"Pop..."

Her soft lips brushed against his cheek with a slight pressure, making a soft, ambiguous sound.

Zhu Xingye's breathing suddenly stopped, and his heartbeat seemed to skip a beat.

After kissing Zhu Jinzhao, she didn't rush back, but just stared at Zhu Xingye with longing eyes.

Zhu Xingye opened his eyes in a panic and turned his head around almost frantically.

The instant their eyes met, his missed heartbeat suddenly returned, pounding rapidly and heavily in his chest.

Zhu Jinzhao was very close to him, close enough that their breaths mingled, and that his cheeks could be warmed by her breath.

...

The one who provoked him had no intention of doing so; he was the only one caught in the chaos.

Zhu Jinzhao pursed her lips, her clear and lively eyes blinking uneasily, her distinct, curled eyelashes trembling slightly with her movements, like two insecure butterflies.

Her eyes were clear and bright, and Zhu Xingye could see his own clear reflection in them.

He hadn't expected Zhu Jinzhao to kiss him, and for a moment he didn't know how to react.

"Hehe..." Zhu Jinzhao was unaware that she had misunderstood. Seeing Zhu Xingye looking at her without saying anything, she didn't know what to do, so she could only laugh foolishly.

"Chao Chao..." Zhu Xingye's Adam's apple bobbed up and down with difficulty, his voice hoarse when he called her name.

"Yes!" Zhu Jinzhao answered loudly.

Her smile was charming and innocent, her eyes were pure, and her gaze towards Zhu Xingye was full of expectation, without any other emotion.

Zhu Xingye was stunned for a moment, then his mind gradually cleared.

Zhu Jinzhao's kiss just now was the younger sister trying to please her older brother; it didn't have any other meaning behind it.

Zhu Xingye knew perfectly well what was going on, and while he was excited, he couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

"Silly girl." He quickly composed himself, raised his hand and patted Zhu Jinzhao's head. "I asked you to massage my shoulders!"

"……ah?"

"ah……"

Zhu Jinzhao then realized that she had made a mistake. No wonder Zhu Xingye's expression was so strange just now.

"No, I'm sorry, big brother." She quickly stood up, holding onto the chair, and went behind Zhu Xingye, massaging his firm shoulders and neck with both hands.

"Hmm..." Zhu Xingye sighed comfortably.

"The contract with Star Media is for fifty years, and breaking it would incur huge penalties. Chaochao, have you thought this through?"

Zhu Jinzhao nodded, her tone solemn: "I've made up my mind!"

"Big brother, I'm an adult now, and adults have to be responsible for their choices. Now that I've decided to enter the entertainment industry, I will absolutely not back down halfway."

Zhu Xingye smiled slightly: "It seems that my Chaochao has really grown up."

Zhu Jinzhao massaged very diligently: "I'm already twenty years old, if I don't grow up soon I'll become a giant baby."

"Hmm." Zhu Xingye agreed.

Zhu Jinzhao tilted her head, stealing a glance at his expression: "So, big brother, do you agree?"

Zhu Xingye didn't say it explicitly, but only said, "Let's set a time for Yang Min to come to the Zhu Group and have a good talk."

Zhu Jinzhao: "...Yes!"

The persuasion went much more smoothly than expected. Zhu Xingye neither got angry nor obstructed the process. Zhu Jinzhao only had to exert a little effort to subdue this fierce older brother.

"Big brother." Just before leaving, Zhu Jinzhao suddenly turned back and asked curiously, "Why did you agree to this so easily?"

Zhu Xingye looked at her and smiled, his eyes as gentle as a lake that could drown a person.

"Because you like it. As long as you like it, I'm willing to agree."

"My Chaochao, as long as you're happy."

Zhu Jinchao smiled broadly, saying, "Thank you, big brother!"

Zhu Xingye: "Go back and rest. You have class tomorrow."

"good!"

May you leave this day satisfied.

Outside the study, Zhu Mingyue was eavesdropping as usual. Zhu Jinzhao had just opened the door when he bumped right into her.

She stared at Zhu Jinzhao with a half-smile, and lightly beckoned with her index finger, signaling Zhu Jinzhao to follow her.

Zhu Jinzhao nodded, silently closed the study door, and followed her.

She walked into Zhu Jinzhao's room with a natural expression and sat down gracefully on the edge of the bed.

Zhu Jinzhao didn't dare to mind and could only stand in front of her like a wooden statue: "Mingyue, what do you need me for?"

Zhu Mingyue looked up at her, her pale pink lips slightly curved, her expression unreadable.

"Chao Chao, I heard you're going to enter the entertainment industry?"

Zhu Jinzhao answered truthfully: "Yes."

Zhu Mingyue: "So you're not going to study anymore? Your courses aren't finished yet."

Zhu Jinzhao clutched the contract in her hand: "I'm almost finished with my courses. According to the procedure, I have to find an internship after my midterm exams. So entering the entertainment industry at this time won't have a big impact on me."

"Oh..." Zhu Mingyue raised an eyebrow, her beautiful peach blossom eyes crinkling into crescent moons with laughter. "Chaochao, do you still stand by what you said before about trying to please me?"

Zhu Jinzhao nodded: "Of course it counts."

"Alright." Zhu Mingyue stood up, put her hands behind her back, and slowly walked to Zhu Jinzhao. "Since you want to please me, then do something for me."

Zhu Jinzhao stared at her with wide eyes, feeling inexplicably nervous: "What is it?"

Zhu Mingyue leaned forward slightly and said, word by word, "I also want to enter the entertainment industry."

"Go and tell Yang Min for me to sign it as well."

"..." Zhu Jinzhao immediately breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that it was all right.

“Mingyue, this matter might be a little difficult, but I will do my best to help you. My brother said he will meet with Yang Min another day, and I will take you with me and have Yang Min sign you as well. You are so beautiful, it will definitely be fine.”

"...You, you just agreed like that?" Zhu Mingyue's smile froze, she was somewhat taken aback.

Zhu Jinzhao retorted, "Why wouldn't I agree? It's not a bad thing."

"I...no..." Zhu Mingyue stammered for once, "If you enter the entertainment industry, I'll follow you in. Aren't you afraid that I'll steal your popularity and resources and suppress you in every way? After all, everyone in the capital knows that I am the real daughter of the Zhu family."

Zhu Jinzhao dared not lie in front of her. She touched her nose and said in a muffled voice, "Actually, I'm quite scared. You're so beautiful, so smart, and better than me in every way. With you as a comparison, I'm sure netizens will dislike me."

"But even so, I have no right to deprive you of your right to enter the entertainment industry. It's your freedom."

"...What?" This answer was completely unexpected by Zhu Mingyue. She frowned and stared intently at Zhu Jinzhao.

Zhu Jinzhao smiled helplessly: "There are so many celebrities in the entertainment industry, and there are many who can outshine me. I can't just kick them all out because I'm afraid of being suppressed, can I? That's simply unrealistic."

"The same goes for you. It's a fact that you're better than me, and I can't prevent you from standing on that stage just because I'm not good enough."