Sis, Do You Need a Dog? - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: You Aren’t Worthy of Speaking to Me

Cheng Shuyi never made empty promises.

The next day, a brand-new smartphone along with other matching electronic devices were neatly arranged on the desk in Si Tingbai’s dormitory. Every specification was top-tier. She was always generous; when she set her heart on someone, it was a display of favoritism that made others green with envy.

Si Tingbai looked at the already activated phone. Ranked first in the contact list was Cheng Shuyi’s name. Absolute control and the arrogance of dominating everything. She could already imagine Cheng Shuyi after she left this morning: wearing a simple white shirt, hair casually pinned up while sitting on the sofa, fingertips flying as she entered the number into the contacts with effortless nonchalance.

Shao Su, who had delivered the items, couldn’t stop praising her: “Tingbai, you really are lucky. The last person Sister Sue put this much heart into was several years ago. You must not let your Sister Sue down.”

“Was it Lola?”

Si Tingbai, who had been staring blankly at the contact name, caught the keyword: The last person Sister took such trouble over.

Shao Su was responsible for delivering items to all the artists signed by Cheng Shuyi; she would proactively flatter anyone with potential. Most people would be shy or proud, but she hadn’t expected the person before her to proactively bring up that “unmentionable” name. This question actually left Shao Su stunned.

Comparing a newcomer with a bright future who hadn’t even debuted to a disgraced predecessor whose career was in ruins was inappropriate in any sense. Furthermore, Si Tingbai was the “cream of the crop” among the new trainees in terms of both appearance and age.

Having followed Cheng Shuyi for a long time, Shao Su had learned to be very slick. She smiled and said, “Sister Sue has managed countless people; that person was just one of them. With your talent, surpassing her is only a matter of time.”

After finishing this beautiful speech, Shao Su was very satisfied. She secretly felt lucky; after being with Cheng Shuyi for so long, she would surely become the next Cheng Shuyi sooner or later.

In her secret joy, she failed to notice the darkening of Si Tingbai’s eyes.

Managed countless people.

So, does she treat others this well too?

When that Lola first entered the dormitory, did she also thoughtfully send electronic devices and save her number? Around Cheng Shuyi, exactly how many Si Tingbais are there?

The joy of seeing the number faded because of Shao Su’s words. Si Tingbai turned off the screen and looked up to thank Shao Su.

“Alright, my mission is complete,” Shao Su said. “I’ve saved the numbers for you. The first is Sister Cheng’s, the second is mine. Contact me if anything comes up.”

The numbers are already saved?

Si Tingbai’s fingertip paused slightly on the screen. Following Shao Su’s words, she swiped down. Sure enough, right below Cheng Shuyi was Shao Su’s name.

The number wasn’t saved by Cheng Shuyi. Her previous guess was just sentimental wishful thinking. Si Tingbai felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head; that sense of joy vanished completely. Even the new phone before her became an eyesore.

Feeling spiteful, Si Tingbai’s tone grew cold. She asked, “Sister Shao, what is Sister Cheng’s work schedule for today?”

Shao Su didn’t know about the thousand twists and turns in Si Tingbai’s mind at this moment. Seeing the topic return to work, she said casually, “Sister Sue’s itinerary is confidential. As a new trainee, you technically have no right to see Sister Sue.”

No right to see her.

These words pressed down like a mountain, making Si Tingbai’s chest feel incredibly stifled.

Shao Su was always blunt. Only after speaking did she belatedly notice Si Tingbai’s sunken expression. She shifted her tone to coax her: “But since she brought you in, you just need to follow the training for now. There’s an internal election at the beginning of next month. If you perform well then, you can be chosen by Sister Sue.”

Jiangcheng Entertainment was one of the top three entertainment companies in the industry, with hundreds of managers alone, each managing several artists on average. As a top-tier manager, Cheng Shuyi was unlike some lead managers who would conveniently “snatch” well-trained, polished artists under their own names for convenience. Every artist Cheng Shuyi promoted was someone she had followed since their trainee days. This was not only because it allowed for better familiarity and control, but also because it avoided many conflicts among colleagues.

Therefore, Cheng Shuyi had an excellent reputation in the industry. She had two iron rules: first, no one with improper intentions trying to climb up through “unspoken rules” (casting couch); second, no newcomers who had already been managed by other people during their rookie phase. Even colleagues who were green with envy over her success would sigh in admiration at her style and character. Even in front of capital investors and famous directors, Cheng Shuyi would never lower her posture to play the submissive role. She was exactly as the fans of her artists praised her—she possessed the true demeanor of a queen.

Shao Su was Cheng Shuyi’s number one fan-girl. She babbled to Si Tingbai about Cheng Shuyi’s glorious history; once the chatterbox opened, it wouldn’t close. Si Tingbai listened intently; she was incredibly interested in everything about Cheng Shuyi.

However, her current situation was one of complete passivity. Not only because of the nine years they were apart, but also because of this massive gap in status. A vast chasm lay between her and Cheng Shuyi. The only way to understand Cheng Shuyi was to start with the people around her.

“Sister Shao, can you tell me more about Sister?” Si Tingbai asked softly. “She’s the one who brought me in, and I want to be signed by her.”

She was already beautiful, and she had acted very obediently during her few days of contact with Shao Su. When those clear eyes looked at someone, they always made people unconsciously lower their guard.

“Sure. Speaking of Sister Sue’s history, one must mention the ‘whitewash’ case of the Best Actress Tan Moli. That was Sister Sue’s first big hit in the industry.” Shao Su paused and asked mysteriously, “Do you know about this?”

Since being kidnapped, Si Tingbai had been almost completely isolated from outside news. Her mother in the Si family had managed her extremely strictly; even her schooling was conducted within the Si family’s old estate with hired private tutors. Her most beloved maternal aunt had also disappeared after her kidnapping. Her mother only said her aunt had gone abroad, but nine years had passed in a flash, and her aunt had vanished as if she had evaporated from the earth.

Si Tingbai shook her head and said honestly, “I don’t know.”

“Right, you only became an adult this year. You were probably only nine years old when that happened?” Shao Su was on a roll now, throwing the fact that she was supposed to go find Meng Ningjiu to the back of her mind. “Back then, Sister Sue hadn’t even been in the industry for six months. Several promising newcomers she signed had been snatched away.”

“She couldn’t produce results, and the resources she could get were few and far between. Sister Sue was scolded at every meeting.” Shao Su’s voice contained some heartache, as if she were speaking up for Cheng Shuyi. “I heard Sister Sue studied journalism in university. I don’t know why she switched to being a manager. It’s normal that her business skills weren’t proficient at first. But a rebound always happens after hitting rock bottom. It was at this time that our company’s Best Actress, Tan Moli, was targeted by a rival with explosive scandals intended to ruin her. No one in the company dared to take the case. That was when Sister Sue stood up and said she could do it.”

Si Tingbai listened intently, images forming in her mind. In a silent conference room where everyone was escaping, only the young Cheng Shuyi stood up, like a sharp blade cutting through the silence. From then on, she carved out a world belonging only to Cheng Shuyi in the fog-shrouded, expert-filled entertainment industry.

“With Sister’s ability, she should have been a very formidable journalist too. Why did she switch careers?” Si Tingbai was puzzled. Even though they had been reunited for over a month, she still couldn’t reconcile the vigorous top manager with the gentle “Reporter Sister” in her memories. This feeling was too fragmented; if she hadn’t firmly remembered the name and face, Si Tingbai would have doubted if she had found the wrong person.

“That…” Shao Su paused and lowered her voice. “It’s said to be related to a kidnapping case nine years ago…”

The speaker was earnest, and the listener was absorbed. Neither noticed Meng Ningjiu standing at the door with a cold face.

“Shao Su, aren’t you talking a bit too much?”

The dormitory door was kicked open with great force, hitting the wall with a loud bang. The two people chatting were startled and raised their eyes to look at the person behind them. Meng Ningjiu, having finished her fasted cardio, stood at the door with a sunken face, her eyes cold enough to kill.

Realizing she had talked too much, Shao Su bit her tongue regretfully and stood up abruptly.

Meng Ningjiu’s words were addressed to both of them, but her gaze was fixed only on Si Tingbai. This was the second thing they had said to each other since becoming roommates, aside from their self-introductions. Meng Ningjiu had a heroic look that leaned toward aggression; her cold face was very intimidating. Right now, she just stared silently, making Shao Su feel like she was breaking into a cold sweat.

This person was not only the “hardest worker” among the trainees of the same period but also a friend of Sister Sue. It was rumored that she already had a deep relationship with Sister Sue before even becoming a trainee, and there was capital backing her in the shadows. Shao Su was at most one of Cheng Shuyi’s six assistants. In terms of time in the industry, ability, or seniority, she was just hanging in the middle. She didn’t dare provoke such a “Young Mistake,” so she could only smile apologetically.

“Jiu-jiu, finished early morning training already? Just in time for your return. Sister Sue asked you to take good care of Tingbai.” Shao Su spoke so fast she tripped over her tongue, walking toward the door as she spoke. “How about this, you two get used to each other first. I have things to do, so I’ll head out!”

Without waiting for Meng Ningjiu to answer, Shao Su vanished in a flash. The dormitory that was lively moments ago turned cold instantly.

“Going to such lengths to dig for information on Sister Shuyi… are you trying to climb into her bed and become the second Lola?” Meng Ningjiu’s voice was icy as she approached Si Tingbai step by step. “Talk. Is it because you have a guilty conscience?”

Unlike Shao Su’s wariness, Si Tingbai did not take Meng Ningjiu’s current displeasure seriously at all. Or rather, Si Tingbai didn’t even place a person like Meng Ningjiu in her eyes.

“Heh.”

A very soft, sarcastic laugh.

The person sitting on the edge of the bed slowly raised her eyes, her beautiful fox-like eyes filled with contempt: “I just feel that you aren’t worthy of speaking to me.”

Their gazes met, the smell of gunpowder spreading silently. The atmosphere in the dormitory was at a breaking point when the phone Si Tingbai had cast aside suddenly chirped with a new message notification.

“Tingbai, I left in too much of a hurry and forgot something.”

Only after getting into the work vehicle did Shao Su finally feel her heart return to her chest. If Si Tingbai was a promising potential stock, then Meng Ningjiu was a guaranteed female star; her friendship with Cheng Shuyi alone was not to be underestimated.

Originally, the main purpose of this visit to the trainee dormitory was to bring a message to Meng Ningjiu; sending the items to Si Tingbai was secondary. As a result of the gossip, Shao Su had forgotten the main business.

“Tell Jiu-jiu that Sister Sue has a drinking session tonight. Tell her to remember to go with Sister Sue!”

“Location: Heshe (Crane House)”

“8:00 PM. Don’t forget.”

New messages kept popping up; the chat box continuously showed “the other party is typing.”

Si Tingbai glanced at Meng Ningjiu, who was still confronting her. She looked down at the new messages, and after a long silence, her lips curled into a faint smile. Her long finger tapped lightly, typing a reply and sending it.

“Okay.”

Heshe was the most famous private banquet venue in Jiangcheng. It was rumored that the owner, Yun Jiu-shu, was not originally from Jiangcheng. After only ten years in the city, she had monopolized the private banquet industry. Her banquets were never open to outsiders; even with money and power, it was difficult to secure a reservation. Whether one could get a slot depended entirely on Boss Jiu’s mood.

When Cheng Shuyi received the message from Tan Moli, she was in her office scolding someone. The phone on the desk vibrated incessantly, popping up a new message—

“Shuyi, I’ve returned to the country.”

“I heard about the Lola matter. I can help you. Can you come see me here tonight?”

“I miss you very much.”

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