Chapter 77
The video of Meng Xuanyu kidnapping Yan Xi was exposed, coupled with the previous quality inspection report of M-brand products, causing Meng Corporation's stock prices to plummet.
Over the next few days, Yu Xiao and Yao Chi were swamped with work. Meng Huaigu was naturally unwilling to sell his shares, but the other shareholders were a different story—selling early meant minimizing losses. As a result, acquiring the shares went smoother than Yan Xi had anticipated.
Meanwhile, Meng Xuanyu was arrested by the police on charges of commercial fraud and kidnapping.
On the night he was taken away, paparazzi lurking nearby captured the first-hand footage. That same evening, Meng Corporation's stock took another nosedive, leaving Meng Huaigu so furious he nearly collapsed.
Meng Yingrong was at her wit's end. With Meng Corporation in such dire straits, she had no choice but to seek Zhou Yanci's help—even though she knew Meng Xuanyu's actions were despicable, he was still her son.
But Zhou Yanci refused to see her.
In the end, Zhou Corporation successfully acquired 38% of Meng Corporation's shares, surpassing the Meng family's 31% stake. Zhou Corporation became the largest shareholder and promptly convened a board meeting to appoint a new chairman—Zhou Qingyu.
Following the board meeting, M-brand's official Weibo announced Zhou Qingyu's appointment as the new chairman and pledged to recall all counterfeit products from the recent sales, ensuring accountability to customers.
[Am I seeing things? The young miss is now M-brand's chairman?]
[I thought she’d terminate the contract, but she just kicked out the Meng family and took over!]
[Young miss: The brand I endorse can’t have any issues!]
[Meng Xuanyu’s already been arrested! Scum like him deserves it!]
[With Zhou Corporation backing M-brand and a new chairman, there won’t be any more problems like before!]
[Wow~ Supporting the young miss all the way!]
Simultaneously, Yan Xi received a system notification: [Ding! Becoming M-brand’s chairman earns Zhou Qingyu 3 points of fortune value.]
Including the two endorsement deals Zhou Qingyu signed recently, her fortune value had now reached 76 points.
.
That evening, at the Zhou family’s ancestral home
Zhou Qingyu had been in high spirits these past few days. Though she had pretended not to care after losing the Purple Gold Garden project to Zhou Yanci, deep down, it had bothered her. Now, with Zhou Corporation becoming Meng Corporation’s largest shareholder, she walked with extra confidence and loved flaunting it in front of Zhou Yanci.
Zhou’s Father had also been coming home late, worried that Zhou Yanci might confront him about the Meng Corporation situation.
During dinner, the whole family gathered.
Zhou’s Father raised a toast to celebrate the successful acquisition. To appease Zhou Yanci, he whispered, "Out of the 38% shares we acquired, 2% were bought by Qingyu herself. The rest… when I retire, I’ll split them equally between you and Qingyu!"
The implication was clear: This is all for you, so don’t be mad!
Zhou’s Father wasn’t biased toward sons over daughters, nor did he believe the family business had to be passed down to men. With two children, he simply wanted to be fair.
Zhou Yanci replied indifferently, "I have no interest in M-brand."
Zhou Qingyu raised an eyebrow. "Oh, sure. If you really don’t care, then M-brand should be mine!"
"Fine by me."
Zhou Qingyu was stunned. She tugged at Yan Xi’s sleeve. "Did Zhou Yanci have a tumor removed recently? Or did he get a brain transplant?"
Yan Xi blinked. "Maybe he really means it?"
Zhou Qingyu tapped Yan Xi’s head. "If he’s gone crazy, have you lost your mind too?"
Zhou Yanci watched the two whispering—though their voices weren’t exactly quiet. Not only could he and Zhou’s Father hear them, but even Aunt Zhang and the others nearby caught every word.
Zhou Yanci was speechless. He could only explain, "Dividing shares unevenly could create internal conflicts, weakening management. If you can handle M-brand well, it’s better to leave it entirely to you."
Besides, Zhou Yanci thought Zhou Qingyu had a good sense of fashion. Compared to boring real estate or IT companies, she was far more interested in luxury brands.
Zhou Qingyu’s eyes widened.
Was Zhou Yanci really not competing with her anymore? Had the sun risen from the west?
.
The Meng Corporation acquisition was now settled.
For Yan Xi, she wasn’t worried about Zhou Yanci causing trouble. The moment she refused to return the pink diamond bracelet, he had already known they were targeting M-brand. His inaction meant he wouldn’t interfere, and now that the acquisition was complete, he wouldn’t make things difficult for Zhou’s Father or Zhou Qingyu.
Compared to the tedious acquisition, Yan Xi had something more important on her mind.
After dinner, she invited the entire Zhou family, along with the household staff, to the private home theater.
Tonight was the live broadcast of The Singer!
Last time, Qiao Yan had rushed Han Shu to The Singer auditions just in time, securing him a spot as a challenger. Unfortunately, during his first performance, Han Shu had stumbled—literally. Nervous on his first major variety show, he tripped over his long gown and even cracked a note.
Still, he gritted his teeth and finished the song, placing second-to-last.
—As long as a challenger wasn’t dead last, they succeeded.
Yan Xi was disappointed but understood. Han Shu lacked experience, and stage fright was natural. At least he had another chance.
The home theater screen displayed the Watermelon Video livestream. The Singer aired every Friday at 8 PM, and it was already 7:50.
This round’s results would be determined not just by the live audience but also by viewer votes from home, so rallying more viewers was crucial.
The home theater could seat about twenty people, with all seating arranged in cozy loveseats. Zhou Qingyu chose a central spot and waved at Yan Xi. "Xi Xi, sit here!"
Yan Xi started toward her.
But after just two steps, a hand suddenly grasped hers in the dim light.
She looked up to see Zhou Yanci beside her.
After days of rest, his foot injury had healed enough that he no longer needed a cane—though he still carried it occasionally.
He gave Yan Xi a deep look, then glanced at Zhou Qingyu, who was still beckoning.
In the next second, Zhou Yanci sat down on the nearest sofa and tugged Yan Xi’s wrist lightly—just enough to throw her off balance.
"Ah—!"
Yan Xi gasped as she tumbled onto the sofa beside him. Luckily, it was soft, so she wasn’t hurt.
Zhou Qingyu shot up. "Zhou Yanci!"
She marched over and pulled Yan Xi to her side. "Xi Xi is sitting with me!"
Zhou Yanci gave Yan Xi a pitiful look. "Xi Xi, but I’m still recovering…"
Zhou Qingyu: ???
"Zhou Yanci, stop pretending to be some delicate tea master! What does your injury have to do with seating arrangements?"
But Yan Xi clearly fell for it. She looked at Zhou Yanci worriedly. "Does your foot hurt? Did you lose your balance just now because of it?"
Zhou Yanci nodded.
Yan Xi felt a pang of guilt. If Zhou Yanci hadn’t rushed to the SP base to save her some time ago, his wound wouldn’t have reopened.
—Though, honestly, it wouldn’t have made much difference whether he came or not.
Zhou Qingyu gritted her teeth in frustration. "Xi Xi, don’t fall for his pity act! His wound healed ages ago!"
But Yan Xi still looked worried.
She let go of Zhou Qingyu’s hand and walked toward Zhou Yanci.
Zhou Qingyu screamed internally: Aaaah! Zhou Yanci, you damn green tea!
Yan Xi crouched down, rolled up Zhou Yanci’s pant leg, and examined his injury. The wound was well-bandaged, with no blood seeping through the gauze—it seemed fine.
A moment later, a few more people arrived in the home theater. Yan Xi stood up cheerfully and waved at them.
"Doctor Li! Sit here!"
—Doctor Li was the Zhou family’s personal physician.
Yan Xi guided Doctor Li to sit beside Zhou Yanci. "Doctor Li, Mr. Zhou says his ankle still hurts. Since you’re here, could you take another look at it?"
Doctor Li, ever dutiful, nodded. "Of course!"
Zhou Yanci froze for two seconds, clearly caught off guard. Meanwhile, Yan Xi had already linked arms with Zhou Qingyu. "With Doctor Li here, there’s nothing to worry about. Come on, Qingyu, let’s sit in the front!"
The disappointment in Zhou Qingyu’s eyes instantly vanished, replaced by smugness as she shot Zhou Yanci a triumphant glance. "Let’s go~"
Later, Zhou’s Father arrived and sat with Butler Yu.
Many of the mansion’s staff had gathered as well.
Yan Xi stepped out of the theater briefly to call Wu Liao. No matter how Han Shu performed later, they had to buy trending hashtags—otherwise, netizens wouldn’t know she was performing, and her off-site votes would suffer.
After hanging up, she turned around and met Zhou Yanci’s striking gaze.
He wasn’t using his cane, instead leaning lazily against the red pillar in the foyer. Dressed in a casual white T-shirt, he looked much younger—almost like a carefree college student.
Yan Xi smiled playfully. "Mr. Zhou, your ankle doesn’t hurt anymore?"
Zhou Yanci deliberately furrowed his brows. "It does. It hurts like hell. Why does no one care about me?"
"Liar. Doctor Li isn’t a person?"
"And what about you?"
Zhou Yanci took a step forward, closing the distance between them until they were mere inches apart. He bent slightly, meeting her sparkling doe eyes.
This close, Yan Xi could feel his breath, see her own reflection in his amber irises.
Those captivating eyes held only her.
Her heartbeat raced.
Her gaze drifted over his defined brows, straight nose, and finally settled on his lips—perfectly shaped, with a faint, teasing curl at the corners.
Her pulse quickened even more.
Back on Yunbai Mountain, Yan Xi had sensed something brewing. That feeling had peaked outside the SP base, staring at the bloodstains on the lead-gray ground.
She would never forget that night—the quiet sky dotted with stars, Zhou Yanci gripping her hand as he looked down at her.
He’d said, "It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt."
But Yan Xi still ached.
Helpless, her voice a mix of reproach and wonder, she murmured, "Zhou Yanci, you’re so good to me."
Zhou Yanci stiffened, his breath hitching. After a long pause, he whispered, "So? Are you going to repay me with your heart?"
Yan Xi froze, but before she could answer, wailing sirens shattered the tension. The police arrived just in time to arrest Meng Xuanyu.
And that unanswered question slowly faded away.
Now, Yan Xi remembered those words again.
—"Are you going to repay me with your heart?"
Her heart pounded wildly, as if trying to leap out of her chest.
Zhou Yanci tapped her forehead lightly. "Let’s go. The show’s about to start."
He took her hand and led her back to the theater.
But Yan Xi suddenly tugged him to a stop. Zhou Yanci turned, puzzled.
Before he could react, he felt something soft brush against his chin—Yan Xi had darted in, planted a quick kiss, and fled.
Zhou Yanci stood rooted in place, stunned.
His fingers touched where her lips had been, and he smiled silently.
---
"The Singer" Live Show
Backstage, Han Shu watched the other contestants perform, her nerves fraying.
As the flagship variety show of Watermelon Video, "The Singer" featured only the most talented performers. Among them, Han Shu was the least known—and the most afraid of failing.
Last time, she’d lost because of that very fear. Her stage experience was minimal—aside from the concert for the Han City heiress, last week had been her first real performance.
Han Shu knew the entertainment industry rarely gave second chances. If she fell now, she might never climb back up.
She braced for criticism.
But when she checked her phone, instead of hate, she found messages of encouragement—
[Were you nervous, sis?]
[It’s your first time! You’ll do better next round!]
[Even with the hiccup, your voice was amazing!]
[Shu Shu, ignore the haters! One loss means nothing—we’ve got your back!]
Tears welled in Han Shu’s eyes.
At K Company, her manager would’ve scolded her mercilessly for any mistake. She’d never imagined strangers would comfort her after a failure.
Even Yan Xi hadn’t berated her.
"Eh, losing once is no big deal. You still won the challenge round! There’ll be other chances!"
Then, more seriously, Yan Xi added, "But your nerves are a problem. Qiao Yan, find her gigs—variety shows, commercials, even bar performances. She needs to toughen up!"
After a week of relentless practice, Han Shu’s stage fright had eased.
She was still anxious, but nothing like last time.
When the first three contestants finished, it was her turn.
Han Shu took a deep breath, gripped the mic, and stepped onto the stage.
This time, she’d chosen an extremely difficult English song, blending in operatic techniques. Her vocal coach and team had worried she might crack under pressure.
But Han Shu’s resolve was firm. "I can do this."
---
The audience in the home theater held their breath.
Knowing Han Shu’s past failure, they feared another letdown.
Zhou Qingyu clutched Yan Xi’s hand, more nervous than the singer herself.
Then Han Shu began—and instantly commanded the room.
Even Zhou’s Father, who never listened to pop music, sat straighter, fingers subtly tapping along.
The girl’s voice was ethereal, carrying through cameras, streams, and speakers straight into every listener’s soul. Her youthful energy surged like ocean waves—each note more powerful than the last, impossible to forget.
When the song ended, the spellbound audience slowly returned to reality.
Zhou Qingyu tightly hugged Yan Xi, exclaiming, "That was amazing! This time we definitely won’t be at the bottom!"
Yan Xi laughed, "You’ve heard her sing before—you should have faith in Han Shu~"
Han Shu’s name quickly surged to the top of trending searches. This time, she didn’t disappoint her fans.
[OMG! My ears are blessed the moment her voice came out!]
[Instant goosebumps!]
[What kind of heavenly voice is this? I’m obsessed!]
[Her voice is unreal—is she a newcomer?]
[I love Han Shu so much! Cheering for her like crazy!]
As the music ended, Yan Xi immediately urged everyone, "Don’t forget to vote outside the venue!"
Voting was the key!
Zhou Yanci smirked, his thumb brushing over the spot Yan Xi had just kissed. With his other hand, he swiftly forwarded the voting link to the Zhou Corporation’s group chat, along with a 10,000-yuan red envelope.
[!!!]
[Mr. Zhou watches variety shows?!]
[Mr. Zhou always tunes in to Journey—he’s a live-stream fanatic!]
[That’s because the show features the young miss~]
[I don’t care—Mr. Zhou and I stan the same person! Great minds think alike!]
[Gotta support our goddess!]
[Thanks for the 0.02 yuan, Mr. Zhou… I wonder how much everyone else got…]
After Han Shu, the remaining four contestants took the stage. In the end, the results were announced—Han Shu secured second place.
It wasn’t the finals yet, so in Yan Xi’s eyes, second place was already a great achievement!
Zhou’s Father, however, wasn’t convinced. Unfamiliar with the entertainment industry, he felt Han Shu’s performance was clearly the best.
Yan Xi explained, "The winner is an international-level foreign singer. For a newcomer like Han Shu, ranking second is impressive! Her off-stage popularity might not be there yet, but there’s still room to grow!"
The system cheerfully popped up, [Host, even though it’s second place, we’ve gained a lot this time!]
Yan Xi’s eyes sparkled, "Luck points?"
[Of course!]
[Ding! Han Shu’s popularity has risen. Zhou Qingyu gains 1 luck point. Current luck points: 77.]
---
The next day, Yan Xi went to work at Starlight Entertainment as usual. The company was running smoothly, with each department performing steadily, leaving little for her to worry about.
In two days, Journey’s third and final stop would begin filming. Originally scheduled for earlier, the recording was postponed because of tonight’s Weibo Night—Zhou Qingyu, Ye Luoyi, and even Director Yu were attending.
At the Zhou residence, Zhou Qingyu donned an M-brand gown paired with a limited-edition jewelry set. Yan Xi also wore an M-brand dress. For this Weibo Night, all Starlight artists would be dressed by M-brand, both as a promotional move and an advertisement for the fashion house.
On the red carpet, Zhou Qingyu walked with the Madness crew, arm-in-arm with Director Wei, stepping ahead of the lead actors.
As Starlight’s VP, Yan Xi was set to represent the company. The organizers paired her with Shen Xinghe, but since he was rushing over from the Bottom Line set, she waited idly in the Mercedes, scrolling through her phone.
Suddenly, the car door opened—Zhou Yanci stood outside.
Yan Xi stepped out, "What are you doing here?"
Zhou Yanci pointed at the Weibo Night billboard, "I’m a sponsor." Then he raised his wrist, arching a brow at her, "Shall we?"
Since Starlight was a subsidiary of the Zhou Corporation, walking the red carpet with the big boss… wasn’t entirely out of place.
Yan Xi looped her arm through Zhou Yanci’s and stepped onto the red carpet.
Meanwhile, Zhou Qingyu and the Madness team had just reached the venue entrance when she turned and spotted Yan Xi with Zhou Yanci.
Zhou Qingyu: !!!
"Why wasn’t I paired with Yan Xi?!" she protested.
So what if Director Wei was prestigious? She wanted to stick with her bestie!
A staff member explained, "Red carpets usually pair a man and a woman—it’s more aesthetically pleasing."
Zhou Qingyu pointed at Director Wei’s slightly balding head, "Look me in the eye and say that’s aesthetically pleasing."
Staff member: "…"
Director Wei nearly cried, "Young Miss! That’s harsh!"
Unfortunately, since Zhou Qingyu had already walked the carpet, she couldn’t redo it. She could only wait at the entrance for Yan Xi and Zhou Yanci to arrive.
The moment Yan Xi reached her, Zhou Qingyu grabbed her hand and glared at Zhou Yanci.
This scheming old man!
Now he’s even showing up as a sponsor?!
"Alright, alright~" Yan Xi coaxed Zhou Qingyu, "Let’s head inside~"
Besides the awards ceremony, Weibo Night also featured an interesting event—a charity auction.
Each guest could donate an item to be auctioned, with all proceeds going to the Red Cross.
While open to all attendees, the auction primarily targeted celebrities, as fans could also bid online. In essence, it was another way to monetize fan devotion.
Yan Xi donated a brooch worth around 100,000 yuan. As Starlight’s representative, skipping the donation wasn’t an option. But she wasn’t worried about it going unsold—Wu Liao had arranged for someone to buy it back, effectively turning it into a company donation.
By sheer luck, the first item up for auction was Yan Xi’s brooch.
She wasn’t expecting much. Among so many stars, she was still a newcomer. The first bid would likely be Wu Liao’s, and that would be it.
As expected, the host announced the starting bid: 100,000 yuan.
Wu Liao immediately raised his paddle, "110,000."
This should be over soon.
Yan Xi flipped through the auction catalog, curious about the next item.
"200,000!" Zhou Qingyu elegantly lifted her paddle.
Yan Xi jerked her head up, tugging Zhou Qingyu’s sleeve, "What are you doing? There’s no need to spend so much!"
Zhou Qingyu lifted her chin haughtily, "A few more bids—can’t let it seem like no one wants your stuff!"
Yan Xi: "…"
You’re the one drawing attention to it!
The host was thrilled. Who’d have thought a simple brooch would double in value on the second bid?
"200,000 going once, 200,000 going tw—"
"300,000." Zhou Yanci raised his paddle.
Yan Xi: ?
"Y-you—" She turned to Zhou Yanci, stammering, "Why are you joining in?!"
"Isn’t this your brooch?" He blinked innocently, "I want it too."
Zhou Qingyu’s temper flared. No one was stealing this from her!
"400,000!"
"500,000."
"1,000,000!"
"1,100,000."
…
Yan Xi was stunned—what were these two doing? This was just a brooch worth a hundred thousand!
The price kept rising, and Yan Xi knew Zhou Qingyu wouldn’t back down. The young heiress’s career was flourishing, and she spent money like water. She’d even dared to bid three million for a yellow diamond before—a mere few hundred thousand was nothing to her.
Yan Xi could only turn to Zhou Yanci. "Stop bidding!"
Zhou Yanci lowered his gaze, looking at Yan Xi.
The girl’s face was small, her eyes glistening like a little rabbit’s, pleading up at him.
Suddenly, Zhou Yanci felt an itch in his chest, a restless urge to disrupt things.
Zhou Qingyu raised the bid to two million, eagerly waiting for the auctioneer’s call, completely oblivious to the tension beside her.
Then Zhou Yanci leaned down and pressed a kiss to Yan Xi’s lips.
"Alright, I’ll listen to you."
What do you think?
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