Chapter 34 Part 1

Today’s rehearsal went very smoothly, wrapping up just after four o’clock.

A little past three, Chi Yumo received a message from her agent saying that if things ended before five, she should come to the company to sign the MENAS brand ambassador contract with the boss.

In the waiting area, she spotted the familiar faces of Qiao Ke and Zhang Kai, and only then realized that Shi Youwan was there too.

What was Shi Youwan doing here?

“You’re here.”

After Chi Yumo entered, Shen Muxi pointed to the contract on the coffee table. “Xiao Wei sent it over. Fifty thousand.”

That night at the club, Xiao Wei hadn’t specified the amount, and Chi Yumo had no idea what the fee would be.

She was still just an unknown little model, and ten thousand would have been high in her expectations. For MENAS to offer fifty thousand, she was sure Shen Muxi had played a role in it.

Shen Muxi was seated facing the door. Chi Yumo signed thank you with her hands, then asked: 【Should I sign now?】

“If you trust me, sign it. If not,” Shen Muxi said meaningfully, glancing toward Shi Youwan on the left, “you can ask President Shi to take a look for you.”

Chi Yumo had been in the room for two or three minutes, but Shi Youwan hadn’t turned her head once.

She found herself turning into a coward, always afraid that Chi Yumo would see through her “ulterior motives” and “bad intentions.”

【Of course I trust Sis Mu Xi. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come to Lingjiang with you.】

Chi Yumo walked over to the sofa and sat down across from Shi Youwan. She pulled a signing pen from her backpack and asked Shen Muxi: 【Is it okay to use this black pen?】

There was also a kraft paper envelope on the coffee table, unmarked on the front, which Chi Yumo didn’t pay much attention to.

Shen Muxi nodded. “Sure. Sign it and then take it out to get your handprint.”

Seeing Chi Yumo uncap the pen to sign, Shi Youwan spoke up to stop her. “Xiao Mo, MENAS’s account shouldn’t be settled like this.”

Shouldn’t be settled like this?

Then how should it be?

Should she have gone crazy and bitten back when that rabid dog jumped out midway? Or called someone later to teach the dog a lesson, or just beat it to death with sticks?

She wasn’t a dog; she wouldn’t bite back with teeth.

Besides, this bit of humiliation from Li Longfeng paled in comparison to the incident from her childhood, or the embarrassment Shi Youwan had once caused her. It was nothing.

So what if the process wasn’t glorious?

Fifty thousand was worth it.

Moreover, was the money she had earned back then as Shi Youwan’s bodyguard and lover any more glorious?

To her, there was no essential difference between the two.

What use was dignity to someone whose heart was dead? She was clearer-headed now than ever, knowing exactly what she could do and what she should do.

Until she found news of her mother, she could abandon dignity, reputation, and personal desires entirely.

Chi Yumo lowered her head and smiled silently.

She continued flipping through the contract, found the signature spots, and signed them all in one go.

Between Shi Youwan and Shen Muxi, Chi Yumo chose Shen Muxi. Shi Youwan was no longer her first or only choice, just as she had never been Shi Youwan’s first or only choice.

She was glad it was in Shen Muxi’s office; Shi Youwan wouldn’t lose control like she had in hotel rooms before, pulling her, hugging her, begging her.

It saved her the heartache.

【I’ve signed. I’ll head out first.】

Having signed all the required spots, Chi Yumo capped the pen. As she picked up the contract to stand, she remembered something and took the ring from the inner pocket of the envelope, placing it in front of Shen Muxi.

【Yesterday, it saved me. Great waterproofing.】

Shen Muxi glanced at the ring. “It’s yours now; keep it on you. I’ll get you a new tablet too.”

【Can’t the tablet be waterproof too?】

Shen Muxi couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “Waterproof, freeze-proof, drop-proof, smash-proof, heat-proof, huh? Why don’t you ask President Shi if any tech company makes tablets like that?”

If it didn’t exist, why make her ask Shi Youwan?

Chi Yumo shrugged, took the ring back, slipped it on, shouldered her bag, and stood.

【What happened at the villa yesterday wasn’t coercion. I voluntarily took the sleeping pill and bet with that Fifth Miss. She honored the bet, so we’re even.】

“Mm. Now that you’re MENAS’s brand ambassador, you might run into her again in the next six months since we’re all in Lingjiang City. Turning big issues into small ones and small ones into nothing is the right mindset. Of course, that’s assuming the grievances or harm you suffered were bearable and you can swallow that anger yourself.”

Chi Yumo noticed Shen Muxi glancing at Shi Youwan intentionally or not while speaking. She wondered if Shen Muxi had always disliked Shi Youwan or if it was because of her.

Whatever. It didn’t matter.

The bosses’ grudges had nothing to do with her.

【I’m fine.】

【Also, friendly reminder: on the 17th, she overheard you calling her a crazy woman on the phone.】

Shen Muxi: “……”

After signing, Chi Yumo grabbed the contract and turned to leave, infuriating Shen Muxi, who snatched up the remote and hurled it at her. “You little brat!”

There was a button by the door too. Chi Yumo slipped out quickly, leaving Shen Muxi to face the storm. But Shi Youwan couldn’t read sign language either, so the storm was all in Shen Muxi’s head.

For ten minutes, Shi Youwan endured the bitterness of being ignored, watching Xiao Mo and Shen Muxi “playfully bicker.”

To Xiao Mo, she had long since become an outsider neither trusted nor cared for.

“President Shi, what Mo Yu meant was that everything yesterday was of her own volition. She won a bet against Li Longfeng and didn’t do anything against her conscience. We’re all in Lingjiang City, all in the fashion circle, seeing each other often. Let’s call it even and keep the peace.”

The implication was that neither she nor Shi Youwan needed to pick fights with MENAS or Li Longfeng and stir up more trouble.

“What other functions does Xiao Mo’s tablet need?” From overhearing Chi Yumo return the ring and talk with Shen Muxi, Shi Youwan knew it wasn’t an ordinary accessory.

“???”

Shi Youwan’s leap in topic left Shen Muxi speechless; she just wanted to send this crazy woman away.

So she made something up. “Didn’t you just hear? Oh, if President Shi wants to sponsor, then add GPS, bugs, whatever. Bonus if you can fit in flying needles or hidden knives for self-defense. Shifeng Group has wide channels in tech; I believe in time, you can develop it.”

The room fell deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop.

After her slip of the tongue, Shen Muxi forced a smile. “It’s just a tablet; doesn’t cost much. You think I’d shortchange Mo Yu? Speaking of which, President Shi, want to learn sign language? I can recommend a teacher.”

“No need.” Shi Youwan stood abruptly, her patience with Shen Muxi nearly exhausted. “Xiao Mo will be fine.”

But Shen Muxi wasn’t done fanning the flames. She called gleefully after Shi Youwan’s back: “What about a psychologist then? Why don’t you see one too, President Shi?”

When Shi Youwan paused and slightly turned her head, she added: “Don’t get so heated. I meant the hypnotist for Mo Yu. Some things the doctor and I don’t understand; maybe President Shi can?”

“Good. Thanks.”

Shi Youwan wanted to meet Xiao Mo’s psychologist.

Finally, the office quieted down. The assistant came in to pick up the remote from the floor. “Xi-jie, the contest committee asked if you’re going to the second match tomorrow.”

Shen Muxi thought for a moment. “Yes. But I won’t enter the venue.”

“Should we leak it to the media in advance?”

“Do it.”

Alone now, Shen Muxi picked up the envelope Shi Youwan had left. After reading the documents inside, her expression turned unusually cold.

A thick stack: files, photos, all records of Li Longfeng’s illegal activities abroad.

And these were things she hadn’t known about before.

No wonder Shi Youwan was so furious. That suburban villa was a dragon’s den full of crises for a sheltered Alpha like Chi Yumo.

Fortunately.

Chi Yumo had escaped unscathed.

Otherwise, she really wouldn’t know how to deal with Li Longfeng to satisfy Chi Yumo and keep Shi Youwan from targeting her company.

…

On September 22nd, the second round of the New Fashion Model Contest, 18 into 10, proceeded as scheduled.

The competition was also divided into three rounds: swimsuits, self-prepared outfits, and evening gowns.

The first round eliminated three contestants at once.

In the second round, the remaining fifteen took the stage one by one, each with two minutes for self-introduction and three minutes for judge Q&A.

It was in these five minutes that everyone in attendance confirmed that No. 26, Mo Yu, was a “disabled” contestant—a “mute.”

To ensure fairness, the sign language interpreter was a professional hired by the committee.

As audience and judges applauded Mo Yu’s confidence, poise, and excellent answers, only Shi Youwan in the guest seats kept her eyes downcast. Words like “disabled” and “mute” drifting into her ears cut like knives to the bone.

Being unable to speak was a flaw, but it wouldn’t hinder Mo Yu from entering the top ten or vying for the top three.

Those who knew themselves were strong. Flaws weren’t entirely disadvantages; as long as they didn’t hate virtue, one could ride the momentum and turn weaknesses into strengths.

After the match, Shen Muxi came personally to pick up Mo Yu.

Outside the staff passage at the photography studio, media and fans who had gotten wind of it crowded the area impenetrably.

“Teacher Shen, what caused Mo Yu to lose her voice?”

“Teacher Shen, is your special attention to Mo Yu because she can’t speak?”

“Teacher Shen, how did you meet Mo Yu?”

“Teacher Shen, the on-site judges gave Mo Yu high praise—what are your greater expectations for her future?”

“Teacher Shen, can we book an exclusive interview with Mo Yu before the third match?”

…

Chi Yumo and Shen Muxi stood together, calmly facing cameras and phone lenses, accepting the crowd’s gazes and photos.

Shen Muxi answered a few harmless questions briefly. “Thank you all for your support and love for Mo Yu. She’s just starting out in the fashion world; we’ve got plenty of time. We’ll schedule later.”

It was the rainy season; a massive transparent curtain of rain hung from the gray sky.

Several bodyguards received instructions and parted the crowd on either side, clearing a path for Shen Muxi.

Chi Yumo and Shen Muxi shared a red umbrella, looking just like a celebrated couple, slowly walking toward the road.

Shi Youwan watched them from her car, her heart aching with melancholy.

Once, she had been under Xiao Mo’s umbrella, and Xiao Mo’s eyes had held only her.

But she had repeatedly let people scrub their photos from the internet and erase Xiao Mo from her world.

She asked Qiao Ke, “Can that photo still be found?”

Qiao Ke was baffled by her boss. “President Shi, which photo?”

Shi Youwan had made her handle too many photos. Candid shots related to Chi Yumo numbered no less than a hundred over two years, all scattered.

She looked pleadingly at Zhang Kai, who was equally clueless.

Qiao Ke wished she could crawl into Shi Youwan’s brain to see what she was thinking.

Shen Muxi’s business car was parked right in front of theirs. As the pair under the umbrella neared the roadside, Shi Youwan said, “Never mind. Let’s go.”

What would finding it change?

The photo only showed her face clearly.

Xiao Mo, sharing the frame with her, was always in black clothes, black gloves, black mask—even the umbrella was black.

With a final reluctant glance out the window at the pair, Shi Youwan closed her eyes.

It was only the second day of her heat cycle; her fragile, sensitive body couldn’t stay outside too long. Despite how desperately she craved Xiao Mo’s pheromones, Xiao Mo’s touch, and another bout of intoxicating, dreamlike lovemaking with Xiao Mo.

But reality was so cruel. She could only leave sensibly, return to the hotel, and endure this night alone, then endure tomorrow alone. No matter how much agony she suffered, there would be no more coconut-scented pheromones to soothe her body and mind.