The Award-Winning Actress’s Exclusive Favor - Chapter 2

Jiang Yiran was now convinced that Wei Xia’s amnesia was very thorough.

Over the next two days, she took Wei Xia around and helped her familiarize herself with the world, including the main communication and payment apps, so she wouldn’t embarrass herself whenever she went out.

Of course, Jiang Yiran focused especially on explaining Wei Xia’s current situation with the company.

Wei Dong’s career had been as bleak as winter itself. The company used her as a foil for its other artists, completely restricting her development in the entertainment industry while turning her into a nationwide laughingstock.

But that wasn’t even the worst part.

What made Wei Dong’s situation truly impossible was that she wasn’t allowed to clarify anything.

No matter how much filth the company threw at her, she had to endure it. The moment she tried to defend herself, she would be violating her contract.

When Wei Dong’s desire to escape the company reached its peak, she secretly began accepting private jobs.

Wei Xia could understand her perfectly well.

No one wanted to become the entertainment industry’s designated clown, someone offered up solely for netizens’ amusement. It had nearly stripped Wei Dong of all her dignity.

And judging from the fragments Jiang Yiran had revealed, Wei Dong’s life had probably been even worse than that.

Risking everything to accept private commercial work must have seemed like the only path out of her dark life.

Unfortunately, she had failed to understand one thing.

An entertainment company powerful enough to grow to its current size was not a mountain she could simply sneak around.

The company did not confront her directly. Instead, it set a trap and obtained proof that she had taken unauthorized work.

Soon, not only was every cent she had earned turned over to the company, but she was also ordered to pay two to three times that amount in damages. Her assets were frozen, and the company gained a legitimate excuse to stop giving her work altogether.

Everything happened so quickly that it was already over before Wei Dong could react.

Under the pressure of such a large corporation, she was as insignificant as a speck of dust.

Not only had she failed to earn enough money to pay the penalty for terminating her contract, but after years in the industry, she somehow ended up owing the company three million yuan.

She could at least be grateful that she wasn’t famous and hadn’t earned much from those private jobs.

Three million was pocket change to the company.

But with a contract that gave her only ten percent of her earnings while the company took ninety, when would she ever manage to repay it?

Late at night, she had looked at the news accusing her of sexually harassing a junior colleague while wave after wave of vicious comments flooded the internet.

The company’s mockery.

The enormous debt weighing on her shoulders.

A future with no end in sight…

Everything must have felt like despair dragging her into a swamp. She couldn’t break free, nor did she have the strength to keep struggling.

Perhaps that was why she had chosen to leave this world.

Debts had to be repaid. That was only right.

Wei Dong must have understood all too clearly that the three-million-yuan debt, combined with a twenty-year contract, was an abyss she could never escape.

“Sigh…”

Wei Xia felt sorry for her, but she was the one who now had to face the consequences.

While lamenting Wei Dong’s fate, she anxiously asked Jiang Yiran, “How much is the penalty for terminating my contract?”

“Ten million.”

“How much?!”

Wei Xia sucked in a sharp breath.

“With what I’m worth, they set the penalty at ten million? Who were they trying to scam?”

Jiang Yiran pursed her lips.

“You signed the contract yourself.”

It was already the lowest-tier contract, but many people were willing to compromise for the chance to become famous.

Wei Xia truly did not want to say it, but she still couldn’t help cursing Wei Dong in her heart.

Had her head been caught in a door?

She had actually dared to sign a contract like that?

Twenty years.

A ten-to-ninety earnings split.

A ten-million-yuan termination penalty.

That wasn’t a contract. It was indentured servitude.

She now owed the company three million, and terminating the contract would cost another ten million.

In other words, she needed at least thirteen million yuan to walk away as a free woman.

With the company suppressing her, earning even one hundred thousand yuan a month was a fantasy.

Even if she somehow managed it, she would only receive ten thousand after the split.

Without spending a single cent on food or anything else, it would take her one hundred and eight years to pay everything off.

She might as well wait for the contract to expire.

Wei Xia clicked her tongue again.

Even after the contract expired, she would still have to repay the three-million-yuan debt from her breach of contract.

At an annual income of one hundred and twenty thousand yuan without spending anything, it would still take twenty-five years—and that was calculated on the assumption that she could earn one hundred thousand yuan every month.

What if she couldn’t?

Wouldn’t she spend her entire life working for the company?

No wonder Wei Dong had been unable to escape.

This really was difficult.

Wei Xia sighed, propped her chin on one hand, and asked Jiang Yiran, “Did the company say whether there was anything I could do to reduce the debt?”

Since the company had formally claimed the debt and still held tightly to Wei Dong’s contract, it must want something from her.

Jiang Yiran blinked her large eyes at Wei Xia and gave her a meaningful smile.

Wei Xia froze.

“…”

She suddenly had a bad feeling.

Wei Xia had expected something unpleasant, but not something this outrageous.

Her gaze returned to the woman beside her.

This was President Lin of Haohua—Lin Jiahui. She had achieved a modest level of success in the entertainment industry and had taken an interest in Wei Dong some time ago.

Wei Dong, however, had always maintained her boundaries. She never attended drinking engagements that might lead to sleeping with clients.

Or rather, she had seen far too many people compromise once, only to sink deeper and deeper into the mire.

Wei Xia’s reasoning was simpler.

Attending one drinking engagement would erase one hundred thousand yuan from her debt. That alone made it worth trying.

Besides, she didn’t want to remain passive forever. She intended to slowly gather evidence and eventually turn the tables so she could escape.

Since this was her first banquet, Wei Xia hadn’t dared to bring a recording pen or hidden camera. She had only come to test the waters.

Resting her chin on one hand, she swept her gaze around the table.

Seven or eight people were scattered around it. Apart from Wei Xia, two other people from the industry had clearly been brought along to entertain the guests.

Without the original owner’s memories, Wei Xia naturally didn’t recognize them.

Jiang Yiran, as her manager, hadn’t dared to leave either.

Wei Xia had lost her memory, and her personality was no longer as timid as before. Jiang Yiran was afraid she might become unhappy and flip the entire table, so she could only force herself to stay by her side.

Seeing Wei Xia’s distant expression, Jiang Yiran assumed she was upset. She leaned closer and whispered persuasively, “Lin Jiahui is very rich. This could be considered a blessing for you.”

Wei Xia was so amused that she let out a laugh.

She glanced sideways at Jiang Yiran and asked, “Would you like to have this blessing instead?”

Jiang Yiran choked.

“…”

Wei Xia asked again, “What would happen if I beat President Lin up later?”

She had been groped more than once during the evening.

Jiang Yiran replied, “…The company would sue you and demand the three million immediately.”

Wei Xia fell silent.

“…”

Then she had better not hit her.

While she was still speechless, Lin Jiahui raised her glass and turned toward them.

“Xiao Dong, come on. Keep drinking.”

As she spoke, she held the glass out to Wei Xia.

To be fair, Lin Jiahui wasn’t ugly.

She merely radiated a sleazy air from head to toe.

Since Wei Xia had entered the private room, Lin Jiahui had already forced eight or nine glasses of baijiu on her.

Colored lights shimmered throughout the room.

Wei Xia looked at the glass being offered to her. The fragmented light reflected from the chandelier above rippled across the liquor.

Lin Jiahui had organized the gathering and held the highest status among everyone present.

The moment she raised her glass, the surrounding whispers and cheerful conversation fell silent.

Everyone watched with smiles on their faces, their eyes openly gleaming with teasing interest and anticipation.

Wei Xia calmly accepted the glass.

Under everyone’s expectant gaze, she drained it in one swallow.

Lin Jiahui immediately stood and applauded, then pressed herself against Wei Xia’s arm again.

“Good. Very good.”

Wei Xia didn’t move away.

She merely smiled beautifully, her eyes seeming to hold scattered starlight.

The sight made Lin Jiahui’s heart itch unbearably.

Watching Lin Jiahui stare at her in a daze, Wei Xia said gently, “Thank you for the compliment, President Lin. Would you mind if I went to the restroom?”

Beneath the hotel’s warm yellow lighting, her refined features appeared even softer.

Lin Jiahui was so thoroughly captivated by her affectionate smile and alluring voice that she lost all sense of reason.

She could only nod foolishly, her gaze becoming almost lingering as she watched Wei Xia.

Without revealing anything on her face, Wei Xia said, “Thank you.”

Then she turned and left.

The moment she was gone, Lin Jiahui raised a hand and ordered the server to bring in the strongest baijiu they had, looking utterly determined to have her way.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yiran stared in shock.

So this was an option?

With a little more effort, couldn’t Wei Xia charm President Lin into paying off her debt for her?

The moment Wei Xia stepped out of the private room, she released a long breath.

Wei Dong probably hadn’t been much of a drinker. Those few glasses of baijiu had already made her slightly dizzy.

The atmosphere inside the private room had also made her uncomfortable.

The unrestrained laughter between clinking glasses, and the decadent glimpses of skin beneath clothes stained with spilled alcohol, all left her feeling deeply uneasy.

She knew that if she didn’t escape now, she really would be made drunk.

Taking out her phone, she sent Jiang Yiran a message.

[I’m slipping away. Handle the aftermath.]

Jiang Yiran replied in alarm.

[!!!]

A second message arrived almost immediately.

[Aren’t you afraid they’ll hold you responsible? If you offend President Lin, the company will skin you alive. It would’ve been one thing if you hadn’t come, but you came and now you’re running away?!]

Wei Xia replied:

[I refuse to believe they can send me to prison just because I don’t have the money to repay them.]

Jiang Yiran:

[No! If the company sues you, you won’t be allowed to participate in commercial activities. The law doesn’t allow debt defaulters to work as celebrities!!!]

Wei Xia clicked her tongue.

She still didn’t understand the laws of this world well enough.

Another message appeared.

[Once you’re officially listed as a debt defaulter, you won’t be allowed to fly, spend excessively, or accept paid performances. You’ll have to spend the rest of your life earning money to repay your debt!]

Wei Xia replied:

[Look at Lin Jiahui tonight. Do you honestly think she intends to let me leave untouched?]

Jiang Yiran fell silent.

She couldn’t bring herself to lie.

Lin Jiahui was already excitedly ordering twelve bottles of baijiu.

Jiang Yiran didn’t want her artist to be forced into sleeping with someone either, but she had no ability to change anything.

Wei Xia sent another message.

[If she wants to sleep with me, then I’d rather become a debt defaulter.]

Jiang Yiran:

[…]

Impressive.

Wei Xia laughed when she saw Jiang Yiran’s speechless reply and put away her phone.

The instant she turned and raised her head, her gaze landed directly on a woman standing in the hotel lobby.

The surrounding noise, lights, and voices seemed to slowly fade away…

Wei Xia’s heartbeat suddenly stumbled.

Absurdly, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

The woman wore a long, golden mermaid gown. Tiny diamonds scattered across the fabric reflected the hotel’s extravagant lighting, while the fitted dress accentuated every graceful curve of her body.

Her long black hair had been swept into a simple updo. A few loose strands fell beside her temples, framing her small face and softening her appearance.

Large dark eyes.

A delicate, slightly upturned nose.

Lips pressed faintly together.

Her fair skin looked so smooth and luminous that it almost seemed translucent.

Her natural yet exquisitely refined beauty, paired with an otherworldly air, made her seem detached from everything around her.

She was breathtaking.

Even Wei Xia couldn’t suppress her amazement.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, the exceptionally beautiful woman looked over.

Their eyes met.

Everything else blurred away, and it seemed as though only the two of them remained beneath the heavens, gazing at each other across the dazzling lights.

However, the woman merely swept Wei Xia a cool glance before lifting the side of her gown and turning away.

A message from Jiang Yiran shattered the lingering atmosphere.

[Wei Xia, President Lin went out to look for you. I couldn’t stop her.]

Wei Xia jolted slightly.

“Wei Xia!!!”

Lin Jiahui’s angry voice sounded behind her.

Wei Xia turned and glanced back.

Lin Jiahui stood there with fury written across her face, while Jiang Yiran followed behind her in a panic.

Wei Xia steeled herself.

She strode directly toward the woman in the lobby, her eyes curving with a smile.

In a soft voice, she called out,

“Wife.”

The sea breeze carried its distinctive salty scent and the chill of early spring, stirring the loose strands of hair beside the woman’s ear…

She merely lifted her eyelids.

Her eyes trembled faintly, and the fingers resting at her side curled slightly inward.

The emotions in her gaze were obscure and impossible to decipher.