Chen Siqi saw the person at the door of the room and gave her a gentle smile. "You're here."
Jiang Li nodded politely and said sincerely, "Sorry. I was held up by something just now."
"It's okay. I just arrived not long ago." Chen Siqi motioned for her to sit down and talk slowly. His gentle face showed an apologetic look. "The situation was sudden. I'm really sorry to invite you here to talk."
"I just finished a business engagement next door to this bar. It was a bit casual to choose this place. Consider it my poor hospitality."
Jiang Li shook her head indifferently. "It doesn't matter. It's the same anywhere."
She happened to be quite close to this bar. She originally thought it would be more relaxing for both sides, but she didn't expect to meet Xiao Yanzhi here.
...
Actually, Chen Siqi invited Jiang Li here to talk about a cooperation.
There was a public - welfare project under the Chen Group, which was a drama specifically for the left - behind elderly in the remote areas of Beicheng. They wanted to invite Jiang Li to play the leading role.
Although Jiang Li was young, her acting skills were well - known for being excellent. Moreover, her acting style was diverse, so she had always been very popular among the public.
Even the grandparents who didn't follow stars had an impression of her on the screen.
"The time is set for the afternoon of Chinese New Year's Eve. Is that convenient for you?"
Jiang Li pondered for a moment. "It's convenient."
Hearing her straightforward answer, Chen Siqi was a bit surprised. "Don't you need to go back and reunite with your family?"
"No."
She had no family to reunite with and no home to return to.
Since it was a public - welfare project without any profit - related content, it naturally had nothing to do with the company. It was just a favor from Jiang Li.
"The time is a bit tight. You may need to come here often for rehearsals."
Chen Siqi poured two cups of tea and placed one in front of her. "You can decide the time. Is that okay?"
Jiang Li reached out to take it and said with a smile, "It's better to follow your arrangement, Mr. Chen. I'm available before the Chinese New Year. I'll finish shooting a few advertisements this week."
Chen Siqi looked at her thoughtfully. After a long time, he laughed. "Jiang Li, you're really a dedicated artist rare in the industry."
"If your cooperation contract with Xiao Yanzhi hadn't expired yet, I really would have wanted to sign you."
Speaking of this topic, Chen Siqi had the idea of poaching her again. "I heard that you're about to terminate your contract with Jiang Entertainment. Do you want to consider coming to me?"
"Mr. Chen, you're overpraising me. I'm not that dedicated. I just can't stay idle."
Jiang Li gave a charming smile and spoke flawlessly. "Thank you for your kindness. Maybe I'll contact you actively when the contract expires."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
They roughly finalized the rehearsal time for the public - welfare drama and the performance venue. Then they chatted casually for a few more sentences.
However, as they talked, Jiang Li became more and more absent - minded.
She calculated the time. It was almost ten o'clock. Xiao Yanzhi should have left by now.
Although he usually had a lot of business engagements, he rarely stayed out after ten o'clock.
"It's getting late. Do you want me to take you home?"
After saying that, Chen Siqi knew what Jiang Li was worried about, so he added, "Don't worry. The risk of me taking you home is much lower than the risk of you being photographed when you leave the bar alone."
Chen Siqi did have the confidence to say this.
Jiang Li thought for a while and nodded slightly with a gentle smile. "Then I'll trouble you, Mr. Chen."
Before leaving the private room, she put on her mask and followed behind Chen Siqi.
As soon as they stepped out of the bar, the cold outside made her involuntarily shrink her neck and exhale.
They had only walked a few steps when they saw the man standing under the street lamp.
Xiao Yanzhi stood there with a hard jaw. His aura was obviously stronger than those around him, and the atmosphere around him was oppressive.
There was a cigarette between his fingers, and the smoke was curling.
His black car was parked by the roadside, as if he was just waiting for her to come out.
No one knew how long he had been waiting.
Jiang Li was startled and subconsciously lowered her head to avoid the man's gaze. "Mr. Chen, where's your car?"
Chen Siqi hadn't noticed Xiao Yanzhi yet. He was about to turn around and answer her when the man's faint voice came from the air.
"Jiang Li, come here."
His tone was commanding, but Jiang Li ignored it. She still stood beside Chen Siqi with a cold look in her eyes.
She didn't respond to him.
Seeing that she didn't move, Xiao Yanzhi impatiently licked his back molar and pressed his temple.
The next second, he stepped forward and directly tried to grab her arm, but she took a small step back and dodged. "Mr. Xiao, watch your image."
Xiao Yanzhi's eyes suddenly turned cold.
As if he wasn't surprised that Xiao Yanzhi would appear here, Chen Siqi just calmly spoke and greeted him as usual. "Good evening, Mr. Xiao."
Xiao Yanzhi didn't respond to him. His eyes only fell on Jiang Li's face, and his expression was slightly cold. "The artist under my company is actually staying with the boss of a rival company at night."
Hearing the sarcasm in his words, Jiang Li's expression remained calm.
Seeing her increasingly calm look, Xiao Yanzhi's face became even more gloomy. "Jiang Li, you're even too lazy to act now, aren't you?"
Jiang Li quietly looked at the man in front of her.
"Mr. Xiao, you've misunderstood." Chen Siqi said with a smile and explained, "I invited Miss Jiang to star in a public - welfare drama in her personal capacity."
In her personal capacity meant that it was a personal matter without any background or identity.
In other words, this was Jiang Li's own decision. Even as her boss, Xiao Yanzhi had no right to interfere.
"Now, can I leave?" Jiang Li raised her eyes and smiled. "Mr. Xiao, you should separate work from personal life. It's non - working hours now."
After saying that, she signaled Chen Siqi with her eyes. "Mr. Chen, we can go."
Just then, Xue An suddenly got out of the car and rushed to Xiao Yanzhi's side in a hurry. Just as he was about to say something, he saw Jiang Li at a glance and looked surprised.
"Sister Jiang Li, you're here too. What a coincidence."
Jiang Li wanted to say it wasn't a coincidence, but she had no reason to turn down Xue An's courtesy, so she just replied, "It's a coincidence. But it's getting late. Goodbye, Assistant Xue. Goodbye, Mr. Xiao."
Xiao Yanzhi squinted his eyes, and a cold light flashed in them. "You want Chen Siqi to take you home?"
"Jiang Li, I don't care about your private life, but you should also pay attention to your personal image."
Jiang Li responded indifferently. "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Xiao, but it's not necessary."
After saying that, she turned to look at Chen Siqi again, raising the corner of her eyebrow slightly. "Mr. Chen, aren't you leaving yet?"
Chen Siqi also seemed to be surprised that as an artist who hadn't terminated her contract yet, Jiang Li dared to reply to Xiao Yanzhi so boldly. He was a bit slow to react.
To be honest, Jiang Li was really beautiful.
Her beauty was such that even without makeup or dressing up, she could still amaze everyone.
Especially the way she was now, holding her chin high with a look of pride in her eyes. The whole person was like a rose full of thorns.
Hard to tame.
After Chen Siqi realized what was going on, he said with a smile, "My car is over there."