After Transmigrating into a Scumbag Alpha, I Whitewashed Myself with the Movie Queen on a Reality Dating Show - Chapter 21

In the morning, Xu Muyan came downstairs wearing a suit and a white shirt. The long suit trousers covered her fair legs. Gu Zhi looked at her dark, curly hair and the thin, gold-rimmed glasses she was wearing. This looked like a professional, restrained beauty of a manager, not the stunning, unrivaled Film Queen of the entertainment industry.

“Sister, why are you dressed like this?”

Xu Muyan smoothed her long hair. “My mother is coming to A-City to see me today.”

Gu Zhi paused. “So you’re dressing up as a corporate elite who strides through the office like a whirlwind?”

Xu Muyan pursed her lips. “My mother doesn’t like me being an actress in the entertainment industry, so I’m dressing like this to make her more comfortable.”

Gu Zhi said, “Oh,” and didn’t press the matter.

“I made you some porridge,” Gu Zhi said, serving her a bowl. “Eat more.” She also fried a sunny-side-up egg and made a cup of soy milk.

“Thank you.”

Xu Muyan sat down. The white rice porridge on the table was garnished with some preserved vegetables. Gu Zhi sat opposite her.

Xu Muyan finished one bowl of porridge and asked, “Is there more?”

Gu Zhi said, “I thought you’d only eat one bowl to keep your figure, so I only made enough for two bowls.”

“Only two bowls?”

“Yes. I only made it for you.” Gu Zhi had indeed only made enough for two bowls. Firstly, the others usually rushed to eat breakfast outside. Secondly, and more importantly, there was no other reason; she simply wanted to cook for Xu Muyan.

Xu Muyan lowered her head and smiled silently. She picked up her bag. “Then I’ll be going now. Bye.”

“Bye.”

Gu Zhi stretched. It was time to go to work.

Xu Muyan’s mother, Xue Yan, was in A-City for a business trip and arranged to meet her daughter. She had been a housewife since she married Xu Xun and had little work experience. Later, when Xu Xun cheated with Su Xiaoyue, Xue Yan divorced him penniless. To take care of her daughter, she had to work odd jobs outside. To give her daughter a good life, she had no choice but to beg Su Xiaoyue. Xu Xun avoided seeing her out of guilt. Su Xiaoyue also secretly met with her. Perhaps out of a sense of moral superiority as the mistress, she haughtily told Xue Yan, “Beg me. I will grant you one wish.” So, Xue Yan asked her to sponsor Xu Muyan’s tuition at a prestigious school. She strongly believed that only a noble school could produce an outstanding person.

Although Xue Yan had little work experience, she had graduated from a famous university. By the time Xu Muyan was in her last year of high school, Xue Yan had managed to start a big business on her own locally. Later, she took Xu Muyan and left A-City to work elsewhere. However, due to sabotage from a competitor, she lost her job again. Things had only started to improve slightly in the last two years.

Eight years later, she returned to A-City, which felt both familiar and strange. In a small private room in a five-star hotel, only Xue Yan was seated. Xu Muyan rushed over.

“Mom.”

Xue Yan was wearing a business suit. She looked at her daughter, who was dressed similarly, and her gaze softened slightly. “Late from filming?” she asked coldly.

Xu Muyan hummed. “I’m shooting a variety show.”

Xue Yan gave a mocking smile. “Flirting with some alpha, I suppose.”

Xu Muyan’s fingers paused. “It’s not exactly flirting…”

“The city was full of scandals about you and Gu Zhi—cohabitation, resource-giving. No wonder you chose to study drama. No wonder. My daughter is quite good-looking.”

It was always like this. After she was admitted to the film academy, Xue Yan would constantly criticize, mock, and even hit her. In her eyes, all women in the entertainment industry were just like Su Xiaoyue!

Xu Muyan’s tone suddenly turned cold. “You didn’t come to A-City just because your company sent you, did you?”

“Are you thinking of seeing that man again?”

Xue Yan, whose face was full of scorn, flew into a rage. “What are you talking about? I came here to reunite with you! You film all day long and don’t even come home for the Lunar New Year. Do you have the right to question me?”

She actually could have taken time off for the Lunar New Year, but she didn’t go back to avoid Xue Yan’s sarcasm. Ever since Su Xiaoyue chased them out, Xue Yan’s mental health had deteriorated. Sometimes she would constantly talk about the need to make a lot of money; other times, she would scream, cry, make a scene, and hit her with a broom. After she entered film school, Xue Yan became even more severe.

Xu Muyan, despite her good temper, had had enough. “Let’s not talk about it. Let’s eat.” Xu Muyan rubbed her forehead.

“I asked you a while ago if you were dating Gu Zhi, and you were ambiguous and didn’t give me a clear answer. What about now?” Xue Yan wouldn’t drop it.

“Then what answer do you want?”

“They all say that a person like Gu Zhi is just playing with you. But you should still use her for what she’s worth. Junze is not doing well right now. You should use your charm to get Gu Zhi to deal with Junze.”

“It’s not that easy.”

Xue Yan stared at her coldly. “Oh? It seems Gu Zhi has abandoned you.”

“Mom.” Xu Muyan had lost her appetite. “You hate me being an actress so much, but I’ve been working diligently in the entertainment industry for seven years. I’ve never compromised myself for resources. Now you want me to use my looks to manipulate Gu Zhi to deal with Junze. How is your idea any different from Su Xiaoyue’s actions?”

In the end, the two parted on bad terms. Xu Muyan filmed a scene in the afternoon, but she was distracted. The director even thought she had fought with Gu Zhi.

Close to ten o’clock, the crew wrapped up. Xu Muyan got into her company van. There was a scent of red wine inside the car.

“Ta-da! These are for you.” Gu Zhi suddenly popped up from the back seat.

Xu Muyan was startled. “What are you doing? You scared me.”

“I wanted to surprise you,” Gu Zhi added. “I coordinated with Tan Ning and your assistant before getting in, so I didn’t enter rashly.”

“I know,” Xu Muyan snorted.

After seeing Gu Zhi, the gloom from her conversation with Xue Yan that morning mostly dissipated. Sometimes, when Gu Zhi wasn’t around, she didn’t know how to adjust her mood. With Gu Zhi there, she could help her solve problems. It felt good to be protected.

“These are for you.” Gu Zhi bought a bouquet of roses and handed it to Xu Muyan.

Xu Muyan smelled them. “The flowers smell really good.”

“Does that count as a compliment to me?”

Xu Muyan murmured, “You chose them very well.”

Gu Zhi smiled in satisfaction. “Why did you come to see me?”

“Tan Ning said you seemed a bit unhappy, so during my break, I was thinking about how to cheer you up. Han Yun said sending you a bouquet of flowers would be nice.” Gu Zhi had also wanted to buy tiramisu, but it was getting late, and the texture wouldn’t be good. It happened that there was a highly-rated florist nearby, so Gu Zhi went to buy flowers.

Gu Zhi was a little nervous because she had sent Xu Muyan flowers once before, and she hadn’t appreciated it at all. But now, she not only complimented the fragrance of the flowers but also said she chose them well.

“You even had Tan Ning report on my situation while I was filming,” Xu Muyan smiled.

“I was worried that some alpha might try to touch you,” Gu Zhi said, pretending to be wronged.

What kind of excuse is that? Xu Muyan found it amusing.

“If anything is bothering you, come to me, okay? I will definitely make you happy,” Gu Zhi said firmly, her eyes shining.

“Okay, I believe you.”

“Then let’s pinky promise, okay?”

We’re adults. Are we still doing pinky promises? Xu Muyan still linked pinkies with Gu Zhi.

“If Xu Muyan lies and doesn’t come to me, then… then I’ll be your wife in the next life.”

Xu Muyan couldn’t hold back her laughter anymore. “What did you say?”

“I’ll be your wife.”

“You’re quite the threatener,” Xu Muyan couldn’t help but playfully tap her head.

Gu Zhi pretended to cry, though Xu Muyan had only pretended to hit her. “Don’t you want me to be your wife?”

Xu Muyan ignored her.

“I know! Sister only wants to be my wife,” Gu Zhi suddenly realized.

Xu Muyan’s face flushed. “You’re all talk.”

“Hehehe.” Gu Zhi restrained herself from shouting “Wife.”

“Let’s go back now.”

“Let’s go back together.” Xu Muyan couldn’t stop the smile on her lips.

The next day, Gu Zhi, having been very busy the day before, arrived at the company early.

Han Yun said, “CEO Gu, someone is here to see you.”

“Who?”

“Ye Ranran.”

“Don’t let her in.”

“She said she has secret information.”

“Is she crazy? What is this, a spy movie? Don’t let her in.” What if Sister finds out and misunderstands? How could Gu Zhi meet the gold cage bird that the original owner had kept?

Ten minutes later, Gu Zhi received a call from Ye Ranran. Gu Zhi was confused. She had deleted all of Ye Ranran’s contact information. How did she still have her number? “What do you want?” she asked, deciding to answer the call.

“CEO Gu…” Ye Ranran cried, gasping for air. “Why did you only answer now?”

“Just get to the point!”

“We were together for more than ten days, CEO Gu. Are you just going to abandon me like this?”

Gu Zhi wanted to hang up. But Ye Ranran suddenly dropped a bomb. “CEO Gu, let me be frank. This is a limited-time offer. There’s a business event tonight, with many celebrities and business magnates attending. Xu Muyan is also coming. Yu Fan plans to do that thing to her.”

Gu Zhi was confused. The business event was hosted by the owner of a fashion magazine. The magazine was high-tier, and the owner had a wide network, so many people would be there. Gu Zhi had been invited, but seeing that Xu Muyan wasn’t invited, she wasn’t interested and declined, citing being unwell. But why was Xu Muyan suddenly invited at the last minute?

“What does Yu Fan want to do to her?” That wasn’t the main point. Gu Zhi only wanted the answer to the last question.

“CEO Gu, let me in, and I’ll tell you.”

“Han Yun, call Ye Ranran in for me.”

Ye Ranran walked in, swaying her hips seductively. She was ridiculously charming. But she was crying, her face tear-stained like pear blossoms after a spring rain. Outsiders would think she had been heartbroken, although this woman hadn’t had a proper relationship.

“CEO Gu, you finally agreed to see me. I’ve been thinking about you non-stop.”

“Get to the point!” Gu Zhi said sharply.

Ye Ranran was startled and immediately composed herself. “Not long ago, I left Yu Fan’s house and realized I had left a valuable item there. When I went to retrieve it, I overheard him telling his assistant to prepare a packet of knockout drops, which also contained an aphrodisiac, to use on Xu Muyan.”

Gu Zhi’s heart skipped a beat. “He’s that bold?”

“CEO Gu, you know how things work in the entertainment industry. Everyone’s relationships are based on mutual benefit. Xu Muyan doesn’t have a strong background. If she tries to report Yu Fan, she’ll have a hard time in the industry.”

“Does he not know that Xu Muyan has me?” Gu Zhi was furious. This man was a complete pervert.

“CEO Gu, stop messing around. We all know you’re just playing with Xu Muyan…”

“Playing my ass!” Gu Zhi snapped. Ye Ranran realized that Gu Zhi was genuinely angry. Before, even when she was angry, she would smile, only her eyes showing a hint of malice. But now, she was like a child, indignant over an injustice.

Gu Zhi called Xu Muyan, but she didn’t answer. She called Tan Ning, who said Xu Muyan was doing her makeup and was about to enter the venue. It would be embarrassing for Xu Muyan to suddenly back out.

“Han Yun, tell Boss Jiang I’ll be attending the event.”

“CEO Gu, I’m telling you this at the risk of my life. You have to protect me,” Ye Ranran said, coming closer and releasing her pheromones strongly.

Gu Zhi pushed her away. Smelling her pheromones was like sniffing fish at a market. She said coldly, “You’re only telling me this because Yu Fan dumped you, and you hate him and want to use me to get resources. I’m not stupid enough to think you want to help Xu Muyan.”

Ye Ranran, hit where it hurt, didn’t dare to speak. Gu Zhi leaned in close, staring at her. “I can protect you, but I’m warning you now: do not spread malicious rumors, bully, or hire trolls to insult Xu Muyan. You also played a part in that Yu Ye’s incident last time, didn’t you? From now on, let me know about any negative comments or actions against Xu Muyan, or else you can forget about having a career in the entertainment industry.”

Ye Ranran nodded meekly.