The current situation was this: inside a private dining room filled with exquisite delicacies, four individuals who had reached a ceasefire agreent regarding their nuclear disputes were seated at the sa table with the nuclear weapons themselves.
Though they had ostensibly shaken hands and made peace, every one of them wore expressions as if mourning a great loss.
Naturally, this included Shen Ying.
Shen Ying, however, was eating with gusto—though between bites, she would occasionally let out a lancholic sigh, only to channel her sorrow into her appetite, devouring even more enthusiastically.
Yu Ting had never seen soone so perfectly blend an atmosphere of forced politeness with an unabashedly ravenous eating style.
After watching her for a while, he turned to Jiang Liuxu and asked, "What’s her deal?"
Jiang Liuxu replied, "Her hopes were dashed. She’s nursing her wounds."
Yu Ting scoffed, "What wounds? She’s the only one who ca out on top here."
Jiang Liuxu explained, "She’s been complaining about the poor quality of male escorts at regular clubs and has been trying to get to introduce her to the top-tier ones."
"Didn’t you catch the ulterior motive in her earlier remark?"
Yu Ting froze for a second before inhaling sharply. "You’re still hung up on that? Talk about shaless."
"Still scheming to trick us into getting you in? Dream on."
Shen Ying retorted coolly, "It’s only a matter of ti. With my money-making skills, I’ll get there eventually."
Chang Ming sneered, "You’d better be careful with that ‘fortune’ of yours. The spending limits at those places are beyond your wildest imagination. One reckless night and you’ll wake up bankrupt."
Shen Ying smirked. "Why don’t you ask the three bosses here about my recent earnings?"
She shot Chang Ming a pointed look. "Just your ‘order’ alone is enough to fund several luxurious outings."
Chang Ming choked. The "order" she referred to hadn’t even been executed yet—it was essentially free money handed to her by three fools.
Co to think of it, in less than a month, this woman had already amassed a small fortune.
Pei Ying was far more direct. "I’ll make sure no high-end club entertains you, Miss Shen."
Shen Ying glared at him like he was a class enemy, then swept her gaze over the other three.
"I’ll make you willingly invite to those clubs yourselves."
The four n didn’t believe a word of it, their expressions dripping with disdain.
Shen Ying didn’t argue further. Once the al ended, they all went their separate ways.
As soon as they were gone, her system couldn’t resist taunting her—
[Host, how does unemploynt feel?]
[If you wanted to take an unconventional path, you should’ve thought long-term. You chased petty gains, ruthlessly exploited the male leads, and even gloated about your ‘business chain.’]
[And what happened? In less than three days, your chain collapsed. They called a truce and left you behind. If you position yourself as a weapon, don’t be surprised when you’re discarded.]
[No—this is all because of your laziness. Playing the stand-in role according to the script was such an easy shortcut, but you ruined your own start. Now, even if you wanted to backtrack, none of the four male leads would consider you as a substitute. How are you supposed to complete the mission now?]
Shen Ying wasn’t fazed by the system’s scolding. Instead, she cut straight to the point.
"What’s their current favorability rating toward ?"
The system scoffed internally—what a stupid question. Obviously, it had plumted to rock bottom.
But when it ran the calculations as requested, the results left it stunned—
[This—how?!]
Shen Ying pressed, "Don’t just gawk. Give the numbers."
Grudgingly, the system recited the figures, each one feeling like a slap to its face.
Was it going insane, or were the male leads just that twisted? It had specifically chosen this world, confirming that none of them were masochists—so why did their favorability ratings remain decent despite Shen Ying’s ruthless scheming?
Yu Ting and Pei Ying’s ratings were nearing 30. While that was still far from "close friend" territory, considering what Shen Ying had done—or rather, hadn’t done—for them, it made no sense.
And Jiang Liuxu? His rating was absurdly high. Was he out of his mind?
The only consolation was Chang Ming’s pitifully low score.
Shen Ying nodded. "About what I expected. I’ll start with Chang Ming next."
"Can’t let one fall too far behind."
The system tensed. [What are you planning now?]
Shen Ying shrugged. "You said it yourself—I’m unemployed. Gotta find a new line of work."
"Good thing I’ve got plenty of skills."
No matter how much the system prodded after that, Shen Ying ignored it.
With millions in her pocket, she took a few days off to indulge in reckless leisure.
Though the elite clubs were off-limits, nothing could stop her from seeking out beautiful companions.
She infiltrated a part-ti job group for acting students at a film academy. Thanks to her generous red envelopes and witty banter, she quickly beca the most popular mber.
Soon after, she treated the group to an extravagant outing. At first, only a few male students and two bold female students showed up.
But once they t in person and saw she was a young, attractive woman with deep pockets, a knack for fun, and no hesitation when it ca to footing the bill, her reputation soared.
They assud she was just a wealthy heiress dabbling in the scene for amusent.
From then on, whenever Shen Ying hosted, a crowd of gorgeous n and won eagerly joined.
She reveled in the indulgence, making up for lost ti before finally turning her mind back to business.
One day, she pulled out her phone and dialed Jiang Liuxu’s number.
The system protested, [I thought you were starting with Chang Ming? Why Jiang Liuxu?]
Shen Ying ignored it. When Jiang Liuxu answered, she cut straight to the chase.
"What’s Chang Ming’s ho address?"
Jiang Liuxu choked. "Why would I tell you that?"
Then, curiosity got the better of him. "What do you want with him? You have his number—why go in person?"
Shen Ying sighed dramatically. "After you three called a truce, I lost my job."
"No matter how much money I have, it won’t last forever. So I need a new way to make a living."
Jiang Liuxu snorted. "Isn’t that your own fault for being greedy?"
"If you hadn’t tried to profit from all of us at once, we could’ve had a long-term arrangent."
Shen Ying said earnestly, "I’ve learned my lesson. From now on, I’ll work honestly—no more shortcuts."
Jiang Liuxu deadpanned, "I don’t believe a word of that, but I’ll humor you. What’s this new ‘job’?"
Shen Ying grinned. "Well, aside from being a psychological shock therapist, I’m also a psychological healer, emotional consultant, and romance strategist."
"The ceasefire forced to shut down my shock therapy division, but the other three services are still operational."
Jiang Liuxu raised a brow. "Healer? So now you want to ‘cure’ Chang Ming’s trauma?"
"Stab the wound, then sell the bandages—quite the business model. Though I doubt you have any real ability to heal."
Shen Ying frowned at the skepticism. "Yu Ting’s already tried my services. He gave a glowing review—look how lively he is now."
Jiang Liuxu countered, "I asked him. From a professional standpoint, what you did wasn’t healing—it was more like injecting him with stimulants. Frankly, you’re worse than an unlicensed quack."
Shen Ying smirked. "So, your rival is suffering, and an unlicensed quack claims she can fix him. Will you make the introduction?"
Jiang Liuxu sighed. "You should’ve led with that. Chang Ming’s address is XXX—XXXX."
System: ["..."]
What the hell—
As soon as Shen Ying got Chang Ming's address, she imdiately drove her newly purchased luxury car straight to the Chang residence.
The status Yu Shishi held in Chang Ming's heart was sothing the Chang family understood all too well.
So when Shen Ying swaggered in with that face of hers, neither the security at the gate nor the household staff dared to stop her.
They didn’t even bother to announce her arrival.
The mont Shen Ying entered the mansion, she asked the head housekeeper, Aunt Zhang, who greeted her with a smile, "Where’s Chang Ming? Please take to him."
Without hesitation, Aunt Zhang led her to a studio on the second floor overlooking the artificial lake.
Chang Ming had two older brothers, both more than a decade his senior. By the ti he was a child, they were already managing the family business, leaving him free of responsibilities and pressure.
He could do whatever he pleased.
But as one of the male leads in an old-school angst-filled romance, how could he not have his own halo of glory?
Chang Ming’s talent lay in the field of music—he was currently the most sought-after composer in the Huayu music scene.
Several chart-topping hits and iconic songs by A-list singers were penned by him.
Countless artists in the industry would fight tooth and nail just for a chance to secure one of his compositions.
However, Chang Ming had never appeared in public, and his composer credits were under a randomly chosen pseudonym, so very few knew his true identity.
When Chang Ming was working, no one was allowed to disturb him—except for one person.
And that was Yu Shishi.
Shen Ying pushed open the studio door and saw Chang Ming resting his chin on his hand, staring blankly at a sheet of music.
Hearing the noise, he turned his head. The mont he saw the person at the door, his expression froze briefly.
Then it dawned on him that he’d mistaken her for soone else again—and that this woman had the audacity to barge into his ho and even his studio without permission.
Instantly furious, he snapped, "What are you doing here? Who let you in?"
He then turned to Aunt Zhang, who had escorted her upstairs, and scolded, "Since when do we let strangers into the house without permission?"
Aunt Zhang was stunned by the reprimand and looked at Shen Ying in confusion.
The "Miss Yu" before her wore a wounded, dejected expression. "I flew over ten hours just to see you. Even if our last call ended badly, do you have to say such hurtful things?"
Then, to Aunt Zhang, she added, "Forget it. If that’s how he feels, don’t let in so easily next ti. I don’t want to get you in trouble."
Chang Ming stared at her in disbelief. "You’re manipulating right in front of my face to set up access for Shishi? Could you be any more malicious?"
"What does Shishi have to do with this? I just don’t welco you."
Shen Ying’s expression grew even more hurt, her eyes shimring as if on the verge of tears. "Not only are you pretending not to know , but now you’re denying my identity too?"
"Just because I upset you, I’m not even allowed to be myself anymore? Do you think my only purpose in life is to please you?"
Chang Ming finally understood—this woman was here to pick a fight.
She was using her resemblance to Shishi to deceive everyone around them, making him look like the unreasonable one.
Fuming, Chang Ming suddenly smirked.
"You claim you’re Shishi? Then who is she?" He pointed at Aunt Zhang.
When Shen Ying stayed silent, his grin widened. "What’s wrong? She’s worked here for decades. If you’re really Shishi, how could you not know her?"
Shen Ying gave him a look that said, "Do we really have to go this far?"
Then, with a sigh, she murmured, "Of course I know her. Aunt Zhang has always doted on —she always prepares my favorite snacks whenever I visit."
She then asked warmly, "How’s your leg? Did it heal completely after that fall last year?"
Aunt Zhang smiled. "Yes, it’s been fine for a while now."
Shen Ying’s face lit up with genuine relief. "Has your son returned from abroad?"
Aunt Zhang: "No, I told him not to co back yet."
She then gave Chang Ming a puzzled look—wasn’t this clearly Miss Shishi?
Chang Ming was dumbfounded. "H-how do you know about her—"
The System chid in: [She even knew about the son living overseas?]
Shen Ying replied, "It’s simple. The 'Children' palace in her face shows signs of travel and fortune away from parents."
"As for confirming it was abroad, the watch on her wrist is from a niche foreign brand. It’s new, well-maintained, and she even instinctively avoids scratching it on door handles—clearly a gift from her child."
System: [What if it was from her husband?]
Shen Ying: "Please. Her 'Marriage' palace is a wreck—her husband was an abusive, cheating scumbag who died young. She hasn’t had any serious romantic prospects in years, so it had to be from her kid."
While the System got its answers, Chang Ming was growing frantic.
Seeing Aunt Zhang completely taken in by her act, he yanked open the study door and grabbed the passing butler—
"I get it now! You must’ve eavesdropped when she brought you up here."
"You don’t know him, do you?"
Shen Ying sighed, forcing a smile as she greeted the butler. "Uncle Gu, it’s been a while."
"How’s your grandson’s condition? Any improvent?"
Uncle Gu was equally baffled but answered reflexively, "It’s stabilized. Thank you for your concern, Miss Yu."
Shen Ying continued, "He’ll recover. Tell your wife not to worry too much—if she overexerts herself, her health will suffer."
"I recently ca across a good herbal recipe for calming the nerves. I thought it might help her, so I morized it. Hold on, I’ll write it down for you."
She grabbed a blank sheet of paper and jotted down the prescription.
Uncle Gu, who had studied traditional dicine in his youth and ca from a family of practitioners, recognized the formula’s brilliance at a glance.
Overjoyed, he thanked her repeatedly. "I’ve never considered this approach before. Miss Yu, you’re too kind. My wife will be grateful."
Both Uncle Gu and Aunt Zhang shot Chang Ming disapproving looks—as if he were a misbehaving child—before leaving.
Chang Ming was starting to question reality. Was he the problem? He’d just watched this woman seamlessly replace Shishi right before his eyes.
Once the servants were out of earshot, Shen Ying turned back to Chang Ming—her wounded deanor gone in an instant.
With a faint smirk, she stepped inside, closed the door, and even locked it behind her.
Then she advanced toward him, step by step.
Chang Ming instinctively retreated. In his own ho, he suddenly felt utterly defenseless.
"W-what are you doing? Why lock the door? Stay—stay back!"
As Shen Ying drew closer, Chang Ming—much to his own sha—kept backing away.
But she stopped at the sofa and sat down leisurely.
"I haven’t had a job in a week. If this unemploynt streak continues, my quality of life will take a serious hit," she said casually. "So I’d like my forr employer to offer a position."
Chang Ming exploded. "Which bastard hired you this ti? We agreed on a truce!"
Shen Ying waved a placating hand. "Relax. Today, I’m here as a self-recomnded relationship strategist and therapist."
Chang Ming exhaled slightly but remained skeptical. "You? A relationship strategist?"
He still suspected this person had ulterior motives.
But Shen Ying didn’t waste ti arguing with him. Instead, she launched into her sales pitch.
First tactic: A sense of crisis.
"Mr. Chang, you need to understand your position in my sister’s heart."
Chang Ming remained wary. "What do you an?"
Shen Ying continued, "The deepest bond between you and my sister—I’m sure you know it better than I do. You enjoy her protection, depend on her, cling to her. Your safest ntal state is being wrapped up in her cocoon."
"That’s how you see it. But my sister? In her eyes, the other three are n—full of aggression, exuding hormones at every turn."
"And you? I’m certain she still sees you as a child."
Chang Ming’s heart lurched, his expression stiffening. He wanted to refute her, but no words ca.
Second tactic: A sense of urgency.
Shen Ying pressed on, "You’re not kids anymore. Two years ago, my sister was already of marriageable age."
"Now she’s gone traveling to clear her mind. At most, she’ll be gone a year or two. When she returns, the competition among you will reach its peak."
"I guarantee, given your current position, you’ll be the first one eliminated. Sure, you could exploit her sense of responsibility or pity to keep her by your side—but that will never be love."
"Mr. Chang, ti is running out. You must redefine your role before she cos back. Only then can you stand on equal footing with the other three."
Chang Ming swallowed hard. Her words instantly filled him with anxiety.
Third tactic: The exclusivity of the product.
Shen Ying smirked. "I know my sister better than anyone. If necessary, I can even simulate her thought process down to the last detail."
"I doubt Mr. Chang would deny that."
How could he? He’d paid a painful price to learn that truth.
Shen Ying added, "Hire as your love strategist, and I promise your progress in winning my sister’s heart will skyrocket, leaving the others in the dust."
Chang Ming felt like he was dealing with a devil. Though he didn’t trust Shen Ying at all, he couldn’t suppress the flicker of temptation.
Still, he clung to his pride. "Sorry, but I still don’t trust you. Unless you give a reason to."
To his surprise, Shen Ying didn’t back down. She stood up.
"Fine. I understand the principle of ‘if you doubt soone, don’t use them.’ I shouldn’t have co to you today."
"Honestly, I only did this out of a sliver of guilt. Mr. Jiang and President Pei have higher chances anyway, and they’re far more decisive."
With that, she turned to leave.
"Wait!" Chang Ming blurted out.
He didn’t trust this woman, but he couldn’t let her team up with those two scheming rivals. Who knew what chaos would follow?
"Fine, I’ll give it a try. What do I do?"
Shen Ying smiled, pulled out her phone, and sent him a pre-written docunt from her notes.
"Just follow the instructions, Mr. Chang. Pleasure doing business. That’ll be 10 million."
Chang Ming barely glanced at the text before snapping his head up.
"That’s it? Just this? It’s barely a few hundred words! You’ve got so nerve."
Shen Ying didn’t flinch. "Whether these few hundred words are worth the price depends on the results."
"Consider this a trial. No need to pay upfront—settle after you see progress."
"Just don’t think about skipping out on the bill this ti. You know how I collect debts."
"I wasn’t—" Chang Ming started to defend his past actions but stopped. What was the point?
By then, she was already out the door. From the window, he watched as the housekeeper packed her a bag of gourt treats on her way out.
Fuming, Chang Ming returned to his study. Logic scread that this woman was trouble, yet his hands moved on their own, opening the ssage.
The screen displayed Shen Ying’s instructions.
---
Outside the Chang residence, Shen Ying was in high spirits.
"That 10 million is as good as mine. Once he tastes success, he’ll co crawling back."
"Asking Jiang Liuxu for the address also served as notice—I’m back in the ga. He’ll keep tabs on Chang Ming now, and once results show, the others will hear about it."
"The electrotherapy gig was just quick cash. This is a sustainable business."
"And honestly? It’s even easier now. No more face-to-face sessions—just a few hundred words does the trick."
She paused, realizing her partner hadn’t responded.
Annoyed, she prodded, "System? Hello? We’re in a work eting here. Say sothing."
The system exploded:
[—YOU CALL THIS WORK?! YOU’RE TEACHING THE MALE LEAD HOW TO SEDUCE HIS WHITE MOONLIGHT!!!!]
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