Chapter 44: Good at Nothing, Number One at Shifting the Blame

Isn't that exactly how it is!

Sui Lingfang said, "If even my artist could think of this problem, surely you haven't failed to realize it?"

Zou Da let out a bitter laugh over the phone. "I realized it, of course I did. But aren't there others in the company who still think LP is a hot commodity, eager to curry favor with them?"

"Having said that," he changed tack, "we can't directly reject LP. We need to find a way to refuse them without making things too awkward."

At this, Sui Lingfang glanced at Jin Li, thought for a moment, and said, "Here's the plan: pin it all on me. Just say you contacted Jin Li but couldn't reach me, and that Jin Li couldn't reach me either. Make it clear that I acted alone out of stubbornness, and that this has nothing to do with the company."

Zou Da considered this briefly. "Alright."

After he hung up, Jin Li said, "Sister Fang, won't this be too much for you—"

Sui Lingfang shook her head to interrupt. "No, don't overthink it. This is an agent's duty; in critical moments, we must step forward to take the fall for our stars."

"Moreover, even if I take the blame, LP might still find fault with you. In a way, I've dragged you into this. I recall you originally wanted to settle the matter quietly."

Jin Li smiled. Since Sui Lingfang was being sincere, she might as well lay her cards on the table.

"At this point, let's stop blaming each other. Yes, I wanted to settle things quietly, but I also saw you confront her with my own eyes, and I tacitly approved of your actions."

"If I truly didn't want you to offend LP, I would have told you to retract those words the moment you posted them, instead of letting you upload the recording as well."

"Sister Fang, whether I play the good guy or the bad guy is my decision. Don't keep shouldering all the responsibility. Besides, you confronted them well today; I found it quite satisfying. If we dare to stand up to LP, let's see which star dares to give me attitude at future events."

As Jin Li spoke, she lifted her small face slightly, brimming with pride.

But because she looked so sweet, it lacked any real menace, resembling more a display of tsundere charm.

Sui Lingfang was amused by her expression.

"Alright, alright, let's both compromise. Let's hurry and get ready; we're heading to the Daoist temple."

Meanwhile, at LP Company.

After attending the ribbon-cutting event, Lian Baozhi and Lu Shanjie rushed back to the company without stopping. Although there was a brand activity scheduled for the afternoon, Lian Baozhi canceled it outright.

Her team gathered for a meeting to discuss how to mitigate the impact of the incident.

Someone suggested, "The problem could be big or small, but we must let Sister Shan suffer a bit. If she takes all the blame, it won't affect Sister Baozhi."

Another person added, "I also lean toward this method."

Lu Shanjie's heart sank slightly, though she remained outwardly calm.

She said, "Let's first see how the company executives negotiate with Chenxi Entertainment. If they can get Chenxi to issue a statement calling this a misunderstanding, then everything will be fine."

After the rest of the team left the conference room, only Lian Baozhi and Lu Shanjie remained. Lian Baozhi could no longer restrain her temper and erupted in anger:

"How could you be so careless? Didn't I tell you to be extremely cautious with such matters in the future?"

Lu Shanjie thought to herself that delaying someone's schedule would inevitably leave traces, no matter how cautious one was; either the call would be recorded, or the WeChat messages would be exposed.

A year ago, she had already advised Lian Baozhi to stop using such tactics.

But she simply wouldn't listen.

Now that things had finally gone wrong, Lu Shanjie felt uneasy yet also somewhat relieved.

It was better this way. Some tricks could only be used once, not repeatedly. The top-tier stars in the industry compete openly; even when slinging mud, they do so through online flame wars.

Openly delaying someone's schedule like this was actually quite rare.

Lu Shanjie said, "Baozhi, let's not use such methods anymore. Even if it wasn't Jin Li this time, it would have been Zhang Li, Luo Li, or Xu Li. We cannot build our career on these tactics."

Lian Baozhi's face darkened. "Are you blaming me for only knowing petty tricks?"

Lu Shanjie replied, "I didn't say that; I'm just stating the facts."

Lian Baozhi took a deep breath, and after a long pause, said, "Since this method doesn't work, you should come up with another one. After all, you were the one who taught me this trick initially. Shanjie, if Chenxi Entertainment refuses to clarify, you will have to—"

She feigned a worried glance at her.

Lu Shanjie looked her straight in the eye and said calmly, "I will take the fall for you; it won't affect you."

Lian Baozhi felt a slight relief in her heart but expressed regret on her face. "Shanjie, I don't want to do this either, but even if the company handles it, the outcome will be the same. After you serve a suspension of a few months, you can return as my agent."

"Suspension?" Lu Shanjie asked, somewhat startled.

Lian Baozhi said matter-of-factly, "Yes. I am a top-tier star; my reputation is crucial. I cannot collaborate with an agent who has a tarnished record."

She paused briefly. "Once things have cooled down for a while, you can come back."

Lu Shanjie fell silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

However, she knew she probably wouldn't be returning to LP.

At the same time, Jin Li and Sui Lingfang got into the car and set off for the Daoist temple. Sui Lingfang's phone received the latest news.

She opened it and said, "Lu Shanjie has posted an apology letter on her blog."

Jin Li took out her phone. Gu Cheng happened to ask in the group chat if she wanted to study. She replied, "Going to the Daoist temple," then went to the blog to check out Lu Shanjie's apology letter.

The car belonged to their own company, driven by Sui Lingfang's assistant; they were all insiders.

After reading it, Sui Lingfang no longer felt angry at Lu Shanjie, but instead remarked with a sigh, "The efficiency of big companies is truly fast. This apology letter was probably prepared long ago."

The letter stated that Lian Baozhi was unaware of everything Lu Shanjie had done; abusing power privately to suppress other stars was entirely Lu Shanjie's personal act. LP Company would impose a three-month suspension on her.

Jin Li asked curiously, "A three-month suspension; is that very serious?"

Sui Lingfang replied, "Not particularly. Suspension isn't the same as being fired, but for her, it's likely quite severe. In this industry, reputation matters greatly for artists, and it matters just as much for agents."

"After making such a huge mistake, even if she returns to work at LP in three months, I fear no star will be willing to let her be their agent."

Jin Li asked, "What about Lian Baozhi?"

Sui Lingfang's expression remained indifferent. "Even couples fly apart when disaster strikes, let alone an agent and an artist. I've heard people say that Lian Baozhi has privately complained to other stars, feeling that the resources Lu Shanjie found for her were inadequate."

"Taking advantage of this opportunity, Lian Baozhi will definitely replace her to secure an agent with an outstanding track record."

Jin Li thought to herself that the cutthroat battles in the entertainment industry rivaled the random storybooks she used to read blindly in the Heavenly Realm.

One general's success is built upon the withering of ten thousand bones; one misstep, and it is difficult to ever rise again.

Meanwhile, in the WeChat group.

Seeing that Jin Li was going to the Daoist temple, Gu Cheng recalled the matter of her winning the lottery and privately messaged her to ask if she was heading to the temple of the God of Wealth.

Jin Li: [Sure.]

Gu Cheng: [Would it be convenient to add one more person? I'd also like to pay respects to the God of Wealth.]

Jin Li: [???]

Jin Li replied with earnest sincerity: [Then you might as well worship yourself more often.]

[With March Sky's current money-making prowess, aren't you already comparable to the God of Wealth himself?]

Gu Cheng was left speechless.

Her words made such perfect sense that he found no way to refute them.