Chapter 22: The Company

With public opinion turning in her favor, the paparazzi and journalists who had been staked out below Gu Lingyi’s apartment had largely dispersed.

To be safe, however, Tang Shu still didn’t let Gu Lingyi return, choosing instead to retrieve the necessary documents for her herself. Having some spare time, Tang Shu asked for Gu Lingyi’s location, intending to deliver the items in person and, incidentally, clarify the "confidentiality" of their relationship with her fiancé.

The private dining restaurant was located in a villa complex by the sea. When Tang Shu first saw Gu Lingyi, she was still in a bit of a daze. She never expected that one day, an artist under her management would be so extravagant as to drop eight thousand per head on a meal.

Star Media was not exactly a top-tier agency in the industry. It was only because Gu Lingyi had fought for a spot in a major film through open auditions that she had managed to achieve a modicum of fame. Yet, according to her contract, her earnings were split eighty-twenty with the company, and half of her take-home pay went straight to rent. The pitiful remainder could hardly support such luxurious expenses. Moreover, this particular private restaurant wasn't the kind of place one could simply pay to enter.

Gu Lingyi beckoned to Tang Shu, pulling out the chair beside her to signal for her to sit. The dining table was square, and the seat opposite her was empty. Tang Shu handed the documents to Gu Lingyi and glanced around. "Where is your fiancé?"

"He went to take a call." Gu Lingyi set aside a piece of cake for Tang Shu. "Have some."

It was a post-meal dessert. Tang Shu shook her head repeatedly. "No, no, no, I just ate." She had only come after hearing from Gu Lingyi that they had already finished their meal, as she didn't want to intrude on a couple's date. The two talked for a while about their script reading session scheduled for the afternoon.

A long while later, Fu Linyuan walked in from the entrance. The moment Tang Shu saw him, she understood why Gu Lingyi was so easily swayed by him. Even having seen countless handsome men in the entertainment industry, she had to admit that the man before her could instantly outshine even the top celebrities. Driven by professional instinct, Tang Shu subconsciously wanted to ask: "Handsome! Are you interested in debuting?"

But the moment she met Fu Linyuan’s cold, sharp, and piercing gaze, the thought vanished from her mind. Her intuition told her it would be better to keep her mouth shut.

Fu Linyuan sat down opposite them, his long legs crossing naturally. Tang Shu stood up awkwardly, introducing herself like a nervous rookie: "Hello, I am Yi’s manager, Tang Shu."

Fu Linyuan nodded, his tone indifferent. "Hello."

Gu Lingyi pulled Tang Shu down to sit. "What was it you wanted to tell us?"

"Uh..." Tang Shu broke into a cold sweat, stuttering, "It’s just... your career isn't stable yet, so your relationship cannot be exposed for the time being."

"So..." She kept a close watch on Fu Linyuan’s expression, and the lecture she had prepared turned into a simple request: "You two need to be as low-key as possible when going out together."

*Actually, it would be best not to go out together at all,* she thought, swallowing the words.

Gu Lingyi agreed readily. "Got it, I understand." She looked across the table and raised an eyebrow.

Fu Linyuan’s face darkened, and he responded with two dry words: "I'll try."

The brand representatives were arriving at the company at two in the afternoon, and Gu Lingyi decided to ride with Tang Shu. With no extra time to spend together, Fu Linyuan’s brow furrowed, and his index finger tapped against the tabletop. Anyone could see his displeasure.

The smile in Gu Lingyi’s eyes was overflowing; she found the man before her truly adorable. She gestured behind her back for Tang Shu to wait in the car, staying behind to soothe this "big cat" who clearly suffered from separation anxiety.

"Fu Linyuan!"

He was easy to appease; just hearing his name caused his expression to soften. Gu Lingyi didn't know what else to say in such a moment, so she tugged at the cuff of his sleeve draped over his forearm and whispered, "See you tonight."

"Okay."

Fu Linyuan lowered his eyelids in compliant agreement, but his hand didn't loosen its grip in the slightest. Her slender, pale wrist was firmly trapped in his palm. The sheer strength of his hold prevented Gu Lingyi from moving an inch.

Gu Lingyi: "..."

Her mouth twitched, and she said helplessly, "Let go, would you!"

Fu Linyuan’s knuckles shifted but he didn't release her; his thumb slowly rubbed against the inside of Gu Lingyi’s wrist, sending a shiver through her. The unfamiliar sensation brought a strange, intense excitement. Her cheeks flushed hot, as if it weren't just her wrist that he was caressing.

Then, a warm, damp sensation seeped from her wrist into every part of her body. Gu Lingyi widened her eyes in astonishment, witnessing Fu Linyuan leaning down to lick her wrist.

Gu Lingyi’s voice went soft: "What are you doing..."

"Collecting some interest." Fu Linyuan leaned back into his chair, his narrow phoenix eyes filled with aggression. "The time you owe me, you’ll have to pay back after we're married."

As he spoke, he pulled Gu Lingyi a step closer and patted her thigh lightly with his other hand. "Go on."

Gu Lingyi: "..."

Is that how you calculate debt?

To avoid keeping Tang Shu waiting too long, Gu Lingyi didn't argue with Fu Linyuan at that moment. The numbness on her wrist and thigh had yet to fade. When she got into the car, her entire face was still flushed.

Seeing her looking as if she had been set ablaze, Tang Shu gave a knowing look and chuckled teasingly.

-

Star Entertainment was located in an office building on the edge of the CBD in Jiangcheng. While the location wasn't prime, the company occupied an entire floor. The front desk was adorned with posters of the company's artists, and the one taking center stage was Gu Lingyi.

In the poster, the original soul was beautiful but not gaudy, her eyes calm and indifferent, as if devoid of all worldly desires. Gu Lingyi raised an eyebrow. The most obvious difference between her and the original was their eyes; the depth of the color was different, and the meaning within them was vastly different. She was the polar opposite of the original host—she was deeply driven by her own desires.

Staring at the poster for a moment, Gu Lingyi suddenly turned to look at Tang Shu beside her. The original host didn't have many friends, and no one knew her better than this manager. If even she hadn't noticed that the person inside had changed, then perhaps in this world, no one would ever remember the original host again.

"What's wrong?" Tang Shu looked puzzled, then patted her shoulder with an understanding smile. "Don't be nervous, the brand representatives won't make things difficult for you."

Gu Lingyi pursed her lips, nodded, and followed Tang Shu into the conference room.

The brand representative arrived almost exactly at the appointed time. She handed a folder to the two of them. Gu Lingyi flipped it open, and her eyes lit up immediately.

It was something she loved, and also a currency that circulated in the post-apocalyptic world—gemstones. The thick, vibrant title page was dominated by a bright, brilliant, pear-shaped Royal Blue sapphire. The deep, pure, vivid blue hue was noble and elegant, and the fire emanating from the interplay of light and shadow was like stars in the night sky. This was a loose stone, not yet set in jewelry.

Flipping further, she found other various pieces of jewelry, accompanied by brand introductions and product descriptions. Graf, a top-tier jewelry brand, was positioned as high-end luxury and famous for its exceptional cutting techniques. The location in Jiangcheng’s Y&one would be the brand's third counter in the country.

After reading the materials, Gu Lingyi was puzzled: "Why did they choose me?"

She had a very clear self-awareness of her own status. A third-tier artist with only a moderate amount of buzz was nowhere near enough to be associated with such a big brand, even if it was just a simple promotional appearance.