The next morning came quickly. Mo Fei was half-awake when the doorbell rang.
He walked out the door a few minutes later, hair slightly messy but still unfairly handsome in a simple outfit Louis had insisted he wear.
Louis stood outside holding a coffee and the look of a man who had already prepared himself for disappointment. "Get in the car."
Mo Fei yawned. "Good morning to you too."
Louis didn't respond.
Ten minutes later they were already on the road.
The sleek black car moved steadily through the morning traffic toward Xi's beauty, one of the biggest cosmetic companies in the country.
Inside the car, silence filled the air. Mo Fei sat by the window, staring outside calmly.
At least on the outside he looked calm.
Inside… His thoughts were doing laps around his brain.
This is his first real job since waking up in this body. Mo Fei shifted slightly in his seat. Technically, since becoming Mo Fei, he hadn't really done anything important yet.
Just scandals, hospital beds and internet chaos. This was different. This was work, a real shoot. He was about to step into a studio not as Bai ju, the nobody who struggled for extra roles… But as Mo Fei, an A-list model.
Well.
A scandalous A-list model trying not to get fired.
Mo Fei clicked his tongue quietly, his fingers tapped lightly against his knee. Of all the women in the world. Why did the original owner have to date that one?
The scandal was still a massive stain on his name. Even thinking about it annoyed him.
Across the driver's seat, Louis noticed the small shift in Mo Fei's expression.
He glanced at him briefly before returning his eyes to the road. Louis had been observing Mo Fei quietly since yesterday. Something about him felt… different.
Not just because of the accident.
Before the scandal, Mo Fei had always been known as quiet, reserved and polite.
The kind of person who greeted everyone with a small gentle smile.
But the Mo Fei sitting beside him now…
He was calmer, stronger and strangely confident.
Louis exhaled slowly, hopefully this shoot would go well. It was already a miracle Xi's beauty had agreed to work with Mo Fei at all.
And that viral photo yesterday, that photo had softened public opinion slightly.
Louis sighed quietly and glanced at Mo Fei again. Everyone in the industry knew the scandal. But there was one thing the public never heard.
Mo Fei's side of the story.
When the accusations exploded online, Mo Fei had disappeared completely. No statements. No interviews. No defense.
Just silence.
Louis had witnessed the beginning of the incident himself. Back then, he was only a road manager at the company. He still remembered it clearly. The woman's fiancé had stormed into the company building like a man possessed. Shouting and cursing. Calling Mo Fei every insult imaginable, he accusing him of stealing another his woman.
The security had tried to stop him but it escalated too quickly. The man had even hit Mo Fei across the face before the guards dragged him away.
The entire floor had watched the scene unfold. Louis remembered the look on Mo Fei's face that day.
Mo Fei had withdrawn from everything.
Avoided the internet, media, people, everyone. Louis gripped the steering wheel slightly tighter.
Never in his wildest imagination had he thought that his first real solo management job would be handling a fallen celebrity. A scandal walking through the industry.
He didn't really know Mo Fei. Louis glanced at him one more time. Instead of a broken man crushed by scandal, this Mo Fei looked stronger. It was a good thing. But still, Louis couldn't help wondering.
Is this confidence real or just a mask Mo Fei had built to protect himself?
Louis pulled the car smoothly into the underground garage of Xi's beauty. The building itself was polished glass and steel, a place that practically screamed luxury and brand power. For a cosmetics company, presentation was everything.
As soon as they stepped inside the lobby area reserved for staff and talents, a woman in her thirties approached them. She wore a neat company uniform and carried herself with professional warmth.
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Louis," she said politely, shaking his hand. Then she turned toward Mo Fei. "Mr. Mo Fei." She gave a small nod.
Mo Fei returned it with a polite smile and a slight bow of greeting. "Nice to meet you."
"Please, this way," the woman said, gesturing toward the hallway leading deeper into the studio.
They followed her inside. The studio was already prepared. Bright professional lights hung overhead, and several makeup artists were arranging products across a long white counter. Equipment cases were stacked neatly along the wall.
Louis glanced around briefly before asking, "I hope we aren't late."
The woman smiled. "Not at all. In fact, we were just testing a new makeup product." Her tone remained calm and professional. "It's good that you arrived on time."
She clapped her hands twice.
Two young women stepped forward immediately. Both were stylishly dressed and carried small makeup kits.
"These girls will assist Mr. Mo Fei in preparing for the shoot."
Louis nodded. "Thank you."
Mo Fei was just about to follow them when...
Click.
Click.
Click.
The sound of high heels echoed through the studio. Confident and just a little too dramatic.
Everyone turned instinctively.
A woman stepped into the room. She was tall and slim, dressed in a fitted black outfit that showed off her model-like proportions. Her face was beautiful in a sharp, almost dangerous way, the kind of beauty that could easily turn heads wherever she walked.
Her lips curved slightly. "Ah." Her voice was sweet enough to drip like honey. "Isn't this Mo Fei?"
Mo Fei raised his head slowly and their eyes met.
The staff member beside him looked surprised.
"Ah, Qing Mi, you're here?" The woman said
Qing Mi gave a graceful little shrug as she walked further inside. "Of course." Her smile widened slightly. "I heard Xi's beauty hired a fallen model to test their new makeup product." She tilted her head just a little. "How could I possibly miss such entertainment?"
The room went awkwardly quiet. Some staff pretended to suddenly become very interested in makeup brushes.
Mo Fei frowned slightly. He remembered this woman.
Well… technically the original Mo Fei's memories remembered her.
Qing Mi an A-list model. Industry rival, professional hater and troublemaker when it came to Mo Fei. According to those memories, the old Mo Fei usually dealt with her by smiling politely and avoiding conflict. She was always competing with Mo Fei for campaigns and absolutely delighted whenever something went wrong in his life.
Mo Fei sighed internally. Another beautiful woman, but this one talks like she swallowed a cactus.
Qing Mi stepped closer. Her eyes scanned him slowly. "Still alive, I see." She smiled sweetly. "I was worried the scandal might've scared you into retirement."
Unfortunately for Qing Mi, the man standing here now was not that Mo Fei.
Mo Fei looked her up and down slowly. Then nodded thoughtfully. "Ah."
Qing Mi smirked. "Finally speechless?"
Mo Fei crossed his arms. "No." He tilted his head. "I was just trying to remember where I saw you before."
Qing Mi's smile stiffened.
Mo Fei snapped his fingers suddenly. "Oh right." He pointed. "You were the one who lost that fragrance campaign last year."
The makeup artist behind them choked on air.
Louis slowly covered his face and immediately developed a headache.
Qing Mi's eye twitched. "That campaign was... "
Mo Fei raised a hand. "Wait wait."
He squinted like he was studying her carefully. "Oh I remember now." He nodded seriously. "You were the backup model."
Silence fell. A heavy dangerous beautiful silence.
Qing Mi's sweet smile cracked slightly. "Mo Fei!."
Mo Fei blinked innocently. "Yes?"
Her eyes narrowed. "I heard you just came out of the hospital."
"Yes."
"Did they also replace your brain while you were there?"
A few staff members gasped quietly.
Mo Fei hummed thoughtfully. "Hmm. You know…" He leaned slightly closer. "They might have." Mo Fei shrugged casually. "Because suddenly I've developed a strong allergy to nonsense."
A makeup brush fell somewhere behind them.
Mo Fei continued, "I heard snakes usually stay quiet during daylight."
Qing Mi's smile stiffened. "…Excuse me?"
Mo Fei looked genuinely confused. "You're speaking so early in the morning. I was just surprised."
Louis slowly covered his face. We're dead.
Qing Mi narrowed her eyes. "You really have the audacity to speak like this after your scandal?"
Mo Fei shrugged.
Qing Mi gasped softly. "You!... " Qing Mi's eye twitched. Louis considered faking a heart attack.
Qing Mi crossed her arms. "You think this shoot means you're back?"
Mo Fei nodded.
Her jaw tightened. "You're shameless."
Mo Fei smiled politely. "Thank you."
Qing Mi scoffed at him, her perfectly maintained smile hanging by a thread, clearly trying to decide whether to continue the fight or throw a shoe.
Meanwhile Mo Fei stood across from her looking completely unbothered, as if verbal combat was just another morning hobby.
But someone else had been watching the entire exchange. The Xi's beauty representative. The woman who had welcomed them earlier. She had remained silent through the entire back-and-forth, but now a small, amused smile briefly escaped her lips. Then she cleared her throat lightly.
The smile vanished as quickly as it appeared. Her professional expression returned like a mask snapping back into place.
"Qing Mi." Her voice was calm. "Mo Fei is a special guest of Xi's beauty today." She clasped her hands politely. "If you've finished your shoot, please excuse us."
The temperature in the room dropped several degrees. Qing Mi stiffened. Even she knew when to stop. Xi's beauty was not a brand you casually offended.
She forced a tight smile then glared at Mo Fei. "This isn't over, Mo Fei."
Mo Fei immediately brightened. He raised his hand cheerfully and waved. "Bye bye."
The casual wave almost broke Qing Mi's composure. For a split second she looked like she might actually cry from pure rage. Instead she huffed loudly, spun around, and stormed out of the studio with her heels clicking like gunshots.
The Xi's beauty representative slowly turned to face Mo Fei. "And as for you…"
Mo Fei's confident smile disappeared instantly.
"…Get to work." Her tone was flat.
And with that, she turned and walked out as well. Louis stepped closer and shook his head slowly. "You just fought with Qing Mi before your first comeback shoot." Louis sighed. "I'll wait here."
Mo Fei nodded.
The two assistants approached him again. "This way, Mr. Mo Fei." They guided him toward the studio room.
Inside the room, the bright lights from the mirrors made everything feel warmer and slightly theatrical. Mo Fei sat in the tall makeup chair while the two young makeup artists stood on either side of him, carefully preparing brushes and palettes.
One leaned in and began applying foundation along his jawline. The other adjusted the lighting and studied his face with professional focus.
For a moment, everything was quiet. Until Mo Fei tilted his head slightly.
The first makeup artist paused. "Please don't move."
"I'm not," Mo Fei said quickly. But he was still staring at them.
The second artist noticed and raised a brow. "Is something wrong?"
Mo Fei shook his head. "No, no."
He leaned forward slightly, studying them like a curious scientist. "You two are really beautiful."
The brush in the first artist's hand froze. The second artist blinked.
Mo Fei, "Very symmetrical faces."
The first artist coughed. "Mr. Mo Fei, please stay still."
Mo Fei looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled. "Your eyes are really pretty."
The second artist almost dropped the compact powder, the two women exchanged a quick glance, their cheeks were already starting to turn pink.
Mo Fei leaned back in the chair casually.
The first artist suddenly laughed. "You're really different now."
Mo Fei, "In what way?"
The two artists exchanged another look. The second one smiled sweetly. "Well… for one thing…" She dabbed powder lightly on his cheek. "You're still very handsome."
Mo Fei nodded proudly. "True."
Then she finished the sentence. "But now everyone hates you."
Mo Fei's smile froze.
The first artist nodded solemnly. "Yes."
She shook her head in mock sadness. "What a shame." Then she sighed dramatically. "I personally don't blame the fiancée lady."
Mo Fei slowly turned his head. "…What?"
The second artist added helpfully, "I mean… who could resist your charms?" She gestured vaguely at his face.
Mo Fei stared at the mirror. His brain went completely blank.
Then his expression slowly twisted. Damn that original body owner. Mo Fei mentally cursed him in every language he knew. You absolute disaster of a man, you ruined my reputation before I even got here. He leaned back in the chair and groaned internally. How am I supposed to flirt successfully with fine women now when the entire internet thinks I steal fiancées like a hobby?
Mo Fei sighed deeply. His reputation had been turned into a crown. A very ugly crown and he had to wear it.
The first artist suddenly tapped his cheek.
"Don't frown. You'll ruin the foundation."
Mo Fei stared at her. "…My love life is already ruined."
The second artist laughed. "Well…".She picked up a brush. "At least your face isn't."
Mo Fei sighed again. "Small comfort."
At Tianyu Entertainment, the dressing room was unusually quiet. Sima Li stood in front of a mirror, adjusting the collar of his jacket while humming happily to himself.
The tune was light and catchy.
It was his own song. The latest single he had released two weeks ago.
The one currently dominating every music chart in the country. And apparently he had no intention of letting anyone forget it.
Sima Li swayed slightly as he hummed the chorus again, admiring his reflection. "Mm... not bad."
Then he hummed louder. Just as he reached the best part, the door opened.
A man walked in. It was Nil, Zhang Yichen's manager. He looked tired, the kind of tired only someone who managed the most difficult superstar in the industry could understand.
Nil pinched the bridge of his nose. "The song is already everywhere, Sima Li." His voice carried the exhaustion of a thousand sleepless nights. "Hearing it from you personally is giving me a headache."
Sima Li scoffed loudly. "You are an old man, what do you know about good music?" He hummed the melody even louder out of spite
Nil's eye twitched. Old man? He felt something crack inside his soul. I'm just thirty, thirty! How is that old?!
Before he could retaliate, the door opened again and a tall figure walked in. The temperature in the room immediately dropped five degrees.
Zhang Yichen expression was calm. "Are you done?" His voice was low. "I don't have all day."
Sima Li turned immediately, his face lighting up like a mischievous child. "Chenchen!"
The nickname echoed through the room. Nil sucked in a breath. Because only one person in the world dared call Zhang Yichen that. Sima Li.
Zhang Yichen's gaze hardened instantly. The word Chenchen seemed to physically offend him.
Sima Li, however, was fearless. He continued adjusting his jacket casually. "It takes a lot of effort to look pretty and graceful for my fans." He examined his hair in the mirror again. "Not everyone is like you." He waved a hand lazily. "You just splash water on your face and somehow become glossy."
Zhang Yichen sat down in one of the chairs with quiet elegance. "Enough with the song already." His tone carried clear annoyance. "You'll be performing it for the next few months. I'm already sick of it."
Sima Li's hand moved dramatically to his chest, his expression filled with deep betrayal. He staggered backward like someone who had just been stabbed and looked toward the ceiling in despair. "My own best friend attacking my art, you wound me."
Nil rolled his eyes so hard he nearly saw another dimension. "You've been humming that same chorus for three hours."
Sima Li pointed accusingly at him. "Silence, old man."
Nil clenched his fists. "I AM THIRTY!!!"
Zhang Yichen ignored both of them.
Instead he picked up the script lying on the table beside him and flipped it open calmly.