Chapter 99: Signed

It could be said that Wang Yanan was simply unlucky. Every year, the Imperial Shadow Academy admitted many new students, and it wasn’t unheard of for some to take shortcuts or bend the rules. But no one had ever been caught so blatantly by countless onlookers, especially not during such a sensitive time.

Recently, the entertainment industry had been rocked by the Zhou Yuying scandal, dragging more and more people into the fray. The turmoil had yet to subside, and even the Imperial Shadow Academy struggled to withstand the relentless media frenzy and the spreading chaos.

In the end, the academy’s leadership made a final decision, as Xiao Jingxuan had predicted: Wang Yanan was to be expelled immediately, with no room for negotiation.

Having anticipated this outcome, Wang Yanan still couldn’t bear the blow and nearly fainted on the spot. She had no money, no influential connections, and the leaders were merciless—no hesitation, no sympathy, and certainly no patience for her desperate pleas. The decision was final; her protests meant nothing.

Moreover, though Wang Yanan had returned to the dormitory, she hadn’t taken the initiative to apply for anything. Now, with the expulsion order in place, one less step was needed, accelerating the processing.

Chu Luoxi was no fool. Even if Wang Yanan was expelled, she would still have to return to the dormitory at some point—there was no way she would stick around to face the backlash. So Chu Luoxi had long since dispersed, waiting for others to inform her of the outcome.

After such an incident, no matter how thick-skinned Wang Yanan was, she could no longer endure the pointed fingers and ridicule. Being expelled was already a fact. The one thing she once prided herself on was gone, and she had no idea what to do next. Locked in her dorm room, she vented her frustration for hours, her mind blank.

Chu Luoxi had answered several calls earlier today, but never imagined she would receive one from the dorm. Without even thinking, she knew who it was. After hesitating and frowning for a long time, she finally picked up—curious about what Wang Yanan could possibly want at such a time.

“Luoxi, you have to help me this time. I’m out of options. Please, I beg you,” Wang Yanan said, addressing her in a way she never had before, which sent an eerie chill down Chu Luoxi’s spine.

“Help you?” Chu Luoxi retorted sarcastically, a smirk playing on her lips. “And what exactly can I do for you?”

Seemingly oblivious to the sting, Wang Yanan continued, “I know you have some connections in the industry. You were the one who introduced Xiaoxue and Xiaojia to their gigs. Since we’re roommates, won’t you introduce me to someone too? Anything will do. I promise I won’t be picky—I’ll work hard…”

Chu Luoxi was taken aback. So Wang Yanan actually knew she was picky and had wasted her chances by not working hard? That was astonishing.

She burst out laughing, her amusement mingled with disbelief. Wang Yanan’s audacity had no limits. How on earth did she manage to say such things? And Xiaoxue and Xiaojia? It was almost affectionate how she called them now, considering she used to address everyone by their full names with a sharp tone. Now, knowing they were roommates, she was trying to play the emotional card.

Seeing Chu Luoxi laugh until she was breathless, Wang Yanan bit her reddened lip, anger flashing in her eyes, but she dared not interrupt. It was clear this woman was clever—her usual stupidity was mostly disdain for others.

When Chu Luoxi finally caught her breath, she spoke with a lazy, teasing tone: “Wang Yanan, are you thinking that despite groveling like this, I haven’t agreed yet and am laughing so happily, that I’m really giving you a hard time and don’t see you as a roommate?”

Wang Yanan was stunned, opening her mouth but unable to utter a word—the truth in Chu Luoxi’s words hit her like a blow.

“I never considered you a roommate. What are you going to do about it?” Chu Luoxi’s voice turned cold, as sharp as a sword piercing Wang Yanan through the phone. “You have some nerve to beg me. You must know exactly how our relationship has been from the start. Don’t fool yourself—just because you deceive yourself doesn’t mean others are idiots.”

“And don’t you dare talk to me about us being roommates. When you used my name to make deals with those who came knocking, ruining my reputation and future, did you think about the fact that we were roommates? When you became someone’s mistress and plotted against Xiaoxue, did you consider that? Your mind is a mess, thinking everyone else is as foolish as you. Let me tell you, the farther you stay away from me, the better. Who do you think you are? The Earth will keep turning just fine without you.”

With that, Chu Luoxi hung up, unwilling to listen to the twisted logic only a fool would have. Wang Yanan could already guess the accusations that would follow—claims that Chu Luoxi was disloyal, that she was kicking her when she was down, and so forth. Chu Luoxi was always blameless in her own eyes; if others didn’t comply, it was their fault. There was no need to listen and spoil her mood.

To be honest, in all her past lives and this one, Chu Luoxi rarely spoke so harshly. This time, she was simply furious—and with someone delivering themselves to her doorstep, she had to vent the frustration of not being able to take matters into her own hands. Once she finished, she felt much better.

Hearing the abrupt disconnection, Wang Yanan was utterly dumbfounded—especially Chu Luoxi’s accusation of plotting against Xiaoxue. It struck her like a thunderclap. She had never truly harmed anyone. Upon learning that her past actions were known, her first reaction was guilt and confusion. How could such a secret have been discovered?

People often said Wang Yanan was clever. After her initial panic, she calmed down, reasoning that since she was still fine now, Zhu Xueshuang wouldn’t pursue it further, and she felt emboldened once again.

However, she couldn’t stay in the dorm anymore. The school had issued a clear ultimatum. Wang Yanan had no choice but to pack her things and leave.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Dragging a heap of belongings and still searching for a place to stay, Wang Yanan was stopped by a man wearing sunglasses, causing her to shrink back in fear. She was reluctant to abandon her things and run.

The man sized her up, then smiled approvingly. “Miss Wang, I mean no harm. I’m the general manager of XX Entertainment Company. You have great potential, and I’d like to offer you a contract. Are you interested?”

The man got straight to the point, though in his mind he thought: This one looks promising. If we sign her and train her, she could be a cash cow for years.

Like a sudden ray of hope, Wang Yanan felt dizzy with excitement. She thought herself naturally beautiful, discovered by a “talent scout” on the street, never realizing how this man knew her surname. “An entertainment company? You want to sign me?”

One foot in hell, one foot in heaven—happiness had arrived unexpectedly. Wang Yanan had lost all sense of discernment, only wildly thrilled by the idea of being signed by an entertainment company. Even without seeking Chu Luoxi’s help, her chance had come… and amidst all the chaos, she imagined herself walking the star-studded path of an international superstar, feeling light as air.