Chapter 367

Subsequently,

Subsequently, she quietly knelt before Qin Feng, looked up to gaze at him, and whispered, "Qin Feng, please, help me..."

At this moment, Tian Ai,

her face pale,

her eyes timid,

her lips trembling slightly,

looked at Qin Feng with eyes filled with seven parts longing yet hiding three parts fear.

It was Reba who had suggested that Tian Ai beg Qin Feng.

As fellow actresses, Reba knew she was powerless to help, yet she could not bear to see Tian Ai continue to be bullied and oppressed, so she had talked to Tian Ai about Qin Feng.

Of course,

Reba did not explain everything,

but Tian Ai already understood what Reba meant.

That is,

as long as you, Tian Ai, can gain Qin Feng’s appreciation and recognition, then he can easily rescue you.

Most importantly, once Qin Feng rescues you, he will treat you like a human being.

The phrase "treat you like a human being,"

caused Tian Ai to break down in tears on the spot.

She understood Reba’s meaning, and she also knew the hardships and suffering that Da Mimi and Reba had endured in the past.

However,

when Tian Ai first stepped into the entertainment industry and questioned the oppression and humiliation she was enduring,

everyone around her told her: "Tian Ai, if you want to become a star, if you want to become someone superior, first you must stop treating yourself like a human!"

"You must rot in the mud before you can eventually emerge unstained."

Her manager said this, and Tian Ai was half-convinced.

Her boss said this, and Tian Ai found it hard to accept.

Yet,

as she walked this path, when all the actors, screenwriters, and directors she encountered said the same thing,

Tian Ai became completely lost.

She didn't know why becoming a star required one to stop being a human first,

but it seemed all stars had walked this path, so she could only follow this trajectory.

Thus,

Tian Ai repeatedly buried herself in the mud,

repeatedly whipping and urging herself to learn more and to please others better.

Fortunately,

even so, Tian Ai retained self-respect; she would rather stop being a human than cross her bottom line to become someone else's tool for venting.

Consequently,

Tian Ai fluctuated between being famous and obscure,

and due to various reasons, she gradually broke ties with her company and manager.

Only when Tian Ai finally matured and tore through the facade of the entertainment industry,

did she realize she had been played.

It was like a newborn baby being taken away by human traffickers; she had been completely manipulated, lacking any ability to discern the truth.

Her original company and manager not only exploited her heavily regarding her pay,

but also forced her to participate in and appear in various variety shows or scripts she had never even heard of.

When the internet began criticizing Tian Ai for "double-booking" roles just to grab money, and her reputation plummeted,

the company pushed Tian Ai out to apologize, letting her bear the consequences alone,

while the company and manager counted their money behind her back until their hands cramped.

Therefore,

Tian Ai was determined to escape that company, preferring a mutual destruction over renewing her contract.

That was how the subsequent events unfolded, leaving Tian Ai feeling completely desperate and helpless.

During the time she was locked in the training room,

her manager had come in a few times, feigning sympathy to persuade her.

She told Tian Ai that,

even if the company committed illegal detention or even used corporal punishment,

even if Tian Ai could find connections to report it directly to the Ministry of Public Security,

the company and she would remain unscathed, easily dismissing everything with a single contract.

Because in the contract Tian Ai signed with the company,

there was a clause:

"When the plot or character requires it, the company will assist the artist, Tian Ai, in multi-directional acting training,

including but not limited to simulated training for illegal detention, illegal injury, and illegal infringement; this is intended to help the artist deeply and comprehensively understand the character's predicament, thereby improving acting skills..."

Honestly, this clause was pure nonsense,

but,

even though Tian Ai and the police knew it was nonsense, there was no way to hold the company and the perpetrators accountable.

So Tian Ai knew very clearly that,

even if she made a massive scene, the final result would just be nothing.

She might even become a sacrificial lamb in this affair, discarded by the company,

while the company could take advantage of the "black-red" publicity to launch new works and new artists...

Tian Ai was not stupid; she had thought countless times about destroying the company, but never in this form or method.

She wanted to live, and she wanted to live like a human being,

because only by living well could she find the opportunity to take revenge.

Originally,

Tian Ai came to find Da Mimi hoping that, for the sake of their acquaintance, Da Mimi would assign her a role so she could get some money to appease the company and her manager.

Then, upon seeing Da Mimi, Tian Ai really couldn't hold it together anymore.

Although she and Da Mimi hadn't been that close in the past,

it was precisely because they weren't that close that Tian Ai felt much more relaxed.

After thinking for a while,

Tian Ai finally chose to tell Da Mimi her true situation—partly to ensure Da Mimi would give her a role, and partly hoping Da Mimi could help her think of a way out. That was how Da Mimi learned of Tian Ai's plight.

Then,

Da Mimi left on business, and Reba arrived.

Tian Ai slept for a while and changed into the clothes Reba bought her—they were indeed a bit small.

Tian Ai hoped Reba could help her exchange them.

Reba knew Tian Ai’s situation wasn't great, so she earnestly brought up Qin Feng.

Tian Ai understood Reba’s implication,

and after carefully asking about some details regarding Qin Feng, she made up her mind.

Tian Ai knew,

that this kneel of hers was equivalent to selling herself to Qin Feng.

Therefore, she had to be cautious; she didn't want to escape the wolf's den only to encounter a fierce tiger.

So she must be cautious; she didn't want to escape the wolf's den only to encounter a fierce tiger.