Cheng Ran was startled by what she heard. Before she could feel any joy, she immediately deflated.
This was because she realized that Song Qiao was the one who said it.
Song Qiao was unreliable!
"You're bragging!"
Cheng Ran sized Song Qiao up and muttered, puckering her lips.
Just as Song Qiao was about to explain, the sound of knocking echoed.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
"Come in," Cheng Ran blurted out.
The door opened, and a young girl walked in.
She was Cheng Ran's assistant, here to report.
"Ms. Cheng, the spokesperson for Huajiang Group has been chosen. It's Wei Ting!"
The little assistant gritted her teeth as she spoke.
Cheng Ran's expression also turned very unpleasant.
She remembered the same expression when she had just said that models trained by her studio would leave after becoming famous.
Song Qiao quickly pieced some things together.
"I understand. You can go and get back to your work."
The little assistant left indignantly, and Cheng Ran slumped back into her chair, her head hanging listlessly.
The office door was wide open, and neither of the two girls paid any attention to it.
They both seemed to have some unresolvable worries, their moods low.
Song Qiao stepped forward and asked, "The person named Wei Ting, did she come from your studio?"
Cheng Ran was in a bad mood and didn't bother to wonder how Song Qiao knew.
She nodded and replied, "She was cultivated by me, in a way."
"But she terminated her contract with the studio after becoming famous."
"Anyway, it has nothing to do with you. I knew you were bragging!"
Although Cheng Ran wanted to talk to Song Qiao more and get to know each other, she now found Song Qiao to be a bit of a rascal, talking nonsense!
Moreover, after hearing about this matter, she lost the mood to continue chatting.
She gestured for Song Qiao to leave. "If you have nothing else to do, you can go."
"I won't go back on my word, but I really don't have the mood to do anything else with you right now."
Song Qiao was unfazed and comforted her.
"This kind of thing, I can fix it with just one phone call!"
Cheng Ran stared blankly at Song Qiao, her lips involuntarily licking them.
With a mournful face, she weakly complained.
"Why are you still bragging? If you continue like this, I might really go back on my word."
Seeing Cheng Ran's hesitant expression, Song Qiao found it inexplicably amusing.
"I told you I'm not bragging. I always help with the tasks I promise to handle."
"Just wait, I'll call them right now and have Huajiang Group change the spokesperson to you!"
*Hahaha.*
Just as Cheng Ran was about to lose her temper with Song Qiao, a burst of arrogant laughter came from outside the door.
She quickly pushed open the half-closed door and walked out of the office. She saw a woman with a face full of disdain and snorted coldly.
"Hmph! I'd like to see what kind of country bumpkin dares to talk such nonsense!"
"Changing the spokesperson? Do the people in this small place really think they're big shots?"
The woman's movements were extremely exaggerated, and her voice was very loud.
Naturally, it attracted the attention of everyone in the studio.
They all put down their work and turned to look with Cheng Ran.
They saw that the woman's presence was extraordinarily grand.
She was accompanied by four assistants, and her attire was very fashionable.
Her long skirt had two people dragging it behind her, making her look like a queen inspecting her territory.
New members of the studio might be unfamiliar with this woman.
However, any senior staff members could recognize that this woman was Wei Ting!
Cheng Ran had recognized her voice from the beginning.
Her beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she looked at Wei Ting, nodding slightly.
"Wei Ting, you've come at the right time."
"Before you terminated your contract with the company, there were still some agreed-upon tasks that you hadn't completed."
"I've had people try to communicate with you several times, but I could never get hold of you."
"Now that you're here, can we start today?"
"I know you're busy, but it's just a few advertisements. It won't take up too much of your time."
*Heh.*
Wei Ting sneered twice upon hearing this and, with a smug and arrogant air, reminded her.
"Please mind your address!"
Cheng Ran pursed her lips but could only helplessly change her address.
"Teacher Wei, please make some time. If it were any other work, it would be fine."
"But for these few advertisements, the client had already confirmed you as the model."
"You also know that these tasks have been delayed for a long time, and we're about to breach the contract."
Hearing Cheng Ran address her as Teacher Wei, Wei Ting felt a secret thrill.
She nodded at Cheng Ran with a smile.
Just as Cheng Ran, beaming with joy, was about to arrange for someone to help, Wei Ting changed her tone and directly refused.
"Impossible!"
"What?" Cheng Ran's smile froze instantly, and she looked somewhat helpless.
Wei Ting glanced at Cheng Ran and said condescendingly.
"I'm with Zheng Family Media Company now. If I say I won't do it, I won't!"
"If you have any objections or want to take legal action."
"Feel free to discuss it with my agent!"
Cheng Ran suppressed her anger and tried her best to negotiate with Wei Ting in a mild tone.
"Wei Ting, I thought these tasks wouldn't be too troublesome."
"It would be best if we could discuss it. There's no need to go through legal procedures."
"Moreover, now that your influence is so great, any disputes would not be good for you."
"Heh, you know my influence is great?"
Wei Ting laughed charmingly, pointing at Cheng Ran with a smug expression.
"Then how dare you ask me to shoot advertisements for you?"
"Do you know how expensive I am now?"
"But that was the work you were supposed to do before you left."
Cheng Ran looked down at her toes and mumbled weakly.
"When we terminated the contract, you also promised to make time to come back and finish them."
"That's why I agreed to sign the contract."
"Ms. Cheng, don't waste your breath on such an ungrateful person!"
The staff in the studio had long been fed up with Wei Ting's arrogant demeanor.
Cheng Ran's assistant also stepped forward and accused her.
"Don't forget that when you first graduated, no company wanted you. It was Ms. Cheng who cultivated you!"
"Now Ms. Cheng isn't asking for any repayment, just hoping you'll complete the work you're supposed to."
"But you are simply a white-eyed wolf! Ptooey!"
Wei Ting's face darkened as she glared at the little assistant and snapped.
"What right do you have to talk to me now?"
"And Ms. Cheng? Heh, how embarrassing!"
"Ask her, is she worthy of carrying my shoes now?"
Watching the farce in the studio, Song Qiao couldn't help but roll his eyes and sigh.
"There are so many ungrateful people in this day and age."
Although everyone was angry, they could only curse a few words from the sidelines.
They couldn't change the current situation at all.
The studio was already struggling to operate. If the breach of contract penalties for those advertisements were added, Cheng Ran felt she would not be able to hold on, even with a rough calculation in her mind.
She bit her lip gently, her figure lonely and helpless.
But as if things couldn't get any worse, Wei Ting's next words only made this already struggling studio even worse off.
She had actually come to collect money today!
"What money?" Cheng Ran was startled and asked urgently.
"I've already settled the fees for every advertisement you've shot."
"Even for these ones you were reluctant to shoot, I've already transferred the money to your account."
"There shouldn't be any outstanding payments."
Wei Ting shook one finger lightly and looked at Cheng Ran with a playful smile.
"You did settle my remuneration."
"But my good sister, you need to understand one thing."
"My value has increased dozens of times now!"
"I've shot so many advertisements for the studio over the past two years. It's probably not appropriate for you to give me so little money, right?"
"Huh? It can be like this?" Cheng Ran was somewhat confused now.
She couldn't even imagine such a way to extort money.
But Wei Ting spoke with righteous indignation.
Shameless, she nodded seriously and replied.
"Of course! The advertisements I shot for the studio before need to be re-priced now!"
Seeing Wei Ting's complete lack of shame, the studio erupted in an uproar.
Everyone was furious and pointed fingers at her.
In a short period, Wei Ting's entire family history was rapidly scrutinized.
But she remained disdainful, determined to ruin Cheng Ran's studio!
*Heh.*
At this moment, a soft chuckle interrupted the discussion.
Cheng Ran turned and saw Song Qiao walk forward, staring at Wei Ting and saying sarcastically.
"Would Huajiang Group want someone with such character?"