A new day began with a delightful breakfast.

Auntie Liu reported from the side that Xie Zhixing had left for the company at seven in the morning. For the past six months, he had focused all his energy on managing Xie Group, only occasionally appearing at entertainment events.

Xia Chengcheng greatly admired this kind of workaholic behavior. He had already achieved financial freedom, yet he still looked like he wanted to outwork the whole world every single day.

After all, every cent he earned now was considered shared marital property!

The system scoffed at her. 〖Do you think everyone is like you, strolling the streets, walking dogs, cuddling cats, and lying around all day? People need dreams!〗

“I do have a dream!”  Xia Chengcheng argued earnestly. “Making the whole nation gossip is my dream!”

Just as she was about to finish breakfast, Auntie Liu entered the living room with a styling team in tow.

“Madam, I heard you’re going to the set of 《Immortal Vow》 later. This styling team was hired for you by Sir.”

Auntie Liu began introducing the team in great detail. The lead stylist was named Ivy, a renowned figure internationally. Her team typically only handled red carpet events and rarely took on daily styling for celebrities. This time, they came solely because of Xie Zhixing’s request.

The implication was clear— Xie Zhixing cared very much about his wife.

Auntie Liu likely believed that since it was the couple’s first night staying at Yulin Garden after their wedding, and they had slept in separate rooms, some distance must have formed between them. So she made it a point to keep praising Xie Zhixing in Xia Chengcheng’s ear from early morning.

Xia Chengcheng didn’t catch Auntie Liu’s hidden message. She was simply thrilled and excitedly let Ivy begin her styling.

Although she was skilled in makeup and disguising herself, those were usually for camouflaging or impersonation.

Getting styled professionally like this, however, was a completely different kind of indulgence.

With just a few strokes, Ivy accentuated Xia Chengcheng’s already stunning features, making them appear even more radiant and striking. Her skin looked like porcelain, and her brows and eyes carried a heroic yet vibrant aura.

Ivy then dressed her in a backless, hollowed-out silk dress from H Brand’s new season. It was a soft blue gown that hugged her slender waist. A piece from the Xie Group’s haute couture ‘Starry Sky’ jewelry line sparkled on her fair neck, making her look like a mermaid emerging from the sea.

Everyone present found it impossible to look away, staring at Xia Chengcheng in stunned silence.

She was a peerless beauty— nothing less.

A few staff members from Ivy’s team whispered among themselves.

“Xia Chengcheng is actually this beautiful?”

“Who would’ve thought! I’ve read all those press releases comparing her to Ye Shiwen, always saying Ye Shiwen was prettier. But look at her now. It’s clearly Xia Chengcheng who’s better looking! They’re not even in the same league!”

“Ye Shiwen’s fans must be blind! Makes no sense!”

“If I were Han Jialin, I’d definitely pick Xia Chengcheng. How could he like Ye Shiwen and not her? His brain must’ve been hit by a missile!”

……

Xia Chengcheng looked at the tall, sultry woman in the mirror, extremely satisfied.

After all, she was about to crash a set and stir up drama, so of course she had to go all-out with the glamorous vixen vibe!

By the time the styling session ended, it was already 9:30 a.m.

After saying goodbye to Guangzong and Yaozu, Xia Chengcheng hopped into her pink Ferrari and sped off from Yulin Garden in a blaze of momentum.

────ρя


Zhou Xiangnan’s Studio

The studio was a hive of activity.

《Immortal Vow》 had been a script Zhou Xiangnan discovered three years ago. The moment he finished reading it, he firmly believed it was a masterpiece that combined both commercial appeal and artistic value. As long as it got made, it would be a hit!

Over the past three years, Zhou Xiangnan had gone everywhere seeking investment, but he hit a wall every time.

Until one week ago, when Tiancheng Entertainment reached out, offering to fully fund the project— on the condition that Zhou Xiangnan begin filming within one month, wrap up in two, and release it within six months!

Moreover, Xia Chengcheng had to at least play the second female lead!

Because of that, Zhou Xiangnan had been running himself ragged. Normally, a film requires at least two to three months of preparation, from location scouting to casting and table reads. But so far, he hadn’t even had time to scout locations or refine the script further.

Zhou Xiangnan was frustrated. He even considered protesting the rushed production, refusing to shoot a half-baked film!

But aside from forcing Xia Chengcheng into the cast and rushing the schedule, Tiancheng hadn’t made any other demands.

Such investors were practically mythical in the entertainment industry!

In this business, the entry barrier was both too low and too high. Everyone wanted a piece of the action, especially clueless investors who thought offering random suggestions would make them valuable.

But in truth, only those who really understood the craft could produce quality films.

Zhou Xiangnan knew Tiancheng was clearly aiming to use 《Immortal Vow》 to make Xia Chengcheng a star. The role of Wu Huan, the divine maiden in the script, was undeniably a fan magnet.

Though Xia Chengcheng’s acting was nothing to write home about, she was undeniably beautiful. With some proper training, she might just bring out the essence of Wu Huan.

Zhou Xiangnan was willing to make some compromises on casting in order to achieve his ideal blend of art and commerce.

So, he compromised.

He could only hope that 《Immortal Vow》 would go smoothly, and that Xia Chengcheng, cursed by the entire internet, wouldn’t stir up trouble before the movie even premiered.

The sound of clicking high heels echoed from outside, followed by a crisp knock at the door.

“Come in.”

The door swung open. A blue dress swayed gently in the breeze. Its wearer had porcelain skin and stunning features, with a necklace gleaming around her neck that made her radiate with beauty.

Zhou Xiangnan stared for several seconds, his throat tightening. He was momentarily speechless.

Astonishing.

It was just like the first time Wu Huan appeared before everyone in the story.

Zhou Xiangnan had spent years in the entertainment industry and had seen every kind of beauty. He thought he had built up some immunity to looks.

But the moment he laid eyes on Xia Chengcheng, he felt as if Wu Huan had stepped out of the script and into reality.

In that instant, Zhou Xiangnan suddenly felt that Xia Chengcheng could play Wu Huan.

With looks like that, she could easily captivate audiences! If he sent her to acting classes for two weeks before the shoot, she might just portray a one-of-a-kind Wu Huan!

Zhou Xiangnan was still lost in the dream of his perfect film when Xia Chengcheng’s voice broke the silence.

“Director Zhou, I’m here to terminate the contract.”

Zhou Xiangnan: “……?”

Zhou Xiangnan thought there must be something wrong with his ears.

“If you think the second female lead doesn’t have enough screen time, I can add more scenes for you!” Fitting actors were hard to come by, and Zhou Xiangnan blurted it out without thinking.

“No need.”

Xia Chengcheng smiled, pulled out a chair, and sat down. “What I mean is, I don’t want to act anymore. Just calculate how much the penalty is for breaching the contract.”

Seeing how serious Xia Chengcheng looked, Zhou Xiangnan finally realized that this rich girl who constantly dominated gossip headlines was dead serious.

His heart skipped a beat as he recalled Tiancheng’s conditions when they signed the contract.

First, Xia Chengcheng must play at least the second female lead.

Second, filming must begin as soon as possible— the sooner the better.

“Teacher Xia, you can’t just quit!”

The next second, Zhou Xiangnan dropped to his knees with a whoosh in front of Xia Chengcheng as he cried pitifully, tears nearly streaming down his face.

Xia Chengcheng: “……?”

That was a pretty fast mood change.

It was as if someone had grabbed Zhou Xiangnan by the throat. He completely abandoned any dignity a director should have. “If you don’t act, our whole project falls apart! Teacher Xia, please reconsider! We can discuss any condition!”

Xia Chengcheng looked at him with suspicion.

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Xiangnan finally spoke, “This film is backed by Tiancheng…… and they required you to at least take the second female lead role.”

Xia Chengcheng froze.

To outsiders, Tiancheng was just an established entertainment company. But Xia Chengcheng knew that it had long since been acquired by Xie Zhixing.

No wonder that even though she was buried in scandals, 《Immortal Vow》 still stubbornly chose her for the second female lead. Xia Chengcheng instantly understood the hidden agenda. 《Immortal Vow》 was probably the resource Xie Zhixing had promised the original owner to help her make a comeback.

Now that she understood the underlying web, Xia Chengcheng didn’t make things difficult for Zhou Xiangnan. Instead, she calmly helped him up, offered a few words of comfort, and then made a phone call to Xie Zhixing.

────ρя


Xie Group

The moment Xie Zhixing’s phone rang, the meeting room fell into complete silence. Everyone looked toward him.

After all, besides the big boss, no one else dared to leave their ringtone on during a meeting.

But these senior executives also knew Xie Zhixing’s habits. He never took calls during meetings. Though he appeared to be someone who had spent half his life in showbiz, he was incredibly serious about his own company.

Yet today, surprisingly, after glancing at the caller ID, he didn’t hang up.

Instead, he simply said, “Ten-minute break.”

Then he walked out into the hallway and answered the call.

“Mr. Xie, I don’t want to act in 《Immortal Vow》 anymore.” A clear, bell-like voice came from the other end. The young woman got straight to the point.

Xie Zhixing pinched the bridge of his nose.

Why wasn’t she acting and putting on their couple show anymore? Was there someone nearby?

“Fine.” Xie Zhixing replied.

《Immortal Vow》 had both commercial and artistic value, and it was part of Tiancheng Entertainment’s investment strategy. Even if Xia Chengcheng didn’t act in it, they would still invest.

“I’m not acting, but I want to be the executive producer.” Xia Chengcheng added.

That twist caught Xie Zhixing off guard.

The executive producer was the ruler of the production. They had the authority to hire and fire staff and were the core throughout the project— from development to release. Some film company bosses or investors also gave themselves the title of executive producer.

Tiancheng had reviewed the script of 《Immortal Vow》 and rated it very highly. They also had great faith in Zhou Xiangnan, who was a skilled director with excellent control over both plot and visuals. Their original plan was to entrust the entire project to him. A one-month shooting start, two-month filming schedule, and six-month release window might seem harsh, but it had been meticulously calculated. Otherwise, Zhou Xiangnan wouldn’t have agreed.

And once filming wrapped up, Tiancheng even planned to hire the best special effects team for post-production.

《Immortal Vow》 had every chance of becoming a blockbuster in the second half of the year.

But if Xia Chengcheng were made executive producer and if she interfered with Zhou Xiangnan’s work…… it was uncertain whether the project could still be a hit.

Had she said this in Tiancheng’s internal investment meeting, she’d have been instantly shut down.

But right now, she was saying it to 《Immortal Vow》’s biggest investor— Xie Zhixing.

Xie Zhixing understood. Xia Chengcheng probably only wanted the title, maybe a say in casting, but wouldn’t get too involved. So he didn’t ask more questions and replied calmly, “Alright. Got it.”

After Xia Chengcheng hung up, Zhou Xiangnan also received word from Tiancheng’s person in charge that the executive producer had been replaced.

Zhou Xiangnan: “???”

Was 《Immortal Vow》’s executive producer like a minor background actor from Hengdian? Replaced just like that?

Besides, Zhou Xiangnan hesitated. Tiancheng had promised him full creative control while they handled the funding. Now this……

Zhou Xiangnan glanced at Xia Chengcheng and swallowed hard.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Xia Chengcheng had the face of someone ready to stir up chaos at any moment.

No! She had the face of a seductive vixen! If she didn’t stir up trouble, it’d be a waste of her beauty!

No! At this rate, his film was doomed!

Just as Zhou Xiangnan was racking his brains over how to negotiate with Xia Chengcheng and limit her interference, she unexpectedly said, “Director Zhou, I won’t interfere too much with the crew. You’re in charge of how it’s filmed. My role is just to provide input. It’s just that the current schedule is too tight. Since we’re not in a rush, you can slow things down a bit and prepare properly. Also, the second female lead will need to be recast.”

Zhou Xiangnan was stunned, frozen in place for several seconds.

Not interfering with the crew and even agreeing to slow down the schedule? This wasn’t a beauty that brings disaster— this was a fairy descended from the heavens!