Chapter 23: Artists Terminate Their Contracts? Poached Every Single One!

"I'm not afraid!" Hearing the determination in Sang Bai's voice, Jiang Yunzhu hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing. "I'll talk to the company about terminating your contract. I'll send you the agreement in a bit."

After hanging up, Jiang Yunzhu dialed the number for Country M again. Soon, a contract was faxed over.

The next day, the first thing Jiang Yunzhu did upon returning to the company was to handle Sang Bai’s contract termination.

Seeing how resolute she was, the director's expression turned unusually stern. "Jiang Yunzhu, you should know how long it takes to cultivate talent here. Yesterday, Sang Bai just became popular, and today you want to help her terminate her contract? Isn't this going too far?"

"Too far?" Jiang Yunzhu’s voice was cold. "Who was it that shelved Sang Bai before? The fact that she managed to break through from being nearly blacklisted is entirely her own effort—what does that have to do with the company? Now, if we each take a step back, it's best for both the company and Sang Bai. Otherwise, if word gets out that the company inexplicably shelved its own artists, the others here will be uneasy."

The director, listening to Jiang Yunzhu's threat, turned livid with anger. But he had no choice but to do as she said; after all, she was right—if things blew up, Shen Group would face even bigger losses.

With a dark face, he signed the termination letter. "Fine, have it your way!"

She smiled faintly, tucked the letter away, and turned to leave.

She hadn’t reached the door when one of Zhou Qingfei’s lackeys appeared.

Since Jiang Yunzhu had entered the company, this lackey had been watching her. She’d also overheard their conversation at the door.

"Well, isn’t this Miss Jiang? What’s this, realizing you can’t stay here anymore and trying to break your contract and run off early?"

Jiang Yunzhu looked at the arrogant Zhang Xiaodan with an expressionless face, her eyes filled with disdain.

This woman, just because she picked up some scraps from following Zhou Qingfei around, strutted around the company as if it belonged to her.

Seeing Jiang Yunzhu remain silent, Zhang Xiaodan assumed she'd hit a nerve. She quickly snatched the termination letter from Jiang Yunzhu's hand. "Let me see what this is."

When she saw it was Sang Bai's termination letter, Zhang Xiaodan looked up at Jiang Yunzhu in confusion. "Just a Z-list, completely unknown actress. Jiang Yunzhu, are you insane?"

She snatched the letter back. "Don’t touch it—you’ll dirty my things."

Seeing how precious it was to her, Zhang Xiaodan scoffed, "Do you think I care? If you ask me, it’s not just Sang Bai who should leave—you should go with her. You're both useless anyway."

Jiang Yunzhu frowned, her eyes full of impatience. If this scene continued, it would be bad if Shen Ruizhang found out. Yet Zhang Xiaodan wouldn't let her go, which irritated her even more.

"Move," she said, her tone even more impatient now.

Zhang Xiaodan sneered. "Shouldn’t the general manager sign off on an artist’s termination? Did you get Mr. Shen’s signature?"

Jiang Yunzhu lifted her head, her previously cool gaze now icy enough to send a chill down one’s spine.

Zhang Xiaodan swallowed nervously, almost stepping aside.

Just then, Sang Bai walked over and pushed Zhang Xiaodan out of the way.

Seeing it was her, Zhang Xiaodan immediately turned furious and mocked, "Sang Bai, you’re just a small-time actress, and you dare push me?"

"You started bullying people first," Sang Bai reminded her.

Noticing how much she was defending Jiang Yunzhu, Zhang Xiaodan sneered openly. "Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Sang Bai. Jiang Yunzhu can’t get you any resources. If you leave the company, are you planning to work as an escort?"

Sang Bai frowned deeply. "What did you say?"

"Heh..." Zhang Xiaodan looked at Jiang Yunzhu with contempt. "Jiang Yunzhu is just a loser. What good opportunities can you get by sticking with her? You’re on the wrong team."

With that, Zhang Xiaodan raised her chin proudly. "I have a new job today, and I’ll be joining a production next week—all resources Miss Zhou gave me."

Jiang Yunzhu retorted blandly, "Does being someone else’s dog make you happy?"

At those words, Zhang Xiaodan’s expression darkened. "Jiang Yunzhu! Even if I am someone’s dog, it’s better than following you. Who doesn’t know Mr. Shen favors Miss Zhou? Only by sticking with her is there a future."

Her words immediately made those nearby think twice. For these young actors who came to the company every day, who didn’t want a good future?

Some even tried to persuade Sang Bai. "Sang Bai, don’t gamble your future. You should go beg Miss Zhou."

Sang Bai looked at the speaker. "But my future was given to me by Yuzhu."

She then looked at Jiang Yunzhu, her gaze growing more determined.

Jiang Yunzhu smiled at her.

Just as she was about to say something, Sang Bai spoke again, "It was Yuzhu who got me that opportunity yesterday."

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaodan’s pupils quivered and she instinctively argued, "That’s impossible! If Jiang Yunzhu really had such great resources, you’d have been famous long ago!"

Then she shot a vicious glare at Jiang Yunzhu. The company had almost assigned her to Jiang Yunzhu before, but she’d chosen Zhou Qingfei. If Jiang Yunzhu really had such resources, she should have been the one to blow up yesterday.

Now Sang Bai had stolen her opportunity.

A hint of hatred appeared in Zhang Xiaodan’s eyes as she warned through clenched teeth, "Don’t let Jiang Yunzhu fool you. If you terminate your contract, you’ll have nowhere to go."

"Who said I don’t?" Sang Bai proudly pulled out her newly signed contract. "See? An exclusive agent contract with Haurai in Country M. I’m going to develop my career there now."

"Impossible!" Zhang Xiaodan lunged to snatch at it.

Sang Bai dodged her hand, looking at her with disgust. "Don’t touch my things. You’ll ruin them."

Seeing Zhang Xiaodan about to make a scene, Jiang Yunzhu reminded Sang Bai, "Go pack your things. There’s no reason to linger here."

Sang Bai nodded obediently, bumped Zhang Xiaodan aside with her shoulder, and went upstairs to gather her belongings.

Watching Sang Bai’s retreating figure, Zhang Xiaodan glared at Jiang Yunzhu.

But Jiang Yunzhu didn’t spare her a glance and left without looking back.

Seeing her walk away so quickly, Zhang Xiaodan was furious. If they dared cross her, she would make Jiang Yunzhu pay!

Upstairs.

A few of the other young actors gathered around Sang Bai.

"Sang Bai, are you really going to Haurai?"

"Can you take me with you?"

"Yeah, maybe you could talk to Miss Jiang for us. We all know the company favors Zhou Qingfei. If we stay, we’ll never get our turn to shine."

Listening to all their pleas, Sang Bai felt a bit overwhelmed.

At that moment, Jiang Yunzhu came upstairs, and Sang Bai immediately shot her a pleading look.

Seeing the energetic young actors before her, Jiang Yunzhu had an idea. "You can come with me, but think carefully—I may be strict with my artists."

"We’re not afraid!" Zhou Yue declared immediately. Her eyes were resolute as she looked at Jiang Yunzhu. "I just signed with the company and got a great opportunity, but Zhou Qingfei wanted it, so she took it from me without a word. Miss Jiang, I just want to act. I hope you’ll help me."

"Me too. Just because netizens said I look like Zhou Qingfei, she won’t let me appear on camera."

The reasons were much the same for the others.