Chapter 32: Slap in the Face (1)

"May I ask Mr. Mu whether you're interested in feeding resources to your wife?"

Shen Xingman thought, since she had spent a pleasant night with him, asking for an endorsement shouldn't be too much.

The Mu Family is very wealthy.

What ordinary people consider the ultimate luxury, to Mu Zhihan, might be just a breakfast's worth of time.

When Shen Xingman married him, she never imagined he was so rich; his assets were almost immeasurably vast to the outside world.

"Weren't you saying you wanted to be self‑reliant?" Mu Zhihan laughed.

"…" The sentence hit Shen Xingman's weak spot.

"I'm out there earning money all alone, so bumps and scrapes are inevitable."

She has looked people in the eye since childhood; a hint of arrogance is unavoidable. She never knows how to act cute or act spoiled. But when it comes to fighting and insulting, she is definitely a seasoned expert.

When she gets angry, she snaps at everyone like a child.

"And… a respectable big boss can't just free‑ride, can he?" Her peach‑blossom eyes shimmered, clear as a refreshing spring, both ethereal and alluring.

As for what this 'Baipiao' means, some people can figure it out on their own.

"Can I make a Baipiao Official Announcement?"

A simple sentence slipped from his lips, carrying a sense of endless imagination.

His long index finger brushed ambiguously over her plump lips, his expression calm: "You seem to intend to keep me hidden like this forever."

"…" How did the conversation jump to this topic? It's a bit abrupt.

Shen Xingman moved his hand away, murmuring warmly: "I think keeping you hidden at home is safer."

She leaned closer, meeting his gaze: "You're too eye‑catching; it's dangerous out there."

"…"

"Let me tell you, if this face were placed in ancient times, it could secure a few hundred years of border peace."

Mu Zhihan: "I'm a man."

Shen Xingman wondered: "Can a man not marry into the family?"

"…"

——

——

The first thing Shen Xingman did after returning to the apartment was report the situation to Qiao Yun.

"I slept with him."

Qiao Yun: "And then? Did he give you resources?"

Shen Xingman replied: "I think he gave, but it seems he didn't."

Miao Miao's gaze fell on her exposed collarbone: "Those strawberries look fresh, just harvested, right?"

"?"

"Oh dear, oh dear," Qiao Yun said, unable to look straight, "You're still bringing up the husband thing; I'm freaking out."

"What's up?"

"…" Qiao Yun pressed her forehead, "You saw the announcement that Jiang Xiaoyan is the official spokesperson, right?"

Shen Xingman lazily sat on the tatami, "Hmm, I saw it."

Qiao Yun tossed her phone to her: "What about these negative comments? You saw them too?"

【Commenter】 I have to say, Jiang Xiaoyan's fashion resources are impressive; she just landed a high‑luxury brand not long ago, and now another—doesn't that outshine that top‑stream star?

【Congrats】 Lan Run happily obtained the brand spokesperson @Jiang Family Xiaoyan

【Wow, Xiaoyan is awesome, keep it up, but don't copy the neighbor, curb pride and impatience, be the best version of yourself】

【…】

After watching, Shen Xingman's expression did not change.

"There's another bad news," Qiao Yun hurried, "Jiang Xiaoyan might play the second female lead in Star Frost."

Hearing that, Shen Xingman was stunned: "Huh?? How could that be, doesn't it clash with the schedule…?"

"She can still be in the cast."

Shen Xingman subconsciously frowned; the news made her somewhat uncomfortable.

"And there's an even worse news," Qiao Yun said, "Pei Jun's manager is already in talks for the male lead of Star Frost."

WTF?

Shen Xingman's mind cracked open, "He's playing the male lead??"

What a lowlife, truly impressive.

Jiang Xiaoyan has shipped with many people, including Pei Jun. A year ago, the two co‑starred in an Ancient Romance Small Hit; its ratings kept climbing, and the 'Junyan' ship was scorching hot. Countless joint endorsement and variety show invitations poured in; their pairing could instantly hit the trending list, and fans of the series once dubbed them the 'national cute couple.'

Fans were almost frantic, just waiting for the official announcement.

And now, this national ship is supposed to play siblings in 'Star Frost'??

Shen Xingman dares to bet that once this news is released by the marketing account, the ship's fans will definitely react, and she'll end up taking a silent loss again.

Everyone's fixed impression is that Pei Jun and Jiang Xiaoyan are a pair; suddenly inserting Shen Xingman—doesn't that make her a homewrecker?

"Jiang Xiaoyan really knows how to play a good hand," Qiao Yun grew increasingly irritated, "Isn't this obviously setting you up to get scolded? You're the more popular side, so you have to consider things more comprehensively, but Jiang Xiaoyan is different; she can just seize the chance like last time, sell herself as a victim to gain sympathy, with no loss at all. In plain terms, she just wants to ride on your hype to climb higher."

I've never seen anyone so disgusting.

"How can you be so sure the production will want her?" Miao Miao joined the chat, "What about Shen Ran, isn't she more suitable?"

The second female's name is Jin Huan, cute and pure, delicate and fragile, timid but not cowardly; in both personality and looks, this role belongs to Shen Ran alone.

Jiang Xiaoyan's face also fits the forest‑girl style, but she lacks Shen Ran's cute‑fragile vibe, making it hard to evoke others' protective instincts.

"Think of a solution," Shen Xingman said calmly, "We can't keep taking losses."

Qiao Qiao, you said before that for artists of the same type, you only sign one.

Qiao Yun: "Yeah, that's right."

Doing this is to avoid resource conflicts, so everyone can get along more peacefully.

See if you can sign Shen Ran to our studio.

Qiao Yun froze, silent for a long while, "Did you find out something?"

Shen Xingman nodded, "Poach her over, we'll cultivate her ourselves. Her company doesn't want her."

In other words, if she agrees to leave her original company, then Jiang Xiaoyan, the second female lead in 'Star Frost,' has no hope at all, after all the director's favorite choice for the role is Shen Ran.

As for that Pei Jun, Qiao Yun will personally go see the director.

The online rating for 'Star Frost' is SS, while Pei Jun is at most a minor romance actor, and compared to Shen Xingman's stature, he's far inferior.

Qiao Yun will never allow Manman to give a lift to another male artist in her lifetime, especially since this male artist is from the same company as Jiang Xiaoyan.

"The director might not necessarily take a liking to him; it's probably Jiang Xiaoyan messing things up behind the scenes." Shen Xingman thought, "How about this, Qiao Qiao, I'll go see Shen Ran."

"Do you know where she lives?"

"Gee, just look it up and you'll know."

"……"

In a small apartment, Shen Xingman, wearing a black mask, slowly entered the elevator.

Without Qiao Yun accompanying her, she was alone.

This place is rather shabby; the hallway corners still have spiderwebs covered in dust, the door is wooden, the railings are rusted, the environment is terrible and harsh.

Upon reaching a door, Shen Xingman knocked lightly.