CH 2.1

Su Chengyang was stunned for a moment.

She really didn’t expect this kind of pie to fall on her.

Not only did her mind now have information about ‘Su Chengyang’s assets, but also some information about ‘Su Chengyang’.

These assets were obtained as compensation after her family’s old house was demolished. ‘Su Chengyang’s lifelong dream was to open her own bookstore, but due to the ‘plot’ of the story, she was taken captive by the system and entered the entertainment industry, which led to such a distressing situation. However, she took the opportunity to break free from the system’s control and regained her consciousness and freedom.

Su Chengyang was completely bewildered.

In just a few days, her mood plummeted from heaven to hell, and then was pulled back to heaven. She didn’t know what language to use to express her current feelings.

“Does that mean I have the freedom to use this money as I wish?” Su Chengyang silently asked in his mind.

The system finally no longer had to feel guilty in front of Su Chengyang and confidently said, “Of course you can.”

3 million… two houses worth 1.8 million each… a rent of 8,000 yuan per month… With this kind of net worth, even a dog wouldn’t bother entering the entertainment industry!

“What about the real Su Chengyang?”

Although she felt like she had won the jackpot unexpectedly, Su Chengyang still had some remaining rationality.

“Their freedom has been restored,” said the system.

“Oh…” Su Chengyang nodded his head, seeming to understand but also not fully comprehending.

“She’s become rich? She can keep living out her dream of being a slacker?”

Su Chengyang couldn’t believe it. She could feel her heart racing and she was on the verge of passing out!

It was too good to be true! As long as she could keep being lazy, what difference did it make which world she was in!

After hearing Su Chengyang’s response, Liu Wen was unable to snap out of it for a while.

In her impression, Su Chengyang had always been a timid girl who almost never dared to look up and face others, so even when she was accused and attacked by Yang Xiu and his fans, she still didn’t dare to stand up and refute them.

After she was attacked by Yang Xiuyi and his fans and hospitalized, the company hardly considered reporting the incident to the police, and assumed that Su Chengyang would accept the company’s arrangements. Even if she didn’t accept, Yang Xiuyi had already offered her a hush money of 500,000 yuan from his own pocket. For a new actor who had just debuted and was sidelined, 500,000 yuan was definitely not a small amount, and she had absolutely no reason to refuse it!

But now, looking at the determined girl in front of her, with a pair of clear eyes like bright mirrors, just making eye contact with her gave Liu Wen a feeling of being enveloped in sunlight. even when confronting her, it won’t create uncomfortable feelings because her expression and gaze were very sincere.

After having Su Chengyang signed with the company for a year, this was the first time Liu Wen took a serious look at this girl.

The girl had very delicate features, and even up close, no flaws could be seen on her face. She was like a perfectly crafted doll, except that this doll didn’t have a soul before, as if it only gained one at this very moment.

No wonder she caught the eye of the talent scout in a crowded place at first glance.

However, while Su Chengyang’s appearance was flawless, it also lacked any standout features, making her forgettable. Especially in the entertainment industry, which is saturated with good-looking people, what is lacking is someone who can leave an impression on the audience.

“Chengyang, do you know the consequences you will face if you report this to the police? Not only will you offend Yang Xiuyi’s agency and the leading company in the industry – Starlight Entertainment, but you will also not gain any benefits for yourself, and it will have an impact on the company. In the future, your career in the entertainment industry will be extremely difficult. Besides, you are not in any danger now. The police can at most catch the criminal and criticize them. You will not gain anything by reporting it.” Liu Wen said earnestly.

Who would want to enter the entertainment industry if they have the capital to lay flat!1

Moreover, according to Su Chengyang’s understanding, in this incident caused by Yang Xiuyi, ‘Su Chengyang’ is completely innocent. How can we let this matter go so easily? Yang Xiuyi’s actions have actually ruined Su Chengyang’s future development in the entertainment industry.

Su Chengyang said seriously: “Sister Wen, the company should be well aware of the reason why I was targeted by Yang Xiuyi’s fans for online harassment three months ago.”

Liu Wen frowned and asked: “What do you mean?”

Su Chengyang replied: “Yang Xiuyi was the male lead of my first drama. During filming, he repeatedly sneaked out of the set to meet with his girlfriend. After being caught by paparazzi, he paid marketing accounts to post online and claim that the reason for him to sneaked out was because a female actress in the crew was persistently pursuing him. At the time, the other female actresses in the crew were not newcomers, so they directed their anger towards me. I didn’t have much experience or background, and of course the company wouldn’t want to offend a popular artist in the entertainment industry just for a small artist under their label. I understood this and never blamed the company.”

Su Chengyang, having been in the entertainment industry for so many years, understands the rules of the industry very well, where the most popular stars are the ones in power. It is actually quite normal for a talent agency to please Yang Xiuyi by sidelining a new artist.

Liu Wen furrowed her brow even tighter, crossed her arms in front of her chest, leaned back in her chair, and emitted a sense of oppression, hoping to induce fear in Su Chengyang.

Although Su Chengyang hasn’t experienced any major storms in the entertainment industry, she has a good mentality. Even if she were thrown into a room full of A-list celebrities, she would remain calm and speak confidently.

“However, Sisten Wen, this matter was already over. But Yang Xiuyi already got caught by paparazzi again and was forced to publicly announce his relationship. His fans found out that they had been dating for half a year already, and three months ago, the issue of me supposedly harassing him was brought up again. His fans believed that I was trying to seduce him and cause trouble, and then I was retaliated against. This time, I was lucky that there were no major consequences, but what about next time? Can I joke with my life? The situation has escalated to this point. Sister Wen, do you think I will have a peaceful life in the future? As long as they are around, I will always be insulted behind my back. Sister Wen, if this happened to you, what would you do?” Su Chengyang spoke with sincerity and looked directly into Liu Wen’s eyes.

Finally, Liu Wen couldn’t hold on anymore, and under Su Chengyang’s frank gaze, she looked away first.

As an agent who has worked with several third-tier artists, no one knows better than Liu Wen the impact this incident has on Su Chengyang. Once labeled as “understand the three, do the three” 2 even if it can be clarified later, it is of no use because she is a newcomer. Su Chengyang’s path in the entertainment industry has been completely cut off.

Liu Wen is very clear about this, and that’s why she dare not look directly into Su Chengyang’s eyes.

After a moment of contemplation, Liu Wen said: “In that case, I will report this matter to the company’s upper management. You should go home and rest well and wait for further notice.”

Su Chengyang looked at her steadily for a few seconds. She was very clear in her heart what the company’s ultimate decision would be, but she still had one year left on her contract with the company. During this period, if she did anything that the company did not allow or that harmed the company’s interests, it would be considered a breach of contract and she would have to pay a penalty…

Su Chengyang was taken aback. The penalty for breaching a contract for a newcomer is generally not too high, around 500,000 yuan. If she could pay 500,000 yuan and clear her name by reporting the incident to the police, she thought it would be worth it.

So she hesitated for a few seconds and asked, “Sister Wen, may I ask how much penalty I would need to pay if I want to terminate the contract early?”

Paying 500,000 yuan would clear Su Chengyang’s name and allow her to exit the entertainment industry to pursue her dream of opening a bookstore and live a peaceful life. What a wonderful thing!

1 referring to a phenomenon in China where young people give up on ambitious goals and seek a more relaxed lifestyle)! ↵

2 “知三当三” means “once a rumor is established, it is difficult to clarify even if there is evidence to the contrary.” In this context, it refers to the negative impact that a rumor or label can have on a new artist’s career in the entertainment industry. The sentence suggests that the label of “知三当三” has been attached to the newcomer, Su Chengyang, and it has caused her career to be completely destroyed. ↵