"What could be inappropriate about it, this party is originally open to bringing partners. Since everyone is from the company, there’s nothing to hide. I heard from Suisui that Wu Kequn also brought his girlfriend. Besides, everyone already knows about you..."
Endme smiled brightly, "You can drop me off after it’s over, I’ll definitely be home before dawn."
"Alright, Xiaoxi, could you introduce me? I need to apologize to Mr. Zhou for my previous recklessness..."
Chen He hurriedly nodded, with a serious expression on his face.
...
In a quiet side yard of the mansion, away from the lights, Wang Xiaoxiao, wearing a low-cut long dress, hurriedly ran in and immediately hugged a trash can in the corner, retching violently.
Her tied-up hair was a bit disheveled, and her pale powdered face, mixed with the sound of choking coughs, showed that she was feeling very unwell at the moment, with tears already welling up at the corners of her eyes.
The sound of high heels clicked behind her, and soon, a short-haired woman with glasses, looking competent, appeared and handed her a stack of tissues.
"Tha... Thank you, Sister Yan."
Wang Xiaoxiao, after a while, finally managed to stand up with difficulty.
"Are you alright?" her agent Zhao Yan asked.
"Much better."
"Alright, let’s go back and continue drinking."
"What, more drinking?"
Wang Xiaoxiao quickly shook her head, her face full of withdrawal, "Sister Yan, I really can’t drink anymore..."
"Now that Zheng Shifeng is down, until the company appoints a new deputy general manager, Zheng Shifeng’s business will definitely temporarily go to someone else. Mr. Ming has a deep background and prior experience, Mr. Zhang is very likely to hand the operations department over to him. If you don’t take this opportunity to build a relationship now, when do you plan to?"
Zhao Yan advised earnestly, "Besides, I can tell that Mr. Ming has a slight interest in you, albeit subtly..."
"What if he’s interested in me?"
Wang Xiaoxiao’s disbelief came through as her voice turned sharp, "Sister Yan, don’t tell me you want me to sleep with him. I’ve already said I can’t accept such things..."
"You can’t accept such things?"
Zhao Yan was genuinely annoyed, raising her voice as well, "Wang Xiaoxiao, I’m telling you, once you’re in this circle, everyone is here to sell something, either talent, body, or both!"
Zhao Yan took a step closer, staring fiercely at the stunned Wang Xiaoxiao.
"If you can’t manage to make it like Tian Xinyi by relying on your talent alone, then you better stick to the third way!"
"Goddammit Wang Xiaoxiao, you really need a reality check. I’ve been treating you with kindness, and you really think you’re some kind of pure saintess? What are you, made of diamonds or gold? Hmm?"
"Think about how much I’ve invested in you over the years, consider your age, and really think I have the patience to wait for when you accidentally strike gold and soar to the top?"
"Our contract ends at the end of the year. Let me tell you straight, you either cooperate with me so I can recoup some of my investment in you, and you’ll get your due benefits, or... you just wait to be destroyed by me. Believe it or not, I have a hundred ways to make it impossible for you to stay in this circle!"
Wang Xiaoxiao’s body trembled as fear, anger, grievance, and panic overwhelmed her.
She felt that Zhao Yan in front of her was so unfamiliar, especially those eyes filled with indifference, disdain, and hatred, nothing like the Sister Yan who used to care for her and always seemed to have her best interests at heart.
"Yan... Sister Yan, you..."
"Since everything’s on the table, let me tell you one more thing."
Zhao Yan sneered, "That time when Mr. Zhang specifically asked you to attend the meeting, I actually vaguely suspected that Mr. Zhou’s identity wasn’t simple, because Mr. Zhang’s attitude revealed between the lines wasn’t usual, but guess why I didn’t warn you?"
"Why?"
Wang Xiaoxiao asked dumbly, instinctively.
"Because I knew a person like you, definitely wouldn’t let go of your pride to please a man. Just as Zheng had already set a price, I might as well send you over there, where I would easily earn two hundred thousand. Why not?"
Zhao Yan’s eyes were filled with satisfaction as she clicked her tongue, "Xiaoxiao, I never thought you’d be worth two hundred thousand either. I guess putting on a virtuous façade is somewhat useful; at least you’re cleaner than some like that Xiao Cheng. Some people just like this style..."
Wang Xiaoxiao’s head buzzed with noise, and she could no longer hear the rest of what Zhao Yan was saying.
Regret and remorse devoured her soul, causing her to tremble more violently, almost unable to stand.
If seeing Zhou Wang’s revealed identity tonight only made her resent her own dullness, then upon learning now that it wasn’t completely her fault, but Zhao Yan’s interference that cost her the chance to connect with Zhou Wang earlier,
She truly couldn’t accept it.
Apparently, she once had the chance, like Hua Suisui, to soar to the top.
After what felt like ages, Wang Xiaoxiao finally regained a little consciousness from her daze, as Zhao Yan’s final warning reached her ears:
"...I’ll be waiting for you by Mr. Ming, you can choose not to come, but think carefully about the consequences!"
Tap, tap, tap!
After speaking, Zhao Yan turned and walked away. Wang Xiaoxiao faltered a bit before finally collapsing to the ground, with streams of tears rolling down her blank cheeks, turning into an invisible abyss enveloping her, leaving her nearly suffocated.