Chapter Seven: Cooperation

Rong Qing entered the office of the general manager at Ding Sheng. A pure rosewood desk stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, a full two meters wide. A man in a suit and tie, wearing rimless glasses, leaned by the window. He looked to be in his thirties, but his entire demeanor was sharp and commanding. No wonder he was the media and entertainment manager of the Huo Group.

Truth be told, although Rong Qing had been at Ding Sheng for two years, her status as a second-tier celebrity was not enough for the company’s boss to consider her a rising star worth investing in. She had only glimpsed this efficient general manager from afar at social gatherings, and had no real interaction with him before.

“Hello, I’m Xing Hao, the entertainment manager from Huo Group.” The man, who usually stood so far above her, introduced himself first, his manner toward Rong Qing both friendly and proper.

Her delicate face, barely the size of a palm, carried a hint of a smile that immediately brought spring’s warmth into the room. If a flower vase can only be admired from afar and lacks inner grace, then this stunning woman possessed a noble, cool beauty, yet her faint smile seemed to illuminate the world with its brilliance. In his mind, Xing Hao gave her even higher marks—Young Master Huo’s taste was indeed excellent. At the same time, he felt a pang of regret for not noticing such an outstanding girl among his own artists.

“Hello, I’m Rong Qing.” The two exchanged a brief handshake and soon let go.

Both took their seats on the black leather sofa; on the table, her agency proposal had already been prepared. Rong Qing sat upright, knees gracefully bent, maintaining a poised and capable demeanor. She glanced over the contract’s conditions—so generous and favorable, with not a single loophole, meticulous and precise. Rong Qing frowned slightly; with only a year left on her contract, such generous terms were like a pie falling from the sky. The endorsement fee was shockingly high, a personal wardrobe and makeup team were provided free of charge, and some of the benefits were on par with those given to the company’s top superstars.

“Any questions?” Yan Lin, noticing his boss’s darkening expression, asked nervously.

“Yes!” Rong Qing shot him an unceremonious glare. What did he mean by not interfering with her decision? Wasn’t this just laying out all the options he’d already meddled with, asking her to pick one? “I never knew my market value had reached superstar status.”

“Ahem…” Yan Lin adjusted his glasses, muttering inwardly about his boss. He’d known this would happen—Young Master Huo, trying to respect her choices while also currying favor, but this heavy-handed approach would be discovered sooner or later. He could see clearly that the girl before him was no pushover; a single sharp glance from those beautiful eyes made his heart tremble.

But as the chief assistant to the Huo Group, Yan Lin had to defend his boss and make the reasoning sound less far-fetched. “This is simply the company’s way of showing appreciation for employees with great potential. By offering such favorable terms, we hope to motivate our artists to bring in more profit. Rong Qing, you have the ability, so the company just wants to retain you.”

He met Rong Qing’s gaze with increasing unease. That flawless face, smiling with hidden meaning—if she weren’t the boss’s woman, even he might be tempted. Right now, sweat prickled down his back from the pressure.

“Very well, it’s settled.” With a wave of her hand, Rong Qing signed her name on the contract. Only a fool would turn down easy money.

Xing Hao narrowed his eyes, watching the standoff between Yan Lin and the young woman. The so-called fox-like, all-capable assistant actually meeting his match—what a rare sight. His appreciation for the girl grew even more.

“Rong Qing, as one of Ding Sheng Entertainment’s key talents, you must stay clear of any scandals. The company will select scripts for you, but don’t expect any special privileges just because of your connections,” Xing Hao said.

“I understand.” Rong Qing was very satisfied with their conversation. A man who could keep business and private matters separate would surely lead the company to new heights.

“At the same time, I hope you will keep company decisions confidential. Any rumors that could harm the company’s interests will be quashed at the outset.” Xing Hao’s smile was somewhat sly, fox-like to Rong Qing’s eyes.

“Rest assured, my professional ethics would never allow such a thing,” Rong Qing replied, her eyes full of confidence and her smile bright.

“Here’s to a fruitful partnership, future superstar.”

“Likewise, future media tycoon.”

“Heh…” What an exciting prospect.

When Rong Qing left the company, the reporters who had gathered around the building had already been dispersed by security. She exchanged a few words with Yan Lin, then got into her red Audi parked in the company’s garage and sped away.

Yan Lin scratched his nose sheepishly, refusing to admit that Rong Qing’s actions were deliberate payback—the scent of car oil seemed to linger on him. He turned back to his own vehicle. After all, his boss only required him to be an assistant, not a nanny; he had no authority over that little queen’s movements.

Rong Qing parked at the lower level of Shengshi Plaza. Putting on a prepared wig and changing into flat shoes, she slipped on large black-framed glasses that hid most of her face. By the time she emerged, she looked every bit the stylish socialite—no one would ever guess she was the star Rong Qing.

She picked up a tote bag and entered a street-side café with a classical flair. The décor was elegant, yet not ostentatious.

––– Author’s Note –––

Please add to your favorites, please, please… Looking at the meager collection, sigh…