“Wang Qin?”

What did the male protagonist’s chief assistant want from her?

Thinking of the male protagonist, Su Mei instinctively didn’t want to answer Wang Qin’s call. However, recalling Gu Yancheng’s dominant position in the entire novel world, Su Mei eventually picked it up.

“Hello, Assistant Wang. How can I help you?”

“Hello, Mrs. Gu.”

“Uh, please just call me Ms. Su, like before.” The word ‘Gu’ made her uncomfortable just hearing it.

“……Alright, Ms. Su. It’s like this. Due to certain reasons, this year’s first shareholders’ meeting will be held ahead of schedule. It is set for tomorrow morning at nine o’clock, in the top-floor conference room of Gu Group’s headquarters.”

“Shareholders’ meeting?” Su Mei was a bit puzzled. The novel didn’t mention anything about a shareholders’ meeting, and what did it have to do with her?

“Yes, since you are also one of the company’s shareholders, it is essential that you attend tomorrow’s meeting.”

Wait a minute, what did he mean by ‘essential’?

“Didn’t you previously say that as a shareholder, participating in company decisions and going to work were all voluntary? Moreover,” Su Mei continued, “I’m already selling my shares, which can mean I am more or less no longer one of your shareholders. There’s no need to notify me about a shareholders’ meeting.”

“What? You’re selling your shares, Ms. Su?” Wang Qin’s tone sounded quite surprised.

“Yes, Gu— your CEO doesn’t know?”

“Sorry, as the CEO’s assistant, I have not received any information regarding shareholder changes or large share transactions. Therefore, Ms. Su, you are still a shareholder of the company. Moreover, notifying all valid shareholders, including you, to attend tomorrow’s shareholders’ meeting is also the CEO’s decision.”

“This time, due to the significant drop in the company’s stock price caused by the passing of the previous CEO, the situation is special. All shareholders are required to attend. I believe you can understand, right, Ms. Su?”

Wang Qin delivered his pre-prepared speech in one breath, without missing a single word.

Believe you? Not a chance! Did you think I hadn’t read the novel?

Su Mei grumbled inwardly.

However, the fact that Wang Qin specifically mentioned the male protagonist did make Su Mei feel a bit intimidated.

“That, Assistant Wang, of course, I support the company’s shareholders’ meeting, but it’s really quite unfortunate. I accidentally twisted my ankle when I went out yesterday, so I’m afraid tomorrow—”

“That isn’t a problem. Tomorrow, I’ll arrange for the company car to pick you up, Ms. Su. Additionally, there is a convenient access route at the company, and I’ll have someone make sure everything is ready in advance.”

“But—”

“Shortly, the secretary will send the materials for tomorrow’s meeting to your email, Ms. Su. Please keep an eye out for them. If there’s nothing else, I won’t disturb you any further.”

“Why—” Hearing the dial tone from the other end, Su Mei dejectedly put down her phone.

“Cough, Susu, I was just about to tell you that.” Wu Fei said as she looked at Su Mei, “Originally, your listed shares were about to be sold, but then Gu Group suddenly issued an announcement. To ensure the normal proceedings of the shareholders’ meeting, large share transfers are prohibited during this period.”

“So what Wang Qin said is true? I am still a shareholder and must attend tomorrow’s shareholder meeting?”

“Yes.” Wu Fei nodded. Seeing the sad look on Su Mei’s face, she couldn’t help but comfort her, “Actually, it’s not a bad thing that the shares haven’t been sold. The price you listed was too low before, and now it has already gone up by almost 20%, and it looks like it might rise even more.”

“Oh.” Despite Wu Fei’s words, Su Mei didn’t feel happy at all.

Of course, she knew that Gu Group’s shares would rise. She even knew that in the next two years, under the male protagonist’s management, the stock price would triple at the very least!

“How about I go with you tomorrow?” Wu Fei offered.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Sigh, never mind. I’ll go by myself.” Su Mei said, collapsing back down.

There was nothing wrong with just making a token appearance at the shareholder meeting. She simply didn’t want to run into the male protagonist. As for Wu Fei, she was such a good assistant and shouldn’t get entangled in the twisted main plot of the novel.

“Then, how about I go shopping with you and we buy an outfit for tomorrow’s meeting?” Wu Fei suggested, changing the subject.

Previously, they had only communicated via text, so Wu Fei didn’t know what Su Mei’s usual fashion style was. However, considering that every time she had seen Su Mei recently, she was either in pajamas or wearing a long hoodie that covered her from head to toe, Wu Fei was genuinely worried that Su Mei might show up at Gu Group dressed like that.

Since it was a shareholders’ meeting, she definitely needed to prepare a high-end outfit, one that could command respect.

“Alright then.” Su Mei hesitated for a moment before nodding.

However, her thoughts were different from Wu Fei’s.

The other Su Mei’s wardrobe was full of luxury items that she liked, but since she was going to meet the male protagonist, it was better not to let him think she was living well. Looking a bit more miserable and low-key, like a proper cannon fodder character, was the way to go.

She decided to act on this thought immediately.

Su Mei changed into a casual outfit and headed out with Wu Fei.

They went to the same mall the other Su Mei often frequented but didn’t go to the top floor’s high-end custom-made section.

Fortunately, Wu Fei, a recently graduated student, was unaware of the true spending habits of wealthy people and thought the clothes on this floor were already impressive enough in terms of price.

“Susu, what do you think of this dress?” Wu Fei asked, pointing to a white long dress.

At the same time, a woman’s voice from nearby remarked, “Jingyi, that white dress looks great too!”

The voice sounded somewhat familiar.

Su Mei turned to look and her eyes directly met with the other party’s.

“S-Su Mei!”

“Lin Manman?” The woman in front of her gradually matched the memories of the other Su Mei.

Su Mei hadn’t expected to run into Lin Manman while just out shopping, and what’s even more surprising, Lin Manman was accompanied by a man wearing sunglasses and a mask in the middle of this hot day.

Noticing Su Mei’s gaze, Lin Manman’s expression changed abruptly. She quickly pulled her hand away from the man she had been holding onto.

At the same time, the man beside Lin Manman also looked somewhat awkward.

“That, Susu, don’t misunderstand.” Lin Manman said.

“What’s there to misunderstand?” Su Mei replied nonchalantly.

The man next to Lin Manman is Wei Jingyi. He used to work in the same entertainment company as Su Mei and can be considered the other Su Mei’s senior brother. He was now a 5^th or 6^th-line celebrity.

At the same time, this man has another identity, that is, the secret lover of the other Su Mei whom she had been dating behind Gu Hongguang’s back for almost half a year.

As for why Su Mei could still recognize him despite his heavy disguise, it had nothing to do with love. The novel had already written about it. The stepmother’s secret lover and her best friend were involved with each other.

However, that was just a plot in the novel. Right now, Su Mei feels indifferent towards both of them.

“That’s good if you haven’t misunderstood. I was afraid you might……” Seeing that Su Mei didn’t seem angry at all, Lin Manman breathed a sigh of relief. She then anxiously grabbed Su Mei’s hand and asked, “By the way, Susu, why haven’t you contacted me these past couple of days? I was so worried.”

The concern was feigned, but the anxiety was genuine.

The plan at the hotel had been a joint effort between Lin Manman and the other Su Mei. When Su Mei’s tone was quite bad on the phone that day, Lin Manman had a vague feeling that the plan might have failed or something had gone wrong. So, she hadn’t dared to contact Su Mei, fearing she might get implicated as well.

“Did the plan— Did you get found out?” Lin Manman asked.

“Sort of.” Su Mei replied. Although it hadn’t happened yet, with the surveillance in place, it was only a matter of time before they got discovered.

This was also why Su Mei was eager to cash out her shares and flee with the money.

“Did you get that thing?” Lin Manman asked, still a bit unwilling to let it go. After all, that item was something not only Su Mei needed.

Su Mei: “……”

Could we not talk about this?

Seeing Su Mei’s expression, Lin Manman guessed that the plan had probably failed completely. Disappointment filled her heart as she cursed Su Mei internally for being an idiot. Their plan had been so meticulous, yet Su Mei still ended up failing.

Thinking of this, Lin Manman’s expression shifted once again.

“I haven’t been able to get in touch with Old Zhou and the others these past couple of days.”

“Oh, them? You don’t need to contact them anymore.”

Old Zhou and his team were people under Gu Hongguang’s command, whom the other Su Mei had delegated to Lin Manman.

Now that even Gu Hongguang was gone, those people were even less likely to still be around.

“Um, Susu, are you in a difficult situation right now?” Lin Manman asked, casting a subtle glance at Su Mei.

In the past, Su Mei was always adorned with luxury items whenever she went out with Gu Hongguang. But now, the hoodie Su Mei was wearing was clearly a cheap item, something even Lin Manman wouldn’t look at……

Moreover, Su Mei had always shopped on the top floor in the past. It was unheard of for her to be browsing on this floor.

Hearing that Gu Hongguang had died, Lin Manman thought Su Mei might have ended up with nothing and stirred up trouble for herself.

“Yes, yes.” Su Mei nodded repeatedly. She was still fuming from her frustration with the male protagonist’s assistant and was looking for an outlet to vent.

“Right now, sigh……” Su Mei said with a face full of woe, “Not only can I not control my own money (the interest keeps rising every day), but I’m also being forced into doing things (specifically, attending the shareholders’ meeting)……”

“That,” Lin Manman suddenly interrupted Su Mei, her expression darkening, “I just remembered that I have a department meeting at my company this afternoon. I need to head back now. Let’s discuss the rest over the phone.”

After saying that, Lin Manman hurriedly left.

As Su Mei’s gaze shifted from Lin Manman’s retreating figure, she frowned and looked at Wei Jingyi. Why wasn’t he leaving as well? Didn’t he find it awkward to just stand there?

“Cough, Su Mei, there’s something we need to discuss.” Wei Jingyi said with a cold tone.

“Stop!” Su Mei interrupted him.

“No need to discuss. I already know what you want to say. I think your idea is great, and I wish you all the best.”

“You—!”

“Hey, Wu Fei, I think that dress looks pretty good. Let’s go check it out.”

“None of them are good people.” Wu Fei said with disdain, still thinking about the odd couple from earlier, as Su Mei pulled her along.

“Exactly!”

Indeed, they really weren’t good people.

The novel mentioned that when the decorative figure beside the male protagonist’s scumbag father, also known as Su Mei, was driven to a corner, those two people had even colluded to siphon off her last bit of savings.