Chapter 37: Whoever Offends Me, I Will Destroy

Assistant Gao was at a loss, even feeling a headache coming on. A decisive and ruthless CEO had somehow been transformed into a hopeless romantic.

He could only carry out the instructions as given.

Once Pei Qiaonian hung up the phone, the entire compartment fell silent for a full ten seconds before Xiao Ruoqing burst out laughing, pointing at Pei Qiaonian. "Who does he think he is? Banning me and Sister Pan’er? I think you haven’t woken up yet. What a lunatic, pretending to be something he’s not. You really think you’re backed by some capitalist? You’re nothing but a penniless nobody, doomed to obscurity for life."

Xiao Ruoqing held back the urge to slap him, determined to make him pay double once the girl group disbanded.

Lin Shiyu felt her head spinning, especially with their destination approaching—where many reporters were waiting. If more rumors about discord within the group leaked out, they wouldn’t even have a chance to appear on camera.

The company certainly wouldn’t invest any more resources in them.

She didn’t want any problems arising at such a critical moment.

She hurriedly said, "Let’s all say a little less, anyway we’re about to disband. It’ll be hard to even meet after this, so let’s cherish this little bit of time."

After speaking, she looked at Pei Qiaonian. "Yun Zhuo, is that all right?"

Pei Qiaonian was relaxed. "Of course. You should cherish today."

The driver up front quickly stopped the car and announced, "We’ve arrived."

The doors of the nanny van opened; crowds surrounded them.

There were fans of their girl group, and also fans of Yan Feixing.

As Wan Pan’er and Xiao Ruoqing got out, the crowd erupted in shrieks.

Some sharp-eyed fans noticed the faint redness on Xiao Ruoqing’s face.

They immediately asked, "Ruoqing baby, who bullied you? Why is your face red?"

For the first time, she, who always maintained a carefree persona, covered her face in front of the public, stammering, "I’m fine, no one hit me. A mosquito bit me while I was sleeping, don’t worry everyone~"

Though she said that, her gaze, intentionally or not, swept over Pei Qiaonian, who had just stepped out.

"My god, could it have been Xu Yun Zhuo?"

"Yesterday she was already going crazy on the roadside, maybe Ruoqing’s face really was hit by Xu Yun Zhuo!"

"Xu Yun Zhuo is really so arrogant now? She must not want to survive in the industry anymore!"

Fans’ eyes turned to Wan Pan’er, noticing the same redness on her face. "Pan’er, your face!"

Wan Pan’er looked openly at Pei Qiaonian, her demeanor cold. "I don’t want to speak. Let’s go."

In the next moment, the trending topic #XuYunZhuoBullyingTeammates# shot to the top.

It only took a moment to reach third place.

[This girl really can’t do anything right, but she’s always trending.]

[Please, someone kick her out of showbiz. Just looking at her makes my eyes hurt, and now she’s bullying teammates.]

---

[I thought she was cute yesterday, turns out she’s neurotic. I’ll pass.]

Pei Qiaonian had no time to look at the trending topics.

As soon as he entered, Sister Cheng found him at once. "Ancestor, this is your last group activity—how could you mess it up again!"

Pei Qiaonian noticed a blister on her lip and tilted his head slightly. "Are you overheating?"

Sister Cheng was so angry her breast ducts were blocked. "What do you think? Because of you, I’m losing hair from stress. The company is very dissatisfied with you. If you weren’t scheduled for a variety show, you’d be shelved by now. Yun Zhuo, listen to me: your face can earn money. Go to the show and do your best; win favor if you can. Bear with it. Only by gaining fans’ support can you become popular."

Pei Qiaonian was more indifferent.

He had studied Xu Yun Zhuo’s career trajectory and realized it wasn’t about her being obedient—it was that this group of people would never accept her.

Or perhaps, because Xu Yun Zhuo was exceptionally beautiful, she became a target.

Things like drinking with clients, sleeping with executives—these were the games of capitalists.

Xu Yun Zhuo, chasing after Pei Jinlai into the entertainment industry, naturally refused these hidden rules.

As a result, she offended many big names in the circle.

Thus, after three years, she was still unknown.

Searching online would yield nothing but scandals about her.

It wasn’t that Xu Yun Zhuo couldn’t be famous—it was that people were too malicious.

He reached out and patted Sister Cheng’s shoulder. "Don’t worry, I’ll do my best. Whoever messes with me, I’ll destroy them. I won’t tolerate anything."

With those words, he left Sister Cheng frozen in place.

He sauntered away.

Sister Cheng already saw Xu Yun Zhuo’s career as pitch-black, utterly hopeless.

In the lounge, Pei Qiaonian encountered the so-called Yan Feixing.

A spirited young man with dyed red hair.

Earrings, metal chains, and a leather jacket lent him a rebellious air.

Seeing Pei Qiaonian enter, he winked. "Hello, first time meeting. I’m Yan Feixing."

Pei Qiaonian glanced at him coolly. Yan Feixing’s features were sharp—sword-like brows, starry eyes. He didn’t mock Pei Qiaonian for his low status; in fact, he was one of the few people Pei Qiaonian had encountered who could be considered decent.

But... wasn’t this "killer-matte" style a little much?

He nodded. "Hello."

Then he sat aside, letting the makeup artist fuss over his face.

Yan Feixing observed the other three girl group members clustered around him, then compared them to Pei Qiaonian’s aloofness, which piqued his interest immediately.

"Your name is Xu Yun Zhuo, right? You’re two years younger than me; can I call you Yun Zhuo?"

Hearing Yan Feixing’s voice, Pei Qiaonian didn’t answer. Instead, he stared at his reflection in the mirror—already beautiful without makeup, with full makeup he’d surely stun all these men.

---

Immediately, he pulled out a makeup remover wipe, scrubbing off the foundation, then pushed away the makeup artist. "I’m not wearing makeup."

The makeup artist was stunned. "Huh???"

"You’re about to go on stage. You can’t go without makeup."

Pei Qiaonian fixed her with an icy gaze. "I said I won’t. Don’t you understand?"

The makeup artist was momentarily speechless but persisted. "Then let’s just contour a bit? Maybe draw your brows."

Seeing her insist, Pei Qiaonian’s patience snapped. "Don’t force me to slap you. Stay away from me."

"It’s just drawing your brows, it won’t take any time." She still reached out.

Pei Qiaonian swatted away the eyebrow pencil, stamping his foot on it.

The makeup artist tried to pick it up, but seeing Pei Qiaonian’s reaction, she could only storm off, angry. "I don’t even want to do your makeup! You’re beneath me!"

Before leaving, she exchanged a glance with Wan Pan’er, both their eyes flashing with disappointment.

That eyebrow pencil was laced with a substance that would cause allergic reactions and facial sores. Even a touch would penetrate the skin, starting at the surface and working its way down. The target was too obvious with foundation, so they set their sights on the eyebrow pencil, ensuring nothing could be traced back to them.

The next moment, a video shot to the top.

#XuYunZhuoActingLikeADivaAndChasingOffTheMakeupArtist#

Yan Feixing glanced at it and chuckled, his eyes crinkling with laughter. "Yun Zhuo, you’re trending again."

Pei Qiaonian raised a cold eyebrow. "I’m used to it."

Yet, he was always vigilant. When negotiating, he was adept at catching the subtlest expressions, then offering the best deal to clinch the business...

Just now, he noticed the makeup artist and Wan Pan’er exchanging a meaningful glance.

With his acute sense of danger, he was sure these two harbored ill intentions.

He stared thoughtfully at the eyebrow pencil, then picked it up and pocketed it under Wan Pan’er’s anxious gaze.

When he saw the panic in Wan Pan’er’s eyes, Pei Qiaonian felt he had solved the mystery.

Yan Feixing, on the other hand, thought Pei Qiaonian was uniquely charismatic.

Unlike any other female star he’d met, his curiosity was piqued.

"We’re about to go on stage, Yun Zhuo. Shall we go together?"

Pei Qiaonian: "?"

He looked at him with undisguised distaste and sidestepped him. "Men, stay away from me."