Xiao Wang didn’t mind being Nangong Ruihui’s secretary—it was a sweet gig. Daily tasks were light, far better than dealing with Nangong Yao, who turned into a rhino when angry.

Nangong Ruihui couldn’t care less. She knew her father’s secretary well anyway. Too bad her dream of having a handsome young man as her secretary had fizzled out.

But it was still too early to dwell on this. Ruihui had no rush to enter the workforce. She genuinely enjoyed her days with Mu Yao at the academy and wasn’t keen on shaking things up.

...

Yingshengya Academy, Principal’s Office

“Xiao Xi, please don’t…”

A girl sat backward on Long Yue’s lap, boldly tickling her. Beastly crimson eyes, silver-white hair flowing down her back. Her elegant legs even outshone Long Yue’s, her whole presence radiating a maturity starkly at odds with her youthful looks.

“What’s wrong, Sister Long Yue? Don’t you like it?” The girl stopped teasing.

“It’s not that… We’re in the academy. I’m the principal, you’re a student—and we’ve barely met.”

“Fine. I’ll come bother you again when I’m bored.”

Boom—!

A punch slammed the security door, cracking a visible fissure. The girl strolled out, utterly unfazed.

*Did the Xia Clan feed you diamonds?!* Long Yue shook her head. Having such a violent girl roaming campus was a ticking time bomb. Without the Xia Clan’s backing, she’d have been expelled long ago—and Long Yue knew exactly what she’d done behind closed doors.

...

“Long Xueer~” Outside the classroom, Nangong Ruihui called Mu Yao’s stage name.

Mu Yao turned instinctively. Seeing only Ruihui behind him, he froze, flustered.

“Aha! So it *is* you—you’re the same person!”

Ruihui hadn’t thought much of the Long Xueer poster at Leji Entertainment before. But lately, the discontinued *Angel Show* magazine had resurged on campus, Long Xueer gracing every cover. Impossible to miss.

Uncannily alike—carved from the same mold. Without makeup, Long Xueer was unmistakably Mu Yao.

“Ruihui, not here. Come with me. I’ll explain.”

He pulled her under the shade of a ground-floor tree. Mu Yao deflated. He hadn’t expected her to find out so soon—he’d planned to tell her later. Truth was, he trusted Ruihui to keep his secret.

After hearing him out, Ruihui’s expression shifted instantly. Mu Yao instinctively stepped back.

“Yaoyao, you’re amazing! My fiancée’s a superstar idol~ Hehe~ Don’t worry, if you don’t want others to know, I’ll never tell.”

“Superstar? Hardly. More like a has-been.”

Leji Entertainment had launched Long Xueer’s promo campaign right after the idol reboot contract was signed—plans set days prior. No wonder Mu Yao felt the campus suddenly flooded with *Angel Show* magazines overnight.

“Can I take this as you liking me?” Ruihui placed her hands on his shoulders, gaze unwavering.

“Don’t assume. I like you. Period.”

“So idols *can* fall in love~”

“Why not? Idols deserve love too~ So… hug me now. No refusing. Mwah~”

Afraid she’d say no, the shorter Mu Yao summoned courage—and for the first time ever, pinned someone against the wall.

One hand braced on the wall, he cornered Ruihui, eyes locked: *Refuse my hug at your own peril.*

A spring breeze tousled his hair, dreamily soft. The cool air made shy Mu Yao tuck his hands into his sleeves—a blushing bud awaiting her touch.

Ruihui’s heart skipped. *Am I… turning?* Startled, she broke his gaze, flipped the script, and pinned *him* against the wall.

She lifted his right leg, leaned closer. His cheeks flushed deep crimson.

“W-what do you want?” He glanced sideways, flustered. This pose was *way* too bold.

“What do *I* want? Weren’t *you* the one begging for a hug?”

“A hug doesn’t need leg-lifting…”

“I like it this way. Problem?”

She hoisted his petite foot onto her shoulder, tilted his chin. Lips mere inches apart.

Mu Yao’s mind short-circuited. He’d only meant to tease her—now his first kiss hung by a thread. Kissing a guy mouth-to-mouth? Still hard to swallow… though Ruihui wouldn’t actually…

“Yaoyao… what *are* you hoping for?” Ruihui murmured, voice low, eyes hazy.

…

He wasn’t hoping for anything—just *please put me down!* He was about to flash someone!

Salvation came. Ruihui set him down. No further moves. His ankle glowed red from her grip.

“Satisfied?”

“Satisfied… with *what*…?”

“Hugging you~”

“Why does that sound so weird…” *She’s fishing*, he thought. *Typical guy move—asking to feel “skilled.” Weird habit.*

Straightening his collar, Ruihui asked softly, “*Angel Show* is Leji Entertainment’s magazine… so you’re their signed artist?”

“Mm~” He nodded.

“I’m sorry—but the Xia Clan behind Leji and our Nangong Clan are mortal enemies. How many years is your ‘indenture’?”

The clans had escalated from rivals to sworn foes. Lose this round, and the Nangongs would be mocked for life. In entertainment, contracts *were* indentures—tools at the company’s command. Ruihui needed to know.

“Indenture? Five years…” He didn’t feel trapped. He came and went freely.

“Sigh… you’re too naive. I know exactly what’s in that contract. Read it sometime.”

“Why ask, Ruihui?”

“To redeem you someday.”