Chapter 45: Lin Yan Expelled

Chen Feng sternly and righteously recounted yesterday's events.

The President Jing of their household, whose schedule was packed with countless matters, had set aside his work, toiled until midnight, and stayed up without sleep to cooperate with the reshoot.

Which decent CEO in the world had to endure such unfair treatment?

"Either you conduct a thorough investigation and give us an explanation, or President Jing will step in personally and give Sanda an explanation."

Chen Feng decided to play the villain to the end and meant business.

Ji You on the other end was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat.

"Alright, alright, Special Assistant Chen. Please reassure President Jing that I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and give President Jing a satisfactory explanation!"

After hanging up the phone, Ji You closed his eyes for a moment.

It seemed that whether he wanted to get involved in this matter or not, he had no choice now.

He pressed the intercom button and called Lin Yan into his office.

"Hand it over."

"What?" Lin Yan looked completely bewildered the moment she stepped inside.

Ji You said with a cold face, "You stole Song Xi's negatives and tried to frame her. Don't think I couldn't see through it."

Lin Yan retorted, "I did no such thing. I've worked hard in Sanda for so many years, building it up from a tiny studio to an industry leader. Manager Ji, you simply don't understand what it means to cast aside somebody after they've crossed the bridge."

Ji You was no longer in the mood to listen to these moral constraints.

He said, "Hand it out now and pack your things to leave. Considering your years of service with the company, I can still spare you a shred of dignity."

"If you stubbornly refuse to admit it, you will face a complete industry blacklisting and can forget about ever surviving in the photography circle again."

Lin Yan clenched her teeth, never expecting Ji You to be so ruthless.

"Manager Ji..."

"I'll give you ten minutes to consider: either seek another path or become a non-entity in the industry. Figure it out yourself."

"..."

-

"Have you heard? Lin Yan has been fired."

"She was called into Manager Ji's office in the morning, and by noon she had packed up and left. Her name has been removed from both the company chat group and the official website."

During the lunch break, colleagues sat together, discussing animatedly.

"Serves her right. She usually acted like an absolute tyrant in the company, full of condescending patriarchal lectures, bossing everyone around for the slightest reason. Look at her now, fallen and at the mercy of others."

Ye Zi chimed in with mockery, "When one's virtue is unworthy of their position, disaster is bound to follow."

Song Xi was quite surprised when she heard the news.

She had originally thought Ji You would make a big fuss over a minor issue today, and that once Lin Yan apologized, the matter would be over.

She never expected them to fire the person so quickly.

Wonderful!

It felt so satisfying that she wanted to treat herself to a good meal to celebrate.

In a pleasant mood, she took out her phone and tapped on Jing Zhuo's WeChat chat box.

"Are we having dinner together tonight?"

She needed to thank the great contributor to yesterday's reshoot.

Jing Zhuo paused for a long time on the other end before sending a few words: "I have a dinner banquet tonight that I must attend. I'm sorry, can we do tomorrow instead?"

No time?

Oh well.

Song Xi indicated it didn't matter, as official business came first.

She then opened Zhang Hesheng's WeChat and sent a message.

"Babe, hot pot after work?"

Zhang Hesheng replied: "Can't make it, I have a mandatory dinner banquet tonight. How about tomorrow?"

Strange, why did everyone have dinner banquets?

Song Xi replied with a cat-waving sticker and put her phone away.

Since everyone was busy, she would just go back and eat by herself.

In the evening, after finishing the Huaiyang cuisine prepared by the housekeeper, Song Xi helped wash the dishes.

Since it was still early and she had nothing to do, she took her SLR camera and strolled around the residential compound.

Early spring had arrived, and a batch of flowers in the community's landscaped garden was blooming brilliantly. She could capture some night blossoms, which would possess a unique charm.

Inside the bustling banquet hall with its intertwined wine glasses, Zhang Hesheng wore a high-fashion luxury gown, gently swirling champagne as she leaned against the bar counter to whisper secrets with Zhang Hexing.

Tonight was the engagement banquet of the eldest daughter of the Shi family in the capital. When the elder of the Shi family was young, he had lent a hand to Zhang Youqi, making him a great benefactor of the Zhang family.

Whenever there was an important occasion, the entire Zhang family had to attend.

"Second Brother, that little daughter of the Shi family used to adore you so much. Seeing her get engaged now, do your feelings hurt at all?"

Zhang Hexing raised an eyebrow. "How long ago was that? Shi Miao was just young and ignorant back then. She grew up and stopped liking me, didn't she? Stop trying to stir up trouble."

Zhang Hesheng patted his shoulder.

"It's fine, Second Brother. I'll keep an eye out for a future Second Sister-in-law for you. If all else fails, once Xibao gets divorced in the future, I'll introduce her to you."

Zhang Hexing laughed in amusement. "Is there anyone else who acts as a friend the way you do? Praying for someone to get divorced every single day?"

"Good birds choose the best trees to perch on. So what?"

Zhang Hesheng said, "I don't know why, but I always have this premonition. That husband of hers is all secretive and looks completely unreliable; they're bound to get a divorce sooner or later."

As the two were talking, a figure silently moved up behind them.

Zhang Hesheng turned her head and caught sight of Jing Zhuo's solemn and composed face. Her gaze swept over, as if she had discovered a new continent.

"Big Brother, how come you've even started wearing a ring recently?"

"And you're wearing it on your ring finger. Could it be that you're looking to get married?"

Usually, Jing Zhuo wouldn't even bother to acknowledge her.

Today, however, against all odds, he said, "Mn."

Well, well, the sun must have risen from the west. Her big brother was actually desperate to get married... no, anxious to tie the knot!

How novel.

Zhang Hesheng was immensely amused. "That's simple then! Have Mom and Dad, Maternal Grandpa and Grandma, Paternal Grandpa and Grandma all mobilize their social circles to find a suitable sister-in-law and introduce her to you!"

Jing Zhuo swirled his wine glass with an air of nonchalance.

"You don't have any friends around you?"

Zhang Hesheng thought about it seriously. "Nope."

"Not even a single one?"

"Nope."

Jing Zhuo stopped speaking and seemed to cast a cold, indifferent glance in her direction.

Zhang Hesheng: "..."

Why was he glaring at her out of nowhere again? What did she do this time!

Seeing that he remained silent, Zhang Hesheng turned back, grabbed Zhang Hexing's arm, and continued wheedling.

"What do you think, Second Brother? When the time comes, I'll still introduce Xibao to you to be my dearest second sister-in-law..."

A warning voice landed softly from behind.

"Stop trying to ruin other people's families."

Jing Zhuo placed his wine glass on the bar counter with a soft thud, then lifted his eyes to cast a glance at Zhang Hexing.

"And you, stop coveting another man's wife."

"..."

"..."