Chapter 6
If Ke Ren hadn’t been sitting right there, Jiang Yiran would have exploded on the spot.
Hey! You’re just a lowly employee! Do you even understand that he’s the boss?
The boss!
Ke Ren lowered his head and coughed twice.
He hadn’t expected Wei Xia to become so bold after losing her memory. She had actually challenged him to his face.
Still, being too impulsive was hardly a good thing.
Inside this company, whatever Ke Ren said was law.
“My apologies.” Wei Xia smiled again. “I simply assumed President Ke was capable enough that a minor public-opinion battle like this would be effortless for you to handle.”
Ke Ren choked once more.
She had mocked him one moment and flattered him the next, leaving the breath trapped awkwardly in his chest.
“The situation with Xiao Ai was different. Neither of you is a top celebrity, so it was only a minor fuss. What’s happening between you and Best Actress Xiao is on another level. Xiao Qi surpassed one hundred million followers last year.”
Ke Ren spoke earnestly, as though he were sincerely concerned about Wei Xia.
Wei Xia sneered inwardly.
A minor fuss?
It had driven Wei Dong to take her own life.
Outwardly, however, she continued flattering him.
“President Ke is being too modest. No matter how famous Best Actress Xiao is, she’s still only an actress. How could she compare to a powerful businessman like you, who owns an entire company?”
Ke Ren was so thoroughly flattered that he didn’t know how to respond.
After hesitating for a long moment, he finally forced out, “She’s a shareholder in her company…”
Jiang Yiran knew a little insider information, so she leaned close to Wei Xia’s ear and explained quietly.
“Best Actress Xiao originally signed a five-year contract. During that period, she won Best Newcomer, Most Popular Celebrity, and was even voted the Nation’s Wife.”
“And remember, her company is the largest film and television company in the country. During those two years, Best Actress Xiao’s share of the revenue alone accounted for forty percent of the company’s income.”
“But she had no intention of renewing her contract. In the end, the company kept her by offering her three percent of its shares.”
“So rather than merely being an employee, Best Actress Xiao can now be considered one of the company’s shareholders.”
Ke Ren nodded repeatedly as he listened.
Speaking of Xiao Qi, she really was extraordinary.
She had debuted at eighteen, and although she had accumulated surprisingly little wealth during those first five years, she never seemed to lack money.
She also had a highly capable private financial manager behind her. That man had been the one who reviewed Xiao Qi’s contract back then.
The company had never been able to control her.
And yet she was also its most successful artist.
Ke Ren considered his own company reasonably large, but he truly had no authority over Xiao Qi.
Whenever they met at business gatherings, he still had to show her a measure of respect.
With someone of her status and a fanbase that large, the public reaction surrounding her was genuinely not something Ke Ren could handle with ease.
Wei Xia froze after hearing all this.
She coughed to conceal her reaction.
Her confusion only deepened.
How could someone like Xiao Qi possibly be unable to find a partner for a variety show?
Ke Ren sighed.
“So there’s no need to flatter me. But you must understand that you and I are on the same side. Xiao Qi’s fans have probably torn you limb from limb by now.”
Ke Ren had remained polite even after being provoked like this.
Then Wei Xia thought of how long Lin Jiahui had been interested in Wei Dong.
For the sake of the resources Lin Jiahui controlled, Ke Ren had tolerated Wei Dong’s breach of contract and refused to let go of her agreement.
Yet Wei Xia had offended Lin Jiahui several days ago, and Ke Ren hadn’t even mentioned it.
Xiao Qi’s position in the industry was probably far more powerful than Wei Xia had imagined.
With that realization, several little schemes began forming in her mind.
Her eyes shifted, and she smiled.
“I like hearing that, President Ke. I’ve always judged people by their actions rather than their intentions.”
“You’ve always acted in my best interests. I’m sure seeing me suffer online abuse for an entire month must have caused you a great deal of pain too, right?”
She was referring to the matter between Wei Xia and Qu Yue’ai.
It had already been a month since Qu Yue’ai used Wei Xia’s scandal to make her debut.
For that entire month, Qu Yue’ai had repeatedly dragged Wei Xia into her livestreams and publicly whipped the corpse, keeping the online abuse alive without pause.
“You!”
Ke Ren abruptly stood and pointed at Wei Xia, trembling with anger.
Everyone in the company knew Qu Yue’ai belonged to him.
By saying this, Wei Xia was demanding that he deal with Qu Yue’ai personally.
Wei Xia blinked her large, innocent eyes.
“Why are you angry, President Ke?”
“Oh, I understand. Is it because Miss Qu is your little girlfriend?”
“That makes sense. Someone of my insignificant value…”
Her words trailed off.
She had been speaking about her own worth, but Ke Ren couldn’t help thinking of Xiao Qi standing behind her.
Would Xiao Qi intervene on Wei Xia’s behalf?
That remained unknown.
But the stakes attached to that unknown were enormous.
Ke Ren had no choice but to enter the game.
Suppressing his anger, he sat back down and looked at the smiling Wei Xia.
He knew she was acting so confidently because she believed Xiao Qi was backing her.
But would Xiao Qi truly step forward?
And if she did, how far would she go?
Ke Ren couldn’t allow Wei Xia to lead him around by the nose over an uncertainty like that.
Half compromising and half threatening, he said, “Fine. I can help clarify the situation for you.”
“But Yiran told me that you and Miss Xiao are planning to appear on a variety show together.”
“You’ve never worked with a celebrity of her level before, and the entire internet is currently cursing you. If you dare appear beside her, her fans may tear you apart.”
“Since I’m already helping you, why not let me arrange another program for you instead? That way, you won’t be placed in such a difficult position.”
Wei Xia looked at Jiang Yiran.
Jiang Yiran gave her a helpless, pleading look.
She was only an employee. She had no choice but to report something like this.
They couldn’t hide it from the company and secretly accept the job again, as Wei Dong had done before.
Besides, appearing on a variety show wasn’t something they could conceal anyway.
Wei Xia understood.
Still, she looked coldly at Ke Ren and asked, “What about Miss Xiao?”
Ke Ren coughed.
“Miss Xiao likes cute girls. Xiao Ai would be a better fit.”
“Her popularity has been quite good recently, and she doesn’t have nearly as much damaging news surrounding her.”
“She’s sweet and adorable, so she would look very compatible with Best Actress Xiao.”
“And clarifying your scandal isn’t as simple as you seem to think. Given the chance to work with Best Actress Xiao, I’m sure Xiao Ai would be willing to cooperate.”
Wei Xia leaned back in her chair.
Her expression cooled slightly, though she continued smiling.
“President Ke always makes such convincing arguments.”
“Why don’t you call Miss Xiao and explain the arrangement to her yourself?”
Ke Ren narrowed his eyes and looked toward Jiang Yiran, remaining silent for a long time.
Wei Xia’s confidence made him somewhat wary.
Wei Xia herself had little value.
But the value of forming a connection with Xiao Qi…
That was considerable.
Xiao Qi was highly capable and moved freely throughout the entertainment industry. She even possessed some influence outside it.
She knew a great many people.
Coincidentally, Ke Ren had recently encountered a problem and hoped Xiao Qi might introduce him to someone.
But Xiao Qi was distant by nature.
She wouldn’t even obey company contracts she disliked. Whether it meant breaching the agreement or paying compensation, she accepted the consequences without hesitation.
She also refused to associate with people she disliked.
Apart from working, she spent most of her time at home.
She practically had no desires at all.
Even if someone wanted to send her gifts, they wouldn’t know what she liked or who could deliver them on their behalf.
Countless thoughts turned through Ke Ren’s mind.
Because he couldn’t be certain, he didn’t dare act recklessly.
Qu Yue’ai wasn’t worth offending Xiao Qi over.
But if he failed to suppress Wei Xia today, wouldn’t she overturn the entire company next?
For a moment, the situation reached a stalemate.
“Ring, ring, ring…”
A phone suddenly rang, shattering the tense atmosphere.
Instinctively, everyone looked toward Wei Xia.
She glanced at the screen.
It was a WeChat call from Xiao Qi.
She answered immediately.
Xiao Qi went straight to the point.
“This variety show requires us to register our marriage, so you should find time to get a marriage certificate with me.”
Wei Xia, who had just been locked in a battle of wills with Ke Ren, nearly had her heart frightened out of her chest.
She shouted, “What did you say?!”
What the hell?
Ke Ren and Jiang Yiran both jumped at her voice.
They leaned closer, straining to listen, but couldn’t make out the other side of the conversation.
Xiao Qi explained, “The variety show is called We’re Already Married.”
“It follows the lives of several secretly married couples from the entertainment industry.”
“The program has a pastoral theme and mainly shows fans what their idols are like in everyday life.”
“The condition for joining is that the couple must have a marriage certificate.”
“They don’t produce fake-couple programs, so anyone who wants to participate must legally register their marriage.”
Wei Xia glanced at the two people leaning toward her.
She covered the phone’s microphone and moved away, frowning.
“…Do you absolutely have to join this program?”
There was a brief pause on the other end.
Then Xiao Qi asked, “Do you regret agreeing?”
Wei Xia struggled to answer.
“This isn’t about regretting it or not. This is…”
Marriage?
Had they really reached that stage?
“You don’t want to marry me?” Xiao Qi asked again.
“It’s not that I don’t want to,” Wei Xia hurriedly explained.
Xiao Qi burst into laughter.
“Then that means you do want to. So there’s no problem.”
Wei Xia: “???”
What?
Perhaps guessing how baffled Wei Xia was, Xiao Qi changed her tone and explained further.
“Of course, I have my own reasons for needing to appear on this program.”
“If you hadn’t suddenly appeared yesterday, I would have found someone else.”
“It wouldn’t have been easy to find someone willing to register a marriage with me, but I would still have thought of a solution.”
“But now…”
Xiao Qi sighed.
The conflict and helplessness in her voice traveled directly through the phone and struck Wei Xia’s conscience.
Wei Xia felt horribly guilty.
When she remembered calling Xiao Qi “wife” in front of the entire country and every reporter’s camera, followed by the damaging rumors Xiao Qi had endured over the past two days, her guilt deepened.
She desperately wanted to compensate her.
But Wei Xia also knew that she herself was still trapped in a swamp.
Any promise of compensation was nothing but empty words.
“It was already difficult to find someone willing to register a marriage with me. Now it’s even harder.”
“And I’ve already announced that we’re in a relationship.”
“If I later register a marriage with someone else and bring her onto the show…”
Xiao Qi let out a self-mocking laugh.
“It’s understandable if you’re unwilling. This request was already unreasonable.”
Wei Xia fell silent.
“…No.”
What right did she have to refuse?
Besides, she was currently using Xiao Qi’s influence to negotiate with Ke Ren.
How could she possibly have the nerve to reject her now?
Wei Xia gritted her teeth.
“I. Can. Do it.”
Xiao Qi laughed.
“Oh? Really? Then thank you so much.”
“Looked at this way, calling me ‘wife’ that day actually helped me.”
Wei Xia felt slightly better.
With difficulty, she replied, “It’s what I should do.”
Xiao Qi’s voice became noticeably lighter.
“Then I hope you’ll think it through carefully. We can arrange a time.”
“I look forward to seeing you again.”
“All right.”
Wei Xia forced a stiff smile.
In her original world, her country had not yet legalized same-sex marriage.
She had never personally known any same-sex couples there either.
But she understood that same-sex marriage was completely ordinary in this world.
If she reacted too strongly, she would only appear rude.
Since she had already agreed, Wei Xia could do nothing but hold firm to that decision.
After ending the call, the smile on her face became much more sincere.
She also felt far more confident.
When she looked at Ke Ren again, there was a new certainty in her eyes.
Ke Ren: “…”
Damn.
Comments 0
You must be logged in to comment.
No comments yet. Be the first!