Chapter 21

Chapter 21
Su Jinfan was sent to the company by Shen Bai. While Ding Sheng Company was desperately trying to block the news, rumors had already spread like wildfire online. Su Jinfan knew the company summoned her to reprimand her, but she had long been mentally prepared.

Throughout the entire car ride, Su Jinfan remained silent. The unusual quietness plunged the interior of the car into complete stillness. Shen Bai also knew what Su Jinfan was thinking, so until the car came to a stop, they didn’t exchange a single word.

“Xiao Fan, are you going up alone?”

Watching Su Jinfan push open the car door, Shen Bai asked.

Su Jinfan paused for just a moment, “I’ll handle this matter myself.”

Throughout the entire time, Su Jinfan was in a state of inner conflict. She hadn’t yet resolved all of Liu Xin’s affairs, nor had she dealt with the feelings of the man before her.

It wasn’t until Su Jinfan got out of the car and stood at the entrance of Dingsheng Company that she turned around to look at Shen Bai’s receding figure inside the vehicle.

Watching the car slowly drive away, Su Jinfan unconsciously rubbed her hands nervously, a sudden indescribable tension welling up in her heart.

Meanwhile, during all this commotion, rumors about “Su Jinfan successfully overthrowing Liu Xincheng as the top actress” had spread uncontrollably online. Countless people lost sleep over this news, clutching their phones to check for the latest updates, afraid of missing any developments.

“Oh, isn’t this our reigning queen of Ding Sheng?”

Hearing the voice, Su Jinfan glanced at the people in the company, noticing many whispering among themselves. Leading the group was Wang Lili. After a moment’s thought, Su Jinfan decided not to stir up trouble and pressed the elevator button without paying much attention.

“Don’t bother too much with them.” Ning Meng walked up beside Su Jinfan, offering words of comfort.

In the entertainment industry, everyone is just striving to climb their way up. Ning Meng may appear to be relying on wealthy backers to advance, but she never resorts to any scheming. Even if she has powerful support behind her, it’s merely better resources. She works hard at acting and is professionally trained, making her infinitely better than those actresses who love to gossip and play petty games.

In this entertainment industry, everyone has their own way of living—there’s no right or wrong.

Su Jinfan nodded at Ning Meng with a smile and stepped into the elevator.

When Su Jinfan reached the lounge, she found that the contents of her locker had been thoroughly rummaged through, with various items scattered all over the floor in a pitiful mess. Su Jinfan rolled her eyes and kept walking.

“Su Jin Fan!”

When Su Jin Fan stepped into Elsa’s office, Elsa could no longer contain her anger. She instantly flew into a rage, rising from her seat with evident irritation, her voice loud enough to be heard outside the office.

The office was filled with the fury radiating from Elsa’s expression. She glared at Su Jin Fan, but Su Jin Fan remained standing with an air of indifference.

“Explain yourself clearly.” Elsa pointed at the large stack of documents on the table. “Tell me exactly what you’re trying to do here?”

“Explain? Elsa, you know the reason better than anyone. You should be asking Liu Xin about this.” Su Jinfan stared directly at Elsa, her eyes devoid of any emotion, yet precisely reflecting the disdain in her gaze.

“Su Jinfan, do you really think you’re some kind of treasure? To be honest, do you know why I treated you so well before and even interacted with you on Weibo? Did you actually believe I valued you?” Elsa sneered, took a sip of coffee, and continued, “Bullshit! It’s all because you have connections with the A&R Group behind you. The entertainment industry isn’t as simple as you think.”

Everyone in the company knew she had close ties with that big sponsor from A&R. The label slapped on Su Jinfan was that of a gold-digger.

“Sister Elsa, what did you call me here for, besides scolding me?” Su Jinfan found a seat and sat down. She didn’t think Elsa would just sit back and watch the actress the company had been promoting get caught up in a scandal. Su Jinfan was straightforward and didn’t want to beat around the bush anymore.

“Since things have already come to this, Su Jinfan, here’s a contract—sign it.” Elsa sighed and pulled a contract out of the drawer.

The content of the contract was essentially about renewing Su Jinfan’s contract for another ten years, meaning she would dedicate the best years of her life to Dingsheng. Su Jinfan now saw through Elsa’s intentions. Liu Xin was embroiled in controversy, and naturally, no one would want to hire her for roles anymore. Meanwhile, Su Jinfan had become an overnight sensation after her bold press conference.

Su Jinfan glanced at Elsa. Sure enough, she was a petty, profit-driven opportunist, willing to promote whoever was hot at the moment—short-sighted and shallow.

“Now Ding Sheng Corporation has decided to promote some talented actors. As for Liu Xin, she’s been in poor health recently, so she’s been resting at home.” Elsa-jie’s meaning was very clear—Liu Xin’s resources had been completely exhausted, with nothing left to utilize.

“Ai-jie, I remember back then you couldn’t wait for me to leave Ding Sheng Entertainment. Now what’s this? I’m a bit confused.” Su Jinfan lowered her head to examine the contract and let out a cold laugh. “Ai-jie, don’t forget—it’s not about whether you’re willing anymore. Because of Liu Xin’s involvement now, it’s about whether I’m willing.”

Elsa gritted her teeth but could only force out an awkward smile: “Su Jin, think it over—Dingsheng’s resources aren’t something ordinary companies can compare to.”

Seeing that tough tactics didn’t work on Su Jin, Elsa ultimately decided to adopt a softer approach. With Dingsheng already buckling under public pressure, if even Su Jin were to leave, their talent agency would essentially collapse.

Besides, Elsa wasn’t unaware of how wildly popular Su Jin had become online due to all this drama.

“I’ll consider it, Sister Ai,” Su Jin replied without outright refusal, offering only a faint smile.

“Xiao Fan, what happened before was my fault, but this is your company, and it’s also your family home. I hope you can think it through carefully,” Sister Elsa said. After all, Su Jin Fan’s popularity had skyrocketed, and if she could stay with Ding Sheng Entertainment, the company wouldn’t have to worry about securing good resources.

Su Jin Fan stood in front of Elsa. Elsa had even brought the company into the conversation, but Su Jin Fan hated moral blackmail more than anything. Leaning her hands on the table, she said, “Elsa, in your eyes, are we all just commodities? Commodities whose value can fluctuate at any time, ready to be discarded whenever convenient.”

She suddenly felt sorry for Liu Xin. Despite all the resources she had contributed to the company, even if she was indeed difficult, she was only trying to climb higher. Now that the company saw her in this state, even after exhausting all PR efforts to no avail, they were ready to discard her?

Sister Elsa looked at Su Jinfan’s calm expression before her and couldn’t help but frown. “Everyone comes to the company for the same purpose.”

“Sister Ai, we’re both smart people. I’m not the kind of child who can be obedient after being given a slap and then a candy.” Su Jinfan spoke without mincing words, like pouring a whole basin of cold water. “Just like how the role was immediately replaced with Liu Xin after my car accident—Sister Elsa probably knows a thing or two about that.”

Elsa never expected Su Jinfan to speak so resolutely and trembled with anger all over. Su Jinfan continued, “Since you’ve laid it all out, I have nothing left to hide. Director Fang Hua initially refused to cast Liu Xin as the lead, but afterward, the company used 2% of its shares and internal resources for its actors to make him agree to the request.”

“Sister Ai, it’s a pity your scheme was miscalculated.” Su Jinfan felt disgusted when she saw the text messages about the deal between Liu Xin and Director Fang Hua.

“Xiao Fan, if you just promise to renew your contract when the termination period comes, I guarantee that I, Elsa, will only promote you exclusively all these years.” Elsa’s anger hadn’t subsided; this was her final concession.

Su Jinfan sized up the opportunistic figure before her and slightly furrowed her brows. “Sister Ai, you said the same thing when I first joined the company.”

Elsa watched as Su Jinfan left without sparing any face and said, “Su Jinfan, Dingsheng isn’t someone you can provoke as you please.”

    ……

At the foot of Dingsheng Company’s building, many reporters were waiting anxiously and excitedly. None of them were willing to give up the chance to interview the company’s top executives or even the two key figures, Liu Xin and Su Jinfan, directly. Even if it took two or three days, they wouldn’t abandon their posts.

The gossip surrounding Su Jinfan and Liu Xin had always been a hot topic both inside and outside the entertainment industry. Whether it was paparazzi sneaking photos or reporters openly chatting, they all kept an eye out, hoping to catch a glimpse of the two emerging.

“Speaking of this battle for the top spot, I originally bet on Liu Xin to win. Although Su Jinfan’s acting skills are impressive, Dingsheng Company treated Liu Xin like their own daughter back then. Who would’ve thought—who would’ve thought—Liu Xin would end up like this now.”

“Well, how should I put it? I met Liu Xin before—she was quite arrogant, and her acting was just passable. Su Jinfan, on the other hand, was a breath of fresh air among newcomers. I’ve seen her a few times, and she was always humble. The entertainment industry is just like that—when one person rises to the top, someone else inevitably falls. It just happened to be them.”

“However, with Ding Sheng Company recently embroiled in such a major scandal and even Director Fang Hua offended, it probably won’t be that easy for them to clean up their image.”

The reporters were engaged in heated discussions, some spreading hearsay while others simply speculated wildly for entertainment. It wasn’t until Su Jin Fan appeared that everyone surged forward.

Su Jin Fan was shielded by her assistant and the company’s bodyguards. Although the crowd downstairs was large, they were effectively blocked at the periphery by the human wall, shouting questions at the top of their lungs. It must be said, being an entertainment journalist isn’t easy—often having to fight tooth and nail for a story.

“Miss Su, will you continue your contract with Ding Sheng Company?”

“Miss Su, there are rumors circulating that you are currently dating Mr. Shen from A&R Group. Can you confirm if this is true?”

“What do you think of Liu Xin? There are rumors suggesting that this incident was orchestrated by Liu Xin.”