"What about taking a look at this contract for the variety show before rejecting it or overthinking anything more?" Agent Li said, sliding the contract toward Muyao.
"...Contract? What contract? Didn't you just get the phone call from Director Tu this morning?" Muyao asked, clearly confused.
Agent Li cleared his throat awkwardly. "Yeah, I got the news this morning, and afterward, I told Director Tu that we were planning to send a newcomer to the show. So… the contract arrived about half an hour before you got here."
"So… you're telling me that you already gave a reply and made the decision before I even agreed?" Muyao said, her tone tinged with anger
"Well… we did ask the chairman before agreeing to let you go," Assistant Chen replied carefully
Muyao stared at the contract, her hands tightening into fists. So they actually promised this for me without even asking? Doesn't my dad know how much I hate it when someone makes decisions for me before I even have a say'
Out loud, her voice was sharp. "So… let me get this straight. You already agreed to send me to this variety show before I even had a chance to say yes?"
Agent Li shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Well… we did consult the chairman first, so technically it wasn't entirely our decision."
Muyao's frown deepened, her voice sharp. "Technically? That doesn't make it right! You made a decision about me—without even asking me! Don't you realize how frustrating that is?"
Assistant Chen held up his hands, trying to explain. "Muyao, we just thought you'd be the perfect candidate—clean record, capable, and—"
"I get that!" Muyao snapped, cutting him off. "I'm not saying I can't do it. I just… I hate it when someone makes a choice for me without even letting me know or informing me. That's all!"
Agent Li nodded slowly. "Ok, I get it. You should have been involved from the start."
Muyao's eyes relaxed slightly, although her hands still clenched the contract. "Fine. I'll go on the show. But from now on, I want to be part of the decision-making. If I'm going to do this, I want it to be my choice, not something done behind my back."
Assistant Chen and Agent Li exchanged a glance, realizing that while she was angry, she was also completely reasonable
"Alright, now you agree to go to this variety show. Let me tell you a couple more pieces of information for this show and the stuff you are worried about." Agent Li said
"Alright, go ahead" Muyao said, looking at the contract
"This variety show is called Heart on the Road," Agent Li explained. "It's still in the planning stage, so it'll take at least half a year before filming officially starts. Right now, it's mid-December, and Director Tu plans to begin shooting around June 18 next year."
He flipped through a few papers before continuing, "As for the cast, you're currently the first confirmed member. The rest of the lineup hasn't been finalized yet, but I did hear that Director Tu reached out to Oscar-winning actor Xie Jingchi to join the show. However, it's still unconfirmed whether he'll accept or not."
'Xie Jingchi… that name sounds familiar.' Muyao frowned slightly, flipping open the gossip book inside her mind. 'Let's see if he has any scandals.'
A few seconds passed, and her brows furrowed even more. 'Huh? There's nothing? No gossip, no rumors, not even a tiny mention? That's impossible! Is the book broken?' She tapped the cover impatiently, her expression filled with confusion
'Wow… wow. Agent Li, I never realized a strict man like you is actually so uxorious. Every time you make your wife angry, you… kneel on durian? Ouch. That must be painful. But you also need to watch out for your sister-in-law—she's liked you for a long time and is always jealous of your wife. Apparently, she's planning to spike your drink tonight, using her sister's name to lure you to a restaurant… and then get you caught in a compromising situation. How am I supposed to warn Agent Li that the message he got from his wife was actually sent by her sister?'
Agent Li froze mid-breath, his face turning pale. Assistant Chen's jaw nearly hit the floor.
'Can I share this with my colleagues?' Assistant Chen thought, his eyes widening. 'Ahh… such juicy gossip! I want to tell someone!'
Meanwhile, Fang Xiaocheng, who had been quietly standing behind Muyao this entire time, furrowed her brows. 'Is this… normal? Is this even something I'm supposed to hear?'
She shifted slightly, trying not to let her reaction show, but it was clear she was both fascinated and unsettled
'Wait… if I can see Agent Li's gossip, then why can't I see anything about Xie Jingchi?' Muyao thought, her brow furrowed in confusion.
She flipped through the gossip book again, tapping it lightly as if it might suddenly reveal some hidden entry. 'This doesn't make any sense… it's like he's completely off the grid. No rumors, no news, nothing.'
Finally, a single line appeared, almost buried among other entries:
"Xie Jingchi—the youngest child of the Xie family—entered the entertainment industry to avoid getting involved with the Xie family business."
Muyao's eyes narrowed. 'That's it? Nothing else? No scandals, no hidden affairs, nothing juicy at all?'
She leaned back slightly, confused and intrigued. 'So the family's wealth and influence are huge… But he's purposely keeping himself clean, under the radar. Interesting.'
Agent Li and Assistant Chen, hearing her inner voice, exchanged uneasy glances.
'Why does she sound so calm about this?' Agent Li thought, his mind racing. 'And why does it feel like she's analyzing him… like a puzzle?'
'But this is huge news! Xie Jingchi is actually from the Xie family, and he's the youngest child! Young Miss Muyao, why are you so calm about this?!' Assistant Chen thought, practically wanting to scream out loud. 'This is information nobody else knows—how can she just… stay so calm?!'
Agent Li pinched the bridge of his nose, his face pale. 'She's treating this like it's nothing… and we're stuck hearing every single thought.'
Fang Xiaocheng, standing quietly behind Muyao, shifted uneasily. 'She's… analyzing him? And not even surprised? Is this even normal?'
Agent Li and Assistant Chen exchanged another tense glance, both silently panicking
After a couple of minutes of tense silence, Agent Li cleared his throat.
"Anyway, Muyao, the contract offers a participation fee of four million RMB for the entire show, plus travel and accommodation," he said, sliding the papers slightly toward her. "Just so you know, a newcomer's participation fee usually ranges from one to three million RMB. I did my best to negotiate with Director Tu to get it this high—since you're still a newcomer, this is already the best rate I could manage. And because you're the first confirmed cast member, they're sweetening the deal a bit."
He flipped through the schedule in the contract. "If you get the role of Lin Meixin—the supporting role I mentioned—Star My Destination will start filming on February 11 next year. Lin Meixin's scenes are expected to take about three months, which means your part should wrap up by the end of May. That still gives you about half a month of free time before Heart on the Road begins filming. And that's about it for now. Any questions?"
"Nope, all clear," Muyao replied, closing the folder and setting it neatly back on the table.
"Alright then," Agent Li said, leaning back slightly. "You can go. Just a reminder—the audition's in two days."
"Got it," Muyao said with a small nod, standing up, followed closely by Fang Xiaocheng.
As the two of them walked out of the room, Agent Li and Assistant Chen exchanged a look—half relieved, half anxious.
"Do you think she really understands what she's getting into?" Assistant Chen muttered under his breath, glancing at Agent Li.
Agent Li pinched the bridge of his nose. "She'll be fine… probably. But with her, there's never really a 'probably,' is there?"
They both fell silent for a moment, still hearing echoes of Muyao's inner voice lingering in their minds, a constant reminder of just how sharp—and unpredictable—she was.