The news of Lin Xiu terminating her contract spread rapidly on Weibo, sending fans into a frenzy. They collectively slammed the company for its inaction and the boyfriend for living off her.
Competing companies watched from the sidelines with glee, occasionally adding fuel to the fire.
Rumors of Actress Lin throwing tantrums on set, smoking in public, and scowling at fans were all over the place. The negative trending topics still clung to the headlines, their discussion volume doubling by the second.
Meanwhile, photos from the terrible dramas Lin Xiu had recently filmed flooded the feeds.
Qingxiang Company was caught in the middle, like oil in a hot pan—stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Yet, the company continued to operate as usual, with no signs or arrangements for overtime.
The employees of Qingxiang Company couldn’t understand it. They started discussing it privately, trying to figure out why President Shen had prematurely made the contract termination public.
Given Actress Lin’s commercial value, the company had hoped to renew her contract. After all, “black-red” was still a form of fame, and Actress Lin still had the talent. Many big directors still gave her face.
Although Actress Lin seemed to be stalling on the company’s request for renewal, always using the excuse of needing more time to consider, the progress of the renewal had never advanced.
But Qingxiang was the top company in the entertainment industry. Backed by the Shen Group, it had the money and resources to be the first choice for both newcomers and veterans. Moreover, the company’s profit-sharing for artists was fair and reasonable. As an artist’s value increased, the contract terms would gradually be relaxed, and the artist’s share of the profits would increase.
No one could fail to see the situation.
They all turned their heads to look at that office.
The one-way glass made it impossible to see what was happening inside.
The money tree next to the computer finally grew a green leaf. Shen Qiu ruthlessly plucked it and threw it into the black trash can.
Shen Qiu twirled his fountain pen. Gao Cheng sat on the sofa, appearing detached and uninvolved, saying nothing.
As for Liu Chen, the soft-rice man of Lin Xiu, he was furious. “President Shen, wait, why the sudden termination? Look, Weibo is full of insults directed at me and Xiu Xiu. The words are so harsh. What am I supposed to do?” Heaven knows, with the company suddenly issuing a termination notice and a pile of negative trending topics hitting him in the face, his reputation was like a sewer rat. He didn’t even dare to step outside now, fearing that the moment he showed his face, someone would hurl abuse at him.
“And this will have a huge impact on Xiu Xiu.”
“How is our Xiu Xiu supposed to earn money now? Oh, and there’s the matter of the endorsements. Those endorsement companies have all spoken up, expressing their dissatisfaction. They said if this continues, they will demand compensation from Xiu Xiu.”
Shen Qiu laughed, her eyes flashing with amusement at the man’s absurdity. What was the real cause of Great Actress Lin’s scandal? Wasn’t it this man who, in his greed for quick money, had unilaterally breached his contract and even caused delays on set, forcing Lin to work day and night without break?
“Let me be clear,” Shen Qiu said. “You have no right to speak to me. Besides, who do you think is responsible for Lin Xiu’s current situation? The company doesn’t provide its services for free. Our contract is about to expire, and I’m issuing the termination notice in advance. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“The company clearly expressed its intention to renew the contract, but you were the ones who stalled, refusing to give an answer and ignoring the company’s scheduling. You acted on your own, taking on any low-quality project you could find. The company has every right to terminate the agreement.”
Liu Chen was left speechless, his face darkening with each word.
“We wanted to renew,” he stammered. “It’s just that Lin Xiu hasn’t been feeling well lately, so she couldn’t tell the company.”
System 003 munched on melon seeds. What a load of nonsense! In this modern age, you can’t even send a text or make a phone call? All excuses. What a piece of trash.
Lin Xiu stood there, her long hair flowing and her vibrant red lips striking. She wore sunglasses and a floral grey maxi dress, her arms crossed. She remained silent, but the dark shadow beneath her sunglasses betrayed her true mood.
“Lin Xiu,” Shen Qiu said, “you’re a veteran. You should know that the entertainment industry is a marketplace of fame and fortune. Your actions are only wasting your commercial value.”
Lin Xiu took off her sunglasses, her fox-like eyes rimmed with red. “I know. I’m sorry, President Shen. I’ve let the company down after all the effort you put into my career.”
“Let’s terminate the contract.” Lin Xiu’s final words stunned both her boyfriend, Liu Chen, and Gao Cheng.
Shen Qiu, however, showed no surprise.
Liu Chen’s temper flared instantly. His face contorted with rage, his eyes wide and glaring, the veins in his arms bulging menacingly.
“Xiu Xiu!” Liu Chen roared, furious at his superstar girlfriend’s defiance. He grabbed her hand, but his grip was so tight that Lin Xiu winced and yanked herself free.
They had agreed on a plan before coming here: no matter what, she would temporarily appease the company and let them suppress the public backlash first. Only after they had successfully set up their own studio would they use the company’s failure to meet their contract renewal terms as a pretext to terminate immediately.
“It’s over. We’re terminating,” Lin Xiu declared, picking up her bag and striding away on her towering stilettos, leaving Liu Chen behind.
Even as Liu Chen shouted her name from behind—”Lin Xiu, didn’t we agree on this?” “Lin Xiu!”—she never stopped.
The employees rose from their seats, leaning in to speculate on the scene.
Gao Cheng stood up from the sofa, smoothing the creases in his suit. “What did President Shen do? Lin Xiu’s reaction is completely out of character. Normally, she would have followed Liu Chen’s demands without question.”
“I didn’t do anything, just provided some information,” Shen Qiu said, gesturing for Gao Cheng to leave. “Manager Gao, please excuse me. I need to get back to work.”
“Alright.” Manager Gao was still curious about what his junior colleague had done. After all, his own top agent had drunk herself into a stupor, ending up with a perforated stomach and unable to even burp, all while drunkenly ranting to him about the “terrible things” Lin Xiu and her boyfriend had done.
Gao Cheng had always maintained a neutral stance toward unruly artists. He decided to leave without making a fuss; staying would only cause more trouble for everyone in the office.
Meng Xinghui’s eyes widened as his head slowly turned, following the departing figures of the Great Actress Lin and her boyfriend. Oh my god!
“President Shen also told the PR department not to suppress the trending topics about Actress Lin,” someone from PR remarked.
“That’s true,” another PR staff member added. “I was shocked when I heard it a few days ago. Aren’t they just pushing their cash cow right out the door?”
“My best friend at a rival company told me they’re trying to poach Actress Lin.”
“Your friend is at a rival company. Is the rumor about their top star’s scandal true or not?”
“How should I know? That’s confidential. She wouldn’t tell me, and you can’t ask me either.”
“Then what about Actress Lin—”
“Is she really going to terminate her contract?”
A colleague from the next cubicle leaned in. “Hey, Meng, have you heard President Shen say anything about Actress Lin? What are his instructions?”
“Yeah, tell us! We promise we won’t spread it around.”
A crowd quickly gathered around Meng Xinghui, their eyes gleaming with anticipation for the gossip.
Meng Xinghui played dumb, shaking his head. “How would I know? The matter’s way above my pay grade. I’m just a little nobody here. President Shen works from dawn till dusk—what am I to him? Hurry back to work, the HR spies will be here any minute.”
The mention of HR sent a jolt through the group. Getting caught slacking off meant a docked attendance bonus. They scrambled back to their desks with frantic speed.
Meng Xinghui slipped into the breakroom, grabbed a packet of instant coffee from a drawer, gave it a quick stir, and carried the steaming mug into Shen Qiu’s office.
Shen Qiu didn’t look up. He recognized the familiar footsteps—like a chipmunk, timid yet eager to keep up.
A steaming cup of coffee appeared beside his hand. The newcomer wasted no time stating his purpose.
“Shen Qiu, are we really going to terminate the contract with Actress Lin?” Meng Xinghui blinked expectantly, hoping his boss would give him a hint.
Shen Qiu’s eyelashes were misted with steam, but his sharp-edged pen never stopped moving.
“Too hot,” he murmured, his thin lips parting in a slight grimace of distaste for the coffee beside him.
Meng Xinghui rolled his eyes. You can feel the heat from here, you’re just talking nonsense, you liar, he thought, picking up the coffee and carrying it out.
Ten minutes later, he returned, leaning his chin on his hand. “It’s fine now.”
Shen Qiu’s fingers gripped the side of the coffee cup. His lips touched the rim, wetting his lower lip. “Too bitter.”
Meng Xinghui was baffled. What do you mean, too bitter? Shen Qiu never let go of his Americano every morning, yet now he was complaining that Nescafé was bitter. He was clearly just playing with Meng’s nerves—this wicked capitalist who enslaved him by day and tormented him by night.
Every single night, without fail, Shen Qiu would review the test papers and grade them, his words laced with poison, a masterclass in every kind of caustic tongue-lashing.
White sugar from a sugar jar fell into the coffee.
“What else do you want? Is it too cold now? Or still too hot?”
Shen Qiu looked up. On the table, a tray had appeared, holding two clear glass cups and an open square jar filled with distinct grains of white sugar.
Meng Xinghui felt a sudden surge of pride, a sense of accomplishment he couldn’t quite put into words.
Shen Qiu chuckled softly. “Since when did you have the leisure to plot against your boss? Don’t forget you still have a midterm exam this weekend.”
“Of course I remember, but this exam isn’t important. Are you really going to terminate your contract with Actress Lin?”
“She’s a three-time award-winning actress, famous both at home and abroad. Her endorsement fees are top-tier, with so many zeros,” Meng Xinghui said. He had once helped the administration office organize files and stumbled upon Actress Lin’s endorsement contract. The numbers he saw then still left his mind blank now. Truly, the celebrity profession was incredibly lucrative.
Shen Qiu set down his cup. “Do you know the old saying, ‘Serving a ruler is like keeping a tiger’? Never try to guess your boss’s thoughts.”
“That’s a major workplace taboo.”
“I—I was just curious,” Meng Xinghui murmured, quietly pulling his chair back to create some distance between them.
Who wants to guess your thoughts? Do you really think you’re an emperor? He was just concerned about Shen Qiu’s career. No matter how dense Meng Xinghui was, he understood that if Actress Lin left the company, the group’s shareholders would question Shen Qiu.
Since he had already come this far, shouldn’t he be working hard, performing well, and striving to get back?
But these past few days, Shen Qiu had been either on vacation or out and about, never returning to the company or home.
“Boss, we really need to take this seriously. Actress Lin is crucial to the company. If we keep this up, the shareholders will have an issue with you.”
Shen Qiu didn’t care. “Whether we terminate the contract or not isn’t important. Your performance is what matters.”
“Your future is what matters most, my dear Boss.” Meng Xinghui stood up, his sharp eyes immediately noticing that the new leaves on the money tree were gone. He didn’t even need to think to know his boss was the culprit. He grabbed the money tree and its tray and turned to leave.
System 003 was shocked, then broke into laughter. Wow, the little white flower is finally standing up for himself! He’s fighting back, Host.
“Shut up!”
Shen Qiu set down his cup; the coffee inside was empty.
He tapped the rim of the cup with his fingertip. “Meng Xinghui, your performance is what matters. The sooner you get smarter, the sooner I’ll be in the clear.” A message popped up on his phone.
Mr. Shen, it’s time for your medical checkup. Please come to the hospital as soon as possible to cooperate with the examination.
The office fell silent for a long time before a voice finally broke it.
“Meng Xinghui, oh Meng Xinghui… You’re going to be the death of me. I’ve entrusted everything to you, yet you’re not even trying. You still have time to worry about his future.”