The next morning, after breakfast.

"You two should head back now. I estimate I’ll be back in a day or two at most, so don’t worry."

Gu Xingyi flagged down a cab to the airport, then turned to Xia Xiyao as he spoke.

Xia Xiyao nodded, though her eyes clearly held a trace of reluctance.

Just days ago, she was still thinking about running away from him. She never imagined that in such a short time, she’d actually feel unwilling to see him go.

Xiao Nainai snuggled against Xia Xiyao’s thigh, even more unwilling to let Gu Xingyi leave. Her little lips pouted high, her expression so pitiful it made Gu Xingyi want to just strap her to his body and take her with him.

He was just going away for a couple of days—why did it feel like a farewell for life?

Hardening his heart, Gu Xingyi forced himself not to look back. He waved his hand and got into the taxi.

The car drove off, and the two figures in the rearview mirror gradually shrank into the distance. Gu Xingyi closed his eyes, a strange feeling welling up inside.

It was the first time in his life someone had seen him off on a trip.

At 9:30 a.m., the car arrived at the airport. After waiting another twenty minutes, Gu Xingyi boarded a flight to Modu.

Modu—a city where every inch of land is worth gold. Most major entertainment companies had their headquarters there. The locals were so used to seeing celebrities that running into one while shopping was a regular thing.

There was even a saying that had gone viral online: “In Modu, celebrities are everywhere, and influencers are as common as stray dogs.”

At 12:20 p.m., the plane landed in Modu. The moment Gu Xingyi disembarked, he could already feel the city’s intensity.

Compared to Jiangcheng, there were just too many people here.

Caught in a tide of passengers, Gu Xingyi shuffled along with the crowd until he finally reached Exit 5 and let out a breath of relief.

Standing at the exit, he looked over the crowd holding name signs, searching for his own.

Before coming, he had arranged with Yang Chenglin to meet here—she’d be picking him up at the airport.

There were so many people holding signs, many of them fans waiting to meet celebrities. It took a while before Gu Xingyi finally spotted a tall woman in business attire holding a sign that read: "Xingyao."

A proper jie) - A Japanese loanword from: 禦姐 which means something along the lines of a 'mature older sister'. I think onee-san fits nicely.">onee-san indeed!

Her voice really matched her vibe!

She and Xia Xiyao were total opposites. If Xia Xiyao was gentle like flowing water, this woman was composed and confident, radiating intellectual charm from head to toe.

Gu Xingyi quickly walked up and waved at her.

"Hello, are you Director Yang? I’m Xingyao—my real name is Gu Xingyi. Sorry to keep you waiting!"

Yang Chenglin studied the man in front of her, a flicker of surprise flashing in her eyes before she quickly masked it.

She knew Gu Xingyi was young, but not this young—he looked like he’d just graduated from college. And that face… perfect for stardom.

She couldn’t help but feel a bit of regret. If only they could sign him directly.

"Hello, I’m Yang Chenglin! I didn’t wait long. Xingyao-san, you really are young!"

With a professional smile, she shook his hand lightly before letting go.

"This way, please. There are too many people here. I parked in the underground garage. It’s lunchtime now—how about we grab something to eat and talk more over a meal?"

"Sure!"

Gu Xingyi nodded and walked alongside her.

Yang Chenglin was clearly a seasoned professional. As they walked, she naturally started small talk, keeping the conversation flowing.

She had expected a young guy like him to be awkward in conversation, but to her surprise, Gu Xingyi kept up with ease—witty, relaxed, never shy.

That alone made her reevaluate him once again. Truly talented people thrived wherever they went.

Of course, Gu Xingyi had no idea she was mentally upping her evaluation of him. If he did, he’d probably be speechless. With memories spanning two lifetimes—over fifty years of experience—if he couldn’t even manage small talk, he might as well hang himself.

They got into the car. As they drove past Modu’s dazzling streets, Yang Chenglin pointed out a few highlights.

Soon, they arrived at a small but well-regarded restaurant known for its authentic cuisine.

After sitting down and ordering, Yang Chenglin finally brought up business.

"I’ll just call you Mr. Gu. Mr. Gu, may I ask—who exactly are you recommending this time? A newcomer or a professional singer?"

"Have you ever heard of Xia Xiyao? She used to be a singer, but she retired from the industry. This would be considered a comeback."

Gu Xingyi’s expression turned serious as they got down to business.

Yang Chenglin furrowed her brows. She’d definitely heard of Xia Xiyao—two years ago, she’d been a popular idol with excellent vocal ability.

But the frown wasn’t over her singing. Rather, she recalled that Xia Xiyao had been forced to leave the industry after her romance was exposed. And her partner back then… wasn’t he some useless pretty boy?

This would be tricky.

Yang Chenglin tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked at Gu Xingyi.

"I know her. What’s your relationship to her? Do you know why she left the industry in the first place?"

Gu Xingyi looked her straight in the eyes.

"We’re married. She’s my wife."

"..."

Even Yang Chenglin, who’d weathered all kinds of storms, was momentarily dumbfounded.

Married? He was the so-called pretty boy? Was this a joke?

Or did Xia Xiyao get divorced and find someone new?

Noticing the shock on her face, Gu Xingyi could guess what she was thinking and gave a wry smile.

"You’re not wrong. I’m the guy she was caught dating—the one she left the industry with."

Yang Chenglin didn’t know what to say. She had heard of Xia Xiyao, but never paid attention to her partner. As someone who never followed idol groups like Gu Xingyi’s old boy band, she hadn’t cared.

Now she was even starting to doubt if those two hit songs were really his.

But before she could dwell on it, Gu Xingyi continued, sensing her hesitation.

"Is it really that difficult to let her join your company? If it’s too much trouble, I’ll think of another way. But I’m not just asking for her to join—I want her to have top-tier resources and creative freedom. No restrictive contracts."

"In the end, it’s all about benefits. With my help, Yin Hai Entertainment will only grow stronger. I hope you’ll seriously consider it."

He finished in one breath, took a sip of water, and calmly waited.

Yang Chenglin’s face darkened slightly—she was clearly hesitant.

"We’ve never worked together before. And just based on those two songs you posted on Douyin, that’s not enough value. I do acknowledge Xia Xiyao’s vocal skills, but you know better than anyone—this industry isn’t just about talent. Letting her return is easy. But the kind of top-tier resources and contract freedom you’re asking for—we’ve never offered that to anyone."

"This isn’t something I can decide alone."

Though she didn’t outright reject him, her words made it clear—this was almost impossible.

Giving top-tier resources to someone with no current market value? And with a free contract? What if she became a superstar and then just walked away? What would the company do then?

"You’re free to discuss it further. I’m just making my stance clear. And not just for this particular challenge—if your company needs songs in the future, or even scripts of any kind, just ask. I can provide whatever you need."

"I truly hope we can work together. You brought me here to assess my capabilities, right? Well, I’m here. Why not decide after you’ve seen what I can do?"

Gu Xingyi spoke lightly, as if everything was already in the bag.

Yang Chenglin gave him a long, thoughtful look. She’d never met someone this confident before.

This was the so-called "pretty boy"?

The world is truly blind.