The internet quickly buzzed with activity. Even Jin Yaotiao, who rarely had time to browse online, occasionally received a few push notifications in her feed:

【Breaking News: Rising record label DSB reportedly faces contract termination with its star artist, Debbie!】
【DSB announces delay in Debbie’s new album release this year!】
【DSB head Tommy Vettore denies rumors, claiming that Debbie is still under contract and that the partnership is harmonious with no contractual disputes!】
【Insider leaks reveal superstar Debbie may be in talks with a top-tier entertainment company. After ten years of collaboration, has the rising star abandoned her old home? A deep dive into the cutthroat pursuit of fame and fortune.】

Reading the last headline, Jin Yaotiao frowned and immediately speculated that this was a counterstrike from Debbie’s boyfriend, unwilling to let her go.

Debbie was one of the most profitable pop icons in the Western music industry.

However, her company was a small, unremarkable firm that struggled to make a name. Though Debbie had been bringing in money for over a decade, she hadn’t always been a superstar.

As a talented singer-songwriter, Debbie climbed the ladder step by step with her own efforts, despite the lack of resources from her company.

In recent years, her popularity skyrocketed, growing exponentially and bringing unprecedented visibility to her previously obscure label.

Thanks to Debbie’s fame, the label attracted lucrative resources, and even industry newcomers began to consider it a potential option, despite its lack of scale compared to major players.

Her boyfriend Tommy saw his wealth soar as a result. Watching this promising future, it was no surprise that he wouldn’t easily let go of Debbie, the linchpin of his success.

---

Because of these reports and some ambiguous hints released by other record labels, the internet erupted into fierce debates.

Debbie’s influence in the domestic market couldn’t be ignored.

Opinions varied: some believed she should have left the small company that had held her back long ago, while others accused her of being ungrateful and opportunistic after reading articles framing her departure as heartless.

If domestic discourse was this chaotic, the overseas landscape was bound to be even messier. Even if she successfully terminated her contract, some mud would inevitably stick. But Debbie soon launched her counterattack.

She didn’t do much—just a straightforward statement on her social media accounts, laying out her health issues and her struggles in work and love.

It took immense courage for someone wounded to open up and expose their vulnerabilities.

Debbie, who had long lacked this courage, had remained silent for years, not even confiding in close friends, either out of pride or a desire to maintain her self-made illusion.

Her boyfriend, who had always meticulously controlled her, clearly didn’t expect this.

The girlfriend who had endured countless grievances without leaving now stood firm for the first time. Desperate to win her back, Tommy resorted to every trick in the book, even promising to break up with the politician’s daughter he was courting and marry Debbie.

But he underestimated a woman’s resolve.

Debbie’s public statement caused a greater sensation than the initial contract rumors.

Fans rallied in support, the police began investigating the doctor suspected of helping the record label exert long-term psychological control over her, and the label, in the midst of a contractual tug-of-war, was caught off guard.

Their PR channels collapsed, while Debbie’s legal team advanced like a juggernaut.

Years of love ended in such a disgraceful manner—a truly unfortunate conclusion.

Debbie’s actions not only cleared her name but also turned the tide of the battle.

Yet Jin Yaotiao couldn’t help but worry about Debbie’s mental resilience, even as she felt relieved. She sent Debbie, whose phone had been off for days, a text of encouragement.

To her surprise, Debbie initiated a video call shortly after. The scene on the other side showed a sunny morning. Debbie, in the midst of this chaos, was… gardening?

Jin Yaotiao watched as Debbie squatted on the ground with a trowel in hand. “What are you doing?”

Debbie looked nothing like the somber figure Jin Yaotiao had imagined.

The phone was held by someone else. Wearing a mask, Debbie looked up with a smile under her cap. “Jin, you were right. We do have those greens you mentioned—they’re growing all over the park! Many Chinese people know to come and pick them!”

Sure enough, there were several elderly folks behind her. Jin Yaotiao stared at the pop star gathering wild greens in a park, utterly bemused. “You seem to be in good spirits.”

Debbie placed a freshly uprooted shepherd’s purse into her picnic basket. “Jin, I’ve been cooking for myself these days. When I get home later, I’ll cook these greens the way you taught me. Don’t worry about me—I’ve never felt better.”

She had filed for a restraining order, barring Tommy from approaching her. Yet he continued to contact her through various means.

The man who had professed his love for years had finally shattered her self-deception. He refused to terminate the contract, pressured her publicly, and when those tactics failed, lashed out at her in frustration.

She knew Tommy was on the verge of losing everything. Without her, his company’s reputation would plummet, its growth would stall, and even the politician’s daughter he was pursuing left him coldly when the truth came out.

That politician’s daughter even invited Debbie to meet.

The girl was beautiful, confident, and radiant.

She brought Debbie flowers, cursed out Tommy in front of her, and said, “Debbie, well done. You saved me too. I’ll come to your concert.”

On social media, countless fans rallied to protect her. They cared for her health, just like Jin Yaotiao, who had crossed oceans to send her a message.

Debbie looked at the fresh, green wild vegetables she had just dug up—the ones Jin Yaotiao had introduced to her.

Jin had said that after eating those greens, one could gain the blessing of the seasons and navigate the coming year smoothly.

Jin was right. Debbie felt the power of those blessings, of Hua Xia, and of the black-haired girl who had given her strength.

---

In Linjiang.

After hanging up the video call with Debbie, Jin Yaotiao lowered her head and smiled.

What a sight—getting a glamorous pop star to forage for wild greens!

Still, she was happy for Debbie. The star seemed to be slowly stepping out of the shadows.

Jin Yaotiao looked out the window.

The car passed familiar streets and stopped in front of Mingde’s headquarters.

She stepped out of the car, her feet firm on the ground. Looking up at the office building ahead, her gaze flickered.

This was Mingde—a battlefield she was about to reshuffle.

Today, at the headquarters of Mingde, employees were spreading the word excitedly—

“Her Highness is back!”

Since shifting her primary work focus to Shenshi, Jin Yaotiao’s visits to the headquarters had become increasingly rare.

Although the employees didn’t know why she suddenly returned, they were all thrilled because…

The cafeteria chefs, upon hearing that Her Highness was back, were determined to work even harder today!

Mingde’s cafeteria was already renowned for its excellent food, being the main source of daily happiness for most employees.

However, with the rare return of their long-absent “ruler,” the chefs at the headquarters, who had long been unable to display their skills in her presence, were certainly going to go above and beyond.

Before long, rumors about a revised cafeteria menu started circulating in the company gossip group.

Just reading the menu had employees drooling.

“Wow! Braised pork with taro paste and red fermented bean curd! Is this the new dish they’re rolling out at the Mingde compound? I’ve been wanting to try it for ages!”

“Spicy chicken! They’ve got spicy chicken!”

“And fishball soup! I heard about this from the Hidden Feast project team!”

“Who’s behind the red-braised softshell turtle and salted crispy eel dishes? Let’s discuss this, everyone.”

“No idea, but I’ve already posted about it online.”

Spectators from the local Linjiang business circle, observing Mingde’s social media discussions: “…”

This company is simply unbeatable.

Motivated by the enticing menu, the employees of Mingde threw themselves into their work with renewed vigor.

The company’s strength seemed to grow visibly by the day, with departmental performance standards rising accordingly.

The popularity of the cafeteria online even brought an influx of job applications to the HR department. Where else could you find a company with such excellent benefits, delicious food, and high salaries? Competition for positions would surely get fiercer in the future.

No one wanted to risk their spot, especially with ambitious newcomers trying to break in.

---

Outside the meeting room, the atmosphere was even more serious than in the office area.

Jin’s father, who had arrived early, was surrounded by shareholders expressing their concerns. The meeting’s topic had only been revealed the night before Jin Yaotiao and her father departed for Linjiang. Judging by the shareholders’ expressions, several of them likely hadn’t slept well.

“Big brother,” they protested in unison, “how can Mingde’s shares be given to someone outside the family? This is pure nonsense!”

Jin’s father privately harbored some remnants of traditional thinking, but he wouldn’t undermine his daughter in front of them. “What’s wrong with it? It’s the modern age—why cling to outdated ideas? Who says the company’s shareholders must all have the surname Jin?”

The shareholders were momentarily stunned, unsure how to respond. Jin’s father waved dismissively. “Don’t talk to me about this. I’ve handed decision-making power in the company over to Yaotiao.”

The information contained in his words left many present in shock.

During the previous shareholders’ meeting, when Jin Laosan had been ousted, it was Jin’s father who had ultimately stepped forward to seize the shares and enforce the decision. While Jin Yaotiao had been quite active in the company since then, many of the shareholders instinctively hadn’t considered this direction.

After all… she was just a girl.

As they spoke, Jin Yaotiao arrived. Seeing them gathered at the door, she raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why aren’t you going in?”

The shareholders snapped out of their daze, staring at her. Jin’s father, with his hands behind his back, said nothing, giving her a glance before entering the meeting room.

Jin Yaotiao couldn’t immediately decipher the meaning behind that glance. She entered the room and was about to find a seat when she noticed her father had deliberately moved to the chair to the right of the head seat, leaving the main seat empty.

Jin Yaotiao’s brows furrowed slightly. The other shareholders, upon entering, also froze, exchanging puzzled glances.

Jin’s father, recovering well after his surgery and looking strong and dignified, sat upright without moving.

After a brief pause, Jin Yaotiao resumed walking, heading toward the head seat her father had vacated.

As she turned her back, a faint smile appeared on her face. For someone as proud as her father, using his position as a stepping stone to boost her standing was no small gesture.

Jin Yaotiao composed herself, sat down, and cast a commanding gaze across the shareholders seated below her. The carefully controlled assertiveness she usually concealed was now unleashed without restraint.

“Everyone is here. Let’s begin the meeting,” she announced.

The shareholders glanced at Jin’s father, quietly seated to the right, then at Jin Yaotiao, sitting confidently at the head of the table.

Strangely enough, even those who had dared to argue earlier found themselves silenced.