It was shortly after Lin Luan had left the house.
As Shen Yu watched Lin Luan’s receding figure, the gentle curve of her lips slowly flattened, replaced by an expressionless face.
She stood quietly at the door, waiting until the sound of Lin Luan’s footsteps had completely vanished from the stairwell before she slowly closed the door.
Silence returned to the room.
Shen Yu walked to the window and watched the figure below hurrying toward the bus stop, her eyes indifferent.
She raised her hand and took a button-sized black Bluetooth earbud out of her dress pocket.
After putting it on, Shen Yu adjusted the channel. Before long, the sound of rustling fabric reached her ears.
Shen Yu knew exactly what that sound was.
It was the friction of the scarf she had just given to Lin Luan.
Indeed, inside that cream-colored scarf she had personally knitted for Lin Luan, she had installed a bug. It was hidden right within that hand-embroidered logo decoration.
The moment she heard the finished song, she had realized one thing.
It didn’t make sense.
Youwan Entertainment was a well-known company in the industry, and Xià Wǎn Yú was famous for her shrewdness and calculation.
For them to sign her with terms far exceeding those of a newcomer was definitely not so they could destroy their own reputation in the first collaboration by burying a promising rookie.
It didn’t fit commercial logic.
Unless… their target from the beginning hadn’t been Shen Yu herself.
This thought flashed through her mind like lightning, making everything instantly clear.
Yes.
Perhaps the one Xià Wǎn Yú truly wanted to sign was never an anonymous internet singer like her.
It was her Manager, Lin Luan.
Shen Yu gritted her teeth slightly.
Everything made sense now: the astronomical signing fee, the deliberate lack of resources, and the demand to meet Lin Luan in person… “Tsk.”
This bug was originally intended to find Lin Luan’s Jin Master, but now she had to use it ahead of schedule.
In case Xià Wǎn Yú tried to do something outrageous to Lin Luan, she would be able to intervene and prevent things from getting worse.
***
Returning to the present.
Both people in the office were stunned at the same time.
Xià Wǎn Yú’s heart skipped a beat. One had to know that her office was absolutely soundproof; it was impossible for anyone to overhear the conversation inside.
Then how did she know what was happening in here?!
Her strong psychological resilience allowed Xià Wǎn Yú to quickly force herself to calm down.
She walked to the door and reached out to open it.
The person standing at the door was indeed Shen Yu.
She was wearing a simple, elegant dress today, her head slightly lowered and her hands tensely clasped in front of her. She looked as timid and submissive as usual.
Like a Little White Rabbit.
“Is something the matter, Miss Shen Yu? Usually, you need an appointment to see me,” Xià WÇŽn Yú said in a gentle tone. “Manager Lin and I are currently discussing some urgent business matters.”
“Oh?” Shen Yu tilted her head slightly. “I didn’t run into any security guards on the way up, so I thought it wasn’t necessary. I’m so sorry.”
As she spoke, Shen Yu raised her head and quickly glanced at the situation inside the office.
Lin Luan stood there with his clothes somewhat disheveled, his tie loose and buttons undone.
Her gaze lingered on Lin Luan for a split second with a complex look before she quickly lowered her head again, appearing bashful.
“I just heard you say you wanted to take photos of Lu An?”
“Just some… professional photos needed for work,” Xià WÇŽn Yú attempted to brush it off lightly.
“Oh, professional photos…” Shen Yu nodded thoughtfully, her timid expression unchanged. “Then… is it necessary to make Lu An’s clothes look like that?”
Xià WÇŽn Yú tried to explain further, “That’s because—”
“Actually, I have one more thing I want to tell you, General Manager Xia.”
Shen Yu interrupted before Xià Wǎn Yú could finish. Clearly, she was in no mood to listen to her excuses.
Xià Wǎn Yú froze. This was the first time she had been interrupted while speaking, especially by an artist from her own company.
Ordinarily, she probably would have had someone throw Shen Yu out already, but the current situation was special. Although this refined girl looked soft and weak, she was definitely not someone to be trifled with.
“…What is it?” Xià WÇŽn Yú followed Shen Yu’s lead.
“The front desk downstairs seemed to have received a call from General Manager Su of Jinse Technology. It seems there is something urgent and she is looking for Lu An. I was afraid of delaying General Manager Su’s important business, so I rushed up to notify him.”
Su Jin?!
Xià Wǎn Yú was stunned.
Why would Su Jin call? Could it be… she found out about my plan?!
Does that woman see through everything I do?!
Xià Wǎn Yú’s expression instantly became quite ugly.
Lin Luan was also dazed.
Su Jin… Why would Su Jin know about this?
Could there be something wrong with the watch she gave me last time? No, that’s impossible. I didn’t even bring that watch with me this time.
Whatever. Of the thirty-six stratagems, fleeing is the best. The opportunity has been given; it’s better to leave this place first.
Lin Luan took the opportunity to straighten his clothes so he wouldn’t look so pathetic.
“General Manager Xia, since General Manager Su has an urgent matter, it seems we can only end our talk here for today. Regarding Shen Yu’s song, I hope you will reconsider it carefully. I won’t disturb you further.”
Having said that, he no longer looked at Xià Wǎn Yú’s reaction and walked straight toward the door.
Xià WÇŽn Yú opened her mouth, wanting to say something threatening, but she couldn’t speak with Shen Yu there as a third party.
Saying the wrong thing would easily leave evidence against her, so she could only watch helplessly as the cooked duck that was Lin Luan flew away.
Shen Yu gave Xià WÇŽn Yú an incomparably well-behaved smile: “I’m really sorry, General Manager Xia, for interrupting your business. We will take our leave now.”
Then, she naturally followed Lin Luan’s lead. One after the other, they quickly left the office.
The door closed softly behind them. Xià Wǎn Yú stood alone in the room, her face livid.
Something was wrong.
No matter how she looked at it, something felt wrong.
Xià Wǎn Yú pulled out her phone and called the front desk.
“Hello, General Manager Xia…”
The receptionist had just started to greet her when Xià Wǎn Yú interrupted before they could finish.
“Did Su Jin call just now?”
There was a hint of rage in Xià Wǎn Yú’s tone, which frightened the employee slightly.
“One moment, General Manager Xia, let me check for you…”
After the sound of rapid typing, the employee spoke again.
“General Manager Xia… General Manager Su has not called in the last few days.”
Xià Wǎn Yú did not answer.
“Hello… General Manager Xia?”
Xià Wǎn Yú slammed the phone down, clutching it tightly in her palm.
She had been tricked.
This Shen Yu… she acted like a harmless Little White Rabbit who didn’t understand anything, but in reality, she was a killer rabbit.
“Shen Yu…” Xià WÇŽn Yú gritted her teeth as she hissed the name.
***
Outside, Shen Yu and Lin Luan walked side by side until they entered the elevator. As the elevator doors slowly closed, Shen Yu breathed a slight sigh of relief.
“Lu An, are you okay?” she asked softly, her concerned gaze scanning his still-disarrayed clothing.
Lin Luan shook his head and looked at Shen Yu with a complex expression.
If he remembered correctly, he had heard Su Jin’s name come out of Shen Yu’s mouth just now…
“I’m fine. Thank you, Shen Yu.” He paused for a moment and asked, “How… do you know what my relationship with Su Jin is?”
Shen Yu looked up at the changing numbers on the elevator display and smiled.
“I know.”