She had already formed a rough outline of her future plans. Every detail mattered, and every step had to be calculated. For now, her most pressing concern was the upcoming four months when she and Shen Ming would be together on the film crew. Four months was both a long time and a short time, depending on how one used it. To Mu Bai, it was more than just a professional commitment. It was an opportunity, a chance to protect Shen Ming and steer the story in the direction she desired.
She began drafting plans in her head, arranging the days in careful patterns. Shen Ming would never be left alone. Wherever Shen Ming went, Mu Bai would follow—whether it was rehearsals, shooting sessions, breaks, or even casual outings. She would make sure to always remain close, subtly but firmly preventing any possible chance encounters between Shen Ming and Lin Fan. Mu Bai knew the "plotline" of this world had a strange way of pushing people into certain situations, as if fate itself enjoyed playing tricks. She could not allow that. If she let even one opportunity slip by, Shen Ming and Lin Fan might end up interacting in ways she could not control, and that was something she absolutely could not tolerate.
Of course, she told herself there were many good reasons for her constant presence. She reasoned that it was for Shen Ming's safety, for her career, and for the smooth completion of the film. She reasoned that by staying close, she could block any unnecessary entanglements and guide things to a safer outcome. These were all logical explanations, and they sounded convincing enough on the surface. But deep inside, Mu Bai knew the truth was far simpler and far harder to ignore.
She was drawn to Shen Ming in a way that defied explanation. It was an attraction that pulled at her with quiet, irresistible strength. No matter how many reasons she listed, no matter how many justifications she made, they all circled back to this same undeniable truth—she wanted to be near Shen Ming. She wanted to see her, to hear her voice, to watch the small expressions on her face that others might overlook. It was something instinctive, something rooted in her very being.
Yet, despite feeling it so clearly, Mu Bai refused to dig deeper into the reason why. She avoided it deliberately, like someone walking past a locked chest, afraid of what might be hidden inside. Her instincts told her that at the end of this road lay a Pandora's box. And if she dared to open it, if she dared to uncover the truth behind her feelings, everything she had carefully built around herself might collapse. Her life, her beliefs, her control over her own heart—all of it could be shattered beyond repair.
For someone like Mu Bai, who had always relied on discipline, control, and unwavering rationality, that possibility was terrifying. So instead, she chose silence. She chose to walk forward without asking herself why. She chose to act on her feelings without naming them. That way, she could still convince herself she was in control, even if deep down, she knew that every step she took was already guided by Shen Ming's pull.
But she still was confident in her mission. Everyone's ultimate fate is firmly in her grasp.
Mu Bai leaned back in her chair, allowing herself a rare moment of relaxation. After hours of preparation and carefully laying out her plans, a faint sense of satisfaction washed over her. The tension in her shoulders eased slightly, though her mind never fully stopped working. Her gaze drifted toward the floor-to-ceiling window, where the blazing orange sun had already dipped low, now just a sliver on the distant horizon. The world outside was wrapped in a soft afterglow, the once-fiery sky slowly dimming into twilight. Time, it seemed, had slipped past her unnoticed.
Turning her head, her sharp eyes landed on the large digital clock hanging on the opposite wall. Its bright red numbers blinked back at her—6:00 pm. She hadn't realized how late it had become. A quiet sigh escaped her lips. The neatly stacked pile of paperwork on her desk reminded her that she had been working relentlessly since morning.
Satisfied with what she had accomplished for the day, Mu Bai pressed the intercom to call in Li Ru. When her assistant arrived, she gave a few concise instructions, explaining the tasks that still needed to be handled. Once everything was settled, Mu Bai rose from her chair, straightened her jacket, and stepped out of the office, finally ready to head home.
According to the original Mu Bai's memories, the house she currently lived in belonged solely to her. It was a luxury residence located in one of the city's most high-end residential complexes, worth millions. The neighborhood was in a prime location, surrounded by convenience, security, and status. Mu Bai had invested in countless such properties over the years, each one serving either as an asset or as a place she could retreat to when needed. To her, this particular home was not just a residence but also a fortress—quiet, private, and perfectly suited to her lifestyle.
However, things had become slightly complicated after her marriage with Lin Fan. In order to not arouse the original Mu Bai's suspicions, Lin Fan had personally purchased another house. That house was intended to be their shared home as husband and wife.
For Mu Bai, the location of Lin Fan's house was extremely inconvenient. It was built far from the heart of the city, almost an hour's drive away from her company headquarters. Considering her work, which demanded her presence at the office at almost any hour of the day or night, such distance was impractical. Time was a precious resource to her, and wasting hours on the road each day was something she simply could not afford. The very thought of commuting back and forth irritated her, making that house useless in her eyes.
Another reason was Lin Fan himself. From the very beginning of their relationship, Mu Bai had given him countless resources, both financial and professional, which helped boost his career and popularity. These resources kept him busy and away from her most of the time. Ironically, her generosity became the very reason their paths rarely crossed. Since their marriage, Lin Fan was constantly traveling for work, filming, or attending events.
Because of this, they had never actually lived together in the house he bought. They hadn't even spent more than an hour together all throughout their relationship. Most of the time, they chatted on wechat once in a while but except that they lived like strangers most of the time. For these reasons, Mu Bai didn't see the need to move into that house and continued to live in her own home.
.
.
.
Thanks for reading.
Stay tuned for more.