#11: Chairman Shi, President Shi

When Shi Min returned home, Shi Chu glanced at her and remarked, “Hmm, today you’re wearing ‘corpse white’ and ‘lipstick red.’ Who did your makeup? And you even curled your hair… You don’t suit big waves. A girl in her early twenties shouldn’t be pretending to be a mature older sister!”

Listening to these words—so affectionate, yet so cutting—it was clear that only an older brother would dare speak this way.

Shi Min disliked people touching her face, so she always handled her own makeup. By “handled,” she meant applying foundation, lipstick, a spritz of hairspray, and smoothing her hair back with her hands.

Everything was kept simple.

Shi Min considered these tasks trivial, and since trivial matters didn’t require much effort, she simplified them as much as possible.

Of course, Shi Chu was the complete opposite. The siblings often teased each other about their makeup and clothing choices.

On any other day, Shi Chu’s comments would have prompted a sharp retort from Shi Min. But today, in a good mood, she ignored him, chuckled softly, and headed upstairs.

Shi Chu maneuvered his electric wheelchair to the foot of the stairs and called out, “Didn’t sleep with anyone today?”

Shi Min took a few steps back, peeked her head around, and asked, “Why are you always so concerned about my love life?”

Shi Chu remained unfazed. “I don’t need to worry about the rest of your life.”

“My love life doesn’t concern you either.”

“Feeling guilty?” Shi Chu said with a smirk. “Let’s see how long you can keep up this pretense of being deep and mysterious.”

Shi Min raised an eyebrow. “I have no guilt to feel.”

“All those tricks you’ve learned from me…” Shi Chu shook his head, smirking. “Are you too scared to sleep with someone because you think you can’t handle it?”

“Too lazy to argue with you.” Shi Min decisively closed the door.

________________________________________

At the entrance of the hutong, there was a small breakfast shop whose owner had a tricycle. Luo Mingjing woke up early, borrowed the tricycle, and went to the flea market to buy two long sofas and some pieces of wood.

Originally, he planned to livestream making picture frames, but after measuring the length, he exclaimed happily, “Let’s make a guitar instead!”

In the live chat, a flood of comments appeared:

Fairy’s Underwear: “Wait, maybe I misremembered—this painter is actually a carpenter…”

Fairy’s Missing Cup Size: “A piano?”

President Crushes the Fairy: “Haha, I laughed at the mention of a piano…”

Unaffordable Maserati: “Here we go again! Drawing guitars to satisfy hunger!”

Luo Mingjing muted the sound on his end, picked up a saw, and started cutting the wood. His sleeves were rolled up high, and his long legs were propped up on the wooden board.

In the silent video feed, the veteran fans began joking around again.

“Such a seductive pose.”

“He’s posing again.”

“You guys don’t understand—this pose makes his legs look longer, lol.”

“No one praising the poor guy? Can’t you sense the aura of a master craftsman?”

“No.”

“No.”

“prprprpr [quietly admiring his legs].”

In the quiet scene, the veteran fans noticed Luo Mingjing pause, quickly pick up his phone, and soon leave the camera’s view.

“Again? Boo, unprofessional!”

“Going out without telling us!”

“Who called him? Who?! Our long legs are gone! Can all of you combined compensate for that?”

The text message was from Shi Min, just four words: Braised Pork Rice.

Almost instinctively, Luo Mingjing headed straight to the kitchen.

By noon, the pork ribs were ready. Luo Mingjing hopped on his bike to deliver the meal to Shi Min.

He informed Shi Min beforehand, and she gave him a new address: “Yuefeng Entertainment. I have a meeting, so wait for me in my office for a bit.”

When he arrived at Yuefeng Entertainment, the receptionist asked, “Who are you here to see?”

Now that he was in Shi Min’s territory, Luo Mingjing followed suit with the formal title: “Your Chairman Shi.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“Yes.”

“Eighth floor, please follow this young lady.” The receptionist arranged for someone to guide him.

As expected of an entertainment company, everyone coming in and out—regardless of their looks—was impeccably made up and dressed to the nines. At first glance, it seemed like the entire company was filled with handsome men and beautiful women.

The young woman led him to the president’s office, knocked on the door, and finding no one inside, left a note at the entrance. She politely nodded to Luo Mingjing and returned to her post.

Even the secretary’s desk in the president’s office was empty; it seemed the meeting wasn’t over yet.

Luo Mingjing placed the thermos on the desk and sat on the sofa in front of the boss’s desk, patiently waiting.

This president’s office wasn’t minimalist in style. Though spacious, it was cluttered with items. There were three bookshelves crammed with photo albums, catalogs, posters, and rolls of paper, stacked precariously to the ceiling in a chaotic yet strangely balanced arrangement.

Perhaps the meeting had ended, as voices could be heard in the corridor, growing closer until they reached the door.

“Then we’ll go with the theme colors of the three stages. I’ll get in touch with the styling team, and for the costumes, I’ll contact my team to prepare the initial drafts. The timeline is tight, but since Chairman Shi requested it, we’ll do our best.”

“I trust you. Five years ago, you already created works that amazed audiences worldwide. Your abilities speak for themselves.”

“Thank you, you flatter me.”

The door opened.

Luo Mingjing looked up, and the man standing at the door shocked him—not once, but twice.

Yes, this was… President Shi. Shi Chu was also a president.

But what shocked Luo Mingjing the most wasn’t that he had walked into the wrong office—it was that Shi Chu, who had been in a wheelchair just days ago, was now standing perfectly fine in front of him.

Upright, without crutches.

“…” Luo Mingjing asked, “Brother Chu’s legs…”

Shi Chu nodded to the person outside, closed the door behind him, and strode over with ease, placing his documents on the table. Raising an eyebrow, he said, “What are you doing in my office? Trying to seduce me?”

Then, his gaze shifted to the thermos on the table. “You came to bring me food?”

“It’s for Shi Min,” Luo Mingjing said. “Sorry, I thought only Shi Min worked here. I just said I was looking for Chairman Shi, but…”

Shi Chu, chewing gum, stared at him for a long moment before saying, “Chairman Shi, President Shi—they’re not the same. Shi Min’s office is to the left when you exit. Chairman’s office.”

“Sorry to disturb you.” Luo Mingjing didn’t plan to ask about his legs and quickly picked up the thermos to leave.

Shi Chu grabbed him by the arm and grinned. “Luo Mingjing, Mirror Reflecting the Fairy.”

Luo Mingjing stopped, smiling awkwardly. “So, President Shi… did you check my background?”

His smile faltered, and even the light in his eyes seemed to want to avoid something.

“I’m not interested,” Shi Chu shrugged. “I just happened to know you’re one of our contracted streamers. Mofish Live is one of the key platforms Yuefeng Entertainment is developing offline.”

Mofish Live was indeed the platform Luo Mingjing streamed on. He was surprised for a while, but then felt relieved. It seemed Shi Chu hadn’t investigated him—he just knew Luo Mingjing was a contracted streamer on Mofish Live.

“I saw your contract and the ID copy attached…” Shi Chu said. “Let me tell you something.”

He smiled meaningfully.

Luo Mingjing tensed up slightly, but after thinking about it, realized his ID couldn’t reveal much. Nodding, he said, “Go ahead, Brother Chu.”

Shi Chu pointed at himself, then at Luo Mingjing, smirking. “We’re… the same age.”

Watching Luo Mingjing’s stunned expression, Shi Chu felt deeply satisfied. Pointing to the door, he whispered, “My sister, Shi Min, is two years younger than you. Think about that, Brother Luo.”

After a long silence, Luo Mingjing found his voice and looked at Shi Chu, who was lounging in the boss’s chair with his legs propped up on the desk. He asked, “So… your legs?”

“I’m just lazy,” Shi Chu said, reclining with his hands behind his head, lazily squinting his phoenix-like eyes. “Too lazy to walk.”

Luo Mingjing had nothing to say. He needed to leave this corrupt, irreverent man as soon as possible.

Shi Chu tapped the table and said, “Let me give you some advice, Luo Mingjing. You lack a red opportunity.”

Luo Mingjing instinctively sensed this wasn’t a proper “opportunity” and tried to feign deafness, but it was too late. Shi Chu continued, “You lack a C-cup chest. Even part-time crossdressers who aren’t dedicated to their work won’t skimp on buying fake boobs. Do you know how little money you’re making every month?”

Luo Mingjing left the president’s office and asked for directions to the chairman’s office. As he passed the elevator, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure and abruptly stopped.

When he turned to confirm, the elevator doors had already closed and descended.

Luo Mingjing stood there, dazed, closing his eyes to calm his emotions.

He vaguely remembered Xu Qianqian mentioning that this person had returned to China, triumphant.

“What are you standing there for?”

Luo Mingjing turned around. Shi Min approached, naturally taking the thermos from him and pulling him into her office by the sleeve.

Shi Min’s office was the complete opposite of the irreverent president’s office.

The folders were neatly organized by color and size, the windows were spotless, but the room lacked any personal touch, making it feel cold.

“Sit,” Shi Min said. “Let’s eat together.”

Luo Mingjing pushed aside his earlier emotions, pulled Shi Min close, and said, “Chairman, I have something to ask you.”

“Ask.”

Luo Mingjing backed her into the wall, placing a hand against it to block her path.

He said softly, “Why deceive people despite your young age?”

When he mentioned her youth, Shi Min immediately understood. Her eyes sparkled with amusement, completely unfazed. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she pulled him closer and said, “You wanted to call me Sister. I said if it makes you happy, then so be it.”

She gently stroked his hair and chuckled. “Titles aren’t determined by age.”

Luo Mingjing slowly placed his hand on top of her head and, after a moment, lightly flicked her forehead.

“Forget it. If it makes you happy, then so be it,” he said with a gentle gaze and a soft smile. “Let’s eat.”

Shi Min… What kind of woman was she?

From the time they met until now, Shi Min was actually quite simple.

She was straightforward, black-and-white, minimalistic, and efficient.

She spoke little, always exuding an air of confidence and control, as though the world was hers to command.

She was born proud, liked to be in charge, and in any relationship, she always sought to maintain dominance.

She didn’t seem like someone in her twenties. Luo Mingjing had met ambitious career women like Shi Min before, but weren’t they all in their thirties before they developed such overt ambition and an air of emotional detachment?

Luo Mingjing sighed. No wonder he had called her Sister.

“Let’s eat.”

Shi Min sat down naturally, adopting the posture of an emperor sitting on a throne to receive his subjects.

She said, “If calling you Brother would make you happier, then…”

With a teasing tone, she gently indulged him: “Let’s eat, Brother Mingjing.”