...
Jiang Li was sitting on the lounge chair, sipping the water handed over by Xiaoye at a leisurely pace.
"Li Li, did I hear you right? You said you just rejected Chen Siqi?" Sister Chen couldn't help but exclaim, looking utterly incredulous.
There were two major film and television companies in Beicheng. One was Jiang Entertainment owned by the Xiao family, and the other was Haiyin owned by the Chen family.
In terms of seniority, Haiyin had been established for a longer time. However, in terms of capabilities, the up - and - coming Jiang Entertainment was like a dark horse.
The competition between these two companies had lasted for quite a while.
If Jiang Li were to terminate her contract with Jiang Entertainment one day, Haiyin would undoubtedly be her most suitable choice. The fact that the other party came in person was enough to show their sincerity.
Jiang Li concealed the emotions in her eyes, picked up the water cup, and habitually touched it with her lips first.
The water was slightly warm when it entered her mouth. She took a few sips, then looked up at Sister Chen, suddenly smiled, and lowered her eyes.
It wasn't that she had the courage to reject Chen Siqi. Instead, she knew clearly that before Xiao Yanzhi decided to let go, her decision didn't matter at all.
After several fruitless attempts to persuade her, Chen Siqi finally had to give up. However, he still left his business card very gentlemanly, telling her that she could contact him at any time if she had any thoughts.
While drinking water, she scrolled through the entertainment news on her phone. When she saw the name "Xiao Yanzhi", she was stunned for a few seconds.
Some newspaper had captured a video of Xiao Yanzhi going to Qin Yaoyao's residence late at night. There was also evidence of Xue An buying fever - reducing medicine and chestnut cake in the middle of the night.
Coincidentally, Qin Yaoyao's official account also posted a daily post today, with a photo of a chestnut cake attached -
"The chestnut cake when I have a cold seems sweeter than usual. [Heart]"
At this point, the always - sensitive netizens could also read something into it. They left comments under Qin Yaoyao's post one after another, defaulting that this was a public announcement of their relationship.
Jiang Li lowered her eyes, and her slender fingertips paused on the screen.
Most of the popular comments were about wishing them a sweet relationship or eagerly asking for a photo of the couple. Even if there were a few negative comments, they were quickly drowned out.
The general trend was developing in a positive public - opinion direction.
She felt that the water in the cup had become much colder, and the liquid sliding down her throat hurt a bit.
"These netizens are really hasty. Wasn't Mr. Xiao with you last night?"
Sister Chen also saw these contents and couldn't help but click her tongue repeatedly. Just as she was about to say something else, Jiang Li slowly said, "He wasn't with me last night. He went to see Qin Yaoyao."
Before she could see the shocked expression on Sister Chen's face, Jiang Li's phone rang.
Just glancing at the caller ID, Jiang Li immediately understood what was going on. She answered the phone with a calm expression.
The man's cold voice came from the other end of the phone, without a trace of warmth: "Chen Siqi has been to see you."
It wasn't a question.
Jiang Li replied casually, "Yes, he came to the filming set to find me and said he planned to sign me and let me join Haiyin."
"And what's your attitude?" Xiao Yanzhi's tone was ambiguous.
Jiang Li looked at her fair fingers and said slowly, "Mr. Xiao's attitude is my attitude."
The man on the other end of the phone laughed. It was hard to tell whether he was satisfied with her or mocking her: "Jiang Li, you're really slippery."
"Slippery" wasn't a complimentary word. Jiang Li felt bored and simply hung up the phone.
The moment she saw Chen Siqi on the filming set, she guessed that the conversation between her and him wouldn't be just their two - person secret.
Since last night, she had been able to sense Xiao Yanzhi's hostility towards Chen Siqi.
This kind of vigilance wasn't out of concern for her, but just a company's precaution against another company.
As a top - tier celebrity with current popularity in the circle, she would be a rare cash cow for any company that managed to recruit her.
So Xiao Yanzhi was reluctant to let her go.
It was because of the profits she could bring to Jiang Entertainment for the time being, not because he had any special feelings for her.
She knew this very well.
Jiang Li rubbed her temples, dismissed the others, and only left Sister Chen. Then she asked in a low voice, "Sister Chen, have you signed the contract renewal with Jiang Entertainment?"
Looking at Jiang Li's calm and cold face, Sister Chen's eyes showed surprise: "Li Li, didn't Mr. Xiao tell you?"
Jiang Li looked up.
"He agreed that I could go with you to start a company, on the condition that you pay off all your debts to Jiang Entertainment."
Hearing this, Jiang Li was slightly stunned.
Debts to Jiang Entertainment?
Apart from money, she probably didn't owe Jiang Entertainment anything else.
"After I talked to you on the phone that day, I thought I couldn't always let you handle these things alone. So I went to talk to Mr. Xiao myself."
"He was more reasonable than I thought and agreed very quickly." As Sister Chen said this, the expression on her face clearly showed relief.
Jiang Li didn't say a word.
Maybe he was really eager to sever ties with her and even gave Sister Chen to her.
She should be grateful.
---
Jiang Li thought she had taken good enough precautions to keep warm after filming that scene. However, by evening, she unfortunately had a high fever.
The artificial rain curtain on the filming crew was, after all, not natural rainwater. The water temperature was a bit lower. Her slender body simply couldn't withstand wearing such thin clothes and being drenched from head to toe.
Jiang Li was curled up alone on the big bed in the bedroom of Ruiyuan. Her whole body was soaked in cold sweat, but she still felt cold.
She was so cold that she shivered in every bone.
Even after taking the fever - reducing medicine, there was no sign of improvement.
She was burning deliriously, her head was heavy, and she vaguely heard the phone ringing non - stop, like a death knell.
She struggled to get up, stuck her disheveled head out of the quilt, and answered the phone without even looking.
As soon as she answered, the man directly reported the address of a restaurant: "Get here within ten minutes and accompany me to meet a client."
Xiao Yanzhi's deep voice carried an order, leaving no room for her to refuse.
Jiang Li's voice was hoarse. Every word she said felt like a knife cutting her throat. "Ask Qin Yaoyao to accompany you."
Then, she hung up the phone.
---
On this end of the phone, Xiao Yanzhi's face turned extremely cold.
It was almost time for his appointment with General Manager Sheng, but Jiang Li was acting willfully for no reason?
"A Yan, otherwise let me accompany you."
Qin Yaoyao blinked at him, wanting to share his burden: "Maybe Sister Jiang Li is too busy to come. She's usually very busy."
She was more eager than anyone else for the day when she could replace Jiang Li.
It was just attending a dinner party. She didn't think she would do worse than Jiang Li.
Moreover, she thought she looked more amiable and appealing than Jiang Li. A successful and elderly person like General Manager Sheng would surely prefer a cute junior like her.
It didn't necessarily have to be Jiang Li.
Xiao Yanzhi remained silent, but standing in front of him, Qin Yaoyao could feel the gloom radiating from his body.
He called Jiang Li again, but what he heard was the mechanical voice saying that no one answered the call, gradually consuming his last bit of patience.