Who Needs a CEO? I Choose Stardom

The vessel specialized in high-end deep-sea fishing charters, equipped with numerous private cabins for guests, as well as a professional chef and doctor.

The eleven crew members were rescued one by one over the next four hours, just as the sky began to show the first light of dawn.

The maritime authorities had received news of the capsized boat and rushed to the scene, but it still took them several hours to arrive.

The officials boarded the vessel and found all eleven men, safe and accounted for, sitting in the dining hall. They had cleaned up with hot water, changed into dry clothes, and were now wrapped in blankets, eating congee and soup.

Those with stronger constitutions who recovered more quickly were even starting to eat fish.

Everyone collectively breathed a sigh of relief and quickly relayed the good news to shore.

Never mind the families of the rescued crew, who would surely be crying tears of joy; the boat itself was already filled with sounds of cheer and laughter.

No matter the circumstances, where there’s life, there’s hope. As long as everyone was safe, that was all that mattered.

Compared to life and death, everything else seemed trivial.

That night, aside from those out searching and those assisting the doctor, only the kitchen staff remained busy. Everyone else had returned to their cabins to sleep.

But a good night’s rest was not in the cards for them.

Every time another person was brought aboard, a flurry of activity would erupt on the ship.

Out of humanitarian concern, the captain also allowed the men to call their families and report they were safe.

None of them could get more than a few words out before they broke down in tears.

Space on the boat was limited and the cabins weren’t well soundproofed, so no one could sleep soundly through the commotion.

But regardless of how well they slept, everyone without a specific duty consciously stayed in their rooms, careful not to get in the way.

The ship’s galley wasn’t very large and didn’t require that many helping hands. The chef, knowing Ni Bingyan was a good cook, asked her to stay and take charge of making congee.

The chef specialized in seafood and could prepare light, high-protein dishes. Ni Bingyan, for her part, was an expert at making congee. Taking everyone’s preferences into account and checking the available ingredients, she prepared three different kinds.

One was a plain white congee with a rich, creamy top; another was a savory and nutritious lean pork congee; and the last was a sweet and tender eight-treasure congee.

Fresh water was limited on board, but for the well-being of the rescued men, they were still provided with hot water. They couldn’t take a full shower, only give themselves a sponge bath, but after washing up and changing into borrowed clothes, they felt a warmth spreading from within.

Once clean, the men were all settled into the captain’s large cabin, sleeping on makeshift floor beds. This allowed them to talk amongst themselves and release the stress from their near-death experience, and it also made it easier for the doctor to monitor them all in one place.

After the doctor’s examination, if he felt a man’s physical condition was stable, he would allow him to eat.

Ni Bingyan had already finished cooking the congee, and each time a man was cleared to eat, she would come over with a warm smile and ask, ”What kind of congee would you like?”

Once they answered, she would bring them a bowl.

Many of the men’s legs were like jelly when they first came aboard; they couldn’t walk at all. It wasn’t a long walk, so she was happy to help where she could.

These crewmen were mostly in their forties and fifties, had spent their lives at sea, and knew little about celebrities. Coupled with the fact that Ni Bingyan was bare-faced, the most they registered was a vague familiarity. Other than that, they just thought she was pretty.

”Oh, you shouldn’t have!”

Seeing her bring a bowl over, the first man who had been rescued and had recovered the best immediately took it from her, only to pass it to one of his companions.

Each time, he’d receive a chiding look from his mates, but he’d just stand by the cabin door, enjoying his self-appointed role immensely.

Ni Bingyan pretended not to notice.

’These men have just been through a life-and-death ordeal; their emotions are all over the place. If seeing a pretty face can lift their spirits, I’m not offended at all. In fact, it makes me feel like my being here is genuinely valuable.’

Once everyone was rescued and fed, she offered a few simple words of comfort, then slipped away without trying to steal the spotlight. She went straight back to her room, pulled the covers over her head, and fell fast asleep.

Having been up all night doing what little she could, her conscience was clear.

The captain now had to rush the rescued men to a hospital for a proper check-up, which meant there was no way they’d be going fishing.

Knowing the boat was heading straight back to port and that there wouldn’t be much to film on the way, she slept particularly soundly.

Unfortunately, when she woke up and looked in the mirror, she was greeted by heavy, dark circles under her eyes.

As a celebrity, managing her image was crucial. Ni Bingyan’s first instinct was to grab some makeup to conceal them, but on second thought, she stopped.

’After pulling two all-nighters, being seasick, and sleeping poorly... it would be weird if I didn’t look tired at all. There will definitely be a ton of media waiting to interview us when we disembark. I’m sure to be photographed. In this internet age, people on the other side of the Earth will see pictures of me online before I even leave the harbor. There’s bound to be some chatter about it. I can’t just ignore the haters and my competitors’ PR teams. Looking pretty is important, but authentic beauty is what really attracts fans. A lot of actresses wear makeup even when they sleep, terrified of anyone seeing their bare face. I don’t want to be like that. I plan to act until I’m old. If my fans get used to me looking perfect and beautiful all the time, what happens when I inevitably age? When my skin starts to sag and my body shows its years, no amount of makeup will be able to hide it. Won’t I just be ridiculed by the entire internet? A real beauty gets dark circles from lack of sleep and a tan from the sun. That’s perfectly normal!’

「At 1:30 in the afternoon」

The boat pulled into the harbor. In the distance, a crowd could be seen waving red flags, jumping and cheering.

Ni Bingyan blended into the crowd as she disembarked, her demeanor completely natural, just like any other passenger.

Dressed plainly and without any special styling, she was no different from anyone else—aside from her unusually beautiful face.

As the boat docked and people began to disembark, the waiting media and local citizens all broke into spontaneous applause.

Ni Bingyan glanced around openly. Seeing not just local media but also national outlets, she took stock of the situation. She caught the captain’s eye, made a ”talk later” gesture, and then signaled for her film crew to pack up and leave.

’The captain led the search and rescue, the doctor gave everyone check-ups and stayed with them all night, and the chef cooked the meals. All I did was make a few pots of congee and play waitress for a bit. If I stay here, no one will pay attention to what the others did. All eyes will be on me. I don’t want that, and besides, if I did stay, the haters would have a field day with me later.’

’By leaving quietly and seeking no glory, my actions won’t remain a secret if people appreciate my solid, unassuming work. Sometimes, being low-key is better than being in the spotlight. You end up gaining more. It’s a bit of a gamble, but the attention earned this way generates much more goodwill than a forced publicity stunt.’

When some of the media tried to organize a group photo of the rescuers and the rescued, everyone naturally looked around for her. Not seeing her, they sighed in disappointment.

They didn’t see her as being calculating or manipulative. On the contrary, they thought her refusal to fight for the spotlight showed she was a genuinely good person.

Even an ordinary person knew how much attention this incident was getting. She had been busy with the rescue team all night, yet she left without even showing her face. That was truly low-key.

”Who are you all looking for?”

With the crowd and the fact that her filming trip wasn’t public knowledge, it was easy for her to slip away. Besides, she left the moment she got off the boat, and the media’s attention was focused on the rescue heroes, so they naturally missed her.

Seeing everyone looking around, someone couldn’t help but ask.

”We’re looking for Miss Ni. As soon as we came aboard last night, she brought us congee that she made herself. She’s as kind as she is beautiful!”

The rescued crew couldn’t articulate the details, but the anglers who had been on the boat with her—especially Brother Hao and Xiao He—knew her quite well.

So, they promptly explained that Ni Bingyan had been on board filming a show.

By taking a down-to-earth approach, she allowed those she helped and those who witnessed her hard work to voluntarily speak on her behalf.

This was Ni Bingyan’s strategy.

’If you treat the audience like idiots, make no effort, and just try to get something for nothing, you’ll eventually discover that you’re the only fool in the room.’

Clearly, her efforts had not been in vain, and her hopes had been fulfilled.