Forced to Romance the Omega Psychiatrist - Chapter 45

The matter concerning Bai Ye was resolved without a hitch.

Just as Bai Shuixi had anticipated, the Bai family had no intention of opposing the Bai Corporation.

They simply didn’t stand a chance against it.

Not long after Bai Shuixi returned with her people that night, Xin Wensheng called.

Bai Shuixi had never expected to keep this from Xin Wensheng, so she straightforwardly laid out the entire incident.

Thus… the person negotiating with Bai Liuyue shifted from Bai Shuixi to Xin Wensheng.

The latter’s threat carried far more weight than Bai Shuixi’s.

When Xin Wensheng personally demanded an explanation from the Bai family, they had no choice but to comply.

Moreover, Bai Ye had stirred up trouble left and right, and there were more than just one or two people waiting to crush her underfoot. Even if a handful still wanted to protect her, there was little they could do.

From the Bai family’s subsequent reply to Xin Wensheng, it seemed Bai Ye had been sent abroad.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Bai Ye would never be allowed to return.

Bai Shuixi sat in her office, taking a sip of coffee, her gaze fixed on the computer screen. To an outsider, she might have appeared to be reviewing her work schedule, but in reality, she was reflecting on the original storyline involving Bai Ye.

In the original plot, Bai Ye had been introduced as a ‘supplement’ someone who emerged when Xia You and Li Wei opposed the original protagonist, yet Li Wei alone wasn’t enough to pose a real threat.

Aside from engaging in steamy, ambiguous encounters and forced love with the female lead, Bai Ye’s greatest achievement was helping Xia You and Xu Chuan bring down the original protagonist.

Upon closer thought, this part didn’t necessarily require Bai Ye’s involvement. Bai Shuixi could easily achieve the same outcome by deliberately holding back.

To prevent triggering any corrective mechanisms due to deviations from the plot.

Such as unforeseen events forcing the Bai family to bring Bai Ye back, or the sudden introduction of a new character to fill narrative gaps, Bai Shuixi still preferred to maintain the original storyline’s logic as much as possible.

Just as she was mulling this over, her phone, lying nearby, suddenly rang.

Bai Shuixi paused, coffee cup in hand, and picked up the phone. She glanced at the screen and saw that the caller was Song Zhe.

This was somewhat unusual. Since Bai Shuixi had brushed him off last time, he hadn’t bothered her in a while.

“Hello?” After a brief hesitation, Bai Shuixi answered the call, setting down her cup. Her tone was indifferent as she casually asked, “What’s the matter now?”

“‘Now’? Really, President Bai? What about the matter I mentioned last time have you given it any thought? You’ve met the director, right? What’s your take? We’re approaching the filming date, and we can’t afford any more delays.”

Song Zhe’s voice came through the phone.

Bai Shuixi blinked, suddenly recalling the issue.

She had indeed met with Director Lin before the Manti banquet, but she’d been somewhat distracted at the time and hadn’t pressed for details.

She remembered that the director himself didn’t seem to object to Zhou Wanwan playing the Omega female lead, though he wasn’t particularly enthusiastic either. His attitude suggested a compromise with the investors.

In any case, Zhou Wanwan’s acting skills were generally passable, and her looks were undeniably striking.

No matter how chaotic her personal life might be, at least she was professional when it came to work that was good enough.

If the investors insisted on pushing her in, then so be it.

Bai Shuixi lowered her lashes, fingers lightly tapping the desk as she remained silent for a moment.

She had a vague premonition that another fork in the plot’s road had appeared before her if she followed the original storyline and agreed to let Zhou Wanwan play the Omega female lead in the movie, then she should start forcing Xia You into on-set play, bullying and tormenting her in all sorts of ways…

As a proper villain, tormenting the heroine both physically and emotionally was something she was supposed to do.

But if she really went down that path, the plot would likely unfold just like in the original story, where Li Wei would take advantage of the situation while she was bullying Xia You, forcing her into submission, and leaving her desperate with no escape. Li Wei would then swoop in with worthless kindness to reconcile with the heroine.

Bai Shuixi paused, the mere thought of this possibility making her lower her lashes and curl her lips into a cold, mocking smile.

She was just the villain, not some pitiful fool. Why should she create opportunities for Li Wei?

Besides, she had never intended to hurt Xia You.

What Bai Shuixi truly wanted was to ensure Xia You would never think of Li Wei again, to kick all the antagonists out of the picture before the story ended before she herself left and give Xia You the chance to shine on her own.

But judging from Xia You’s reaction at the hotel earlier… Xia You might still be unable to harden her heart against Li Wei and Zhou Wanwan.

Bai Shuixi couldn’t allow even the slightest chance for Xia You and Li Wei to reconcile.

If Xia You couldn’t make up her mind, then Bai Shuixi would step in and give her a push.

This project happened to be the perfect opportunity.

If Zhou Wanwan found out the role she had been longing for had slipped through her fingers, surely she would take some action. Weren’t they saying that even while cheating with Li Wei, Zhou Wanwan couldn’t stop thinking about her?

Well, then let them come.

Coincidentally, after the Bai Ye incident, Fang Shangzhe with Bai Shuixi’s subtle encouragement had gone from being the respectable boss of a paparazzi company to a desperate stray dog, now hunted down by the Bai family and his former clients.

Bai Shuixi coldly observed his movements from the sidelines, sensing he was nearing his breaking point.

All she needed to do was extend a slight helping hand, and Fang Shangzhe, with no other options, would cling to her like his only lifeline. Combined with the surveillance footage she had already obtained. Xia You would finally learn that Zhou Wanwan was the one who had triggered her pheromone instability and sent her into heat with nothing more than a bouquet of flowers.

With all these pieces falling into place, would Xia You still be able to soften her heart?

Bai Shuixi barely hesitated. Once her mind was made up, she immediately replied to Song Zhe, “Zhou Wanwan is out of the question. No matter how many times you ask, my answer won’t change. I’ll notify the director to speed up the casting process.”

Song Zhe was stunned, not expecting Bai Shuixi to actually backtrack at the last moment. He muttered something under his breath in disbelief and immediately started arguing with her.

But Bai Shuixi had little patience for his protests. After brushing him off with a few dismissive remarks, she was about to hang up when Xia You happened to push open the office door.

With the Bai Ye matter resolved, Xia You no longer needed to pretend to be trapped in a forced love scenario. Bai Shuixi had simply told her that the part requiring secrecy was over, and if she wanted to come to the company, that was fine too.

So for the past few days, Xia You had been accompanying Bai Shuixi to work again.

Spotting her, Bai Shuixi seized the opportunity for an excuse and said to Song Zhe, “Enough. I have a meeting. Instead of wasting time with this nonsense, you’d better focus on finding a couple of reliable candidates for the role. That’s all.”

After speaking, Bai Shuixi swiftly hung up the phone, as if afraid Song Zhe would continue pestering her.

Xia You stopped in her tracks and hesitated for a moment before glancing at her from a short distance near the desk. “Who was that?”

“Oh, nothing, just a business partner. You’ve met him before Song Zhe,” Bai Shuixi replied casually. “Why? Is something the matter?”

“Song…” Xia You frowned slightly, thinking. “The one connected to Zhou Wanwan? The role you mentioned just now the female lead in Retrospect, you still haven’t given it to Zhou Wanwan?”

Bai Shuixi hadn’t expected Xia You to remember Song Zhe, let alone figure it out so quickly. She lowered her gaze and took a sip of coffee. “Yeah, that’s right. I still don’t think she’s suitable… Or what do you think, jie?”

“Me?” Xia You was taken aback. “I don’t really know much about these things.”

Privately, of course, she didn’t want to see Zhou Wanwan again.

The words Li Wei and Zhou Wanwan had exchanged in that hotel corner still stuck in her chest like a fishbone every time she recalled them, she felt sick and uncomfortable. Those two could fool around all they wanted, but to drag Bai Shuixi into it…

Still, she knew how difficult it was to put a project together, from pre-production to filming and even post-release promotion. Any misstep could affect the returns.

She hadn’t mentioned the incident because she didn’t want to make things difficult for Bai Shuixi.

But…

Even if Bai Shuixi had decided against using Zhou Wanwan now, there was no guarantee Zhou Wanwan wouldn’t come looking for her. Xia You hesitated before lifting her gaze to meet Bai Shuixi’s. “If you reject Zhou Wanwan now, she might come to pester you over it…”

That’s exactly what I’m hoping for, Bai Shuixi thought.

She didn’t take it too seriously, closing the open file in front of her and setting it aside. “You mean pestering me the way she ‘pestered’ Song Zhe? Offering herself as a lover in exchange for favors?”

Xia You: “…”

She had always been too embarrassed to phrase such things so bluntly. Bai Shuixi’s sudden directness left her speechless, any words she might have had dying in her throat.

“What’s wrong?” Bai Shuixi glanced up at Xia You, and in that moment, her scattered thoughts suddenly clicked into place, Xia You’s reactions to her before, that strange “Do it again.”

She paused, then, as if possessed, asked, “Jie, are you…”

…are you in love with me?

Before the words could fully leave her lips, they were interrupted by someone entering to report on work. That fleeting vulnerability—fragile as a startled fledgling—vanished the moment it was startled, the nearly spoken words sealed tightly behind her lips.

And, as luck would have it, the person who walked in was Xu Chuan.

Bai Shuixi looked at him, and her runaway rationality instantly returned. She swallowed back whatever she had been about to say.

What was I thinking?

Asking that now was she planning to ruin things with Xia You or take things further? Neither option seemed particularly wise.

Ruin things? She didn’t want that. Take things further? She was afraid… Bai Shuixi took a quiet, deep breath, not daring to dwell on it any longer. She forcibly pulled her focus back to the matter at hand.

Xu Chuan’s arrival at this moment wasn’t entirely unexpected, she had previously booked this time slot with Bai Shuixi to report on potential key projects for the next quarter identified by the team’s analysis.

However, the mere sight of Xu Chuan reminded Bai Shuixi of Lei Yun, the arrogant woman who had suddenly appeared at the dessert shop, spouting nonsense to Xia You and nearly getting Bai Shuixi scolded by her. One of Bai Shuixi’s former troublemaker friends.

At first, Bai Shuixi hadn’t been able to determine whether there was any deliberate manipulation behind Lei Yun’s sudden appearance.

The incident could have been dismissed as a coincidence, a butterfly effect.

Unfortunately, after Bai Shuixi attended a recent banquet and reappeared at Tianyin Tower with Xia You in tow, she caught the fleeting look of shock and disbelief on Xu Chuan’s face, a reaction Bai Shuixi didn’t miss.

If Xu Chuan had nothing to hide or hadn’t seen someone she wasn’t supposed to, why would she panic?

Bai Shuixi still couldn’t fully confirm Xu Chuan’s exact role in the matter.

But… this small detail was enough to remind Bai Shuixi that while dealing with the more erratic side characters, she shouldn’t overlook her exceptionally ‘capable’ deputy general manager.

Xia You, unaware of the undercurrents between Bai Shuixi and Xu Chuan, stole a glance at Bai Shuixi.

With an outsider present, neither of them could speak freely. Xia You even forgot her original reason for coming to see Bai Shuixi.

Now, under Xu Chuan’s gaze, she felt slightly uneasy, as if caught in some private moment, an involuntary awkwardness creeping in.

“Assistant Xia, is there anything else? Should I come back later?”

Xu Chuan paused briefly at the door before stepping smoothly into the office. Her sharp, indifferent gaze settled on Xia You. Though her words were polite, the underlying message was clear, she wanted Xia You to leave.

Xia You ignored her, focusing instead on Bai Shuixi.

For some reason, she felt that Bai Shuixi’s unfinished question earlier had been important. She wanted Bai Shuixi to continue, but Bai Shuixi seemed unwilling to speak further.

“President Bai, was there something else you wanted to say to me?” Xia You ventured, hoping Bai Shuixi would pick up the thread of their earlier conversation.

Bai Shuixi hesitated for a moment, her fingers curling slightly where they rested on the desk. Instead of dismissing Xu Chuan, she turned to Xia You and said, “No, it was nothing important. Just small talk. We’ll have lunch together later.”

Xia You blinked, pressing her lips together as a faint frown creased her brow.

Even though Xu Chuan was overly attentive to Bai Shuixi, didn’t Bai Shuixi notice?

…Oh, right. She had noticed. She’d noticed how much influence Xu Chuan had over her control within the company.

Xia You sighed inwardly, consoling herself:

At least Bai Shuixi had no romantic interest in Xu Chuan otherwise, she would have reacted by now. Given Bai Shuixi’s pride, if she couldn’t even see Xu Chuan in that light, then any attempt to get closer would be utterly futile.

Having reassured herself, Xia You glanced at Bai Shuixi one last time.

No matter how reluctant she felt, the current atmosphere simply wasn’t suitable for continuing any private conversation.

Xia You said goodbye to Bai Shuixi and turned to leave her office. As she walked away, she found herself puzzling over how to get Bai Shuixi to voice that unfinished sentence.

Behind her, Xu Chuan, who now stood facing Bai Shuixi was far from as composed as Xia You imagined.

Driven by a momentary surge of jealousy, Xu Chuan had subtly maneuvered Xia You into leaving. But now that Xia You was actually gone and the office held only the two of them, Xu Chuan’s hands clenched nervously, her fingers twisting together as if she wished she could drag the entire marketing and distribution teams upstairs for an impromptu meeting.

Back then, she had been so sure that Li Wei and Zhou Wanwan useless as they were would at least be somewhat effective. She had fully expected to hear news of Xia You and Bai Shuixi breaking up over some misunderstanding before long.

But instead of the anticipated fallout, Xia You had returned first.

The moment Xu Chuan saw Xia You and Bai Shuixi entering the company together at Tianyin’s entrance, she knew something was wrong. Shock and a flicker of unease had settled in her chest.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before whispers about that night’s banquet began circulating among the wealthy second-generation social circles in G City the same circles she had painstakingly integrated herself into over the years. Then, just days later, news broke that the Bai family in Xiang City had faced internal upheaval, with many of its members being purged.

Xu Chuan’s mind worked faster than Bai Ye’s. The moment she heard the banquet rumors, she realized the so-called “fight” and “imprisonment” had been nothing but a ruse, a complete fabrication.

…What she still didn’t know was who exactly this scheme had been targeting.

Bai Ye, that reckless and spoiled illegitimate daughter, had indeed been sent away but Xu Chuan herself wasn’t entirely uninvolved. Bai Shuixi was still investigating Lei Yun’s inner circle, and on top of that, Xu Chuan had once subtly encouraged Li Wei and Zhou Wanwan to harass Xia You…

The thought made her shudder. Lately, she had been keeping an unusually low profile.

Bai Shuixi observed Xu Chuan’s expression, weighing her options, and decided there was no rush to settle accounts with her just yet.

In terms of priority, Xu Chuan ranked below Zhou Wanwan and Li Wei. After all, Xu Chuan hadn’t done anything outright deranged, she lacked both the kind of backing that could stir up a storm and the messy emotional entanglements with the female lead. Dealing with her wouldn’t be particularly troublesome.

So Bai Shuixi picked up a fountain pen and, before making a few notes on Xu Chuan’s report, casually remarked:

“Keep following up on the female lead casting for Retrace. Have the marketing department review past collaborations to see if any actresses would be a good fit. Don’t let this delay production.”

Xu Chuan froze for a second before realizing after Bai Ye, Zhou Wanwan was next. Bai Shuixi’s focus had already shifted to Rixin.

Still, she wasn’t quite ready to concede defeat. Unwilling to let the situation tilt entirely in Bai Shuixi’s favor, she cautiously probed, “Wasn’t Zhou Wanwan from Rixin already confirmed for the role?”

Without looking up, Bai Shuixi replied flatly, “Who confirmed her?”

“…” Xu Chuan glanced at Bai Shuixi’s indifferent expression and felt a chill. She said nothing more.

Bai Shuixi wasn’t the same person who had once treated Tianyin with indifference. Now that she held half the company in her grasp, even Liu Heng and his ilk wouldn’t dare challenge her openly on major decisions not when it was clear who truly controlled Tianyin.

When Bai Shuixi vetoed something, there was virtually no chance of it being revived. Moreover, Bai Shuixi had more than just Tianyin at her disposal, she had ample resources to back whatever she wanted to do.

Xu Chuan quietly shut her mouth, thinking to herself: This is bad.

She knew Zhou Wanwan’s style well enough that woman might look like a brainless, seductive drama queen, but she was ruthless underneath. She would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.

If Zhou Wanwan found out the role she was about to secure had slipped away, she wouldn’t take it lying down. She might even try to pull strings with Bai Shuixi.

And given that Xu Chuan had recently contacted Li Wei, she was worried Zhou Wanwan might blurt out something she shouldn’t.

Xu Chuan silently steeled herself, preparing to reach out to Li Wei if necessary to smooth things over just in case Zhou Wanwan carelessly exposed her.

Her plan was sound, but she hadn’t anticipated Zhou Wanwan acting faster than anyone expected.

As luck would have it, when Bai Shuixi made that call to Song Zhe that morning, Zhou Wanwan had been right beside him, hearing every word loud and clear. Her expression had darkened instantly.

She wanted that role had even prepared extensively for it. But the cards she held were flashy on the surface, worthless in play.

The relationship between money and beauty was never stable. A stunning lover could never compare to half a business partner.

Zhou Wanwan had clawed her way up from being a scandal-ridden, internet-hated star to a top-tier A-lister, she wasn’t lacking in perception. One glance told her Song Zhe wasn’t willing to help her anymore, let alone offend Bai Shuixi on her behalf.

A skilled lover’s greatest talent was knowing when to quit.

Zhou Wanwan still giggled coquettishly as she leaned into Song Zhe’s arms, saying nothing unnecessary. Only when his unremarkable arm wrapped around her, tilting her world upside down, did she lower her lashes slightly.

A cold, detached glint flashed through those seductive, languid eyes.

After all, people just used each other. It was all about mutual benefit. If Song Zhe couldn’t help her, she had no reason to feel guilty about betraying him.

If he’d been competent in the first place, would she have needed to play the field?

Filled with scorn and indifference, Zhou Wanwan still remembered to loop her arms around Song Zhe’s neck.

Business was business, but what was right in front of her might as well be enjoyed. She couldn’t escape anyway, if she didn’t like it, she’d just have to endure. What else could she do? Whatever happened off the bed could wait until they got off it.

So that afternoon, Bai Shuixi received a meeting request from Rixin.

“Who did you say wants to see me?” Bai Shuixi paused mid-signature, repeating the question into the intercom.

“It’s a request from Vice President Chen of Rixin,” the secretary checked the note, “hoping to discuss the casting for Retrospect with you. They’re asking for a meeting the afternoon after tomorrow.”

Bai Shuixi thought for a moment, sensing this wasn’t as simple as it seemed, then snapped her pen shut. “Tell them I’m only free this afternoon. Take it or leave it, if they don’t come today, there’s no point talking later.”

The secretary hesitated, slightly taken aback by her boss’s stern tone, but quickly rephrased it diplomatically and relayed the message.

Rixin, however, didn’t protest. They agreed without complaint.

An hour later, the captivating Zhou Wanwan, dressed in a flowing long skirt that swayed with her every move, carried an exquisite pearl handbag, her seaweed-like long hair cascading freely, and a delicate, subtle fragrance lingering around her. She walked through the long corridor of Tianyin’s headquarters, passing several office areas as if making a grand entrance, until she arrived outside Bai Shuixi’s office.

The so-called ‘Deputy General Manager of Rixin Chen’ hadn’t shown up, but instead, it was Zhou Wanwan, the actress, who came.

The secretary initially intended to stop her, but was held back by He Jiu standing nearby.

He Jiu tugged at the secretary’s sleeve without even glancing at their colleague, whispering a reminder: “The reception already confirmed—President Bai approved her entry.”

Hearing this, the secretary stiffly settled back into their seat. After a dazed pause, they couldn’t resist stealing a glance from the corner of their eye at Xia You’s empty workstation, thinking irritably:

Of all times to step out! Any later and the boss might get snatched away by some seductive vixen from the entertainment industry!

This Zhou Wanwan clearly wasn’t the easygoing type. Comparatively, the secretary still preferred Xia You. At least Xia You never caused trouble, treating everyone like regular coworkers couldn’t ask for more peace of mind.

The secretary mused, stealing another look at Zhou Wanwan.

Just then, those mesmerizing eyes listless when unsmiling, yet fragile and striking when curved turned their way. With a flirtatious tilt of those expressive eyes, Zhou Wanwan pushed open Bai Shuixi’s office door… and strode right in, her slender figure disappearing behind the heavy door.

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