A woman wearing a white evening gown carrying a glass of wine approached.
Yin Zhizhi felt she looked familiar, and after searching Ji Huan's memories, she finally recalled who it was.
Xiao Xiangyun, an actress Ji Huan had previously managed, but she had left for a rival company after just over two months.
Thanks to Ji Huan's guidance, Xiao Xiangyun had risen from a third-tier to a first-tier actress, and was now heavily promoted by her new company.
Xiao Xiangyun approached with the wine, "Ji Huan, it really is you. I didn't think you'd attend this kind of banquet."
Ji Huan didn't say anything.
Xiao Xiangyun glanced at Yin Zhizhi, who was eating cake, looking surprised. "I see you've brought a newcomer to the banquet. No wonder. But is it okay for her to eat cake like that? I remember you were very strict about your artists' figures and weight, especially with me back then. I still remember what you said."
She spoke with a smile, giving the impression of being relaxed, but her words and tone felt off.
From the way she spoke, it seemed they were very familiar, but Ji Huan showed no emotion.
Yin Zhizhi was about to speak.
Ji Huan opened his mouth, "She's thinner than you."
Implying that Yin Zhizhi didn't need to be so strictly controlled because she was thinner, whereas Xiao Xiangyun had been strictly managed because she was overweight.
Xiao Xiangyun nearly lost her composure, not expecting Ji Huan to say something so insulting.
Yin Zhizhi leaned forward, "Miss Xiao, although I'm a few years younger than you, I've been in the industry for over a decade, so I'm not exactly a newcomer."
While Yin Zhizhi had been a child actress and hadn't appeared on screen much recently, she was certainly no newcomer.
Xiao Xiangyun smiled awkwardly, then turned back to Ji Huan, "Ji Huan, if you have time, could I treat you to a meal? I'm really grateful for your guidance and have wanted to take you out for a meal to thank you, but unfortunately I never got the chance to see you."
Yin Zhizhi asked curiously, "As her manager and artist, didn't you two exchange WeChat contacts back then? If you couldn't see him, you could have just messaged him to arrange something."
Xiao Xiangyun looked awkward again.
The reason she didn't message was because Ji Huan had deleted her.
Xiao Xiangyun ignored Yin Zhizhi and continued, "Ji Huan, I'm really grateful you took me on back then, and I really want to take you out for a meal to thank you."
"If you were really grateful, why did you breach your contract and jump ship to another company? Starlight is known in the industry for treating its artists well, so it can't have been so bad that you had to leave," Yin Zhizhi interjected.
Xiao Xiangyun couldn't keep her composure anymore. "Miss Yin, I was talking to Ji Huan. Is it appropriate for you to interrupt like that?"
"He's my manager."
He was her manager, not Xiao Xiangyun's.
Ji Huan pushed up his glasses. "Miss Xiao, taking you on back then was just a company arrangement. Managing you was simply part of my job. You don't need to thank me, I was just doing my work."
Ji Huan never treated anyone too poorly, but his expression now was cold, clearly showing his dislike for Xiao Xiangyun.
Yin Zhizhi finished the cake. "Ji Huan, the banquet is almost over. We should get going."
"Wait." Xiao Xiangyun stopped them. "Actually, there was another reason I came to find you. Something that should be quite important for you two. Miss Yin, your behavior at the restroom entrance earlier was unacceptable. Openly assaulting someone at a restroom entrance like that, what if it gets exposed? You're an adult now, you should think about your team and not cause trouble for Ji Huan."
