Inside the Qingcheng Courthouse, the atmosphere was solemn and grave.

Gong Muyao sat in the defendant's box, her face expressing no emotion as the judge's gavel fell, her eyes calmly meeting those of the accusers across the room. The plaintiffs averted their eyes, seemingly unable to bear the weight of her gaze.

"Traitor! Ungrateful wretch!" Du Sisi, sitting next to her, couldn't contain herself anymore and blurted out.

Gong Muyao silenced her with a glance, reminding her that this was no place for venting emotions. If hurling insults could help their situation, she would have done it herself long ago. It was more than just the lawsuit they were losing; what they were truly losing was people's faith.

Si Yao Studio had been hit hard for nearly a month. About a dozen artists they had signed started to run into trouble. First, they broke their contracts one after another and went solo. Then they teamed up and sued the studio, alleging that it had failed to provide them with the best resources as promised, causing them to miss many opportunities to shine.

To put it bluntly, they were failing to achieve widespread fame and blamed the studio completely without considering whether they had tried hard enough themselves.

Gong Muyao raised her hand and, upon receiving a sign from the judge, she spoke, "I accept today's verdict. We gambled and lost. It is our fault for signing you all in the first place. From a legal standpoint, you may have won this lawsuit, but morally, you have lost royally."

"I hope that we never cross paths in the future."

Having said this, Gong Muyao slightly bowed to the judge in thanks, took Du Sisi's hand, and walked out of the courtroom. Her face was calm and untroubled despite the daunting amount of compensation they owed.

"Beautiful weather today, a good day for a meal," Gong Muyao commented as they walked into the courtyard, the blue sky and bright sunshine lightening her mood.

As night fell and the streetlights of Qingcheng illuminated another bustling night, Gong Muyao found herself in a hotel bathroom. She leaned over the sink, sticking her fingers down her throat and forcing herself to vomit. After enduring several waves of nausea, she splashed the cold water on her face to ease the feeling of internal heat. Raising her head and looking at herself in the mirror, her eyes were filled with a cold, hard gaze.

She was supposed to meet with a client, Mr. Zhang, who had mentioned a few days ago that he could invest in the studio - a lifeline for Si Yao Studio to make a comeback - and Gong Muyao didn't want to miss this opportunity.

However, after downing several rounds of drinks and various courses of food, and not mentioning the investment at all, the director carried out underhanded tactics behind her back. Did they take her for easy prey?

Mu Yao Gong closed her eyes, forcefully suppressing her inner emotions, touched up her makeup. A trace of a cold smile hung on her lips as she turned around and walked out.

When she reached the entrance of the private room, the cold smile on Mu Yao Gong's lips abruptly vanished. Instantly, she resumed the facade of a smiling, charming lady. She swayed her slender waist and pushed open the door to enter.

Mu Yao Gong took a seat, held up her wine glass, and gazed at the man across with a beaming smile, "Mr. Zhang, I would like to make a toast to you."

"Good, good!" There was undisguised desire in the man's eyes. He squinted at the beauty before him, it seemed like the time was right.

Their glasses clinked together, and the man's plump hand naturally gripped her delicate and boneless small hand. The chubby face was flushed with excitement, "Miss Gong, you look very beautiful today!"

"Thank you for your flattering words, Mr. Zhang," Mu Yao Gong suppressed her disgust. If it were not for her logic reminding her, she was afraid she would have punched him already.

"Haha, Miss Gong, as long as I am happy, not to mention money..."

"Freeze!" A few police officers broke in, instantly freezing the atmosphere in the room.

Mu Yao Gong promptly withdrew her hand, picked up a paper towel, and disgustedly wiped the area just touched by him.

Mr. Zhang was taken aback and resumed normalcy a second later, the smile still blooming on his face: "Everyone, is there some misunderstanding..."

"We received a report that someone here is using illegal drugs, please cooperate with our search!" The leading police officer, filled with a sense of justice, interrupted him directly!

Upon his words, two male police officers walked over to Mr. Zhang: "Hands out!"

Mu Yao Gong stood there, a cold smile on her lips. She watched the man's slightly unpleasant expression. Her slender fingers had already dug fiercely into her palm, stimulating her somewhat blurred senses with pain.

"Report!" In the police officer's hand was a small pill bottle. The label was in English, with very small letters.

"Take him away!" The lead police officer ordered.

"Damn whore, how dare you harm me!" Mr. Zhang finally understood what was happening now. He didn't get to have any fun, yet he ended up with a whole lot of trouble on his hands. His bulky body charged forward and he swung his fist at Gong Muyao!

A police officer raised his hand to block his fist, twisted Mr. Zhang's arm, and Gong Muyao looked at him coldly, "Mr. Zhang, since you're so low, I might as well stoop to your level!"

"You wait for me!" Mr. Zhang said through gritted teeth, his chubby face turning livid with rage, that drug bottle wasn't his at all!

"Hmm, I'll wait nicely." Gong Muyao showed no fear at all, she had never feared scumbags!

"Excuse us!" The onlookers quickly parted, and the police walked out with Mr. Zhang.

The man turned his head, continuing to curse: "Sleeping with you was a favor! Wait till I get out to deal with you..."

"Behave yourself!" The policeman reprimanded.

Gong Muyao, who was following behind, could no longer respond at this moment. She was unbearably hot and her legs were weak. Leaning against the door, her eyes were slightly blurred; the effects of the drug were beginning to take hold.

Several people walked from the end of the hallway. The man leading them had a handsome face that was cold, his long legs striding steadily. Seeing a group of people blocking the road, he slightly furrowed his brows.

Gong Muyao's eyes brightened as if she saw a lifesaving herb, she summoned all her strength and charged over: "Gu Yuhang, if you don't take me away, I will surely make you regret it tonight!"