Chapter 1: Don’t Even Think About Making a Comeback!

"So you're Su Chen, right? Take this check for a hundred thousand and make sure you never see Yanran again."

In Hang City, inside a tastefully furnished apartment, a man and a woman sat face-to-face on the living room sofa.

The woman wore business attire, her makeup heavy and her features sharp, a certain harshness etched into her expression.

Glancing at the check she’d casually placed on the coffee table, Su Chen let out a bitter smile. "Sister Yuan, you really live up to your reputation as the industry's top agent. Even breaking up with Lin Yanran requires you to pull out all the stops."

Indeed, the woman before him was none other than Xu Fangyuan—his girlfriend Lin Yanran’s agent.

Xu Fangyuan sneered, "Yanran is at a critical stage in her career. She doesn’t have time for trivial matters like this."

"Heh, or perhaps she just doesn’t have the courage to face me."

"Enough, Su Chen! No need for sarcasm. You know exactly what I mean. This money isn’t a gift!" Xu Fangyuan said as she pulled a confidentiality agreement from her bag and tossed it onto the table.

"The company is building a pure image for Yanran. A relationship with you would be a scandal, one that must never come to light."

"This matter must be buried for good!"

"A scandal?" Su Chen laughed at himself.

Xu Fangyuan raised an eyebrow. "Isn’t it? With Yanran’s current popularity, she’s on par with top singers—she might even become a superstar! And what are you? Just a nameless, penniless songwriter!"

"There are countless nobodies like you in this industry. Your absence won’t change a thing!"

"Without Yanran, who would sing your songs? Without her, you couldn’t even afford a meal!"

Arms crossed, Xu Fangyuan’s every word was laced with contempt.

"It’s only because Yanran is kind that she’s letting you keep this apartment. Don’t cling to her any longer!"

"Letting me keep the apartment?" Instead of getting angry at her taunts, Su Chen merely chuckled.

How true it was—no matter the world, only money and status mattered.

Su Chen was, in fact, someone who had crossed over from a parallel world.

In his previous life, he’d been a singer, well-acquainted with the entertainment industry’s dazzling yet sordid reality, where relationships were just transactions. It disgusted him.

In this life, he’d met Lin Yanran and, mistaking her for his entire world, dreamed simply of spending his days with her.

She didn’t want to cook, so he cooked.

She didn’t want to wash dishes, so he washed them.

She wanted a place of her own, so Su Chen worked tirelessly to save for the down payment on this apartment—putting it in her name.

When she whimsically declared she wanted to enter show business, he wrote songs for her without a second thought.

All to help Lin Yanran realize her dream of becoming a superstar.

Now, having risen to fame on the songs he gave her, the first thing she did was kick him aside?

How utterly absurd!

"Su Chen, end this with dignity. Don’t waste my time," Xu Fangyuan said impatiently.

Her words pulled Su Chen from his memories, as if waking from a long dream.

He looked at her and spoke calmly, "Of course. But since the apartment was my gift to her, there’s no need for her to use it to patronize me."

Xu Fangyuan was momentarily stunned; she hadn’t expected her little lapdog to agree so readily—or to refuse the apartment!

So stubborn—he’d rather suffer than lose face. Fool.

"Fine, I respect your choice," Xu Fangyuan replied perfunctorily, immediately offering him the confidentiality agreement with a smile.

"Let me briefly explain the terms: you must not reveal, in any form, that you and Yanran were ever in a relationship—"

"Wait. Who said I was signing this?" Su Chen hadn’t reached for the agreement.

Xu Fangyuan’s heart skipped a beat. She softened her tone. "Su Chen, you and Yanran may be over, but you once loved each other. Surely you want what’s best for her."

"Take the hundred thousand. If it’s not enough, we can negotiate."

She coaxed him gently, pushing the check into his hands.

Seeing him accept it, Xu Fangyuan sneered inwardly.

So that’s why he refused the apartment—he wants more money! Disgusting.

But to her surprise, Su Chen immediately tore the check to pieces.

"I won’t sign your agreement. I’m not so desperate as to sell my privacy for cash."

"But if I ever do want to talk about this, that’s my business. Don’t worry—I’m not as despicable as you."

"Sometimes I wonder—the difference between people can be greater than that between a person and a dog. Truly laughable."

With that, Su Chen stood and walked to the door.

Just before opening it, he paused.

"And, could you do me a favor, Sister Yuan? Tell Lin Yanran something for me."

"I hope she won’t regret this."

He shut the door behind him and left.

On the sofa, Xu Fangyuan cursed, "Regret? If anyone should regret, it’s you!"

"Lucky fool—being Yanran’s ex is probably the greatest honor you’ll ever know, something you can brag about for a lifetime!"

Her face twisted with rage; she’d never met someone so ungrateful.

After collecting herself for a few minutes, Xu Fangyuan left the apartment, took the elevator to the underground parking lot, and walked to a pink Cayenne parked in the corner. She opened the driver’s door and got in.

Sitting in the passenger seat was a young woman dressed in a forest-girl style, pure and delicate as a painting. Anxiously, she asked, "Did he agree?"

Xu Fangyuan rolled her eyes. "Yes, and without hesitation."

"Impossible... He wouldn’t be so heartless!" The girl’s heart clenched.

Xu Fangyuan looked at her seriously. "Lin Yanran, Su Chen is just a passerby in your life. You deserve better."

"Besides, he didn’t sign the confidentiality agreement. Do you know what that means? He could betray you at any moment!"

Lin Yanran protested instinctively, "Sister Yuan, Su Chen isn’t like that..."

Xu Fangyuan sighed. "You’re too naive. In this world, you can’t afford not to be cautious."

"Luckily, I saw through his dark, scheming nature and made preparations."

She continued calmly, "Just now, I had the company release a statement: your songwriter Su Chen pursued you obsessively during work, and when you refused him, he turned spiteful and tried to slander you."

"Even if he tries to expose anything, the internet trolls I’ve hired will crush him instantly. No one will believe a word he says!"

Lin Yanran’s eyes widened. "Sister Yuan, how could you..."

"I’m just taking the initiative," Xu Fangyuan replied coldly. "Blame him for being careless—every password on his devices is your birthday. Deleting anything about you was child’s play."

"Yanran, everything I do is for your future! Only this way can your path to stardom be smooth."

Hearing this, Lin Yanran’s lips quivered, but determination soon filled her eyes, replacing all uncertainty.

Superstar—the very word was intoxicating.

"As for the remaining songs for your album, I’ll have the company commission Zhou Qiang to write them. He’s an industry-renowned songwriter—far better than Su Chen could ever be."

"Thank you, Sister Yuan."

Xu Fangyuan, seeing the resolve in Lin Yanran’s gaze, allowed herself a faint, satisfied smile.

Su Chen, don’t even dream of making a comeback.