This Is My Planet - Chapter 53 - Chapter 53 – Deadline for Departure
Ling Moxue didn’t really understand why she had to argue with Yin Xiaoru like that. It was indeed unbecoming and out of character for her to behave this way in front of so many people.
But she couldn’t help herself…
Maybe it was because the term “live-in son-in-law” was too insulting. How could she, Ling Moxue, tolerate her master being referred to as a son-in-law of such an ordinary family?
In the end, she got scolded by her master, with punishment pending. She had no idea what to do.
Though she admitted her mistake and submitted, there was a faint sense of defiance in her heart. She thought, The things you scolded me for sound reasonable because you know I’m arguing for my own dignity. But what if I were truly fighting over a man? Even if I used the same words, would you still scold me?
Ling Moxue thought he probably wouldn’t scold her and might even feel awkward.
Right now, she didn’t dare to test this theory, but feeling a bit resentful, she looked at Yin Xiaoru with increasing displeasure.
Why was she, a female slave, scolded to the point where she couldn’t lift her head, while Yin Xiaoru, who knew nothing, was still cheerful, and Xia Guixuan looked so doting towards her?
It was infuriating.
So when it came to the issue of being an “agent,” Ling Moxue knew she could argue: “Mr. Xia is an independent individual, not your Yin family’s son-in-law and doesn’t need a guardian. His own contract is protected by law, and no one else has the right to decide for him.”
This last statement was quite cutting, using Xia Guixuan’s own words against him. Like saying: You made the decision to sign the contract yourself, and now this woman is trying to interfere. What do you have to say?
Xia Guixuan looked at her expressionlessly, feeling a mix of annoyance and amusement.
Women.
Yin Xiaoru, who was experienced in business, wasn’t afraid to argue back: “My Sindy is a naive young man fresh out of the mountains and doesn’t understand the devious tricks of modern urban life. It’s normal for him to be deceived. Would the law protect fraudulent contracts made by pyramid schemes? Cut the nonsense and show me the contract. I’ll see if it’s fair or if it’s a trap for my Sindy.”
What do you mean a naive young man fresh out of the mountains? And Sindy? Isn’t that a woman’s name?
Ling Moxue’s face turned frosty as she handed over the contract. “This is a standard contract. But if you insist on calling it a slave contract, there’s nothing I can do.”
Yin Xiaoru glanced at it, genuinely surprised.
It was indeed a standard contract. Although it had some controlling aspects, which was common, the details were quite favorable…
For instance, the company would provide Xia Guixuan with an assistant team, makeup artists, and stylists without deducting any costs from his pay, which was usually the case. All promotional and operational expenses, which typically drained an artist’s earnings through multiple layers of deductions, were also covered by the company.
Some of the most restrictive clauses were even removed from this contract… such as mandatory attendance at company events and having the company manage public social media accounts.
Top-tier celebrities might escape such restrictions, but newcomers usually couldn’t. This applied not just to the entertainment industry but to many others as well. Despite its advancements, the civilization of the Xia Dynasty still mirrored its home planet in many ways, sometimes even more so due to its martial prowess, which led to harsher exploitation. Even the noble sects and clans of the Divine Descendant society had severe internal oppression, and the Zert Empire was a full-blown slave society. The Xia Dynasty was relatively better off.
However, this contract was even more favorable than those for top-tier stars. Yin Xiaoru suspected that Ling Moxue herself wouldn’t get a better deal. In fact, calculating carefully, Yin Xiaoru thought Ling Moxue’s entertainment company might even lose money on this contract.
“Well?” Ling Moxue crossed her arms and said coolly, “My company sincerely wants to sign Mr. Xia for a collaborative effort to break into the film industry. Growing the business is most important; not like some small-minded businesses that always try to squeeze money from their workers.”
Yin Xiaoru: “… I don’t squeeze money from my own people… Anyway, this is about your issues, don’t change the subject.”
“So, do I have any problems? Did I deceive your Sindy?”
“You offer such favorable terms, which is highly suspicious. What are you trying to do to my Sindy?”
Ling Moxue: “…”
Yin Xiaoru became increasingly wary. This didn’t add up. Was this woman really here to steal Xia Guixuan? Otherwise, how could this make sense? Her eyes flickered as she suddenly asked, “I noticed in the script there’s still no actress chosen for the role of Chang’e, right?”
Ling Moxue: “What are you getting at?”
Yin Xiaoru smoothed her hair and showcased her S-shaped figure. “What do you think of me?”
Ling Moxue’s lips twitched. “Chang’e in the story has the character of a virtuous wife and mother, and later on, she’s meant to be ethereal and celestial, not seductive.”
“Then I’m the perfect Chang’e.” Yin Xiaoru nudged Xia Guixuan. “Don’t you agree?”
Xia Guixuan, who had been watching the two women with a scowl for a while, sighed helplessly. “Let’s talk about it later. With all this fuss, I’m losing interest in acting.”
“Don’t!” Both women said in unison, “That would be such a waste!”
They then glanced at each other, snorted, and turned their heads away.
In reality, one thought it would be such a waste to miss out on a promising start in the film industry, perhaps with a hint of wanting to get closer to Xia Guixuan through acting. The other thought it would be a shame to miss the opportunity to openly enjoy being fawned over by Tai Kang as Chang’e, according to the storyline.
Xia Guixuan, perceiving their intentions, said calmly, “Alright, Moxue, I assume you originally came to the Yin family for another reason?”
Ling Moxue lowered her head and handed him a bag. “Yes, this is the material you asked me to acquire.”
Although many things had happened, making it seem like a long time had passed, in reality, Xia Guixuan had only given her the material list two or three days ago, asking her to find the items. She had instructed her subordinates to gather them at that time… In just two or three days, it seemed like the relationship had changed a bit. The feeling of the master forcing the servant to do things had now become somewhat off.
Xia Guixuan took the bag, opened it, and smiled. “The materials are all top-quality. Thank you.”
“It’s… my duty.” Ling Moxue maintained her cool demeanor in front of Yin Xiaoru and said lightly, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
“Hold on.” Xia Guixuan took out a piece of silver metal and a sword-shaped plant from the bag, then retrieved a few herbs from his ring. He made some adjustments, and a blue flame gradually appeared in his palm.
Was he refining a pill or crafting a tool?
Ling Moxue and Yin Xiaoru exchanged puzzled glances. Was crafting tools this simple?
They watched as the seemingly solid metal quickly liquefied and changed shape, with unknown impurities being expelled into the surrounding air. The metal gradually formed into a small sphere, with various impurities floating around like cosmic debris. The sphere hovered in his palm, as if he held a miniature planet.
The herbal juices and special fibrous materials transformed into a gaseous state, swirling around like a nebula and merging into the sphere.
In the center of the sphere, an ancient sword shape began to emerge, its sharp energy radiating outward, making Ling Moxue and Yin Xiaoru’s faces sting.
This is… Both of them thought of the term at the same time: ‘Sword Pill!’
“You want to walk the path of the sword, yet you haven’t laid the proper foundation. This Sword Pill will establish your sword foundation. Absorb it and use it well after you return. Your body will naturally fill with sword energy, replacing your internal qi. Combine it with the blood from earlier and the sword intent from that sword. Meditate on your cultivation earnestly. Stop getting distracted by other things… Otherwise, how can you seek the Dao? It would be a joke.”
Ling Moxue stared blankly at the Sword Pill floating in front of her, the fierce sword energy almost forcing her to close her eyes. “You… you had me gather materials earlier, all for me?”
“I wouldn’t just take your things for nothing.” Xia Guixuan flicked the crafting debris into the void and smiled. “Go back now.”
Ling Moxue pursed her lips, instinctively bowed, hesitated slightly as she glanced at Yin Xiaoru, then turned to leave.
Yin Xiaoru watched her leave, scratching her head. “Your relationship with her seems different from what I thought.”
“Of course, it’s different.” Xia Guixuan said irritably. “Who besides you, this silly husky, would spend all day thinking about such trivial matters?”
“Who says it’s trivial… Didn’t she seem to enjoy arguing?” Yin Xiaoru didn’t complain about not receiving anything herself. Instead, she looked more serious. “I just realized you need materials for your cultivation. Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I could help you find them too.”
Xia Guixuan looked at her for a moment, then chuckled. “These things don’t help my cultivation… If I needed something for myself, I’d have to find it myself.”
“Then these are?”
“These are for you. Otherwise, how will you soar through the clouds?” Xia Guixuan said lightly, “The day you achieve the Teng Yun Realm is the day I leave.”