Before its release, Director Zhang's ancient-themed New Year's movie *Hidden Melody Deep* had already entered the new session of the film awards and won quite a few prizes.
As the leading actress of this movie, Jiang Li was naturally among those in the running for individual awards.
The new year had just begun, and the award ceremony was approaching. In just a month, she would attend the ceremony and walk the red carpet in fashionable attire.
Matters such as the choice of fashion brands and the design of her appearance all needed to be carefully arranged by the company based on Jiang Li's wishes.
This was Jiang Li's first visit to the company after the New Year.
Wearing a hat, with her long hair cascading down her back, she appeared at Jiang Entertainment in a neat and capable outfit, looking heroic.
When not in the public eye, Jiang Li preferred to keep things simple.
Even so, her calm eyes were like still water, and her captivating face remained as beautiful and charming as ever. Wherever she went, her aura was overwhelming.
Someone looked up at her.
Jiang Li had come today to discuss with the company the matter of borrowing a high - end custom - made evening dress from a brand for the red carpet.
If it weren't for this, she wouldn't have set foot here for no reason.
"Sister Jiang Li!" Qin Yaoyao ran over cheerfully. Just as she was about to reach out to hold Jiang Li's arm, Jiang Li dodged without a trace.
"What's the matter?" Her tone was cold, hardly willing to say an extra word.
Noticing Jiang Li's distant attitude, Qin Yaoyao's face changed slightly, but she quickly covered it up. Her eyes sparkled as she asked with concern, "Have you dealt with the scandal?"
Although it sounded like a concerned question, her accusatory stance was very obvious.
Jiang Li crossed her arms and stared coldly at Qin Yaoyao.
She said, "Have you finalized the new year's cooperation? How's the progress of your new acting roles? Have you finished shooting all the brand advertising materials you took on last year?"
A series of questions left Qin Yaoyao speechless.
She lowered her eyes, her voice a bit dull and lacking confidence. "It's only been two days since we started work. There's no rush. We can wait."
"Yeah, wait then."
Jiang Li's expression was calm, but her words were sharp. "Wait until the new round of cooperation has selected new people, until the lease of the shooting venue expires, until the brand has to replace you with a new spokesperson because they can't wait for the advertising materials."
She paused, ignoring Qin Yaoyao's increasingly pale face, and said casually, "This industry is never short of new blood."
"As long as you don't care about these things, you can wait as long as you like."
Jiang Li's voice wasn't very loud, but it was clear, and every word could be heard clearly.
Qin Yaoyao's face turned pale then red. She bit her lip and glared angrily at Jiang Li. After a long time, she muttered, as if in a fit of pique, "That day will never come for me."
Jiang Li couldn't help but want to laugh.
If it weren't for the conflict between them, she would really like to ask Qin Yaoyao where her confidence came from.
Was it given by Xiao Yanzhi?
She smiled indifferently and didn't intend to waste any more time with Qin Yaoyao.
She was here for business.
Just as Jiang Li was about to take a step, Qin Yaoyao suddenly spoke up again. "But Sister Jiang Li, I heard that the public relations department plans to further fuel the relationship between you and General Manager Chen."
Jiang Li stopped in her tracks.
"Even so, you don't care?"
Qin Yaoyao's voice was clear, with a hint of innocence. "The draft scandal press release has already been prepared. I think you have the right to know."
Jiang Li looked at Qin Yaoyao.
Seeing that Jiang Li's face finally showed some change, Qin Yaoyao couldn't help but say proudly, "It seems that someone captured a video of General Manager Chen apologizing to you. The company plans to write that you and General Manager Chen had a relationship and he's trying to win you back, to expand the influence."
Jiang Li's face turned a bit pale.
There was such an incident, but Chen Siqi had only apologized because he had taken advantage of her influence.
It wasn't to win back a non - existent "relationship".
"Who told you that?"
Her voice trembled a bit, and her palms tightened gradually. "Chen Siqi and I have never had any connection. This is a complete fabrication."
This time, it was Qin Yaoyao who looked superior.
She crossed her arms and looked regretful. "Sister Jiang Li, you've been in the industry for so many years. You should have heard of'stirring up scandals' before, right?"
Qin Yaoyao described vividly, "Besides, the truth doesn't matter. What matters is the benefits it can bring to the company."
She deliberately raised her voice. "You just said that this industry is never short of new blood. So those about to be eliminated can only stir up old stories to gain popularity."
Jiang Li almost lost control of her emotions and rushed straight into the president's office.
Watching her out - of - control back, Qin Yaoyao finally showed a victorious and proud look on her face.
---
In the room, Xiao Yanzhi was sitting on a flax - white soft chair. He frowned slightly at her act of barging into the office without permission and said coldly, "Jiang Li, I've said before, knock before you come in."
Jiang Li's throat tightened. She heard herself trying to speak calmly. "I need an explanation for the scandal press release about me and Chen Siqi."
"What explanation?" Xiao Yanzhi didn't even lift his eyelids. "Just follow the company's arrangements. Don't waste the opportunity for hype."
He didn't say a single word about the scandal, but it seemed as if he had already admitted everything.
She looked at the man in a high - position in front of her.
He was mature and calm, no longer the green young man he was four years ago.
"You know that Chen Siqi and I have nothing!"
Finally, she couldn't hold back and raised her voice. "Why fabricate that we once had a relationship? I don't agree!"
This was a smear and slander of her.
It was also a heavy blow to her career and a stain she had never had in her life.
Once the so - called "past relationship" was made public, all her efforts and perseverance in the past four years would be denied. The media would also dig into her past based on rumors.
Maybe they would even say that everything she had now was achieved through capital.
First relying on Chen Siqi, then on Xiao Yanzhi. It would ruin her reputation and make her despised by everyone.
Just thinking about these things made her feel like she was going crazy.
Facing Jiang Li's emotional outburst, Xiao Yanzhi became even calmer. His voice was deep and had a magnetic graininess. "There's no reason. This is the company's arrangement."
"Just do it."
This simple answer was his explanation to her.
There was no reason.
Jiang Li's expression froze for just a moment.
Her anger and impulse seemed to be doused with a bucket of cold water. It was a long time before she looked up blankly, her voice extremely stiff. "Do you want to use this scandal to step on Chen Siqi?"