A Scummy A, But Bound To A Cutesy-Appeal System - Chapter 5

The two of them completed the discharge procedures and left the inpatient building.

The doctor had recommended that Lu Yimo stay in the hospital for observation for a few more days. After all, she had taken such a strong drug, and no one could say for certain what side effects might appear.

But Lu Yimo insisted on leaving, even though she was so weak that her steps were unsteady.

Pei Xixia followed close beside her, step for step, and asked worriedly, “Yimo, can your body still hold up? Do you want me to help you? Don’t worry, I won’t put my hands on you improperly.”

“You think I’m worried? Of course I’m not. You’re practically disabled right now. What do I have to be afraid of?” Lu Yimo gave a cold laugh without even looking at Pei Xixia, then raised a hand to hail a taxi. “Driver, Jiaqi Entertainment.”

Pei Xixia froze, not forgetting to give an awkward smile as she held her still-aching injured arm. “Why are we going to Jiaqi Entertainment? You should go home and rest properly first. I’ll handle things on the company’s side.”

“I don’t trust you to handle it,” Lu Yimo said without the slightest politeness. “Are you getting in or not? If not, we’re leaving.”

“I’m getting in, I’m getting in.” Pei Xixia hurriedly climbed into the car.

Half an hour later, the taxi stopped in front of Jiaqi Entertainment’s headquarters. From the outside, the building was still imposing. Every window was polished until it gleamed. But in reality, the moment one walked through the revolving doors, it became clear that the lobby was so stingy it could not even bear to turn on the lights, much less the air conditioning. The young lady at the front desk was squinting, drenched in sweat, and working with great difficulty.

The two of them headed straight for the public relations department.

Jiaqi Entertainment had originally been a company with a full range of businesses. It had a talent management department, a business department, and a film and television production department, all complete. But as Jiaqi Entertainment’s operations went from bad to worse, the company carried out massive layoffs, and many departments were dissolved on the spot. The public relations department had almost no one left, only three interns.

After all, interns had low wages.

When the two of them entered the room, the three interns were sitting together, gossiping.

“I don’t think Sister Yimo could possibly be involved with Qi Wanbai. Qi Wanbai is so old. She’s already in her forties, right? How could Sister Yimo be interested in her?”

“That’s not necessarily true. Our Young President Pei is such a scumbag, but didn’t Sister Yimo still marry her?”

“Shh, I heard Sister Yimo and Young President Pei are in a contractual marriage. Don’t you dare tell anyone!”

Pei Xixia coughed awkwardly. “Ahem.”

The interns’ faces filled with panic.

“Young President Pei!”

“Sister Yimo!”

Pei Xixia put on a stern face. “Public opinion online has been fermenting for so long. Have you written the statement yet?”

The interns looked at one another, all with troubled expressions.

One of the interns gathered her courage and said, “We don’t know how to write the statement… That video doesn’t look fake… Young President Pei, you two aren’t about to divorce, are you?”

“What divorce!” Pei Xixia glared at her. “Yesterday, Yimo and Director Qi went to the hotel to discuss matters related to a new drama. I was there at the time too. There’s nothing wrong with our relationship! Hurry up and write the statement. Don’t drag things out.”

The three interns revealed disappointed expressions in perfect unison. “Sigh.”

…You could really tell this marriage had no one’s blessing.

Pei Xixia snapped, half-annoyed and half-embarrassed, “What are you standing around for? Hurry up and write it!”

Only then did the three interns seem to react, returning to their workstations one after another. “Young President Pei, what’s the name of the new drama? Do we need to promote it?”

Pei Xixia waved a hand. “No promotion. Keep it confidential from the outside world for now!”

After all, that thing did not exist at all.

But merely issuing a statement definitely would not be enough. On one hand, today’s audience was very sharp and not that easy to fool. On the other hand, if this storm truly was Qi Wanbai’s revenge, she definitely would not let the matter rest here.

It would be best if they could attend some kind of event together, or appear on a variety show, something that could help stabilize the fans.

Thinking of this, Pei Xixia asked, “Yimo, what schedules do you have recently?”

Lu Yimo looked as if she were smiling, yet not smiling. “I haven’t received a single job in nearly a month.”

Pei Xixia: “…”

Pei Xixia truly had not expected Jiaqi Entertainment to have fallen into such difficulty. In the past two years, the company had not been doing well. The veteran actors who could run had already run long ago. Although Lu Yimo was young, she could already be considered Jiaqi Entertainment’s pillar. If even she had so little work, one could imagine what it was like for the other artists.

In disbelief, she asked, “Where’s your agent? With Sister Su Ying’s ability, she should at least be able to secure some resources for you.”

Su Ying was a top gold-medal manager in the industry. She had been working tirelessly for Jiaqi Entertainment since Pei Yuan was still around, making her both a founding-level veteran and a trump-card elite of the company.

Lu Yimo looked at Pei Xixia faintly. “Sister Ying and President Pei had incompatible ideas. The two of them had a huge argument during a company meeting, and she hasn’t come to work in more than a month.”

It was Pei Xize again, that good-for-nothing who ruined everything he touched! Pei Xixia was speechless for a moment. “Then who’s managing you now?”

“No one is managing me,” Lu Yimo said coldly. “You really do shut your ears to everything outside your window.”

Pei Xixia: “…”

Actually, Lu Yimo’s mockery was not wrong. In Pei Xining’s memories, there truly were not many scenes related to the company. It was all eating, drinking, and having fun… But she was not Pei Xining, was she? She, Pei Xixia, was still counting on bringing the company back from the dead!

Pei Xixia made an immediate decision. “Yimo, do you know where Sister Su Ying lives? Let’s go ask her to come back!”

Lu Yimo sneered. “How could it be as easy as you think? Sister Su Ying has always been strong-willed. I heard she’s already preparing to establish her own studio.”

Pei Xixia turned pale with shock. “How can that be? Sister Su Ying is very important to our company. The company’s development can’t do without her! We have to beg her to come back!”

Lu Yimo narrowed her eyes and studied Pei Xixia again. The word “beg” did not sound like something Pei Xining would say.

Pei Xixia was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, pacing back and forth in the room while muttering to herself. “When asking someone for help, you have to show some sincerity… I need to go out and buy some gifts. Yimo, your health isn’t good, so wait for me here. Call me anytime if you feel uncomfortable anywhere.”

As she spoke, she also reminded the three interns, “Write the statement with some dignity. Broaden your perspective. Don’t make it petty. Take good care of your Sister Yimo, got it?”

The interns nodded one after another. “Oh, got it.”

Looking at Pei Xixia’s departing back, one of the interns whispered, “Looking at it this way, Young President Pei doesn’t seem that scummy. She’s actually pretty doting toward Sister Yimo.”

Lu Yimo had clearly heard the intern’s words too. Her brows furrowed slightly, as if she had thought of something, but in the end, she did not speak.

Pei Xixia searched through the pitifully few memories she had inherited from Pei Xining. In the end, all she could conclude was that Su Ying had not been in great health these past two years. She wandered around the mall for a long while and bought a latex pillow and a neck-and-shoulder massager, then prepared some wellness tea as well.

At the very least, it was a bit of sincerity.

After all, she did not have money to buy anything else.

The two of them went together to the residential community where Su Ying lived.

Su Ying lived in a small garden-style villa. From a distance, through the iron fence, they could see her wearing a straw sunhat as she squatted in the yard, tending to flowers and plants. Two short-legged miniature dachshunds ran around by her feet, and she looked very comfortable and at ease.

Pei Xixia and Lu Yimo exchanged a glance. Pei Xixia steadied herself, smiled, and called out to her. “Teacher Su!”

Hearing the voice, Su Ying looked up. The moment she saw Pei Xixia, her expression turned cold, and she showed no intention of opening the gate. “What a rare guest. How does Young President Pei have the refined leisure to come to my place today?”

Was she really this unwelcome… Pei Xixia could only give a dry laugh. “Teacher Su, you’re joking. Yimo and I came together to ask you to return to the company.”

Su Ying gave a cold snort. “Doesn’t your esteemed company no longer need a feudal relic like me?”

That Pei Xize! He was doing nothing but digging pits for her! Pei Xixia hurriedly said, “How could that be? I’ve seen everything you’ve given to the company. The company’s previous flourishing development was all thanks to your contributions! You’re the secret weapon of our Jiaqi Entertainment! It’s all because my brother failed to recognize your worth and made you angry. You’re the bigger person, so please don’t lower yourself to his level.”

Su Ying glanced at Pei Xixia and smiled without any warmth. “I didn’t know Young President Pei thought so highly of me.”

Pei Xixia immediately said, “Everything I said is from the heart. You’ve always been someone I admire! I still remember when I was little, back when my mother was still here, how well the company was run! Everyone thought in the same direction and worked toward the same goal. The working atmosphere also made people feel comfortable! That’s what healthy corporate culture looks like! It’s only because my brother has no business sense that the company declined step by step. Just treat everything he said as farting.”

Su Ying studied Pei Xixia again. She had worked at Jiaqi Entertainment for nearly twenty years, and Pei Xining, this child, could be considered someone she had watched grow up. Pei Xining had always been arrogant and looked down on everyone. It was hard to imagine such flattering words coming out of her mouth.

Pei Xixia felt a little creeped out under her gaze and scratched her head. “Teacher Su, I’m serious. The company needs you. Can you give us another chance?”

Su Ying pondered for a moment, then opened the courtyard gate. “Come in and talk.”

Pei Xixia immediately followed, turning her head to raise her brows at Lu Yimo.

Lu Yimo did not say anything. She simply lifted the hem of her skirt and stepped over the threshold.

The three of them went together to Su Ying’s tea room.

The tea room was designed in a classical Chinese style, decorated with calligraphy, paintings, and green bamboo. It was elegant, refined, and carried a sense of Zen. A large floor-to-ceiling window on one side drew natural light into the room, making it bright without being glaring.

Su Ying brewed tea for the two of them and asked with a frown, “Yimo, I’ve already seen the trending topic. What exactly happened?”

Lu Yimo moved her lips, wanting to explain, but she did not know where to begin.

Pei Xixia quickly said, “Teacher Su, it was all a misunderstanding. The truth is, we were discussing business with Qi Wanbai and the talks fell apart, so she deliberately retaliated against us.”

The business talks fell apart.

There was really nothing wrong with saying that.

Lu Yimo rolled her eyes in annoyance and said nothing.

Su Ying did not dig deeper. “Then what do you want from me?”

Pei Xixia said, “Teacher Su, you know as well that this kind of negative news is very disadvantageous for Yimo’s development. What we mainly want is to refute the rumors, show a little more affection in public, and recover some of our credibility as spouses… I was wondering whether you still have any resources suitable for the two of us to attend together…”

Su Ying thought for a moment. “Your situation counts as emergency public relations, so you can’t afford to wait. I really don’t have any especially suitable resources on hand. But I do have two VIP seats for Polar Bear TV’s midyear gala. The seats are in the second row, right next to the red carpet, so there should be many chances to be photographed. If you don’t mind, going there to show your faces would be good too. Turning the tide completely is impossible, but it should recover your reputation somewhat.”

Pei Xixia was pleasantly surprised. “This is already a huge help! Thank you so much, Teacher Su!” Her voice gradually lowered. “Teacher Su… may I ask, are you really not planning to return to the company?”

Su Ying took a sip of tea. “To be honest, even if I hadn’t had a conflict with your brother… with President Pei, I was still planning to separate from Jiaqi and become independent. You should know very well that if things keep developing like this, Jiaqi Entertainment doesn’t have much time left.”

That was true. For a moment, Pei Xixia had nothing to say.

But if Su Ying really left, then this broken company would truly have nothing left except a pile of useless people!

Pei Xixia bit her lower lip tightly. “Then what if I said I can get the company running again? Would you come back?”

Hearing this, not only Su Ying, but even Lu Yimo looked at her in surprise.

Pei Xixia felt her face grow a little hot. Although she was the creator of this world, she only had a half-baked understanding of how the entertainment industry operated. Now that she had made such a bold claim, what if, once she actually started doing it, she discovered that she was even more useless than Pei Xize?

But she could not show fear! Pei Xixia did not dodge at all. Her gaze burned brightly as she met Su Ying’s eyes.

After a long while, Su Ying let out a soft laugh.

“Then I’ll have to see what you’re capable of.”