The road back to the company was somewhat congested.

Ground traffic was under control, and the business car had barely gotten onto the overpass before becoming stuck in the traffic flow, unable to move.

Several people who had long lived in Beijing were already accustomed to the suffocating traffic of the Celestial Empire. They continued playing on their phones individually, showing no signs of irritation.

Gradually, as the traffic jam time steadily increased, the vehicle flow became tightly packed.

Car owners stuck on the overpass occasionally honked impatiently, creating a buzzing din.

Seeing this, the driver turned off the engine and got out to inquire about the cause.

Once the car was turned off, the air inside became stagnant. Shen Qianzhan cracked open a small gap in the window for ventilation.

Su Lanyi looked out through the window gap Shen Qianzhan had opened, facing a slanting ray of sunset light that spread everywhere, enveloping all of Beijing in warm afterglow, revealing the metallic texture of the steel forest.

She put down her phone and leaned her elbow against the car window, looking at Shen Qianzhan: “Zhanzhan.”

Shen Qianzhan turned around in response.

Su Lanyi seemed to smile, her lips pulling into a smooth curve: “You’ve worked hard this year.”

Shen Qianzhan raised an eyebrow, showing no trace of respectful deference toward her boss. Instead, she smiled with three parts wickedness: “Giving me more bonus would be more practical than these pretty words.”

Su Lanyi took out an exquisite cigarette case from her bag, put one between her lips, and offered another to Shen Qianzhan: “Which year have I been stingy with red envelopes? Your bonuses haven’t been short a penny either. Rumors outside say I treat you harshly—they even dare to poach you right in front of me.”

She lit up and tossed the lighter to Shen Qianzhan.

Watching Shen Qianzhan lower her head to cup the cigarette and gently coax the tip with the lighter, she looked away and softly discussed with her: “Su Zan reported Xiang Qianqian’s matter to me. Before I handle it, could you talk to her once more?”

Shen Qianzhan’s expression remained unchanged, only her eyelid twitched as she asked: “How do you plan to handle it?”

“This little girl attracts attention. I’ve already received several photos of her privately contacting other companies. Such a disobedient artist can only serve as decoration if kept. What do you think I should do?” Su Lanyi tapped the cigarette ash, her gaze coldly watching the ash drift into the car’s floor carpet.

Shen Qianzhan clearly saw the momentary contempt and disdain in her eyes, like crushing an ant. She said: “Unfortunately, my foolish brother can’t bear to let go. He thinks Xiang Qianqian was ruined in his hands. I’ve thought it over—you’re the only one who can intervene in this matter.”

She remained silent. After thinking for several seconds, she frowned at the cluster of sparks wrapped in cigarette paper and said: “I’ll try, but I can’t guarantee she’ll listen to me.”

Wind carrying dust blew in, and the conversation in the car quieted. When the wind stopped, Su Lanyi said: “Su Zan should stay by your side in the future. His work capabilities only suit him for being your assistant.”

This time, Shen Qianzhan didn’t respond.

She lowered her eyes, took a hard drag of her cigarette, and turned to look out the window.

—

Over the next few days, Shen Qianzhan finally had some leisure time.

Although the film and television industry had no clear off-peak seasons, and aside from junior staff, no one paid much attention to holidays, approaching New Year’s Day, she still appropriately loosened up for her department that had completed their task quotas.

Qiao Xin was still monitoring contracts.

The script she had discussed with Shen Qianzhan in Hangzhou recently had finished contract negotiations and was going through signing procedures. She spent every day watching the other party’s agent’s WeChat for courier tracking numbers.

End-of-year accounting made slow procedures quite troublesome.

While watching WeChat, the work group that had been quiet during lunch break suddenly became lively.

A colleague from operations mentioned Qiao Xin, asking if she had seen Young Master Su recently.

Su Zan’s office and Xiang Qianqian’s studio were on the same floor, originally arranged for Su Zan’s convenience in handling Xiang Qianqian’s work matters. But Su Zan was naturally restless—large office spaces felt too cold and empty, while small spaces felt too confining.

Su Lanyi indulged him, constantly relocating and redesigning, but still couldn’t keep him in place.

When idle, he would run to Shen Qianzhan’s department. After colleagues internally looking for him to handle official business came up empty several times, they also learned to either notify via WeChat first or go directly to Qiao Xin to catch him.

Qiao Xin initially went crazy over this, but after obvious and subtle hints to Su Zan proved ineffective, she resigned herself to it.

But when operations colleagues asked today, she suddenly realized she hadn’t seen Su Zan for several days.

Getting this answer from Qiao Xin, the operations department chattered among themselves.

Colleague A said: “Just saw Xiang Qianqian bring a lawyer to the company. I called Young Master Su, but he didn’t say where he was, just said he’d come right away and hung up.”

Colleague B: “Wasn’t PR always suppressing trending topics and handling negative material recently? There was a post exposing that Qianqian was looking for a new agency. I didn’t take it seriously then, but looking at today, it seems to be true?”

Colleague C: “Isn’t her contract still several years long? Is she planning to breach contract?”

Colleague A continued: “Don’t know. I felt my little fairy had changed recently. But the change came so suddenly and unexpectedly. Young Master Su’s voice when he answered the phone just now sounded haggard and weathered—I don’t know which one to feel sorry for.”

Colleague B, not minding stirring up trouble, mentioned Qiao Xin again: “Sister Zhan and Young Master Su have such a good relationship. Did you hear any rumors?”

Qiao Xin vaguely felt things were getting out of control. She tactfully deflected with a few words, using the excuse of printing documents to temporarily escape and report to Shen Qianzhan.

Shen Qianzhan had just finished taking Su Zan’s call. Seeing Qiao Xin enter, she beckoned: “Check with Ming Jue—is Bu Zhong Sui’s China brand ambassador for next year going to Xiang Qianqian?”

Qiao Xin was dumbfounded: “Special Assistant Ming probably doesn’t handle that, right?”

Shen Qianzhan acted as if she hadn’t heard, adding another task: “Also ask which agency negotiated for Xiang Qianqian.”

Qiao Xin held her phone and made an acknowledging sound. Before leaving, she carefully asked: “Is Qianqian really here to terminate her contract?”

Shen Qianzhan picked up her coffee cup, preparing to go out: “Don’t ask for now. When they reply, directly ping my WeChat.”

—

When Shen Qianzhan arrived, Su Zan hadn’t come yet. Besides the artist manager temporarily handling Xiang Qianqian’s affairs, only Xiang Qianqian and her lawyer remained in the meeting room.

She carried her coffee cup and casually found a seat, sitting with the leisurely demeanor of an old man walking his bird in the park: “Su Zan and legal affairs will be here shortly. Please sit, both of you.”

She glanced at the empty long table in front of the two, tapped the table, and reminded: “We can’t neglect our own people like this. Where’s the front desk reception?”

With one sentence, she both released goodwill and took control of the initiative, instantly awakening the temporary manager who had been somewhat bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

Xiang Qianqian looked at Shen Qianzhan for a while, then lowered her head to remove her sunglasses and respectfully, politely called her: “Sister Zhan.”

Shen Qianzhan smiled and didn’t show any attitude because she had brought a lawyer. While drinking her latte, she asked: “What’s wrong? Not getting along well with Su Zan?”

Xiang Qianqian glanced at the temporary manager Qiandeng had assigned her and pressed her lips without speaking.

Shen Qianzhan understood—she was dissatisfied with Qiandeng’s arrangement, feeling she had suffered unfair neglect.

She thought for a moment and said: “If there’s still room for this matter, however you brought this person here today, that’s how you’ll take them back. If there isn’t, pretend I never said that.”

Xiang Qianqian’s complexion wasn’t good, pale as if she hadn’t rested in a long time, her cheeks showing a somewhat sickly haggardness: “Aren’t you going to ask about my demands?”

“Honestly, this isn’t my responsibility.” Shen Qianzhan smiled, her voice very light: “I’m here entirely based on our past friendship. While I’m here and still easy to talk to, if you alarm President Su… there’ll be no room for maneuvering.”

She lightly flicked the cup lid in front of her with a curved finger, her voice cold and heavy: “You still have several years left on your contract with Qiandeng. If Qiandeng wants to drag this out, a lawsuit lasting two or three years—the company can afford it, but you can’t. Of course, if you have other opportunities, I certainly won’t stop your ascension.”

What Shen Qianzhan was thinking was that Su Zan should have talked with her, but the outcome couldn’t satisfy everyone. This was why she had delayed seeking out Xiang Qianqian—when someone was determined to leave, retention was just futile effort.

Her phone vibrated lightly under her palm. Shen Qianzhan unlocked it to look.

Qiao Xin sent her a WeChat message: “Special Assistant Ming said after the document reached President Ji, it was thrown away.”

Thrown away?

Qiao Xin’s small mouth kept going, sending another message: “This happened this morning. Assistant Ming said documents that reach President Ji have basically been internally evaluated—just needed President Ji’s signature.”

Shen Qianzhan secretly glanced at Xiang Qianqian sitting across from her, feeling particularly complex emotions.

She cleared her throat, said “wait a moment,” turned slightly to the side, and replied to Qiao Xin: “Did he give a reason?”

She suspected Xiang Qianqian’s previous operation of dragging him into trending topics had angered Ji Qinghe. Shen Qianzhan had deep experience with how vindictive this man could be.

Look at her—every time they battled, which time wasn’t she attacked by Ji Qinghe until she couldn’t refute, lying flat and accepting mockery?

Although this matter couldn’t be blamed on Xiang Qianqian—she was purely retaliated against—Xiang Qianqian’s ill intentions were also undeniable.

Qiao Xin replied: “The reason seems to be… President Ji doesn’t like her?”

“Assistant Ming might not know this resource wasn’t being pursued by Qiandeng, so he apologized to me. He also made a suggestion…”

A suggestion?

Suggesting Qiandeng shouldn’t sign artists based only on looks without considering character?

Qiao Xin tremblingly replied: “Suggested that Qiandeng could sign more people like you—President Ji would probably be willing to show favoritism.”

Shen Qianzhan: “???”

Oh, then she really had to thank President Ji for his appreciation.

After putting down her phone, Shen Qianzhan leaned back against her chair and smiled at Xiang Qianqian with gentle warmth as if nothing had happened: “Are Bu Zhong Sui’s endorsement and the female lead resource for the tribute drama that important to you?”

Xiang Qianqian’s expression changed slightly: “You investigated me?”

“Not really.” Shen Qianzhan interlaced her fingers, her voice cool: “Photos of you contacting other agencies have been constantly sent to President Su. The company would have to try hard not to know.”

Shen Qianzhan made a sound and asked: “You offended someone, you know?”

—

When Su Zan arrived at the company, Xiang Qianqian had already been sent away by Shen Qianzhan first.

Recalling an hour ago when Su Zan had called with a hoarse voice begging her for help, desperately asking her not to let Su Lanyi intervene directly, she slightly lifted her chin, indicating he should come in and sit first.

She took out a small mirror from her desk drawer and checked herself left and right.

Su Zan’s mood had been so bad he was nearly ready to withdraw from the world. Suddenly seeing this scene, the pent-up frustration stuck in his chest almost made him choke. He knocked on the table, reminding: “Could you be mindful of the occasion when being narcissistic?”

Shen Qianzhan was unconcerned: “I am being mindful—there’s no one else here.”

She twisted out her lipstick and touched up the color on her lips: “Ji Qinghe didn’t approve Xiang Qianqian’s document and suggested Qiandeng could sign more artists like me.” She pressed her lips together, looking at herself in the mirror perfectly carrying off the flame-red lips, propping her chin and winking at Su Zan: “Rarely do Ji Qinghe and I agree on something.”

Su Zan rolled his eyes. He felt that even the biggest matters, when they reached Shen Qianzhan, became like wisps of smoke, never giving him a chance to become profound and mature.

He slumped in his chair and mocked: “Sister Zhan, do you know how difficult it would be to sign people according to your standards?”

Su Zan looked her up and down and said: “Finding similar faces is easy, but this figure might be hard to replicate. The upfront investment in artificial breasts alone would probably be quite expensive. And your charm isn’t in your appearance or bone structure—it’s that lustful heart that remains unchanged after seeing countless sails. Most people just can’t have that.”

He seemed completely oblivious to Shen Qianzhan’s murderous aura sharpening knives, continuing to add: “A woman’s texture, layers, and experience come from what quality of men she’s encountered. It’s like the difference between ordinary cows in pens chewing on boring dry grass under shed roofs versus premium cows in New Zealand grasslands listening to music while being massaged. You’re this kind of carefully cultivated woman—there’s no second one to be found.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Shen Qianzhan threw the small mirror in her hand at him. As if this wasn’t enough to vent her anger, she threw everything within reach except her lipstick.

You’re the carefully cultivated one, your whole family is carefully cultivated.

Su Zan was beaten black and blue but dared neither complain nor resist. He had to obediently clean up the mess all over the floor.

He put everything back in its proper place, serving tea and water, flattering Shen Qianzhan: “Sister Zhan, you’ve scolded and vented your anger. Could you help me arrange a meeting with President Ji? I want to understand which company Qianqian reached an agreement with.”

Shen Qianzhan snorted coldly: “Still not giving up, want to keep her? I usually don’t see you being so responsible.”

Su Zan sighed melancholically: “She’s the first artist I managed after all. I’ve drunk for her, gotten drunk for her, thrown punches for her—the emotional investment I’ve made, how could you understand? Things have reached this point, keeping her wouldn’t mean much. I just want to know if her new agency can treat her well.”

Shen Qianzhan disdainfully pursed her lips, scolding him for being useless, but ultimately softened and sent Ji Qinghe a WeChat message.

For their first contact after cooperation, she strived to be cute, harmless, and irresistibly appealing to the damn man: “President Ji, are you there? I have a favor to ask~” After sending the text, she selected an emoji and sent an extremely cute dog begging animated gif.

The damn man who seemed to live on WeChat instantly replied: “You weren’t asking like this last time.”

How could this be compared?

Shen Qianzhan: “…” Middle finger.