The Heiress's Game

Li Chunjing knocked on the door and entered the office.

"Miss Chen, Miss Gu has sent a message. She can see you for a while around noon, at 11:30, at Suiyuan."

Chen Cui was applying lipstick in front of the mirror when she heard this. She immediately covered the lipstick, pursed her lips in front of the mirror, and stood up to get her bag.

"Shall we go now?"

Li Chunjing nodded.

She had been working for Gu Yunjin for a year and knew her boss's style of doing things all too well.

—They are punctual, don't talk much, and are always on time when they ask you to meet. Being late is the biggest rudeness.

Chen Cui followed Li Chunjing through the office area of ​​Xingyao Media. Today, she was wearing a dark green satin shirt and her hair was down.

As they passed the open workstation area, several young interns secretly glanced at her, and only after she had walked away did they whisper among themselves—that was Chen Cui, the Chen Cui from "Walking with Brilliance," who was even more beautiful in person than on camera.

Chen Cui knew, of course, that someone was watching her.

From an ordinary girl in a small city to one of the most popular reality show actresses, it took her less than a year.

A year ago, she was Gu Mingyue's handbag attendant, the most famous socialite in Dahai City, wearing discarded old clothes and standing in the corner of the banquet hall waiting to receive her mistress's handbag.

Now, her name is at the top of the ratings charts, her face is on magazine covers, and her life is edited into programs that the whole country watches.

She knew how all of this came about.

Gu Yunjin.

Upon arriving at Suiyuan Garden, Li Chunjing led her through a corridor paved with bluestone slabs and into a south-facing tea room.

Gu Yunjin sat by the window, a tea set in front of her, holding a cup of tea in her hand. She looked up when she heard footsteps.

"You're here, have a seat." She was wearing a linen blouse, her hair loosely tied back, and soft-soled slippers.

Chen Cui sat down opposite her, took the teacup Gu Yunjin handed her, held it in her hands, and did not rush to drink it.

"How have you all been settling in with President Nan since he joined the company?" Gu Yunjin asked casually, as if they were having a casual chat.

Nan Zhenquan, the new president of Xingyao Media, just took office last month.

This person previously worked in real estate and had no experience in the cultural and entertainment industry.

When the appointment was made, there was a lot of discussion both inside and outside the company. Some people said that the big boss had gone crazy, appointing someone who works in real estate to manage a cultural media company.

But after meeting Nan Zhenquan a few times, Chen Cui knew that Gu Yunjin was not crazy.

Although this person is from a different industry, his management skills and resource mobilization ability are top-notch. Most importantly, he doesn't give orders blindly. Knowing that he doesn't understand the content, he delegates the content-related tasks to those who do.

"President Nan is very capable," Chen Cui said earnestly, putting down her teacup.

"Although he comes from a real estate background, he has a knack for management, and his judgment of the team and resource integration are excellent. He's much more reliable than the previous Mr. Ma."

That was a perfectly watertight statement.

It affirmed the new leader's professional competence while subtly pointing out the problems of the predecessor—Mr. Ma, Ma Hongbin, the former CEO of Xingyao Media who left last month.

Gu Yunjin poached him from another film and television company because of his experience in the reality show field, but after he arrived, his execution ability was a complete mess.

What's even more infuriating is that after leaving his previous job, Ma Hongbin quickly joined Wanyu Culture. Last month, Wanyu held a grand press conference to announce the launch of a brand new reality show called "Shining Life," which is highly similar in concept to "Walking with Brilliance." Even the filming techniques and narrative rhythm are like they were made from the same mold.

"Have you heard about the new show from WanYu?" she asked.

"I've heard about it," Chen Cui said.

"The concept and filming techniques of 'Shining Life' are exactly the same as those of 'Walking with Brilliance,' and Ma Hongbin brought a lot of things with him."

"The format can be copied, but the person cannot. The audience remembers you, Chen Cui, not the proposal written by Ma Hongbin."

Hearing this, Chen Cui felt a warmth in her heart, but she didn't show it much on her face.

She knew that Gu Yunjin wasn't the kind of person who needed others to be grateful to her; she was just stating a fact.

After drinking two rounds of tea, Gu Yunjin put down her cup, leaned back in her chair, and looked at Chen Cui.

"Speak, what do you want from me today?"

Chen Cui took a deep breath.

"Ms. Gu, we've filmed three episodes of 'Walking with Brilliance,' and the data and audience feedback are good, but I think it's not enough."

"The current discussion is concentrated within a fixed circle, and it hasn't really broken out of its niche. I need a tipping point, a topic that can make more people aware of this show."

"What do you want to do?" Gu Yunjin asked.

Chen Cui looked at her and said, "I want to publicize my past experiences. The fact that I worked as Ms. Gu Mingyue's personal assistant and handbag carrier."

Li Chunjing, who was standing to the side scrolling through her phone, paused upon hearing this and looked up at Chen Cui.

Chen Cui continued, "'From a socialite's handbag clerk to the hottest reality show star in the city'—this kind of story itself has a strong sense of contrast and is very topical."

Some people will laugh at my humble background, while others will sympathize with me. Regardless of the reaction, the discussion will go viral.

And once the discussion begins, Miss Gu Mingyue's name will naturally come up.

Given the fame of the eldest daughter of the Gu family, the ripple effect will be far greater than the impact I personally have.

After she finished speaking, she fell silent and waited for Gu Yunjin's reaction.

She knew what those words meant; she knew it better than anyone else.

The reason Gu Yunjin chose her to film "Walking with Brilliance" was because of her past identity as Gu Mingyue's handbag carrier.

Gu Mingyue, the apple of Gu Zhenxing's eye, is the undisputed number one socialite in Dahai City, and is always surrounded by admirers wherever she goes.

Now, Chen Cui is going to make this experience public and drag Gu Mingyue's name into it.

How will Gu Mingyue react?

It's obvious without even thinking about it.

Gu Mingyue would not tolerate her name being used as a topic of conversation by a "former handbag girl".

She would feel offended, that her popularity was being used against her, and that her status was being lowered.

Chen Cui didn't know how strong the public backlash would be, but she knew it would be significant.

And only Gu Yunjin can stop this.

"Have you thought it through?" Gu Yunjin asked.

"Do you know how Gu Mingyue will react once this is made public?"

"I know," Chen Cui said, her voice steady, "that's why I need your help. Only you can handle the rest."

"My sister," Gu Yunjin said, picking up her teacup, taking a sip, her tone light and airy.

"She was pampered growing up, and wherever she went, someone would open the door for her, carry her bag, and hold an umbrella for her."

She felt all of this was perfectly normal. She would feel offended if anyone dared to use her name to gain attention.

She put down her teacup and looked up at Chen Cui.

"But so what? Your story wasn't given to you by her; you earned it yourself."

It's true you carried her bag, but that's not a stain on your record; it's your starting point.

If you want to make a fuss about it, fine, I agree.

Chen Cui slowly relaxed, the breath she had been holding in her chest subsiding. But she didn't have time to fully relax, because Gu Yunjin's next words made her tense up again.

"But think it through,"

"Once this gets out, your relationship with her will be completely out in the open."

Countless people will compare the two of you, some will dig up old photos of you carrying her bags and spread them repeatedly, and some will analyze your every expression and movement in a sarcastic way, speculating whether you are secretly competing with her.

You know better than I do about Gu Mingyue's connections and influence in the industry.

She won't openly make things difficult for you, but she has plenty of ways to make things difficult for you in certain situations.

She paused, looking into Chen Cui's eyes: "Have you thought all this through?"

Chen Cui didn't hesitate: "I've made up my mind."

"Are you really mentally prepared to face Gu Mingyue's dislike, or even her underhanded sabotage?"

"I've made up my mind. From the moment you chose me, I knew this day would come."

Chen Cui said in a voice so calm that even she was a little surprised, "I will not live in anyone's shadow forever."

Gu Yunjin looked at her for two seconds and nodded.

"Okay. I'll handle the rest. As for Gu Mingyue—"

"She's my sister, I can handle her."

"Thank you, Miss Gu." Chen Cui stood up and straightened her skirt.

Gu Yunjin raised her hand at her: "No need to thank me. Just remember what you said today."