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Chapter 332: Chapter 330: The Weasel Pays New Year’s Visit to the Chicken
Finally, she was willing to do live-streaming and promote products, but just when her popularity started to rise, it was already on the verge of dropping again.
He felt that the recent string of scandals in the entertainment industry didn’t seem accidental—it felt as though someone was deliberately orchestrating them from the shadows.
They wanted to counter one scandal with another...
He hoped he was just overthinking it, but if not... that spelled trouble.
Before, with the support of the Lu Group, Xia Wenjin had managed to offend the president’s wife of the Song Group and still hung on in the entertainment circle.
Now that the Lu Group had collapsed, who would give her any face?
As her agent, he dared not get involved anymore.
Otherwise, when Xia Wenjin’s misfortune came, it would drag him down too.
Seeing the agent’s somber face, a flash of coldness passed through Xia Wenjin’s eyes as she asked, "Have you found any variety shows with Xia Wenyan or Lu Zhaozhao recently? Preferably live-streaming ones."
With pre-recorded shows, she worried that the "highlight moments" could be edited out by someone.
She might not be able to compete with Lu Zhaozhao when it came to backing, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t win in other areas.
The agent stared at Xia Wenjin with a look that one gives to a madman.
She had leaked information not long ago about the Xia Family mistreating her, but having worked with Xia Wenjin for a while, he, as an experienced agent, didn’t believe for a second that she was the type to be victimized.
And who would mistreat someone with designer bags worth hundreds of thousands, all limited editions?
If there were such a person, he’d be the first to welcome such "abuse"!
Right now, the public’s focus was on the fact that the Xia Family had not publicly revealed Xia Wenjin’s true identity with the XJ Group, but once they got over that, her little tactics would seem like nothing.
He saw right through it, which was why he couldn’t be bothered to pile more resources on her.
Variety shows just ride the wave of popularity; once they’re shot, they’re done.
It’s not like shooting TV series or movies where problems could lead to compensation claims.
The agent glanced at Xia Wenjin and said, "Going after Xia Wenyan now could easily put you at a disadvantage, I’ve heard he has a bad temper..."
"If Xia Wenyan lays a hand on me, it’ll only boost my popularity, and they’ll be the ones at a loss, not me," Xia Wenjin interrupted before the agent could finish, shutting him up with her reply.
Without the Lu Family’s support now, she could only rely on herself to make money.
Moreover, it was the Xia Family who was now afraid of ruining their reputation, so she was like someone with nothing to lose and not afraid of those who have something to lose.
The agent was also struck by her "awareness" and said, "Okay then, I’ll go and ask around for you."
"Hmm."
No sooner had the agent stepped out than she received a phone call.
She knew it was Cao Mei from the number displayed.
Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, at first intending to hang up, but then it was as if she suddenly thought of something and she picked up immediately.
"Hello?"
Cao Mei’s voice came through quickly from the other end, "Jin, do you have any free time recently? Mom wants to meet you."
Xia Wenjin suppressed the irritation in her heart and replied coldly, "Speak directly, I don’t have much time to beat around the bush with you, I’m busy."
Cao Mei was evidently taken aback by Xia Wenjin’s words.
After pausing for a few seconds, she started stammering, "Jin, no matter what, I am your mother, how can you talk to me like this? I..."
"Enough, stop acting with me. I haven’t known you for more than a few months since we met, there’s no deep affection there, so stop deceiving yourself. If you have something to say, just say it!"
Xia Wenjin was too lazy to exchange insincere pleasantries with Cao Mei.
She became the obedient daughter to the Lu Family because they had money, but now it seemed that her family was worth more than the Lu’s.
Would she have returned to the Lu Family if the Xia Family hadn’t kept her in the dark?
Cao Mei never expected Xia Wenjin to speak her mind so frankly, once again finding herself at a loss for words.
Although she had many grievances towards Xia Wenjin now, when she first came to her home, Cao Mei couldn’t have been more thrilled with her daughter.
Cao Mei never expected this to be the outcome.
Previously, when people said Xia Wenjin was an ingrate, she found it laughable, but now it appeared she was the biggest joke of all!
Cao Mei slowly closed her eyes and decided not to continue with the small talk, "Your dad wants to borrow a sum of money from you, and we’ll repay it with interest..."
"Repay with interest? The Lu Family is bankrupt now, do you think I don’t know how much he owes? Repay with interest? That’s really funny!" Xia Wenjin didn’t wait for Cao Mei to finish before mocking her.
Cao Mei couldn’t take her sarcastic tone any longer, angrily scolded, "Xia Wenjin, do you have any conscience at all? Have you forgotten how shamelessly you came to the Lu Family in the first place?"
Xia Wenjin sneered, "So what? Now that the Lu’s are finished, do you think you’re still the wealthy patrician from before? I bet you don’t even have a place to stay now, right?"
"..."
Listening to the silence from Cao Mei, Xia Wenjin seized the opportunity to strike while the iron was hot, "Considering the past few months have been relatively pleasant, I’m willing to give you some money, but you’ll have to do something for me in return."
Cao Mei was completely numb by now, with the Lu Group having gone bankrupt and all their properties mortgaged and seized.
She and Lu Dagui were on the verge of being homeless.
Cao Mei, nearly in despair, asked, "What do you want us to do?"
Xia Wenjin’s eyes flickered, "What I want you to do is simple... I’m sending you an address right now; go and stay there. I’ll tell you what you need to do in detail later."
Cao Mei clenched her teeth and eventually could only utter one word, "Okay."
Xia Wenjin watched as the call ended, the corners of her mouth slowly curving into a smile.
Lu Zhaozhao, just wait and see. Everything you have now will be reclaimed by me, one by one!
"Achoo!"
Out of the blue, Lu Zhaozhao, who was on set filming, sneezed.
She rubbed her nose and couldn’t help but look up at the sky.
Was she dressed too lightly?
"Zhaozhao, are you okay? You’re not getting sick from overworking these days, are you?" Sun Qian, hearing Lu Zhaozhao sneeze, immediately asked with concern.
Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, clearly a bit uncomfortable with the sudden closeness from Sun Qian over the past few days.
She preferred their previous relationship, where they didn’t get along, as it made her feel more at ease.
This current behavior always gave her the sense that something wasn’t right, like a weasel paying a New Year’s visit to a chicken.
Lu Zhaozhao also knew that Sun Qian’s kindness wasn’t because of her identity, nor because her professional abilities had changed Sun Qian’s opinion.
It was simply because Sun Qian realized she had no romantic interest in Pei Huai.
Lu Zhaozhao awkwardly pulled at the corner of her mouth, "I’m fine, just a ticklish nose."
Sun Qian nodded, still in the caring elder sister mode, "It’s good if you’re not sick. The weather these days is very conducive to colds. If you feel unwell, feel free to get some cold medicine from me. I’m well stocked."
"Okay, thank you, Teacher Sun." Lu Zhaozhao nodded lightly.
Then she listened as Sun Qian continued to ask, "Is your brother coming to visit on set today?"
