Chapter 184 Cooperation?
Ren Limeng's pupils shrank slightly, and many guesses suddenly emerged in her mind. But before she could think about it, when she and Xu Jiao were about to pass each other, Xu Jiao suddenly stopped and called her without hesitation.
"Ren Limeng, you and our Xingzhidu already have such a close relationship, why don't you even say hello to me when you see me?"
Xu Jiao looked at Ren Limeng with smiling eyes. Although her words were pretending to be intimate, Ren Limeng did not take them seriously. She could see the indifference and temptation in Xu Jiao's eyes, like an indirect inquiry.
"Hello, Mr. Xu, I didn't expect to see you here."
Ren Limeng also had a smile on her lips, and beneath her gentle voice was a mask similar to the one she wore in front of the camera. She slowly met Xu Jiao's scrutinizing gaze, as if she didn't understand the test in Xu Jiao's words.
Chen Xingzhi had not told her that Xu Jiao would come, and she had no idea how Chen Xingzhi and his agency, Hanxing, had explained the recent rumors. But Ren Limeng was very clear about one thing: Chen Xingzhi and Hanxing were now in a delicate relationship, considering the contract renewal situation.
Ren Limeng guessed that Shen Xingzhi was not ready to renew the contract.
If it is really as she thought, Ren Limeng has to be extra careful when facing Xu Jiao now. In addition to being Chen Xingzhi's agent, Xu Jiao is also the vice president of Hanxing. The well-known ace agent is caught between his most profitable artist and the company. Ren Limeng can imagine Xu Jiao's recent anxiety.
"Mr. Xu? You know my position at Hanxing. It seems you've read my information and put a lot of effort into Xingzhi."
Noticing that Ren Limeng didn't respond at all, Xu Jiao's smile became more half-smile. It was obviously a very normal address, but combined with her careless and groundless speculation, it added some indescribable meaning, as if implying that Ren Limeng had ulterior motives in approaching Shen Xingzhi.
"Mr. Xu, you are the ace agent in the circle. Knowing you is the reason why I entered the circle..."
"You don't have to explain to me. I don't care about your relationship with Xingzhi. It's just that - there's something I want you to do me a favor with."
Xu Jiao interrupted Ren Limeng's explanation. She glanced at her watch, which was about to hit the hour, and her gaze fell on Ren Limeng again, with a hint of the pressure and severity of a superior in her eyes. "Xingzhi has been with Hanxing since his debut. Please help me persuade Xingzhi that we can discuss the contract renewal and treatment. Don't be so willful."
"Mr. Xu..."
Xu Jiao continued to interrupt Ren Limeng. She slowly approached Ren Limeng with a sharp look that left no room for doubt. She raised her eyelids slightly as if she had won the game, and looked Ren Limeng up and down.
"Don't say you and Xingzhi don't have any ambiguity. I can see through my artists' minds. Ren Limeng, if you do me a small favor, Hanxing is also willing to prepare an S-level contract for you. I will personally guide you and guarantee that you will become a superstar that everyone envies and rise to the top overnight."
Speaking of "reaching the sky in one step", Xu Jiao's tone was very light, hiding full of confidence and temptation. Before coming, she deliberately watched Ren Limeng's performance in "Mountains and Seas". She believed that Ren Limeng was a smart person.
Instead of being entangled with Shen Xingzhi, spending a lot of effort on sweet talk, and getting into a relationship between a man and a woman that may end at any time, Ren Limeng's smarter approach is undoubtedly to take advantage of Shen Xingzhi's infatuation and get tangible benefits, such as the favor and guarantee of Hanxing, one of the four major brokerage companies.
This was a mutually beneficial cooperation. Xu Jiao offered a very high price, and she even believed that Ren Limeng would agree as soon as she opened her mouth, because Xu Jiao was too familiar with the eyes under Ren Limeng's calm face - her ambition was too obvious.
Ren Limeng's pretended gentleness seemed to be fine, but Xu Jiao had been in the industry for so many years and had seen countless artists. Under her sharp gaze, Ren Limeng's eyes could not be hidden at all. Seeing Ren Limeng in person, Xu Jiao even felt a little satisfied in her heart.
She is beautiful, calm and smart enough. Even without Chen Xingzhi, Ren Limeng is still a good candidate to be a star.
Therefore, when Xu Jiao put forward the conditions just now, she temporarily raised the stakes and changed the A-level contract originally set by the company to S-level. Apart from her older age, Xu Jiao was very satisfied with Ren Limeng. She had even begun to conceive of marketing methods for Ren Limeng.
Thanks to the scandal with Shen Xingzhi, Ren Limeng's current popularity is no less than that of second- or third-tier stars. What she lacks are only works and memorable points. Xu Jiao is confident that as long as she helps Ren Limeng appear in a few more variety shows and film and television dramas to show her face, with her continued popularity, Ren Limeng can definitely reach the status of second- or third-tier stars and become Hanxing's leading actress.
The most famous star of Hanxing is only Chen Xingzhi. If they can bring in Ren Limeng, then this cooperation will not be a "buy one get one free" deal, but a good deal that kills two birds with one stone.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Xu, thank you for your kindness, I just want to be the host."
Ren Limeng raised her eyes calmly, and her unhesitating refusal froze the smile on Xu Jiao's face for a second. She had already started walking forward, but when she heard Ren Limeng's calm response, she suddenly stopped, turned her head and stared at Ren Limeng again, "Are you sure?"
"Mr. Xu, I'm a host on the Orange platform. I have no plans to change employers at the moment. It's not appropriate for an outsider like me to handle your artist's affairs. Are you sure... you want to continue poaching talent from Orange?"
Ren Limeng still had a faint smile on her lips. She met Xu Jiao's suddenly frowned brows with neither arrogance nor servility, and her gentle tone seemed as if she didn't feel the pressure from Xu Jiao at all.
"Okay! Okay, okay! I'll go ask Yao Xin, since when did a mere host on your Orange platform dare to talk to me like that?"
The silent confrontation did not last long. Xu Jiao sneered, and her face was no longer kind. She looked deeply at Ren Limeng, whose back was straight, and there was a hint of disbelief in her voice.
"Director Yao's office is on the right. Please take your time."
Ren Limeng tilted her head slightly, looking in the direction she had just come out, and "thoughtfully" raised her finger to show Xu Jiao the way, as if she hadn't noticed Xu Jiao's angry face that looked like she wanted to eat someone.
She had no interest in cooperating with Xu Jiao. Since she couldn't make Xu Jiao happy, it was only a matter of time before they fell out. It would be better to give Xu Jiao the impression of being calm on the outside but impulsive on the inside and underestimate her opponent.
Xu Jiao didn't even understand what she wanted. They were talking about some kind of cooperation. Xu Jiao just wanted to use her.
Ren Limeng quietly watched Xu Jiao's back as she left with her sleeves waving, her deep eyes thoughtful. After a while, she suddenly took out her cell phone and sent a message to Shen Xingzhi.
Ren Limeng: Did you know that Xu Jiao came to Jiangcheng?
Chen Xingzhi should be rehearsing the captain competition show that opens every day. Ren Limeng didn't wait for Chen Xingzhi's reply. She put away her phone and walked back to her team's training room.
It was clearly the final training time, but the training room was empty. Ren Limeng was stunned when she opened the door, and subconsciously glanced at the label on the door. It was indeed the training room of Team Shen Xing.
She left not long ago on the pretext of going to the market, so how come no one was there all of a sudden?
Aren’t Chen Xi and Guan He seizing the opportunity to perform the Huangmei Opera part of “Couple Watching Lanterns”?
Ren Limeng walked to the next room and asked the staff hiding in the mirror behind her training room in confusion. The answer she got was beyond her expectations.
The remaining staff member didn't say much, but just showed Ren Limeng the way to the infirmary.
When Ren Limeng hurried to the infirmary, she saw Guan He pacing anxiously outside the door curtain.
"Brother Guan He, how is Sister Chen Xi?"
"Sister Chen Xi suddenly lost her voice while singing because she overused her voice."
Guan He didn't bother to greet Ren Limeng, and directly pointed out the current situation concisely, "The live performance will be broadcast tomorrow, and Sister Chen Xi has to sing. What should we do now?"
Guan He sighed softly, his face full of worry. He stared at Ren Limeng and suddenly said, "Limeng, how about..."
You sang "Couple Watching Lanterns" instead of Chen Xi?
Before Guan He could express himself, Ren Limeng quickly interrupted him, "Brother Guan He, does Brother Xingzhi know about this situation?"
Guan He was slightly stunned and paused. He looked at Ren Limeng, whose eyes were filled with worry but remained calm. As if he had found his backbone, he followed Ren Limeng's words and replied, "I haven't told him yet. I just sent Sister Chen Xi here, and I don't know what caused her voice loss yet."
Chen Xi didn't want to have his oral cavity examined in front of the camera, fearing that his ferocious expression would be recorded by the camera, so he insisted on going into the inner room with the doctor for the examination.
"Okay, let's wait."
Ren Limeng lowered her eyes, hiding all the thoughts in her heart. Of course, she could see what Guan He wanted to propose, but the situation was unclear and there were many things that could not be said.
"I'm fine, don't worry."
Not long after, the doctor lifted the curtain of the door and Chen Xi walked out with a stubborn look on her face. She glanced at Guan He and a flash of gloom flashed in her eyes.
"The doctor said it's because I've been overusing my voice lately. It's a minor issue. It won't affect my performance tomorrow."
Chen Xi's voice was low, with some regret. She wanted to perform "Couple Watching Lanterns" well so much, and she had indeed practiced this Huangmei Opera too frequently this week.
Ren Limeng could hear that Chen Xi's tone was more determined, and the second half of the sentence with deliberate emphasis seemed more like an answer to Guan He's concerns.
When it comes to the final step, Chen Xi will not miss the opportunity to show off.
If you put yourself in her shoes, if she encountered such a thing, she would definitely take action at all costs.
Ren Limeng understood Chen Xi's persistence. This persistence was not even entirely due to any other considerations, but rather because of their respect for the stage and their profession.
Ren Limeng glanced calmly at the camera next to her, her brows knitted slightly, a hint of worry still visible on her face. "That's good, Sister Chen Xi, if you have any questions, please tell us directly. We're always here for you! As long as we work together, there will be no problem!"
Even though she knew it was just polite talk, Ren Limeng still spoke sincerely. Chen Xi could insist, but she had to express her willingness to be on stage at any time. A sense of propriety in front of the camera was very important. In addition to a sense of propriety, the cohesion of the team was also an important point that the audience of "Shan Hai" cared about.
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