CHAPTER 44 — The Meeting That Shifts Everything
Shi Yunxi left the Shi villa without looking back.
But the effect of her visit rippled instantly.
Behind her, the entire house erupted into chaos—voices shouting, accusations flying, servants scrambling. Yet none of it mattered to her anymore.
What mattered was control.
And she finally had it.
At StarVision Entertainment — That Afternoon
Mu Lingchen had been reviewing documents in his office when his assistant, Lin Meixi, entered with a stiff expression.
"President Mu… something is trending again."
He didn't look up.
"Is it about Rui's school?"
"No, sir. It's… Miss Shi."
That made him pause.
Mu Lingchen slowly lifted his gaze.
"What about her?"
Meixi swallowed.
"Shi Yunxi just acquired 30% of Shi Corporation… and confronted the entire family in their villa. The news is everywhere."
A long silence.
Mu Lingchen leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled.
"She bought thirty percent… quietly?"
"Yes, sir. And the Shi family is in complete turmoil."
His expression didn't change much, but a faint glint appeared in his eyes.
"…Interesting."
Since the day he first met her, he had sensed something beneath her gentleness—restraint, strength, scars she never showed.
But this?
This was power.
Meanwhile — Yunxi's Apartment
When Yunxi returned home, she found her two children awake and waiting for her.
Shi Yichen ran to her first.
"Mom! You're late today!"
Shi Qing'er clung to her sleeve.
"Mommy… did something happen?"
Yunxi forced a gentle smile.
"No. Mommy just had work to do."
But her hands were slightly cold, and Yichen noticed immediately. He stared up at her with those sharp eyes—so much like Mu Lingchen's that it hurt.
"You're angry," he said softly. "At grandma and grandpa."
Yunxi froze.
Qing'er whispered, "Are they bad people?"
Her heart tightened painfully.
She kneeled down, pulling them close.
"They… made mistakes," she said carefully. "Mistakes that hurt Mommy. But it's not your fault."
Yichen hugged her tightly.
"We will protect Mommy now."
Her chest trembled.
She kissed their foreheads, grateful—terrified—overwhelmed.
Night — StarVision Set
Later that evening, Yunxi headed to the set for her second major fitting.
The director, Producer Han, and several staff members were already waiting.
When she stepped in, all eyes turned.
She was dressed simply—yet she carried an aura no one could hide.
Han clapped slowly.
"Good. You look like you've grown sharper overnight."
Yunxi smiled politely.
"Thank you, Director Han."
What she didn't expect was—
A sudden hush.
A shift in atmosphere.
And then—
Mu Lingchen walked into the fitting hall.
Unannounced.
Cold.
Commanding.
Everyone stood.
"President Mu…"
Han blinked rapidly and hurried forward.
"Sir—this is unexpected—"
Mu Lingchen's gaze swept past him, past the staff—
And stopped directly on Yunxi.
The room felt smaller instantly.
"You're late," he said.
Han gaped.
Yunxi froze.
The staff exchanged frantic looks.
Mu Lingchen stepped closer.
Yunxi maintained her composure. "This is the fitting hall, President Mu. I believe we agreed—"
"I remember." His voice was low, smooth. "But I also recall asking you to report your movements."
Her eyes widened. "That's not—"
"—optional," he finished.
A few gasps echoed.
Before she could respond, he added quietly:
"I hear you visited the Shi family today."
Her pulse jumped.
"…How did you—"
He wasn't smiling, but there was unmistakable approval in his eyes.
"You handled it well," he said.
Shock flickered through her.
Approval.
From him.
"President Mu," Han interrupted, clearing his throat, "should we continue the fitting?"
Mu Lingchen didn't look away from her.
After a long beat, he nodded once.
"Proceed."
But he stayed.
He watched her every movement.
Every costume.
Every expression.
And Yunxi could feel it—
Something had shifted between them.
Not spoken.
Not acknowledged.
But real.
And dangerous.