Chapter 30: Li Manman Joins the Fray

Director Tang frowned.

As a seasoned director, he habitually silenced his phone upon entering meeting rooms or film sets.

Caught up in the heated argument, he’d completely overlooked his device.

By the time he noticed the missed calls and messages, half an hour had slipped by…

He scanned the content: 「Director Tang, if I want to terminate my contract with Zhongxing, how much compensation would I need to pay?」

What? Director Tang was taken aback.

She wants out of Zhongxing?

Well, given what a dumpster fire that company is, who’d blame her?

Director Tang opened WeChat, found Yan Yueqing, and fired off a bold reply: 「Don’t worry. With me in your corner, you won’t pay a single yuan.」

He knew Yan Yueqing was loaded!

Someone who could casually drop 20 million yuan on someone else’s kid wasn’t exactly short of cash, right?

But Director Tang was dead set against Zhongxing exploiting Yan Yueqing!

After digging into her background, he’d discovered Yan Yueqing was shackled by one of those notorious C-level contracts – the entertainment industry’s equivalent of indentured servitude.

It was less a contract and more a deal with the devil!

A seven-year sentence, burying her prime years in the company while dancing to Zhongxing’s every tune. One misstep, and she’d be slapped with a penalty at least triple her “market value” – a figure conveniently determined by the company itself. These contracts were designed to wring artists dry, leaving them with nothing but regrets.

Yan Yueqing responded instantly: 「Are you sure it’s okay? Won’t this give ammunition to those accusing you of abusing your position, Director Tang?」

Director Tang’s gaze softened: 「You might find this hard to believe, but my endgame in acquiring Zhongxing shares is to have a voice in the company. I’m tired of being pushed around by those petty suits.」

「Look, every major agency out there is a vulture, but Zhongxing’s been circling particularly low these past few years. If they keep this up, the Zhongxing name will be ruined! Your exit gives me the perfect opening to clean house. In a way, you’re doing me a solid here.」

Reading his response, Yan Yueqing couldn’t help but admire Director Tang’s resolve.

Back in the day, Zhongxing truly lived up to its name – a galaxy of stars. During its golden age, it was a launchpad for countless A-listers.^[1]“众星云集” (zhòng xīng yún jí) is translated literally as “stars gathered like clouds,”. A more idiomatic expression like ‘a galaxy of stars’ could be … Continue reading

But ever since Chairman Yang and his capital cronies muscled in, Zhongxing had devolved from a star-making pantheon into a playground for personal indulgence!

Zhongxing’s founder had once given Director Tang his big break, and out of a sense of loyalty, he was hell-bent on steering the company back on course. But after years of struggle, he’d only managed to claw back 20% of the shares…

His objective was clear as day: to seize control. But without deep pockets backing him, it was an impossible task! Director Tang wasn’t about to bite off more than he could chew. Right now, helping Yan Yueqing wriggle out of her contract was top priority – it’d also help him flex some muscle in the boardroom.

Yan Yueqing’s mind drifted to the plot she knew from the book. Director Tang’s dedication to Zhongxing was no joke! In the second year after the original protagonist’s death – right when her son was tracked down by his birth father – he’d already become the company’s biggest shareholder.

But then, in a cruel twist of fate, Chairman Yang and his gang framed him. He lost everything – his shares, his savings, even his freedom. When all seemed lost, it was Qin Youran’s investment that pulled him back from the brink…

Just then, another message from Director Tang popped up: 「Yueqing, once you’re free of Zhongxing, still keen on the showbiz life? A buddy of mine is setting up a studio. If you want to stay in the game, I could put in a good word.」

A friend’s new studio?

Yan Yueqing’s brow furrowed. 「It wouldn’t happen to be Feishi Studio, would it?」

Director Tang’s reply was instant: 「You’ve got the inside scoop?」

Well, isn’t this a coincidence?

Yan Yueqing’s fingers hovered over the screen, wrestling with how to break it to Director Tang—

This “friend” of yours, Li Feishi, is the same snake who’ll team up with Chairman Yang to stab you in the back and land you in prison!!!

But beyond the plot she knew, she had zilch for evidence!

After a moment’s deliberation, Yan Yueqing typed: 「I’m still on the fence. Let’s sort out this contract mess first! Oh, and Director Tang… I’ve squirreled away some cash. If any juicy investment opportunities pop up, keep me in the loop, yeah?」

Director Tang saw Li Feishi as a brother and had borrowed from him in a last-ditch effort to gobble up Zhongxing shares. In the end, he’d ended up serving time in jail for money laundering thanks to the sketchy source of funds.

By dropping hints about potential investments now, Yan Yueqing hoped that when push came to shove, Director Tang would think of her instead of that rat Li Feishi!

Exiting WeChat, Yan Yueqing propped her chin on her hand and switched back to Weibo.

Her repost of Qin Youran’s Weibo had sent the online world into a frenzy.

The comment section had morphed from a Yan Yueqing hate-fest into a heated debate over Qin Youran’s true colors.

Qin Youran was too perfect, like she’d stepped right out of central casting for “National Parents”!

People weren’t buying it. Was anyone really that flawless? The comment section had turned into a virtual battleground!

Qin Youran must be seething right now, her perfect nose scrunched up in fury! Serves her right for that smug repost!

Singing Qin Youran’s praises meant easing up on Yan Yueqing. Even the haters couldn’t be that two-faced, could they?

Just when it seemed the drama had peaked, Zhongxing’s official Weibo dropped a bombshell: 「Our company plans to purge problematic artists within two weeks.」

And there was Li Manman, seemingly camped out in Zhongxing’s comments, instantly reposting: 「Full support for the company’s decision! Protect every artist’s legit rights! #NoToProblematicArtists“」

What kind of 4D chess^[2]“4D chess” (什么操作): A complex, multilayered strategy. This modern slang term effectively conveys the confusion about the complex situation. was this?

The internet collectively lost its mind.

[WTF is going on? Spill the tea!]

[Zhongxing’s always been image-obsessed. If they’re calling out ‘problematic artists’… gotta be Yan Yueqing, right?]

[LMAO, how’s that egg on your face^[3]“Egg on your face” (打脸): Be embarrassed due to failure or mistake. This English idiom effectively translates the Chinese “face slap” metaphor. taste, Yan Yueqing defenders?]

[Told y’all Yan was trash. Can’t believe some of you stanned her?]

[So we’ve got Director Tang’s shady post, then Qin Youran, now Zhongxing AND Li Manman piling on? No way this many people can’t take down one Yan Yueqing!]

[Even if Yan Yueqing is extremely talented, she’d still have to kiss her career goodbye now!]

[Hahaha, didn’t Yan the Fraud claim to be some Yan family princess? Here’s a lifeline – get daddy dearest to buy out Zhongxing. Problem solved! ROFL!]

[As if! Girl’s broke AF!]

Qin Youran, initially rattled by the netizens’ sudden change of heart, had feared she’d misread the room and overplayed her hand.

But Zhongxing’s statement? That was music to her ears!

It was crystal clear – the company wanted Yan Yueqing gone!

Perfect! The hotter this fire burned, the more likely things would snap back to the original plot.

That gentle, serene face now bore a hint of vicious satisfaction.

Meanwhile, in the conference room, Director Tang and Chairman Yang were locked in a silent standoff.

It wasn’t until he stumbled upon Zhongxing’s Weibo post that he finally understood. Realizing what Chairman Yang had cooked up behind his back, he exploded, “Couldn’t bully me into deleting my post, so you pull this underhanded crap?”

Chairman Yang’s lips curled into an oily grin. “I simply had PR issue a statement about weeding out problematic artists. What’s got you so worked up, Director Tang? Got a guilty conscience about Yan Yueqing?”