Chapter 024: A Negotiation Between Businesspeople

“It’s either this person who can’t stand me, or that one who has a problem with me.”

Being disliked in the entertainment industry was expected. But being so severely disliked even at home—what was that supposed to be? Too close for comfort, nothing left but disappointment?

Fang Yimeng’s tone was aggrieved as she held her phone with both hands, staring at yet another message from her father on WeChat.

Old Fang: “Can’t even remember to fold the blanket before going out!”

Fang Yimeng: … There’s just no way she can keep living in this house anymore.

Lu Jingshan glanced at her charming face, now tinged with rare sadness and frustration. His mind flashed back to how spirited and dedicated she had been while filming the show.

A small tremor stirred in his chest. He couldn’t bear to see her upset.

Especially not this bright, vibrant woman—bearing grievances that were completely unearned.

Just as Lu Jingshan looked down, ready to send a prepared Weibo post through his assistant, Fang Yimeng suddenly looked up at him. She shifted her body slightly, turning toward the man in the passenger seat.

With sincerity in her eyes, she gently grabbed his arm, staring intently at his sharp profile, her gaze lingering on his high-bridged nose.

“Is the property management at your apartment good? Maybe I should move.” She had figured it out—distance creates beauty.

His fingers, poised over the keyboard, froze midair.

He lifted his eyelids, eyes dark and steady. For a moment, confusion flashed across his face before being replaced by helpless understanding.

He realized there was a misunderstanding between them.

“You’re upset… not because of the online bullying over the stage drama incident on Weibo?”

Still, Lu Jingshan wanted to double-check what had actually upset her.

Fang Yimeng blinked in confusion. “Huh?” she said, then pulled her hand back, brows slightly furrowed.

“Do you think I can’t take criticism? That I’d be defeated by a few lousy comments from netizens?”

She would never admit it—her mood had plummeted thanks to a harsh message from her dad.

Lu Jingshan was silent for a moment. He sighed, tossed his phone into the center console storage, then reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose.

He gently pushed Fang Yimeng out of the driver’s seat, and the two of them swapped places.

“Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?” he asked, buckling his seatbelt and adjusting his seat, preparing to drive.

She had just raised her seat back when she heard him.

“Wait… we’re not going back to my place?”

“There’s a project I’d like to discuss with you.”

Seeing the puzzled look on her face, he didn’t press her to pick a place to eat. Instead, he calmly explained his idea.

Fang Yimeng started to understand. She frowned slightly. “You want to talk business? What—weren’t you satisfied with the last contract?”

He had originally planned to find a quiet place and properly talk about the collaboration. But Fang Yimeng’s imagination had already taken the situation way off track.

“It’s not about the contract,” he said after a pause. “The company is planning to launch a new app soon. According to the marketing plan, we’ll need a spokesperson to break into the market.”

Now she understood.

She pointed at herself, then at him. Then she pulled out her phone, opened her Weibo Super Topic, and held it up to his face.

Laying all her cards on the table, she said honestly, “Look at my reputation—I’m practically the nation’s punching bag. You really want to pick me? Don’t blame me if your product tanks…”

Before she could finish, Lu Jingshan’s expression darkened. For the first time, he interrupted her—firm and unwavering.

“But you’re the only one I want.”

He couldn’t bear her self-doubt.

Fang Yimeng: “…”

Had her little brother gone completely insane from all the money he’d already sunk into her?

Trying to tank his career with hers? If she hit rock bottom, even her dad would come out swinging.

“You want me to be your product’s ambassador? Fine. You’ve seen the headlines—I’m trending every other day. Like it or not, I’m the queen of hot topics.” Fang Yimeng crossed her arms and leaned back against the car door, facing him.

She raised eight fingers and waved them in front of him.

Her charming face wore a smug little smile, her eyes bright with playfulness.

Lu Jingshan arched a brow, resting his index finger against the tip of his nose. “Eight figures?”

She misunderstood, thinking he was objecting to the price.

“Come on, eight is a lucky number! Jingshan, between us—who’s counting?” Fang Yimeng switched into full business mode. “With an eight-figure deal, I guarantee your product will blow up!”

Lu Jingshan gripped the steering wheel with one hand, tapping the leather in rhythm with his long, defined fingers. Watching her try so hard to persuade him, he found the whole scene amusing.

He chuckled. “Didn’t Ah Yi say the same thing about the last project, The Actor? Said it’d be a hit. I still haven’t even broken even.”

Fang Yimeng coughed awkwardly. She wanted to argue that this was different—but couldn’t come up with a convincing excuse.

Seeing her bright eyes start to dim, Lu Jingshan didn’t have the heart to keep pushing. He agreed to the eight-figure deal.

Now it was her turn to be stunned. “You’re really okay with such a loss?”

He nodded without hesitation and motioned for her to fasten her seatbelt.

As he turned the car toward the community gate, he added casually, “Depends on who I’m losing money for. If it’s Ah Yi, I’d sell my assets just to let her burn through them for fun.”

It was a bold statement—laced with indulgence and tenderness.

Fang Yimeng turned to look out the window, saying nothing in response. But the slight upturn of her lips gave her away.

…

A few days later, the editing team behind The Actor worked overtime to release episode two of the show. Thanks to the heated clash between Fang Yimeng and Liao Ran in episode one, tons of viewers tuned in just to see more drama.

But midway through the episode, sharp-eyed viewers noticed something strange—one of the trainees was missing from most of the footage. Even in group shots, there was a fuzzy mosaic blur in one corner.

Qiao Yi had stood out in episode one for his “bad-boy puppy” looks and gained a bit of a following.

But viewers quickly picked up on his absence.

EatThreePoundsOfBuns: “Guys… did they cut Qiao Yi out of the whole episode? I’m a quarter through, and based on last episode’s screen time, he should’ve appeared by now!”

BigGossipSmallGossip: “I’ve got a friend in the industry—heard Qiao Yi pissed off the wrong person.”