Jiang Li ignored it all and strode into the office, closing the door behind her.
Xiao Yanzhi lifted his eyelids and fixed his gaze on her. His voice was cold and deep. "Sit down."
Jiang Li thought for two seconds and then shook her head. "No, I have a photo shoot this afternoon. Just say what you want to say."
He nodded slightly and didn't argue with her. He went straight to the point. "Recently, what's your opinion on the company's decision to shift its focus to cultivating Qin Yaoyao?"
"I have no opinion," she replied calmly. "The company's development needs fresh blood. It's reasonable to cultivate new talents. I agree."
Xiao Yanzhi narrowed his eyes and let out a cold snort. Then he took out a folder from the drawer and threw it directly in front of Jiang Li. "Since you have no opinion, why are there so many negative remarks on the Internet about the supposed feud between you and Qin Yaoyao?"
Jiang Li picked it up and flipped through it. It turned out that several well - known bloggers had fabricated articles about the supposed in - fighting between the two of them based on the recent replacement of brand ambassadors by several advertisers and the fact that Qin Yaoyao had received too many resources that didn't match her status.
This kind of thing was common in the industry. It was nothing more than marketing accounts trying to attract attention. It had no truth to it.
Moreover, Jiang Li was a star at the center of the storm. There were countless articles about her. She was already used to it.
As the boss of an entertainment company, Xiao Yanzhi should also understand these things.
"It's just a means for online bloggers to attract attention. There's no need to take it seriously."
Jiang Li pursed her lips. Her tone was not very concerned. "Qin Yaoyao got a big - name endorsement as soon as she entered the industry. It's inevitable that people will be suspicious. This is a risk she should have considered before accepting the endorsement."
"Are you saying that Jiang Entertainment shouldn't give Qin Yaoyao resources?" Xiao Yanzhi said with a straight face. "Or do you think that Jiang Entertainment's resources must be given to you?"
Jiang Li's expression visibly paused. She looked at Xiao Yanzhi and said, "Mr. Xiao, in this industry, it's all about ability. One should get what one deserves according to their ability."
After she finished speaking, she pursed her lips again. "This is what you told me personally back then."
"Are you saying that you're more capable than Qin Yaoyao?" Xiao Yanzhi's eyebrows gradually knitted together. He raised his eyebrows and looked at Jiang Li's face, casually crossing his arms. "Jiang Li, you're becoming more and more confident."
"Which of your current achievements wasn't given to you by me? After being the top - tier star for four years, do you really think you're irreplaceable?"
His words were full of disdain and ridicule.
No matter how well - known Jiang Li was or how excellent her acting skills were, whether she could continue to make a living in Beicheng was just a matter of Xiao Yanzhi's whim.
In short, her so - called "excellence" was nothing in his eyes.
If he wanted to, he could easily create a second "Jiang Li".
Jiang Li stood there in a daze. The heater in the office was on full blast, but she still felt a bone - chilling cold. Even her fingertips were cold.
Every word of his was like a knife, stabbing into her chest bit by bit. The pain spread throughout her body.
Jiang Li stood there with her fists clenched. Her face was a little pale. She swallowed hard. "Mr. Xiao, if you have a big problem with me, you can terminate my contract."
Jiang Li's voice was very low, but her tone was resolute.
She could be humble, but in the face of the fact that Xiao Yanzhi clearly intended to abandon her, she would never compromise.
Xiao Yanzhi's face immediately darkened. He stared intently at Jiang Li's expressionless face. His voice was cold. "You don't want to do this anymore?"
Jiang Li lowered her eyes. Her hands hanging by her sides curled up slightly. "Do I have the right to choose?"
She was right. Whether to terminate the contract or continue working for Jiang Entertainment was not within her control.
Xiao Yanzhi stared at Jiang Li. His eyes gradually changed from coldness to impatience.
Then, as if he remembered something, the ridicule and contempt in his tone reached the extreme. "You're so confident in asking for contract termination. Is it because you think you've got in with Song Yu and you'll have nothing to worry about in the future?"
Jiang Li never expected Xiao Yanzhi to suddenly bring up Song Yu. She suddenly looked up at him, trying hard to suppress her anger. She said word by word, "He's your friend."
Xiao Yanzhi leaned back slightly. His tone was casual. "Of course I know he's my friend, but it doesn't stop you from having other ideas, does it?"
His words were full of slander against her.
Xiao Yanzhi looked at her mockingly. His tone was playful. "When we were drinking that day, Song Yu said he wanted to chase you and asked if I agreed."
Jiang Li frowned.
Xiao Yanzhi continued nonchalantly, "Why wouldn't I agree? As long as Lawyer Song doesn't mind that I've had you for four years, it's up to him."
"Anyway, I'm bored with you. Why don't you really give it a try with Song Yu?"
Almost instantly, Jiang Li clenched her fists tightly.
She barely managed to hold back her emotions. She really wanted to slap him across the face!
But reason told her that if she did so, apart from getting momentary relief, she would surely offend Xiao Yanzhi, and her future days would be even more difficult.
She dug her nails into her fingers again and again to control her emotions. Her tone was still as calm as a still pond. "Mr. Xiao, you're joking. I'm currently an artist of Jiang Entertainment. I have nothing to do with Lawyer Song. You don't need to worry about it."
Hearing her answer, Xiao Yanzhi's eyes flickered. His tone suddenly turned cold. "Since you know you're an employee of Jiang Entertainment, don't act so familiar with Song Yu. You even asked him to help issue a clarification announcement. Do you think the scandal isn't big enough, right?"
So, after going around in such a big circle, this was what he wanted to argue with her about.
Jiang Li was silent for a while. She bit her lower lip and said softly, "I didn't want to do this either, but the public relations department of Jiang Entertainment didn't do their job. I had no choice but to do this to protect my reputation."
"I'm about to start filming. If my reputation is too bad, it will affect Director Zhang's whole crew. The box - office of the movie will also be affected when it's released later."
Her explanation was gentle. Towards the end, there was even a rare look of desolation on her usually cold and aloof face.
Xiao Yanzhi's eyebrows gradually knitted together. The emotions in his eyes changed slightly. The corners of his eyes lifted involuntarily. "Next time you encounter such a thing, you can explain it to me clearly."
Jiang Li pursed her lips.
Hadn't she explained clearly enough before?
He was the one who had shown an attitude of indifference at first, and now he was the one asking her to explain clearly.
Seeing that he had nothing else to say, Jiang Li said in a low voice that she had to go for the photo shoot and was about to leave.
Xiao Yanzhi parted his thin lips and called out to her. "Yaoyao respects you as a senior very much. Because of the media rumors recently, she's been in a very low mood. Go and cheer her up."