The corridor leading to the Art Troupe’s office was already packed with people.
Shen An walked through the crowd with Song Rui at his side, unable to hold back a tsk of amazement. “There really are a few hundred people here.”
Song Rui nodded silently. “So many people. No wonder it’s such a big group.”
Ahead of them, Wang Yuqiong and Shen Lianyao, like everyone else, had been stopped at the door. The two women could only turn around and wait for Shen An and Song Rui to catch up.
“What’s going on?” Shen An asked as he reached Wang Yuqiong’s side.
Wang Yuqiong crossed her arms and glanced at the girl standing by the door, lowering her voice. “They’re saying we have to go in by groups, one at a time.”
“Huh?”
Before Shen An’s confusion could fade, someone called out to him. “Shen An!”
He turned instinctively. It was the president of the Art Troupe’s Organization Department: Xu Ling.
“Senior Sister?”
“Come here quick! I’m swamped over here!”
Under Xu Ling’s urging, Shen An had no choice but to head over first. “You guys wait here for a bit. I’ll see what’s going on.”
Watching his back as he left, Wang Yuqiong let out a soft hum. “See that? That’s the kind of treatment he gets. Totally different from us regular members.”
At first listen, it sounded like sour resentment.
But on closer inspection, what was with that faintly proud tone?
It was as if Shen An’s “special status” reflected a bit of glory on her too, making her quite pleased.
Song Rui was always a bit slow on the uptake and only caught the surface meaning. She quickly tried to smooth things over. “Yuqiong, Shen An works pretty hard too.”
Shen Lianyao arched a brow, neither confirming nor denying it.
Wang Yuqiong’s mouth twitched as she rolled her eyes. “Fine, fine. We’ll wait nicely. I’m too lazy to say anything more about him.”
On the other side, Shen An reached Xu Ling and grinned. “Senior Sister, why is everyone crammed out here instead of going in?”
Xu Ling wiped the sweat from her forehead and explained, “We’re doing it by groups. People from different departments have to go separately to avoid confusion later. We were going to use the projector to mark it out, but it crapped out at the last minute, so we’re falling back on the most old-school method.”
“The most old-school method?”
“Yeah, shouting!” Xu Ling chuckled lightly. “There aren’t many of us here, so it’s a hassle. Mind giving us a hand? Belt out a yell and get them to line up. We’ll have the presidents stand here so they can spot our positions.”
Shen An glanced at the sea of people and smiled wryly. “Couldn’t we just divide them up inside?”
“Shh.” Xu Ling lowered her voice conspiratorially. “Sure, it’d be easier inside, but this is the Troupe Leader’s call. She hates chaotic messes. You get what I mean?”
Got it.
Zhao Qingyu’s old quirk again.
Shen An flashed an OK sign, then turned, took a deep breath from his core, and bellowed, “Everyone, listen up! Quiet down first!”
His voice boomed out loud and clear, startling even Xu Ling. She thought to herself that the kid had some serious pipes—better than a megaphone.
The power of that shout took effect immediately. The noisy crowd all turned their gazes to him in unison, and the scene fell pin-drop quiet.
Shen An continued, “Don’t bunch up! Look at the door, find your president, and line up based on where your president is standing!”
Under his directions, the new members quickly found their groups and formed neat lines.
Xu Ling let out a sigh of relief. “Finally, some efficiency. Thanks—you’re a lifesaver again.”
Shen An waved it off. “Come on, it was just one shout. Without me, it’d just take a little extra time.”
Xu Ling teased, “Don’t sell yourself short. Time is money—every second counts.”
“Right, Senior Sister, what about the Office?”
Shen An asked.
His Office didn’t have a president.
“You handle it.”
Xu Ling said matter-of-factly, “Everyone in the Office knows you. Just go claim them.”
Damn.
Shen An flashed another OK sign, then turned and headed back to where he’d left the others.
Wang Yuqiong had already stepped away on her own, joining the long line for the Drama Group.
So only Song Rui and Shen Lianyao remained in place.
“You two stick with me. Don’t wander off later, got it?” Shen An instructed softly.
“Mm-hmm, no problem!”
Song Rui responded right away.
Shen Lianyao pursed her lips, clearly not in the mood to engage.
Shen An arched a brow and repeated, “Got it?”
“Mm.”
Shen Lianyao nodded reluctantly.
“Good.”
Shen An grinned.
Once all the members had formed their lines, they went in one group at a time, in order.
The Office, naturally, was dead last.
Shen An waited until the groups ahead had all gone inside before leading his team forward.
Inside the Art Troupe’s venue, each department had its fixed spot, and their lines stood neatly in place.
Shen An looked left and right, spotting an empty space between the Model Group and the Organization Department.
Without a second thought, he headed straight there.
Song Rui and Shen Lianyao followed him naturally to the empty spot.
With that, every department and member was sorted, standing in formation like they were doing morning exercises.
“Is the Office just the three of you this year?”
Standing at the front, Shen An’s neighbors were the group leader and president from the Model Group and Organization Department.
The question came from the Model Group’s group leader: Yu Wen.
“Yeah, Senior Sister Yu Wen.” Shen An shrugged. “Probably just us three this year.”
Yu Wen eyed Song Rui and Shen Lianyao behind him with interest. Song Rui looked a bit awkward and tense but tried hard to stay composed, meeting Yu Wen’s gaze as a greeting.
Shen Lianyao’s aloofness was as steadfast as ever; she didn’t even lift her eyelids.
Yu Wen’s lips curved slightly as she leaned in close to Shen An’s ear. “You’re gonna have to carry the team this year. We’re all counting on you.”
Shen An smiled, a hint of bitterness in it.
He’d already mentally prepared himself for this.
Outside the Office, the Art Troupe had seven groups and four departments, each with at least a dozen people—some even had dozens.
Only the Office was this pathetic; they couldn’t even fill a hand.
Not only were they short on numbers, but the members were… “special” too.
Song Rui could pitch in somewhat, but she couldn’t handle things independently—at least not yet.
As for Shen Lianyao, Shen An figured he probably couldn’t get her to follow orders anytime soon.
Plus, she was a dance prodigy, a performer through and through. Expecting her to do paperwork? No way.
Every time he thought about it, Shen An felt a twinge of helplessness.
There were millions of transmigrators out there—why was his so weird?
Either curing some bigwig’s daughter or playing “kindergarten principal.”
Meanwhile, Xu Ling looked even more shocked.
She leaned in too, whispering, “How is it just you three?”
Shen An shot her a sidelong glance. “Didn’t you hand out the invites, Senior Sister?”
“Uh…” Xu Ling was at a loss for words, then defended herself. “I don’t handle everything personally.”
“Looks like you presidents are all pros at slacking off.”
Shen An said with a teasing smile.
“Pfft, watch your mouth.” Xu Ling furrowed her brows. “I remember the Office recruit list had over twenty people. How’d it boil down to just three?”
Shen An sighed. “That’s what I’d like to know. Why don’t you figure it out for me, Senior Sister?”
Xu Ling’s mind worked fast, and she got it instantly.
She opened her mouth to speak, but Shen An quickly covered it with his hand, saying softly, “Looks like you figured it out.”
Xu Ling flushed a little and gently pushed his hand away.
The Troupe Leader was ruthless… She’d really axed the Office just like that.
“Tsk, you’re gonna need all the luck you can get.”
She looked at him with sympathy—no, more like gleeful schadenfreude.
Over this time, her rapport with Shen An had progressed the fastest among the presidents.
The other two were Yu Wen and Qi Taili.
These three had already reached the level where they could joke around and tease each other freely.
“I’ll do my best…”
Shen An replied listlessly.
“Pfft, why don’t you jump ship to our department?” Xu Ling’s eyes glinted with mischief.
“I’d love to. Question is, do you dare suggest it?”
Shen An shot back seriously.
Xu Ling shrank back, shaking her head. “No, no, you’d have to pitch it yourself.”
“Heh, no sincerity at all. I’m not going.”
Shen An turned away. “Senior Sister Yu Wen’s the best.”
Yu Wen blinked, smiling warmly. “What?”
“I wanna join your Model Group~” Shen An rubbed his hands, full of anticipation.
“Oh my~” Yu Wen flashed a sly grin. “I’d love that too. Your height, your looks—everything fits perfectly.”
“But~” She drew it out, “the Troupe Leader won’t let you go. We’re destined to have chemistry but no chance.”
“Senior Sister, put in a good word with the Troupe Leader. She might just say yes.” Shen An pleaded.
Yu Wen burst out laughing and poked his forehead with her fingertip. “Trying to dig a pit for me again? If I did that, I might lose my group leader spot.”
“Aw, don’t say that. You’re a longtime veteran who’s been here forever, with tons of contributions. The Troupe Leader would surely cut you some slack.”
“Save the sweet talk. I can tell you’re not actually interested in the Model Group.”
Yu Wen’s gaze shifted, and she let out a light huff. “You’re just thinking about the girls in my Model Group, aren’t you?”
Her voice wasn’t subdued in the slightest, so the young ladies from the Model Group behind her heard every word, as did those from the nearby Organization Department and Publicity Department. They all broke into good-natured, mocking smiles.
Surrounded by the gazes of more than a dozen young ladies, Shen An still held onto a shred of composure.
He cleared his throat lightly and forcibly changed the subject. “When does it start?”
Pfft~
Yu Wen burst into crisp giggles. “Soon—just wait a little longer.”
“If you really can’t wait, why don’t you go urge them along?”
Shen An’s smile vanished in an instant. He straightened up and said with utmost seriousness, “The Troupe Leader has her reasons. There’s no need to rush her.”
Those words set both Yu Wen and Xu Ling stifling laughter they couldn’t quite contain.
Even Song Rui, standing behind Shen An, felt a touch of exasperation.
I mean, you’re no different from me, she thought. The only real difference is that I flinch and you don’t. But you’re still scared of her, same as me!
As for Shen Lianyao, she had long since tuned out, silently radiating her contempt and disdain for Shen An’s shameless display.
It was at that moment that Zhao Qingyu made her entrance.
She seized every gaze in the room, like the fierce sun blazing across a cloudless sky or the luminous moon adorned with scattered stars—an undisputed focal point from the instant she appeared.
Her arrival plunged the entire venue into a deathly hush.
She had dressed up especially for the occasion today, though her usual look was refined enough already.
A red gown with a daring slit hugged her figure, her neat short hair accented by a fresh pair of earrings and a sparkling necklace that drew the eye to her elegant neck.
High black heels clicked against the floor as Zhao Qingyu unleashed her full presence. She was every bit the female CEO Song Rui had described, radiating the commanding aura of a poised mature woman and an imperious queen.
Shen An tilted his head up slightly, his eyes fixed on her. He drank in the cool elegance etched across her face, the unintentional flash of her pale, shapely legs with every sway of her hips. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth without his meaning it to.
He was growing more and more tempted to slip a collar around her neck.
