Today was packed with tasks.They had to move, buy clothes, visit the hospital, and even take photos.
If they were going to put on a show, it had to be complete.
After finishing her acupuncture session, Chen Xiaoxi took a shower and changed into her new outfit.
As the saying goes: people rely on clothes just as horses rely on saddles.
Maybe it was the effect of the acupuncture, or maybe it was Zhang Yichen's impeccable taste in outfits.
Either way, once she changed into the new clothes, Chen Xiaoxi immediately looked radiant.
Other than being a little too thin, she now stood in sharp contrast to her worn-out appearance from before.
Of course, she still hadn't fully regained the dazzling presence she once had at her peak, but she was getting close.
Standing in front of the mirror, Chen Xiaoxi's fingers lightly brushed over the dress. The fabric hugged her figure, outlining graceful curves that were near perfection.
Her gaze lingered on her reflection, as though she was rediscovering the woman who used to shine so brilliantly.
The woman in the mirror had delicate features. Though her eyes still carried traces of fatigue, they now shone with life—like a withered tree revived by long-awaited spring rain.
And she knew… all of this, every bit of her beauty returning, came from her little man.
"How is it?"
Zhang Yichen stepped behind her, his gaze meeting hers in the mirror. His voice was gentle, tinged with anticipation.
Chen Xiaoxi's lips curved upward as she softly replied, "It looks good! Ah Chen, having you by my side… is the best thing."
Yichen chuckled, reaching out to smooth a wrinkle on her shoulder. "As long as you like it."
"I do. I like it very much," Xiaoxi said, her words carrying more than one meaning. Her eyes brimmed with warmth and affection.
"Tsk, tsk. This suffocating scent of love… No wonder it's enough to bring a woman back to life."
Unable to stand their lovey-dovey display any longer, Li Yue finally cut in.
There was still so much to do today, and watching the two stuck together like glue was driving her crazy.
Luckily, their luggage wasn't much—everything had been packed the night before. One trip was enough to carry it all.
"Let's go!"
Zhang Yichen turned back for one last lingering glance at the home he had lived in for over a year.Then, without hesitation, he grabbed the bags and headed downstairs.
A new life. A new beginning. He was looking forward to it.
The three adults and one child got into the car. Yichen, holding the baby, pulled Xiaoxi into the back seat with him.
This left Li Yue stuck in the driver's seat, practically reduced to their chauffeur.
It irked her to no end.
But even if she was annoyed, what could she do?One was her boss, one was her close sister, and the other was her goddaughter.She couldn't afford to cross any of them.
"Big Boss, how's the schedule arranged?"
Hands on the steering wheel, Yue very tactfully asked her boss for instructions.
"First stop, the mall. While I'm trying on clothes, Xiaoxi, you'll need to help me fix things up in a very affectionate way. Then you'll use my card to pay."
Zhang Yichen pulled out a bank card and handed it to Chen Xiaoxi. "The PIN's the same as your card."
Xiaoxi bit her lip, glancing sideways at him. "Ah Chen, why don't we use the three hundred thousand you gave me first? If that's not enough, then we'll use this."
"That three hundred thousand is pocket money for you. A woman going out without her own money? That won't do."
Yichen was domineering when it came to protecting his woman, leaving her no room to refuse.
"That's right, Xiaoxi. He's right. What if one day he's at school and I'm at work? What if you suddenly need money then? Not to mention, there's the baby too!"
Yue chimed in, backing Yichen up.
Xiaoxi lowered her head to look at the baby in her arms. The little one's big, round eyes darted curiously around, tiny hands occasionally reaching into the air as if trying to grab something.
Looking at the adorable child, her heart softened.
She gently held the baby's tiny hand and whispered, "You're right. I was overthinking it. Ah Chen is the father of my child—his money is my money."
"Exactly! That's the spirit!"
Yue nodded in satisfaction at her change of attitude.
"Oh, and one more thing. At the mall, you'll need to stay in disguise. That means fixing my clothes, paying at the counter—none of it can expose your face."
Yichen continued adding details to the plan. His hype campaign had to be flawless.
"Disguise?" Xiaoxi frowned, her fingers tugging at her dress. Her voice wavered with doubt. "Aren't we trying to hype things up? Why disguise myself?"
"Xiaoxi-jie, don't you get it? People are naturally curious about the unknown. The vaguer something is, the more intriguing it becomes."
Yichen's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked out the window, a sharp glint flashing within.
"When we write the copy, I'll use my title as the top scorer in the national exams to link you into the hype. Some sharp-eyed fans will start guessing your identity."
"Next, at the hospital, you'll stand at the door of the psychiatry department and pull down your mask halfway. Yue will 'secretly' snap a picture of your side profile."
"That's the second wave of hype. It'll not only reignite the buzz from the first, but also support your cover story of suffering from depression."
"Wait, why fake depression? A simple contract dispute—I can solve that in no time."
Yue, still driving, glanced at Yichen in the rearview mirror.
"Looks like I overestimated you. You can't even understand this?" Yichen shot her a look full of disdain.
"First: Xiaoxi-jie used to be in great shape, but now she's skin and bones. How do you explain that to fans?"
"Second: breaking a contract causes huge losses to her former company. They'll never want her to make a comeback. If we use brute force to suppress them, it'll only give them a handle to attack us. Even if she succeeds in returning, she'll forever carry the reputation of bullying her way back. But if she broke the contract due to depression, can her old company openly attack her? Of course not."
"Third: breaking a contract ruins her public image. But people naturally sympathize with the weak. Combine her thin figure with a depression diagnosis, and it perfectly washes away the stain of her past."
"Finally: it's all about hype. The first headline—'Top Scorer in the National Exams Loses Direction, Rumored to Be Kept by a Celebrity.' The second—'Celebrity Suspected of Keeping Top Scorer Is None Other Than Fallen Star Chen Xiaoxi.' Then, the depression angle gets revealed."
"From 'celebrity,' to 'fallen singer,' to 'depression patient'—how could people not sympathize?"
"And just when public sympathy peaks, we drop the bombshell: she's showering her little pretty-boy with luxury cars and a mansion. The perfect twist."
"Then, on September 29th, we'll hold a press conference to 'clarify' everything."
"Out of the four rounds of hype, at least three are guaranteed to trend. The last one? Xiaoxi-jie will absolutely make the top headline."
"With that momentum, her comeback will explode overnight."
Yichen laid out every step and intention, speaking with confidence.
"There are so many ways to hype. Why not just flaunt wealth—cars, mansions, jewelry? Why must it be a scandal?"
Yue still didn't get it.
"Yeah, won't you get dragged down too?" Even Xiaoxi was doubtful.
"First: scandals spread the fastest. Who doesn't love celebrity gossip?"
"Second: I'm already a top scorer with built-in traffic. Pair that with a star scandal, and it spreads like wildfire."
"Third: I plan to be crowned King of Singers. Without traffic, that's impossible. When Xiaoxi-jie's identity is revealed, that's when I'll blow up too. It's a win-win."
"Fourth: it also sets the stage for our future. We're going to get married eventually. We can't sneak around forever, can we?"
Yichen explained patiently.
Hype only worked if the main players cooperated and fully understood the purpose. Otherwise, it could backfire and ruin everything.
"Then at the press conference, how will you explain your identity? You're not going to announce your relationship then, are you?" Yue asked again.
"Simple. I'll say I'm an orphan. My surname's also Zhang. Xiaoxi found me just recently. As for the rest? Leave it to the public's imagination."
A smirk tugged at Yichen's lips.
"So, you're Xiaoxi's long-lost cousin, huh?" Yue played along with the act.
But Yichen only shot her a cold glance, refusing to answer.
"Hey! Say something! Am I right or not?" Yue pressed.
"Pfft. A brain is a wonderful thing—too bad you don't have one. At this stage, how could I answer? If I say yes, it confirms it. If I say no, it kills the mystery."
Yichen sneered at her like she was a fool.
Honestly, he was starting to doubt her qualifications as a CEO—her brain didn't seem to turn when it mattered.
"Oh! Right! Not answering is the best answer!"
Realization hit Yue, and she slapped her forehead.
"Genius! You've strung this plan together so seamlessly. That mind of yours is really something…"
Her words of praise didn't stop, carrying all the way into the mall.
If she didn't have to "secretly" take pictures or babysit the child, who knew how long she'd keep going.
Compared to her, Chen Xiaoxi was much quieter.
The whole ride, she just looked at Yichen with affectionate eyes, listening to every plan he laid out for her.
The smile on her face never faded.
More than that—she now felt an overwhelming sense of admiration for him.
She wanted to be his fan for life.
To let him spoil her, to let him love her…