After a Scheming Woman Is Bound to a Truth System

Mi Nuo was a 24-karat, textbook schemer. She was breathtakingly beautiful, and with her unmatched talent for selling illusions, she toyed with naïve, idealistic CEOs, leaving a trail of broken hearts behind her without a shred of guilt. Her ultimate goal was clear: win the Best Actress crown by the age of twenty-five, make a fortune in the process, then retire at the peak of her fame—becoming a rich, empty, unapologetically bad woman with nothing but money to her name. The second hand of her solid gold watch ticked softly against her wrist. Midnight passed. She curved her red lips into a faint smile, right on cue, as she heard the words she had been waiting for: “Miss Mi, happy birthday. Have you decided what you’d like as your gift?” Without betraying a trace of emotion, Mi Nuo assessed the man across from her. Sapphire cufflinks. A custom-made suit worth a small fortune. Eyes that avoided hers yet flickered with unmistakable interest. Every gesture screamed nouveau riche—and hopelessly smitten. This was her target. If she secured this man, she would enter the cast of Diverging Paths. A project of the year. An internationally renowned director. A top-tier production team. Land the female lead, and the major awards were practically guaranteed. The finish line was in sight. Her mental abacus clicked sharply as she lifted a hand under the restaurant’s dim, intimate lighting, brushing aside her glossy, softly curled black hair, exposing just enough of her slender, fragile neck. “Brother Shen… forget it.” She sighed gently, biting her lip with practiced restraint. “Even though you’re a producer, there are things beyond your control. My reputation hasn’t been great lately. I don’t want to put you in a difficult position—especially not by asking for something on my birthday.” The man frowned, clearly pained. Seizing the moment, Mi Nuo continued, “I do have another script on hand. A supporting role in an action film. I actually like it quite a bit.” Her words were light, but her eyes were heavy with an inescapable sorrow. The man’s heart softened instantly. “But you have a waist injury. You shouldn’t be doing wire work so casually.” “It’s fine,” she said softly. “As long as you’re paying attention to me, that’s enough.” She covered her nose lightly, her eyes shimmering as if on the verge of tears. “I don’t care about fame or money. I just want people to recognize me. Winning awards would be wonderful—but even if I don’t, that’s okay. I only want to be worthy of you.” He hesitated. “But… we’ve only met twice.” “Shh…” She raised a finger to her lips while her other hand slid onto the back of his hand, stroking it slowly, deliberately. “Do you believe in love at first sight?” Their eyes met. Her brows knit faintly. The man’s suppressed emotions finally broke free. Forgetting his family’s warnings and abandoning rational restraint, he grabbed her hand tightly. “I do! I believe it! I’ll take care of the trending scandal for you—have it wiped completely!” “Really?” “Even if it means falling out with my family, I’ll secure the investment myself!” Too young. Far too young. Mi Nuo covered her mouth, feigning gratitude, her dark eyes glistening like freshly washed glass. Under her repeated, soft calls of “Brother,” the man lost himself completely. In less than ten minutes, they were talking about forever—planning their future, even discussing where to buy a house together. Their voices grew excited, unguarded, and every word carried clearly to the other side of the partition. At a neighboring table, laden with gourmet dishes, a girl in a white dress sat distracted. She picked up a single cherry tomato with her fork, her attention fixed entirely on the conversation next door. “President He,” she said quietly, “don’t these lines sound familiar?” The man addressed wore a black shirt, his features cool and restrained. He set down his cutlery and wiped his lips with a napkin. “Yes.” They did sound familiar. Half a month ago, on his way home, he had overheard an equally absurd confession. The same soft, cloying voice. The same carefully rehearsed lines. The same empty promises. Even the sighs were identical. Now she was using the script word for word—on his younger brother. Bold. Leaning back in his chair, He Moshen casually rotated the watch on his wrist. Behind the partition, Mi Nuo was still talking nonstop, subtly urging him to hurry the decision on casting the female lead. “Once I finish filming this project and my reputation improves, we can go public.” He Moshen raised an eyebrow. “Really?” the man exclaimed, jumping to his feet. “Then I’ll go talk to my brother—no, to the investors—right away!” The conversation finally ended. The man left first, visibly elated. Out of professional habit, Mi Nuo lingered for another ten minutes to ensure no paparazzi caught them together. Objective achieved. And she had enjoyed her favorite filet steak for free. Double happiness. She slipped on her sunglasses, stepped into her heels, and hummed lightly as she headed out—only to turn and find a girl in a white dress watching her with an unreadable, half-smiling expression. Mi Nuo tensed instantly, her mind racing. Paparazzi? Rival? Random passerby? From her angle, she couldn’t see the man behind the partition. She only noticed that the girl was well dressed, with a beauty mark by her lips that gave her an elegant, playful charm. Believing that wealthy connections were always worth cultivating, Mi Nuo walked over first. “What are you staring at?” she asked casually. “Want an autograph?” The girl froze, then looked at the man in the black shirt, her eyes clearly asking: She doesn’t remember you? Mi Nuo followed her gaze and spotted the man partially hidden by greenery. He looked… vaguely familiar. She rubbed her chin, thinking hard. “You are…?” He Moshen lifted one eyebrow slightly. “Brother g**g?” “…No.” Wrong person. Mi Nuo smoothly brushed back her curls. “Ah, too many friends. Easy to mix them up.” She smiled at the girl. “How about you? Want an autograph too?” The man remained silent. Probably shy. Determined to salvage her rapidly declining public image, Mi Nuo decided to start small—by being approachable, by being good to fans. She sat down beside him and offered generously, “Let’s take a photo together.” Encouraged repeatedly by Mi Nuo, the girl finally raised her phone. “Brother, smile.” Click. The camera captured a flawless frame: a glamorous star and an impatient man, perfectly proportioned. Standing up, Mi Nuo even made a heart gesture toward them before leaving—an exemplary display of fan service. The moment she stepped out of the restaurant, her bright smile vanished. She climbed into her van, kicked off her heels, and before she could complain to her manager— A bolt of lightning came crashing down. Everyone else was unharmed. Only Mi Nuo sat there, smoke drifting from her mouth.