Pregnant With the Villain Boss’ Baby - Chapter 19

“Cut.” Director Peng’s brow was furrowed into a deep V. He glared at the monitor, then looked up at Yun Mu and Feng Cen on stage. Finally, he waved them over.

“Director Peng.”

“Director, is something wrong?”

“Xiao Yun, is everything alright? You seem completely out of sync today.” Peng’s tone wasn’t overly harsh; after all, this was a rare occurrence. Usually, Yun Mu was a “one-take wonder.” Since this was her first real slip-up, he couldn’t bring himself to scold her.

“I’m sorry, Director. Some personal matters at home have been distracting me.” Yun Mu offered an apologetic smile, her fingers unconsciously twirling a stray lock of hair falling over her chest.

The impact of yesterday’s encounter was greater than she’d anticipated. She thought she could just shrug it off, but her heart remained heavy with worry.

“Sigh… Let’s call it for now. Xiao Yun, go back and get your head in the right space. Your schedule isn’t that tight anyway. Why don’t I give you the rest of the day off?” Director Peng patted her shoulder.

“Thank you, Director.” Yun Mu didn’t decline. She knew that in her current state, she couldn’t deliver the quality of work she expected of herself. She let out a soft sigh; it seemed she was still “too young” to perfectly compartmentalize her work and her reality.

“Go on then,” Peng said, waving her off.

“In that case, I—” Feng Cen’s eyes lit up. He thought if they both had the afternoon off, he could finally take her out!

Fantasy was beautiful, but reality was cruel. Director Peng’s expression flipped instantly as he looked at Feng Cen. In his mind, an Alpha didn’t need the gentle handling an Omega did.

“What are you still standing there for? Go prepare for the next scene! You’re the male lead; your job isn’t just acting opposite Xiao Yun. Everyone! Next scene! We’re skipping ahead to…” Ignoring Feng Cen’s reaction, Peng stood up and began shouting orders to the crew.

Behind him, Feng Cen stood petrified.

Feng Cen: Is it a crime to be an Alpha?! Wuuu…

“Good luck, I’m rooting for you.” Seeing Feng Cen’s predicament, Yun Mu felt a tiny bit of schadenfreude. She gave his shoulder a supportive (yet mischievous) pat and left under his dejected gaze.

Near the break area, Luo Ling and Tong Wenwen were busy organizing files. Youying was nowhere to be seen, which was rare—usually, she’d be sitting there like a stone sentinel. Maybe she finally gave up? Yun Mu wondered.

“You’re back.” Just as the thought crossed her mind, Youying’s voice rang out beside her. Yun Mu turned to see the woman drying her hands with a handkerchief.

Ah, wrong again. She just went to the bathroom.

Youying’s voice caused Luo Ling and Wenwen to look up from their documents.

“Eh? Sister Yun, why are you back so early? Aren’t there more scenes?” Wenwen scurried over to help Yun Mu remove some of the heavier props, her voice full of surprise.

“I wasn’t in a great state today, so Director Peng gave me the afternoon off,” Yun Mu explained directly.

“Not in a great state?” Luo Ling scanned Yun Mu’s face, trying to discern if she was telling the truth. She wasn’t a director, so she couldn’t tell for sure, but she snapped her notebook shut. “In that case, let’s head out.”

“Wait, I thought we had to stay on set even if we were resting,” Wenwen said, tapping her chin.

“This is a day off, not a break. It’s actually a good opportunity. Yun Mu, I need to discuss a future project with you,” Luo Ling said, giving Wenwen’s head a helpless pat.

“I understand.”

Half an hour later, the van was cruising down the street. Inside:

“This is a variety show the company wants to produce. I’d like you to take a look.” Luo Ling handed a thin manila envelope to Yun Mu.

Yun Mu didn’t take it immediately. She rested her chin in her hand, her eyes narrowing as she studied the envelope. “Luo Ling, you know I don’t do variety shows.”

In Yun Mu’s view, variety shows were great for getting famous, but she preferred to rely on her acting. And did someone of her stature really need a variety show to stay relevant?

“I know your stance,” Luo Ling said, not withdrawing the envelope. Instead, she pulled out the proposal. “But the nature of this show is very different. It’s not set in the Cloud World.”

“Not in the Cloud World?” Yun Mu arched an eyebrow.

“It will be filmed in the real world. Regardless of where the participants are, the company will cover the spaceship travel costs. And it will be live-streamed the entire time,” Luo Ling explained seriously.

“So… a genuine, physical meeting? The company is trying to grab the first-mover advantage?” Yun Mu rubbed her chin. The agency has some guts. Gathering stars in reality was a logistical nightmare and a massive financial drain due to travel costs. But if it worked, it would be a sensation. The risk, however, was equally massive.

Luo Ling saw the gears turning in Yun Mu’s head. Having read the file, Luo Ling knew the potential profit was astronomical, but the downside was that the stars’ real-world locations and identities would be exposed to the public.

“Why is the company doing this now?” Yun Mu asked. She didn’t want to get tangled in unnecessary trouble.

“As you know, there are two other major agencies. Internal intel says they’re collaborating on a joint show featuring their top-tier talent. If they pull it off, our company’s market share in the entertainment sector will plummet,” Luo Ling explained, pushing up her glasses.

“So this is a counter-offensive? And the company wants us to join?” Yun Mu took a juice from Youying and had a sip.

“The company hopes you will, but it’s up to you. Their promise to the participating stars is… a twenty percent profit share from the show!” Luo Ling swallowed hard as she uttered that number. “That’s for the first season’s cast, at least.”

Twenty percent! That number was seductive. Yun Mu’s current contract allowed her to keep seventy percent of her earnings, which was already peak-tier in the industry. But an extra twenty percent of a massive show’s total profit? That was a terrifying amount of money.

The company was betting big on being the first to break the “virtual wall.” By offering such high stakes, they were making a desperate play for innovation.

“I need to consider this carefully,” Yun Mu said quietly.

“Of course. It’s a heavy decision. The company will wait for the big names to decide before inviting others. The details won’t be finalized until everyone is on board, likely after you finish this current movie. Coordinating everyone’s physical travel isn’t easy,” Luo Ling replied, handing the papers to Yun Mu.

“Sister Yun, you have to do it! Then we can finally meet in person! You must be even prettier in reality than in the Cloud World! Ehehe, I can’t wait!” Wenwen grabbed Yun Mu’s hand, her face wearing that familiar, obsessed grin.

“Uh… yeah… I’ll think about it.” Yun Mu stiffened. Now she didn’t just have to worry about her privacy; she had to worry about a “fan-girl” attack in the real world.

“Ahem, don’t worry, Yun Mu. If you decide to go, I’ll… keep her in check,” Luo Ling said awkwardly.

If you’re going to say that, at least look me in the eye! And what was that suspicious pause?!

Yun Mu rubbed her forehead. Just then, the car stopped at the teleportation array. She activated her bracelet, her human form dissolving into that of a fiery red fox. She licked her paw. “I’m heading out then. If there’s anything else, we can talk tomorr— Whoa!”

Luo Ling and Wenwen blinked. The red fox on the seat was suddenly scooped up by a black-clad figure and leaped out of the van. In the blink of an eye, they were gone.

All that remained was the echo of Yun Mu’s startled cry and two empty seats.

“That jerk! She kidnapped Sister Yun! I knew she was up to no good! Quick, Luo-Luo, call the police! We have to arrest her!” Wenwen’s fur was standing on end as she flailed her tiny paws, nearly falling out of the chair in her attempt to chase them.

“Calm down, calm down. I don’t think Youying would hurt her,” Luo Ling soothed.

“How can you be sure?! She’s just an Alpha eyeing my goddess! Only the Film Emperor is worthy!” Wenwen grumbled.

Luo Ling: …You act like Feng Cen isn’t an Alpha too. Truly, it’s a world that only cares about faces.

Back on set, the working Feng Cen suddenly let out a massive sneeze. He rubbed his nose, wondering if someone was thinking about him. He looked around. Sigh, Yun Mu isn’t here. I have no motivation.

“Cut! Feng Cen, what are you doing?!” Director Peng shouted. What is with these people today? First Yun Mu, now Feng Cen was acting like his soul had left his body. He wanted to crack their heads open to see if anything besides romance was inside.

Director Peng’s glare became even more fierce. As he transformed back into a fire-breathing dragon, the atmosphere for the rest of the crew became a living hell.

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