Su Ning sat down and carefully reviewed the resume again. Beyond the similarities to the traits of the protagonist in the original novel, he found other aspects intriguing. For instance, this young woman’s background was impeccable: a graduate of a prestigious film academy, and the top scorer in her year’s arts entrance exam.

He reached for his phone to search online for information about Ji Xue, hoping to find something useful. Just as he grabbed the phone, Shen Mingzheng took the towel from his hand.

“Let me dry your hair for you.”

Su Ning nodded. “Mm.”

The loose-fitting pajamas prepared at home made Su Ning feel warm, so he left a couple of buttons undone, exposing the back of his neck.

Having been raised in luxury, Su Ning’s skin was exceptionally fair and delicate. His hair, too, was soft to the touch. Shen Mingzheng, glancing down, saw the warm yellow light of the living room’s floor lamp highlighting Su Ning’s delicate profile. Although his features were identical to the Su Ning from Shen Mingzheng’s previous life, his demeanor and aura were entirely different.

For someone who always had the final say outside, President Shen now found himself earnestly drying someone else’s hair. Even though there was a wall-mounted hairdryer nearby, and there was no need for him to get involved, he did it willingly.

At that moment, Su Ning received a message from Director Yao. She informed him that the girl likely changed her phone number and hadn’t been located yet. However, she had found some additional information and forwarded it to him.

Ji Xue was from Hai Cheng. Back when she took the entrance exam, the media had taken a few photos of her. Not only had she been the top arts scorer, but her academic performance was also impressive, scoring nearly 600 on the college entrance exam. She even trended briefly online for her achievement. Su Ning reviewed the old pictures of her school days. Despite being barefaced, her beauty and distinctiveness were undeniable.

She had a protagonist’s face.

As for the rumors of her being blacklisted over an alleged affair, Director Yao admitted she couldn’t determine the truth. She had, however, noticed that much of the online evidence had been scrubbed. That incident was three years ago, and in the fast-moving world of online information, most people had either forgotten or never cared. After all, Ji Xue had been a small, not-yet-debuted starlet who was shelved for three years—hardly someone people would remember.

“I’ve looked into it, and I feel like the whole affair was baseless slander,” Director Yao said. “She graduated from a top film academy and was signed by Guang Ying Entertainment at its peak. Even her TV drama role had already been decided. Knowing how Old Su operated, there’s no way he would have forced her into anything. A promising young girl like her wouldn’t have sabotaged her own future.”

After thoroughly reviewing the information, Su Ning also found the situation odd.

The rules around blacklisting due to scandals in the industry were always murky. Even Sang Le, who had been caught red-handed, wasn’t blacklisted. After Shen Huai’s fall, Sang Le simply chose to withdraw from the competition, knowing he had no future, and Su Ning didn’t bother with him.

But Ji Xue’s case was different. Even Old Su couldn’t prevent her from being shelved. Something was clearly amiss, aligning with the “tragic, oppressed protagonist” setup in the original story.

When Su Ning transmigrated, he hadn’t been sure of the protagonist’s gender. It wouldn’t be surprising if it turned out to be a woman.

Still standing behind him, Shen Mingzheng spoke up, “I know about this.”

Su Ning turned to him in surprise.

Thanks to his knowledge of the previous timeline, Shen Mingzheng had more information than others. Recognizing Ji Xue, he was willing to share what he knew with Su Ning.

In the past life, after Guang Ying Entertainment was acquired, Shen Huai didn’t keep everyone in the company. He retained only those he deemed useful, discarding the rest—including contracts signed with various artists—like garbage. Any trace of them was erased. It wasn’t surprising that Su Ning couldn’t locate her now.

Ji Xue was not one to dwell on her past, so much so that even most insiders didn’t know she had once been signed with Guang Ying Entertainment.

However, many people in the industry later learned who the man involved in the “scandal” was.

“Coincidentally, this matter is tied to Allen,” Shen Mingzheng said, setting the towel aside. “The man was Pinnacle’s leading star, Liao Yuansi.”

Liao Yuansi, a 36-year-old mid-career Film Emperor, was known for his righteous, tough-guy image and his role as a devoted husband and protector of his wife, who was a high-ranking executive at Pinnacle. His resources and status were unmatched.

It’s nearly impossible for a celebrity to remain scandal-free. Even those who live with the utmost integrity can have their private moments with friends misrepresented by paparazzi. Liao Yuansi had his share of rumors but always clarified them quickly. His public image remained spotless.

But that was just on the surface.

“Ji Xue’s incident was a true misfortune for her.”

Although later nicknamed “Medusa” by the industry, Shen Mingzheng thought “heartthrob” was a more fitting descriptor for Ji Xue. It perfectly captured her essence.

Most entertainers had some heartthrob quality, but Ji Xue was exceptional. Her looks and personality made her irresistibly captivating. Unfortunately, her lack of connections and inability to protect herself in the industry made her beauty a double-edged sword.

When Liao Yuansi encountered her, he was tempted. The situation spiraled out of control. When traces of their interactions were about to be exposed, Ji Xue became the scapegoat.

Liao Yuansi had two major films backed by significant investments at the time. If he fell, the projects would collapse. The entire scandal was pinned on Ji Xue, then quickly suppressed.

At the time, Ji Xue was a young, naive girl with no real-world experience. She initially saw Liao Yuansi as an idol and mentor, which allowed the evidence to be thoroughly destroyed. To silence her, additional restrictions were imposed.

Years later, when Ji Xue gained the backing of more influential people, she managed to clarify the rumors. But sadly, few believed her.

She used the very relationships that had once hurt her as tools to climb back up. This fueled the narrative that she relied on men for success, leaving her reputation deeply divided.

Shen Mingzheng didn’t delve into Ji Xue’s future experiences, only mentioning Liao Yuansi.

Su Ning was silent for a long while after hearing the story.

Like Director Yao, he felt it made no sense for Ji Xue to self-sabotage at the time. Something was definitely wrong.

What Shen Mingzheng appreciated about Su Ning was that he didn’t question how Shen Mingzheng knew these things. This saved him the trouble of explaining.

Looking at Ji Xue’s resume again, Su Ning noticed her comment under “Future Goals”:

“My teacher said a good actor is unassuming. The audience remembers the roles they bring to life, not the actor themselves. My dream is to become such an actor.”

Her initial dream was worlds apart from the persona she later became.

“Her teacher,” Su Ning mused.

Shen Mingzheng nodded. “Her teacher at Hai Cheng Drama Academy. The timing matches.”

Su Ning decided, “I’ll have someone inquire at the academy. Thank you for telling me this.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” Shen Mingzheng said.

If anything, Shen Mingzheng felt he owed Su Ning his gratitude. Many would dismiss such matters as trivial, especially after so much time had passed. But Su Ning cared.

This reassured Shen Mingzheng. With someone like Su Ning by his side, he felt at ease.

Even on their wedding night, the two slept in separate rooms. Before closing their doors, they exchanged goodnights. Shen Mingzheng stood for a moment outside his bedroom, gazing at Su Ning’s closed door, before heading to bed himself.

This routine continued for several days.

Su Ning was busy—no honeymoon break for him. Besides company matters, he had to meet with the team from Glory early the next morning.

By now, the tasks assigned by Orange Video were nearly complete, and the management and operations of the debut group were set to transition to Su Ning’s team. This was why Su Ning had to bring the joint operations team he had assembled over.

Currently, Su Ning himself was serving as the general manager of this team, underscoring how much importance he placed on this project.

Glory had stirred up a storm of public opinion during its broadcast—both positive and negative—and the group had already earned itself a nickname online: the “Melon Group.”

Frankly, the name was fitting.

That morning, as soon as Su Ning woke up, his team forwarded him the latest buzz surrounding the “Melon Group.” The drama seemed endless, with more and more “melons” to be consumed daily. Even after their debut, the chaos showed no signs of stopping.

The first few days post-debut had been a time of fan euphoria, with everyone celebrating harmoniously. But as the initial excitement wore off, conflicts inevitably began to surface.

And these conflicts erupted just as Su Ning was about to take over management.

The transition of the management team wasn’t kept under wraps. Everyone knew that Su Ning and his team would be running the group. However, since Li Chu, the group’s center, was signed to Su Ning’s company, accusations of favoritism and unfairness began to emerge.

During the competition, Li Chu had already gained significant attention with his standout performances. After debuting, even overseas luxury brands had approached him for collaborations. Though no agreements had been finalized yet, rumors were already circulating.

The topic of “individual resources” was particularly sensitive.

Fandom squabbles were common in idol groups, with each fanbase feeling their favorite member was being wronged. This time, however, the accusations seemed to have some basis, especially from the fans of the two members signed to Pinnacle. Their complaints were the loudest.

“As if we care about some brand deal. Our Pinnacle already secured resources, but the group refuses to release them while prioritizing Li Chu’s deals. What, afraid our boys might overtake him?”

“Exactly. Guang Ying Entertainment is nothing. Su Ning just got lucky. What qualifications does he even have?”

“It’s so obvious they’ve been biased from the start. If it weren’t for that sudden comeback round stealing the spotlight, our boys would’ve been in the top three!”

“Let them go solo already. Thanks.”

Some of these comments were from prominent fan accounts, which only added fuel to the fire. Smaller fans joined the fray, while Li Chu’s fans defended him vigorously. Other members’ fans, hearing the noise, also started to feel slighted. After all, even Qilin’s top-tier fans hadn’t spoken up, so why was Pinnacle acting like they ran the place?

The result? An all-out fan war.

Group fans attempted to mediate, but the issue only escalated. By this point, Su Ning hadn’t even officially taken over yet, nor had he had a chance to make any decisions. Still, the group’s official account was being bombarded by angry fans demanding an apology.

The reality was that no one in Glory had gone solo yet. Li Chu’s individual resources hadn’t been finalized, and the rest of the group members’ projects were still being negotiated. At present, everything was focused on group activities.

Hearing the explanation from his team, Su Ning quickly understood the situation. When he arrived at the set, Orange Video was still finishing up their promotional work. As he entered, he immediately noticed Li Chu sulking with a stern expression.

At first, Su Ning assumed the young man was upset about the online drama from that morning. But upon closer inspection, it was clear Li Chu had been fixating on him all along.

With his slightly baby-faced features, Li Chu couldn’t look intimidating even if he tried. He seemed to be aiming for seriousness but failed miserably. After holding his pout for a while, he couldn’t resist rushing over to Su Ning.

“Young Master, President Su, are you hiding something from me?”

Su Ning raised an eyebrow. “Hiding what?”

Li Chu’s eyes zeroed in on the ring on Su Ning’s finger.

Today, Su Ning was wearing a simple band that looked suspiciously like a wedding ring. And it was on that finger.

Who wouldn’t know what that meant?

Li Chu puffed up in indignation, his cheeks practically bulging.

“You got married, and Shen Mingzheng gave you such a plain, ugly ring? Isn’t he supposed to be some bigshot CEO? I bet he’s stingy, calculating, and totally cheap! He’s just—”

Su Ning laughed, cutting him off. “Li Chu, I bought this ring myself.”

Li Chu froze.

After a moment of internal conflict, he muttered quietly, “Well, if you look at it closely… this ring does have a minimalist, elegant charm. It’s, uh… unique.”

Su Ning found him adorable and couldn’t help but chuckle. He gestured for Li Chu to sit beside him and patiently explained, “We registered our marriage yesterday. It’s been hectic, and you’ve been busy too. I was planning to tell you today.”

“It’s a business arrangement,” he continued. “Both Mingzheng and I understand that. The company needs development, and I need funds while he needs support. It’s just a partnership. You don’t need to overthink it.”

Li Chu frowned. “Then why’d you go out of your way to buy him a ring?”

And what’s with the switch from calling him ‘Young Master Shen’ to just ‘Mingzheng’?

“Since it’s a partnership, I can’t shortchange him,” Su Ning said thoughtfully. “Besides, he’s… a pretty decent guy.”

Though the ring was from a well-known brand, it was nothing compared to the ruby ring Shen Mingzheng had given him. Su Ning had been a bit nervous when presenting it, but Shen Mingzheng had seemed genuinely delighted.

“This is the best ring in my eyes,” Shen Mingzheng had said. “Su Ning, the fact that you thought of this makes me very happy.”

His sincerity had been touching. Shen Mingzheng came across as genuine and unpretentious—qualities Su Ning found endearing.

But to Li Chu, it all sounded different.

Ha! Shen Mingzheng? Who knew he’d turn out to be such a sly fox of a man!