine in her hand and stood up, asking her assistant, “Is it about to start?”

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the preparations in the hotel ballroom were visible—lights and stage setups for the 10th-anniversary celebration of this five-star hotel. Many entertainment industry stars had been invited, both for publicity and to build connections with the elite.

The assistant checked the time. “It starts in half an hour. Should we head down early?”

As a top-tier celebrity, Mu Yunshu’s schedule was tightly managed. For crowded events like this, she usually arrived early or late to avoid mishaps.

Mu Yunshu swept her black hair back and said calmly, “Let’s go.”

Taking the private elevator down, she walked toward the reserved area with her assistant when, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a figure in white at the hallway’s turn.

Click—

The sharp tap of high heels echoed on the floor.

Mu Yunshu paused, glancing toward the girl in the white gown—Mi Man, waiting by the stage’s side entrance. Her performance outfit was a backless mermaid dress, and her chestnut hair, pinned up, accentuated the graceful lines of her neck and waist.

Her snow-white back was completely exposed, revealing even the delicate curve of her slender waist.

The assistant noticed her boss had stopped and followed her gaze, also spotting the girl in the floor-length dress.

“Isn’t that…” The assistant paused, then turned to ask, “Should we greet her?”

Mu Yunshu curled her lips into a faint smile. “No need. I’ll go to her myself later.”