After a long, tense silence, Cherry finally choked down her rage. Through gritted teeth, she hissed at her assistant, "Transfer the money to her." Then, without another glance, she stormed out of the salon, her high heels clicking sharply against the floor.

With Cherry gone, the charged atmosphere in the room noticeably eased.

Cherry's assistant, Jingru, wasn't as arrogant as her boss. Seeing Cherry silenced, she seemed somewhat embarrassed. Apologetically, she said to Le Hailey, "Miss Hailey, please give me your account details. I'll arrange the transfer."

Le Hailey pointed towards the makeup artist who had been slapped. "Transfer it to her."

The makeup assistant, no older than her early twenties, looked up. Half of her face was swollen, and tears streaked her makeup. Hearing Le Hailey's words, her expression turned to shock; she even stopped crying momentarily, tears frozen on her cheeks.

Le Hailey frowned slightly at the sight of the swollen cheek. "I didn't expect Miss An to involve an unrelated person. But ultimately, this started because of me. Take the money and get your injury checked."

The makeup assistant finally processed it, her Aldrichs reddening again. She stammered gratefully, "Thank you, Miss Hailey! Thank you!"

Once the transfer was confirmed, Le Hailey deleted the photos in front of Jingru.

Lily, the lead makeup artist, felt awkward that such a scene had unfolded in their salon. She quickly stepped in with a conciliatory smile. "Miss Hailey, please don't be upset. Let me do your makeup."

Le Hailey nodded and sat down in the chair next to the one Cherry had vacated.

As Lily began applying skincare, Le Hailey closed her Aldrichs. Another makeup artist nearby murmured softly, "Miss Hailey, you were amazing today!"

"Hmm?" Le Hailey responded without opening her Aldrichs.

"Cherry has gotten insufferably arrogant lately, ever since she latched onto someone powerful. Just the day before yesterday, Xiuxiu was doing her nails and accidentally pressed too hard, hurting her a little. She slapped Xiuxiu too, and her nail even scratched Xiuxiu's face!"

Seeing someone voice the shared sentiment, the other makeup artists chimed in indignantly.

"Exactly! She's practically fading into irrelevance. What does she have to be so arrogant about?"

"I heard she hooked up with a senior executive at L.N. That's how she landed such a great project like White Love Song."

"Really? L.N. executives are that easy to get close to?"

"I saw it in a gossip group one. Someone witnessed it."

Hearing this, Le Hailey opened her Aldrichs. "L.N.? L.N. Empire Group?"

"Aldrichs, exactly."

That's why she's so arrogant? Hooking up with an L.N. executive?

Then what about me, the legal wife of the L.N. Group's President? Should I be aiming for the moon?

The thought made Le Hailey feel even more disdain for Cherry.

****

Meanwhile, at the Royal Court Villa in the Upper East District, the front door opened.

Butler Shen was startled by the sight of the person entering. "Young Master! Why are you back so soon?" A wave of unease washed over him. Could the Hong Kong business deal have gone poorly?

Yan Aldrich had come directly from the airport but showed no trace of travel fatigue. Every hair was perfectly in place, embodying the impeccable grace expected of aristocracy – never a hint of disarray, no matter the circumstances.

Butler Shen covertly studied Yan Aldrich's expression. Surprisingly, he didn't look displeased. His usually stern features seemed slightly relaxed, even hinting at a decent mood.

Apparently, it wasn't bad news.

"Where is the Young Mistress?"

Yan Aldrich's Aldrichs swept the first floor, finding no sign of Le Hailey. Assuming she was still asleep, he started towards the stairs.

"Young Master, the Young Mistress had an audition today. She left very early this morning."

Yan Aldrich stopped in his tracks.

He remembered now; she had mentioned it that night.

But knowing the answer brought an unexpected, faint pang of disappointment.

I thought I'd see her as soon as I got back.

He had rushed back immediately upon hearing Butler Shen say she missed him. And now... she was already gone.

Yan Aldrich acknowledged with a curt sound, then turned and walked straight back out of the villa.

Butler Shen stood rooted to the spot, utterly bewildered. What just happened? He wasn't home for even two minutes. Saw the Young Mistress wasn't here and just left?

A bold, almost unbelievable suspicion began to form in his mind...

He asked for the Young Mistress the moment he stepped in...

Left immediately upon learning she wasn't here...

Could it be... was he only back this quickly because I told him the Young Mistress missed him?!

That can't be! Impossible!

Is this really my cold, detached Young Master? I wouldn't dare dream of such a scenario!

Butler Shen, dazed, pinched his own arm sharply.

Ouch! That hurt! Definitely real.

*****

Yan Aldrich walked directly out to the waiting extended coln limousine. Old Yan and the secretary inside were equally taken aback by his sudden reappearance.

"Young Master, did you forget something important at home?" Old Yan ventured cautiously.

He bought the earliest flight back, rushed straight to the villa... What else could it be but retrieving a crucial document?

Yan Aldrich pressed his lips into a thin e, offering no answer. The air around him grew distinctly chilly.

The secretary, glancing nervously at his expression, asked carefully, "President, shall we head to the office?"

Yan Aldrich's cold gaze swept over him, instantly silencing him.

A moment passed.

"Find out where the Sword Chivalry audition is being held today."

Old Yan and the secretary exchanged a stunned look. Both doubted their ears.

The President, who handles multi-million-dollar deals by the minute, is asking about a small TV drama audition?!

But conditioned by Aldrichars of working for Yan Aldrich, the secretary reacted out of reflex. He whipped out his laptop and quickly searched the media subsidiaries under the L.N. Group umbrella.

Almost all new dramas and films shooting in City A sought investment from L.N. However, the entertainment sector wasn't a primary focus, and Yan Tingcher typically paid it no mind.

"Found it!" the secretary announced, promptly feeg the weight of Yan Aldrich's intense gaze. He swallowed, lowering his voice. "At Film Mountain Plaza, 8th floor. It started an hour ago. L.N.'s Huanyu Media invested 40 million. The director is Aldrich Cheng."

Yan Aldrich narrowed his Aldrichs slightly, his expression inscrutable, thoughts hidden behind a deep gaze.

The secretary, trying to decipher his boss's intention, tentatively asked, "President... shall we go to Film Mountain Plaza?"

Yan Aldrich looked at him as if he were an idiot.

The secretary immediately understood, straightened his back, and turned to the driver. "Film Mountain Plaza." Silently, tears of professional anguish streamed down his heart.

Being the President's secretary is no easy task. Misinterpret a single look, and you get treated like a fool...

Old Yan was also deep in thought. Sword Chivalry? The total investment for that show is only around 200 million, right? Why the sudden interest in an audition? Is there hidden significance to this project? Does the Young Master plan to expand the group's entertainment holdings?

Could he have received some insider information? Is that why he rushed back so urgently?

Three individuals sat in the car, each harboring vastly different interpretations of Yan Aldrich's unexpected actions and destination. None shared the same understanding.