"That's right, I have a girlfriend. I can't explain it to her if I don't go home tonight."
Everyone almost spat out a mouthful of blood, and the agent's face turned green.
"You, you, you... Xiangyang, are you sick? Just because Sister Hua gives you some face, you think you can be arrogant? You're lying to my face?"
Xiangyang sat up with difficulty. "I'm not lying, I really have a girlfriend."
"?! When we signed the contract..."
"I didn't then, I just got one recently."
"Then before you came..."
"You didn't ask. I thought we were just coming to talk business."
The agent's face turned from white to green, then green to black, and he looked at Sister Hua awkwardly.
"Sister Hua, I'm sorry, it's all my fault, this is all my fault, I..."
Sister Hua waved her hand generously.
"It's fine. The child is honest, though. Unlike some people, who are like Chen Shimei, forgetting their humble wives as soon as they see an opportunity. It takes some backbone."
They didn't know what fate awaited them, but for now, the two safely left the club.
On the way, the agent was so angry he didn't know how to scold him.
"You got lucky today! Sister Hua didn't hold it against you because she pitied you! If she had, do you know how badly we would have ended up?"
"A woman like her, looking for young boys like you for simple business talks? How could you even think of that!"
"Besides your face and figure, what can you give her? What business can you discuss with them?"
Xiangyang knew he was in the wrong and remained silent.
The agent continued to scold him for a while, frustrated by his lack of progress.
"When did you get a girlfriend? Since your feelings aren't that deep yet, I advise you to break up quickly!"
"You're going to be in the industry, you know what it feels like for an idol to collapse, right?"
Xiangyang whispered, "I don't want to be an idol, you said..."
"Hey! You don't want to make money anymore? Idols aren't just singers and dancers, they can be actors too! Your fans are all girlfriends! If you show up with a girlfriend, who will care about you?"
To enter the entertainment industry, to be an actor, you can't even have a girlfriend, and you have to be that for those big investors. What kind of life is that?
Without Chen Jiaojiao, there was no point in making money.
Xiangyang immediately said, "Then I won't earn this money, and I won't enter this industry."
"Hey, who is your girlfriend? She has such a hold on you? To the point where you'd give up the chance to be a star for her?"
Xiangyang said frankly, "Chen Jiaojiao, you know her too, don't you."
"Don't you dare tell her about today's events. Her temper..."
Chen Jiaojiao?
The agent almost spat out another mouthful of blood.
"Chen Jiaojiao is your girlfriend?! You and Chen Jiaojiao are together?!"
"Why are you so surprised? She's not a demon or a monster, is she?"
Chen Jiaojiao was indeed not a demon or a monster, but she wasn't far from it.
The agent had met her in Jincheng. In the Jincheng social circle, everyone knew this arrogant young lady.
You could provoke anyone but this kind of difficult woman.
The agent complained in his heart but said nothing.
"Forget it, forget it. Tonight, I'll pretend I didn't bring you out. Let's not dream about entering the industry anymore. That's it."
"I'll pretend I don't know about your relationship. From now on, we'll just earn small money honestly. I'm really impressed."
When they got home and rang the doorbell, Chen Jiaojiao rushed out.
It was almost midnight. Since they became boyfriend and girlfriend, this was the longest they had been apart.
Chen Jiaojiao missed Xiangyang terribly.
Her coral fleece pajamas were soft, and she looked like a ripe peach. Xiangyang hugged her tightly.
"I saw your message, but there were people around me, so I couldn't reply. I'm sorry for making you wait so long."
Chen Jiaojiao looked up and sniffed him. "You didn't drink? I thought you went out for drinks and got drunk, and some little vixen..."
Xiangyang interrupted her. "No, you know I have a low alcohol tolerance. Unless someone puts a knife to my throat, I won't drink if I can avoid it."
Chen Jiaojiao happily kissed his cheek. "So sensible? You have awareness."
After kissing him, she realized his face was cold. When she touched his hand, it was as cold as ice.
"Where did you have dinner? It's the middle of winter, you weren't at a roadside stall, were you? How did you get so cold?"
She pulled him inside and warmed his hands.
After taking off his shoes, she warmed his feet and found that his entire feet were purple.
"What's going on, you're frozen like this? What exactly were you doing?"
She looked like she was about to find the agent and demand an explanation, but Xiangyang quickly comforted her.
"It was really a dinner party, but there were many important people, and someone like me couldn't say much, so I just stood there and got cold."
His words made Chen Jiaojiao's heart ache.
She understood the industry where people relied on their looks.
The investment big shots felt they could control others' destinies, each acting like they were the most important person.
Xiangyang was not good with words and had no power. What else could he do but stand there foolishly?
"You poor thing. You've made me feel so sorry for you. I regret letting you enter this rotten industry."
"If you're really wronged, tell me. We can just quit."
"We're so young, and our education is good. We can be ordinary employees and won't starve! Who wants to serve them!"
The more she said this, the more Xiangyang liked her, feeling that everything he did for her was worth it.
"That won't do, I don't want to be an ordinary employee. I want to buy you a car and a house and travel the world in the future."
"I'm not wronged, many people were with me. I heard many of them were young masters and ladies with family businesses. If they can put aside their pride and be criticized, why can't I?"
Chen Jiaojiao cradled his face, full of relief.
"You're so open-minded? Alright. Since you can see it that way, I won't say any more. Sometimes, one must endure humiliation for a greater purpose."
Xiangyang looked at her smooth, tender face and felt a little worried about himself.
"I'm just not sure if my bodily functions are still normal after being frozen for so long. Why don't you test me?"
"Ah? You're wearing clothes, how could it..."
Chen Jiaojiao realized halfway through that he was being mischievous.
"You're pretty good. You're coming up with more excuses now!"
The two young people laughed and forgot their troubles, playfully bickering.
Lu Mingzhe's wedding proceeded as scheduled. Chen Jiaojiao was genuinely surprised when she received his wedding invitation.
"Not long ago, he was distraught and indulging in drunken stupors over Xiang Wan. Now, after a few days, he's suddenly marrying another woman. Only Lu Mingzhe could do something like that."
"He failed with me once, and he dares to fail a second time? Isn't he afraid of completely disgracing the Lu family?"
Zhou Jin advised her to be kind.
"Don't curse him. Xiang Wan has been gone for so long, and no one can find her. Lu Mingzhe is getting older day by day, and he can't just wait forever."
"It's only natural to get married when you meet the right person. Perhaps this time he'll finally settle down."
Chen Jiaojiao pouted. "Let's hope so."
"Speaking of which, I really admire Xiang Wan. She left whenever she wanted, without leaving a trace. If we had half her resolve, we wouldn't be in such a miserable state."