Lixue smirked, locking her phone as she leaned back against the seat.
Ah, there it was.
The resentment. The dismissal. The people who refused to accept someone new stepping into the spotlight.
She had expected nothing less.
Her driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror. "Miss Y.L, we’ll be at Dream Entertainment in ten minutes."
She nodded absently, tapping her nails against her thigh. The glow from her phone screen reflected in her dark eyes.
They wanted to tear her down before she could even properly rise.
Good.
Let them.
The car smoothly veered away from the front and into the private basement parking reserved for high-profile artists. As soon as it came to a stop, a Dream Entertainment staff member rushed forward to greet her.
"Miss Y.L, the executives are waiting for you upstairs," he said, a slight edge of urgency in his voice. "Your debut has caused... quite the stir."
Lixue smirked faintly, stepping out of the car with effortless grace. "Thank you, I didn’t know it would start an uproar."
The staffer looked uncertain, as if debating whether to say more, but she didn’t give him the chance. She strode forward, her heels clicking against the polished floor, exuding an air of quiet dominance.
Inside the building, tension hung thick in the air. Employees glanced at her as she walked past, some whispering, others staring with barely concealed curiosity. The performance had shaken the industry, and even within Dream Entertainment, people were scrambling to grasp what it all meant.
The elevator doors slid open, and she stepped inside, pressing the button for the top floor where the executives were waiting. As the doors closed, she pulled out her phone again.
The backlash was growing.
— "They really expect us to believe she’s a rookie? Please."
— "I bet she’s just some rich CEO’s pet project."
— "Dream Entertainment is so shameless for forcing this nobody into the spotlight."
— "At least Yu Jia worked her way up. Who even is this woman?"
— "I heard she has industry connections. That’s why she got that song and that dress."
Lixue’s lips curled.
How predictable.
They didn’t even know the half of it.
The doors slid open with a soft chime. The top floor was silent, the usual background chatter of assistants and staff notably absent. She stepped into the executive lounge, where a group of high-ranking Dream Entertainment figures were already gathered, their faces a mix of satisfaction and wariness.
At the center of the group sat the CEO of Dream Entertainment himself, who happened to be Mo Ran.
Her eyes widened slightly but she quickly maintained her composure.
She took her seat across from the executives, legs crossed, fingers lightly drumming against the table.
Mo Ran sat at the head of the conference room, silent but exuding authority. His gaze lingered on her for a brief moment before he leaned back in his chair, allowing the discussion to unfold.
One of the senior executives cleared his throat. "Miss Y.L, your performance was undoubtedly a success. The audience was captivated, and social media engagement is off the charts. But—" He hesitated. "There’s a growing divide."
Another executive quickly picked up, adjusting his glasses as he glanced at the reports in front of him. "You’re trending across all platforms, but so is the backlash. Yu Jia’s fans are relentless, and industry insiders are beginning to question your sudden rise."
Lixue smiled, a sharp yet unreadable expression. "Isn’t that the nature of the industry? The moment someone new appears, people either worship them or tear them apart."
A younger executive, who had been scrolling through live Weibo threads, interjected, "It’s not just curiosity anymore. Some are calling you an industry plant, others think you were groomed for this role behind the scenes. They’re demanding to know who you really are, where you came from, and most importantly..." He glanced at Mo Ran before continuing. "Why Dream Entertainment is pushing you so hard."
Mo Ran remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Lixue tilted her head slightly. "So, let them ask. I believe my talent will prove my worth."
The executives exchanged glances, some clearly uncomfortable with her calm demeanor.
One of them exhaled sharply. "Miss Y.L, you don’t seem to understand. This level of scrutiny is dangerous for a newcomer. The moment the media gets even a shred of real controversy, they will drag you through the mud."
Lixue leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand. "And what controversy do they have on me?"
Silence.
They had nothing.
All they had were whispers, assumptions, and blind speculation.
Mo Ran smirked slightly, as if entertained by how effortlessly she dismantled their concerns.
The first executive, clearly frustrated, tried again. "Regardless, the comparisons to Yu Jia are only escalating. Fans are calling this an industry betrayal. They’re claiming you’re Dream Entertainment’s way of replacing her."
Lixue’s expression remained unreadable, but there was something almost amused in her gaze.
"How poetic," she murmured.
The room fell quiet.
Mo Ran finally spoke, his voice even. "Let them talk."
The executives turned toward him, startled.
He continued, "The more they speculate, the more attention she gets. That’s how this game works. Y.L Mongolia doesn’t need to prove herself with words—she’s already done it with her voice."
Lixue met his gaze, something unreadable passing between them.
A senior PR representative, who had remained silent until now, finally sighed. "Fine. We’ll let this wave ride out, but we need to be prepared for Yu Jia’s counterattack. She won’t take this lying down."
Lixue chuckled lightly. "I’d be disappointed if she did."
The meeting had concluded as the executives left the room, leaving only Lixue behind.
"Madam Mo...truly you’ve out done.."
Mo Ran stood up as he walked up to Lixue, placing hands on both chair hands, trapping her as he smirked.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"
Lixue blushed as she avoided eye contact, the way Mo Ran looked at her made her feel shy.
"Close up..the dress really looks good on you my wife.."