"Hmm… Go back to the practice room for now…" Mu Bai said with a slightly cold voice, her tone carrying that familiar faint sharpness which kept others from approaching too closely. Yet inside her heart, a wave of joy was swelling quietly, so warm that she almost worried it would show through her expression if she wasn't careful.
"Thank you, director. I will go back now." Shen Ming replied politely, a slight smile curving her lips as she bowed her head gently. The smile was not wide, just faint, but on her delicate face it bloomed like a flower after rain—subtle yet enough to brighten the entire atmosphere. Then, without lingering, she turned around gracefully and made her way back toward the practice room.
Mu Bai watched her retreating back. She didn't know why, but she felt that Shen Ming seemed genuinely happy about her suggestion today. That thought made her chest flutter, like someone had plucked at a string hidden deep within her. The feeling was so sudden and so intense that it left her restless.
She turned around slowly, almost absentmindedly, and faced the floor-to-ceiling window of the building. The wide glass reflected the cityscape outside with the golden hue of the late afternoon sun painting long shadows across the floor. On the surface of the transparent window, her own silhouette was vaguely visible, but beside it, Shen Ming's fading figure was reflected as well.
Her eyes followed that slender back—the curve of her waist, the straightness of her posture, the faint swaying of her figure as she walked further away. She was like a twisting vine, elegant and resilient, swaying lightly with each step but never losing its graceful line. Mu Bai's gaze became fixed, intense, almost hungry, as though by staring hard enough she could carve the image of Shen Ming into the glass itself. She kept staring until the reflection grew fainter and fainter, until finally, the silhouette disappeared completely, leaving behind only her own cold face on the glass.
At that moment, Mu Bai felt a sudden pang in her heart. Just a moment ago, her chest had been so full of joy, almost overflowing. Yet now, with Shen Ming gone from her sight, that joy drained away like sand slipping through open fingers. In its place was an aching emptiness. She felt lost, adrift, like a piece of driftwood floating in the vast, endless sea without direction.
She let out a slow breath, as though trying to steady herself. Her mind was still savoring that scene from just now—the softness in Shen Ming's eyes, the warmth of her hand, that faint smile on her lips. The memory clung to her like the fragrance of a flower that refused to fade.
Just then, the tactless little system inside her mind burst out loudly without warning, shattering her fragile mood like a rock thrown into still water.
"Host!! That was amazing!! It's not even been an hour and you're already progressing in your task! Hehehe… keeping the female protagonist always in your sight in the name of being her agent is such a clever idea, host!!"
Its voice was far too cheerful, practically bouncing with excitement, as though it had just witnessed some great historic achievement.
"Okay, enough." Mu Bai interrupted coldly, her voice sharp with impatience. She had no energy to entertain the system's noisy celebrations.
The system gave a few grumbling noises in her head, like a child sulking after being scolded. It seemed dissatisfied, but Mu Bai ignored it completely. The loud voice had already woken her from the dreamlike state she had been floating in, dragging her back into reality.
She couldn't believe herself. She couldn't believe how she had acted and felt after meeting Shen Ming. That wasn't like her at all. She had always prided herself on her control, her calmness, her sharp and decisive nature. Yet in front of Shen Ming, she felt herself unraveling in ways she couldn't explain. If she didn't find a way to distract herself soon, she feared she would really go crazy. The urge to turn around and run after Shen Ming was so strong it almost hurt.
Taking a deep breath, she forced her thoughts elsewhere. "Who is the president of the Mu Sheng Film and Television?" she asked coldly.
001, the system, responded instantly in its mechanical yet lively voice: "The acting president of Mu Sheng Film and Television is Xun Mei, a woman in her late 30s. She is Mu Bai's mother's junior from college and also a genius businesswoman. She started from scratch and acquired a total of 11% of the company's shares, becoming the second largest shareholder of Mu Sheng Film and Television."
Mu Bai's eyes narrowed slightly. "Ohh? Then who is the largest shareholder?"
001 answered without hesitation, almost smug: "Of course it's you, host! You hold a total of 55% of the company's shares, making you the largest shareholder in the company. Forty percent of the shares were given to you as a gift for your coming-of-age ceremony by your mother, the leader of the Mu Group. The rest of the fifteen percent were scattered shares that Mu Bai acquired later through her own."
"Hmm… not bad." Mu Bai's lips curved faintly as she leaned back against her chair. Being the largest shareholder of Mu Sheng Film and Television and the only daughter of the Mu Group, it was a simple matter for her to poach an artist from another agent—even if that agent also belonged to her own company. She didn't even need to ask directly. A casual hint was enough. After all, once one reached a certain height, every action, every whim, became something others scrambled to interpret as an opportunity to curry favor.
Still, what truly caught her interest at this moment wasn't the company's structure but her family in this world. She thought carefully, recalling the memories of the original Mu Bai. According to them, her parents were a lesbian couple, widely known in the wealthy circles.
Her mother, Mu Huai, had fallen in love with the daughter of the Rong Group—a powerful family rooted in the tech industry. Against all odds, the two women endured storms of opposition and gossip, staying together firmly until they finally made their union public. Years later, they had Mu Bai through IVF overseas. Their love story was famous, admired, and often gossiped about, but they remained strong throughout, and their bond only deepened with time. They also seem to dote on her too much. The fact that they gave 40% of the shares of one the largest companies under Mu group as a gift for her coming of age says a lot about their love for her.
Later, Mu Huai inherited the leadership of the Mu Group after Mu Bai's grandmother passed the position on to her. Under her management, the Mu Group became even more prosperous, steady, and powerful, securing their place as one of the most respected families in the business world.
And then there was Xun Mei—the acting president of Mu Sheng Film and Television. She too was in a marriage with a woman. Together, she and her partner were known as another famous couple in the wealthy circles, admired both for their business acumen and their love.
Xun Mei had always maintained a close, sisterly relationship with Mu Huai. Because of this, she treated Mu Bai with the same affection, doting on her just as Mu Huai did. In fact, everyone in the family, including Mu Bai's grandmother, adored her. She had grown up in an environment filled with love, support, and indulgence.
And yet… despite such a family, Mu Bai had somehow developed such a conservative mindset that she once believed she would only settle down with a man. That was how she ended up being utterly blind when it came to Lin Fan, her judgment clouded until she behaved like someone with a serious lack of intelligence.
Mu Bai sighed softly, shaking her head. The world was vast, and there were all kinds of people, all kinds of choices. Perhaps her foolish actions had been influenced by the so-called male lead halo.
She pushed the thought aside as she finally returned to her office. The tall doors closed behind her, shutting out the world. She sat down on her leather chair, her mind cooling as she allowed herself to sink into the familiar rhythm of work.
Stacks of documents waited neatly on her desk. She reached out and flipped through them one by one. Her hands moved quickly, decisively, with a sharp efficiency. In less than thirty minutes, she had finished everything that would normally take the original Mu Bai hours to complete.
If someone had entered the office at that moment, they would have been stunned speechless. Her hands were moving so fast that they almost left behind afterimages. This was no human speed—it was the speed of someone utterly beyond ordinary. It was terrifying, unbelievable, and awe-inspiring all at once.
When she was done, she leaned back with a calm expression, though her eyes glinted with a sharp light. Then she pressed the button on the intercom on her desk.
"Li Ru."
Her secretary's clear voice answered at once. Moments later, Li Ru walked into the office with quick, efficient steps, her face carrying its usual professional composure.
Mu Bai instructed her to summon Liu Shu, Shen Ming's current agent, to the office.
Li Ru immediately nodded and left to carry out her order. A few minutes later, after a few polite knocks, Liu Shu entered the office.
Mu Bai gestured lightly for her to sit down. Li Ru, understanding her boss's intentions, left the room at once, closing the door quietly behind her to give them privacy.
Mu Bai shifted to the sofa opposite Liu Shu, her posture straight, her expression calm and cold. Liu Shu sat down as well, straightening her back with care, knowing well the intimidating presence of this aloof and powerful boss.
The air in the office grew still, the atmosphere quietly tense.
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