Yu Yang had the PR department issue an apology and tell everyone that Bai Zhiyi was not seriously hurt.
They also explained the livestream schedule going forward: one stream every three days, lasting three hours each.
The streams would run from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., with the next one scheduled for 7:30 p.m. three days later.
Those three free days gave the trainees plenty of opportunity to prepare again. Xu Jiaqiao had already advanced and would not need to perform again, so it was fairly fair.
After he left the studio, his manager, Brother Wu, swayed his hips as he walked over to him.
Xu Jiaqiao suddenly remembered what Shang Shujue had said in his thoughts: his manager would make him add someone's contact information, and if he refused, he would be taken to a banquet...
Xu Jiaqiao was extremely wary. Not far from him, Shang Shujue was secretly watching, and around a corner not far behind Shang Shujue, several heads were secretly watching too.
They had all come to verify whether Shang Shujue's thoughts were true. If they were, then things were serious...
[Here we go, here we go. Xu Jiaqiao's manager is about to make him add that contact. I have to dash out smoothly in a minute and drag Xu Jiaqiao away.]
Xu Jiaqiao: Who said everyone hated him? ૮₍ꐦ -᷅ ⤙ -᷄ ₎ა He's clearly so gentle! Who spread that rumor? Come out and take a beating!
Everyone: President Shang, you're hilarious! I like you!
Hearing Shang Shujue's thoughts, Xu Jiaqiao knew he was hiding somewhere nearby, but he did not know exactly where, and he could not very well look around.
"Xu Jiaqiao, I have an investor's WeChat here. Add him."
"I've looked into him. He's excellent in every respect. If you get with him, you'll only get more resources directed your way. You'd better appreciate what's good for you and not make things difficult for me."
Brother Wu did not even bother pretending. He walked over and looked around, and when he saw no one, he simply revealed his ugly side, shoving Xu Jiaqiao and telling him to add the WeChat contact.
"I don't want to. When I signed the contract, I explicitly wrote into it that I wouldn't participate in any private contact or investment involving casting-couch arrangements."
"You've breached the contract. I have the right to demand compensation for the breach and terminate it."
Xu Jiaqiao had not expected Brother Wu really to have come over to make him add someone's contact information. He happened to catch a glimpse of that supposed investor's name. Who else could it be but Li Yun'ao, the man Shang Shujue's thoughts said would ruin his whole life?
The fact that Shang Shujue's thoughts were true shocked Xu Jiaqiao considerably. It made him think of his sister's tragic fate, and he unconsciously gritted his teeth.
This rotten company was absolute trash. He wasn't staying! He wanted out of his contract! Right this second! Staying alive came first-
"Hah! Xu Jiaqiao, do you think that clause you added is actually valid?"
Brother Wu was not at all afraid of Xu Jiaqiao's threat. He examined his fresh manicure, smiling with sinister arrogance like a villain. Oh, no-he was a villain.
"You must have missed the part of the contract that says, 'Any privately added clauses are invalid for artists signed to this company,' right?"
"You're hilarious. You joined our company and still want to get out unscathed? Who do you think you are, Shang Shujue?"
[GG... When it comes to reputation, I'm truly unbeatable! In that case, I won't hold back!]
"Who called me?"
Shang Shujue stopped hiding and strode openly out of his hiding place, rolling up his sleeves as he approached to reveal the firm, powerful muscles of his arms, his knuckles cracking.
"I think I heard someone here bad-mouthing me?"
Shang Shujue walked brazenly up to the two and stopped, clenching his fists tight. He looked at Brother Wu, then at Xu Jiaqiao, and smiled beautifully.
"Who was it? Step up and take a beating."
Everyone: Bro... are you always this wildly arrogant, cool, and cocky? No wonder they all say you're overbearing and unreasonable! This is way too domineering (￣口￣)!!
"Ah, well... Young Master Shang, you misheard. No one was..."
"Cut the crap. You little punk, prancing around like a ladyboy every day-don't you know what you're worth?"
Without waiting for Brother Wu to finish, Shang Shujue pulled Xu Jiaqiao aside and spoke to Brother Wu with his handsome brows furrowed.
"You've got the nerve to threaten someone right in front of me? Get lost and tell your boss that Jinyuan Media is taking this trainee!"
Brother Wu stood stunned for quite a while before reacting. He hurriedly held his phone screen out in front of Shang Shujue, seemingly making ingratiating faces at him, while inwardly he was utterly disdainful.
So what if I'm a ladyboy? At least I climbed my way up through my own abilities. Unlike you, Shang Shujue-nobody wants you even when you throw yourself at them, yet you have the fucking nerve to act all high and mighty in front of me. What a joke.
"Young Master Shang, it's not that I don't want to get lost. Young Master Su's friend, Young Master Li, has taken a fancy to him. For Young Master Su's sake..."
Everyone knew Shang Shujue liked Su Youchuan, almost to the point of groveling at his feet.
Whatever Su Youchuan liked, he would brave mountains of blades and seas of fire to obtain it and present it with both hands.
Everyone in their circle knew that if something could not be done, they only had to mention a connection to Su Youchuan, and Shang Shujue would most likely give it the green light. It would even go a hundred times more smoothly than handling it themselves.
Brother Wu could not hear Shang Shujue's thoughts and still thought he was the man who obeyed Su Youchuan's every wish. Now he actually dared to bring up that scumbag right in front of him.
"Young Master Shang, you..."
Xu Jiaqiao also remembered the earlier rumors. Even though he knew the Shang Shujue before him might already be a different person, that did not rule out the possibility that he had feelings for Su Youchuan...
"Li Yun'ao? That disreputable friend of Su Youchuan's?" Shang Shujue folded his arms and looked at Brother Wu with a sunny smile, but the words that came out of his mouth were poisonous enough to kill.
"Did a donkey spend all day doing nothing but kicking you in the head? Don't think having something wrong with your brain means you can do whatever you want. Look how stupid you are. Go get checked at a hospital. Spare his dignity? I'll strip him of every last shred."
"You, you..." Brother Wu's face turned green. For a moment, he could not get a word out, stammering "you" over and over without getting any further. He worked himself into such a rage that his face turned red.
"Pfft..." Xu Jiaqiao hastily covered his mouth and turned his head, his shoulders shaking as he held back his laughter. Pff, hahaha... Shang Shujue...
Shang Shujue glanced at Xu Jiaqiao, then looked back at Brother Wu and continued laying into him. "You, you, you-what about me? Have you got nothing better to do than stick your nose into things? If you really can't find anything to do, go collect garbage. It might even nurture what little conscience you have."
Brother Wu: Boohoo X﹏X...
"Boohoo, you've gone too far..."
Brother Wu was beside himself with rage and ran away crying. The way he ran was so painfully hideous that it was impossible to look directly at him.
Everyone: Brother Jue's combat power is off the charts! My god!
Everyone had enjoyed a free show of Shang Shujue verbally battling Xu Jiaqiao's manager. With the performance brought to a perfect close, they quietly slipped away.
Xu Jiaqiao seemed safe for the moment. The one in greater danger now was still Yu Zeqi... They had to go find an excuse to keep Yu Zeqi there so Brother Jue could come pull his hair.
Yu Zeqi: ...Thanks so much, everyone!
"Ahem..." Only after his manager ran off did Xu Jiaqiao clear his throat twice and look at Shang Shujue. "Bro, thanks for that. Let me treat you to a meal. What would you like to eat?"
"Oh, it was nothing. Don't go to the trouble. You'll be a Jinyuan Media artist from now on. I'll have my manager go to your current company to discuss terminating your contract."
Shang Shujue shook his head, declining Xu Jiaqiao's offer of thanks. He still had to go find Yu Zeqi.
He had called his manager earlier, but the man was swamped and could not help him, so he had to go himself.
"You'll get every cent they owe you. The entertainment industry isn't that easy to get into. As someone who's been through it, here's a reminder: don't trust just anyone."
"Okay, I understand. Then let's exchange contact information. Tell me whenever you need anything. If I don't repay your kindness, I'll never feel right about it."
Xu Jiaqiao was very persistent about exchanging contact information. Shang Shujue paused, then finally agreed. Once they had added each other, he parted ways with Xu Jiaqiao and went to find Yu Zeqi.