Chapter 48

After that incident, the most noticeable change was the explosive growth in Li Jia’s Star Net followers. They had multiplied dozens of times over, at the very least.

Aside from the apologetic comments, the rest were filled with warm well-wishes and declarations of unwavering support.

Li Jia had no interest in reading through them. She was only sitting there because Ye Chengxing was there, and she wanted to stay by her side.

Ye Chengxing, on the other hand, was happily scrolling through them. Whenever she came across something particularly touching, she would read it aloud to Li Jia.

Of course, the occasional malicious jab or sarcastic remark slipped in among the messages, but Ye Chengxing skipped right over those. She only shared the kind, gentle ones.

After reciting who knew how many, Ye Chengxing paused. She looked at Li Jia, her gaze brimming with soft, radiant light. “See? Everyone loves you and supports you.”

Even though the original plot had undergone massive changes since her arrival—humongous shifts, really, considering the humiliations meant for Li Jia had never come to pass, Starflash Entertainment had been utterly dismantled, and the Omega girl before her now seemed so positive and upward-bound, unlikely to spiral into total darkness as in the original story—Ye Chengxing still remembered those final lines from the book. Li Jia’s words, spoken with a smile yet utterly ice-cold: “No one in this world has ever been gentle with me. Why should I return the favor?”

If she could, Ye Chengxing wanted to do everything in her power to let Li Jia feel that gentleness. Not just from her, but from so many others who adored her. And above all, she wanted Li Jia to believe she deserved it.

Ye Chengxing had noticed long ago that Li Jia had a profound lack of self-worth. She resisted kindness, insisting she didn’t deserve it. Ye Chengxing hoped to slowly erode that feeling.

Those awful past events had never been Li Jia’s fault, but the scars they left still lingered, influencing her deeply.

A smile curved Ye Chengxing’s lips as she reached out, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind Li Jia’s ear.

She would probably leave this world someday. Before that happened, she intended to handle everything she could think of.

The Alpha’s fingertips brushed along Li Jia’s cheek in the motion, warm and tender. Li Jia didn’t stir, letting her smooth back the fallen strands. Her expression was one of easy, relaxed delight.

Ye Chengxing couldn’t help but say, “You’re in a really good mood, aren’t you?”

Li Jia blinked slowly. “Yeah. I’ve never felt this happy before.” Just sitting there with Ye Chengxing, basking in the soft, fluffy sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows—it made her feel as soft and mellow as the light itself. Even doing nothing felt utterly secure.

She could stay like this forever.

Hearing that, Ye Chengxing nodded to herself. See, this approach really works. Sure, it was just reading comments, but the emotions behind them were genuine. Even if Li Jia seemed uninterested, hearing them clearly lifted her spirits.

Completely misunderstanding the true source of Li Jia’s happiness, Ye Chengxing felt encouraged. She beamed and said, “Want me to keep going, Xiao Li? There’s so much more here.”

As she spoke, she turned the screen toward Li Jia and scrolled down to show her.

Li Jia’s gaze flicked over the comments without much care, but when it met Ye Chengxing’s sparkling eyes, she nodded.

The words from those people meant nothing to her—whether curses, attacks, apologies, or now well-wishes.

But Ye Chengxing was different.

Li Jia listened to her reading the messages, her own gaze lingering on her with unwavering focus.

Her Star was the best.

Better than all of them combined.

As Ye Chengxing scrolled, she noticed quite a few entertainment companies had followed Li Jia.

The entire industry, big and small labels alike, was reaching out to her. They all wanted to sign her as an artist, offering generous terms.

Ye Chengxing knew all about it. She had even compiled dossiers on these companies. She wanted to ask Li Jia’s thoughts but worried about coming across as overbearing.

After mulling it over, she finally stood and fetched the stack of files. “By the way, Xiao Li, do you have any thoughts on entertainment companies?”

She hurried to add, “Or any other ideas at all. Whatever you decide, I’ll support you and help you every step of the way.”

Meeting the earnest look in her eyes, Li Jia suddenly leaned forward and hugged her. “Sis, I’m fine. Don’t worry. But yeah, I already have a company in mind.”

Without letting go, Li Jia reached into the files and pulled one out, handing it to her.

Ye Chengxing took it and glanced over.

The company Li Jia had chosen was an entertainment label under the LS Consortium.

Neither the LS Consortium nor its subsidiary was unfamiliar to Ye Chengxing—or to anyone who followed the industry even casually.

The LS Consortium had burst onto the scene at an astonishing speed, rocketing to prominence and making its presence impossible to ignore.

Ye Chengxing had first noticed it because the name didn’t appear anywhere in the Original Book.

All the major players with that kind of power were detailed in the original story, but this group—full name LOVESTAR—had no mention at all.

She was certain there was no related plotline.

But ever since she’d entered this world, the plot deviations had piled up beyond counting. This consortium might just be a butterfly effect from those changes.

Ye Chengxing had dug into the group’s background thoroughly, since it was an anomaly outside the original plot. When compiling the entertainment company files for Li Jia, she’d revisited it. Among them all, this LS label was the one she knew best. She hadn’t expected Li Jia to pick it too.

It only reinforced her suspicion that the consortium was a product of the butterfly effect.

In the original, Li Jia had only severed ties with Starflash Entertainment after blackening and launching her revenge. Now she’d ended it early, the consortium had popped up recently, and she’d chosen their label. What a coincidence.

Ye Chengxing nodded. “Looks pretty good to me.”

But Li Jia’s expression didn’t brighten at her words. Instead, it grew stiff. “That’s all?”

Ye Chengxing blinked, then thought for two seconds before elaborating. “I’ve looked into them thoroughly. Their offers are solid, they take good care of their artists, and tons of their talents went from nobodies to stars. Signing with them really would be great for you.”

As she said it, Ye Chengxing found it a bit miraculous herself.

The LS label hadn’t been around long. Every artist they’d signed had started as a complete unknown, yet they’d all blown up. There was even that one idol everyone joked about—the most improbable signing. Scouts had found her hawking secondhand scrap machines and junk.

No one could’ve predicted it’d work out, since she’d never touched the industry before. But boom, instant fame.

Spotting that kind of raw talent was like winning the lottery—a one-in-a-hundred shot at best. Yet the LS label acted like they had a sixth sense, always picking the diamonds in the rough.

Li Jia looked at Ye Chengxing and spoke in a tone laced with grievance and nerves. “…Sis, are you done caring about me?”

Ye Chengxing burst out laughing at her tone and quickly explained. “No, no! I trust your choice completely. This company really is excellent—nothing more to say. And since you brought it up to me, you’ve clearly made up your mind.”

She had no intention of dictating Li Jia’s career or demanding obedience. Sure, Li Jia valued her opinion, but that didn’t mean she could boss her around. What would be the difference then from trash like Starflash Entertainment, treating her like a tool?

Still, being included in her thoughts thrilled Ye Chengxing.

With that in mind, she neatly filed away the documents she’d reviewed. Her voice softened further. “Besides, there will definitely be times when I’m not by your side. When that happens…”

She didn’t finish before Li Jia shot to her feet. The chair legs scraped harshly against the floor with a piercing screech.

Her head was bowed, her expression hard to read.

But the vibe she gave off felt inexplicably dangerous.

Ye Chengxing froze. “Xiao Li, what’s wrong?”

In the next instant, Li Jia lifted her head, and that alien edge of danger vanished.

“It’s nothing,” she said, walking over to Ye Chengxing’s side. Her tone reverted to its usual girlish lilt. “I just got upset thinking about you leaving me. But then I realized you only said there’d be times you’re not around—not that you’re going away for good. No more silly overthinking from me.”

Ye Chengxing nodded at her words. Recalling the Omega’s reaction, she suddenly felt a touch embarrassed.

Li Jia’s response to her potential departure was that intense.

So…

Ye Chengxing’s lashes fluttered as a new thought took root in her mind, sending her heart into an uncontrollable flutter—

The System hadn’t specified, but when the mission finally completed, maybe she could stay in this world.