There's Something Wrong With My Little White Flower - Chapter 70

Chapter 70: Obscure Idol X Top Girl Group Member

Later, several times, when Ruan Jiyun recalled this period, it all felt like a hazy dream.

It was as if someone was constantly whispering in her ear, Look, this is the world. One second it loves you, the next it can’t wait to discard you.

Sister Rong’s brows were tightly furrowed. For the third time, she asked her assistant, “No new updates from the law firm?”

The assistant nervously held her phone: “Lawyer Yang said he must confirm again with their boss, but their boss is currently in Paris, and it’s the middle of the night there, so they haven’t been able to reach her yet…”

“Excuses, they’re all excuses for backing out!” Sister Rong was practically showing signs of PTSD now. Since Ruan Jiyun’s previous negative press, followed by collaborators quickly abandoning her, she was all too familiar with such pretexts. “Didn’t they agree to sign the contract after the penalty was paid? Why do they need to ask for instructions now?”

She paced back and forth in annoyance. In fact, when the opposing lawyer first approached, proposing to buy Ruan Jiyun’s contract, Huansheng’s executives were reluctant. After all, although they hadn’t invested much in Ruan Jiyun, it was obvious she was about to become a rising star. Therefore, the two sides haggled over the contract penalty for a long time and had just recently settled on a figure.

With the contract signing imminent, Ruan Jiyun was hit with negative news—an explosive same-sex rumor. It was understandable that the other party was hesitant now.

“You know, is there really something wrong with Xiao Ruan…” She rubbed her forehead. “Every time she’s about to make progress, a negative story comes out, each one more severe than the last. I’ve managed artists for so many years, but I’ve never had one that gave me such emotional ups and downs.”

The assistant was about to speak when her phone rang again. She checked the caller ID, and her face instantly became serious: “It’s President Li…”

The Vice President of Huansheng Media was named Li Li. She started as an online celebrity herself and later found a sugar daddy who helped her open the entertainment company. Seeing Sister Rong and her group walk into the office, she immediately asked, “Does that side still want Ruan Jiyun’s contract?”

“I just synced up with their lawyer this morning… Their boss went to Paris and hasn’t been reached yet due to the time difference. They told us to wait,” Sister Rong reported the situation truthfully, and indeed saw her boss frown.

“I think this deal is mostly dead. Since last night, my phone hasn’t stopped ringing, all asking about the rumor,” President Li said. “She’s a hot potato now. I don’t think we need to wait. If they’re hesitant now, it’s mostly because of her negative news.”

Sister Rong thought for a moment and asked, “Jiang Peifeng’s company hasn’t made a move either. Could this be just a misunderstanding?”

They had contacted the source of the leak, but the paparazzi clearly favored the immensely popular Jiang Peifeng as their target, only vaguely claiming to have taken more photos, assuring them it wasn’t baseless speculation.

“You know how the paparazzi are,” President Li sighed. “A few blurry photos, a made-up text, and they dare to accuse you of having a same-sex scandal. Even if you fight tooth and nail and clarify everything in the end, people will always remember, ‘Oh, she’s the one who had a same-sex relationship with XX.'”

“Her name will forever be linked to a stain.”

The office fell silent. Sister Rong tentatively asked, “Then… should our PR continue to fight the negativity for her?”

Regarding Ruan Jiyun’s contract, since it hadn’t been finalized, no one at Huansheng thought to inform the person involved. Even though Ruan Jiyun was somewhat famous now, the executives present still treated her as a commodity that could be molded and sold.

After all, the circumstances of her initial signing were very specific. Sister Rong still remembered the underage girl’s distressed face, anxiously begging to participate in a live stream.

She later learned that Ruan Jiyun’s mother needed surgery, and the family couldn’t even raise the $20,000 surgery fee. Ruan Jiyun was introduced by a friend from her part-time job and bravely sought out the company, wanting to apply to be a streamer.

Just $20,000 bought eight years of her life.

President Li interrupted Sister Rong’s wandering thoughts, tapping the desk with her rhinestones-studded fingernails: “Besides Lawyer Yang’s side, another company has been contacting me, wanting to sign Xiao Ruan… Since we’re going to transfer her anyway, go contact this other company as well.”

The business card she handed to Sister Rong belonged to an entertainment company with a poor reputation in the industry, known for its expertise in sensationalist hype. Sister Rong’s eyes dimmed, but she still responded, “I understand.”

In the end, Huansheng was too small. They truly couldn’t handle Ruan Jiyun causing trouble every other day. It was better to cut her loose while she still had some utilization value, selling her to a company with more confidence in managing her.

Having made up her mind, Sister Rong rushed to the apartment. This time, there were even more reporters gathered downstairs than last time. She finally managed to break through the siege and painstakingly reached Ruan Jiyun’s room.

“The company… is currently dealing with this matter,” she looked at the haggard girl in front of her, feeling a touch of sympathy. “Xiao Ruan, tell me the truth, was it Jiang Peifeng’s side who… tricked you into hyping things up…”

This incident was too coincidental. Although Ruan Jiyun had gained attention through her association with Jiang Peifeng, upon closer inspection, given Jiang Peifeng’s status, the possibility of her using Ruan Jiyun for hype wasn’t zero. Recalling their time on set, Jiang Peifeng did seem a bit too enthusiastic towards her artist.

Ruan Jiyun merely shook her head: “Sister Rong, the paparazzi wrote nonsense. She didn’t use me for hype!”

She hadn’t been able to contact Jiang Peifeng since the news broke, but her intuition told her never to reveal their relationship to anyone.

She was just a minor artist, but Jiang Peifeng was different. She had so many fans who loved her, and her movie was about to win an award. Ruan Jiyun had to endure all this and absolutely could not let her be affected.

Sister Rong nodded knowingly: “You are still too young. There’s no real friendship in the entertainment industry; it’s just you using me, and me using you. Talking about this now is meaningless. There’s a party tonight; get dressed and come with me.”

The party was, of course, hosted by that other entertainment company. After contacting them, the company seemed completely unfazed by the scandalous rumor, even somewhat pleased, and requested to meet the artist as soon as possible.

That night, Ruan Jiyun changed into an assistant’s clothes under Sister Rong’s arrangement and was quietly “smuggled” out of the apartment. She was first taken to another apartment Sister Rong had prepared, where a stylist and makeup artist helped her get ready before setting off for the party’s destination.

This was a high-end private club. The security guard verified their identities at the entrance before politely letting them proceed.

Upon entering the private room, Ruan Jiyun realized the true purpose of the dinner was to prepare for her change of management. Looking at the smiling middle-aged man in front of her, she pursed her lips but finally sat down.

She didn’t know that Jiang Peifeng was currently filled with anxiety.

It was early morning local time when the management company finally reached the manager who was far away in France. Knowing the seriousness of the situation, the manager immediately got up and knocked on Jiang Peifeng’s bedroom door without hesitation.

They were staying in a scenic manor in Southern France, surrounded by lavender fields, plenty of sunshine, and a lake at the foot of the mountain, clear like a mirror reflecting the sky. Jiang Peifeng had just bought the manor, and the two of them happened to be staying there that night.

“The news has already crashed the Weibo servers, and everyone is discussing it,” the main manager said concisely, seeing Jiang Peifeng’s expression become increasingly solemn, and added, “I’ve already contacted them to book tickets for tomorrow…”

“It’s too late,” Jiang Peifeng said. “I’m not in the country. I estimate all the reporters are at Xiao Ruan’s place. She won’t be able to handle this pressure.”

She stood up and started dressing while speaking. Her long hair was casually pulled up and tied back. She thought for a moment and gave a phone number: “Call this person and ask how soon a private jet flight plan can be approved and cleared for takeoff.”

The main manager paused.

Well, my artist is too rich. The rich get to decide.

The person on the other end of the phone, upon receiving the request, agreed without hesitation. After about an hour, the news came that they could take off. The main manager and Jiang Peifeng, who had already packed, drove to the airport and quickly boarded a waiting Gulfstream jet.

“Is this plane CEO Jiang’s?” The main manager had some knowledge of Jiang Peifeng’s family background after working with her for a few years, but Jiang Peifeng had always been reluctant to rely too much on her family, instead working diligently and earning her current status through her own merit.

Jiang Peifeng nodded. There were only two passengers on the plane. After serving coffee and snacks, the flight attendant retreated to the galley, tacitly leaving them space to work.

“First, have the PR team contact the paparazzi. Buy the photos, no matter the cost,” she pondered the potential vulnerabilities. “How are the lawyers doing with Huansheng? We need to get Xiao Ruan’s management contract as soon as possible…”

The main manager typed quickly on the keyboard, saying, “Should we hold off on the management contract for a bit? If someone investigates, they might find out you’re buying the contract, and the media would go wild…”

The hype can be denied and clarified, but if Jiang Peifeng bought Ruan Jiyun’s contract for her own affiliated company, the matter would become highly suspicious.

The airplane engine hummed softly. Jiang Peifeng was uncharacteristically silent.

“I’m afraid if I don’t act now, she might do something first…” After a long silence, she said softly.

Her “little white flower” was never a weak person. On the contrary, she was probably more stubborn than anyone. At a time like this, she had probably already decided to protect her, thereby putting herself in danger.

“Our opinion is precisely this: a scandal can be covered up by a bigger one, and then everything will be fine,” the man at the dinner table smiled and said carelessly. “What do you think, Miss Ruan?”

Ruan Jiyun kept looking at the wine glass in front of her. It was made of fine Baccarat crystal, filled with red fruit juice, its facets refracting the light into countless brilliant rays. She had already understood the other party’s plan. Their company had a male artist they were planning to re-launch with a major scoop, and she was the perfect fit.

“If there are no issues, please come to our company first thing tomorrow morning, Miss Ruan, and we can sign the contract in person.”

The clinking of glasses broke the silence, like starlight shattering everywhere.

The surrounding noises grew louder, overwhelming her ears like a tide. She couldn’t remember how she left the table or how she dazedly stumbled into the corridor. The surrounding scenery swayed, like a path leading to a brilliant but precarious road. Just as she was about to step forward, her wrist was suddenly grabbed by someone.

Jiang Peifeng’s face unexpectedly appeared before her. It was the first time she had seen her look so disheveled. Her hair wasn’t properly styled, and she wasn’t wearing makeup. She reached out and grabbed her hand, smiling at her: “Come with me.”

She drove a black Cayenne, not a familiar license plate. Jiang Peifeng put Ruan Jiyun into the passenger seat and walked around to the other side to open the driver’s door: “Sorry, I just got back. It took me a while to find out you were here…”

Ruan Jiyun was utterly shocked: “I can’t go with you! You came all this way; the reporters will definitely get wind of it. If we appear together again, everyone will start guessing…”

“Guessing if we are really together? Guessing if we have finally become the kind of relationship that everyone spits on?” Jiang Peifeng finished the second half of the sentence for her and already started the engine. “But I really can’t worry about all that now. I just want to protect you first.”

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