“Let’s hear it. What do you want?” Li’s Father asked impatiently from behind his desk.
“Let’s hear it. What can you offer me?”
Li Jiao mimicked her father’s tone, maintaining that flat delivery while saying things that made his blood boil.
She had always responded better to kindness than coercion. Since she woke up, her father hadn’t given her a single pleasant expression, so naturally she wouldn’t speak to him gently either.
“Li Jiao! I am your father!”
“I know that. What about it, Father?” Li Jiao looked at him with a cheeky smile, though her tone carried no warmth.
“I’m genuinely asking what you can give me? After all, didn’t you give everything to Li Yu without ever intending to give me anything?”
Li’s Father was immediately rendered speechless.
This was the plain truth, impossible to refute.
Realizing this, his expression shifted repeatedly. He couldn’t understand – could hitting her head have such miraculous effects?
When did his eldest daughter, who used to only cry and make scenes in front of him, become so sharp-tongued that he couldn’t find any excuse to counter her?
Watching the man’s face alternate between pale and flushed, Li Jiao lowered her head and picked at the nail polish on her fingers.
The exquisite, beautifully long manicure from the original owner had been mercilessly cut off on Li Jiao’s first day here.
For no other reason than it being inconvenient for daily use.
Only remnants of the nail polish remained, and Li Jiao found it bothersome, so she’d pick at it while thinking.
She was carefully sorting through the chaotic, complex memories in her mind, trying to identify what the original owner truly needed.
The atmosphere in the study grew stagnant.
Finally, Li Jiao released the chipped nail polish she’d been picking at and looked up: “Since you can’t think of anything, then give me Gardenia Star.”
“Gardenia Star” was an entertainment management company under the Li conglomerate. It boasted countless artists, including top idols who debuted through survival shows, award-winning singers from the Chinese music scene, and actors who had won the Triple Crown awards.
In the entertainment industry, it could be considered a leading company.
And coincidentally, two years ago, the original owner had boldly ventured into the domestic entertainment industry.
Unfortunately, Li’s Father strongly opposed his daughter becoming an actor. Not only did he prevent her from signing with “Gardenia Star,” he even pressured the agency the original owner managed to sign with, denying her any good resources.
As a result, after one year since her debut, she returned to complete obscurity.
During the following year, the original owner couldn’t take it anymore and decided to fund two dramas herself, starring as the female lead while personally “guiding” the script development.
This resulted in two cringe-worthy Mary Sue harem idol dramas…
Later, because the male leads were all carefully selected, moderately popular idols chosen by the original owner, the shows triggered fan wars across different fanbases as soon as they aired.
In Fandom battles, it’s hard to say who wins, but only Li Jiao received pure hatred – her real-time social media mentions became utterly unsightly.
Although Black Fame is still fame, what the original owner truly desired was the feeling of being in the spotlight, adored by millions like a star surrounded by admirers.
While Li Jiao didn’t quite understand specialized terms like “Fandom,” “Black Fame,” or “Idol,” she knew that being universally hated was never a good thing, regardless of the era.
But simply put, according to her memories, the original owner still very much wanted to continue being a star.
Oh, not just any star – an overwhelmingly popular celebrity nationwide.
“Gardenia Star? Impossible! If you’re still rushing to become some minor celebrity, not only would I disagree, but even the Song family wouldn’t agree!”
Li’s Father slammed his palm onto the walnut table with a sharp crack.
“Oh, is that so? Then there’s nothing more to discuss. I’ll treat you to a show tomorrow.”
Hearing these words, Li Jiao’s eyes turned cold. She stood up immediately to leave.
“Stay right where you are!” Li’s Father was so angry he was breathing unevenly. “The company is out of the question, but if you’re determined to pursue acting, I won’t stand in your way anymore.”
He considered this his biggest concession.
Li Jiao was genuinely angry now: “Is Li Jiao not your daughter? You gave that worthless money-drain Li Yu a company, but when it comes to Li Jiao, it’s impossible?”
She turned around and took several steps forward, standing directly in front of Li’s Father. Her almond-shaped eyes stared at him with chilling intensity:
“Don’t forget, you’re the one begging me to cooperate with the Li and Song families’ marriage alliance. And I can turn their friendship into hostility anytime I want.”
Looking at his daughter who stood a head shorter than him yet radiated such imposing authority, Li’s Father not only overlooked her strange self-reference but inexplicably felt a urge to compromise…
No, not compromise—just a delaying tactic.
His eyes flickered as he said, “If you insist on having it, I can give it to you. But you must stop causing trouble.”
“If only you’d been this reasonable earlier. Bring me the deed.”
Having achieved her desired outcome, Li Jiao stepped back several paces, leaving the suffocating cloud of tobacco smoke surrounding her father.
“Deed?”
“Oh, I mean the contract.”
She still wasn’t quite accustomed to modern terminology.
“…” Li’s Father took a deep breath. When had his daughter become so shrewd?
But he was too mentally exhausted from their confrontation to bother with unnecessary words: “I’ll have the lawyer draft the contract now. Come back to sign it tonight.”
“Fine.” Li Jiao nodded, satisfied, and left without another word.
Though they were strangers, since the original owner had allowed her to experience modern life, she didn’t mind helping reclaim some of what rightfully belonged to her.
…………
“Damn it, as a grown woman, can’t you be less pathetic in the future!”
After signing the documents, Li Jiao sprawled out on the soft pink princess bed, holding up her phone to examine Li Jiao’s face reflected on the screen, speaking with frustration.
She genuinely hoped the original owner would stand up for herself when she returned!
With this thought in mind, Li Jiao began furiously typing out “How to Seize Family Assets” instructions in her notes app. She only stopped when her eyelids grew too heavy to keep open, finally drifting into sleep.