Huo Wenxi's plan—her ridiculous, shameless, absolutely dangerous plan—had ultimately succeeded.
Of course, success always required a price.
"Sister Wenxi! Are you okay?!"
Inside Blue Whale Entertainment's hallway, Jane Zhang rushed over in panic the moment she saw Liu Yan supporting Huo Wenxi out of Luo Zheng's office.
Huo Wenxi's steps were slightly unsteady. Her usually elegant appearance looked unusually disheveled. A few strands of hair had escaped from around her face, and even her lipstick had become smudged. The image of the sharp, capable manager who normally commanded artists with ease was nowhere to be found.
Jane Zhang stared in shock.
"I'm fine."
Huo Wenxi immediately forced a smile and waved her hand dismissively.
Only after speaking did she realize something was wrong.
Why was Jane Zhang still here?
Work had ended long ago.
Normally she should have gone home already.
For a moment, Huo Wenxi felt genuine embarrassment rise inside her.
Being seen like this by an employee was bad enough.
Being seen by Jane Zhang of all people was even worse.
"Did… did President Luo get angry?"
Jane Zhang lowered her voice carefully.
Huo Wenxi blinked.
"Angry?"
Jane hesitated and pointed toward Huo Wenxi's face.
"Your lipstick…"
Instinctively, Huo Wenxi froze.
Then Jane's eyes moved downward.
And immediately widened.
Because right near Huo Wenxi's collarbone, partially hidden beneath her clothes, several faint red marks could clearly be seen.
Hickeys.
Instantly—
Jane Zhang's brain exploded.
Sister Wenxi...
President Luo...
And...
Sister Liu Yan had also been inside the office...
Could they possibly have...
At eighteen years old, Jane Zhang was no innocent little girl anymore.
After leaving home early and spending years singing in bars and nightclubs, her understanding of relationships between men and women was far more "advanced" than people expected.
Her imagination immediately went completely out of control.
Seeing Jane Zhang's increasingly red face and strange expression, Huo Wenxi nearly collapsed.
She instantly covered her collar and tried maintaining a calm expression.
"Liangying, go home first."
"We still have some work matters to discuss."
"Work matters."
She deliberately emphasized those words.
Jane Zhang stared blankly.
Then looked at Liu Yan.
Then at the office door.
Then back at Huo Wenxi.
And suddenly—
Her face turned completely red.
"Okay!"
"Okay okay okay!"
She nodded frantically like a pecking chicken and fled down the hallway at incredible speed.
Watching her disappear around the corner, Huo Wenxi finally let out a long breath.
But immediately afterward, her legs weakened.
Fortunately Liu Yan quickly held her up.
Otherwise, Blue Whale Entertainment's famous iron-blooded manager would probably have collapsed right there.
Huo Wenxi bit her lip, turned her head toward Luo Zheng's office, and glared furiously.
"What a troublesome man…"
Beside her, Liu Yan looked equally resentful.
Very troublesome.
Extremely troublesome.
But somehow—
Neither of them had actually regretted entering that office.
…
The next day, Luo Zheng arrived exactly on time at the interview location Huo Wenxi arranged.
Officially, it was called a "success-sharing program."
Unofficially—
It was simply an interview.
One designed to take advantage of Luo Zheng's exploding popularity.
And Huo Wenxi had arranged everything perfectly.
Questions had been sent beforehand.
Anything he disliked could be removed.
Nothing unexpected.
Nothing dangerous.
Most importantly—
Jane Zhang had also been arranged as a secondary guest.
The purpose was obvious.
Ride Luo Zheng's popularity.
Use his fame to push Jane Zhang upward.
Beijing Energy Transmission Television Company.
Recording studio.
Luo Zheng finally met the famous host herself.
Lu Yu.
The program Appointment with Lu Yu had already become one of Phoenix TV's hottest talk shows.
Ever since its launch, viewers had been fascinated by its interview style.
Naturally, Luo Zheng knew who Lu Yu was.
And if he were being honest...
He didn't really have much personal affection toward her.
But he didn't dislike her either.
To put it simply—
Hosting was a profession.
A talk show without controversy or topics couldn't survive.
That was reality.
So Luo Zheng respected her style.
As long as she didn't intentionally annoy him.
Before recording began, he subtly made his position clear.
And Lu Yu clearly understood.
She was smart.
Very smart.
During recording, not a single strange question appeared.
No awkward traps.
No controversial topics.
Everything proceeded smoothly.
Meanwhile, on the same day—
Jane Zhang's debut album quietly entered the market.
Initially, very few people paid attention.
After all, newcomers appeared every year.
Most vanished without a trace.
But then—
One song suddenly exploded.
Like a spark thrown into dry grass.
"It's a Pity It Wasn't You."
Within a single day, the song rapidly climbed major radio rankings.
Top ten.
Top five.
Top three.
Its rise was almost terrifying.
The soft sadness hidden inside the lyrics spread like an invisible virus.
By evening, after recording ended, Luo Zheng finally walked out alongside Liu Yan and Jane Zhang.
Staff members continuously waved goodbye.
"President Luo."
"See you next time."
"Take care!"
Outside the building, Luo Zheng suddenly spoke.
"We're taking a taxi today."
Liu Yan blinked.
"Huh?"
Without explanation, Luo Zheng waved away the company driver.
Then he grabbed both women and walked toward roadside taxis.
Soon—
Inside the taxi.
Luo Zheng sat in the middle.
Beautiful women on the left.
Beautiful women on the right.
Life suddenly felt perfect.
Meanwhile the taxi driver looked through the rearview mirror and silently suffered emotional damage.
Two beauties.
Both stunning.
And this handsome young man sat between them.
Most importantly—
The Mercedes they had just stepped out of was worth over a million.
Suddenly—
The driver felt life was unfair.
Very unfair.
"Master," Luo Zheng suddenly smiled.
"Could you turn up the radio?"
"Sure!"
The driver adjusted the volume.
Immediately—
A gentle piano melody flowed from the speakers.
Then came a warm female voice.
"Good evening listeners. This is Beijing Music Radio…"
"Tonight's Golden Song ranking introduces a song that recently touched countless hearts…"
"The lead track from newcomer Jane Zhang's debut album…"
"—It's a Pity It Wasn't You."
Jane Zhang immediately sat upright.
Eyes wide.
Hands clenched.
Nervous.
Extremely nervous.
Meanwhile the host continued:
"This song doesn't scream heartbreak."
"It doesn't cry out in pain."
"Instead... it quietly tells a story."
"A story about gratitude."
"About regret."
"And about people who once walked beside us but eventually disappeared."
The piano slowly rose.
Then—
Jane Zhang's voice appeared.
Soft.
Clear.
Filled with emotion.
Inside the taxi—
Everything suddenly became quiet.
Even Liu Yan stopped resisting Luo Zheng's wandering hand.
Halfway through the song—
Luo Zheng suddenly looked outside.
Then looked at the driver.
"Master."
"The light turned green."
The driver froze.
Then finally snapped back.
"Ah!"
"Sorry!"
He hurriedly stepped on the accelerator.
But his expression had changed.
His eyes carried something else now.
Something heavy.
The song finished.
The radio host spoke softly:
"Sometimes missing someone simply means meeting the right person later."
"Thank you to everyone who once passed through our lives…"
Silence filled the car afterward.
Liu Yan wasn't emotional.
Neither was Luo Zheng.
Jane Zhang was too nervous to think.
But the driver...
The driver clearly looked different.
He stared ahead silently.
Eyes distant.
Like someone remembering another time.
Another person.
Another life.
Luo Zheng looked at him and sighed inwardly.
This was definitely a man with a story.
Unfortunately—
He had no cigarettes.
No alcohol.
Otherwise maybe two men could've shared a conversation.
Eventually, the driver sighed quietly.
"What a good song…"
Jane Zhang immediately lit up.
"You liked it?"
The driver nodded seriously.
"Very much."
"This girl sings beautifully."
"If I ever met her someday…"
"I'd definitely ask for an autograph."
Without thinking—
Jane Zhang blurted:
"I can sign one right now!"
Silence.
The car suddenly stopped.
The driver slowly turned around.
"…What?"
Jane froze.
Panic instantly appeared on her face.
Fortunately Luo Zheng calmly took out an album from Liu Yan's bag.
Then smiled.
"Master."
"She really is Jane Zhang."
"Life works in funny ways."
The driver stared.
Then stared harder.
Then looked at the album.
Then at Jane.
Then—
His eyes widened completely.
"No way…"
"No way!"
"It's really you?!"
Jane Zhang immediately became embarrassed.
"Thank you for liking my songs…"
The driver looked like he had won the lottery.
By the time they arrived, he absolutely refused payment.
After several attempts, Luo Zheng finally gave up.
Walking beside the road under evening lights, Jane Zhang still looked dazed.
Then suddenly—
Luo Zheng looked toward her.
Smiled.
And casually asked:
"Liangying…"
"Are you ready to become famous?"