The Breakup Didn’t Stop Me From Owning the World - Chapter 12

Lan Muyu’s words, paired with the frozen kiss scene displayed behind her, sent the press conference into an uproar. Even the reporters invited by Fu Yao began switching sides, bombarding Fu Yao with questions:

“Fu Yao, is that really you in the video? Is what Lan Muyu said true? Did you really cheat on her on signing day?”

“Fu Yao, how long have you been involved with the woman in the video? Did you betray Lan Muyu long ago?”

“Did you purchase the trending hashtag #LanMuyuSignsWithTianhaoEntertainment on signing day? What was your true motive for insisting on bringing Lan Muyu into Tianhao? Can we assume you wanted to bind her with a contract to prevent the truth from coming out?”

“Fu Yao, you specifically organized this press conference to sign Lan Muyu. What were your intentions? Were you trying to reconcile with her?”

“Fu Yao, please answer us—are these allegations true?”

“This… this is slander! The video is fake! Don’t believe Lan Muyu’s one-sided accusations!” Fu Yao struggled to grab the microphone and refute. “Stop filming! Security, where’s security?”

As soon as Fu Yao spoke, several bodyguards rushed to the stage, forming a human barrier against the agitated reporters.

Fu Yao turned to Lan Muyu. “You deliberately set me up?”

Lan Muyu sat back down. “Fu Yao, I also have surveillance footage from the Tingyu Intercontinental. You and Jiang Qianrou were pulling at each other right in front of the prominent third-floor landmark. The surveillance captured it even more clearly than my recording. Would you like to see?”

Lan Muyu nodded at Ling Shan in the audience, and the screen behind her immediately changed. The timestamped surveillance footage played, showing Fu Yao and Jiang Qianrou’s actions recreated in detail—though not as high-definition as Lan Muyu’s recording, it was unmistakably real.

This surveillance footage silenced Fu Yao—there was no denying its authenticity.

While the bodyguards still held back the reporters, Fu Yao threatened Lan Muyu in a low voice, “Hand over the footage, and I’ll forgive you. Lan Muyu, you have no backing. Do you really think joining Starlight will be smooth sailing? Newcomers struggle to break through. If I decide to suppress you, you’ll be shelved indefinitely.”

“I believe you. But I’ve already told you—I don’t want to be with you anymore.” Lan Muyu glanced at Jiang Qianrou, now surrounded by reporters. “Aren’t you going to help your lover?”

Fu Yao looked at Jiang Qianrou, hardened her heart, and turned back. She checked her phone—the recording she had once been so proud of now seemed worthless compared to Lan Muyu’s video.

Moreover, the reporters’ questions had already sparked conspiracy theories about her insistence on bringing Lan Muyu into Tianhao Entertainment. If she released the recording now, it would only garner more sympathy for Lan Muyu and well-wishes for her new relationship.

Fu Yao took a deep breath. The only thing she could do now was minimize Tianhao Entertainment’s losses. As long as the company remained standing, she would still be the glamorous Fu Yao. With some charity work and a public apology, netizens would soon forget this scandal.

Fu Yao turned the microphone back on. “I want to apologize to Lan Muyu. That day was my grandmother’s birthday celebration. Hoping for double happiness, I planned to invite Xiao Yu to attend and sign her with Tianhao Entertainment at the same time.”

A reporter immediately retorted, “Then how do you explain the video just now? Is the video fake?”

“The video is real, and it was indeed from that day. But I was drunk at the time and mistook the woman in the video for Xiao Yu. Here, I want to apologize to Lan Muyu.” Fu Yao turned and bowed to Lan Muyu.

Lan Muyu took half a step back but said nothing.

Fu Yao lowered her eyes, making her expression unreadable, her voice trembling slightly. “I truly know I was wrong, but I really do like you. I don’t expect your forgiveness—I just hope, I just hope this doesn’t affect your mood.”

As Fu Yao humbly apologized, some reporters began to soften. “Fu Yao is a rich second-generation heir. The fact that she stayed with Lan Muyu for so long proves she genuinely cares. Shouldn’t we forgive someone who made a mistake while drunk?”

As soon as these words were spoken, the reporters around her immediately edged away, looking at her as if she were an idiot. “Then I hope all your future partners have drunken flings too.”

The reporter who spoke up for Fu Yao instantly flushed red.

On stage, Lan Muyu merely nodded slightly. “Are you done?”

Seeing that Lan Muyu didn’t refute her claim about being drunk, Fu Yao thought there might be a chance to turn things around. She spoke with deep emotion, “Xiao Yu, give me another chance. I’ll treat you right. Didn’t we agree before that once you joined Tianhao, I’d give you the best resources to promote you?”

“The best resources? But I remember the contract didn’t say anything like that.”

Fu Yao’s face flickered with panic for a moment, but she was certain she hadn’t left any physical contracts with Lan Muyu, nor had she sent her an electronic copy. She quickly explained to the reporters, “As media professionals, you all know how artist contracts work, right? I’d already discussed with Xiao Yu—Tianhao and Xiao Yu would split earnings 60-40, with Tianhao covering all team and PR expenses for Xiao Yu.”

Fu Yao listened with satisfaction as the reporters below praised her, letting out a quiet sigh of relief. After all, for a newcomer like Lan Muyu, contracts usually didn’t exceed a 50-50 split. Yet she was offering 60-40 and covering all additional costs—she was playing the emotional card to the fullest.

With money on the table, the reporters’ sympathies began to shift. “Honestly, if Lan Muyu forgives Fu Yao, this contract is a great deal. Where else could Xingyao offer terms this good?”

Fu Yao nodded approvingly and extended her hand sincerely to Lan Muyu. “Xiao Yu, come sign the contract with me later, okay? We’ll go terminate your contract with Xingyao first.”

Lan Muyu suggested, “Do you have the contract ready? I just hired a contract-savvy agent. I’d like her to look it over first.”

Fu Yao glanced at Ling Shan in the audience, frowning hesitantly at her shrewd appearance. “She’s Xingyao’s agent. I’ll help you find a better one later.”

Since Fu Yao wanted to put on a show, Lan Muyu was happy to oblige. She smiled gently, playing the part of a considerate lover. “It’s fine. Sister Ling is great at reviewing contracts. Just show it to her—I’m sure all the reporters here are curious too. I’ll sign with you right after, okay?”

The reporters chimed in,
“Yeah, show it! Why not sign now?”
“Who knows if the terms will change later in private?”
“Just bring it out already.”

But how could Fu Yao produce such a contract on such short notice?

The contract she held offered Lan Muyu a mere five percent share of the profits.

Fu Yao, having barely managed to turn the situation around, wasn’t about to back down. “Xiao Yu, surely you don’t think I’d lie to you?”

“I wouldn’t put it past you,” Lan Muyu replied, waving to Ling Shan in the audience, who promptly handed her a document.

Lan Muyu flipped to the last page of the contract, where Tianhao Entertainment’s official seal was prominently stamped. The rest of the content was projected onto the screen behind them as she leisurely asked Fu Yao, “Fu Yao, is this the contract you mentioned with a 60-40 split? Because it clearly states I only get five percent, and I must unconditionally comply with filming the company’s in-house dramas—otherwise, I’d be in breach and liable for ten times the damages.”

Fu Yao immediately lunged forward, snatching the contract from Lan Muyu’s hands, her carefully styled hair now disheveled. She tore the contract to shreds on the spot.

This impulsive act erased any lingering doubts the reporters might have had about the authenticity of the contract’s terms.

Lan Muyu wasn’t fazed. She calmly watched Fu Yao tear the document apart before speaking, her tone almost cheerful. “I have digital backups. Feel free to tear up as many copies as you like.”

“You—you—!” Fu Yao stammered.

Lan Muyu ignored her flustered state, turning instead to the reporters and bowing deeply. “This was originally a private matter between Fu Yao and me. I sincerely apologize for taking up your time today. I, Lan Muyu, hereby formally declare that I have broken up with Fu Yao and will never join Tianhao Entertainment.”

Before the reporters could react, Lan Muyu turned on her heel, her back straight and resolute, escorted away by her bodyguards, leaving behind a striking and unyielding image.

What the reporters would dig up about Fu Yao afterward, or what would unfold following the press conference, was no longer her concern.

Once Ling Shan led her into the company van, Lan Muyu excitedly hugged her, beaming for praise. “Ling-jie, how did I do just now?”

Ling Shan pushed her away with a look of disdain. “You did well. I was worried you might waver halfway through, but it seems I wasn’t wrong about you.”

Lan Muyu wasn’t surprised by the remark. As her agent, Ling Shan must have done her research. Recalling her past blind obedience to Fu Yao, Lan Muyu felt the need to explain. “Ling-jie, don’t worry, my feelings for her—”

“I have no interest in your romantic drama.”

Lan Muyu chuckled. “Ling-jie, I owe it all to that contract. How did you manage to forge Tianhao’s seal? Even Fu Yao couldn’t tell it was fake—you’re amazing!”

“You think it was fake?”

“Wait… it wasn’t?”

“Of course it was real,” Ling Shan replied absently, scrolling through her phone. “But speaking of that, you should thank President Li properly. She’s the one who gave me Tianhao’s contract.”

“L-Li Ruonan?” Lan Muyu covered her face in dismay.

If Li Ruonan knew about the contract’s terms, wouldn’t the carefully crafted persona she’d built in front of her crumble once again?

Lan Muyu could already picture Li Ruonan’s cold, mocking expression.

Swallowing hard, she suggested, “Ling-jie, don’t take me home just yet. Let’s head back to Xingyao instead, okay?”