CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 18: THE BITING RABBIT

"Xingwen is late, he should punish himself with three drinks."

Seeing Ruan Xingwen open the door and enter, a slightly plump man looking around fifty, his small eyes glinting with malice, spoke with ill intentions.

Sister Li hurried forward, pulling Ruan Xingwen to the table, smiling along.

"Producer Zhang, you’re right. Xingwen is young and inexperienced, I apologize on his behalf first."

Li Li boldly downed a glass of wine without changing her expression, then whispered to Ruan Xingwen, "I told you not to be late, and you still dropped the ball. Quickly pour Producer Zhang a drink and apologize."

She then pushed Ruan Xingwen towards Producer Zhang. In the whole private room, there were only Sister Li, Producer Zhang, and him, with no director as mentioned by Sister Li.

Ruan Xingwen stood at the spot with a wine bottle.

Sister Li’s actions were so similar to what happened a year ago. If this Producer Zhang really had issues, he couldn’t be blamed for not being polite.

Leaning in to pour the drink and raising the glass,

"Producer Zhang, I’m very sorry, being late today was my fault, I hope you can forgive me. I toast you this drink!"

After finishing speaking, he downed it in one go, and filled up another glass.

"This second glass is for Sister Li, for over two years, thanks to you for taking care of me, I troubled you."

Again, he downed it in one go, filled up the third glass.

Before he could drink it again, Sister Li stopped him with some guilt, feeling somewhat distressed after all.

"Alright, alright, we’re here to discuss cooperation, Producer Zhang isn’t unreasonable, this is fine, right Producer Zhang?"

Producer Zhang smiled with his eyes squinted to the point they couldn’t be seen anymore.

"Yes, yes, don’t drink too much, it’ll be difficult to handle things later."

His words were suggestive, with a slightly lustful tone.

"So shall we take a look at the script first? Producer Zhang, what’s the theme this time roughly?"

"Oh, let’s eat first, discuss after eating, no rush."

Saying this, he reached out and pulled Ruan Xingwen’s arm to the chair beside him.

The actions weren’t excessive, so Ruan Xingwen didn’t resist. He still held naive hopes internally, hoping Sister Li wasn’t requiring him to trade his looks for resources as he thought.

Just as he sat down in the chair, Producer Zhang’s hand landed on his thigh.

Ruan Xingwen’s expression instantly turned grim, he grabbed his wrist and applied pressure silently.

"Producer Zhang, if you can’t control your hand, I don’t mind helping you with that."

"You damn... Ah! Pain, pain, let go!"

A scream like a slain pig echoed through the room.

Sister Li also screamed, "Xingwen, let go! How could you hurt Producer Zhang!"

Upon hearing this, Ruan Xingwen entirely lost hope, his voice was icy without any warmth.

"Sister Li, in the past year, you withheld my announcements and resources, I didn’t say much. Now, I still call you ’sister’ out of gratitude for your care over the years."

Hearing the finality in his voice, Li Li finally panicked.

Recently, she had been very uneasy as well.

A year ago, she had been deluded by the advice of her assistant and took Ruan Xingwen to that venue with impure intentions.

Since then, she and Ruan Xingwen drifted more apart. Now his contract was about to expire, and Li Li didn’t want to let him go, but Ruan Xingwen inadvertently revealed that he didn’t want to renew or stay in the entertainment industry.

She thought, since he won’t be in this industry in the future anyway, why couldn’t he earn more money for her and himself?

She had planned it all out, as long as Ruan Xingwen followed along with Producer Zhang this time, he could get a decent script before leaving the industry, he had the talent, if Producer Zhang promoted him, he would definitely become famous, and she could also rise to another level.

She calculated everything, just didn’t expect that after so long, Ruan Xingwen was still so naive, unwilling to let go of his pathetic dignity.

"Xingwen, let’s discuss this nicely, okay? Let go of Producer Zhang’s arm first."

He glanced at the red-faced, pig-like Producer Zhang, released his hand, picked a wet wipe from the dining table, and wiped his hands.

"Who do you think you are? Dare you to put on airs in front of me! If it weren’t for Li Li begging me, do you think I’d collaborate with you?"

Producer Zhang shouted in anger and desperation.

"Do you think anyone’s looking for you to act in TV dramas? Think again! If not for your face, do you think I’d even look at you?"

Ruan Xingwen’s face remained impassive, he even felt the words were somewhat familiar, as if he’d heard them somewhere before.

Li Li also joined in persuading him.

"Yes, Xingwen, this is your last chance, and you haven’t really lost anything, have you?"

Ruan Xingwen shook his head internally, ever since Li Li conceived this plan, the two of them were destined to be on separate paths.

"Sister Li, I’ll be going to the company to terminate the contract tomorrow, please inform the higher-ups."

Li Li was somewhat incredulous, her voice filled with shock.

"What are you saying? Xingwen, don’t joke, alright? The contract is expiring soon, and if you propose to terminate now, you’d still have to pay a lot of money." She always thought she could use money as leverage on Ruan Xingwen.

"Besides, where would you even find that much money?"

"You don’t need to worry about that, I have the money."

At this moment, Producer Zhang spoke mockingly.

"Tsk, appearing all high and mighty, turns out deep down you’re just a slut too. With a face like that, can you lack sponsors? Better yet, ask your lover to lend you to me for a couple of days?"

As he finished, he heedlessly reached out again to grope Ruan Xingwen, only to be sent flying with a scream of "Ah!"

Yes, he was sent flying, kicked back by Ruan Xingwen.

---Bang---Crash---

The table instantly tipped over, and the dishes fell and shattered on the ground.

The noise was loud enough to even attract the manager on the third floor, let alone the people in the neighboring compartments.

"Keep your rotten morals to yourselves, not everyone’s like you are, trash."

At this moment, the private room’s door was opened from the outside, and the first person to enter was Shi Mu. Although Ruan Xingwen was puzzled, he didn’t care about these matters now.

"Sister Li, Xingwen, what happened here? How did things get so loud?"

Li Li was also startled by Ruan Xingwen’s earlier kick, seeming scholarly and weak, who would have thought he could kick someone into the air with one kick?!

Ruan Xingwen hadn’t expected it either, his sore and powerless legs had such explosive power in that instant, was it because of those fruits he ate last night?

"I’m fine."

He then turned his head to reproach Ruan Xingwen,

"Xingwen, how could you do that? President Zhang had good intentions, how could you just injure him without reason?"

In just a few tens of seconds, she had already devised a strategy, ready to pin the blame on Ruan Xingwen with a glance at Shi Mu.

Receiving Li Li’s hint, Shi Mu quickly added on,

"Indeed, Xingwen, no matter the reason, hitting people is wrong."

Ruan Xingwen quietly watched them, watched their act, and suddenly laughed.

"Sister Li, not all relationships between an elder sister and a younger brother end well, wouldn’t you agree?"

"Since you all think I’m in the wrong for hitting someone, then call the police, I’m willing to accept punishment."

At this moment, the restaurant manager appeared, panting, and when he saw the man leaning against the door frame, dressed in a fitted suit, he instantly held his breath. After composing himself, he respectfully asked,

"Mr. Yu, may I ask what happened here?"

The man raised an eyebrow but didn’t speak, motioning him to look inside the room.

Following his gaze into the room, the manager was dumbfounded, how did it even turn into a fight?! To break a hardwood table, what kind of grudge was this, using so much strength?!