Jiang Li leaned against the bar in the practice room for stretching legs, a hint of confusion flashing across her eyes.
Her rules? What rules of hers?
Jiang Li remembered that when she first joined Jiang Entertainment, she was just like Qin Yaoyao now. She showed all her emotions, good or bad, on her face, as innocent as a blank sheet of paper.
However, she would never have asked Xiao Yanzhi for help so weakly. She knew that she was dependent on him for money, so she always tried her best in matters related to her career.
Back then, she started from knowing nothing. In order to become a qualified actress as soon as possible, she often got up early and went to bed late, studying and practicing day and night. It was not until she had mastered every skill to perfection that she achieved her current status as a top - tier actress.
From an unknown newcomer, she gradually became a pillar of Jiang Entertainment.
He had clearly told her at that time that if she wanted him to help solve problems, she must have the ability to impress him.
She had done it.
But now, how was he treating Qin Yaoyao?
She stared at Qin Yaoyao for a while and suddenly said, "Mr. Xiao, if you have any objections to my teaching method, you can find another teacher for Qin Yaoyao."
She was not playing this game anymore.
"When did I say I had objections to you?" Xiao Yanzhi looked at her playfully. Noticing her unhappy mood, his tone was casual. "I'm just reminding you that Yaoyao is different from you."
Indeed, they were different.
He called her "Yaoyao" so affectionately, while after all these years with him, she was still just a cold and distant "Jiang Li" to him.
The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.
Just then, Qin Yaoyao, who had been silent for a long time, quickly asked, "Mr. Xiao, didn't you say there was a party tonight? Let's go quickly. It will be a traffic jam if we're any later."
Jiang Li paused slightly and remembered that it was the 15th today.
On the 15th of every month, it was a long - established tradition for those young masters to get together and drink. Xiao Yanzhi couldn't decline. Usually, he would take Jiang Li with him to help him drink.
It seemed that this time he was going to take Qin Yaoyao.
Jiang Li lowered her eyelashes. After hesitating for a while, she still couldn't help but whisper, "It's not appropriate to take her to that kind of place."
Xiao Yanzhi didn't answer her. He just grabbed Qin Yaoyao and left, not even bothering to save her any face.
Qin Yaoyao was dragged away by Xiao Yanzhi. She kept looking back at Jiang Li from time to time, with a look of triumph in her eyes. It was not until she got into the passenger seat that she put on an innocent look again.
"Mr. Xiao, who are we going to meet? Why did Sister Jiang Li say it's not appropriate to take me there?" She tilted her head, looking innocent and pure.
Xiao Yanzhi showed no expression on his face, but his tone was much gentler than when he talked to Jiang Li just now. "Is it inappropriate just because she says so? I decide who I take."
Qin Yaoyao noticed the fleeting annoyance on Xiao Yanzhi's face. While feeling relieved, she couldn't help but feel secretly happy.
Yes, why did Jiang Li think that she was the only one who could be Xiao Yanzhi's female companion?
Moreover, a handsome and wealthy boss like Xiao Yanzhi, who had everything, couldn't be satisfied with just one woman for four years.
Without even a proper title, Qin Yaoyao was more convinced that Jiang Li was doomed to be abandoned.
It was a man's nature to lose interest in a woman as she aged. Even a beautiful and outstanding woman like Jiang Li would change over time. It was only natural for him to get bored.
What Xiao Yanzhi needed was a young and tender woman like her.
Thinking of this, she became even more proud.
—
They left a bit late from Jiang Li's place. Coupled with the rush - hour traffic, by the time they reached the private room, Xiao Yanzhi and Qin Yaoyao were the last to arrive.
As soon as they pushed open the door and sat down, everyone was surprised to see the new face beside Xiao Yanzhi. They exchanged a few silent glances and showed knowing smiles.
Qin Yaoyao had rarely been to such occasions, so she was a bit nervous. She tugged at the cuff of Xiao Yanzhi's sleeve with her small hand and didn't even dare to raise her eyes.
This shy look only made everyone more curious about her.
"Yanzhi, this young girl looks so unfamiliar. Where did you find her?" Someone couldn't hold back and started joking. "I didn't expect you, who usually look so proper, to have this kind of preference."
"Is this young girl just graduated? She looks so young. You really act fast, Yanzhi."
Xiao Yanzhi remained calm. He picked up his wine glass and took a sip. "The young girl is timid. Don't make random jokes."
This sentence clearly established Qin Yaoyao's status. Several men who wanted to make dirty jokes immediately dared not continue.
These people might play around, but they must never make fun of Xiao Yanzhi without permission.
Of course, they couldn't make fun of the people around Xiao Yanzhi either.
Among them, Song Yu had the closest relationship with Xiao Yanzhi. He raised his glass and clinked it with Xiao Yanzhi's. His tone was a bit playful. "Where's Jiang Li? Didn't you bring her?"
The moment this name was mentioned, the noise in the private room became even quieter.
Everyone knew that Xiao Yanzhi usually brought Jiang Li with him.
Qin Yaoyao's face changed slightly. She lowered her head and shrank back, looking a bit dejected.
Xiao Yanzhi's expression remained unchanged. He just pushed Song Yu lightly and said casually, "Why mention her? It's boring."
Song Yu was stunned for a moment and read two meanings from his tone.
One was that Jiang Li had completely fallen out of favor with Xiao Yanzhi; the other was that the two had had a fight, and he deliberately found a young girl to anger Jiang Li.
Not yet sure which one it was, Song Yu pursed his lips and smiled. He deliberately asked again, "Judging from what you said, can I pursue Jiang Li?"
Putting aside the fact that she had been with Xiao Yanzhi for four years, Song Yu quite liked Jiang Li.
Both her appearance and her personality.
Xiao Yanzhi looked at Song Yu with his dark eyes. His thin lips parted slightly, and his tone was as cold as before. "If Lawyer Song likes to pick up what others don't want, it's up to you."
After saying that, he picked up his glass and clinked it with everyone's, obviously not wanting to continue this topic. "Let me introduce, this is Qin Yaoyao."
The people here were all perceptive. They immediately understood how much Xiao Yanzhi cared about Qin Yaoyao. One by one, they started to toast her with smiles.
Qin Yaoyao was both happy and a bit flustered when she saw everyone suddenly become so enthusiastic. She leaned closer to Xiao Yanzhi and whispered, "Mr. Xiao, I don't know how to drink."
Xiao Yanzhi frowned slightly and then quickly relaxed.
"Yaoyao is young and doesn't know how to drink. Come at me instead." His voice was deep, with a hint of his unique charm.
As soon as he said this, the brothers in the private room became even more excited.
After knowing him for so many years, they had never seen Xiao Yanzhi so willing to be drunk.
Everyone was extremely excited. They rolled up their sleeves and found all kinds of excuses to toast Xiao Yanzhi. In a short while, he had drunk several glasses of wine, and the feeling of drunkenness and discomfort began to set in.
...
Jiang Li was tired after a whole afternoon. She took a taxi home, had a simple meal, and was about to take a hot bath and go to bed when her phone rang.
She glanced at the caller ID, paused for a moment, hesitated for a few seconds, and then answered the call.
"Come and pick me up."