Chapter 14: Hard to Say

A swimsuit photo book.

I stared at that project on my phone screen for thirty seconds.

What else could be more valuable than a swimsuit photo book in the short term?

The cost-effectiveness was extremely high, and the requirements were basically met, except for —

My gender.

I looked up at the ceiling.

There was nothing on the ceiling.

The renovation had just finished, and the smell of latex paint had not yet dissipated.

I looked down at my phone again.

I was hesitating.

‘Is it… really necessary?’

I picked up the phone again and checked.

Balance: 6,848,312 RMB.

‘Money really does flow away like water.’

This included the final payments for various renovation fees, the expansion of the basement, various subsequent prepayments, and labor costs.

‘It’s probably flowing faster than water at this point.’

I complained internally.

Furthermore, I could not leave for too long.

I also had to keep an eye on Su Nian’s side.

But in fact, there was one major reason.

Things like swimsuit photo books were actually nothing special in the Idol Industry.

If one really wanted to talk about selling sex appeal, there were plenty of things much more excessive than this.

Others could film them if they wanted, or skip them if they didn’t.

— But that was for other people.

Alice didn’t have that luxury.

If her fame became too loud, filming a swimsuit photo book was a matter of time.

Even if she could postpone it or film something more conservative, it was a necessity.

Perhaps other minor Idols could get away with not doing it, but it was definitely impossible for Alice.

Few people filmed swimsuits in the spring, so the schedule was open.

Once summer arrived, everyone would be crowded together to film.

At that time, it would be impossible to keep a low profile even if I wanted to.

— Surely many people would be willing to squeeze into a photo book shoot with a “Supernova.”

That would be the true end of the world.

“Sigh…”

I put my phone down again.

Considering the risks and rewards, long-term development…

Although I knew I should go now, I was psychologically a hundred percent reluctant.

I picked up my phone again and aimlessly ‘surfed’ the web, wanting to escape for a while.

As a result —

I scrolled to an edited clip of the previous performance at Starlight Hall:

Supernova! The home field of the forever-shining Gemstone Princess, Alice!

Views: 1,024,520

Comments: 445,254

[Eh~~~ I haven’t seen Alice for several days~~ I’m lacking Alice energy~]

[I miss Alice~~]

[Yeah, yeah, even though I know Alice worked very hard those few days, after seeing a performance like that, how could I not look forward to more!!]

[I miss the Gemstone Princess!]

[I miss Alice — ]

Beep.

I turned off my phone.

“Fine, fine — “

I muttered somewhat self-abandoningly.

‘I’ll give you your Gemstone Princess… Alice.’

In the end, I chose that project.

***

When I stepped out of the office after making that difficult decision, every step I took felt a bit dejected.

Su Nian was incessantly busy with her phone and notebook.

Chuxue sat quietly to the side, looking like an ice sculpture —

“President Lin.”

She didn’t speak until she saw me walking over.

I had originally intended to tell Su Nian about the arrangements for the next few days, but I was stopped by Chuxue.

“What is it?”

I asked crossly.

“It’s nothing… it’s just that President Lin is unexpectedly short, just like… Alice.”

Her eyes were cold, and she suddenly dropped that line on me, nearly making my heart stop again.

“Heh — I’m sorry for being so short.”

I responded to her sharp gaze with a complaining tone.

I wasn’t lying.

I truly did have some resentment toward my height, but what could I do?

— I can’t control what I look like.

That was the real meaning behind my response to Chuxue.

“…I see. It seems I was being rude.”

After observing me for three seconds, Chuxue backed away.

It seemed she was unable to find any flaw in my reaction.

In reality, however, my heart was the complete opposite of my calm exterior; I was already screaming inside.

‘That was close — !’

I could guess why she thought that way.

It must have been that argument this morning that made her notice something abnormal:

How could a boy’s strength be inferior to a girl’s?

Although my body was indeed smaller than hers, biologically speaking, I should have been stronger than her.

— Except that an accidental surgery years ago had permanently changed my body.

So even at 17 years old, my body was still very small, and it likely wouldn’t grow any further in the future.

‘Sigh…’

I sighed in my heart.

On one hand, I felt regretful about my body that could no longer grow, and on the other hand, I felt a lingering fear because I had almost been exposed.

Although it allowed me to make money on stage, it was also the most likely reason for me to be exposed in daily life.

“…..”

I looked back at Chuxue in the distance.

Only after confirming she was no longer acting strange did my heartbeat slowly calm down.

‘Is it… too slow?’

I looked at Su Nian, who had a dazed expression on her face.

I realized my plan was still entirely in its infancy.

I turned my gaze back to Chuxue.

As long as she was around, the possibility of my exposure would increase.

However, there was no way to kick her out…

‘Since I can’t drive her away.’

An idea formed in my mind.

I walked over and said to her, “Miss Chuxue, how about helping me look after Miss Su Nian?”

“……”

Chuxue was stunned for a moment.

But she soon realized what I was saying, and her gaze shifted between Su Nian and me twice.

“I can do that… but what price do you intend to pay, President Lin? Just a reminder, I’m not short on money~”

She said with a smile.

“You’ve misunderstood something, Miss Chuxue. The person who should be paying the fee — is you.”

I retorted calmly.

“Observation fee.”

“Observation fee?”

“Of course. Isn’t it natural to pay a fee to visit a first-class agency?”

I talked nonsense with a straight face.

A first-class agency…

Chuxue looked at the unrenovated hallway outside, then at the empty dance studio.

“You certainly have some nerve, President Lin.”

Especially considering she was a top-tier Idol who truly came from a first-class agency.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

I imitated her thick-skinned demeanor.

“By the way, I’m not particularly short on money either. After all, I’m just a Little White Face kept by Alice~”

— I was lying to her.

I was extremely short on money.

But I was even more afraid that I would expose something in front of this white-haired girl if I taught Su Nian myself.

And she really did want to get a free ride from me, didn’t she?

Most importantly:

No one gets a free ride from me.

No one.

“Hehehe~~”

Chuxue was amused by my self-deprecation, her eyes unabashedly conveying the word ‘interesting.’

“Alright then~ President Lin, I’ll take care of Miss Su Nian for the time being.”

In the end, I reached a consensus with this sly white-haired girl once again.

“You don’t need to teach her anything else, just the basics…”

After explaining the follow-up training schedule and plan to the white-haired girl, I returned to Su Nian.

“It’s getting late. You’ll be living here from now on. Is there anything else you need to get?”

I had bought some changes of clothes while picking out the Maid Outfit a few days ago.

The bathroom renovation was finished today, and there was a kitchen…

In short, there were no problems with daily living.

“Oh… I still have some things to take care of. Can I come back tomorrow?”

Su Nian requested.

“Suit yourself.”

I replied, not caring about that.

“Just don’t be late for training.”

The rooms were ready, but there were only a few for now.

More could be expanded later, but it wasn’t necessary yet.

“The key.”

I handed her the key.

As for the white-haired girl?

She would probably find her own way in.

“I won’t be here for the next few days. Let your Miss Chu~xue~ lead you.”

I said petty-mindedly.

This dense girl had no idea that her President had almost had his mask ripped off and been exposed just now.

She just watched.

It made me furious.

“Eh! Why — “

She looked at me, then at Chuxue, seemingly completely unaware of why I was angry.

“I have business.”

Leaving those three words, I turned and left.

Before I left, Chuxue looked at the large but empty agency.

When we brushed past each other, she quietly giggled in my ear, saying things like, “A first-class agency, huh~ President Lin.”

I continued to act thick-skinned and pretended not to hear her.

But after I had taken two steps, her voice drifted from behind again:

“Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Alice lately~ Little White Face President Lin, do you know anything?”

I paused.

“Who knows. I’m just a Little White Face she keeps, after all. Maybe she’ll go film a swimsuit photo book tomorrow to rake in some cash.”

“Haha~ That’s impossible. Alice isn’t that kind of person. At least not for six months. I understand her very well.”

“Heh~ Hard to say.”