A Day of Stealing

(Ding!)

The elevator doors hiss open with the sound of escaping souls and industrial-strength ammonia. The scent of fresh glass cleaner and impending corporate espionage fills the recycled air.

In the polished marble reflection, a figure emerges, radiating 'suspiciously inconspicuous'. It's Su Yu, deep undercover. The disguise? A masterpiece of mediocrity: ill-fitting janitor's uniform (acquired from a dumpster behind a theater), a fake beard so scraggly it looks like it lost a fight with a badger, sunglasses that scream 'witness protection program dropout', and a posture slumped with the profound weariness of someone who has manually calculated Pi using only toenail clippings.

With each deliberately slow shuffle across the offensively gleaming floor of "Innovate Corp" (a name so bland it physically hurts), Su Yu engages in his favorite pastime: internal self-congratulation.

Su Yu (Internal Monologue, practically giggling):

"Heh. Flawless infiltration. They suspect nothing! This beard isn't just facial hair; it's a +20 Cloak of Invisibility woven from pure, unadulterated genius and probably some synthetic fibers. They see an old man contemplating retirement and regret. They don't see the apex predator of profit margins!"

Nearby, two actual employees, drowning in spreadsheets and existential dread, engage in hushed, desperate whispers.

Random Employee #1:

"Did you see the latest memo? Mandatory 'Synergy Yoga' at 6 AM. Our CEO is less a human, more a time-demon fueled by crushed deadlines and the tears of the marketing department."

Random Employee #2:

"She probably renegotiates her deal with Satan quarterly..."

Su Yu (Smirking beneath the fake beard):

"Amateurs. My own beloved interns get a generous five extra minutes before I unleash the hounds of productivity. I'm practically a workplace saint."

(Cut to: A dimly lit corner office, smelling faintly of desperation and stale coffee)

Lu Yan, hunched over his monitor like a programming gargoyle, furiously clicks his mouse. On screen, a horrifyingly pixelated witch character performs a macabre tango with a swarm of glitching cockroaches. The animation is disturbingly smooth.

Lu Yan (Muttering curses that would make a sailor blush):

"Su Yu! You soul-sucking, Gacha-addicted, charisma-abusing gremlin! How DARE you make bankruptcy look like a viable business strategy?! And why is it WORKING?! Curse your stupidly handsome face and your army of brainwashed college students!"

(Back to Su Yu, approaching the front desk)

He shuffles forward, adopting the gait of a man whose knees have been replaced with rusty hinges. The receptionist, a woman with eyes as sharp as broken glass and a hairstyle that defies gravity, glances at his obviously fake ID, then at his face, then back at the ID. One perfectly sculpted eyebrow arches into the stratosphere.

Receptionist (Voice dripping with arctic frost):

"Sir... the resemblance between you and this photograph is... aspirational, at best."

Su Yu (Instantly activating Teary-Eyed Tragedy Mode™):

"Ah, yes..." (A dramatic sniffle). "That was... before. Before the heartbreak." (Voice cracks pitifully). "My wife... ran off. Took the dog, the good silverware, and my will to live. Said she found her childhood sweetheart... who apparently owns a slightly larger yacht. I haven't... shaved... or felt joy... since."

Receptionist (Internally):

"Ugh, relatable. My arranged marriage prospect collects antique thimbles. I'd run off with a moderately successful pirate if I had the chance."

Receptionist (Aloud, sighing with the weariness of a thousand broken dreams):

"Fine. Whatever. Go unclog something. Level 33 access granted."

The instant Su Yu clears the security barrier, his posture snaps ramrod straight. The 'old man' melts away, replaced by the smug confidence of a CEO about to commit digital larceny. A tiny, holographic Dandan, complete with bunny ears and oversized sunglasses, flickers into existence near his ear, audibly munching on suspiciously noisy chips.

Dandan (Mouth full, voice tinny):

"Alright, Boss! Target acquired: Su Meili's main terminal. Operation: 'Data Snatch and Crash' is a go! Plant the virus, leak the supplier list like it's gossip at a hair salon, and try not to get drop-kicked by security this time."

Su Yu (Whispering back):

"Affirmative, Agent Dandan. Data acquisition: Priority Alpha. Avoiding grievous bodily harm: Priority... Beta-minus?"

(Inside Su Meili's sleek, intimidatingly minimalist office)

Su Meili presides over a video conference call like a digital empress addressing her terrified vassals. Her voice is smooth ice, her gaze could curdle milk, and her aura screams "Disagree and you'll be replaced by an algorithm before this call ends."

Su Yu, moving with the exaggerated stealth of a cartoon cat burglar, slithers behind her ridiculously expensive ergonomic chair. With a flourish, he plugs a USB stick (bright pink, decorated with glittery unicorns – a Dandan special) into her main console.

Instantly, the Dandan Virus™ activates. Tiny, pixelated Dandans, wearing ski masks and carrying tiny sacks labeled 'LOOT', begin bouncing across Su Meili's screen, maniacally dragging files into a folder named "Totally_Not_Stolen_Data_LOL."

Meanwhile, Su Yu, unable to resist, starts making increasingly absurd faces behind Su Meili's head, visible only to the horrified executives on the video call. He does the 'invisible box,' the 'surprised fish,' and culminates in a truly disturbing impression of a rabid squirrel. The executives are paralyzed – torn between abject terror of their CEO and the overwhelming urge to meme this moment into oblivion.

BWOOP! BWOOP! BWOOP! A klaxon blares. Red lights flash.

Su Meili (Voice dropping to absolute zero, not even flinching):

"Intruder." She calmly picks up her desk phone. "Security. Floor 33. Full lockdown. Deploy the attack Roomba."

Su Yu bolts like his stolen suit is on fire.

He sprints down a corridor, dives into the executive washroom (smelling faintly of imported sandalwood and shattered dreams), pries open a loose ventilation grate near the floor, and retrieves a small, suspiciously shiny keycard.

Su Yu (Muttering):

"Those interns... certifiably insane, but occasionally useful. Who installs a secret escape route behind a urinal? Genius! Or possibly just really bad plumbing."

He jams the keycard into a barely visible slot beside a floor tile. Click. A small section of the wall slides open, revealing a maintenance shaft barely wide enough for a malnourished hamster. Praying to the ancient gods of ventilation and improbable escapes, Su Yu squeezes himself in.

...He tumbles out the other end, covered in dust and cobwebs, directly into...

...Lu Yan's sparsely decorated, angst-filled workspace.

Lu Yan (Instantly recognizing the aura of his nemesis, even through the janitor disguise):

"YOU!"

Before Su Yu can offer a witty retort or attempt bribery with stale office donuts, Lu Yan launches himself forward with a bellow of rage usually reserved for critical compiler errors. Su Yu is tackled, hitting the floor with an undignified oof. Fists fly.

Just then, Hang Mu and Bai Luqi wander in, drawn by the sounds of violence and despair. They freeze.

Hang Mu (Squinting):

"Is that... Chief Su? Engaging in unscheduled ergonomic testing of the floor?"

Bai Luqi (Eyes widening, clutching her bear):

"The janitor uniform! The aura of chaotic energy! It is him! OUR BELOVED, PROBLEMATIC CEO!"

A terrifying glint appears in their eyes. Sparkles of obsessive loyalty practically erupt around them.

Interns (In terrifying unison, charging forward):

"CHIEF SUUUUUU! WE MISSED YOU! LET US EXPRESS OUR UNDYING LOYALTY THROUGH THERAPEUTIC PUMMELING!"

Punches, surprisingly affectionate yet undeniably painful, rain down. Su Yu becomes a human stress ball, bounced between his vengeful rival and his adoring, slightly terrifying, interns.

(Cut to: A beat-up surveillance van parked illegally outside)

Dandan, watching the carnage unfold via drone feed on a cracked tablet, pumps his fist, spilling chips everywhere.

Dandan:

"YES! GET HIM! AVENGE THE UNPAID OVERTIME! Wait... I wanna punch him too! BOSS, I'M COMING IN!"

He kicks open the van door and makes a heroic dash towards the building entrance... only to be effortlessly scooped up mid-sprint by Madam Yunqiao, Su Yu's mother/accidental CEO. She emerged from the building looking bored, elegant, and inexplicably wielding a large glass salad bowl filled with kale.

Madam Yunqiao (Voice calm, yet firm):

"Child. Cease this hooliganism. Excessive aggression stunts growth. Have some cruciferous vegetables."

She attempts to gently force-feed him a kale leaf.

Dandan (Eyes wide with horror, muffled by leafy greens):

"NOOO! KALE! THIS IS CHILD ABUSE! SAVE ME, DARK WEB!"

(Interior – HSE Limited First Aid Closet - Later)

Su Yu lies dramatically sprawled on a narrow cot, looking like a Shakespearean hero after a particularly nasty battle involving rogue staplers. Bandages adorn his forehead at a jaunty angle, a cotton ball peeks from one nostril, and a bright blue ice pack shaped like a cartoon duck is precariously balanced on his head. He emits low, mournful groans at regular intervals.

Su Yu (Groaning theatrically):

"Betrayed! By my own flesh and blood... well, by my own employees, which is basically the same thing in startup culture! Savages! Treating their visionary leader like a... like a slightly used beanbag chair! Is there no justice? No workplace safety protocol? Doesn't HR care about CEO well-being?!"

Enter: Dandan, now adorned with several broccoli-shaped stickers (a compromise negotiated with Madam Yunqiao), sullenly sipping a juice box. He plops down on a stool beside the cot.

Dandan (Muttering around his straw):

"Serves you right for triggering their collective trauma about unrealistic deadlines. Also, your pathetic flailing disrupted the data stream. The virus sequence is only 78% complete, dummy."

Su Yu:

"Silence, you kale-covered munchkin! I am wounded! Deeply! Emotionally! And also, my left eyebrow really hurts!"

He snatches his phone with surprising agility for a 'wounded' man and speed-dials HSE's newly established (and severely understaffed) HR department.

Su Yu (Voice dripping with faux vulnerability):

"Yes, Human Resources? Su Yu speaking. I wish to formally file a Level 5 Workplace Violence and Emotional Distress claim against employees Lu Yan, Hang Mu, and Bai Luqi..."

HR (Voice trembling slightly):

"S-sir... With all due respect... you are the CEO? And they are... your interns?"

Su Yu (Tone deadly serious):

"Irrelevant! Even benevolent dictators bleed when pummeled! I was operating undercover, risking life and limb for corporate intelligence! My disguise was compromised by misplaced loyalty and frankly, excessive enthusiasm! I demand full medical reimbursement for this novelty ice pack, three mandatory therapy sessions for my bruised ego, and significant emotional compensation payable in imported Belgian chocolates and at least two weeks of paid vacation!"

HR (Muttering into the void):

"Right. Adding 'CEO vs Intern Brawl' to the list of things they didn't cover in HR management school..."

(Scene: HSE Limited Main Office Floor – The Walk of Shame/Glory)

Moments later, Su Yu makes his grand entrance into the main office area. He limps dramatically (the injury seems to mysteriously switch legs every few steps), sunglasses perched firmly on his nose despite the dim office lighting. Dandan trails behind him, holding a clipboard with officious importance and chewing loudly on a lollipop.

Employees stop typing. Heads turn. Whispers erupt like popcorn.

Employee 1:

"Is... is Chief Su actually limping? Did he trip over the server cables again?"

Employee 2:

"Nah, dude, I heard the interns jumped him during his spy mission! And get this – he reported them and filed for emotional damages! Legend!"

Employee 3:

"That's not just management; that's performance art. Boss is playing 4D chess while we're still figuring out checkers. Respect."

(Cut to: Intern Corner – Panic Stations)

Hang Mu and Bai Luqi simultaneously receive a notification on their (company-issued, probably refurbished) phones:

> HR ALERT: Official Level-5 Workplace Incident Report Filed by CEO Su Yu re: Physical & Emotional Trauma Incurred During Undercover Operations. Affected Parties: Lu Yan, Hang Mu, Bai Luqi. Mandatory Remedial Hug-Avoidance Training Pending.

>

Hang Mu (Jaw on the floor):

"HE ACTUALLY FILED IT?! THE AUDACITY! THE SHEER, UNMITIGATED GALL!"

Bai Luqi (Eyes wide with terror, clutching her bear):

"Does this mean... termination? Will we be blacklisted? Will our student loans achieve sentience and hunt us down?!"

Su Yu (Appearing silently behind them, sipping tea from his chipped mug with infuriating calmness):

"Fired? Heavens no, my dear, violent interns. You're being promoted."

Both:

"WHAAAAAT?!"

Su Yu (A predatory grin spreading across his face):

"Effective immediately, you three are now the founding members of the HSE Hostile Takeover and Aggressive Negotiations Division. Specializing in field combat. Your final exam was... impressive. If you can withstand beating up your own CEO, dismantling the competition should be child's play."

(Back in Su Yu's 'Executive Suite' - aka, the corner with the least amount of visible water damage)

Dandan places a new document on Su Yu's desk. Title: "Project Retribution: Phase 2 – Supplier Sabotage & Snack Acquisition."

Dandan:

"Okay, Boss. Damage report filed, interns promoted to potential war criminals. What's the next level of insanity?"

Su Yu (Leaning back, steepling his fingers, smirking):

"Now, Agent Dandan... we go deeper. We target their primary suppliers. We decrypt their logistics network. This time, less bruising... more digital backstabbing. And definitely bring more of those caramel puffs. Sabotage is hungry work."

Dandan (Snapping a salute with his lollipop):

"Sir, yes, sir! Commencing Operation: Snack Attack!"

(Interior – Surveillance Van Parked Near 'Innovate Corp' HQ – Still Probably Illegally)

The van is bathed in the ominous green glow of multiple monitors displaying what appears to be complex hacking code but is actually just a screensaver Dandan found on Reddit. Dandan, perched on a swivel chair like a diminutive Bond villain, furiously mashes buttons on a keyboard. Beside him sits the untouched salad bowl from Madam Yunqiao, radiating silent judgment. A half-eaten bucket of cheese puffs rests precariously on a stack of servers.

Su Yu (Peering over Dandan's shoulder, genuinely impressed):

"Incredible, Dandan! Is that... quantum matrix encryption? Bio-neural feedback loops? What arcane cyber-sorcery is this?"

Dandan (Leaning back, adjusting his imaginary monocle):

"Hmph. Mere child's play, Boss. This is 'Quantum Ghost Threading Algorithmic Deconstruction.' Less than 0.0000001% of hackers worldwide possess the cognitive fortitude to even comprehend its beauty. Requires peak physical condition and a diet rich in... cheese puffs."

Su Yu (Nodding solemnly):

"Truly, the human brain is limitless... when properly motivated by artificial cheese flavoring. Proceed, my digital maestro!"

(On Dandan's main screen, beneath the flashy fake code animation, a simple progress bar reads: 'Downloading_Supplier_Contacts.xlsx (File 9 of 72, 13% complete)'.)

Dandan hits a few more random keys, triggering another cascade of meaningless green symbols.

Su Yu:

"Your speed... your efficiency... Are you interfacing directly with the mainframe via a subdermal neuro-link? Did Madam Yunqiao approve that?!"

Dandan (Internal Monologue):

"Heh. He actually believes this. Bless his gullible CEO heart. If he knew I was just running a batch download script while watching cat videos on my other monitor..."

Dandan (Aloud, puffing out his chest):

"Let's just say, Boss, my processing power transcends conventional biological limitations. Now, about that raise... and the location of the emergency chocolate stash?"

Su Yu (Eyes wide with admiration):

"Done! You're worth ten of those corporate drones I used to manage! One of them tried to 'debug' the coffee machine with a hammer! You, Dandan, are the future!"

(Cut to: Dandan switching his main screen display to a live stream titled 'Top 10 Cutest Capybara Moments')

Su Yu (Staring intently):

"So intricate... the patterns... the sheer data density... truly revolutionary..."

Dandan (Casually flicking his lollipop):

"Indeed. Now, about those caramel puffs you promised... The quantum threads require sustenance."

Su Yu reverently hands over the bag of snacks.

Su Yu:

"The fate of HSE rests upon your tiny, terrifyingly capable shoulders, Agent Dandan."

Dandan (Muttering under his breath as he rips open the bag):

"And your surprisingly deep pockets..."

(Interior – Su Meili's Oppressively Stylish Executive Office – Day)

The air conditioning hums aggressively. Su Meili reclines in her black throne-chair, Italian leather sighing beneath her. She idly taps a perfectly manicured finger against a glass of imported sparkling water that probably cost more than Lu Yan's monthly coffee budget. Her designer heels rest casually on the expansive desk, a clear message to the worker ants scurrying in the cubicles below: "My footwear is worth more than your annual salary."

Su Meili (Internal Monologue, sneering):

"Ugh. This entire floor reeks of mediocrity and cheap instant coffee. Honestly, the incompetence is staggering. How does data leak faster than gossip in a high school bathroom? Pathetic."

She takes a delicate sip of water, her expression distant.

Su Meili (Murmuring to herself):

"Still... better than being back in that mud-caked village. If I hadn't cleverly... persuaded... the Lu family's local representative to 'invest' in my 'promising future' back then..."

(Sound of a nostalgic harp strumming ironically)

[Mini Flashback: A dusty village road. A single, dilapidated house with a aggressively cheerful 'Welcome' mat. A much younger Lu Yan, all awkward limbs and earnest eyes, shyly offers a bruised mango.]

Lu Yan (Child, blushing):

"Meili... I saved the last mango for you."

Su Meili (Child, snatching the mango while already eyeing his slightly broken toy robot):

"Hmph. Fine. But only if you also give me your robot and promise to do my chores for a month."

Lu Yan (Child, sighing but smiling):

"Okay, Meili..."

(Flashback ends abruptly with the sound of a cash register)

Su Meili (Sighing dramatically):

"Good times. If I hadn't milked his naive affection for all it was worth, I'd probably be trapped now. Married to that perpetually nervous, coffee-addicted developer... Lu Yan. Shudder."

(Cut to: HSE Limited - Lu Yan's 'Creative Zone' - aka, the corner with the most extension cords)

Lu Yan, hoodie up, glasses perched precariously on his nose, takes a tentative sip of lukewarm coffee that has achieved sentience.

Lu Yan:

"Achoo!" (A violent sneeze that nearly dislodges his glasses).

Lu Yan (Glancing nervously over his shoulder):

"...Was that a sudden chill? Or did my credit card company just deploy ninjas again?"

He shrugs, pulls his hoodie tighter, and returns to animating a surprisingly detailed scene of a squirrel declaring bankruptcy.

(Back in Su Meili's lair)

BEEP BEEP BEEP! Her monitor flashes violently red. Text scrolls rapidly: "ALERT: SUPPLIER DATABASE COMPROMISED. OUTSOURCING CHANNELS EXPOSED. SECURITY LEVEL: SWISS CHEESE."

She slams her glass down, water sloshing onto the pristine desk. A low growl escapes her lips.

Su Meili:

"They're hitting our suppliers now?! Those incompetent fools! This means... war!"

(She stands abruptly, pacing like a caged panther in couture)

Su Meili (Gritting her teeth):

"Damn it all! There's only one entity with the resources and the sheer chaotic stupidity to pull this off... Fine. Time to call in a favor from the one family I despise dealing with more than my own."

(She snatches her phone, scrolling through contacts with venomous precision. Stops at: 'Lu Corp - Secretary Han - Emergency Line Only')

She hesitates, her thumb hovering over the call button. A vein throbs in her temple.

Su Meili (Mutters through clenched teeth):

"Lu Zhenhai's lapdog... The gatekeeper to that ridiculous dynasty... Ugh. But connections are connections, even if they smell faintly of nepotism and bad decisions."

She stabs the 'Dial' icon.

(Interior – Lu Corporation Secretary Department – The Eye of the Storm)

Imagine a battlefield after the fighting stops. That's Secretary Han's desk. Files teeter precariously. Coffee cups form defensive barricades. A single, wilting plant represents his dying hopes. Han himself sits amidst the wreckage, massaging his temples, radiating the aura of a man who has personally proofread the apocalypse and found several typos.

The dedicated 'Family Drama' hotline rings, its cheerful tone mocking his very existence.

Caller ID Flashes: SU MEILI – INCOMING HEADACHE.

Han closes his eyes, takes a breath that doesn't quite reach his lungs, and answers with the forced calm of a hostage negotiator.

Secretary Han:

"Lu Corporation, Secretary Han speaking. How may I facilitate the inevitable chaos today?"

Su Meili (Voice sharp, all business):

"Han. It's Meili. My company requires immediate support. Our supply chain's been compromised. I need access to Lu Corp's secure developer network and emergency outsourcing protocols. Now."

Secretary Han (Internal sigh resonates through the multiverse):

"Ah, Miss Su Meili. A pleasure, as always. Regarding your... situation... I regret to inform you that the developer you're likely thinking of, Mr. Lu Yan, is no longer affiliated with Lu Corporation directly. He's currently employed by... HSE Limited."

Su Meili (Impatiently):

"HSE? Never heard of it. Transfer me to their CEO. Lu Siyan, presumably?"

Secretary Han (Takes a fortifying sip of cold coffee):

"Ah. About that. Mr. Lu Siyan... is experiencing ongoing... character development. He abdicated his position at Lu Corp to found HSE, a venture apparently focused on monetizing workplace trauma through video games. His father, Mr. Lu Zhenhai, subsequently resigned from Lu Corp to become the personal secretary to Mr. Lu Siyan's mother, Madam Yunqiao, who is now the acting CEO of HSE, after Mr. Lu Siyan kidnapped her during what the interns described as 'Operation Cold Justice'."

Su Meili (After a pause so long Han checks if the line died):

"...Did you script that? Are you auditioning for a soap opera? What fresh hell is operating over there?"

Secretary Han (Deadpan):

"Just another Tuesday, Miss Su Meili. It's all meticulously documented in the 'Lu Family Contingency Binder,' subsection 'Existential Crises and Hostile Takeovers, Volume 7'."

(Han internally reviews the binder's index: Chapter 12: 'What To Do When The Chairman Becomes His Wife's Secretary Because His Son Stole Her'.)

(Han's Inner Monologue – staring blankly at a picture of his younger, happier self receiving his employee ID):

"Joined Lu Corp for the prestige, the challenge, the corner office dreams. Stayed for the absurdity. My resume now includes 'Mediating Inter-Generational Power Struggles,' 'Expert in De-escalating Spousal Business Conflicts,' and 'Proficient in Sourcing Emergency Therapy Animals.' I should have gone into alpaca farming..."

Su Meili (Voice tight with frustration):

"So, bottom line, Han. Can Lu Corp offer any assistance, or am I wasting my time?"

Secretary Han (Consulting Binder, Page 482, Protocol 19-B):

"Officially, I can submit a formal request for inter-departmental review, which should be processed sometime next fiscal year. Unofficially? Your best bet is to either negotiate directly with Madam Yunqiao at HSE – she seems surprisingly receptive to desperate pitches – or perhaps consider auditioning for that 'Couple Reborn' reality show Lu Siyan is rumored to be joining. Excellent infiltration opportunity, I hear."

Su Meili (Grinding her teeth so hard Han can hear it):

"Reality TV? Are you insane?! Fine. Thank you for your... minimal assistance."

Secretary Han (Utterly monotone):

"Minimizing assistance is my specialty, Miss Su Meili. Have a productive day."

Click. She hangs up. Han slowly places the receiver back in its cradle. Then, he calmly opens his desk drawer, retrieves a large, fluffy stress ball shaped like a screaming alpaca, and begins strangling it with quiet intensity.

(Inside Linling's ridiculously luxurious convertible, parked dramatically)

Linling sat bathed in the ambient glow of the dashboard, radiating fury like a designer radiator. Her assistant, perched nervously in the passenger seat, clutched an iPad displaying casting news as if it were a live grenade.

Linling (Voice dangerously quiet, each word clipped):

"...Explain to me... slowly... why the script for 'Eternal Sunset Embrace' suddenly includes a male lead who isn't my husband? And why his character description involves 'passionate embraces' and 'soulful gazes'?"

Assistant (Swallowing hard, voice trembling):

"M-Miss Linling... the director felt... the story needed more romantic conflict? The actor, Jin Hao, is very popular with the target demographic..."

Linling (Snapping, eyes flashing):

"Conflict?! The only conflict will be between my lawyer and their bankruptcy filings! I explicitly stated: No romantic co-lead! No unsolicited gazing! If I wanted forced intimacy with a stranger, I'd attend a Lu family reunion!"

She snatched her diamond-encrusted phone, fingers flying across the screen, composing a message to the unfortunate director with the speed and venom of a striking cobra.

> To: Director Lee (Soon-to-be Unemployed)

> Subject: YOUR IMMINENT DEMISE

> Consider your film cancelled. Consider your career cancelled. Consider your studio's stock value cancelled. My participation was conditional. You broke the condition. Expect lawyers. P.S. Jin Hao has terrible hair.

>

Send. She tossed the phone onto the leather seat with utter contempt and crossed her arms, staring straight ahead.

Linling:

"Amateurs. Thinking they can dictate terms to me. I built my brand on ice and intimidation, not cheap melodrama. Let them learn the hard way."

A beat of tense silence. The assistant cautiously cleared her throat.

"Miss Linling... regarding the other matter... that reality show, ' Couple Reborn: Love or Lie'... confirmation just came through. Filming starts in three days."

Linling (Eyes narrowing slightly):

"Format?"

Assistant:

"Live broadcast. Locked-house scenario. Multiple 'couple challenges'. Several high-profile celebrity couples are confirmed... plus, rumors of some... last-minute additions for publicity."

Linling (A humorless scoff):

"Publicity pairings. Pathetic. Manufactured romance for the brainless masses."

Her voice dripped disdain, but a flicker of something sharp, possessive, glinted in her eyes.

Linling (Voice suddenly cold, decisive):

"There will be no 'couple scenes' for Lu Siyan with anyone but me. Understood?"

She tapped one long, crimson nail against the dashboard thoughtfully.

Linling:

"Prepare the contracts. Alert my publicity team. I'm doing the show." A slow, dangerous smile spread across her face. "With my darling, infuriating husband. It's time the world saw exactly what happens when you try to escape Linling's grasp."