Listening to Xiao Yanzhi's condescending tone, Jiang Li felt a tightness in her throat and her breathing became a bit labored.
She straightened her back with effort. The muscles on her face were a bit stiff from forcing a smile, but it still looked sweet. "Mr. Xiao, tell me, what exactly belongs to me?"
"You can have whatever you want." Xiao Yanzhi parted his thin lips slightly and said in a calm voice, "Film and TV resources, endorsements, collaborations. Whatever Jiang Entertainment can offer, I can give you."
This was not an unfamiliar statement. He had indeed...
Just as he had said four years ago, he had promised to make her famous and give her all the resources and opportunities she desired.
As long as she was obedient.
"Be a good girl and keep your distance from other men. Don't make me constantly remind you who you should please."
The sky on this early spring evening was a deep shade of blue-black. It had rained lightly earlier in the day, and the air was filled with the smell of damp soil.
The cold air rushed into her trachea as she breathed, chilling her all the way down to her chest.
"Then, can I be the young mistress of the Xiao family?" Jiang Li let her long lashes fall, skillfully concealing the emotions in her eyes.
As soon as the words left her lips, Jiang Li could clearly sense the man's aura suddenly turn cold.
Xiao Yanzhi was extremely annoyed. He undid the top button of his collar with one hand, his tone turning cold and unpredictable once again. "Jiang Li, your acting skills never cease to amaze me."
His voice was low and incredibly sarcastic. "You act all pure and innocent on the surface, but in reality, you've got your heart set on marrying into a wealthy family. Your calculations are quite loud."
"I can indulge you, but you'd better not push your luck."
"Take a good look at yourself. What makes you think you're worthy of marrying into the Xiao family?" His voice was soft but menacing. "Don't forget, you're here to repay a debt. You don't have the right to make demands yet."
Jiang Li ignored his humiliation and continued to smile seductively. "But I don't want anything else except this status."
He was fuming with anger and let out a cold laugh. "What gives you the audacity to make such a request?"
"What request?" Jiang Li closed her eyes briefly. Her tone remained calm and composed, but upon closer inspection, one could see that her shoulders were trembling violently.
"Mr. Xiao, you've arranged my life, controlled my destiny, and cut off my social interactions with others. You've made me completely dependent on you, haven't you?"
Xiao Yanzhi let out a cold snort from his nose, neither confirming nor denying.
"You're the heir of the Xiao family, a man with boundless prospects and a bright future. But I'm just your plaything, a pet on a leash, isn't that right?"
Hearing the slight sob in her voice, Xiao Yanzhi was momentarily taken aback, but his expression remained cold. He raised his eyebrows slightly. "You know the answer. Why bother asking?"
After a brief moment of silence, Jiang Li forced a smile. "Mr. Xiao, I'll be twenty-five after my birthday this year."
"In this industry, my only asset is my young and beautiful appearance. But in a few years, when I'm no longer young and attractive, how will I make a living?"
In the entertainment industry, stars and artists come and go like a flowing stream. There's always fresh blood and more beautiful faces.
Nothing is permanent.
"Mr. Xiao is willing to support me now, but are you willing to support me for the rest of my life?" Jiang Li looked up and met his gaze calmly.
It was like a soul-searching question.
Her eyes were extremely charming, especially when she was acting. She could convey a dozen different emotions and nuances in just a few short scenes.
But at this moment, they were like a clear spring.
Transparent and pure, without a single impurity.
"Of course you can, as long as you want."
Xiao Yanzhi nodded slowly, hardly hesitating at all. "As long as you wish, you don't have to worry about not being able to make money when you get older. I'll give you the house you want and more money than you can spend."
"If you like, you can also have our child. I'll cover all the expenses for raising it."
His agreement was so quick that Jiang Li couldn't help but look stunned.
"Are you proposing?" After Jiang Li asked the question, she saw the obvious mocking expression on the man's face and realized that she had misinterpreted his words.
Right, how could he ever propose to her?
In the blueprint he had just painted, every single thing was about her being obedient and being his mistress for the rest of her life.
A mistress who would never see the light of day.
Jiang Li understood and suddenly let out a charming laugh. She was elegant and poised. "I don't want that."
"Mr. Xiao, maybe other women would readily accept such an offer. But I'm determined to get married and start a family in a proper and honorable way."
Her tone was soft, and her breath and voice were extremely gentle. "My dream in this life is to marry a reliable man and live a peaceful and stable life with him."
"If Mr. Xiao is not willing to marry me, then let's not waste each other's time anymore." She lowered her head to check the time. It was already half past ten.
Doctor Qiao had said that she must go to bed before eleven.
"Goodbye, Mr. Xiao." After saying this, she turned around and walked towards the corridor of the apartment.
Xiao Yanzhi didn't stop her, but he felt a bit annoyed in his heart.
Previously, in the relationship between him and Jiang Li, he had always been in the dominant position. But now, as he was gradually losing control, he felt a sense of anxiety creeping in.
Just as she turned around, he suddenly curled his lips. His voice came from behind Jiang Li. "It's hard to imagine who would be willing to accept a woman who's been slept with God knows how many times."
"Song Yu, Chen Siqi, or that guy in the Infiniti just now?"
Xiao Yanzhi curled his lips slightly and half-closed his eyes. He stared at Jiang Li's back, his voice casual but his words like sharp blades. "If they knew that you can be had for money, would they regret it?"
He repeatedly trampled on her dignity, emphasizing that her soul and life were in tatters and worthless.
Jiang Li stopped in her tracks. Her eyes welled up with tears, and a feeling of shame and embarrassment washed over her. She almost lost her balance.
Jiang Li turned around and raised her face, smiling. "Mr. Xiao is right."
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she managed to hold them back. They just pooled in her eyes. "You're right. I'm overly ambitious, greedy, and I'm delusional enough to think I can become a phoenix."
"A woman like me, Mr. Xiao should avoid like the plague to avoid bad luck."
After saying this, without waiting for Xiao Yanzhi's response, she straightened her back even more, and her shoulders and neck were stretched out.
She was like a rose in autumn, withering on one hand but blooming with all her remaining strength on the other.
She never bowed her head.
The man's expression remained calm, but his eyes were dark as he stared at her slender figure until she disappeared into the dark corridor.
...
The next day, Sister Chen informed Jiang Li about the work transfer.
Not only was Jiang Li being transferred, but the entire support team responsible for her was also being transferred to Huacheng with her.
Such a sudden work arrangement would have been considered a form of "demotion" in ancient times.
However, it was a relief that Xiao Ye was reassigned to work with Jiang Li.