Chapter 14 (1/2)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Jiang Jiusheng plucked a few strings on the guitar. “I don’t care whether we have a keyboard player or not,” she said. “I have been more than generous to her.”

Mo Bing did not disagree. Since the keyboard player was not a critical part of the band and Liu Xu’s technique was, at best, mediocre, her presence was redundant.

Speak of the devil…

“Sheng.”

Mo Bing turned her head. There was Liu Xu, standing at the door, tears streaming down her face. It was a great loss to the film industry that Liu Xu wasn’t an actor; she could get into character so naturally…

Putting down the guitar, Jiang Jiusheng asked, “Have you come to apologize?”

About to burst into tears, Liu Xu said, “It’s not what you think. Let me explain.”

Explain? What was there to explain? With all the evidence online, it was clear that she was just trying to dig herself out of the hole she was in.

Jiang Jiusheng, who was usually mild-mannered, grew uncharacteristically impatient. “Liu Xu,” she said coldly, “just because I overlooked all those petty little things you did in the past, it doesn’t mean you can take me for a bloody fool.”

Tearing up again, Liu Xu bit her lip as she muttered, “Sheng…”

“I will send someone with the termination contract once it has been completed,” said Jiang Jiusheng in an unhurried tone. “I will pay you double the compensation amount. Consider it…” Pausing, she tapped her finger on the table and added, “Payment for your service.”

A service fee.

To put it bluntly, she was the employer, and Liu Xu the hired help; that was the nature of their relationship. After three years of a prima facie relationship, it wouldn’t have been appropriate to suddenly declare their undying devotion to each other.

Liu Xu stood there, looking downcast, her fists clenched at her sides. She didn’t have to defend herself. Someone was there to do it for her.

“Sheng, you mustn’t be swayed by the manipulating instigators,” Zhang Nai pleaded. Standing behind Liu Xu, he exuded righteousness and chivalry, looking every bit the fearless warrior protecting his beloved princess. “Xiao Xu is not that type of person.”

A man blinded by love. How stupid and pitiful.

Jiang Jiusheng didn’t bother to refute him. Instead, she simply asked, “So, what type of person is she?”

Zhang Nai was cornered and could not come up with anything to say.

To be fair, it was no small request to ask him to accurately describe a selfish yet beautiful chameleon like Liu Xu. Then again, they complemented each other perfectly—one the master, the other the slave.

Not wanting to waste any more of her time, Jiang Jiusheng walked out of the office.

Liu Xu stood rooted to the spot, staring at nothing and sobbing. Clutching Zhang Nai’s hand, she wailed, “Sheng does not believe me anymore. Zhang Nai, what do I do now?”

She looked desolate and lost, and Zhang Nai couldn’t bear to see his beloved crying so miserably. “Well, I believe you, and I will help to clear your name,” she said to console her. “I will ask Ranran and Fanglin for help. Don’t worry. All will be well.”

Tsk, tsk, tsk… What a lovey-dovey couple!

Crossing her arms, Mo Bing circled past them and, unexpectedly, remarked in all seriousness, “Liu Xu, the film academy owes you an Oscar.”

At 11:00 that morning, Liu Xu posted her first response to the incident, instantly attracting a slew of comments from interested observers.

LiuXu V: I have nothing to say. Please do not follow me anymore.

Posted along with the message was a paparazzi shot.

Zhang Nai, a member of TheNine, responded in an instant.