Seeing Professor Fang’s sour expression, Pan Li stirred the pot, “It’s my oversight. I should’ve tipped off Li Mengjiao earlier. If she knew you valued her, she wouldn’t have done this.”
Professor Fang’s face softened slightly.
“Don’t take every mistake on yourself. Even if you’d gone to her, with her prejudice against you, she wouldn’t have listened.”
Young people were indeed too impulsive!
Seeing only that Yuan Fenghui had made an idol boy band famous, Li Mengjiao rushed to curry favour, ignoring how that same group nearly tore themselves apart trying to ditch Yuan Fenghui.
Professor Fang now had zero interest in producing Li Mengjiao’s album. She didn’t want someone others had rejected!
Pan Li seized a chance to secretly call Fu Jing, “I’ve done what you asked. Professor Fang really dislikes Li Mengjiao now, she’ll never choose her. The rest is up to you!”
Fu Jing cursed Pan Li’s cunning.
Pan Li hadn’t done much at all, had she? Professor Fang’s dislike for Li Mengjiao was Li Mengjiao’s own doing. Yet Pan Li pocketed a set of high-end cosmetics and a five-thousand-yuan red envelope, wasn’t that too easy?
Fu Jing inwardly called Pan Li ruthless but couldn’t afford to fall out, “Alright, thanks for the help. Whether Professor Fang hates or likes Li Mengjiao, the outcome’s the same.”
In fact, hatred was better.
If Professor Fang liked Li Mengjiao, Pan Li would have to be cautious sabotaging her, sneaking around behind Professor Fang’s back.
With Professor Fang disliking Li Mengjiao, if Pan Li bullied her later, Professor Fang might just turn a blind eye.
From the moment Li Mengjiao knocked on Yuan Fenghui’s door and was sent away, the battle for the top three’s album producers was essentially settled. No scheming needed, Li Mengjiao had cut her own path off!
Yuan Fenghui would pick Xu Mei, Zhang Yangning was gunning for Huang Yongjuan. Regardless of what Li Mengjiao or Professor Fang thought, they’d end up paired together, both dissatisfied, a forced match bound to be fraught with discord.
Fu Jing stifled a laugh as she hung up, “Let’s wait for the company’s announcement!”
Many things couldn’t be said openly. The company summoned the top three, had them wait in the lounge, precisely to give them time to pull strings.
When the company made its announcement, it meant the time for manoeuvring was over, and the final results were ready!
No secrets stayed hidden in the company. The top three’s actions were all within the general manager’s grasp.
General Manager Guan was puzzled.
Li Mengjiao, aside from refusing a long-term contract, was quite likeable. Why had she provoked such anger from Yuan Fenghui?
Guan wanted to ask Yuan Fenghui, but her call came first.
Guan sharply criticised Li Mengjiao a few times to appease Yuan Fenghui.
Yuan Fenghui cut him off, frowning, “Mr. Guan, why scold her? She’s only sixteen. If she’s done something wrong, she needs to be taught patiently.”
“…”
Guan was stumped.
Wasn’t he worried she’d be upset?
Wait, something’s off!
From Yuan Fenghui’s tone, she seemed protective of Li Mengjiao.
Guan, a sharp man, quickly caught on.
Yuan Fenghui had chosen Li Mengjiao!
Everyone knew Yuan Fenghui’s career had hit a rough patch, and she urgently needed to create a “new star” to prove herself. Guan, of course, trusted her ability, she was the one he’d personally recruited to Hunan.
Yuan Fenghui picking Li Mengjiao didn’t mean she had poor judgement, it showed she knew how to spot talent.
Still, Guan kindly reminded her, “Li Mengjiao hasn’t signed with the company.”
Yuan Fenghui laughed, “Mr. Guan, are you pulling my leg? Signed or not, you’re not planning to let her go, are you? The company only signed her for one album because they want her.”
Which newcomer could negotiate terms with the company?
For eager newcomers like Xu Mei and Zhang Yangning, the company laid out terms, take it or leave it.
Because the company held the power.
They needed the company!
Only someone like Li Mengjiao, ticking all the company’s boxes, could negotiate. The company was eager, but she wasn’t. The power was in her hands, and offering harsh terms would only push her away.
Sign a single album deal first, then take it slow.
Once Li Mengjiao tasted stardom, they’d talk long-term contracts.
Guan wasn’t annoyed at being called out by Yuan Fenghui. If she couldn’t see through these tactics, hiring her at a high salary would’ve been a loss.
Guan laughed heartily, “I won’t trouble two people with one task. I’m leaving this to you.”
He wasn’t just talking about album production.
Yuan Fenghui didn’t object, clearly accepting the “task” Guan entrusted.
They exchanged a few polite words, then another call came to Guan’s office, this time from Professor Fang.
Professor Fang got straight to the point, saying she didn’t want to produce Li Mengjiao’s album.
Guan hadn’t planned to assign Li Mengjiao’s album to Professor Fang anyway.
Not just Li Mengjiao, even Xu Mei and Zhang Yangning were key newcomers the company was grooming. Guan had no intention of involving Professor Fang. But China’s a society built on connections, and many things weren’t up to Guan alone. Professor Fang’s husband was a leader at Sichuan TV, able to secure resources for the company, so inviting her as a producer was a reluctant necessity.
If Professor Fang had really wanted Li Mengjiao, Guan would’ve found it hard to refuse.
Now, Li Mengjiao had gone to Yuan Fenghui’s office, breaking the stalemate herself. Guan couldn’t help but chuckle, no wonder the company was so keen to sign her. Luck is a form of strength, and Li Mengjiao’s luck had always been good.
Guan was delighted but feigned difficulty, “Sister Fang, if you don’t want Li Mengjiao, it must be because she doesn’t meet your standards. That’s her loss. Between Xu Mei and Zhang Yangning, who’ve you got your eye on? Just say—”
