Shen Xiaoyu came to her senses, lifting her head to meet the girl's worried eyes.
The newcomer was a young woman around twenty years old, very pretty, with shoulder-length chestnut brown hair that curled slightly. She wore light makeup and looked playful and cute.
She looked somewhat familiar, as if Shen Xiaoyu had seen her somewhere before, but searching through her memories, she couldn't find any information about this person.
"Sister Xiaoyu, don't you remember me? I'm Shi Qiubai!"
Shi Qiubai—
The image of the little girl from the neighboring family gradually overlapped with the person before her, and Shen Xiaoyu's eyes suddenly widened.
Before she could speak, the young woman had already helped her up, thoughtfully dusting off her clothes, and supporting her as they walked out.
"After learning your name, I was wondering if it might be you, and I can't believe it really is you!" The girl said with a bright smile, "I've been waiting for you in the meeting room for a long time. I sent you messages but got no reply, so I came to check."
Shen Xiaoyu stared at her in a daze, unable to react for a moment, "You..."
She wanted to speak, but as soon as she opened her mouth, her hoarse voice was unbearable even to herself.
She truly hadn't expected that the new artist assigned to her by the company would be her neighbor's sister, five years her junior.
Shen Xiaoyu's only impression of Shi Qiubai was that she was cannon fodder like herself.
In the original plot, Shi Qiubai had just debuted when she starred in a hit fantasy drama. Coincidentally, the female lead Tang Tang had a similar drama airing at the same time. Because Tang Tang's drama had an absurd plot, she became Shi Qiubai's foil, with countless fans online comparing the two dramas. Tang Tang's reputation collapsed, and Shi Qiubai quickly rose to become a popular young actress.
The female lead's official partner believed Shi Qiubai deliberately paid for trolls to attack Tang Tang, so they schemed against her, creating a scandal about her being kept as a mistress, resulting in her being banned from the industry. Shi Qiubai's parents, both university professors, were publicly humiliated and eventually committed suicide.
The devastated Shi Qiubai tried to kill Tang Tang, but under the influence of the female lead's halo, her plan backfired completely. She fell from a high building and died on the spot.
But in the original book, Shi Qiubai wasn't in this company. It seemed that after Shen Xiaoyu changed the plot regarding Su Huan, it created a butterfly effect, causing deviations in the current storyline. Not only had Shi Qiubai joined Xingheng Group, but she had also become Shen Xiaoyu's artist.
Shen Xiaoyu felt somewhat helpless. Of all times to appear, why now?
She had just offended Su Huan and only had a month left to live. If she wanted to help Shi Qiubai secure good resources in such a short time, she would likely make enemies for her.
Shen Xiaoyu moved stiffly, thinking of solutions while questioning the system.
[You didn't arrange this, did you?]
The system immediately became anxious.
[How could I? If I had that kind of ability, why would your mission still be incomplete now?]
Shen Xiaoyu thought this made sense.
That useless system wouldn't be that clever.
[Host, I can hear you!!]
[Oh, I meant for you to hear that.]
While the person and the system were bickering, Shen Xiaoyu and Shi Qiubai had already entered the meeting room.
After helping her sit down, Shi Qiubai quickly poured a glass of water, then sat across from her, her bright eyes fixed on her.
"Sister, you don't look well. Are you sick? Should we go see a doctor?"
Shen Xiaoyu didn't respond, slowly drinking the whole glass of warm water. Her body, stiffened by the electric shock, gradually relaxed, and her rigid thoughts returned.
Only then did she look at Shi Qiubai in front of her and sighed, "I haven't seen you for years. You're so different from when you were little, I didn't recognize you."
"I'm even more surprised that you're so amazing now, becoming a top manager!" Shi Qiubai's sweet face broke into a smile, "If mom knew my manager was you, she'd be so happy!"
Saying this, she happily took out her phone and started typing a message.
Unlike her excitement, Shen Xiaoyu's mood was complicated.
The neighbor's sister from her memory standing so vividly before her, combined with thoughts of her fate, would make anyone feel disoriented.
Sensing Shen Xiaoyu's emotions, the bristling system returned to its cold, emotionless state.
[This world has its own operating rules. Every character will follow the plot toward their own ending. So, host, you don't need to feel guilty about cannon fodder.]
Cannon fodder...
Shen Xiaoyu repeated these words to herself, suddenly realizing something and laughed.
[Aren't I cannon fodder too?]
The system froze, [You're different...]
[That's because of you. My difference is given by you. But in reality, I'm no different from Shi Qiubai.]
[We are all flesh and blood, with feelings, living, breathing people!]
Shen Xiaoyu's mood became heavy: [I'm grateful for your arrival, and I'm willing to accept the punishment for failing the mission. But I don't believe the plot can't be changed, otherwise your mission would be meaningless.]
Shocked by her speech, the system stuttered for quite a while.
[So, what are you trying to tell me?]
[Nothing specific, just want to tell you that the butterfly has already flapped its wings. We can't predict anyone's ending.]
After sending the message, Shi Qiubai looked at Shen Xiaoyu excitedly, "Mom wants to know if you're free tonight. She'd like to invite you to dinner at our home."
Afraid of being misunderstood, Shi Qiubai quickly explained, "It's not a bribe, just a regular dinner."
"It's alright, I'll come," Shen Xiaoyu said with a smile. "I'm free tonight, and you're my artist now. Understanding your life is part of my job."
Shi Qiubai bit her lip, her eyes burning like ignited flames, burning intensely.
"Great!"
Because they were already acquainted, the work that followed was incredibly simple.
Shen Xiaoyu reviewed the projects Shi Qiubai had previously participated in and looked at her resume.
She planned Shi Qiubai's work direction for the next few months based on her experience. When she asked for Shi Qiubai's opinion, the girl suddenly sat up straight with a serious expression.
"Sister is my manager. I just need to obey all of Sister's arrangements! Just being obedient is enough."
Hearing this, Shen Xiaoyu's writing hand paused slightly.
She had heard similar words from Su Huan, but despite having the same meaning, the feeling they gave her was worlds apart.
Shen Xiaoyu couldn't describe the sensation, she just smiled, "I don't need you to obey. When issues arise, we each propose solutions, and we'll follow whoever is right."
"Understood, Sister, I'll remember that!" Shi Qiubai nodded firmly.
"That's all for today then. I'll take you home first."
Shen Xiaoyu stood up, gathered all of Shi Qiubai's materials, put them back in her office, and then left with Shi Qiubai.
Shen Xiaoyu's car was parked in the underground garage.
Next to it stood someone wearing a mask and hat, with a slender, tall figure. When they looked up, they revealed a pair of enchanting, almond-shaped eyes.
Shen Xiaoyu's feet faltered slightly, but then she naturally walked forward.
"You haven't left yet?"
She was just asking casually, but unexpectedly heard the reply: "I've been waiting for you."
Shen Xiaoyu was somewhat surprised. This was quite rare.
Usually, it was Shen Xiaoyu chasing after her; it was always Shen Xiaoyu waiting for Su Huan. Since when did she deserve Su Huan waiting for her?
Before Shen Xiaoyu could speak, the person beside her grabbed her arm excitedly, "Sister, it's Su Huan!"
As soon as she spoke, Su Huan's gaze fell on her, noticing her grabbing Shen Xiaoyu's hand. Her already displeased expression grew even colder.
However, she was wearing a mask, so they couldn't see her expression, only her furrowed brows. Her tone carried a hint of coldness, "Who are you?"
Before Shen Xiaoyu could speak, Shi Qiubai stepped forward quickly, her eyes flashing with fervor.
"Hello, Su Huan, I'm your fan. I suuuper like you!"
As she spoke, her body trembled with excitement.
Shen Xiaoyu couldn't help but hold her forehead, interjecting, "She's my artist, still young, please be understanding."
Su Huan's brows furrowed even more, her cold eyes like a lake stirring with ripples, with waves surging beneath the surface.
"You threw me to someone else, just for her?"
Su Huan looked Shi Qiubai up and down, her voice filled with anger, "A newcomer! Do you know how much effort it will take to make her successful? Moreover, she might not even make it."
Shen Xiaoyu certainly knew how difficult it was to make an artist famous.
But—
"So what? Who says she must become famous, must succeed?"
Shen Xiaoyu smiled slightly, "I've never demanded that she become a huge star. As long as she works hard, pays her taxes properly, doesn't sleep with those she shouldn't, and remains a law-abiding citizen, that's enough!"
"Shen Xiaoyu! You—" Su Huan suddenly raised her voice, about to continue, but was interrupted.
Shen Xiaoyu caught a glimpse of a flash of light from the corner of her eye. She stepped forward, grabbed Su Huan's hand, and pulled her toward the car, saying softly, "Leave first, there are paparazzi."
"Qiubai, get in the passenger seat."
As she spoke, she walked toward the driver's seat.
Shocked by their conversation, Shi Qiubai immediately reacted, opened the door, and got into the car.
Shen Xiaoyu quickly started the car, the engine roared, and with a press on the accelerator, they sped away.
Behind them, not too far or too close, followed several cars. Shen Xiaoyu couldn't clearly see the people inside.
She frowned, feeling that they didn't seem like paparazzi.
They were moving too quickly, firmly tailing them without letting go, and the situation inside the cars looked somewhat frantic.
This didn't seem like paparazzi behavior, but more like...
Shen Xiaoyu observed the road conditions while watching the cars in the rearview mirror.
She pondered for a moment, turned on the turn signal, and as she made a turn, she finally saw clearly what was happening in the cars.
It was a group of teenagers, around sixteen or seventeen, holding either cameras or phones, all pointed at her car. Their expressions were frenzied, and they seemed to be saying something.
They were indeed Su Huan's obsessive fans!
They looked excited, their mouths opening and closing as if speaking, but from the distance, no sound could be heard.
Getting closer, she could finally hear bits of their voices.
"Hurry, hurry, get closer! Don't let them get away. I knew that bitch Shen Xiaoyu was up to no good!"
"If it weren't for her,"
"They're turning, follow quickly!"
After passing Shen Xiaoyu's car, that vehicle immediately turned to pursue them.
Confirmed—they were after Su Huan!
Shen Xiaoyu suddenly sat up straight, "Fasten your seatbelts, we're starting now."
As soon as she finished speaking, she floored the accelerator, the engine roaring as they sped away.