"Ohh… What's so interesting about it?" Mu Bai asked with a hint of amusement on her usually cold face.
The system immediately got into it's previous story tellar mode as it said,
"The Rise of the Phoenix tells the story of Shen Ming, a concubine-born daughter once scorned and forgotten in the shadowed corners of the imperial palace, who rises from obscurity to seize the dragon throne through sheer intellect, unyielding will, and masterful strategy. Without ever binding her fate to love or a man's protection, she maneuvers through a treacherous court riddled with scheming nobles, corrupt ministers, and war-hungry generals, turning each male lead — from the silver-tongued Lin Fan to foreign princes and battle-hardened commanders — into pieces on her chessboard, some willingly, others unknowingly. Through political cunning, economic reform, and decisive military campaigns, she transforms the crumbling Kingdom of Xuan into a unified, flourishing empire, her reign marked by both awe and fear. In her path from overlooked palace flower to Phoenix Empress, Shen Ming burns away her past, proving that true power belongs only to those willing to claim it with their own hands, and leaving behind a legacy that no romance, betrayal, or enemy blade could ever erase."
"After this drama is released," 001 began, its voice unusually dramatic, "Shen Ming will shine brighter than ever. She'll sweep the awards circuit, taking this year's Best Actress trophy without a doubt. And Lin Fan will walk away with Best Actor, making the two of them the industry's most talked-about pairing. Their fame will skyrocket, their names will be on every entertainment headline, their faces plastered across every luxury brand endorsement."
There was a pause — a hesitation that didn't suit the system's usual chatterbox personality.
Mu Bai noticed immediately. "And then…?" she asked, her tone calm but firm, the way one might address an assistant stalling on a crucial report.
"…Sigh." 001 let out a long, weighty exhale, as though bracing itself for delivering bad news. "And then… Lin Fan, having secured a firm foothold in the industry, will turn around and ask the original Mu Bai for a divorce."
Mu Bai didn't say a word, but her eyes sharpened slightly.
"You see," 001 continued, "in Lin Fan's heart, Shen Ming is more than just a talented actress — she's a goddess. To him, she's pure, perfect, untouchable. He's obsessed with her to a degree that's borderline unhealthy. But he won't pursue her openly, because he considers himself 'tainted' by his marriage. In his warped logic, he has to free himself from any romantic ties before he can be 'worthy' of approaching the goddess in his heart."
"How noble," Mu Bai replied dryly.
"Of course, the original Mu Bai didn't agree to divorce for no reason. She wasn't the type to bow out without cause, and she still had… some lingering feelings for him. But Lin Fan was determined — stubborn to the point of madness. The arguments grew heated. Finally, in a fit of anger, she threatened to blacklist him from the entertainment industry entirely if he kept pushing her like this."
001's tone dipped lower, as if leaning in for emphasis. "The moment Lin Fan heard the word ban, he sobered up instantly. But rather than apologizing or showing remorse, he slammed the door on his way out, muttering curses under his breath. Classy."
Mu Bai's lips curled faintly — whether in amusement or disdain was hard to tell.
"Heartbroken and frustrated," the system went on, "the original Mu Bai decided to drown her emotions in alcohol. She went to a bar, ordered drink after drink until the lights blurred and the voices around her became distant echoes. When she finally stumbled out toward her car, she didn't notice the shadows moving in. A group of men in black masks surrounded her. One came up from behind, pressing a cloth soaked in chloroform over her nose and mouth. The scent was sharp, chemical, and suffocating. Her vision dimmed, her body went limp, and she was swallowed by darkness."
The system's voice dropped to a whisper. "When she regained consciousness, she found herself tied to a chair in a dimly lit warehouse. The air was heavy with the smell of rust, oil, and damp concrete. A single bulb swung overhead, casting sickly yellow light that made the shadows dance on the walls. The masked men demanded a ransom of ten million yuan for her release. Ten million — not a small sum, but hardly impossible for someone of her means. But here's where it gets strange —"
Mu Bai's eyes narrowed slightly. She could already predict the twist.
"Before the conversation even got far," 001 said, "the warehouse doors burst open. Lin Fan appeared, charging in with a squad of black-suited bodyguards like some action movie hero. They overpowered the thugs with surprising ease, almost too easily, and rushed to untie her. To the original Mu Bai, groggy and disoriented, it looked like a miraculous rescue."
"Miraculous, is it?," Mu Bai repeated flatly.
"She was moved," the system said with a faint note of exasperation. "Grateful. In that haze of relief, she agreed to the divorce without further argument. And before leaving for Country M, she even gave him a few high-budget scripts she had lined up for male leads — generous parting gifts. To top it off, she wished him well in pursuing Shen Ming, her smile tinged with sadness."
Mu Bai's frown deepened. The story sounded less like real life and more like one of those brainless idol dramas she wouldn't waste two minutes watching.
"A genius businesswoman," she murmured, half to herself, "who's seen the dark side of the world, who can read people's motives like an open book… and she gets played like this? She didn't think to question how Lin Fan found her so quickly? How he happened to have a full team of bodyguards ready at the exact location?"
001 hesitated, almost as if it didn't want to say the obvious.
Mu Bai set her glass down on the coffee table with a quiet clink. "Is the kidnapping related to Lin Fan?"
"Yes, Host. Absolutely." The system's voice was firm now, tinged with disgust. "Lin Fan is not stupid — in fact, he's cunning. When he realized the original Mu Bai wouldn't sign the divorce papers through normal means, he first considered outright kidnapping her and forcing her hand. But then his 'hero complex' kicked in. He didn't want to see himself as the villain. So, he concocted a plan where he could play the hero and still get what he wanted."
It continued, almost spitting the words. "He contacted a childhood friend who had the right shady connections, arranged for a few hired thugs to stage the kidnapping, and picked the perfect timing — after she'd been drinking heavily. That way, her senses would be dulled, her guard lowered. Once the men had her, Lin Fan would swoop in with his conveniently prepared bodyguards, stage the fight, and 'rescue' her. The result? She'd sign the divorce willingly, feeling indebted to him, and he'd walk away as the noble, selfless ex-husband in her heart."
Mu Bai leaned back against the sofa, her gaze unreadable but cold.
"Had the original Mu Bai been sober," 001 added sharply, "she would have noticed how fake the whole thing was — the sloppy threats, the staged struggle, the way the bodyguards and thugs pulled their punches. But drunk and emotionally shaken? She fell for it. Hook, line, and sinker. And this scumbag not only got his divorce — he walked away with her parting gifts."
Mu Bai's lips curled into a faint, dangerous smile. "I see"
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Thanks for reading.
Stay tuned for more.