#14: Move-In Ready

The sun was high in the sky when Shi Min finally opened her eyes. Her brain slowly rebooted, and she sat up, recognizing her own room.

It seemed she had habitually returned home last night.

Last night, she and Luo Mingjing had drunk wine at the restaurant and were slightly tipsy when they left. She suggested going to the riverside to sober up, but halfway through, she got carried away, bought a case of beer, and sat on the steps with Luo Mingjing, drinking while gazing at the river.

After that… everything was a blur.

She vaguely remembered playing several small games with him and hearing him say many things. A few of his words had genuinely moved her at the time, but now, with the alcohol wearing off, those words had vanished along with the haze, leaving no trace in her memory.

Shi Min stretched lazily, picked up her phone, and noticed the screen was black. Slowly, she fished out her charger and plugged it in. Opening the door, she saw Shi Chu sitting like a lunatic outside her room, reading a book.

Shi Min lightly kicked his electric wheelchair. “Move.”

Shi Chu grinned mischievously. “Friendly reminder—pack your bags and escape quickly. Mom and Dad have already boarded their flight and will be home tonight.”

Shi Min immediately snapped awake. “What’s going on?”

“You had a great time drinking last night, didn’t you?” Shi Chu said. “When I picked you up last night, do you remember what we talked about? The media department and PR team at Yuefeng Entertainment, including your little assistant girl, were all pulling an all-nighter.”

Shi Min had a vague guess. “Tell me.”

Shi Chu held up his phone for her to see. “This is from one of our rival company’s lapdog media outlets, posted at eleven last night.”

Entertainment Pioneer News: New Director of Yuefeng Entertainment, Shi Min, Comes Out [Video]

As expected, someone had taken photos of them.

Shi Min smiled. “What’s the point?”

“The news article doesn’t mention Dongshi Media but specifically highlights Yuefeng Entertainment, which shows clear intent,” Shi Chu said. “Look at the video’s release time—it was posted almost immediately after being filmed. We didn’t receive any prior notice, nor did any reporters come to negotiate. You’ve been targeted, little Shi Min.”

He scrolled down a bit and added, “And these are some second-tier media outlets reposting the story…we’re currently negotiating deals with them…”

Dongshi Media Heir Shi Min Deeply Kisses Girlfriend by the Riverside Late at Night, Suspected Coming Out [Video]. Shi Min recently returned to China and took over Dongshi Media and its subsidiaries, including Dongshi Technology and Yuefeng Entertainment… Her brother, Shi Chu, is the ex-boyfriend of Yang He, who just won the Flying Pigeon Award yesterday, earning the title of Best Actress of the Year…

The wording here was bolder, using the more widely recognized title of Dongshi Media heir. However, following the content further, Shi Min couldn’t help but laugh—it was clearly a press release from Yang He’s current hot-topic celebrity agency.

“Feels good to be dragged into Yang He’s limelight again, huh?”

“Shut up.”

No wonder this repost had garnered the most clicks.

Shi Min casually clicked on the video and watched, her face showing surprise. “I forgot about this part… But does this even count as a passionate kiss?”

Shi Chu rolled his eyes.

“It’s almost nine-thirty,” Shi Chu said. “The market opens soon. Dad will definitely check the stocks today—brace yourself.”

“No big deal,” Shi Min said. “I’m not like you, failing to date the Queen of Scandal and handing such a massive scoop to the competition.”

“…” Shi Chu was momentarily speechless.

“The Entertainment Pioneer News account is managed by Huaji Media,” Shi Min said as she dragged out her suitcase and began packing. “Our media department has dirt on their top star. Since they’re not playing by the rules, we don’t need to hold back on exposing their dirty laundry either. Let’s drag their ace out into the open.”

Shi Chu nodded. “We released it this morning and helped them trend. The results so far have been excellent.”

“I’m not dating a top-tier celebrity,” Shi Min said casually. “So my scandal won’t blow up too much. The real headache is dealing with internal company matters. You handle the shareholders’ meeting, and keep an eye on the Securities Regulatory Commission. Just make sure we go public smoothly early next year.”

Shi Chu: “Coming out is always a headline.”

Shi Min: “Suppress it. Don’t let them dig deeper.”

Shi Chu propped his head up curiously. “Such a golden opportunity—who wouldn’t want fame? What about your partner?”

“He’s not the type who craves fame,” Shi Min said. “Leave the rest to you. This matter ends here.”

Shi Chu watched her pack with enthusiasm, feigning ignorance. “Oh? If you’re not bothered by the coming-out scandal, why are you packing now? Who are you hiding from?”

Shi Min shot him a cold glare and slammed the door shut.

Outside, Shi Chu burst out laughing. “Minmin, you’re doomed. Mom said her heart nearly gave out.”

Inside, Shi Min, rarely angry, snapped, “You didn’t tell her he’s a man? Shi Chu, you did this on purpose!”

Shi Chu chuckled sinisterly. “You never told me who you were having dinner with. All I saw was a blurry video—it could’ve been anyone.”

“Dad said he’s going to punish you,” Shi Chu laughed as he stood up, pounding on the door gleefully. “Oh no, this is serious. The future pillar of the Shi family is finally getting scolded—I’m so happy, hahaha.”

________________________________________

At noon, Zhengzhi Art Studio was still locked, though the lights inside were on. Luo Mingjing’s phone remained unreachable.

Shi Min removed her sunglasses and peered through the gap in the curtains. She spotted a leg sticking out from the end of the sofa, and Luo Mingjing appeared to be face-down on the couch.

“Luo Mingjing,” Shi Min knocked on the door. “Luo Mingjing, open up.”

The sofa shifted slightly. Luo Mingjing raised his head, the fluffy hat covering his face falling back to reveal his features.

Luo Mingjing stared blankly at the door, still half-asleep. When Shi Min called his name again, he finally came to his senses, dragging himself over to open the door with dark circles under his eyes, looking like a miniature zombie.

Opening the door, he croaked, “What time is it?” Then he slowly smiled and muttered to himself, “Open the door, open the door, I know you’re inside, don’t hide…”

He was still sleep-talking.

Shi Min, unable to decipher his ramblings, dragged her suitcase inside, locked the door behind her, and drew the curtains tightly shut.

“Do you have enough food at home?”

Luo Mingjing followed her, dazed, and nodded slowly, pointing to her suitcase. “What’s that? Are you giving me something else?”

He was only half-awake; both his expressions and speech lagged behind his usual pace.

“Giving you someone,” Shi Min couldn’t resist ruffling his hair. “Still not awake?”

Luo Mingjing gave her an incredibly slow smile, pulling her toward the scattered sheets of paper on the table. “Look… my design drafts, show them to you.”

He collapsed onto the sofa, hugging a cushion and grinning foolishly. In a soft voice, he murmured, “I had many insights after talking to you last night. I pulled an all-nighter… drawing went smoothly. Do you like them? Praise me.”

“Winter.” Beside the first page of the draft was a line of text. Shi Min read it aloud: “A lone boat fishing drunkenly in the cold river…”

“Six solar terms, eighteen pieces total. Winter’s series is arranged in order…” Luo Mingjing’s eyes were barely open. Half his face buried in the soft cushion, he mumbled dreamily, “Still missing spring and summer…”

Shi Min flipped through the drafts. Though drawn while drunk, the lines were unrestrained, and even the calligraphy beside the first piece, “A lone boat fishing drunkenly in the cold river,” seemed ethereal, as if it wanted to leap off the page.

Though Shi Min wasn’t well-versed in fashion design, even as an amateur, she could sense a strong personal style in these drafts.

They resembled him—the same as the paintings in his studio. Though casual, they were sincere, sincerely adorable. The fluid lines and gentle strokes revealed the designer’s soaring mood, brimming with an uncontainable pride and talent eager to take flight.

Thus, Shi Min gave her highest praise: “They’re very much like you.”

Luo Mingjing relaxed a little, closed his eyes, and quickly fell asleep.

Sitting on the floor, Shi Min flipped through his drafts, absently stroking his hair as if petting a cat. After finishing, she softly asked, “Who are these design drafts for? Collaboration or your own brand?”

Luo Mingjing chuckled faintly, his voice breaking intermittently.

“To build a brand… you need money. In domestic fashion… the famous ones, the ones with teams… they can start brands. Others mostly collaborate.”

“Do you want to build a brand?”

“Every designer… who wouldn’t?” Luo Mingjing turned over, forcing his eyes open to look at Shi Min. “The platform I built before collapsed… It’s hard to rebuild. I can’t afford to lose again…”

“Because of money?”

“Right now, it’s because of money,” Luo Mingjing said. “But money’s just the beginning… Take my cousin, for example. She’s walking the same path I once did, dreaming of building a brand. But while starting a brand is easy, making it big and maintaining quality is tough… The most orthodox route is to go overseas for exposure, build a reputation abroad, and then return to develop in China. Moreover, this profession… requires a high level of skill and natural talent. Aesthetic appreciation needs support, and broad exposure helps you find your position and style, paving your own way.”

Perhaps because he was still half-asleep, Luo Mingjing spoke his mind freely.

“The easiest path… I had it all planned out,” he said. “But it collapsed. Now I can only grind my own way…”

“Did something unexpected happen in the middle?”

Luo Mingjing closed his eyes, turning his head aside. After a long moment, he bitterly chuckled. “I’ve accepted my fate. It wasn’t an accident. At the most critical moment, multiple events piled up, breaking me completely. Looking back now… life hit rock bottom, lower than the dust… Betrayal from everyone.”

Shi Min didn’t press further. Luo Mingjing seemed to have fallen back asleep, his breathing steady and deep.

Shi Min efficiently organized his drafts, retrieved a box of pudding from the fridge, and sat cross-legged beside him, eating while asking, “I’ll be staying here for a few days.”

Luo Mingjing groggily hummed in acknowledgment, then suddenly bolted upright. “What?”

“Cohabiting with you for a while.”

Luo Mingjing was startled awake. “Why?”

Shi Min, the president, calmly replied, “For the next few days… I can’t stay at home.”

Luo Mingjing got up to find his slippers, muttering softly about cooking for her.

Shi Min leaned back leisurely and asked, “Are you livestreaming today?”

“…Not enough energy. No stream today,” he said, plugging in his phone and snatching the pudding from Shi Min’s hand. Tipping his head back, he swallowed it whole and said, “Don’t snack before meals. I’ll make chicken soup to warm your stomach.”

He put on an apron but then realized the shop door was still locked. As he was about to unlock it, Shi Min said, “I advise you not to open it.”

“…” Luo Mingjing turned around, asking her, “Do you have enemies? Are you hiding from someone here?”

Shi Min gave a short laugh. “Worse than enemies.”

Inexplicably, Luo Mingjing blurted out, “…Future mother-in-law?”

He slapped his forehead and apologized profusely. “Sorry, sorry, that slipped out without thinking…”

After recovering from her shock, Shi Min laughed. “You’re truly a genius.”