Offending Someone

Her ex-girlfriend's current girlfriend.

At the same time, Bo Wuxue sent another batch of links. Whichever one Xing Yue opened, she found either lingerie or finger sleeves in every imaginable style.

Bo Wuxue sounded proud: [Look, I designed all of these. They're selling like crazy. I've got some that aren't on the market yet, too. I'll let you try them first. Nobody else gets that privilege. I'm a good friend, right? (Sisters forever.jpg)]

The Bo Family had trained Bo Wuxue from childhood in perfume, jewelry, and formalwear. Who would have guessed that the glamorous, elegant chief designer was also making a name for herself designing lingerie on the side?

Lately, Bo Wuxue had gone further, branching out into intimate toys. She always had strange new ideas, and every product sold out.

Xing Yue admired her. Even with all the restrictions her family placed on her, Bo Wuxue had secretly opened a private factory and grown it into a thriving business.

"Why don't you try them with your fiancée? It might bring you closer." Xing Yue sent a voice message.

Bo Wuxue had not seen her fiancée since the night they got engaged.

"Well, I heard from someone..." Bo Wuxue sounded troubled and could not help complaining. "She had a childhood sweetheart. I think they even dated. Her family probably forced her to get engaged to me. What's the point?"

Their engagement was a marriage alliance for their families' benefit. They had no feelings for each other to begin with, and after hearing those rumors, Bo Wuxue had even less interest in growing closer.

"Whatever the situation, you should talk it through. Dragging it out won't do either of you any good."

Xing Yue tried to persuade her for a while, then let the matter drop. They were already engaged. Given the Bo Family's status, Bo Wuxue could not simply call it off because she wanted to.

After chatting a little longer, Xing Yue drove to pick up Tan Xiang'e. She waited outside the apartment complex for a short while before Tan Xiang'e came out carrying bags in both hands.

New Shadow Entertainment allowed each person only one personal assistant. Xing Yue was the company's sole recommended candidate, and it had signed other artists who would all be going to the training camp together.

They would represent New Shadow Entertainment in the competition.

Xing Yue could only give the assistant spot to Tan Xiang'e. Otherwise, she would not be allowed in.

"I've never met a celebrity before. Who else is going with you? If I see a big star, can I ask for an autograph?" Tan Xiang'e loaded her things into the trunk and climbed into the car, visibly excited.

Xing Yue thought back to the list she had received the night before. "Two actresses, Lan Qianqian and Mi Ning. And an internet celebrity called Great White Shark."

Lan Qianqian had once been hailed as born for historical dramas. She had starred in only two smash hits before her career cooled. Now she was going on the show to see if she could revive her old popularity.

Mi Ning was a sweet, Japanese-style idol who had debuted through an overseas talent show. Since returning home, her career had never quite taken off. There were no truly dominant actresses of her type in the domestic industry yet, so New Shadow Entertainment would probably promote her heavily.

Great White Shark was an internet celebrity, roughly on Xing Yue's level, though their work was different. Xing Yue sang covers; Great White Shark had gone viral for short outfit-change videos. Her popularity was fleeting, and she had few loyal fans.

When Tan Xiang'e heard that none of her favorites would be there, she gave up on getting an autograph, though she stayed excited for the entire drive.

At their destination, someone showed them to their accommodations. The entire building belonged to New Shadow Entertainment. Five floors in the middle were dedicated to training, while their rooms were on the sixteenth floor.

All four artists had been assigned rooms on the same floor. The spacious main rooms had everything they needed, with smaller rooms beside them for their assistants. The arrangements were luxurious.

Many trainees had it rough before debuting; sharing a dorm room with several others was normal. By comparison, New Shadow Entertainment was generous. No wonder so many young women were desperate to get in.

Xing Yue put away her things and was taken to a practice room. The other three artists were there, along with staff members, instructors, and a woman who appeared to be an executive.

"You're Xing Yue?" Luo Zhi looked her up and down, then glanced at the file in her hand. "No makeup, right? You're better-looking than your photo. Why hasn't your studio shown your face in any of your videos? Sing a couple of lines a cappella for me."

After years of running the company, Luo Zhi had a sharp eye for talent. A brief interaction was enough for her to pinpoint an artist's image and find what made her stand out.

Xing Yue had no original songs, so she sang a few lines from one she knew well.

Her breath control was steady, and every note was on pitch. Anyone who knew music could hear the depth of her skill. She was not simply singing off the cuff; there was technique behind it.

At a time when online covers often reduced classics to catchy, disposable tunes, Xing Yue was a pleasant surprise.

But her voice...

Luo Zhi frowned. "Your voice doesn't sound like it does in your videos."

Xing Yue's voice in her cover videos was captivating, airy yet resonant. Why did it sound so dry and hoarse in person?

"Ahem..." Xing Yue cleared her throat. "I caught a chill. I've got a bit of a cold."

Her ears grew hot as she remembered crying out in bed all night. Only now did it hit her how wild they had been, without a trace of restraint.

Beside them, Mi Ning gave a little snicker and said sweetly, "Ms. Luo, there's something you don't know. Some singers owe their voices to a million-dollar sound engineer. It's all fixed by machines. Of course they sound different live."

Mi Ning was young and headstrong, and she had grown used to being fawned over abroad. She disliked both Xing Yue and Jiang Yue. Competing alongside internet celebrities as a company representative felt beneath her.

Even in the training room, she sat beside the other actress, who had some name recognition. She had been cold to Jiang Yue and had made snide remarks to Xing Yue.

At her words, everyone turned to look at Xing Yue. Even Luo Zhi wondered how she would respond.

But Xing Yue's gaze remained calm. She acted as though she had heard nothing.

Luo Zhi smoothed things over. "All right. The company plans to promote every one of you. During training, you're not rivals. Help each other and learn from each other."

Then Luo Zhi brought out a box containing several folded slips of paper. "The company has paid for the rights to all the songs in here. To keep things fair, you'll each draw the song you'll perform in the competition. Professional instructors will start working with you in two days. Until then, you may trade songs with one another."

As for the dancing, dedicated choreographers would create routines tailored to each artist.

Once she had explained everything, Luo Zhi left.

It was their first day, and they had plenty to do: get familiar with the facilities, hear the staff explain the competition process, and learn about the scripted segments they would need to complete.

Xing Yue had good luck. She drew a recent hit by an internationally famous diva. The company had probably paid a fortune for it.

Mi Ning saw her slip and went green with envy. She moved closer. "I think the song I drew suits you better. Want to trade?"

Xing Yue looked at Mi Ning's song. It was an obscure track from forty years ago, distinctly dated. It might not even have had many listeners back then. The original singer was from overseas as well.

Xing Yue nodded. "Sure."

Everyone in the room froze. Mi Ning stared too. She had not expected Xing Yue to agree so readily; she had only asked on the off chance it might work.

Jiang Yue, who had kept a low profile until then, suddenly stepped forward. "Xing Yue, we still have two days. Why not take your song back and try it first? There's no rush."

Jiang Yue had been excluded and targeted from the moment she arrived. When she heard that Xing Yue was an internet celebrity too, she thought they might stick together and made an effort to be friendly.

Those few words were enough to offend Mi Ning.

"Who asked you? You're the most useless one here. Don't think I don't know how you got in." Mi Ning rolled her eyes, then snatched the slip from Xing Yue's hand and shoved her own at her.

Called out in front of everyone, Jiang Yue's eyes darkened, but a gentle smile appeared on her face. The shift was so quick it was hard to notice. "You're right, Mi Ning. You're the breakout star among the newcomers, the best of the best at singing and dancing in a girl group. I'm such a beginner. I have so many questions I'd like to ask you. Sorry to be a bother."

The tactic worked on Mi Ning. The praise went straight to her head.

She did not notice the cold look in Jiang Yue's eyes. Jiang Yue walked to a corner and sent someone a message: [Pretend you're someone called Luo Zhi and text this number. Ask her to meet you at a nearby hotel tonight. Say there's a work matter you need to discuss privately. Tell her to sneak out, keep quiet, and not call back.]

[I'll help you, but I want to know what you're planning. You're about to go on the show. Don't make this a big deal.]

Jiang Yue did not change her mind. She kept instructing the man on the other end of the chat to act as her accomplice: [Nothing much. I'm just teaching that bitch a little lesson. Get her to go out. I've made other arrangements for the rest.]

From now until the show ended, she was going to make Mi Ning suffer...

Jiang Yue held grudges. A few careless words were enough to set her off, and when someone did, she struck hard enough to make them tremble at the sound of her name.

Xing Yue left the training room to walk around the facilities. She had no desire to keep hearing Jiang Yue's voice.

She had overestimated herself. Though she had given up on He Zhiwen, she still could not face her ex-girlfriend's current girlfriend with a calm heart. She found Jiang Yue irritating.

Besides, Jiang Yue did not seem to know about her history with He Zhiwen.

As if summoned by the thought, Jiang Yue came after her before she had gone far, jogging to catch up and arriving short of breath.

"Xing Yue, I believe you," she said out of nowhere, her voice firm. "I believe you caught a cold and hurt your throat. You're definitely not relying on a million-dollar sound engineer. You sing beautifully. I'm a fan of your music."

Xing Yue had not taken Mi Ning's remark to heart. Yet here Jiang Yue was, comforting her as though she had been deeply hurt and upset by it.

She was speechless, but she still nodded politely. "Thank you."

Jiang Yue had come to form an alliance. She had not expected someone who looked as gentle as Xing Yue to be so hard to approach.

"Why did you give away such a good song? What a shame." She scratched the back of her head with an innocent, earnest look. Her eyes were full of regret on Xing Yue's behalf. She seemed incapable of hurting a fly.

"No particular reason," Xing Yue said flatly.

Jiang Yue was undeterred by her chilly manner. She seemed determined to befriend her. "Then shall we go to the cafeteria together tonight? I'm Jiang Yue. You can call me Yueyue or Little Shark. The others don't want to include me. If you don't mind, we could keep each other company and look out for each other."

She sounded sincere. Like He Zhiwen, she smiled often. When she spoke to someone, her eyes curved warmly, and the soft lines of her face made her seem gentle.

Before Xing Yue could refuse, she added enthusiastically, "Oh, right, I have some cold medicine. I'll bring you some. Whether you need it or not, it can't hurt to have it ready."

If not for their connection, Xing Yue would not have minded making a friend, even if it was only for show. That was how their industry worked.

But with that connection between them, the thought made her deeply uncomfortable.

Just then, Luo Zhi returned with a phone for Xing Yue. "Your manager asked me to bring this to you. She said it fell out while she was packing your things."

Qiao Rui had probably assumed it was Xing Yue's spare phone. Since she was already sending things over, she had included it.

It was Xing Yue's old phone, the one with thousands of photos saved in its gallery. She had left it at the office last time and had not brought it back.

The moment Xing Yue took it, the screen lit up because the battery was low. Her intimate photo with He Zhiwen appeared in plain view of them both.

On their milk tea cups were two words, one on each cup: "My" and "wife."

Together, they read: "My wife."

For a moment, the air seemed to freeze. Even the wind felt still.

Xing Yue tightened her grip on the phone. "Still want to go to the cafeteria together tonight?"