Chapter 8 : Qi Qi's Compromise

• After the discussion, before the formal procedures began, General Lu gathered the company's leadership team and announced that Xiao Hua was now the company's CEO.
• Among them, there was someone who had previously criticized Xiao Hua. He was suddenly frightened, afraid that Xiao Hua would kick him out. Fortunately, Xiao Hua was reasonable and believed in innocence, so everything remained the same, except that Huang Shu was promoted to temporary general manager and would become permanent depending on her performance. This made Huang Shu extremely excited.
• On the other hand, Qi Qi and Xiao Chen sat in a coffee shop feeling a bit unhappy. Especially Xiao Chen, he was embarrassed. He overestimated his own reputation, thinking that these company executives would give him face.
• But he didn't consider the fact that he was not an artist under New Trend Entertainment. Who was General Lu to him? It was already a favor to be able to meet him.
• Qi Qi also had a bit of an inflated ego. She thought that with her singing and acting skills, and her good looks, she shouldn't be rejected.
• But there were plenty of beautiful girls in this world. Even if they weren't beautiful enough, couldn't they get plastic surgery? Besides, she was already past her prime.
• What the entertainment company valued was not how well you sang or how beautiful you looked, but whether you were obedient.
• Qi Qi used to be popular because she sang well and was beautiful, but she was put on the shelf because she didn't listen. Who would want an artist who didn't listen? The entertainment industry could still function without you.
• Both of them remained silent, sulking to themselves. Suddenly, Xiao Chen's phone rang. He looked and saw that it was a call from General Lu's secretary.
• Xiao Chen was excited and said to Qi Qi, "Look, it's like buying something. They call you back after you leave."
• Qi Qi replied irritably, "Answer the phone quickly."
• "Oh."
• Xiao Chen answered the call eagerly and then said to Qi Qi, "Just as I thought, they're asking us to come back."
• Qi Qi was also happy, feeling that she had finally waited for the day of her comeback.
• When the two returned to New Trend, they saw that General Lu was no longer there, only Huang Shu was present.
• Xiao Chen asked, "Secretary Huang, where is General Lu? Didn't he ask us to come back?"
• Huang Shu cleared her throat and said, "New Trend is no longer under General Lu's control, and I am no longer his secretary. I am the general manager now, so I can make decisions regarding Qi Qi."
• Both of them were surprised. How could New Trend no longer be under General Lu's control in such a short time?
• But they wouldn't be foolish enough to ask about it. They only asked, "Can we have roles in the new movie?"
• Huang Shu looked at Xiao Chen and said, "If I remember correctly, Xiao Chen, you are an artist under Li Media, right?"
• Xiao Chen hurriedly said, "I'm here this time on a personal matter, helping a friend. I didn't intend to act in your movie, and the company wouldn't agree either."
• Huang Shu said, "In that case, can you please leave? What Qi Qi and I are about to discuss involves company secrets and it's not convenient for outsiders to listen."
• Xiao Chen felt a bit displeased, but Qi Qi quickly signaled him with her eyes, so he could only get up and leave, waiting outside.
• After Xiao Chen left, Huang Shu said, "There's no problem with you acting in the movie, but there's a condition."
• Qi Qi asked anxiously, "What condition?"
• Huang Shu replied, "Sign a contract with our company and become one of our artists."
• Qi Qi was taken aback. She didn't expect such a big change in New Trend. She said, "Signing a contract is not a problem, but I also have a few conditions."
• Huang Shu asked, "What are they?"
• Qi Qi said, "I will work hard for the company, but I have the right to refuse unreasonable requests outside of work."
• Huang Shu asked, "Such as?"
• Qi Qi replied, "Such as accompanying people for meals and drinks, such as... accompanying someone to sleep."
• Qi Qi felt a bit uneasy. She was already 25 years old, and as an artist, she was already past her prime. It was becoming increasingly difficult for her to become popular again, even more difficult than when she first debuted. She also knew that there were many younger girls who were willing to pay any price for an opportunity.
• So sometimes she would waver and wonder what she was really holding on to. That's just how this industry works. If you don't accept, you'll be eliminated.
• During the past six months in Lu Nan, Qi Qi had already accepted reality. If it weren't for Xiao Chen accompanying her, she would have probably agreed to General Lu's conditions.
• But what surprised Qi Qi was that Huang Shu agreed so readily and even asked, "Anything else?"
• Qi Qi was truly caught off guard and said, "No, that's it."
• Huang Shu said, "Alright, come to the company in three days to sign the contract. Oh, by the way, the profit-sharing ratio is 70% for you and 30% for the company."
• Qi Qi was shocked again. This condition was too good. It was almost on par with A-list celebrities. This made Qi Qi suspect if there was a trap hidden in it.
• Huang Shu didn't let Qi Qi think too much and simply sent her off.
• On the way back, Qi Qi had no interest in listening to what Xiao Chen was saying. She was constantly thinking about what Huang Shu's true intentions were.
• "Could it be that she's tricking me into signing the contract and then plotting something against me? By then, I won't be able to afford the penalty fee and will be at her mercy."
• The more Qi Qi thought about it, the more she felt that was the case. She knew herself well enough to know that besides being beautiful, she didn't have much else to offer that would make a big boss take notice.
• But even though she thought that, Qi Qi still planned to sign the contract because she had resigned herself to her fate. She was already 25, and in a few more years, no one would find her attractive anymore.
• Qi Qi didn't tell Xiao Chen about the conditions New Trend Entertainment offered her, she only said that she had successfully signed the contract.
• Xiao Chen felt that Qi Qi was acting strange, but he didn't think too much about it and said, "It's good that you signed. I have to leave too. My agent has been blowing up my phone."
• Qi Qi said, "Thank you. I will remember this favor."
• Xiao Chen said, "What favor? We're not strangers. It's strange to talk about these things."
• Qi Qi smiled. She knew that Xiao Chen was known as the Sea King in the industry. He had been attentive to her because he hadn't gotten what he wanted yet.
• In the afternoon, General Lu and Xiao Hua signed the company acquisition agreement. Although there were still some procedures to go through, the matter was basically settled.
• General Lu was very happy and insisted on treating Xiao Hua to a meal. Xiao Hua thought that his sister wasn't coming home for dinner, so he agreed.
• During the meal, General Lu flattered Xiao Hua in every possible way because it was rare to find someone who could come up with five billion at once. He thought Xiao Hua was from a big family.
• Xiao Hua dealt with it casually and finally said, "General Lu, I hope you won't leak the fact that I bought your company, and please keep my identity confidential."
• Although General Lu was puzzled, he still agreed.
• Xiao Hua had to keep a low profile now. Although he had concealed his identity, if someone wanted to investigate, they could still find out. So before he grew enough to deal with the Li family, he didn't want to attract their attention.
• After the meal, General Lu suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, Mr. Xiao, there's a banquet at Tianhao Hotel tonight. Half of the wealthy circle in Lu Nan has received invitations. Since you just arrived in Lu Nan, why not go and get to know some people?"
• Xiao Hua wasn't interested in this kind of thing, but coincidentally, Xiao Mu'er was also going to this banquet, so he readily agreed.