Cruel twist of fate (2)

In her villa's wide bathroom Xia Lihua dipped in the inviting waters of the jacuzzi. The housekeeper had helped her prepare the hot water for a bath.

Xia Lihua's relaxed face immediately distorted when she heard Ling Feiyi rambling outside.

"Lili! You terminated Xing Jing Entertainment's contract without informing me?" Ling Feiyi's voice echoed with concern and exasperation. "Which company are we planning to collaborate with next? This will undoubtedly have a detrimental impact on our reputation. Are we declaring war against Xing Jing Entertainment? The PR team will have their hands full now and that bastard Liang Sichen has burdened me with an abundance of work!"

"Stop annoying me," Xia Lihua asserted, her voice tinged with weariness. "I've just returned from the company and I'm utterly exhausted."

"But-"

"I dare you to utter another word, then you will truly understand what it means to be rendered speechless, unable to express laughter or shed a single tear."

"You won't be so so cruel to me, Lili~"

As Xia Lihua rose from the jacuzzi, she swiftly draped a towel around her upper body, ensuring a modest cover that reached down to her thighs. The sound of the water splashing alerted Ling Feiyi, causing her body to tense up. "I'm sorry, Lili! I won't disturb you any longer. Enjoy your bath."

"If you are going back to your penthouse Feifei, remember to lock the main door!" Xia Lihua settled back into the comforting embrace of the jacuzzi, allowing the warm water to caress her body for a few more blissful minutes. The water exuded a delightful aroma, blending the fragrant notes of strawberries and a hint of sweetness. This exquisite scent was from a high-quality bath bomb soap imported from France.

After taking a shower, Xia Lihua wrapped herself in a delicate, lacy negligee robe. Making her way to the bedroom, she began the process of drying her hair. As she entered the room, her attention was drawn to her phone, which lay on the bed, its screen incessantly lighting up with incoming messages. With an air of regality, laid on the bed like a princess.

She leisurely began reading the unread messages one by one, taking her time to absorb the contents. Among the numerous messages, she came across one from a new contact.

Ding Feng: If you haven't had the chance to visit the Yang household yet, you can join me on Sunday. I'll be paying them a visit, as I have plans to see Brother Lingyun.

Lihua thought for a while. Initially she wanted to pay grandpa Yang a visit when Yang Lingyun was not present, but she didn't want to turn down brother Feng's offer. They had got in touch after so long, so she didn't want to come across as impolite.

Lihua: Okay, meet you on Sunday *heart emoji*

...

"The hashtag #best_idol_champ has been trending on Weibo ever since the show was announced and this is happening even before the first episode has started recording! The anticipation and enthusiasm surrounding the show are extraordinary, generating immense buzz and momentum that hints at the potential for widespread popularity and resounding success." Director Du's face beamed with excitement as he shared the news with the man in the black suit, who was leisurely sipping on his whiskey.

"Hmm, good for you." Yang Lingyun kept swirling the liquid in the glass lazily and reclined back on the sofa.

"The thing is most of the attention is on the younger cousin of your fiancée, Xia Lihua as she is a fresh face in the industry and has garnered considerable attention due to her beauty." Pausing for a moment, Director Du continued, "Er, I know you want me to groom Xia Mengrui so I'll give her my full support!"

"You don't need to display favoritism towards anyone, including Xia Mengrui." Yang Lingyun raised the glass of whiskey to his lips and took a deep gulp. The fiery liquid provided a momentary distraction, allowing him to collect his thoughts before continuing, "While I am sponsoring Xia Mengrui, I want to ensure that this show remains impartial and fair to all participants. Everyone deserves equal opportunities."

Du Li being a close friend of Yang Lingyun's father for many years readily extended his assistance in securing a spot for Xia Mengrui on the show after she had sought Yang Lingyun's help.

However, Yang Lingyun was determined not to let personal connections overshadow the fairness of the competition.

"I have faith in Xia Mengrui's talent," Yang Lingyun affirmed, his voice filled with conviction. "Let her prove herself on her own merits."

"Alright, Xiao Yun."

"Now, what is the reason you called me here?"

"I want to start a new reality show, I need your help."

Yang Lingyun leaned forward, staring at Director Du with disdain. "Uncle, don't you think you've had enough losses already? Your previous reality show was a flop, and your idol survival show hasn't even started recording and now you're considering launching a new show? Dream on!"

The room filled with a mixture of awkward laughter and uneasy shuffling as Lingyun's sharp remark hung in the air while Du Li maintained a cheeky smile on his face. "Xiao Yun, you certainly have some guts. I've watched you grow up, and this is the treatment I receive? Hah, never mind, I'll do whatever you say! I'll focus on the reality show project once the idol survival show is completed."

"If you fail again, be prepared to settle down in West Africa. It'll be better for you."

Director Du: "This son of the devil-"

Director Du *coughs*: "I am confident that I'll succeed."

"If you're planning to do a talent show, you need to ensure that you find capable and popular celebrities to lead the way. Without such individuals, your show will undoubtedly flop once again!"

"I'll keep that in mind, I can't fail this time!"