"So eager to curry favor with my mom. Do you want to marry me?"
Hearing this, Jiang Li bit her lips. Her heart sank abruptly, and she even felt a bit breathless.
Jiang Li hung her eyelids and didn't offer an explanation for a long time.
The reason she always carried the Suxiao Jiuxin Pills with her wasn't, as Xiao Yan had said, to please Su Jialan, but to ease her own mind.
Ever since witnessing her father's death right before her eyes, she had suffered from nightmares for a long time.
That scene was like a shadow, constantly hanging over her heart.
She had regretted countless nights. If she had answered the call from her father at that time, would the outcome have been different?
Would she not have opened the door to find her father lying on the ground, his eyes wide open in death?
It was also on that day that when Jiang Li saw Su Jialan lying on the ground, her lips trembled involuntarily, and her voice stuttered when she made the emergency call.
The same scene would trigger the same feelings she had experienced before.
She was afraid of the tragedy repeating itself.
She was afraid of another permanent separation by death.
Even though this was Xiao Yan's mother and had nothing to do with her.
Fortunately, Xiao Yan didn't continue to pursue this topic. He just sneered, as if mocking her overambition: "Do you think saving my mom's life will get you into the Xiao family?"
"You're daydreaming."
Jiang Li wanted to open her mouth to explain, but then thought it was a waste of breath.
If someone wants to frame you, they'll always find an excuse.
If he said so, then so be it. Anyway, Su Jialan didn't really like her.
And she had never dreamed of marrying into the Xiao family.
She glanced at Xiao Yan indifferently. Remembering what Sister Chen had said yesterday, she still felt it necessary to thank him: "Thank you, Mr. Xiao, for agreeing to let Sister Chen and me leave Jiangyu Entertainment."
"Over the years, thank you, Jiangyu Entertainment and Mr. Xiao, for cultivating me." Her eyes drooped, and she noticed that the cup on his table seemed to have been changed.
It was a light - blue mug with a cat's head on it, a rather cute style, a bit like a couple's mug.
The man also noticed her gaze. He raised his eyebrows slightly and stared at her coldly.
"Don't be in a hurry to thank me." His voice sank a bit: "Chen Yue should have told you. Before leaving Jiangyu Entertainment, you have to pay off all your debts to Jiangyu."
Jiang Li silently shifted her gaze from the mug. Her voice was calm: "I'll pay back the 30 million as soon as possible. I won't owe a single cent. You can rest assured."
Hearing the alienation in her words, Xiao Yan frowned imperceptibly, and his eyes turned cold: "Jiang Li, do you think you're still a newbie in the industry, or are you just pretending to be stupid with me?"
"What you owe Jiangyu is not just this 30 million."
The man's dark eyes rested on her for a moment. His voice was full of meaning: "In the past four years, have all the contracts you signed as an artist of Jiangyu Entertainment expired?"
Jiang Li was stunned.
She really hadn't considered this.
After all, since Jiangyu Entertainment signed Qin Yaoyao, most of the high - quality resources had been tilted towards her. There were few resources left for Jiang Li.
Even for the few brands that still had a cooperation relationship with her, it was mostly because the endorsement agreements signed before hadn't expired.
"If I remember correctly, the endorsement terms of your cooperation with the remaining brands won't expire until the end of next year. After you terminate your contract with Jiangyu Entertainment, in what capacity will you continue the endorsements?"
Jiang Li curled her fingers slightly.
Right. Even the New Year's film she was currently working on with Director Zhang was signed in the name of Jiangyu Entertainment.
Jiang Li and Jiangyu Entertainment had long been inseparable.
Xiao Yan was wearing his usual shirt. Two of his cufflinks were undone, revealing his strong and powerful forearms. He crossed his arms and stared coldly at Jiang Li.
Jiang Li was silent for a long time.
"Do you know why you've been able to stand firm in Beicheng all these years?"
Xiao Yan slowly stroked his chin. His eyes were deep and cold: "It's because you're Jiang Li of 'Jiangyu Entertainment', not just 'Jiang Li'."
Jiang Li hung her head. She could feel her fingertips trembling slightly.
She endured the anger of being humiliated and slowly raised her eyes. Her voice was calm: "I don't think so."
The background provided by "Jiangyu Entertainment" had indeed helped her a lot in her career and avoided many troubles. But every scene, every endorsement, and every shot, she had done her best to complete.
To look effortless, she had to work hard enough.
Her current ability was her greatest confidence, not Jiangyu Entertainment.
Xiao Yan glanced at her sideways, half - smiling: "So you think that without Jiangyu Entertainment, you can still stand on your own feet, right?"
Jiang Li remained silent, which was her answer to him.
"Very well. I appreciate your confidence."
Xiao Yan suddenly smiled, and his voice became a bit lazy: "Since that's the case, within three years after the contract termination, you're not allowed to engage in any work as an artist, nor can you join a new company as an artist.
"Since you've decided to leave Jiangyu Entertainment, it's only reasonable that you don't make money relying on the popularity you gained from Jiangyu Entertainment, right?"
Xiao Yan squinted his eyes. There was a cold light on his handsome and deep - set face.
Most artists in the entertainment industry rely on their popularity on the screen. If Jiang Li disappeared from the industry for three years, it would be almost impossible for her to re - enter this field three years later.
It was no different from forcing her to completely withdraw from the entertainment industry.
Obviously, he was pushing her to a dead end.
Jiang Li moved her lips. Her voice was hoarse: "Xiao Yan, if you want to cut off my path, you can just say so."
Xiao Yan's expression remained unchanged. He slowly played with the pen in his hand: "Jiang Li, I've cultivated you all by myself.
"Now that you've grown too big for your breeches, you're going to start anew. When have you ever seen me accept such a deal?"
He casually tugged at his tie: "If you're so determined, then just start over from scratch. If you don't have the guts, then stay in Jiangyu Entertainment obediently."
For the last sentence, his voice was deep and clear, with a strong sense of oppression.
Jiang Li held her breath.
It turned out that he never intended to let her go.
He had calculated every step for her clearly.
He had drawn a prison around her.
He didn't even want to leave her the slightest bit of affection.
She remained silent and stubbornly stood there.
"If there's nothing else, just leave." Xiao Yan rubbed his temples. There was annoyance in his eyes: "I don't have time to waste with you."
Jiang Li lowered her head. Suddenly, she thought of something.
Maybe it was her last trump card.
She suddenly raised her head and looked seriously into Xiao Yan's eyes. She said word by word: "What if I can persuade Sheng Shuocheng to invest in Jiangyu Entertainment?"