"Beyond the working relationship, we're also family."
Sister Chen looked at Jiang Li, her gaze sweeping across her face. "If I were just trying to promote you for money, I wouldn't have let Xixi regard you as her elder sister."
Hearing this, Jiang Li felt a tingling sensation in her heart.
Actually, she understood it all.
She could sense that Sister Chen treated her like a daughter, but she was still afraid.
She was afraid that it was all just self - indulgent fantasy on her part.
In a world where she had never truly been loved, any betrayal or abandonment seemed so natural and excusable.
She just couldn't be sure that she would be loved.
"I was wrong, Sister Chen. I wasn't honest enough. I was on guard against you and even concealed my illness."
Sister Chen looked at her lovingly, couldn't help stroking her head, and said with a smile, "You did nothing wrong."
Sister Chen had witnessed Jiang Li's changes over the past four years.
She knew this girl had emotional scars and a rough life. It wasn't difficult for her to fully immerse herself in acting, but it was hard for her to accept the world.
To accept this imperfect but still worthy - of - living world.
"Li Li, actually, I once thought of suggesting you go for a psychological examination." Sister Chen took her hand that was hanging on her knee. "There's a wall in your heart. I knew it the first time I saw you."
"Over these years, you haven't gotten better. You've just learned to disguise and pretend. It's my fault, Sister Chen. I didn't notice your problem earlier, which made it worsen so severely."
Jiang Li's eyes were filled with tears.
Sister Chen stared at her, her tone incredibly gentle. "Tell Sister Chen what the mid - stage of bipolar disorder means. Do I need to pay attention to anything for you on a daily basis? Are there any taboos?"
Jiang Li was stunned. She felt as if her heart was being soaked in warm water, softening.
She clearly knew what kind of person Sister Chen was and that she had been kind to her for four years, yet she still felt fear and caution.
She was so bad.
"Sister Chen, I'm sorr..."
"Don't say sorry."
Sister Chen interrupted her, her tone light. "If you really want to apologize to me, go and get the medicine in the corridor quickly. Don't let the cleaning aunt throw it away."
When Jiang Li got up, Sister Chen called her again. "Don't tell this to Xiao Ye and Jing Yi."
Jiang Li nodded.
It wasn't that she didn't trust them. It was just that Xiao Ye and Jing Yi were still young. Especially Xiao Ye, who was impulsive and might blurt out something wrong.
The fewer people who knew, the less risk there would be for Jiang Li.
In this regard, Sister Chen was more professional and knew better how to protect Jiang Li.
---
The next day.
Early in the morning, when Jiang Li arrived at the company, she saw those young newbies looking at her with bright eyes and adoration on their faces.
It was as if she had done something worthy of respect.
Jiang Li was about to ask when a newbie walked over, holding a list in his hand. "This is the list of those who signed contracts with Jiang Entertainment. The company signed all of us!"
Jiang Li was stunned. She took a look at the total number. There were really quite a few.
These newbies who entered Jiang Entertainment generally had a one - year probation period. Only very promising or capable artists could sign contracts and stay as official artists of Jiang Entertainment.
Artists who could become full - time employees of Jiang Entertainment never had to worry about resources and opportunities.
In previous years, only about one - third of the total number were usually retained. But this year, all of them were kept.
So some people spread the rumor that it was because Jiang Li had pleaded with General Manager Xiao yesterday that such a generous decision was made.
Although the resources couldn't be changed, at least it allowed them, these probationary artists, to become full - time employees, which was a happy thing for everyone.
For a moment, Jiang Li became a goddess in everyone's eyes.
Listening to the flattery and thanks from the newbies, Jiang Li didn't take it seriously. She just looked at the list again.
Wait.
It seemed that Qin Yaoyao's name wasn't on the list.
Before Jiang Li could ask, someone had already said, "Why does Qin Yaoyao need to become a full - time employee? She's General Manager Xiao's apple of the eye. She'll probably marry into the Xiao family in the future."
"Yeah, no wonder she's not on the list. She doesn't care about becoming a full - time employee at all."
"If she becomes a star, it might be hard for her to marry into the Xiao family, right?"
"..."
Listening to the discussions around her, Jiang Li's ears were getting numb. But when she heard the words "marry into the Xiao family", she paused for two seconds and tightened her grip on the list.
It seemed that this time, Xiao Yanzhi was serious.
The Xiao family wouldn't allow a female star to marry in, so they deliberately didn't let Qin Yaoyao become a full - time employee, but still gave her many endorsements, making her look glamorous and in the limelight.
He really had good intentions.
She just stood there for a while. Remembering that she had a short film to shoot today, she quickly picked up the script and turned to leave the company.
Some time ago, before winning the endorsement of Vitaly, in order to build the reputation of Jiang Entertainment's branch, she had taken on several commercial short films, which were all to be shown on the LED screens in the bustling areas for publicity.
Although the goal had been achieved now, there was no reason to breach the previously signed agreements, so she had to find time to shoot them.
The shooting studio needed to be reserved, and today was the reserved day.
When Jiang Li arrived at the door, the staff informed her that the previous artist was still using the studio to shoot a print advertisement. She might have to wait for a while, and he would go in to urge them.
This kind of thing was very common. Jiang Li nodded to show her understanding and calmly waited outside the studio.
Inside the studio.
Qin Yaoyao was wearing the latest summer clothes of the "Early Summer" brand, posing in front of the camera. Listening to the flattery and praise from those around her, she was so proud that her tail seemed to be sticking up to the sky.
Just then, a staff member ran into the studio and whispered something in the photographer's ear.
"Miss Qin, let's speed up."
After hearing this, the photographer put down the camera and said to Qin Yaoyao, "The staff just informed me that we need to shoot a commercial short film later, so we have to vacate the place."
Hearing this, the bright smile on Qin Yaoyao's face immediately turned into displeasure. "Vacate the place? For whom?"
She came here first. Why should she speed up?
The photographer didn't think much. "They said it's Miss Jiang Li. Miss Qin and Miss Jiang are both from Jiang Entertainment, right? You should know each other."
So it's Sister Jiang Li.
The displeased look on Qin Yaoyao's face immediately turned into a smile. She blinked her eyes. "So it's Sister Jiang Li. Then we should hurry up."
The photographer nodded in relief. "Okay, we still have two sets. After we finish shooting, we can end."
After Qin Yaoyao agreed, she seemed to suddenly remember something and said loudly, "By the way, don't I still have a jewelry endorsement to shoot?"
Photographer: "Yes, but Miss Jiang is still waiting outside..."
Qin Yaoyao smiled, her tone very affectionate and natural. "Sister Jiang Li and I are super close. We're just like real sisters. Don't worry."