CHAPTER 147: CHAPTER 147: SOONER OR LATER, YOU HAVE TO FACE IT

Feng Lei’s words floated lightly, still carrying a hint of drunkenness, but no one dared to treat his words as untruths.

Wang Yanyan’s face instantly turned pale, her drunken haze cleared immediately. She stood up directly from her seat, apologizing to Feng Lei in a panic, "President Feng, I’ll perform right now."

"Heh."

Wang Yanyan’s body trembled slightly.

"Too late, you only get one chance." Feng Lei’s face carried a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

Though these words were directed at Wang Yanyan, they made both Ye Tong and Gu Lin, who were also actors, shiver inwardly.

A wave of cold suddenly brushed over Ye Tong, dispelling the heat from the drink, making her less-than-clear head feel like it was splashed with a bucket of cold water.

The dinner table was silent, as if someone had pressed the mute button. No one stood up for Wang Yanyan, not even Director Lin Anqing.

Wang Yanyan’s eyes reddened, tears welling up instantly, "President Feng, I’m sorry. It’s not that I wouldn’t perform, I just didn’t react in time... Please give me another chance, I’ll perform right now..."

Wang Yanyan stood up from her chair like a clown, running to the open space to perform in front of everyone.

One moment crying, another moment laughing, like she was possessed.

Eventually, she was forcibly taken out of the private room by two burly men dressed in black.

The performance ended.

The dinner continued...

Ye Tong looked at Feng Lei opposite her, his gaze happened to meet hers. His lips lightly lifted, maintaining the perfect smile, yet it felt so unfamiliar to her, even terrifying.

"Bang—"

The loud noise of a chair falling over.

Ye Tong propped her hands on the table, looking down at her feet nervously, "Sorry, I’m feeling a bit unwell and want to go to the restroom."

After speaking, she hurriedly left without waiting for a reaction from everyone.

Her mind blank, she rushed into the bathroom, shakily took out her phone, and trembled as she dialed a name.

Until she heard a voice saying "Hello."

That voice seemed to carry a calming power, instantly soothing her.

"...Ning... Sister Ning..."

Ji Ning paused for a moment, looked back at the classroom still in session, and walked a bit further, "What’s wrong?"

"I... I... I signed the contract today."

"Hmm."

"I told the director I’d go back the day after tomorrow."

"Okay."

"I... I want to eat crayfish."

"Alright."

"Then... I’ll hang up now..."

"Where are you?"

Ye Tong’s body paused, she bit her lip hard, holding back the tears welling up in her eyes, "At Pan Family Restaurant."

"Okay."

Ji Ning didn’t say another word, but not long after they hung up, Ye Tong suddenly received a call from Feng Zhong.

"Xiao Tong, where are you? Haven’t finished signing the contract?"

Feng Zhong’s voice was loud enough for others to hear.

Ye Tong covered the phone, replying in a low voice, "I finished signing, just having dinner."

"Once you’re done, come back quickly, there’s still filming this afternoon. Where’s Gu Lin? Hand the phone over to him."

Ye Tong, not caring about the fear in her heart, hurried back to the private room and handed the phone to Gu Lin.

"It’s Director Feng."

Feng Zhong’s voice remained loud, "What are you two doing? Didn’t I say to come back immediately after signing? Is the filming happening this afternoon or not?"

Gu Lin held back a laugh, quickly reassuring, "Director Feng, we’re heading back now. Don’t worry."

With Feng Zhong’s grumbling, Gu Lin hung up, looking apologetically at everyone, "Sorry everyone, Director Feng is indeed in a hurry. We’ll leave first."

Lin Anqing waved his hand, chuckling and scolding, "That old Feng, always so impatient, can’t even let people eat in peace."

With Gu Lin already having spoken, Ye Tong lowered her head apologetically and followed him out of the dinner.

The two left the uncomfortable private room one after the other.

Gu Lin glanced at Ye Tong with Assistant He following behind, said nothing, just pointed at his phone, "Let’s communicate via phone in a bit."

They each got into their own cars and headed to the set one after the other.

Feng Lei watched from the window as Ye Tong’s car gradually drove off, pursing his lips without saying a word.

The atmosphere in the private room was somewhat quiet, everyone had lost their appetite.

"President Feng, I have something to do and need to leave first. Please continue."

"Ah, I have an appointment this afternoon, I’ll leave first. President Feng, let’s drink another time."

...

Until only Feng Lei and Lin Anqing were left in the private room.

Lin Anqing frowned deeply, looking at Feng Lei with disapproval, speaking frankly, "Feng Lei, why make things difficult for that young girl?"

Feng Lei said nothing, still looking out the window.

Lin Anqing continued to ask, "Is it to vent for Ye Tong?"

Feng Lei turned his head, "No."

Such a big reaction and still say it’s not?

Lin Anqing nearly rolled his eyes, "Then why do such an ungentlemanly thing today? Look at how scared the young girl was. If she’s too scared to come for filming, I won’t spare you."

"This kind of thing is bound to happen eventually, just a heads-up, some psychological preparation."

Feng Lei thought of Ye Tong’s flushed face, his eyes dimmed slightly, his tone indifferent, making it hard to read his emotion.

In October Anhe, the temperature cooled rapidly, Ye Tong sneezed twice in a row.

Assistant He glanced at the driver, "Xiao Zhang, close the window." Then smiled at Ye Tong, "Xiao Tong, do you want some hot water? Don’t catch a cold."

Driver Xiao Zhang immediately closed the window and turned on a bit of the heater.

Ye Tong smiled and declined.

"No need, I’m not catching a cold."

"Okay, if you feel unwell, just let me know anytime," Assistant He kindly replied, then looked down at her phone.

Ye Tong quietly watched her, her face was a little round, her features weren’t particularly outstanding, but they looked quite friendly, usually smiling, naturally gaining people’s favor.

Such a "nice person" yet didn’t speak up for her when Wang Yanyan made things difficult.

Ye Tong looked away, gazing out the window.

"Sister He, how long have you been in this line of work?"

"Four years."

"Then you should be promoted to manager, right?"

Assistant He was startled, she looked up, about to respond when Ye Tong continued, "It feels like a waste to manage a newbie like me. Sister He, you’re quite capable and should take on more popular artists. I’ll mention it to Manager Wang to assign me a junior assistant."

"What are you saying, there’s no such thing as waste or not. What kind of artist we manage is just the job given by the company."

"But work can be passionate or not."

Assistant He’s smile froze.

The opposite Ye Tong still looked gentle, with a soft smile, "Assistant He, I don’t like to trouble others. If I become an annoyance, I’d feel guilty. I’ll talk to Manager Wang and have you return to your original position."

"You..."

"I won’t tell Manager Wang about today’s matter."

Assistant He’s face turned pale.

Ye Tong no longer looked at her, turned her head to the window, speaking calmly, "Although it’s my first time signing with a company, I’ve seen many artist assistants. I know how they are, and I don’t like forcing others to do what they don’t enjoy. Thank you, Assistant He, for looking after me these past few days."