Sister Hua watched him, so naive, and sneered.
"No. You have to pay a penalty for breach of contract. How could I make such a low-level mistake?"
Her implication was as clear as it could be.
If you don't listen to me, I'll find ways to torment you until you can't stay on set and break the contract yourself.
At that point, it wouldn't just be about losing a role; you'd have to pay ten times the penalty.
It felt great to earn millions in salary, but it would feel even better to pay ten times that amount.
Only now did Xiang Yang understand what it meant to be sold and still help count the money.
At first, he thought Sister Hua was truly benevolent and kind, dropping such a great opportunity into his lap, and he was immensely grateful to her.
Now, he saw clearly that this was a sharp fishhook disguised with a beautiful bait.
He had already taken the bait, and whether he moved forward or backward, he would suffer great harm. What was he to do?
—
The agent casually ate a bowl of noodles by the roadside and returned to the hotel.
As soon as she entered the lobby, her phone rang. It was Chen Jiaojiao.
She must be looking for Xiang Yang. He didn't have his phone and couldn't hear it, so she called the agent.
The agent hesitated for a few seconds before finally answering.
Since Sister Hua agreed to give Xiang Yang the role, she had been thinking a lot.
It was time to have a good talk with Chen Jiaojiao.
The two agreed to meet at a roadside food stall.
Whether it was due to driving for too long or something else, the agent felt that Chen Jiaojiao looked a bit disheveled and tired today.
Unlike her usual stunning appearances.
After sitting down, Chen Jiaojiao didn't ask where Xiang Yang was first. Instead, she picked up a beer and drank a glass.
After finishing the drink, the two women looked at each other. Chen Jiaojiao spoke first, "I'm here to break up with Xiang Yang."
The agent was stunned, almost dropping her eyeballs.
This woman always said unexpected things when she spoke.
To be honest, the agent had always been a little afraid of her.
She had been planning for a long time how to persuade them to break up, but she hadn't figured it out.
Now, it was as if her wish had come true without any effort.
She feigned concern for Chen Jiaojiao.
"Why did you suddenly decide to break up?"
Chen Jiaojiao didn't beat around the bush. She gave the agent a displeased look.
"Don't pretend. You already guessed that we would break up, didn't you?"
"..."
Chen Jiaojiao sneered, "Xiang Yang landed such a big role right after entering the industry. His future career path is bound to be smooth."
"He has a good personality, is down-to-earth, and is willing to work hard. Perhaps in a few years, he'll become a top star."
"I, with my tarnished reputation, might cause him a lot of trouble if our relationship is ever exposed. You've been thinking about telling me this for a long time, haven't you?"
It was efficient to talk to someone smart and straightforward.
Seeing that she had put it that way, the agent stopped pretending.
"Actually, these aren't the most important things. The most important thing is, do you know how Xiang Yang got this role?"
—
Xiang Yang, heavy with thoughts, went to the front desk to pay.
The cashier told him, "This restaurant is owned by Sister Hua. She already informed us."
Xiang Yang's mood worsened.
Sister Hua was so powerful, her influence reaching everywhere. Being noticed by her should have been a great thing.
Like a shining piece of pie beckoning to him.
But because he didn't want to eat it, it didn't suit his taste, and he couldn't be happy at all.
He returned to the hotel in a daze.
He swiped his key card at the room door and found a card already in the slot. Only then did he belatedly realize that the room light was on.
It seemed someone had already entered.
Could it be that the agent had come to his room?
Xiang Yang casually tossed the card aside, kicked off his shoes, and walked in.
Unexpectedly, after just two steps, a beautiful figure swept towards him like a gust of wind.
Then, she clung to him, held his chin without a word, and kissed him.
The familiar scent, the familiar taste, his troubled mood finally found solace.
So, it was her.
It was good to have her at a time like this.
Xiang Yang was also deeply moved, embracing Chen Jiaojiao, and they became entangled endlessly.
After a long while, the storm subsided.
Chen Jiaojiao went to the living room, got her cigarettes from her bag, and sat next to Xiang Yang, lighting one.
Xiang Yang disliked her doing this.
Especially after strenuous activity, smoking was bad for his health.
He had spoken to Chen Jiaojiao about this before, and she no longer did it in front of him. What was happening today?
Seeing his displeased gaze, Chen Jiaojiao put her hand up in a shushing gesture, looking defiant.
"Don't look at me like that. I hate it when people tell me what to do."
Why was she suddenly saying this, when it wasn't the first time he had cared about her?
Chen Jiaojiao looked at him and took two more puffs.
"Don't you think I'm different today?"
He hadn't thought so before, but now he noticed.
Chen Jiaojiao's words had a hidden meaning. She wasn't just here to see him; she seemed to have a purpose.
Xiang Yang was confused but instinctively felt sorry for her.
Had she suffered grievances while he was away?
"What's wrong?"
Seeing his worried expression, it was hard not to feel sad.
Breaking up with a heartless man brought no feeling other than hatred.
But Xiang Yang was different.
He was sincere, serious, and devoted. Chen Jiaojiao could clearly feel his love.
To propose a breakup in such a state, she felt she would regret it for the rest of her life.
However, things had come to this, and he had better options. Why keep him if they weren't together?
She was accustomed to hiding her emotions and would end this relationship thoroughly.
"How should I put it?"
After Xiang Yang asked, she ran her hair back, adopting a chic and glamorous pose.
"I've encountered a problem recently, and I came to you to discuss it."
Xiang Yang looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
Chen Jiaojiao said, "I've decided not to buy the house because my beauty salon ran into some trouble."
"I injured a client's nerves while giving her a facial, causing temporary paralysis on one side of her face. She's threatening to sue me."
"I've contacted many acquaintances to negotiate, and she's finally agreed not to sue, but I have to compensate her with a considerable amount for emotional distress and follow-up care."
Something like this happened?
Xiang Yang, heartbroken, reached out to hug her, but Chen Jiaojiao stopped him.
"Let me finish."
"The money is a lot. With our current capabilities, we couldn't afford it even if we sold everything. So, I want to accept help from others."
"You know many men are pursuing me besides you, right? Those rich second-generation heirs who have a lot of money but don't want to get married properly, they just want to play around."
"Before, because of my failed marriage, I didn't want to get involved with people like them, so I found you. But now... I'm sorry, you're a good person, but I have to bow to reality. Let's break up."
In fact, Xiang Yang had imagined what would cause their breakup if it ever happened.
Perhaps because their feelings had faded.
Perhaps because the trivialities of daily life made them smile less.
Or perhaps because he wanted to get married and have children...