Translator: _Min_
My boss may be a person offew words, but heâs extremely reliable.
A boss who provides social security and housing funds for their employees is a good boss!â
âBy the way, our group has a joint engagement coming up,â Jiang Changning took a sip of water. âWeâre heading to MO City in Central Plains. Iâll let you know when itâs time.â
Si Fuqing looked up. âEveryone is going?â
âExcept for Meng Xue,â Jiang Changning clarified. âSheâs filming in Sijiu. The rest of us, the four of us, will go.â
âWow,â Si Fuqing remarked, lounging languidly. âThe company is really treating her well. Sheâs making her move into the acting world, isnât she?â
âBreaking into the acting world is no simple feat,â Jiang Changning said, her expression turning serious. âHow many idols successfully transition into acting? They often get outperformed by seasoned actors and then face even more criticism.â
Jiang Changning recalled an online drama from last year in which a first-time actorâan idolâhad been harshly criticized for failing to keep up with a veteran co-star.
It was why Feng Peizhi had been extra cautious when selecting roles for Meng Xue.
âBy the way, Ningning,â Si Fuqing suddenly turned to her. âHave you thought about your future? What will you do if I leave Tianle Media one day?â
Jiang Changning paused, genuinely pondering for a moment. âHmm⦠maybe retire from the entertainment industry and go back to farming?
âGreat idea,â Si Fuqing grinned, clearly pleased. âThen Iâll be your guest, and you can feed me until Iâm⦠well, not fat. I canât gain weight.â
Jiang Changning sai, ââ¦Get lost.â
âNingning, donât be so irritable,â Si Fuqing continued to smile. âIâm easy to take care of; a little grass is all I need to survive.â
âYouâre impossible,â Jiang Changning sighed. âItâs too early to talk about this.â
âBut why farming?â Si Fuqing propped her chin on her hand. âWhat does your family do?â
Si Fuqing remembered that aside from Meng Xue, the members of the Starry Sky Girls came from modest backgrounds. Jiang Changning hesitated slightly but finally answered, âFarmers.â Si Fuqing took her hand and examined it.
Her skin was fair, but the mottled traces of hard labor couldnât be faked.
âYour hands do have a lot of calluses,â Si Fuqing mused. âLet me give you some hand cream. After all, your hands are your second face; you should take good care of them.â
Before Jiang Changning could object, Si Fuqing had already pulled a small, palm-sized metal tin from her bag.
âHere, apply it once in the morning and once at night.â
Jiang Changning noticed the tin was quite plain and lacked a brand label. âWhat brand is this?â
Si Fuqing put on a serious face. âItâs âSisiâ brandâeffective and healthy, fast-acting. Complete a treatment in seven days. If it doesnât work, come find me; after-sales service guaranteed.â
Jiang Changning: .
Though skeptical, she carefully tucked the hand cream Si Fuqing gave her into her bag.
After all, she had just run out of her own.
Due to her laborious tasks, her hands were calloused, sometimes even cracking.
Jiang Changning had tried various hand creams, including custom-formulated ones, but none had offered anything more than basic moisturization.
However, she had never really been concerned about it.
âIâll be going now,â Jiang Changning stood up. âI wonât interrupt your training sessions with your trainees.â
âSure,â Si Fuqing waved her hand. âYouâre welcome to visit me more often, just bring some delicious desserts.â
Jiang Changning left, her expression frosty.
Some people truly shine when given a little sunshine.
As the day passed, the special assistant reported the results of their online efforts to Manager Luo. âManager Luo, it seems we havenât achieved much other than inciting the wrath of Lu Yanâs fans. Si Fuqingâs fan base has grown significantly; we canât win this fight.â
If it were before, when Si Fuqing had no one to protect her, she would have been destroyed by now.
The assistant hesitated. âI think we can only work through the production team now.â
âThatâs not an option,â Manager Luo set down his cup. âGiven the success of this episode, they would never agree to a rematch.â
The assistant nodded, âWhat do you suggest then?â
âLetâs compromise,â Manager Luo spoke calmly. â
As long as they could highlight this point, even if Si Fuqing performed exceptionally well, she would be cornered.
The assistant went to contact the program team again.
Cornered by circumstances, the director and the producer had no choice but to call Si Fuqing in.
It was the end of the workday, and Si Fuqing was planning to unwind with some hotpot when she was interrupted. The smile vanished from her eyes.
âSo, you want me to apologize?â Si Fuqing put her hands in her pockets. âAh, this familiar tactic. What is it now?
Sweat beads formed on the foreheads of the director and producer.
âTeacher Si, please, calm down,â the director was the first to speak. âThis is not from us, itâs your companyâs idea. We have never had such requirements.â
âMy company?â Si Fuqing smirked, her eyes narrowing. âTheyâre daydreaming then. How about I give them a new name: Daydreamers?â
Neither the director nor the producer dared to speak.
âTeacher. Si, we wronged you in the past, but this time it really has nothing to do with us,â the producer spoke up. âWe just wanted to give you a heads-up, so youâre prepared.â
âPrepared?â Si Fuqing tossed her soda can into the trash. âFine, I agree. Have them post to support me.â
They were dumbfounded. This agreement was entirely out of character for Si Fuqing. Werenât they expecting her to lash out?
âWhat are you standing there for?â Si Fuqing looked up. âHurry up, Iâm still waiting to have hotpot. Donât waste my time, okay?â
Snapping out of their stupor, the director and planner immediately instructed their assistants to contact Tianle Media. Everyone was left wondering what Si Fuqing was planning, but one thing was certainâshe was full of surprises.
Soon enough, Tianle Mediaâs official account posted a tweet.
â@TianleMedia: In response to the unfair actions during the first performance of âYouth With You,â our company has conducted a thorough review and will provide a satisfactory answer to everyone.â
Fans of Lu Yan immediately jumped out, still as aggressive as ever. [What kind of âsatisfactory answerâ? Nothing short of a rematch will suffice.]
[Si Fuqing, apologize! Apologize! Apologize!]
[How could you betray your own company, Si Fuqing?]
The public relations department was simply waiting for Si Fuqing to post her apology so they could proceed with their next steps.
Finally, at 7 0âclock, Si Fuqing made her move.
[@SiFuqing: There are certain matters I really donât want to fuss over. But alas, some fools insist on dancing on my triggers, hopping around as if theyâve discovered the secret to the universe. I may not have much going for me; aside from my good looks, all Iâve got is a wealth of videos on hand.]
As soon as this tweet appeared, the public relations department hadnât even had time to react.
The next moment, another new tweet popped up.
[@SiFuqing: @TianleMedia, care to explain the quality of the trainees youâve cultivated? Placing razor blades inside my studentsâ dance costumes? [Video]]