He Shen knew this was as far as Yun Xiangxiang would compromise, so he said nothing more and called Chen Yinghui in front of Yun Xiangxiang.

  He told Chen Yinghui exactly what Yun Xiangxiang wanted. Chen Yinghui seemed like he tried to negotiate, but He Shen was firm on it.

  The benefits Chen Yinghui were willing to give were tempting to the company, as it would serve to progress their strategic goals. However, Yun Xiangxiang was the company’s most-supported actress, and she had the most potential.

  Her growing international fame made it clear to everyone how bright her future was.

  They wouldn’t quarrel with Yun Xiangxiang over such petty profits.

  They dissuaded Yun Xiangxiang from going to court because they had to consider her future and the company’s future.

  Yun Xiangxiang wasn’t the only person in the company, and the company couldn’t survive on Yun Xiangxiang alone. With the variety of people here, the company couldn’t hope to control all of them with an iron fist.

  Yun Xiangxiang was eye-catching enough as she was, and if she managed to offend all of the company’s other actors, the company couldn’t shelve all of them just for her.

  These attacks Yun Xiangxiang invited to herself were hard to predict and defend against, so if they managed to put this aspect of consideration aside, the company’s benefits would just come at a later stage, just like Yun Xiangxiang said.

  “Chairman Chen is saying that he wants to treat you to a meal and have Mr. Chen apologize to you himself,” He Shen asked for her opinion.

  “Can I speak to the chairman in person?” Yun Xiangxiang didn’t want to make it hard for He Shen, since they would have to face different things as they saw things from different perspectives.

  He Shen told Chen Yinghui about that before handing Yun Xiangxiang the phone. “Hello, Chairman Chen.”


  “Hello, Miss Yun,” Chen Yinghui sounded polite. “Do I have the honor of treating you to a meal?”


  “May I know the meaning behind this treat of yours, Chairman Chen?” asked Yun Xiangxiang straightforwardly.

  The underlying meaning was: We’re not that close, so if it’s a meaningless meal, let’s skip it.

  That was quite rude toward Chen Yinghui, but the man wasn’t angry. “I want the public to still maintain the perception that Huan Yu and the Era of Stars aren’t complete enemies, just in case someone tries to muddy the waters and fan the flames.

  Huan Yu and the Era of Stars were not the only companies in this industry, as there were also other agencies doing their best to climb greater heights.

  Having two big companies— namely, Huan Yu and the Era of Stars—was incredibly beneficial for the industry’s actors.

  They didn’t go to court this time because they wanted to let the public know that they were not enemies.

  If they wanted to create a scene of harmony, all it took was for Chen Yinghui to have a meal with He Shen as they negotiated.

  But someone would say that Huan Yu was oppressing Yun Xiangxiang if this happened, and it would be bad for Huan Yu.

  “Then do make the arrangements, Chairman Chen. But I want this to be after the apology.” Yun Xiangxiang repaid He Shen for protecting her.

  Yun Xiangxiang was fulfilling her duty to the company as its employee. “But I want to bring another person with me.”


  “Of course, of course,” Chen Yinghui sounded like a friendly elder from start to finish. “Then, I’ll have someone notify you after I have made the arrangements, Miss Yun.”


  “Chairman Chen, I dislike Miss Qin Yue from your company, so I don’t want any unimportant people appearing on that day,” Yun Xiangxiang had to make this clear.

  Chen Junjie seemed to adore Qin Yue, and he even took the blame for her in this big mess, up until the point where Chen Yinghui had to help these people himself.

  Yun Xiangxiang didn’t want to see someone she hated on an appointment she already disliked.

  “Don’t worry, Miss Yun. Not anyone unimportant can appear in this kind of event,” Chen Yinghui guaranteed.

  It seemed like Chen Yinghui disliked Qin Yue too, and Yun Xiangxiang handed the phone back to He Shen after talking to Chen Yinghui for a moment more.

  Yun Xiangxiang left the general manager’s office, and then she bumped into Xie Manliang as she turned the corner, who was bringing his assistant along.

  Xie Manliang was the director hired by Huan Yu, and his office was currently in the company. He was working on the same floor as He Shen, as that was the company’s way of showing how much they valued him.

  “Hello, Mr. Xie Mianliang,” Yun Xiangxiang greeted him.

  “Are you here for me?” Xie Manliang thought that was the case when he saw her coming toward him since there were only him and He Shen on this floor.

  “Sorry to say that I’m here for the general manager,” Yun Xiangxiang answered regretfully. “I won’t be disturbing you now, goodbye.”


  Xie Manliang didn’t expect Yun Xiangxiang to leave after just greeting him, and she didn’t even try to seek something from him.

  “Please, wait,” Xie Manliang stopped Yun Xiangxiang, who passed by him, and he turned around. “What kind of books do you like aside from “Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau”?”


  Yun Xiangxiang didn’t expect Xie Manliang to mention that book, which meant he shared a great relationship with Joseph.

  “Joseph and I are great friends, just like you think,” Xie Manliang answered her question. “I spoke to him a few days ago, and he told me he met an interesting Chinese lady, so I was surprised when I saw you in the selection yesterday.”


  “I’m surprised too. I didn’t expect you to be Mr. Joseph’s great friend, nor did I expect him to mention me to you.” It seemed like she left a deep enough impression on Joseph back in France.

  Yun Xiangxiang smiled. “Never be mean in anything; never be false; never be cruel. That’s what I love too.”


  This quote came from “David Copperfield,” and it was the soul of that novel.

  “You like “David Copperfield”?” Xie Manliang was incredulous.

  Yun Xiangxiang didn’t lie to Xie Manliang, nor was she trying to please him, but that novel was her favorite in her past life as Hua Xiangrong.

  That was the only foreign masterpiece Hua Xiangrong read and reread.

  The protagonist—David—met a lot of hardships in his life, and it was as if fate was playing a trick on him, testing his limits.

  The ups and downs in his life were enough to rob someone of their courage to live, and that was only considering one part of his whole life.

  But not him, just like what he shouted, “Grief does not weaken someone like me; all it does is teach me the meaning of strength.”


  Xie Manliang found it incredible because from what he saw in Yun Xiangxiang’s brief introduction, she shouldn’t be someone who could understand what this feeling was like.

  She had a warm family, was surrounded by good friends and great mentors, not to mention that she had godlike luck.

  Yun Xiangxiang smiled. “Those who are happy should understand more about unhappiness, so they can understand how precious the things they have are.”


  Xie Manliang’s gaze was filled with approval. “You are a lady with a lovely look, but an even lovelier soul.

  “Thank you for the compliment.” Yun Xiangxiang accepted the praise graciously, as she didn’t have to be humble when it came to foreigners. “I like a lot of things, and if you’re willing to give me a chance to get along with you, I would like to learn with you.”


  She knew how to market herself, but she liked to do it ‘inconspicuously.’