After the morning recording session wrapped up, Lily Yu didn't return to her waiting room right away. Instead, she joined several of the students for lunch in the cafeteria. She stood in line holding a tray, and when it was her turn, she cheerfully asked the server to pile on extra pork ribs.
Compared to the male students who were stacking rice and stir-fried vegetables onto their plates, Lily's appetite was downright shocking.
Rumor said female celebrities barely ate to maintain their figure, nibbling on salads and lemon water.
But… this?
This was NOT in the rumors.
Since she was one of the mentors, none of the students dared to sit with her. They whispered, snuck glances at her, but kept a respectful distance as she confidently devoured her ribs.
Lily had barely taken her second bite when Ruby Sun sat down directly across from her, carrying only a bowl of egg drop soup.
"You eat so little?" Lily asked casually, still chewing pork rib meat with obvious delight.
Ruby's eyebrow twitched. She was eating too much, not Ruby eating too little!
"To control my weight," Ruby said through tightly pressed lips.
"Mhm." Lily nodded, clearly only half-listening because she was starving. She hadn't eaten properly that morning, and the afternoon schedule was packed. She needed protein—lots of it.
Ruby frowned harder. "You're gaining weight."
Lily froze mid-bite, chopsticks suspended in the air. Only then did she realize what Ruby was actually implying. She blinked, then shrugged.
"It's okay. I don't gain weight easily."
Ruby: "…"
She seriously wanted to flip the table. Watching Lily eat that happily made Ruby—who hadn't touched a proper meal in days—suddenly feel hungry too.
This woman was toxic.
"Here, drink this." Lily pushed the cup of black coffee toward her. "Soup won't help you control weight. Try this instead."
"Coffee has fat," Ruby muttered.
"This is black coffee. Zero calories," Lily said, words blurring because her mouth was full again. "At lunch, you can eat fruits and vegetables. They're lower calorie than egg drop soup, and you'll actually stay full."
Ruby: "…"
This woman… WHY did she have a point??
There was no break at noon; filming resumed immediately. The afternoon was a continuation of mentor-student activities, stretching until nearly 6 PM.
When the director finally yelled "cut!", Jenna Yang hurried over, draping a coat over Lily's shoulders and handing her a phone.
"You have a call."
"From who?" Lily asked lazily, buttoning her coat.
Jenna leaned in and whispered, "Your husband."
"…"
Jason Cross?
Lily raised a brow. The sun must've risen from the west—Jason calling her first?
Impossible.
Suspicious.
Yet… interesting.
She immediately dialed back, but the other end rang out with a cold automated tone. No answer.
"Recording's done for the day. Should I have the driver take you home?" Jenna asked, guiding Lily toward the underground parking garage.
"Home? Of course not," Lily said, eyes brightening with mischief. "We're going to the company. I haven't seen my husband all day~ I bet he misses me."
Her voice suddenly shifted into delicate, lovesick sweetness—an image she absolutely had to maintain.
System: Ding — Please uphold your affectionate persona. No collapsing the image.
Jenna nearly tripped over her own feet. "Do you miss your husband? Or are you checking if he's with another woman?"
Lily hugged her arm, smiling sweetly. "I trust my husband. He'd never hurt me."
"Uh-huh. Sure. Keep your love-showing far away from me, thanks." Jenna sighed, patting Lily's hand. "Just… don't cause trouble."
"Why? You're not coming with me?" Lily noticed something off in Jenna's tone.
Jenna's pretty face stiffened. "No, I… I'll just take a taxi home. There's something going on."
"Okay." Lily didn't pry further.
But someone else witnessed that entire exchange.
---
Inside a black nanny van nearby, Ruby Sun sat silently, cold aura filling the air like an ice storm. Her assistant, Kara, opened her mouth but froze when the temperature seemed to drop ten more degrees.
After a minute of painful silence, Ruby finally spoke.
"Who pays your salary?"
Kara swallowed hard. "You… you do."
"And who do you listen to?"
"You, but—"
"There's no 'but.' We're going back to the apartment." Ruby leaned back and closed her eyes, cutting Kara off coldly. "Tell the driver to start the car."
Kara wanted to cry. Why had she been assigned to such a terrifying master? This job was torture!
The company had ordered her to sabotage Lily Yu whenever possible—to highlight Ruby instead. But after today's filming?
Lily and Ruby seemed to… get along?
Ruby had NEVER eaten with a colleague before. Yet today…
Today she willingly sat with Lily.
Today she asked Lily questions.
Today she even defended her once.
Kara felt her career flash before her eyes.
"Listen, sis," Kara tried again softly, "this show is a HUGE opportunity. Whether you rise or fall depends on it. But right now, Lily is shining more than you—what should we—"
"Quiet." Ruby's voice cracked like a whip. "If you want to stay in this car, shut up."
Kara swallowed all her words and turned into a silent, suffering mushroom in the corner.
---
Ren Group Headquarters
The driver dropped Lily off at the entrance and left. Lily looked up at the towering skyscraper—clear, polished blue glass stretching into the sky.
She felt… overwhelmed.
In her past life, she had chased fame in the entertainment industry. The higher she climbed, the more she encountered wealthy businessmen—balding, beer-bellied men in their forties and fifties.
Sure, there were young rich heirs too.
But almost none of them were competent.
Jason Cross?
He was different.
He had taken over Ren Group early, stabilized the company, and even increased its market value.
He was calm, disciplined, ruthless, and brilliant.
Annoying?
Absolutely.
Respect-worthy?
…Yeah, unfortunately.
Lily's thoughts ran wild as she approached the private elevator—until the front desk staff stopped her.
"Excuse me, miss. Non-employees aren't allowed inside."
Lily removed her oversized sunglasses, raising a brow as if she couldn't quite believe she was hearing this.
"Are you talking to me?"