Inside, the space had been cleared to create an open area.
Yanzi stood in a ready stance, her posture relaxed but alert. Across from her, Su Yue mirrored the position - though with noticeably less confidence.
"Again," Yanzi said. "Remember, when someone grabs your wrist, don't pull away. Rotate into them."
Su Yue nodded and reset.
Yanzi reached out and gripped her wrist firmly.
Su Yue's body tensed for a moment, but then she moved - rotating her arm inward, stepping to the side, and twisting out of the hold in one fluid motion.
"Better," Yanzi said with a small nod. "Your instinct is still to panic and pull. But you're learning to override it."
Su Yue let out a breath, shaking out her arm.
"It's harder than it looks."
"Everything is," Yanzi replied. "Now, let's try the follow-up. After you break the grip, you have a window. Use it."
She grabbed Su Yue's wrist again.
This time, Su Yue rotated out of the hold and immediately stepped forward, driving her palm toward Yanzi's center.
Yanzi deflected it easily, but there was a hint of approval in her eyes.
"Good. You're starting to think ahead."
She seems to have improved a bit, Lin Feng thought.
At that moment, Yanzi and Su Yue noticed their entrance.
"Lin Feng!"
Su Yue's face lit up as she rushed toward him.
"Were you looking for me?" she asked, her expression expectant.
Yanzi walked up slowly behind her. She stopped a respectful distance away and inclined her head.
"Mr. Lin."
Lin Feng nodded in acknowledgment.
He turned back to Su Yue.
"Well, kinda."
"Kinda?" Su Yue blinked.
Lin Feng looked past her toward Yanzi.
"Do you want another job?"
Yanzi's brow furrowed slightly in confusion.
"Since you're Su Yue's personal bodyguard and her personal trainer, you're pretty much always with her anyway." He shrugged. "How about you also take up the position of her assistant?"
He tilted his head.
"You were pretty much doing that already, so why not make it official? And the best part - you get paid for it."
Yanzi's eyes practically glowed at the mention of payment.
"I'll pay you ten thousand yuan a month for this position," Lin Feng continued. "And just like before with the personal trainer position, this is paid directly to you - not through your agency."
He met her gaze.
"What do you think?"
Yanzi nodded vigorously.
Lin Feng smiled.
"Good. Mengqi will brief you on your duties."
He then turned to Su Yue.
"Can I talk to you for a sec?" He gestured toward the door.
She nodded and followed him out.
…
The two of them walked side by side.
Lin Feng slowed his pace as they approached a corner. Then he stopped.
Su Yue halted a step after him and turned to face him.
"What did you want to talk about?"
"How's your research going?"
She blinked.
"Research?"
"We talked before about your beauty business," he said. "I told you to look into what you'd need to get started."
Recognition flickered across her face.
"Ah, that."
She nodded slowly, gathering her thoughts.
"I've been thinking about it a lot, actually."
Lin Feng leaned against the wall and listened.
"First, I'd need suppliers," she began. "Whether it's skincare or cosmetics, I'd need reliable manufacturers to partner with. And there's licensing too - cosmetics require special permits."
She counted off on her fingers.
"Then there's inventory, a team for logistics and customer service, marketing..." She trailed off. "Though I guess my streaming presence helps with that last part."
She looked at him.
"The main issue is whether I should sell existing brands or... create my own line."
Lin Feng nodded along.
"How's your financial situation looking?"
"I have about four million after taxes."
He nodded again.
It was a good amount. Though not quite enough to open a proper business - especially not one involving product development and manufacturing.
"You said you weren't sure about using existing brands or making your own," he said. "I'd suggest making your own."
Su Yue's eyes widened slightly.
"Isn't that super hard?"
It is.
But he really didn't want her associating with other brands. Not to this degree. He needed her image to remain...
He smiled.
"It's hard," he admitted. "But if we work together..."
Her eyes went wide.
"You mean..."
His smile deepened.
"Why don't you make it with me? We can work together." He tilted his head. "What do you think? It's much easier than doing it on your own, right?"
A flush crept across Su Yue's cheeks.
Work together...
Wouldn't that be like having a family business? Just the two of them.
A family...
A certain image appeared in her mind - the two of them, side by side, running something together. Like a...
Her face turned a deeper shade of red.
She shook her head vigorously, trying to dispel the thought.
It lingered anyway.
"You alright?" Lin Feng asked, noticing her strange behavior.
She nodded rapidly.
"No - nothing. Yes. I'm okay."
She extended her hand toward him.
"Yes," she said firmly. "Let's work together."
Lin Feng smiled and shook her hand.
"Great."
He released her hand and turned, beginning to walk away.
He raised a hand in a casual wave without looking back.
"I'll look into it and come up with a satisfactory plan for us to enter the market."
…
The two returned a short while later.
Lin Feng walked in with his usual composed demeanor. Su Yue trailed behind him, her cheeks slightly flushed, her gaze darting anywhere but at him.
Mengqi observed the two of them quietly.
What exactly did they talk about?
She didn't ask.
Lin Feng gestured for her to follow him.
"Let's talk."
Mengqi nodded and fell into step beside him.
The two left the room, leaving Su Yue with Yanzi.
…
They settled into seats in the living room.
Lin Feng leaned forward slightly.
"I want you to help me produce a new song."
Mengqi's eyes widened.
"Right now?" She shook her head. "This is too early. If you release more music now, it'll cannibalize the mini album. It's best to let it reach its full potential first."
Lin Feng smiled.
"I understand. This song we're producing will be a little different."
"Different?" she asked, her brow furrowing.
"That's right."
This is how I'll funnel money from Xingyao into my own pockets.
He kept that thought to himself.
"I have a plan," he began.
…
A while later, Mengqi held her chin in thought.
She looked at Lin Feng, who simply maintained his usual confident smile.
She sighed.
"That's quite the plan."
She paused.
"About the…"
"Don't worry," he interrupted. "I already have it taken care of."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"We can just focus on producing the song for now."
"Alright," she said slowly, still processing everything.
She straightened up.
"So... what do you have in mind for this song?"
Lin Feng's eyes gleamed.
"I'm thinking…"