Don’t Chase Me, It Won’t Work Out - Chapter 5

Yuan Churui casually brought up the past, causing Jiang Yaling’s fingers to stiffen momentarily before a belated, forced sweet smile slowly reappeared on her face, her eyes evasive. “That was Yirou-jiejie’s decision. I couldn’t influence it…”

Yuan Churui raised an eyebrow. She had her own judgment about whether Jiang Yaling could have influenced it, but she didn’t press the issue. She couldn’t be bothered to dwell on the past with her—if anyone should seek accountability, it should be the victim, Tao Youqing herself. What right did an outsider like her have to pursue it on her behalf?

Tucking a strand of her slightly curled, chest-length black hair behind her ear, revealing a delicate, fair earlobe, Yuan Churui said calmly, “Let me remind you again—I’m not Zhou Yirou. I have no interest in you. Don’t waste your efforts on me.”

Unfazed, Jiang Yaling replied, “But interest can be nurtured, can’t it?”

Yuan Churui looked at her and stated firmly, “Not with you. Impossible.”

Though she wasn’t entirely sure whether she preferred men or women, she was certain she had no attraction to Jiang Yaling’s type—or, more accurately, to Jiang Yaling herself.

Precisely because she lacked interest, she had always rejected Jiang Yaling’s advances, never giving her even a sliver of hope. Moreover, outside of Moon Chant Entertainment, the two of them met fewer than ten times a year. She couldn’t fathom why Jiang Yaling had persisted in liking her for so long without giving up.

Still, she was certain that beyond their professional relationship, the only other connection between them was their fathers’ acquaintance. There was nothing more to it.

Unfortunately, Jiang Yaling either didn’t understand this or chose not to, which was why she disregarded Yuan Churui’s feelings and continued her futile attempts to win her over.

“Impossible?” Jiang Yaling maintained her spring-breeze-like gentle smile. “But Churui-jiejie loves challenging the impossible, doesn’t she? Why not try conquering this ‘impossible’—me?”

A faint smile surfaced in Yuan Churui’s eyes, an invisible aura of authority radiating from her. “I do enjoy challenges, but I’m not stupid.”

Not every “impossible” was worth her time and effort. If someone taunted her with, “You could never destroy the world,” would she actually go and destroy it?

As an adult, one needed not just capability and confidence but also the most basic discernment. Liking Jiang Yaling was impossible—that was her fundamental judgment.

Jiang Yaling shivered under the weight of Yuan Churui’s deep, ink-dark gaze. No matter how many times she had faced it, she still couldn’t get used to such an imposing presence. But she couldn’t back down now. She rarely got to see her—she had to fight for her happiness one more time.

Besides, she was different from others. She was the Jiang family’s little princess. She could call Yuan Churui “jiejie”—others couldn’t. She was certain that, to Yuan Churui, she was the most special person at Moon Chant Entertainment.

Unfazed by Yuan Churui’s bluntness, Jiang Yaling put on an innocent, guileless smile, moved closer, and gently tugged at her sleeve, swaying it like a docile little rabbit. “How could Churui-jiejie be stupid? Churui-jiejie is the smartest person in the world!”

“But…” Jiang Yaling tightened her grip on the soft fabric of Yuan Churui’s sleeve, as if trying desperately to hold onto her. She lifted her gaze, her eyes soft and pleading, “But is there really no possibility at all?”

Yuan Churui wasn’t swayed by this act. She gave Jiang Yaling a cool, indifferent glance and didn’t respond.

The answer to this question had been repeated countless times by Yuan Churui. She knew Jiang Yaling was well aware of it, and she couldn’t be bothered to say it again. Her current aloof demeanor alone spoke volumes.

Jiang Yaling’s grip on the sleeve loosened slightly, then suddenly tightened again, as if she was struggling. “Aren’t you afraid you’ll regret it?” she asked.

Yuan Churui raised an eyebrow. “What would I have to regret?”

Jiang Yaling pressed her lips together and said, “Maybe… maybe you do have feelings for me, but you just don’t realize it yet?”

Yuan Churui denied it outright. “I’m not that oblivious.”

She looked at Jiang Yaling calmly and said, “Out of twelve months in a year, the number of times we’ve met can be counted on one hand. Even during my freest moments, I never think of you. Do you really think that counts as having feelings for you?”

“Let me remind you one last time—stop clinging to your delusions. I can’t give you what you want, and I don’t want to.”

Love was a matter between two people. It couldn’t be forced.

But Jiang Yaling insisted on forcing it. She refused to believe it.

There must be countless possibilities hidden between them—maybe even like in those TV dramas, where people only realize what they had after losing it.

Only after losing it would they cherish it…

Jiang Yaling’s eyes suddenly brightened. Maybe it was because she had always been at Yue Yong that Yuan Churui felt no sense of urgency. What if, once she terminated her contract and left for another company, Yuan Churui started missing her?!

If there was even the slightest possibility, she had to try—no matter the method. She had always gotten everything she wanted growing up, and this would be no different—she would definitely win Yuan Churui over!

She tightened her grip on Yuan Churui’s sleeve again, staring intently at her. “…What if I terminate my contract? Would you really not care even if I left?”

Yuan Churui paused, then slowly turned her head to look at her.

A spark of hope suddenly ignited in Jiang Yaling’s heart.

Yuan Churui looked at her with a faint, mocking smile. “Is that supposed to be a threat?” she said. Then added, “You should know how much I hate being threatened.”

Her gaze was sharp as a blade, making Jiang Yaling instinctively withdraw her hand. She sat there in stunned silence, so startled that she forgot what to say next.

Just then, the office door was knocked, and Huo Mingen walked in. He kept his eyes forward, making no unnecessary movements or showing concern, and professionally reported to Yuan Churui, “Little Yuan Director, Miss Chi is looking for you.”

Miss Chi, Chi Xueying, was a highly popular solo artist in the country and one of Yuan Churui’s friends. They were on good terms, and Chi Xueying occasionally recommended promising newcomers to her.

Yuan Churui shifted her gaze away from Jiang Yaling. “What is it?”

Huo Mingen adjusted his glasses. “Miss Chi asked me to ask if you’d be interested in signing a trainee.”

Yuan Churui asked, “Who?”

Huo Ming’en replied, “It’s Tao Youqing—the one you’re interested in.”

Tao Youqing…

Hearing that name again after five years, Jiang Yaling’s heart clenched—not out of guilt, but shock.

What did Huo Ming’en mean by “the one you’re interested in”?

Could it be… Could Yuan Churui have taken a liking to Tao Youqing???

Impossible! How could that be! Tao Youqing has been unknown for five years; how could Yuan Churui possibly be interested in her?!

“You want to sign her?” Jiang Yaling heard herself ask.

Yuan Churui calmly stood up, “That’s not something you should concern yourself with.”

“It’s impossible,” Jiang Yaling gritted her teeth. “You won’t be able to sign her. She loves Sister Yirou so much—she’ll definitely stay at Xinglan. She won’t come to Yueyong.”

So, it seemed she knew about the relationship between Tao Youqing and Zhou Yirou.

Yuan Churui smiled, as composed as ever, “Brains are for thinking, not for decoration. I have plenty of ways to get Tao Youqing to sign with Yueyong.”

With that, she took a step forward, intending to leave with Huo Ming’en. Jiang Yaling abruptly stood up, staring at her intently, her expression a mix of resentment and unwillingness, “You won’t succeed!”

Yuan Churui paused, turning her head slightly to glance at her with a leisurely lift of her eyelids, her lips curving into a smile, “Whether I succeed or not isn’t up to you.”

As the office door closed behind them, Huo Ming’en followed Yuan Churui’s steps, carefully committing her every word to memory.

“Arrange a meeting with Zhou Yirou for me.”

“Keep a close eye on Tao Youqing’s recent activities.”

“Also, prepare the termination agreement for Jiang Yaling.”

Yuan Churui wasn’t the type to let subordinates threaten her with termination so casually. Besides, Jiang Yaling wasn’t even among Yueyong’s top-tier artists—letting her go wouldn’t be the slightest bit regrettable.

And… since Jiang Yaling had delivered herself right to her doorstep, there was no reason not to make use of her.

…

It was the same familiar hair salon, but this time, the person sitting in the chair, waiting for a new transformation, was Tao Youqing.

Guan Meilin sat in the empty seat beside her, head bowed as she texted her girlfriend. Once she sent the message, she put away her phone and propped her chin in her hand, looking at Tao Youqing. “Taotao, are you considering Yueyong?”

Tao Youqing scrolled through Weibo, chuckling, “Isn’t that setting the bar a bit too high?”

Guan Meilin was quick to cheer her on, “So what if it’s high? Our Tao Fairy can totally handle it—you’re the best!”

Tao Youqing played along, “Thank you for the support, Miss Guan. Once I’m done with my hair, I’ll treat you to a ‘Stone Shattering Chest’ performance!”

Guan Meilin waved her hand dismissively, steering the conversation back on track, “I really think you should consider Yueyong. So many people dream of joining them!”

Her eyes sparkled as she pulled out her phone, searching as she added, “And Yueyong’s CEO is gorgeous!”

Tao Youqing had been so infatuated with Zhou Yirou before that she paid no attention to other women’s looks—she wouldn’t even spare them a glance. So, she had no idea what Yuan Churui, Yueyong’s CEO, even looked like.

Guan Meilin found a photo and turned the screen toward her, “See? Beautiful, right?”

On the screen, Yuan Churui sat by a brightly lit window, her slightly curled black hair cascading gently over her slender shoulders, making her skin appear as pale as snow.

The faint upward tilt of her eyes carried an air of noble languor, her gaze as dazzling as the stars in the sky. The corners of her rosy lips held a perfectly poised smile, her features so exquisitely crafted they seemed sculpted by the heavens themselves. One glance was all it took to be utterly captivated, leaving nothing in the mind but the word “beautiful.”

Tao Youqing was utterly dazzled and gave a fair assessment, “Beautiful, absolutely stunning.”

Upon hearing the words “absolutely stunning,” Guan Meilin couldn’t help but ask, “Then who do you think is more beautiful between the two of you?”

Tao Youqing fell into deep thought before answering earnestly after a while, “If we must compare, this Little Yuan Director falls just a bit short of me.”

Guan Meilin, now the curious child, pressed on, “What exactly is she lacking?”

With a solemn expression, Tao Youqing declared, “She lacks the righteous aura born from my poverty.”

Guan Meilin was baffled, “…Is that even a beauty standard???”

Tao Youqing replied with all seriousness, “Yes, the Tao Beauty Standard.”

Guan Meilin speechless, “???”

You actually made that up yourself???

Tao Youqing lifted her chin shamelessly, “In my beauty standards, no one can defeat me!”

Guan Meilin speechless, “…”

I’m such a fool, really. Why did I ask such a question to the queen of narcissism…