CEO's Sweetheart is a Super Idol-Chapter 24 - 22 Ulterior Motives

At that moment, Ye Yuwei became the target of everyone’s ire.

Lu Bingbing fixed Ye Yuwei with a cold, piercing gaze, her lips curling in cruelty. "Alright, Yuwei, since you want to stay, we won’t force you. Everyone has their own ambitions. But don’t forget—’Galaxy’ has survived to this day because us sisters stood united."

Ye Yuwei stood there alone, head held high, remaining silent.

She knew full well that she could never go back with them.

She understood exactly what Lu Bingbing and the others were planning.

As soon as Lu Bingbing and her group left the TV station, a certain image popped up in their group chat—a sizzling snapshot that sent them into a frenzy.

"Damn it, Ye Yuwei’s got skills! Playing this two-faced idol game like a pro!"

"No wonder she didn’t come with us. Turns out she’s been negotiating behind our backs!"

"What a shameless move, using us as stepping stones to climb ahead herself."

"Bet she’s cozying up to Director Ma. Who knows what’s been going on tonight!"

...

Yu Manting stared at the barrage of messages on her phone, unable to believe her eyes.

Meanwhile, Ye Yuwei sat as though on pins and needles, the weight of her choices pressing down on her.

It turned out that after Lu Bingbing and the others had left, Director Ma had immediately arranged a private dressing room for her.

He even had someone deliver an extravagant supper—nearly twenty dishes sprawled across the table—alongside a bottle of premium red wine gifted by Director Ma himself.

The previously condescending staff, who used to boss her around during rehearsals, suddenly became courteous. Some even started calling her "Sister Yuwei."

The abrupt change left Ye Yuwei momentarily bewildered, offering a stark lesson in the power of the "golden principal." The allure of vanity and tangible benefits truly had the potential to pull people in.

The rehearsals continued as planned; however, Director Ma didn’t make any further attempts to meet her, showing strong confidence that she would eventually comply.

During a break, Ye Yuwei received a message from Li Jiaqi.

"Yuwei, what the hell’s going on? The whole place is in chaos!"

"Jiaqi, it’s all arranged by the TV station here. Honestly, I don’t really know what’s happening either," Ye Yuwei replied, feeling guilty.

"Yuwei, it seems the TV station wants to teach Lu Bingbing and the others a lesson. But they’ve ended up throwing you under the bus instead. They’re over there crying their hearts out to Mr. Shen, and word is spreading fast."

Li Jiaqi, piecing the puzzle together from her own intel, believed her friend had simply been used as a pawn, failing to suspect any deeper motives.

"I really don’t know what to do now."

"Yuwei, maybe you should explain the whole situation on Pocket. I’d bet that Xu Mengchen’s crew is already working to smear you."

Ye Yuwei hesitated before saying, "No, the company hasn’t given any official statement yet—I can’t speak out prematurely."

"Yuwei, you’re way too naïve. What’s worth holding back for? Those Galaxy fan accounts have already spread the news all over Pocket."

As Ye Yuwei was about to respond to Li Jiaqi, Gao Huan came in after knocking on her door.

"Sister Yuwei, Mr. Shen asked if you could give him a call when you’re free."

Hearing Gao Huan’s cautious tone and honorific address, Ye Yuwei couldn’t help but feel both amused and helpless.

With a nervous heart, she dialed, only to be met with a flood of praise from Mr. Shen about her professionalism, followed by vague statements about the importance of unity.

Finally, he warned her not to post anything regarding the matter on public platforms such as Pocket.

By evening, Lu Bingbing and her group still hadn’t returned for rehearsal.

When Ye Yuwei sought to head back to the center with Gao Huan’s group, she discovered they had left on their own, and the company hadn’t arranged for a car to pick her up.

Given how late it was, Ye Yuwei hesitated to hail a taxi by herself. As she stood there helplessly, a Lamborghini pulled up beside her.

"Get in!"

"Teacher Wu, is it really you?"

Though puzzled, Ye Yuwei obediently stepped into the car.

"I was visiting friends nearby and happened to see you standing here, looking like you needed a ride."

Through the windshield, Teacher Wu’s smile reflected faintly, her elegance shimmering under the starlit sky like a celestial maiden.

As Ye Yuwei got into the car, she failed to notice someone snapping photos from a hidden corner in the distance.

"Yuwei, what are you doing here?"

"...I... I came to perform."

After mulling it over, Ye Yuwei considered her activities no secret and chose to answer honestly.

"Performing! That’s great. Shenghai TV Station’s a major channel." Wu Jingwen appeared intrigued.

"It’s decent, sure, but there’s been so much drama in between." Thinking about the day’s events, Ye Yuwei felt a suffocating ache in her chest, an urge to confide rising strongly.

"What happened? Trouble with rehearsals? Or is someone giving you a hard time?"

"Well, things are pretty complicated..."

Knowing Teacher Wu wasn’t especially fond of entertainment stars, Ye Yuwei explained the situation to her, using the opportunity to release some of her pent-up emotions.

"Sorry, Teacher Wu—talking so much must have bored you!" Having poured out her frustrations, Ye Yuwei now felt much lighter, but also embarrassed.

"It’s okay. Honestly, I never imagined there’d be so much infighting in your group." Teacher Wu sighed before commenting, "So, this TV station gig is just another booked job, right? Doesn’t your company arrange a ride for you?"

"Getting booked is already a blessing. Most of the time, we have to pay for our own costumes and meals."

Wu Jingwen’s surprise was visible: "But aren’t you making money for your company?"

"We are, but for many gigs, if we don’t cover the costs ourselves, the company won’t send us. Without external bookings or exposure, we’re stuck—and we all want fame, so..."

Wu Jingwen chuckled, seemingly in understanding: "So your company’s basically a middleman, offering you booking opportunities, while you’re left to fend for everything else."

"Exactly. Only the top members and the ones favored by the company get everything paid for."

"So you don’t fall under that category right now."

Sadness mingled with resignation in Ye Yuwei’s eyes as she nodded slightly. "That’s right."

Wu Jingwen steered the car and slowed it down slightly.

"Yuwei, are you truly passionate about this industry?"

"Haha! I guess so. It’s the only path I have to change my life." Ye Yuwei forced a bitter laugh.

The atmosphere inside the car grew heavy, silence reigning until they stopped at a traffic light. Wu Jingwen remarked, "Yuwei, you’re not really cut out for this world—too kind and pure."

Memories of conflicts within the group and her struggles today surged in Ye Yuwei’s mind, leaving her heart in turmoil.

"Yuwei, if you’re deeply unhappy, you could consider leaving. I could help you find another job," Wu Jingwen tentatively suggested after noticing her prolonged silence.

"Thank you, Teacher Wu. It’s true I feel unhappy sometimes, but I really can’t bring myself to leave." Ye Yuwei’s emotions were a tangled mix of complexity and uncertainty.

"I love dancing, singing for my fans, hearing their cheers and excitement. I firmly believe I’ll make it one day."

Wu Jingwen smiled softly, saying nothing more as she drove Ye Yuwei to the same drop-off spot as before.

"Thank you so much, Teacher Wu, for taking the time to help me."

"No problem. Feel free to call me if you need anything."

"Alright!"

Watching the luxurious Lamborghini vanish into the alluring night, a sense of emptiness suddenly washed over Ye Yuwei.

Humans really are incomparable—some are born as pampered princesses, while others struggle forward endlessly, only to remain entrenched in the mud beneath the clouds.