Li Qianqian paused mid-stroke with the pen in her hand, casually set it down on the desk, and picked up her phone to make a call.
“One of the company’s artists kicked in my door. Come up and handle it.”
The moment Li Baichi heard this, he couldn’t stay seated. He watched as Li Qianqian hung up the phone.
“Who did you call? Li Qianqian, what are you trying to do? Is your door that precious? What’s the big deal if I kicked it! Believe me, I’ll quit!”
“Go ahead. A worthless artist like you—what do you have to be arrogant about?”
Li Qianqian didn’t even glance at him again, picking up her black fountain pen to resume her work.
Li Baichi couldn’t stand it, but before he could speak, security guards flooded in.
Yu Shushu, who led them, had also been summoned by a phone call. She was furious, unable to understand how someone as grown as Li Baichi could be so stupid.
“Qianqian, I’m so sorry. Baichi—he didn’t mean it. He’s just been in a bad state lately. Sorry for the trouble.”
“Yu Shushu, this is the last time. If he can’t even manage basic emotional control next time, then he should go home and farm early.”
“As for you signing an artist who doesn’t even know basic manners—it makes me start to question your professional competence.”
Yu Shushu’s face paled. She keenly sensed that Li Qianqian no longer seemed willing to spoil Li Baichi.
Li Baichi’s explosive temper couldn’t tolerate Li Qianqian humiliating the woman he loved like this.
He shoved the coffee table over with a crash, glass shattering across the floor.
“Li Qianqian, what the hell are you being so high and mighty about? Who do you think you are? Shushu is someone you can bully?”
“Baichi…” Yu Shushu watched the scene, her heart pounding with fear.
“What are you all standing there for? Here to watch a show?” Li Qianqian’s voice turned cold as she looked at the dumbfounded security guards.
The guards could only step forward to restrain Li Baichi. He was usually the one who received all of Miss Li’s favoritism, so they had no idea what to do now.
The head of security could only step forward under immense pressure and ask, “Sister Qianqian, how would you like us to handle him?”
“Handle him the same way you’d handle anyone else. Treat him equally. Send him the bill as well.”
The moment Li Qianqian said this, everyone could tell she no longer seemed to be shielding Li Baichi.
“Fine! You actually dare to make me pay compensation?” Li Baichi was beside himself with rage.
No matter how unwilling he was, he was forced to be escorted downstairs by the guards, still cursing loudly the whole way.
“Li Qianqian, one day I’ll make you, you bastard, regret this so much you’ll kneel and beg for my forgiveness!”
Yu Shushu felt exhausted just listening. “Baichi, we’re at the company. Mind your image.”
“What’s there to be afraid of? It’ll be my sister’s company sooner or later anyway. Who would dare spread rumors!”
Li Baichi didn’t care at all. Once they got downstairs, the guards released him.
Yu Shushu didn’t know how to reason with him. All of this was only possible because Li Qianqian was willing to protect him.
Most of the company had witnessed the whole spectacle clearly. The few who supported him asked cautiously, “Brother Baichi, is the gathering tonight still on?”
“Of course. What are you all staring at? Never seen siblings fight before? We’re connected by blood—bones may break but tendons stay attached. She wouldn’t actually cut ties with me!”
Li Baichi thought viciously about how tonight he’d spend a huge amount of money, revenge-spending until Li Qianqian’s heart ached.
Yu Shushu walked with him toward her office, asking quietly, “Baichi, with you two fighting like this—did the male lead’s role in Epiphyllum come up at all?”
“Don’t worry, she said she’d give it to me. Today’s fight was just over something small. She was mad I kicked the door—that’s just my habit, I can’t change it. She’s not like you.”
Li Baichi knew Shushu cared a lot about this role, so he said something to put her mind at ease ahead of time.
It would end up being his anyway.
Yu Shushu indeed breathed a sigh of relief. The last sentence stirred a special feeling in her heart—Baichi treated her with exceptional respect, and was only ever polite to her.
“The Fu Corporation’s subsidiary is having a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its opening. They want to invite a few artists to play piano and perform. Has she mentioned this to you?”
“No, but don’t worry, Sister Shushu. I’ll make sure she gives it to you when the time comes.”
Li Baichi agreed without a second thought. Even though he was fighting for others, those people were all artists under Sister Shushu’s management, and the revenue share would go to her too.
Anyway, Li Qianqian wasn’t short on money, and she certainly wasn’t short on those kinds of resources.
As for those pathetic, cheap acts under Li Qianqian—they couldn’t even flatter people properly. He couldn’t stand the sight of them. They could just wait to be shelved and forgotten for the rest of their lives!
“Isn’t that a bit inappropriate…” Yu Shushu feigned reluctance.
“It’s fine. My sister doesn’t care about those small resources anyway. It’s all for your career. She doesn’t have the ambition or the brains for it. Anyone she gives resources to would just be wasting them.”
Li Baichi had nothing but contempt for the ragtag bunch Li Qianqian had signed.
That evening at seven, most of the company’s artists gathered at the largest restaurant in the capital.
Only the five artists under Li Qianqian were not on the invitation list. Some people wanted to curry favor with Li Baichi by mocking them, but not a single one of them showed up.
Gu Shinian’s mockery was barely a minute behind. He had just stepped out the door before that group came looking for him.
“Sister Qianqian, where are we going?”
“Yunhe Pavilion.”
“Li Baichi didn’t invite me.” Gu Shinian naturally knew about the much-talked-about feast that had been buzzing through half the company today.
His words were still euphemistic—it wasn’t just that he hadn’t been invited; Li Baichi had outright refused to let him participate.
“We’re not going to attend his banquet. I’m taking you to meet someone. You play the piano very well, and the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Fu Corporation branch just happens to need one. Whether you get selected depends on you.”
Li Qianqian’s words made Gu Shinian’s mind drift slightly. He felt a sense of unreality.
Still, he nodded. “Thank you, Sister Qianqian. I’ll do my best.”
Yunhe Pavilion
Li Qianqian had specially reserved a private room and even had the hotel prepare a piano inside. The establishment already had instrumental performances of its own, so this wasn’t difficult to arrange.
When they arrived, they happened to run into Li Baichi and his group.
Someone whispered, “Baichi, your sister’s here too. Is she coming to apologize to you?”
“Probably. And she brought some eyesore with her. No one is allowed to acknowledge her!”
Li Baichi held his head high, feeling a hint of smugness inside. So she couldn’t hold back and had come to lower her head now?
Too late!
“Isn’t this a bit much? Sister Qianqian is, after all—”
“Anyone who dares to disobey me can get the hell out.” Li Baichi laid down the harsh words.
No one dared to argue further. Offending Li Qianqian meant nothing, but offending Li Baichi meant there would truly be no future for them in the company.
Everyone could only pretend not to see Li Qianqian and stay silent.
Li Baichi walked step by step toward the front desk and deliberately announced in a loud voice, “I’ve booked out the third-floor private rooms. Those two are not allowed in. You’re a big restaurant—be more rigorous in your procedures! I don’t want to see any eyesores!”
With that, he turned and headed upstairs without so much as a glance at Li Qianqian.
“Brother Baichi, you were really impressive just now. But your sister already lowered her head like that—are you really not giving her any face at all?”
“What if she actually leaves? Would that let someone else snatch the opportunity? Has the male lead contract for Ephemeral Bloom been signed?”
“It was signed long ago. It’s mine for sure. You’re all making a big deal out of nothing. As if she’d dare to leave!”
Surrounded by flattery and praise, Li Baichi’s self-esteem was thoroughly gratified.