Xie Jin reined in the ferocious look he had worn just moments before, and met Su Tao's scrutinizing gaze as he stepped off the stage. He stood obediently in front of her and, before she could question him, took the initiative to admit his mistake.
"I got a little impulsive. I'm sorry."
Su Tao stared at him for a long while, trying to arrange her words several times but unable to vocalize them. Finally she could only sigh and tease, "What, have you really become his fan?"
Xie Jin's expression froze. He couldn't refute what he himself had said, so he could only nod in acquiescence.
Su Tao raised the corners of her lips and waved Le Xuan over, putting on an act and saying ceremoniously, "Give this fan one of Jiang Qi's autographed photos. As the group admin, give him a formal induction since he's voted for our Jiang Qi so many times. He should get certified as a top fan."
Xie Jin smiled awkwardly and politely waved his hand. "No need for that, I'll just silently support him."
Su Tao's clear eyes were filled with helplessness. She stared at him for a few more seconds before finally approaching him and whispering softly in his ear, "Don't do anything more for me. When you act this way, it weighs on my conscience."
Xie Jin's expression froze. It seemed the heart that had been drifting aimlessly these past few days was finally shattered by the heavy hammer hanging over it, the broken shards scattering, never to be pieced back together.
All the misunderstandings had been cleared up, yet she still refused to accept his devotion. That was tantamount to her refusing to accept him.
Xie Jin, who had clung to the belief that as long as the misunderstandings were resolved he could return to Su Tao's side, suddenly felt powerless, as if his faith had collapsed.
He didn't know what more he should do—in an instant, he had lost all sense of direction.
"Little Tao..." Xie Jin's Adam's apple bobbed as his voice turned hoarse, and his deep eyes were full of thick helplessness. "Then tell me, what should I do?"
The Q&A session with the reporters was nearing its end, and Su Tao didn't have the time or mood to discuss this now. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I'll contact you later."
Xie Jin seemed to glimpse a ray of hope. He immediately nodded agreeably and took the initiative to step behind Su Tao, so as not to impede her work.
Faced with such an "understanding" Xie Jin, Su Tao didn't feel any relief. But she didn't dwell on him for the moment, instead calling over her assistant who had been anxiously fretting all this time.
"Do you know what you did wrong just now?" Although it was meant as a rebuke, Su Tao's tone was still gentle, just a little urgent.
The fairly clever assistant nodded, and tears welled up in her eyes from Su Tao's earlier glare. She blamed herself, "I know, I shouldn't have knelt. I'm sorry, Manager Su. Next time I'll be sure to pay attention."
"Boss, I think Little Ke didn't do it on purpose just now. She performed well during her internship," Le Xuan put in a good word for the assistant called Little Ke, whom he seemed to have a favorable impression of.
Su Tao nodded. She naturally trusted Le Xuan's judgement. And coupled with Little Ke's good attitude in admitting her mistake, her tone softened as she admonished and coached, "Remember this, Little Ke: We work behind the scenes. It's better to take the blame ourselves than to let the artist take any hits. Always be aware of your words and actions so as not to bring trouble to the artist."
Little Ke, who had finally stopped crying, turned even more pitiful with her red-rimmed eyes and nose. She kept nodding and sincerely said, "I'll remember Manager Su's teachings. You're my idol—I applied to join this company because of you. I was so excited to be selected by you. I really wanted to do well, but I never thought...the first thing I did was make a mistake. I'm...I'm sorry."
The more Little Ke spoke, the more violently she sobbed, until she couldn't continue.
Su Tao had always been soft-hearted. Her heart instantly melted and she reached out to pat Little Ke's head, revealing a smile. She gently said, "Just pay attention next time. Don't cry."
As she spoke, she even cupped Little Ke's face and used the tissues Le Xuan handed over to wipe away her tears, finally soothing the girl's emotions.
Little Ke, who had finally stopped crying, lifted her eyes and collided with a pair of deep, sinister dark eyes. She shrank back instinctively by a step.
Su Tao followed her gaze. Xie Jin, who was standing behind her, immediately concealed his expression. He said, "I'll wait for your call," and then turned to leave.
With the press conference over, Jiang Qi's schedule for the day was also complete.
Although he had added the identity of a boy band member, his contract for joining the variety show was only one year long. The team would disband after that year.
Within that one year period, the different management companies could still independently accept resources and business opportunities for their own artists—in plain words, they were just using the popularity of the variety show and the resources of being in a boy band.
Jiang Qi would also be starting school again soon, with one more year of studies left. In the car, Su Tao talked him through the arrangements for his work over the next year.
Within the premise of ensuring Jiang Qi wouldn't fall behind on classes, she had arranged some variety show commitments and commercial endorsements, only accepting those from DG. He just needed to cooperate with DG's activities and film/record ads. She didn't want to drain his popularity and time by taking on too many endorsements.
"The day after tomorrow, you'll be recording a theme song MV for the new group with your partner, Fu Chengcheng, who's the most popular member of the girl group." After going over the main work arrangements, Su Tao raised her eyes to look at Jiang Qi. "There's one more thing. From now on, Le Xuan will be your executive manager. If anything comes up, you can contact Le Xuan first."
Jiang Qi, who had been silent all this while, suddenly whipped his head around to stare at Su Tao. His narrow eyes held astonishment and faint anger.
"What executive manager? Didn't you say you would personally manage me for three months?"
Without waiting for Su Tao's instructions, Le Xuan took the initiative to have Little Ke exit the car. Only Jiang Qi and Su Tao remained inside.
Su Tao's eyes were indifferent as she mildly said, "But I'm not suitable to personally manage you anymore. This doesn't affect the promise I made you earlier, though. For your career, I will do my utmost to help you reach the pinnacle."
"Three months—that's what we signed in the contract," Jiang Qi said fiercely, his throat tight. His burning gaze seemed to want to ignite the cold woman before him.
"If you want to talk contracts with me..." Su Tao calmly took out a document, flipped to a page and tossed it to Jiang Qi. "Read item three under clause five."
Jiang Qi's fiery gaze moved from Su Tao's face to the contract. Finding the clause she referred to, his expression stiffened and his brows knotted tightly together.
The contract stated: If emotional entanglements arise between a team member and artist, the company has the right to unilaterally remove said team member without the artist's consent.
Jiang Qi's chest heaved violently. He stared at the clause, the veins in his neck bulging. His voice was hoarse with undisguised disappointment and bitterness, "So the talk you mentioned before the press conference, that was just your unilateral decision to remove yourself? You had already planned that after the press conference you would cut ties with me, right?"
"Yes," Su Tao replied even more coolly, no longer speaking gently. Her tone was cold and indifferent, like a machine devoid of emotion. "Fundamentally, I'm a businesswoman—valuing profits over ethics. Any fantasies you have about me are false illusions, imagined by you. If I compromised and catered to sign you, it was only because I wanted to use you to make money. Naturally, if you lose value to me, I won't waste any more time on you."
Su Tao's words were so cold they were almost heartless, bringing tears to Jiang Qi's eyes. He stared dazedly at the woman before him, unable to reconcile her with the gentle, demure girl on the beach at sunset.
"Jiang Qi, the grand, earth-shattering love you desire will definitely come to you one day, just not from me." Su Tao's gaze gradually grew distant, as if she had delved into distant memories. "The most important thing in love for me is compromise—something you'll never understand."
In just three seconds, Su Tao pulled back from her recollections. She took the contract from Jiang Qi's hands, intentionally ignoring his tear-filled eyes. Then she opened the car door and resolutely left.
Jiang Qi lowered his eyes, tears clinging to his lashes falling onto his cheeks. He had never believed in karma before, but now he did.
He was just getting back what he deserved for all the women he had played with in the past. Faces of girls who had wept bitterly for him, desperately pleaded with him, stubbornly clung to him flashed continuously through his mind—how similar they were to him right now.
In the past, he had felt those women were so boring, so lacking in self-respect. When he had clearly and unambiguously rejected them, why did they still stubbornly cling on, not giving him any dignity?
Now he understood. Once emotionally invested, the heart was no longer within one's control.
Compromise...
He could also compromise.
Su Tao did not have a car in Beicheng, and Su Yangxing took the initiative to lend her his car. He did not know if it was because Su Tao had bought him food and he was moved.
Su Tao did not refuse. She had made appointments with several producers and brand partners she wanted to meet in Beicheng, and having a car was much more convenient.
Through Liao Dan's relationship, she had arranged to meet with a producer of a variety show on a local TV station in Beicheng, to discuss a original singing variety show on Beicheng TV for Xue Xinzi.
Su Yangxing's car was not parked at the Su family villa, but at a parking lot in the central square.
When she went to get the car, she realized it was her own white four-leaf clover.
Seeing the familiar car, Su Tao was briefly stunned for a few seconds, then waved away the extra emotions and got ready to get in the car to set off.
Suddenly a bright white light flashed Su Tao's eyes, and she reflexively shielded her eyes from the light.
A car slowly drove over from the opposite side, stopping by her side, before turning off the high beams.
Su Tao closed her eyes for a moment, looked up with knitted brows at the impolite person in the car, a slightly fat man wearing an orange baseball cap came out.
Su Tao had seen Jiang Wan's agent once a year ago, so she had a memory of the color of his cap.
"Su Tao? It really is you!" Wu Sida's voice contained anger, clearly unfriendly.
Su Tao quietly opened the car door. She knew the news about signing Jiang Wan had already leaked to Wu Sida. Obviously he did not come to have a nice chat with her today.
Wu Sida glared at her with his triangular eyes on his fat white face, yelling loudly: "Do you know that cutting off someone's source of income invites divine retribution like lightning strike!"
One of Su Tao's feet was already inside the car, but she calmly said, "Everything I do is legal. If you are not satisfied with me, you can sue me directly."
Su Tao did not want to argue with a man in an underground parking lot. After saying this, she quickly got into the car, stepped on the accelerator, and the car rushed out, with the roar of the engine echoing throughout the entire underground parking garage.
Because there was a fee to leave the parking lot which caused a delay, Wu Sida's car caught up behind her in the rearview mirror. After Su Tao paid the fee, she immediately stepped harder on the gas pedal and quickly drove away from the parking lot.
She had not driven her own car for over a year. The four-leaf clover had an excellent engine, but she did not dare drive recklessly on the busy central avenue.
Wu Sida's car chased closely behind and did not give up. The sky was a little gloomy, seemingly brewing an autumn rain.
Su Tao's expression remained calm. With skillful driving techniques, she weaved through the road like a dragon's tail, but unexpectedly Wu Sida's driving skills were not bad either, sticking closely behind her, gradually gaining up.
Finally at a red light, Wu Sida ran the red light at all costs, overtaking and getting in front of Su Tao's car. His car kept sticking to hers, nearly causing scratches several times.
Finally at a turn, Wu Sida recklessly smashed into her, breaking the headlight on the front of Su Tao's car and forcing her to stop by the roadside.
Su Tao maintained her composure despite the impact. Her expression darkened as she closed her eyes to calm her emotions, but her window was "knock knock knocked" on.
Outside the window, Wu Sida's face was filled with anger as he clamored, "Su Tao, come out! Don't hide inside. You can hide for a while but not your whole life!"
His manner was exactly the same as "Auntie Xue knocking on the door". Those who did not know would think he was deliberately parodying and mimicking. The onlooking spectators of the car accident were all amused by Wu Sida's appearance.
Su Tao had just calmed down her anger, but now it surged up again. She opened the car door and bumped Wu Sida's leg neither lightly nor heavily, and said in a low voice, "Move away, you're blocking the door so I can't get out."
Wu Sida had lost the reason to scold her, so he could only take a step back to make way.
Su Tao looked at the smashed headlight on the front of the car with irritation in her eyes. "Wu Sida, I can sue you for intentional injury, or even attempted murder."
Wu Sida was still furious. He looked gentle on the surface but actually had the temper of a local ruffian from Beicheng.
"Sue whatever you want. You think I don't have lawyers and don't know how to fight a lawsuit? That's great, I'll sue you for unfair competition, poaching other agents' artists, and let everyone see how ugly your conduct is! Do you believe I'll make you unable to survive in the industry!"
Su Tao secretly recorded audio on her phone. When he finished ranting, Su Tao finally spoke. Her voice was not loud but firm and sonorous. "How did I engage in unfair competition?"
"First poaching Jiang Qi, then digging Jiang Wan, are you targeting me on purpose? I'm telling you, you've provoked the wrong person! Don't think that having Xie Jin as your backer means you can act unscrupulously!" Wu Sida was still furious. "I, Wu Sida, don't eat vegetarian either! We'll go down together if that's what it takes!"
Su Tao nodded lightly. Her emotions were now completely under control. She waited for him to finish shouting, then shook the recording in her hand. "Alright, that's another charge of defamation and threats added. Look forward to a letter from my lawyer."
Su Tao said, "Also, you didn't sign Jiang Qi because you lacked the ability, and Jiang Wan leaving is also your own problem. Even if I don't sign her, someone else will. Why don't you think about your own issues first? Why can't you keep artists?"
"What the hell do you know!" Wu Sida looked gentle and refined on the surface, but actually had the temper of a local ruffian from Beicheng.
Also, anyone who could associate with Liu Wantao must have something wrong with their brain to some extent.
"Doing business as an agent, the biggest taboo is killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, only caring about making quick money and squeezing out their value." Su Tao said, "Have you really made long-term plans for Jiang Wan, instead of just thinking about making fast money?"
Taking advantage of Wu Sida's stunned silence, Su Tao called the police and Le Xuan, asking her to come handle the aftermath of the car accident. Her appointment time with the TV producer was almost up.
"Why should I listen to you?" Wu Sida recovered from Su Tao's verbal twist. "I've always operated this way, and I'm the number one contributor to the company's growth to its scale today. What's wrong with maximizing an artist's value as much as possible? An artist's golden period is only a few years. Who can guarantee they will stay popular for life? Does the company have to support their retirement too?"
Wu Sida: "It's best for female artists to make as much money as they can when they are able to earn. That way when they get old and their looks fade, they won't have to desperately keep working. Where did I go wrong?"
Su Tao: "Making money and making quick money are different. Your so-called making money, one, disregards the artist's physical and mental health, two, disregards reputation, overdrafts fans' love for the artist, and even stops at nothing to ruin her image."
"You don't know shit!" Wu Sida looked fair-skinned and gentle on the surface, but actually had the temper of a local ruffian from Beicheng.
The accident location was in the city center with convenient traffic. Le Xuan arrived in less than ten minutes.
Su Tao didn't have the patience to reason with this kind of person anymore. She instructed Le Xuan to just tell the police directly and ignore Wu Sida, then took the documents from the car preparing to leave.
"You can't go!"
Unexpectedly, Wu Sida chased up again. He grabbed Su Tao's shoulder with one hand and said threateningly, "You're in a hurry right? If I can't get relief, don't expect to feel comfortable either! Want to sue me? Bring it on."
The sky grew increasingly gloomy, and the occasional muffled thunder rumbled in the clouds.
Su Tao's expression remained calm. Her tone was flat without much fluctuation, but it hit the mark. "As an agent, the biggest taboo is killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, only caring about making quick money and squeezing out their value. Have you really made long-term plans for Jiang Wan, instead of just thinking about making fast money?"
Taking advantage of Wu Sida's stunned silence again, Su Tao called the police and Le Xuan, asking her to come handle the aftermath of the car accident. She had an appointment time with a TV producer that was almost up.
"Why should I listen to you?" Wu Sida recovered from being verbally turned around by Su Tao and retorted, "I've always operated this way, and I'm the number one contributor to the company's growth to its scale today. What's wrong with maximizing an artist's value as much as possible? An artist's golden period is only a few years. Who can guarantee they will stay popular for life? Does the company have to support their retirement too?"
Wu Sida said, "It's best for female artists to make as much money as they can when they are able to earn. That way when they get old and their looks fade, they won't have to desperately keep working. Where did I go wrong?"
Su Tao said, "Making money and making quick money are different. Your so-called making money, one, disregards the artist's physical and mental health, two, disregards reputation, overdrafts fans' love for the artist, and even stops at nothing to ruin her image."
"You don't know shit!" Wu Sida looked fair-skinned and gentle on the surface, but actually had the temper of a local ruffian from Beicheng.
The accident location was in the city center with convenient traffic. Le Xuan arrived in less than ten minutes.
Su Tao didn't have the patience to reason with this kind of person anymore. She told Le Xuan to just tell the police and ignore Wu Sida, then took the documents from the car preparing to leave.
"You can't go!"
Unexpectedly, Wu Sida chased up again. He grabbed Su Tao's shoulder tightly and said in a rogue manner, "You have urgent business right? If I can't get relief, don't expect to feel comfortable either! Want to sue me for intentional injury, attempted murder? I'll make the charges stick, how about that?"
"Let her go." A stern roar pierced Wu Sida's eardrums.
The next moment, his arm was forcibly struck away. His forearm was grabbed by a hand like a hot iron, twisted 180 degrees back. His arm was between dislocation and sprain, in excruciating pain, causing Wu Sida to scream repeatedly.
With a "bang", Wu Sida's fat white face was smashed onto the hood of the car. The pain from the impact stimulated his nerves. He yelled and begged for mercy, "Let go, let go, let's talk nicely."
Suddenly there was a crack of thunder in the sky. The rapidly darkening sky, together with the lightning, caused the people standing on the road to stop paying attention to this incident and quickly leave to take shelter from the heavy rain that could fall any time.
A gloomy voice like the previous thunderbolt shocked Wu Sida's mind, making his scalp tingle.
"Deliberately injuring others? Attempted murder? If you dare touch her, it will be the end of you."
Xie Jin felt the strength shackling his arms and neck growing heavier. It became more and more difficult for him to breathe as his eyes bulged out. Through the hood of the car, he could vaguely see a black silhouette, like the angel of death, holding him down. He could feel the breath of death.
"Xie Jin, let go."
As Wu Sida's consciousness faded in his dying moments, he seemed to hear the voice of an angel.
It was as warm as spring water, cleansing his soul. If he was given another chance at life, he would definitely strive to be a good person, to be gentle.
Just as Wu Sida thought he was going to heaven, oxygen suddenly rushed into his nostrils. His almost stationary brain seemed to be able to function again.
Along with the air that rushed into his nostrils was a lot of rainwater.
The rain had finally started to fall.
In the Maybach, Su Tao closed the rear door, blocking out the pouring rain.
Fortunately they had gotten into the car in time and didn't get wet from the rain.
After closing the car door, Su Tao looked at Wu Sida outside and subconsciously grabbed Xie Jin's hand again.
She saw Wu Sida wipe his face in the rain, apparently recovering. It seemed he was fine. Only then did Su Tao feel relieved.
Just now Xie Jin had looked so terrifying. His eyes were full of killing intent. And it seemed he couldn't hear her shouts at all, entirely focused on killing Wu Sida.
If she hadn't hugged him from behind at the last moment, he probably wouldn't have let Wu Sida go.
Feeling her palm being clenched, Su Tao drew her gaze back from Wu Sida.
As soon as she turned her head, her lips were blocked by cold lips. She wanted to dodge but her head was held in an icy grip, unable to avoid it.
Su Tao felt Xie Jin's body trembling. She looked at this cold, stern face right in front of her.
His eyes were tightly closed, long eyelashes quivering slightly. At first the kiss was extremely agitated, like a hunting leopard eating its prey, kissing aggressively.
Su Tao placed her soft little hands on both sides of his cheeks, slowly spreading her warmth into his face.
Gradually, his palm was no longer so cold, and his lips became warmer. The passionate kiss gradually turned gentle, becoming a drizzle.
Xie Jin finally released her lips. Leaning his forehead against hers, he seemed to have regained his senses, struggling to steady his breathing. Opening his deep dark eyes, he looked at her with flickering gaze.
"Little Taozi, did I scare you?"
"Yes, you scared me."
Su Tao hadn't seen Xie Jin lose control in a long time. His changes recently had almost made her forget how terrifying he could be when enraged.
Su Tao thought of another question, "Oh right, what are you doing here?"
Xie Jin's expression immediately tensed up, dispelling the gloom from before. Straightening his back, he explained earnestly.
"I swear I just happened to be passing by. I've been very obedient waiting for your call. I wasn't stalking you, really."
As if afraid she wouldn't believe him, he even raised three fingers and swore, lacking only slapping "good boy" on his forehead to show Su Tao.
