Who Needs a CEO? I Choose Stardom

”Alright, everyone, I’m going to go grill the fish now!”

Seeing her triumphantly scoop the fish into the bucket and carry it up the slope, the grannies and grandpas exchanged glances, but ultimately, none of them moved.

Anglers never admit defeat!

One of them said, ”You go on ahead! I feel a bite coming on!”

Another said, ”Hey, you don’t know me. My luck always kicks in a little later!”

’Alright then.’

Ni Bingyan suppressed a laugh and hurried over to the barbecue area with the fish. She rinsed the prep station clean, grabbed a knife the grannies and grandpas had brought, and deftly cleaned the fish in a few quick motions. Then, she started a fire and began grilling.

The charcoal was high-quality fruitwood charcoal, which gave off a unique, fruity aroma. The fish were wild-caught from the lake, not plump and fatty like farmed ones.

As the fish slowly changed color on the grill, she mixed the seasonings and placed a few eggplants that someone else had brought onto the edge of the rack to roast slowly.

Once that was done, she sat down to the side, enjoying the smell of the charcoal fire. As she occasionally flipped the fish and basted it with oil, Ni Bingyan felt a sense of peaceful contentment.

About half an hour later, a whole line of grilled fish was ready: spicy and numbing, hot and fragrant, garlic-flavored, cumin-spiced... Everyone fishing downwind couldn’t resist any longer.

That settled it. It was time to eat!

They could fish anytime. Xiao Ni had just joined them, and they needed to make a good impression. They couldn’t be so cold to her!

The group of grannies and grandpas took out the food they had brought and placed it alongside Ni Bingyan’s grilled fish. Soon, the two wooden tables under a large sun umbrella by the lake were laden with food.

Everyone sat down. Someone poured drinks for the group, and they all began to eat, drink, and gossip about the neighborhood.

Ni Bingyan didn’t know any of the people they were talking about, so she just listened quietly.

One person mentioned a family that had a new grandson, but the daughter-in-law refused to breastfeed even though she had milk, caring only about her career. Another lamented that someone’s son was already so old but still clueless, unable to even find a girlfriend, causing his parents endless anxiety...

’It just goes to show, people really are social creatures, aren’t they?’

Even someone who enjoys solitude can appreciate the warmth of a group from time to time.

Even though she didn’t like gossiping about people behind their backs, she was still quite happy to listen when others did.

Maybe it was because she was getting older, but she felt that days like this had the simple, lively charm of everyday life.

’It’s rare to get a day off. Spending it so happily like this is really nice.’

She had to admit, aside from being older and a bit chatty, these neighbors were all upstanding people, and being around them was incredibly pleasant.

The thought had barely crossed her mind when the warm-hearted Granny Liao called her out, ”Hey! Xiao Ni! Speaking of which, are you seeing anyone?”

’Oh no. If I say no, is she going to try to set me up?’

Ni Bingyan started to panic a little.

But to her surprise, the granny wasn’t one of those annoying, meddling types. Noticing Ni Bingyan’s uncomfortable expression, she immediately guessed that things probably weren’t going smoothly for her in that department. Without asking further, she simply smiled, cut two slices of red sausage onto her plate, and offered some words of comfort:

”You can’t rush finding a partner. This is someone you’ll spend your whole life with, so you have to choose carefully. Otherwise, you’ll have plenty of regrets after you get married! You’re still young, and this is the perfect time to focus on your career. It’s okay if it takes a little longer.”

Ni Bingyan nodded obediently, her eyes filled with gratitude.

Other than her own father, this was the first time an elder had given her advice on love and marriage.

It wasn’t overly nosy, nor was it cold. It was perfectly tactful, and she found it very heartwarming.

’These neighbors are really wonderful!’

Everyone happily finished their meal and chatted for a while longer. As the afternoon sun grew more intense, everyone packed up and headed home, except for two stubborn old men who refused to leave until they caught a fish.

Ni Bingyan also headed back with a few of the grannies, carrying three crucian carp.

Back home, it took her a while to find a large water tank in the storage room. She moved it to a shady spot in the backyard, washed it, filled it with water, and put the carp inside to keep them alive. Looking down, she saw that her clothes were already covered in dirt and grime.

She went inside for a comfortable bath, then took a book out to the front porch. She lay down in the rocking chair and began to sway gently.

The natural breeze dried her damp hair. Sunlight filtered through the hanging ivy, casting dappled patterns on her face. For a moment, she felt as if she were lying on a boat, with gentle waves carrying her through a sea of dreams.

Her slender, fair hand rested on the pages of the book, her eyes having closed at some point without her noticing.

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed. Just as she was drifting off to sleep, the doorbell at the back gate rang.

Ni Bingyan sat up immediately.

’Oh, crap. It can’t be Jiang Sheng, can it?’

Since she had moved here, Jiang Sheng was the only person who had ever visited. Recalling how she’d ignored his calls over a month ago, Ni Bingyan felt a pang of guilt.

’I’ll sneak upstairs and peek out the window first. If it’s really him, I’ll just pretend I’m not home.’

’He’s so smart and proud. He probably wouldn’t stoop to pestering me endlessly.’

In her eyes, Jiang Sheng was practically her best friend’s boyfriend, so it was best to keep her distance.

But to her surprise, it wasn’t Jiang Sheng. Instead, it was a middle-aged woman who looked very intellectual and sophisticated.

She was dressed in an impeccable business suit: a lake-green silk blouse, a black pencil skirt, and black stiletto sandals. She wore a pair of rimless glasses that screamed ”elite.” The moment Ni Bingyan looked over, the woman quickly glanced up.

Her gaze was exceptionally sharp.

As she moved, the lustrous pearls on her ears shimmered in the sunlight, adding a touch of softness to her appearance.

It was none other than Granny Sun’s agent, Wei Shuojie.

Ni Bingyan had never expected it to be her. A suspicion formed in her mind, and she immediately suppressed her excitement as she ran downstairs.

Wei Shuojie watched the swaying curtains, a slight smile touching her lips before her expression quickly returned to its usual cold look.

”Sister Wei? It really is you! Please, come in!”

Ni Bingyan ran over to open the door with a bright smile. She must have run too fast, as her face was flushed and beads of sweat dotted her temples.

Her freshly permed long hair wasn’t completely dry yet, draping over her like seaweed and making her look gentle and approachable.

”Hello, I’m Wei Shuojie.”

Wei Shuojie extended her hand, introducing herself in a formal, deliberate manner.

”Oh, please! Who in our company doesn’t know you? Come on in!”

Ni Bingyan smiled and shook her hand, then stepped aside to let her in with a warm welcome. Anyone watching would have thought the two were old friends.

In reality, Ni Bingyan had just done her homework on the company’s official website, memorizing all the influential figures from top to bottom.

”Then I’ll take you up on that offer and impose.”

Coming over unannounced was a way to see how she would handle unexpected situations.

So far, Wei Shuojie was quite satisfied.

”Not at all, not at all! I’d be thrilled to spend more time with you. Any little bit of guidance you could offer would help me avoid so many pitfalls.”

Ni Bingyan was being very modest.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Wei Shuojie’s mouth as she handed over a small paper bag. ”I went to a show in France a while ago and brought back this silk scarf. I hope you like it.”

’She even brings a small gift when visiting. Just like the rumors say, she’s a person of fine taste.’ Ni Bingyan took it with a smile and led the way.

Wei Shuojie walked behind, observing her carefully.

Her posture was clearly trained. Her back was straight, her eyes held a smile, her shoulders were naturally open, and her pace was unhurried. Her body proportions were perfect.

She was beautiful without being seductive, possessing a natural noble air. She wasn’t frivolous, nor was she provincial.

In terms of physical appearance, she was indeed flawless.

While Wei Shuojie was quietly sizing her up, Ni Bingyan was also pondering the reason for her visit.

When she was choosing an agent before, she had been incredibly envious of Granny Sun’s agent. Calm, polite, smart enough, with a good eye for talent, and a terrifying amount of resources at her disposal!

But obviously, the top actress’s agent would only serve her. She wouldn’t have the energy to take on a small-timer like her.

The company’s former top actress had completely fallen from grace a while ago. The other female stars in the company were like guests at a feast, all getting a little ”fatter” from the resources Granny Sun had freed up. Naturally, her agent became a coveted prize as well.

She had also fantasized about having the former top actress’s agent, but she knew her own limits. She felt she wasn’t popular enough, her past performance had been too unmotivated, and she didn’t have the advantage of youth compared to the newly debuted starlets. Wei Shuojie would most likely look down on her.

But today, Wei Shuojie had come to her door.

During her short three-day break, she had precisely chosen a day when she would be home. Clearly, she had been keeping an eye on her schedule.

Each lost in her own thoughts, the two of them quickly entered the house.