Xu Baili inspected herself in the mirror. She was wearing a black two-piece suit with black heels. Her blonde hair was curled, and she wasn't wearing makeup, but she still looked stunning. She applied some lip gloss and smiled at herself, spraying her favorite perfume.
She headed downstairs and had breakfast with her parents. Later, Shi Yifei informed her that she was outside. "I'm leaving now," Xu Baili said to her parents, kissing their cheeks.
Xu Baili went outside and got into her Rolls-Royce. Shi Yifei looked at her worriedly. "Sister Baili, I'm so nervous. President Zhou is scary. I heard he can ruin anyone with a snap of his fingers. Did you offend him somehow?"
"No, I have never met him. Let's see what he wants," Xu Baili responded.
Yifei calmed down and kept quiet. The car arrived at Zhou Groups, a towering building filled with glass. Xu Baili and Shi Yifei headed inside and approached the reception.
"Good morning, I'm Xu Baili here to meet President Zhou," Xu Baili said softly.
The receptionist looked at her and called someone. "Assistant Fang, there is a Miss Xu Baili who wants to meet President Zhou."
"Okay," she said, cutting the call and smiling at Xu Baili. "Miss Xu, you can rest over there. Assistant Fang is coming to get you."
Xu Baili nodded and sat down with Yifei. Assistant Fang came after a minute, his eyes widening as he approached Xu Baili. 'Wow, this woman is a beauty. My old heart is beating. Is she real?' he thought.
"Hello, Miss Xu. I'm Fang Wenzhao. Please follow me," he said professionally.
Xu Baili and Yifei followed him to the elevator. Xu Baili was quiet, while Yifei glared at him. Assistant Fang felt it but chose to ignore it.
They reached the top of the building, and Xu Baili looked around, impressed by the view. They reached a black door with gold accents, and a nameplate that read "President Zhou".
"Miss Shi, can you please wait outside?" Assistant Fang said.
Yifei was about to argue when Xu Baili stopped her. "It's okay, I will be back," Xu Baili said.
Shi Yifei nodded, and Assistant Fang knocked on the door. A deep voice responded, and they entered. Xu Baili took in the interior design of the office, her eyes landing on Zhou Mo.
Xu Baili's heart rate quickened as she met his gaze. He was typing on his computer, his black hair styled perfectly.
"President Zhou, Miss Xu is here," Assistant Fang said.
Zhou Mo looked up and dismissed Assistant Fang. His eyes locked with Xu Baili's cold blue eyes. For a minute, they maintained eye contact.
"Sit," Zhou Mo said.
Xu Baili nodded and sat in front of him. "Miss Xu, I need you to give the female lead role of Emperor's Treasure to Li Xuan," Zhou Mo said coldly.
Xu Baili almost laughed. The audacity of this man to ask her this. To ask her to sacrifice her own hard work for someone who is going to get her killed and him arrested in the future. No way!
"Why?" Xu Baili asked coldly.
Zhou Mo was surprised by her tone. No one had ever talked to him in that manner. "Miss Xu, it's not your business," Zhou Mo responded.
"If it's not my business, then why am I here?" Xu Baili responded, looking into his green eyes.
Zhou Mo was taken aback. "President Zhou, some of us actually work hard to get where we are today. It's because of people like you that we are not succeeding. You think you can walk over everyone. If you fancy Miss Li, then court her the right way. Don't hurt others just to make your lover happy!" Xu Baili said coldly.
Zhou Mo looked at her, shocked. No one had ever reprimanded him before. He couldn't believe this actress actually talked to him like that.
"Miss Xu, have you forgotten who you are talking to? I will pay you whatever amount you want," Zhou Mo responded.
Xu Baili laughed, a small laugh that showed she was hurt. Deep down, she was hurt. She thought about the way her character died in the book, loving a man who never loved her back.
"Money! Money! Money! That's what it's always about with you people. You think everyone is after money. You think everyone cares about money. I don't care about your money, President Zhou. If I want money, then I work for it," Xu Baili responded.
Zhou Mo was impressed, though he didn't show it. "Tell me what you want, Miss Xu. You are lucky I'm even negotiating with you," Zhou Mo said.
"Can you give me whatever I want?" Xu Baili asked.
Zhou Mo nodded. "Okay, President Zhou. I want you to stop courting Miss Li. Forget about her," Xu Baili said with a smirk.
Zhou Mo's eyes widened. He was doing this for Li Xuan, but this Xu Baili was making it difficult for him. "Are you crazy, Xu Baili?" Zhou Mo yelled.
Xu Baili laughed as Zhou Mo put his fingers on her jaw, making her look directly into his eyes. Xu Baili was shocked by how fast he reached her side.
"You don't tell me what to do, Xu Baili. You will give that role to Li Xuan or else I will make your life so miserable," Zhou Mo threatened.
Xu Baili only smiled. "It's so funny, Zhou Mo. The woman you want is in love with another man. Do you want to know why she wants that role so much? It's because of Chen Tai. He is the male lead, and there are plenty of kissing scenes, and your Li Xuan is in love with Chen Tai and wants to get close to him," Xu Baili said with a mocking smile.
Zhou Mo's face darkened with fury, but it only added to Xu Baili's amusement. "President Zhou, that woman will only hurt you. Trust me. She is bad news for you. She may be pure and all, but only you will suffer because of her," Xu Baili said.
"I'm leaving now," she said, removing Zhou Mo's hand from her jaw.
Zhou Mo was frozen, but before Baili left, he said something Xu Baili was expecting. "Help me make her mine," Zhou Mo said.
Xu Baili stopped in her tracks and looked at him. "Be a man, Zhou Mo. She doesn't want you. DEAL WITH IT!" Xu Baili said coldly and left the office with a smirk.
She found Shi Yifei talking, or rather arguing, with Assistant Fang. "Yah, just because you are handsome doesn't mean you can be rude!" Yifei yelled as Assistant Fang glared at her.
"Shi Yifei!" Xu Baili said.
They stopped arguing and looked at her. Assistant Fang looked at Xu Baili, searching for any trace of anger, but there was none. "Excuse me," Assistant Fang said, heading back to the office.
"Sister Baili, are you okay?" Yifei asked.
"I'm fine. What can happen to me?" Xu Baili said.
"Well, he didn't do anything to you, right?" Yifei asked, making Xu Baili laugh. "He didn't do anything to me, but I wrecked him emotionally," Xu Baili responded as they headed out of the building.
🤍...tbc...✨