The Movie Queen, a Flirty Omega, Has Been Plotting Against Me for a Long Time (GL) - Chapter 8

After confirming that she would be solely responsible for Shen Qingli, Chu Zhou re-evaluated Chu Yue’s resources.

Once it was confirmed that Shen Qingli signed with Chu Yue, offers for resources came pouring in from external sources.

It was Shen Qingli; she wouldn’t lack resources. The key was that high-quality S+ resources were few, and she needed to select the most suitable ones from that limited pool.

Fortunately, Chu Zhou had her own team, which she had built and cultivated herself since she joined Chu Yue at age eighteen.

She could guarantee that over the three years Shen Qingli was signed to Chu Yue, her career would at least not diminish, if not advance to the next level.

However, Shen Qingli’s condition for participating in the variety show was that Chu Zhou join her.

Why would she, a non-celebrity, join a show?

During these busy days, Shen Qingli frequently visited the company, ostensibly to tour, but in reality, she spent a long time in Chu Zhou’s office and then went to eat with her.

Now, even the cafeteria staff at Chu Yue knew the two of them were inseparable.

On this Friday, Shen Qingli had work and, for a change, didn’t come to the company. Chu Zhou unexpectedly felt that something was missing.

Xixi told her, “Boss, why don’t you just give in to Ms. Shen?”

Chu Zhou: “???”

What do you mean ‘give in to Shen Qingli’? It made her sound like a bandit’s captive wife.

Xixi analyzed, “Look, if you, as the CEO of Chu Yue, participate in the show, you can both promote our company and attract talented people. Why wouldn’t you?”

“Competition for good prospects is fierce these days. Good-looking newcomers are easy to find, but talented ones are hard. All the major companies are watching.”

“Besides, if you don’t go, Ms. Shen won’t go either. The plan we made is great, but if Ms. Shen doesn’t cooperate, it’s useless.”

Chu Zhou’s head was buzzing. Had she hired an assistant or a mother-in-law? The constant chatter was endless.

“Alright, alright, fine, I’ll join. Stop nagging.”

She feigned impatience, but in reality, she was giving herself an excuse to back down.

Shen Qingli’s stance was clear: she would join the variety show, but only if Chu Zhou accompanied her.

A ninety-million salary, which was tied to Shen Qingli’s subsequent development. The other woman hadn’t said she wouldn’t join, she had only stated a condition.

When Chu Zhou agreed to join the show, Xixi looked excited. “I’ll go make arrangements right away.”

Just as she was about to leave the office, Xixi turned back and asked, “Is it a dating show?”

Chu Zhou: “…” She felt an urge to replace her assistant.

Xixi chuckled “hehe” and didn’t dare to push it further. “I understand, I understand.”

If she dared to book a dating show for her boss, she would probably lose her job. She wasn’t that stupid.

The show Chu Zhou and Shen Qingli are going to join is called No Worries, a lifestyle reality show. The core concept is “lying flat”—the life of “Hustle Kings” who live in big cities, after they decide to embrace a relaxed lifestyle.

The show is said to have eleven guests, mostly celebrities, along with “Hustle Kings” from various industries.

There are five artists, two talk show hosts, one screenwriter, one lawyer, and one doctor. Aside from Chu Zhou and the five artists, the other five are sincerely dedicated to their hustle—the type who find joy in working hard.

Among the five artists, only Shen Qingli is relatively relaxed. The other four are workaholics, rarely resting all year, and often fly to three cities in a single day.

The show’s theme is “anything goes” as long as you’re not actually working.

Some people feel a sense of responsibility to provide “variety show effect” when they appear on TV. It’s like in an awkward social situation, someone always feels compelled to lighten the mood. These Hustle Kings somewhat carry that sense of responsibility.

The show has a “Lying Flat Value,” starting at 100. If the score is fully deducted, the guest must go up the mountain, where there is no internet and no mobile phones. They must stay alone, without anyone to talk to, for twenty-four hours before coming back down and having their score reset.

Chu Zhou quite liked the show’s concept. Lying flat? It suits her perfectly.

In reality, since she gained consciousness, she has had to learn many things: various extracurricular classes, tutoring sessions, and after becoming an adult, learning to manage Chu Yue.

She has been on the path of constant learning her whole life. If the show wants to invite “Hustle Kings,” while she might not be a “King,” she certainly qualifies as a “Hustler.”

Now that she has decided to join the show, she needs to finalize the handover of her existing work. The show will be recorded over thirty days, divided into four sessions, each lasting one week.

Since the recording time is long, she needs to issue instructions for some of her work in advance.

The first recording session is scheduled for the first day of next month—less than a week away.

The production team was so afraid they might back out that they immediately signed the contract and moved up the recording time.

It was Shen Qingli, after all—the international movie queen’s first variety show, and her first job since returning to China. How could the production team not be excited?

Chu Zhou, who would also be joining the show, left the company after insisting on finishing the Friday morning work to meet her friend, Hua Nanyi.

She had declined Hua Nanyi several times recently due to her work with Shen Qingli. If she refused again, her friend might show up at the company to drag her out.

The first thing Chu Zhou did after leaving work was go home and change. She likes to wear comfortable clothes when she goes out. Wearing a suit makes her feel like she’s still working, preventing her from having fun.

To meet Hua Nanyi, she dressed very casually: a white T-shirt and denim overalls, with only one strap buckled, making her look as youthful as a college student.

She only applied moisturizer and sunscreen, going out completely bare-faced.

…

It was already hot, though not yet July, but the rain season kept the temperature down. Today was finally overcast with no rain, so Chu Zhou decided to cycle.

She arranged to have afternoon tea with Hua Nanyi at a nearby coffee shop. At her slow pace, it took her ten minutes to cycle there.

She parked her bicycle and waved to her friend, who was already sitting inside the coffee shop.

Once she walked in and sat down, Hua Nanyi rolled her eyes. “What an outfit. You look like my little sister.”

Hua Nanyi is a year younger than her. She did her undergraduate degree abroad and only recently returned after finishing her master’s. Her actual younger sister is still in high school.

The Hua Group, purely based on wealth, ranks highly globally. Hua Nanyi could splurge her family’s money for eight lifetimes and not run out.

However, Aunt Qiao wanted to go out and travel with Aunt Qin, retiring early like Chu Zhou’s mother and mommy, so she forced Hua Nanyi to join the company to learn.

Chu Zhou suddenly remembered some gossip she’d heard recently. Her eyes widened slightly as she asked, “I heard you caused chaos in the company on your first day of internship?”

The Hua family is one of the largest manufacturers of inhibitors and inhibitor patches in China, which is the foundation of the Hua family’s wealth.

Among the three largest e-commerce websites in China, one belongs to the Hua family.

The Hua family has many subsidiaries across various industries. Logically, as the Hua family heir, Hua Nanyi would have to join the company sooner or later.

But Hua Nanyi is naturally inclined to “lie flat.” In her words, “My family has so much money I could throw it around every day and not use it up. Why should I work?”

However, her words don’t count; Aunt Hua Qiao’s do.

To train her, on the second day of returning to China, she was thrown into the inhibitor sales company as an intern, with strict instructions not to reveal her identity.

On her first day, she managed to offend all the company leaders.

Only the General Manager of that company knew her identity. Since no one else did, they decided to fire her.

The natural result was that the General Manager had to clean up the mess and went to Aunt Hua Qiao, tearfully pleading with her to take the “Crown Princess” away, saying he couldn’t stand her antics anymore.

Chu Zhou laughed so hard she couldn’t straighten up when she heard about this. She always knew her friend wasn’t one to follow orders, but she didn’t expect her resistance to be so fierce.

After Hua Nanyi’s stunt, the entire Hua Group knew that the Hua family heir was back. Photos quickly circulated throughout the entire group, and Aunt Hua Qiao’s plan was completely ruined.

Hua Nanyi waved her hand. “Don’t bring it up. I got scolded thoroughly by my Sister Qiao when I got home. Fortunately, my mom rescued me.”

[Aunt Qin Yi: “She takes after who?”]

Chu Zhou’s mother had told her stories about Aunt Hua Qiao going to work at Chu Yue to avoid inheriting the family business and focus on music, which is still widely circulated gossip.

Hua Nanyi’s personality truly mirrored Aunt Hua Qiao’s.

Chu Zhou chuckled. “Aunt Hua Qiao won’t let you off the hook.”

Bringing up the topic made Hua Nanyi wilt. “Sister Qiao keeps saying, ‘Look at Chu Zhou.’”

“It’s not the same. Everyone pursues a different kind of life. I certainly don’t want to start working so young.”

The two chatted about recent events. Hua Nanyi took a sip of coffee and then said sheepishly, “Actually, I asked to see you today because I have a favor to ask.”

Chu Zhou raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”

Her friend rarely used words like “favor” with her, so it must be something serious.

Especially with Hua Nanyi looking embarrassed, Chu Zhou grew curious about what kind of matter would require a favor.

Hua Nanyi looked guilty, like she had done something wrong, and mumbled, “I caused someone to lose their job, and I want you to give her one.”

“A job? What position? Let me be clear, for a newcomer, I refuse to give any important job.”

She could pull strings, but only for roles that didn’t require much skill, were comfortable, and relaxed.

Hua Nanyi quickly said, “No, wait until you see her file.”

Chu Zhou was surprised. Her friend was always wild and carefree, never taking anything seriously. This was the first time she had been so earnest about helping someone.

“Send it to me.”

Hua Nanyi looked confused. “What?”

Chu Zhou: “…”

“The resume.”

Hua Nanyi shook her head. “I’ll send it to you when I get home tonight.”

Less than ten seconds later, Hua Nanyi said, “Never mind, I’ll go back now and look for it.”

Then, without waiting for Chu Zhou to speak, she walked out of the coffee shop.

Could it be possible that a simple phone call could have gotten someone else to send it?

Chu Zhou sighed and rotated the coffee cup on the table. Her twenty-minute afternoon tea was over. She had changed clothes to come home for nothing.

Just as she was about to pay and leave, her phone rang with a WeChat call from Shen Qingli.

She hesitated to answer, but then a familiar voice sounded right next to her. “Do you still hesitate to answer my calls?”

Busted! Chu Zhou was a little embarrassed. Socially awkward moment +1. She looked up and forced an awkward smile.

“I…” she tried to explain.

Shen Qingli changed the subject. “You’re going to join the show?”

“Mhm.” What else? If I don’t go, you won’t go either.

Chu Zhou’s thoughts were transparent. Shen Qingli didn’t seem to mind. Instead, she sat down across from her and motioned for the waiter to clear the coffee in front of her.

“Then I look forward to learning from you, CEO Chu.”

The information available about Shen Qingli online is minimal, only data from her college years onward. There is no information from before college, though it’s rumored she attended a prestigious high school.

So, everyone assumes Shen Qingli was born and raised abroad.

It’s normal for someone who has lived abroad their whole life to feel unfamiliar with the domestic scene after returning.

Chu Zhou thought to herself: Perhaps Shen Qingli is genuinely scared and needs someone to accompany her?

Seeing the changing expressions on her face, Shen Qingli smiled teasingly. Simple puppies usually fall into the trap this way, step by step.