Jian Liangtong felt as though a thousand-pound boulder was suddenly pressing down on her chest, heavy and overwhelming.
Clenching her hands tightly, Jian Liangtong looked at the three of them and said, "You all, don’t be too upset. Things will eventually work out. I believe..."
"Sister Tong, you don’t have to comfort us." Wang Er forced a smile, wiped his face with his hand before speaking again, "I really didn’t expect my dream of being a singer to shatter just like that."
Xu Jiaren had his head down, feeling very heavy-hearted.
Zhang Le Yi glanced at Wang Er and Xu Jiaren, then her tears flowed even more heavily as she sobbed and looked at Jian Liangtong, "Sister Tong, does this an I also can’t act in Director Chen’s new drama?"
Director Chen?
Jian Liangtong’s brows furrowed slightly as she quickly picked up her phone to check the previous call logs, but found no calls from Director Chen.
Jian Liangtong took a deep breath, the light in her almond eyes reigniting, and she looked up at Zhang Le Yi.
Zhang Le Yi saw this, her tears stuck in her eyes, and she looked wide-eyed at Jian Liangtong in surprise, "Director Chen didn’t call, does that an I still have a chance?"
Her palm quivered.
Jian Liangtong didn’t have ti to answer Zhang Le Yi’s question, she looked down.
When she saw the words "Director Chen" flashing on the phone screen before her eyes, the hope that had just reignited in Jian Liangtong’s heart was instantly extinguished.
Zhang Le Yi also saw the words flashing on Jian Liangtong’s phone screen, and her breath stopped short, staring in horror at Jian Liangtong’s phone.
Xu Jiaren and Wang Er saw it too and glanced at Zhang Le Yi.
Jian Liangtong felt a headache brewing, took a deep breath, answered the call, and smiled, "Director Chen."
"Miss Jian, at this hour it should be lunchti, I hope I’m not interrupting your al?" Chen Zhenglin exchanged pleasantries politely.
"How could it be? Director Chen, calling at any ti is no interruption." Jian Liangtong said with a smile, trying to relax herself.
Chen Zhenglin chuckled twice, then finally got to the point, "Miss Jian, the thing is, a few days ago the producers wanted to see the cast of my new drama, so I showed all the participating actors to them. It’s just..."
"Director Chen, have you had lunch?" Jian Liangtong suddenly interrupted Chen Zhenglin’s words, asking with a gentle smile.
"..." Chen Zhenglin paused, also laughed, "I have."
"You’ve eaten." Jian Liangtong said sowhat regretfully, "I was just about to say, if you hadn’t, I’d invite you for a al."
"Miss Jian, you’re too kind. Next ti we have a chance, I’ll treat you to a al."
Chen Zhenglin said, perhaps to prevent Jian Liangtong from taking over the conversation again, quickly veered back to the topic, "Miss Jian, I won’t hide it from you. The producers saw Xiao Zhang’s information and unanimously felt she wasn’t suitable for the female lead of this drama. As you know, the bigger the interests, the greater the pressure from investors.
The investors are adamant that Xiao Zhang is unsuitable, and even after all my efforts, I couldn’t change their minds. Miss Jian, you see, I really apologize for this. But rest assured, when a suitable role cos next ti, I’ll definitely reserve it for Xiao Zhang specifically."
Jian Liangtong closed her eyes, still smiling, "Director Chen, it’s your script and direction for the new drama, who is suitable and who isn’t, isn’t it up to you to decide? Moreover, the investors put money into your drama because they believe it can bring them benefits. If you insist that Le Yi is suitable, I think the investors have to give you face, right? Director Chen, didn’t you previously say that Le Yi’s image fits perfectly with your female lead?"
"Xiao Zhang is indeed very suitable for the female lead image as set in my drama. I was firmly against changing Xiao Zhang at first. But..."
Chen Zhenglin hesitated, even sighing helplessly on the other end of the phone.
Jian Liangtong opened her eyes, "Director Chen, even if you want to replace Le Yi, you need to give us a convincing reason, right? You’re a famous director known for respecting actors in the industry. It’s not overboard for us to ask for a reason for Le Yi being replaced without cause, is it?"
"Ah, Miss Jian, since you’ve put it this way, I won’t hide it anymore. Originally, the movie was set to start shooting in a month, but suddenly the producers demanded a change of the lead. This was completely unexpected for . Now, due to this sudden change, I have to spend a lot of ti finding a suitable new female lead. The process is not only troubleso but it may not even result in finding soone as fitting as Xiao Zhang."
Chen Zhenglin’s voice was filled with regret, "But the producers have strong backgrounds and insist on changing the cast with a very firm attitude. If I don’t comply with their demands, they’ll withdraw their investnt.
With the financial power and influence of the producers, if they withdraw their investnt, no matter how good my drama is, I’m afraid no one would dare invest in it. Without investnt, I can’t shoot this drama, right?"
"Miss Jian, let give you a piece of advice. Consider asking Xiao Zhang if she might have inadvertently offended soone.
If it wasn’t Xiao Zhang... could it be Miss Jian yourself? Of course, this is just speculation. Once again, I apologize to Miss Jian and Xiao Zhang; this ti, it’s my fault."
After saying this, Director Chen seed eager to end the call.
Jian Liangtong clenched her fingers, which turned white from her grip, "Director Chen, since we’ve co this far, could you give us a hint? Who are the influential investors we’ve offended?"
"Miss Jian, I can say no more. If I speak further, I truly won’t be able to make this drama."
"Director Chen..."
"Miss Jian, please don’t ask further. Quickly investigate who you’ve offended. Otherwise, Miss Jian and your artists may not be able to stay in the entertainnt circle."
"..."
The call with Chen Zhenglin ended.
Jian Liangtong’s face turned pale, her head filled with thoughts of who she might have offended that was so influential.
Why would they go so far as to want to blacklist her and her artists?
What deep-seated grudges could there be?
Jian Liangtong inhaled, enduring the throbbing pain in her head, and knitted her brows sowhat discomfortedly, looking at Zhang Le Yi, "Le Yi, aside from filming recently, have you been in contact with anyone else?"
Zhang Le Yi shook her head anxiously, her voice faltering due to the successive blows.
Jian Liangtong stared at her for a long mont.
She slightly lowered her long lashes.
Zhang Le Yi didn’t seem to be lying!
If it’s not her who offended soone.
Then was it herself?
It should be herself!
If it was just Zhang Le Yi who offended soone, at most that person would just block her, not even going after both her and Wang Er and Xu Jiaren!
Unless she herself had provoked soone.
That would lead to such thorough revenge!
But who exactly did she offend?
Good news never goes out, bad news travels a thousand miles!
In just one night, the next day Jian Liangtong’s news of misfortune spread throughout GR Company.
It was also the first ti Jian Liangtong experienced what "rats leave a sinking ship" truly ant!
Those who used to try to get close to her and curry favor now avoided her like the plague.
And within just a few hours in the company, Jian Liangtong heard people who once flattered her gossiping and trampling her behind her back, not just once or twice!
By the end of it, Jian Liangtong even felt like everyone in the company was discussing her, in every corner she could hear words unpleasant to the ear.
It was as if there was a hamr constantly pounding her nerves in her head, Jian Liangtong’s head was splitting with pain, and she hid in the restroom.
She thought she could get a mont of peace for her ears here.
But discussions about her continued to erge one after another from the cubicles.
Jian Liangtong held her head, pressing her thumbs against her ears, refusing to listen.
But the more she did this, the clearer the voices beca.
Jian Liangtong felt like the world was spinning, her brain was swelling with pain.
Suddenly.
She stood up abruptly from the toilet seat, flung open the cubicle door, rushed out, and pushed the door of the neighboring cubicle, yelling inside, "Shut up!"
After Jian Liangtong yelled.
The world seed to co to a standstill before her eyes.
She stared dumbfounded at the empty cubicle.
There wasn’t a single shadow inside!
Jian Liangtong’s chest was heaving violently, hands resting on both sides as she stared at the cubicle for several minutes.
Slowly releasing her grip, Jian Liangtong panted heavily, turned around and leaned against the sink in front of the restroom cubicle.
She helplessly covered her eyes with her hands, and when she lowered her hands, her eyes were bloodshot.
Upon leaving the restroom, Jian Liangtong was called into the director’s office by Zhang Shi.
In the office, Jian Liangtong sat on the sofa with her eyes lowered, her side face looking sowhat dazed and pale.
Zhang Shi sat opposite her, with furrowed brows, earnestly advising, "Little Jian, what are you planning to do next?"
Jian Liangtong’s eyes quivered slightly, slowly lifting her gaze to look at Zhang Shi.
Seeing her bloodshot eyes, Zhang Shi’s eyebrows twitched in surprise, pursing his lips tightly.
"Director, I will handle it," Jian Liangtong said hoarsely.
Zhang Shi remained silent for a mont, his tone tinged with advice, "Little Jian, you majored in film production in college. Have you ever considered pursuing a job as a producer in line with your field? You know the company is currently recruiting intern producers."
"...Director, you’re not intending to fire , are you?" Jian Liangtong’s lips were tightly pursed, her delicate face pale and transparent.
Zhang Shi paused for a mont before shaking his head, "You seem to be under a lot of pressure. I’m rely giving a suggestion."
Jian Liangtong slightly curled her lips, "As long as you’re not firing , I’m relieved."
She needed this job!
She absolutely couldn’t lose it!
"Little Jian..." Zhang Shi called out to her, but delayed saying anything further.
Jian Liangtong looked at him puzzledly, "Director, what do you want to say?"
Zhang Shi inhaled, his fingers tapping on the sofa arm a few tis before getting up from the sofa and walking towards the desk.
Sitting on the boss chair behind the desk, Zhang Shi looked at Jian Liangtong and said, "Little Jian, do you want to take a break for a while?"
"..."
Upon leaving Zhang Shi’s office, Jian Liangtong imdiately noticed colleagues peeking their heads out from other offices to look in this direction.
Seeing her looking over, they quickly retreated back into their offices.
Jian Liangtong deeply concealed her eyelashes, slightly parted her red lips, and exhaled softly.
"The drama starring Zhou Xian needs a maid role. If Xiao Zhang is willing to play, I can recomnd her to the director."
A coldly proud voice drifted over from behind.
Jian Liangtong didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
Jian Liangtong closed her eyes briefly, her rhombus lips gently curving into a faint smile as she turned around to look at Wendy, who was standing behind her with arms crossed and leaning against the wall, "Thank you for your kindness, Sister Wendy. I will discuss it with Le Yi when I return. If she’s willing to take on the role, I will contact Sister Wendy to ask you to recomnd her to the director."
User Comments
0 comments from readers