“Sis, are you the one behind Zhang Qi going to jail?” Long Ze sent a message. “That was brilliant! I never thought I could acquire Qiming at such a low price. They have so many artists under them; we at Stars Entertainment can just take over their contracts directly!”
“Yeah. Once the acquisition is finished, hurry up and sign Zhong Ying.”
Long Ze replied: “Understood! I’ll send someone to talk to her manager right away. Don’t worry, Sis, I already hold the majority of Qiming’s shares. This is just a formality now. Zhong Ying will be signing a new S-rank contract with us.”
“Why send someone else? You go yourself!”
Long Ze sent three question marks, followed by: “Sis, I’m the CEO of Stars Entertainment! I never handle signings personally!”
“Go when I tell you to go!”
Long Ze: “…Fine. Only because of the investment you gave me!”
Zhu Xingtong leaned back, a smile playing on her lips.
It was true that she had anonymously reported Zhang Qi for drugging Zhong Ying. However, the twenty-plus subsequent reports were not her doing. She didn’t even have to think to know it was Zhong Ying’s own handiwork.
If Xingtong’s report of the drugging could only be classified as “attempted crime” at best, then Zhong Ying’s twenty-plus pieces of solid evidence were a guaranteed way to put Zhang Qi behind bars.
With Xingtong pulling a few strings to smooth things over, she could ensure Zhang Qi stayed in prison for several extra years without any issue.
As for making Long Ze sign her personally, it was an opportunity for him. If he valued Zhong Ying now, the future profits and reputation she would bring to Stars Entertainment would be immeasurable!
Nothing made Zhu Xingtong feel better than this. She excitedly pulled up a TV drama starring Zhong Ying, keeping a bag of spicy strips (latiao) ready at her side.
Acting like a CEO in public, but enjoying spicy strips in private—how fragrant!
Hehe.
However, while she had successfully put Zhang Qi away, the plot had been altered, and new problems were beginning to crop up. Zhu Xingtong felt a pang of worry. She wasn’t sure how the future would unfold now.
Originally, Zhang Qi wasn’t supposed to go to jail so soon because Stars Entertainment hadn’t contacted Zhong Ying yet. Furthermore, the public relations storm caused by Zhang Qi finding Zhong Ying’s foster parents to cause a scene had never happened.
The “Butterfly Effect” of her arrival had fanned away all the trouble surrounding Zhong Ying. That was good, but…
“If something happens to Zhong Ying in the future, I won’t be able to arrive ahead of time anymore.”
“Just what do I have to do to protect my baby’s safety with absolute certainty?” Zhu Xingtong looked at the elegant Zhong Ying on the screen, falling deep into thought.
Today, once again, Zhu Xingtong was racking her brain over how to better protect her “baby.”
“…Secretary Yang, don’t you think my sister is paying an unusual amount of attention to this Zhong Ying?” Long Ze sat in his office, looking at his secretary who was organizing documents.
Secretary Yang smiled gracefully and professionally. “Perhaps it is because Miss Zhong is a promising talent? President Zhu has always had excellent vision; she has never missed a business opportunity she’s judged.”
“…No, I think it’s not that simple. First, my sister always opposed me starting Stars Entertainment, but now she’s actually investing in me for Zhong Ying’s sake. That’s one thing. Second, no matter how profitable the business, my sister wouldn’t be this invested—she’s not short on money at all!” Long Ze thought it over and over. “I think there is only one possibility.”
Secretary Yang was curious. “What possibility?”
“My sister has her eyes on Zhong Ying.”
Secretary Yang was surprised. “But isn’t President Zhu also a woman?”
“Secretary Yang, what era is this? It’s not strange to like the same sex. Although I can’t imagine where they would have crossed paths… love at first sight sounds ridiculous, but perhaps it really exists?”
Secretary Yang speculated, “Perhaps President Zhu is simply a fan?”
After all, Zhong Ying was indeed a fine actress.
Upon hearing this, Long Ze looked as if he had heard something absurd. “A fan? Impossible. When my sister liked celebrities in the past, she would buy them out directly, keep them for a few months, and then end the relationship once she got bored.”
As Long Ze spoke, he realized something. He suddenly looked up, locking eyes with Secretary Yang.
In that one glance, they both understood each other’s thoughts.
Long Ze waved his hand grandly. “Secretary Yang, draft another contract. Do it yourself. Use a standard ‘sugar baby’ sponsorship agreement as the template.”
Secretary Yang nodded. “Understood, President Long.”
“No, wait. Use a high-end template—the kind Zhong Ying can’t refuse! Show it to me once it’s written, and then we’ll take the contract to sign her!”
Long Ze slammed his hand on the desk.
He had realized it. He finally understood what his sister wanted!