Chapter 19 Exposing

Chapter 19: Unmasked

Qi Yun seized her arm, his eyes blazing with menace. “If you breathe a word of this to anyone, I’ll make you wish you’d never been born!”

Hearing that, Su Mi nearly laughed aloud. Where did these overbearing CEOs get their confidence? Did they seriously think they were that intimidating?

“Burglary and threats to personal safety—Mr. Qi should know exactly how the law punishes those crimes,” Su Mi said coolly, glancing at his grip on her arm. In one swift motion, she raised her leg and delivered a hard kick straight into his stomach. “And let’s add one more charge: sexual harassment!”

She moved too fast for him to react. By the time Qi Yun registered what had happened, he was already staggering backward—three, four steps—his temples pulsing with fury as his patience snapped.

“Sir!” The bodyguards instantly stepped forward, ready to confront Su Mi.

Lin Yue glanced at the muddy footprint now marring Qi Yun’s suit jacket, his expression unreadable. “Mr. Qi’s capabilities… are truly eye-opening.”

That remark ignited Qi Yun’s first real flash of anger. His gaze turned glacial, and the look he leveled at the two of them grew increasingly venomous.

“Therefore,” Lin Yue continued, twisting open a bottle of water, “I have serious doubts about your company’s competence regarding the West Suburb project. Let’s terminate our cooperation.”

Su Mi spun around and slapped him—*crack!*—a sharp, stinging blow. “You’re just as despicable!”

Without another word, she strode out of the training room.

Only the manager remained, drenched in cold sweat. The internal feuds among wealthy families were terrifyingly convoluted—and Miss Su? Frighteningly formidable.

After leaving the training center, Su Mi climbed into her car and headed home, refusing to waste another breath on those two arrogant fools.

She’d always sensed something off about that trainer. It wasn’t until she saw him standing beside the male lead today that everything clicked into place.

Both men radiated the same condescending arrogance—the kind that treated others’ well-being as irrelevant. Apparently, that air of entitlement was standard issue for domineering CEOs.

She’d wondered why a personal trainer was busier than she was—and so negligent in his duties. It made no sense. Now it all fell into place—including why Sister Zhou had been so unusually polite last time.

Since that person knew the scumbag’s true identity yet chose not to tell her, wasn’t that effectively siding with the enemy? With someone like that around, she could be betrayed tomorrow without even realizing it.

Still, she didn’t want to condemn him outright—so she called to ask what was really going on.

Hearing that she already knew, the voice on the other end sounded distinctly uneasy. “I’m sorry, Miss. This is my fault. I assumed it was a private matter of yours and wasn’t sure whether I should intervene. I reported it to the Chairman immediately. He instructed me only to keep an eye on you—and to inform you right away if Mr. Lin showed any improper intentions. But… none of us anticipated how things would develop between you and Mr. Lin, so we didn’t dare interfere in your relationship without explicit authorization.”

It was a carefully worded explanation. Anyone who’d risen to senior executive status couldn’t possibly be foolish. Su Mi didn’t press further—even though she knew he’d stayed silent to avoid offending powerful people. After all, she wasn’t his direct superior; reporting to her father first was perfectly reasonable.

Her father had remained silent—likely observing the situation closely. More importantly, Su Ruanruan had married Qi Xi, meaning the Qi family’s backing gave her greater leverage. And if Su Mi ended up with Lin Yue, her father would need to weigh that carefully in the future—and couldn’t afford to show blatant favoritism.

Judging by Sister Zhou’s wariness, Lin Yue must come from an extraordinary background.

Though her father’s intentions were good, everyone viewed things through their own lens. Anything obtained by relying on a man could just as easily be lost because of a man.

In this world, self-reliance was the only certainty. Wealth depended on one’s own capability and value—not fleeting connections.

Yet she couldn’t blame her father for underestimating her. The elite world had always been murky. They believed that even if they handed her immense wealth, she might not be able to hold onto it. Better, then, to secure support early.

What they didn’t realize was that such support could backfire. In this world, even family couldn’t always be trusted—let alone outsiders.

Back home, she asked Sister Zhou to send her Lin Yue’s background information, then searched online for competition videos of the trainer, Li Yi.

The videos showed a man with dark skin and a solid, athletic build. His skills were undeniably exceptional—aggressive, ruthless, technically flawless—completely unlike Lin Yue’s teaching style.

Lin Yue had focused almost exclusively on self-defense techniques, while Coach Li Yi in the videos emphasized offense. Clearly, he possessed genuine mastery—no wonder he’d won five consecutive world championships. He bore no resemblance whatsoever to those two frauds.

The contract had been signed under Li Yi’s name—which meant Li Yi knew full well that Lin Yue was impersonating him to train her. That kind of bait-and-switch constituted a serious breach of contract.

Su Mi instructed the butler to go to the training center and demand a full refund—every single cent of the three million yuan.

“Miss, are you giving up training?” the butler asked, clearly startled.

Miss Su clearly possessed exceptional combat talent. Quitting now seemed like a terrible waste. Besides, only one month remained in the course—how could they possibly issue a refund?

“Don’t waste words with them. If the three million isn’t returned within twenty-four hours, take the contract and sue Li Yi,” Su Mi said, closing her eyes in the back seat of the car.

According to the penalty clause, they could be liable for twenty million yuan in damages. She was asking for only three million back—she was being remarkably lenient.

Hearing that, the butler dared say nothing more and simply nodded in agreement.

At the airport, after clearing security, Su Mi reviewed the information Sister Zhou had sent.

Lin Yue—CEO of Huamao Group, sole direct grandson of the Lin family. Because his father devoted himself to painting, Lin Yue had been raised under his grandfather’s guidance from childhood to learn the business. Exceptionally capable, he achieved remarkable profit growth within three years of assuming leadership—making him a standout among his generation.

That was all Sister Zhou could uncover. Su Mi didn’t want to put her in a difficult position—the inner workings of elite families weren’t easy for just anyone to penetrate.

There was no mention of him in the original story either. Yet a domineering CEO from such privileged origins—instead of focusing on his career—had personally come to teach her martial arts?

Don’t talk about love at first sight—that was just lust. Besides, she wasn’t so stunningly beautiful that men couldn’t tear their eyes away from her.

Only one possibility remained: he wanted to get close to her, gradually infiltrate and absorb the Su Group—exactly as the antagonist had planned.

No wonder that scumbag kept trying to seduce her subtly. Modern corporate warfare really was underhanded.

She should’ve kicked him a few more times. What a waste.

Just after landing, she received a call from the butler: the training center manager had refunded the money—and offered profuse apologies.

They also confirmed they’d already engaged a lawyer to file charges against Qi Yun for unlawful entry—and vowed she would receive justice this time.

Hearing all that, Su Mi felt utterly unmoved. This was just the usual tactic of such scumbags—to frame the deception as unintentional, giving them an excuse to keep drawing near and advancing their schemes.

She quickly located the scumbag’s WeChat and sent him a message:

“Mr. Lin has an impressive physique. I’ll request your services again next time.”

Block and delete him?

Absolutely not. That would be a knee-jerk reaction. Why should *she* be angry when *she* was the one paying? Hiring a high-end male model at an upscale club cost at least 100,000 yuan. This one’s quality was acceptable—and most importantly, it was for the experience.

Soon, a reply popped up on her phone:

“I’m always available to be your punching bag.”

Su Mi glanced at it, then switched off her phone. This kind of flattery only worked on naive youngsters. Trusting men brought lifelong misfortune. Next time she saw these scumbags, she’d beat them all up together.

It was already 9 p.m. when she returned to the hotel. She still had to attend her acting class—and then head to the gym for training. What she lacked now was practical experience; having a formal instructor no longer mattered.

So the bodyguards her father had sent proved unexpectedly useful. Ostensibly there to protect her, they were in reality surveillance assets—useless at their official duty, but perfect for her to practice on.

Yet the next day, upon arriving at the film set, she noticed the atmosphere was unnervingly tense. Cheng Yu wore a thick bandage wrapped tightly around his left ear, and Shi Xue hobbled on crutches, rehearsing choreography with the action director.

She’d only taken two days off. Had there been an accident on set?

“What happened to your leg?” she asked, walking over while chewing on a steamed bun.

At that, Shi Xue’s expression immediately shifted—awkward, hesitant. She glanced in a certain direction, then lowered her head helplessly. “I accidentally twisted my ankle during yesterday’s group scene. It shouldn’t be serious—and it won’t affect filming.”

The movie set was never short of gossip, and Su Mi didn't pry. Instead, she found a spot to eat her breakfast, while her female assistant kept talking nonstop about what had happened on set over the past two days.

It turned out the production had hired a veteran actor to guest-star as the elusive major villain. This veteran was once an A-list star and held considerable status within the industry, so everyone on set showed him great reverence.

Unfortunately, he was very demanding. During a fight scene yesterday, he insisted on not using wires, instead demanding to be kicked and sent flying several meters for realism. Unsurprisingly, Cheng Yu injured his ear on a wooden nail, and Shi Xue sprained her ankle. Yet, no one dared to utter a word of complaint.

Acting is one thing, but risking one's life is another. Refusing to use wires is practically no different from attempted murder. Yet, even the director remained silent, clearly unwilling to offend this veteran, given his seniority and capital connections.

The entertainment industry is just like that—a strict hierarchy, and those at the bottom of the food chain are the ones who suffer.

Some veteran actors are indeed dedicated, but others simply enjoy throwing their weight around. They believe that with their age and experience, everyone should listen to and respect them—much like those old men in the Su family. Moreover, they are easily offended and incredibly thin-skinned.

Before the day's shoot even started, a loud voice boomed across the set, "A single scene and you're dragging your feet? You couldn't get it right after a whole day, and now you want to use a stunt double? I have to say, you young people nowadays are getting more and more pampered. Back in our day, we'd jump from three stories high without batting an eye. And now you're using stunt doubles? What kind of nonsense is this!"

Su Mi glanced over at the person in a black robe barking orders at the action director. She raised her hand to stop the makeup artist, then picked up her script and walked over.

"But Shi Xue has sprained her ankle. We've already cut quite a few later scenes. If anything else goes wrong, it will affect our schedule and waste your valuable time," the action director said with a pained expression.

Zhao Ming scowled, "A sprain and you can't shoot? Back in our day, we kept filming with broken ribs. If you can't handle a little hardship, go shoot those lovey-dovey dramas instead. What are you doing here causing trouble?"

Hearing this, Shi Xue immediately limped forward, "Teacher Zhao is right. It's not that bad. Let's not use a stunt double."

The action director glanced at the deputy director, who was pretending not to hear, and reluctantly said, "Then I'll fit you with a wire rig. If it doesn't work, don't force it."

"No way! If you use wires, they'll be visible. Besides, there are mats below. Why would you need wires?" Zhao Ming retorted dismissively, looking up at the inn's second floor.

The action director opened his mouth to protest, "But..."

"Come on! He's old, let him jump!"

Su Mi strode forward and said to the other crew, "Don't give him wires later either. Teacher Zhao is so dedicated—we should respect and understand that."

Seeing her approach, Zhao Ming seemed wary but still frowned, "How is that the same? How do I fly up without wires?"

"How is it different?" Su Mi feigned surprise. "I remember the seniors back in the day had real martial arts skills—they could scale a wall with just a kick. What, you can't do that?"

"Cough—"

The crew struggled to hold back their laughter, almost failing to contain themselves.

After working together so long, they had always thought Su Mi was a humble, polite person with connections, since she worked hard, was dedicated, and treated everyone courteously. She often bought milk tea for extras, but they never expected this side to her.

"You..." Zhao Ming's expression shifted, but remembering she was a connection brought in by the investor, he ultimately swallowed his words and went to discuss the script with the director.

"Get the stunt double," Su Mi immediately pointed at a crew member.

Shi Xue hobbled forward on her crutches, her face filled with gratitude, "I'll do it myself. Using wires shouldn't be a problem."

Su Mi never attended crew gatherings and usually kept a polite distance, so Shi Xue never expected her to stand up for her against a senior like Teacher Zhao.

"Do as you see fit," Su Mi didn't say more and turned back to her seat for touch-ups.

She simply couldn't stand certain old-timers who flaunted their seniority, incapable themselves yet demanding perfection from others.

Fortunately, this old-timer was only on set for five days, as his role was small.

Thankfully, he caused no more trouble, and everyone's scenes proceeded smoothly. In another month, filming would wrap up.

In two months, during Elder Qi's birthday, given her skill, she was confident she could break through the male lead's bodyguards and beat him up. Triggering the mission wasn't a concern—with that idiot Male Lead Two around, she'd have no trouble. Nothing good ever came from his mouth.

She now had 190 luck points. A few more major missions and she'd likely surpass the female lead. But the core was her own ability. Now that everyone was on guard, acting out had become much harder.

Fortunately, that dog Lin Yue knew better than to harass her again, though she secretly hoped he would. She felt confident she could take him down now.

As filming neared its end, the director asked her to attend a dinner. The drama had been pre-sold to a TV station, and this was to build relations with its executives, secure a good time slot, and coordinate future promotions on their channel.

Out of respect for the director's sincerity, Su Mi agreed. She had backing, but couldn't neglect all relationships. Normal give-and-take was fine, but if things turned toxic, she wouldn't hesitate to flip the table.

After the night shoot, she went to the hotel with Cheng Yu and other leads. The private room was already packed. Sister Zhou was abroad and couldn't accompany her, so she told Su Mi to text every five minutes—better safe than sorry.

"This must be our female lead! A real rising star. Director Li has an eye for talent!" an investor said earnestly, raising his glass.

The director smiled modestly, "Not at all, it's thanks to everyone's support that we can achieve good results."

Su Mi politely greeted everyone and then sat down to eat, ignoring the offered drinks. Showing up was giving face—did they expect her to drink with them? That was asking too much.

Seeing her disinterest, the others awkwardly set down their glasses, seemingly aware of her background and not daring to push.

Soon, a man in a black suit, exuding a refined demeanor, walked in. Everyone immediately stood up.

"Isn't this President Pei? No one said you'd join us. Had we known, we'd have booked a larger room," one investor said, quickly extending his hand.

The others were startled, then glanced at the organizer as if understanding. Tonight's gathering had ulterior motives—they just didn't know for which beauty. Or perhaps Cheng Yu—people nowadays played all sorts of games.

"I was dining next door and heard President Zhang was here, so I thought I'd say hello," Pei Yun said with a faint smile.

Despite his words, he sat down beside Su Mi. Immediately, someone handed him a glass.

"Since President Pei is here, we must drink until we drop. You know how rare it is to see you."

The lively room intensified. The other two actresses sat unsure, only awkwardly toasting Pei Yun at the end.

Only Su Mi remained unmoved, eating the skewers she'd brought, as if she hadn't touched the table's dishes.

"Miss Su seems to have a prejudice against me?" Pei Yun leaned slightly closer.

Last time, he'd only asked a question, and she'd slapped him. He refused to believe she was unhinged, so he must have offended her.

Yet, no one had ever dared hit him before.

Feeling him approach, Su Mi frowned slightly. This creep was like a piece of sticky plaster. But nothing could be done—until her luck surpassed the female lead's, the plot wouldn't change, and this creep would keep delusionally showering her with warmth.

More unfortunately, he wasn't that idiot Male Lead Two, or she could trigger missions and gain luck points from him.

"I have a strong prejudice against men who are both short and small," Su Mi said without changing her expression.

Instantly, everyone looked at her. No matter their composure, they couldn't hide their shock.

President Pei... at his age, already...

Pei Yun's eyes flickered. He coughed lightly, still smiling, "I don't understand."

She glanced at him, "Oh, I almost forgot—I also have a prejudice against three-second men."

"Cough, cough, cough—"

The room erupted in coughs. No matter how quick-witted, no one knew how to smooth things over. It seemed no one had expected them to know each other.

Pei Yun wasn't angry. He raised an eyebrow slightly, "Are you talking about me?"

Su Mi blinked, "Sorry, I was talking about the male model I hired a couple of days ago—all looks and no substance, a total waste of my money."

Conventionally, it's often believed that when a woman sleeps with a man, it's the woman's reputation that suffers. But in reality, if you have enough clout, even if you hire ten male models right out in the open, people will still praise your good taste.

"Cough, cough—" Even Cheng Yu found himself choking on his drink.

"I have an early shoot tomorrow, so I'll take my leave now. Enjoy the rest of your meal," she said with a smile as she stood up, then turned to the other two actresses. "Are you coming with me?"

Seeing a chance to escape, the other two quickly rose to their feet and repeatedly apologized to the producer.

Watching this scene, the others didn't know what to say. In fact, they had vaguely heard rumors that Su Mi was the Su family's eldest daughter. But everyone knew the Su family only had one daughter—Su Ruanruan. They'd heard this one had just been brought back, though no one was quite sure of the details.

Still, it seemed this Miss Su had it out for Mr. Pei. An ordinary person definitely wouldn't dare to mouth off like that.

After leaving the private room, Su Mi headed to the restroom, while the other two insisted on waiting for her to go back together.

When she came out after washing her hands, she saw Pei Yun standing in the corridor, his handsome, well-defined features wearing a faint smile. The other two were waiting for her at a distance.

"What do you want?" she frowned slightly.

Did he really think he was that good-looking?

The man's brow twitched slightly. "I'm not sure where I've offended you, Miss Su. I believe there must be some misunderstanding between us."

Su Mi stepped forward, studying his puzzled expression. Those peach-blossom eyes were now entirely focused on her—this must be how the original host was bewitched.

"Your face falls squarely within my aesthetic no-go zone and seriously affects my mood. So please stay away from me, or I can't guarantee I won't do something shocking," she said with a serious expression.

Their eyes met, and Pei Yun suddenly grabbed her arm, a flicker of madness flashing in his gaze. "But I find you very interesting, Miss Su."

Glancing at his hand, Su Mi slowly curved her lips into a smile. "If you can't understand human language, then I'm pretty handy with my fists."