The Breakup Didn’t Stop Me From Owning the World - Chapter 11

Early the next morning, Lan Muyu got up bright and early, humming a tune in the kitchen as she noisily prepared breakfast.

She had stayed up late in Li Ruonan’s study the previous night, analyzing every possible mishap that could occur at the press conference. By the time she finished, it was already deep into the night. Staggering back to her room on unsteady legs, she barely had time to shower before the villa’s power was cut off again.

For Li Ruonan, some things might be delayed, but they would never be denied. But for Lan Muyu, even things she had lost once before couldn’t be taken for granted.

So, Lan Muyu approached Li Ruonan, boasting about her culinary skills with such exaggerated flair that she might as well have been the reincarnation of a master chef. She successfully bargained for electricity in exchange for breakfast the next morning.

But what did Lan Muyu actually know about cooking? After ruining her tenth attempt at a sunny-side-up egg, she finally gave up on aesthetics and stuffed all the fried eggs between slices of bread. As long as no one opened them, no one would know how ugly they looked inside.

Hearing Li Ruonan’s footsteps approaching, Lan Muyu quickly handed her a plate of freshly assembled sandwiches, her big eyes shining with anticipation. “Try one,” she urged.

The sandwiches looked decent enough—after all, they were just slices of bread on the outside, leaving little room for criticism. Li Ruonan took one skeptically and bit into it.

Hmm? Surprisingly, it tasted pretty good.

Lan Muyu might not have been a master chef, but she could at least fry an egg and grill some meat. Combined with store-bought sauce, she managed to pull it off.

She then handed Li Ruonan a glass of milk. “Want some?”

Li Ruonan took a few sips. “What do you need from me now?”

“Am I really that kind of person?”

Li Ruonan studied Lan Muyu. Based on her understanding of the girl, she had already restored the power the night before. Even if Lan Muyu reneged on her promise to make breakfast, there wasn’t much Li Ruonan could do about it.

Or perhaps what awaited her was simply a… less-than-palatable breakfast.

The CEO couldn’t quite figure out Lan Muyu’s intentions, so she simply tossed a car key across the table. “It’s inconvenient for you to go out. Take this car.”

Lan Muyu caught the key, glanced at the brand, and tossed it back. “This car’s too flashy. It’d be bad if I got photographed with it.”

“Why?”

Resting her chin on one hand and holding half a sandwich in the other, Lan Muyu blinked her right eye at Li Ruonan. “Are you that eager to be my sugar mommy? You want people to think I’m being kept?”

That left Li Ruoan momentarily speechless. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Lan Muyu pouted. “I mean exactly what I said. Do you even know how expensive this car is?”

“Is it?”

Lan Muyu resisted the urge to roll her eyes. If she hadn’t fallen out with her family and was still the pampered princess of the Lan household, she wouldn’t have batted an eye at the price. But now she was reduced to bargaining for electricity with breakfast—how pitiful.

After a moment’s thought, she said tactfully, “For a newcomer like me, getting a 20-30% cut from my agency contract is already considered good. This car of yours costs as much as an apartment. Do you really think I can afford it?”

“You have a point,” Li Ruonan conceded, then added curiously, “If you know you can’t afford the car, why do you think you’re worth your current contract terms? Should we renegotiate the split?”

“Ah, Sister Ling will be here soon. I’ll go upstairs to change first. Take your time eating.” Lan Muyu dashed up to the second floor like a rabbit, still grabbing a sandwich on her way.

When Ling Shan arrived, Li Ruonan had already left. She looked at Lan Muyu, who was wearing a simple-colored dress with light makeup, appearing pure yet refined, and was quite satisfied.

Over the years, Ling Shan had only managed one star—Fu Qian. After they got married, Fu Qian had already won all the Best Actor awards and gradually stepped back from the spotlight, trying his hand at directing films.

But Ling Shan had different ambitions. With years of accumulated connections, she wanted to groom another newcomer but had struggled to find the right candidate. When the higher-ups at Starlight Entertainment approached her, she initially refused upon hearing that Lan Muyu was a parachute appointment.

However, after persistent persuasion from the executives, she reluctantly reviewed Lan Muyu’s work and unexpectedly found her appealing. Moreover, after their conversation last night, Ling Shan was pleased to see that Lan Muyu wasn’t just a pretty face.

After all, if an artist insisted on self-sabotage, even the most capable agent couldn’t save them.

After some polite exchanges, Lan Muyu followed Ling Shan into the company van. It was rush hour, and the streets were packed with cars, barely moving through each traffic light.

Seeing Lan Muyu calmly gazing out the window, Ling Shan couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you nervous?”

Lan Muyu shook her head. “No.”

“Well, you’re about to expose your ex-girlfriend’s true colors. There might be many similar press conferences in the future, so consider this practice.”

“Got it, Sister Ling.”

“Also, you won’t hesitate later, will you? If you feel conflicted, let me know in advance so I can arrange PR.”

Lan Muyu paused, then quickly understood Ling Shan’s concern. “Fu Yao and I were together, but as the video shows, she cheated. We have no relationship now.”

“What about President Li?” Ling Shan asked, then added, “I didn’t bring it up last night because she was there, but as your agent, I need to know about your private life.”

“She’s an older sister I’ve known since childhood. My parents asked her to look after me.” Considering that Ling Shan would now be tied to her, Lan Muyu weighed her words carefully. “We had an arranged marriage when we were young, but it was called off later.”

“An… arranged marriage?” Ling Shan knew how powerful Li Ruonan was—enough to make Starlight’s executives bow and scrape. If Lan Muyu had such ties to her, her family background must be impressive. Fortunately, Ling Shan was worldly enough to quickly regain her composure. “Don’t mention this publicly to avoid misunderstandings.”

“Understood.”

“Also, I originally planned to give you an underdog persona, but given your background, a wealthy second-generation image could also work. What do you think?”

Lan Muyu waved her hands quickly. “No, no. I have some issues with my family. The underdog newcomer persona is fine.”

“Alright. I’ve already arranged for last night’s video to be shown at the press conference. Just follow the plan—remember everything we discussed?”

Lan Muyu nodded. “Don’t worry, Sister Ling.”

The car pulled into the Platinum Grand Hotel, with only minutes left before the press conference began. Ling Shan had deliberately timed their arrival to prevent Lan Muyu from being harassed again before the event. Reporters without invitations had already been waiting at the hotel entrance, forcing the driver to take a detour to the side entrance. Ling Shan escorted Lan Muyu inside, followed by several tall bodyguards.

The venue was packed with reporters, and Tianhao Entertainment staff could be seen everywhere, chatting with journalists and maintaining order. At the front of the room, Fu Yao was already seated on the stage, her expression impatient as she checked her watch.

When Lan Muyu finally appeared, Fu Yao’s earlier irritation vanished. She smiled and waved at Lan Muyu, a gesture that quickly drew the attention of the other reporters. A flurry of camera flashes immediately turned toward Lan Muyu.

Lan Muyu was even more stunning in person than on screen, her graceful ascent to the stage leaving the audience breathless. Even without Fu Yao’s gesture, she would have effortlessly commanded the attention of everyone present.

A female reporter at the edge of the crowd was jostled and stumbled toward Lan Muyu, who swiftly caught her. “Be careful,” Lan Muyu said softly.

The reporter looked up, momentarily stunned by Lan Muyu’s gentle smile.

“Are you alright?”

Only after hearing Lan Muyu’s voice again did the reporter snap out of her daze, shaking her head. “I’m fine.”

Lan Muyu smiled at her once more before continuing toward the stage. This small act of kindness won her the goodwill of the reporters.

Fu Yao didn’t recognize Ling Shan, but many of the journalists did. The sight of Ling Shan trailing behind Lan Muyu sparked hushed whispers among the crowd. While the public remained unaware of Fu Yao’s intentions, the reporters had already caught wind of the truth—this press conference was Tianhao’s way of announcing Lan Muyu’s official signing.

And now, with Ling Shan, Star Glory’s top agent, appearing here, things had just gotten a lot more interesting.

After escorting Lan Muyu to the stage, Ling Shan stood below with the bodyguards, ready to step in at any moment to ensure Lan Muyu’s safety.

Today, Fu Yao was meticulously dressed, her demeanor a far cry from their last meeting in the café. The bold red on her lips reflected her cheerful mood.

As Lan Muyu approached, Fu Yao stood and opened her arms for an embrace, only for Lan Muyu to take a step back and murmur, “Too many eyes.”

Fu Yao froze, glancing at the reporters snapping photos below. She awkwardly patted Lan Muyu’s shoulder instead.

“Shall we sit?” Lan Muyu gestured to the chairs.

“Sure.” Once seated, Fu Yao shot a glance at Jiang Qianrou in the audience but received no response. She thought back to the recording in her possession, and her doubts faded slightly. She chalked it up to Lan Muyu’s guilt over her infidelity and not wanting to provoke her current partner.

With that in mind, Fu Yao’s smile returned. She straightened her posture and picked up the microphone. “Thank you all for coming today. I’m Fu Yao from Tianhao Entertainment, and this is Lan Muyu.”

Lan Muyu nodded politely to the audience. At first glance, the two on stage did seem as perfectly matched as netizens had claimed—one a red rose, the other a white rose, each with their own allure.

Fu Yao continued, “Regarding the statements made on Weibo a few days ago, I’d like to take this opportunity to clarify. Miss Lan Muyu and I have known each other since our student days, and our relationship has been stable. She will also be joining Tianhao Entertainment, and I hope everyone will continue to support Tianhao in the future.”

“There are many details involved, so I won’t elaborate on them one by one. If you’re interested, please feel free to ask questions.”

A flurry of camera flashes lit up the room. Fu Yao casually pointed to a reporter in the front row—one who had been specially arranged by Tianhao. “Lan Muyu, can you explain why you previously posted on Weibo saying you hadn’t signed with anyone, only to later sign with Xingyao? Was it a deliberate attempt to create hype for yourself?”

Lan Muyu turned on the microphone in front of her, glanced at Fu Yao beside her, and smiled before responding, “At that time, I truly hadn’t signed with anyone, and later, I did sign with Xingyao. I apologize here for occupying public resources with this matter.”

After speaking, Lan Muyu stood up and bowed sincerely, admitting her mistake without hesitation. Her earnest demeanor won over the reporters present, earning her some goodwill.

But the same reporter pressed on relentlessly, “Rumors say you signed with Xingyao because of personal conflicts with Miss Fu Yao. Now that your relationship has supposedly reconciled, are you planning to break your contract with Xingyao to join Tianhao? Don’t you think your behavior is excessive?”

“I also despise such behavior, but—”

Before Lan Muyu could finish, Fu Yao cut in, “Please don’t make baseless accusations, reporter. Xiao Yu would never mix personal matters with professional ones. The signing was just a misunderstanding. She was just… upset with me because I didn’t handle things well. You can blame me, but don’t speak of her that way.”

Fu Yao’s words quickly sparked discussion among the reporters. On the surface, it sounded like she was defending Lan Muyu, insisting that personal feelings hadn’t influenced her professional decisions. But upon closer thought, her words subtly implied that Lan Muyu had acted impulsively, toying with both talent agencies.

Another reporter in the front row, granted permission, picked up the microphone and questioned, “Lan Muyu, if you’re willing to break a contract over personal matters now, does that mean any contract you sign in the future could also be broken at any time?”

“No, that’s not the case,” Fu Yao interjected again. “Xiao Yu just has occasional mood swings. She’s been spoiled by me, so please don’t be too harsh on her.”

Lan Muyu shot a sidelong glance at Fu Yao, who was putting on a deeply affectionate act. She wondered what other nonsense Fu Yao would spout next.

Another reporter nearby grabbed the microphone. “Lan Muyu, I’ve been a fan of yours since your debut, but I never expected you to be this kind of person. Please answer me—is what was just said true?”

Fu Yao gazed at Lan Muyu with tender affection. “I know you all don’t understand Xiao Yu, but she’s the only one I love. Please stop attacking her. I’m willing to share the blame for this mistake with her.”

“Miss Fu, but isn’t Lan Muyu’s behavior just her acting like a diva?”

“She didn’t mean it. Xiao Yu, apologize to them again.”

All eyes turned back to Lan Muyu. Far from looking flustered, she even let out a soft laugh before speaking calmly, “I won’t apologize for something I didn’t do. It’s true that I didn’t sign with Tianhao Entertainment before because of personal reasons.”

A reporter in the audience who had managed to grab the microphone shouted, “So you really treat contract signings as a joke?”

“Later, I did sign with Star Glory Entertainment, but there’s one point you might have misunderstood.” Lan Muyu looked around, her smile fading. “From beginning to end, I never said I still intended to sign with Tianhao Entertainment.”

“W-what?” Before the reporters could ask, Fu Yao beside her whispered sharply, “Lan Muyu, what’s wrong with you? Didn’t we agree last night? What kind of occasion is this?”

Lan Muyu tapped her phone screen, soon playing a recording of Jiang Qianrou’s voice: Once you join Tianhao, you’ll still be President Fu’s girlfriend. Publicly promoting your CP can boost both your careers, making it easier to establish yourselves in the entertainment industry. You two can take on several joint endorsements—wouldn’t it be great for everyone to make money together?

Addressing the reporters below, Lan Muyu said, “Last night, Fu Yao had someone contact me, attempting to bribe me into signing with Tianhao. Of course, I believe money is worthless compared to my love.”

No one recognized Jiang Qianrou’s voice, assuming it was just one of Fu Yao’s staff members. But Lan Muyu’s next words sent shockwaves through the crowd of reporters.

“Lan Muyu, what exactly are you trying to do?” Fu Yao reached out to grab her, but Lan Muyu dodged, and the bodyguards who had accompanied Lan Muyu immediately rushed onto the stage, flanking her protectively.

“I just want to present the truth to the reporters and netizens,” Lan Muyu said calmly.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll expose you?” Fu Yao demanded loudly, picking up her phone to search for her own recording.

Fu Yao’s face twisted as she found the recording, but just as she raised a triumphant smile, she noticed the reporters below were staring at her with strange looks.

Fu Yao stiffly turned around. The large wall behind them was now projecting a video—one of the female leads in the footage was none other than Fu Yao herself!

The very same Fu Yao who had just affectionately declared she only loved Lan Muyu and was willing to face the consequences together!

In the video, the two women tugged at each other for a long time. Sharp-eyed reporters had already noticed that one of Fu Yao’s staff members standing below the stage was the other woman in the video!

As the video showed Fu Yao embracing the other woman, the reporters’ eyes lit up with excitement. Meanwhile, Fu Yao, like a ridiculous clown, shouted at the staff below to turn off the video.

—Yet no one knew where the projection was coming from.

The video abruptly ended just as Fu Yao and Jiang Qianrou kissed, freezing on a close-up of their lips locked together.

A mocking smile curled on Lan Muyu’s lips as she stood up. “As for why I didn’t sign—it’s because on the day I was supposed to sign with Tianhao Entertainment, I happened to witness this very scene at Tingyu Intercontinental. Tell me, everyone—should I have signed?”