Of course, she knew Ye Jin's temper and couldn't launch straight into a long lecture. So she first sent Ye Jin off to wash up and change, while she sat on the sofa, scrolling through the latest news on her phone and thinking about what to say to Ye Jin.
But as she scrolled, she came across a piece of news that left her utterly astonished.
The story wasn't getting much attention. It hadn't made any trending lists and had even been deliberately tucked into a long string of business news, but Huo Yun spotted the name "Su Chengjing" in it.
What? Su Chengjing had been kidnapped abroad? Mrs. Su was serving as acting chairwoman and CEO of the Su Group?
So something serious really had happened to the Su Family! That was why Ye Jin had taken so many days off!
She knew she ought to express concern for Ye Jin right now, but she couldn't stop a sliver of delight from rising inside her.
Was this love-brained Ye Jin finally going to come to her senses?!
Chapter 11
Huo Yun quickly calmed down. Since the Su Group had made this news public, they clearly had the situation under control. Ye Jin's mood today was also quite steady, so presumably nothing too serious had happened to Su Chengjing.
She couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. Sigh, it looked like Ye Jin could still go on being a wealthy society wife for the foreseeable future.
But she wasn't someone who gave up easily. She firmly believed that this upheaval must have frightened Ye Jin; otherwise, why would she have changed today? She had to seize this chance to tell Ye Jin that relying on others could never compare to relying on herself!
Huo Yun put on a worried expression. "I never imagined the Su Family had suffered such a major upheaval. I spoke without thinking earlier and misunderstood you. I'm sorry. I also hope Mr. Su returns safe and sound soon."
After a moment of surprise, Ye Jin quickly caught on. Her mother-in-law must have released the news. So soon, too-she really was astonishingly efficient!
But why did Huo Yun's words of concern sound a little gleeful and a little regretful?
Thinking back on how Huo Yun had behaved before, Ye Jin knew she wasn't imagining it.
The corner of her mouth twitched. "Thank you, though I don't get the feeling you're all that worried."
Despite being found out, Huo Yun didn't look the slightest bit embarrassed. Instead, she said outright, "Oh, that's because I know nothing too serious has happened to the Su Family. Your position as the young madam of a wealthy family is as solid as Mount Tai."
Then she sighed. "Xiao Jin, don't resent me for saying things that aren't pleasant to hear. Life is always full of surprises, and you won't be lucky enough to come through unscathed every time. And men are always of two minds. Even if your love is stronger than gold now, who can say what it'll be like decades down the road? We still have to hold our fate in our own hands."
Ye Jin felt a little admiration. Even at a time like this, Huo Yun was seizing the opportunity to persuade her!
She put on a receptive expression. "You're right, Huo-jie. In this world, the only person you can rely on is yourself."
Huo Yun immediately grew even more enthusiastic.
"That's why we still need to build our own careers! Is there any business these days that makes more money with no upfront investment than being a celebrity? Look at those top-tier traffic starlets and film queens. They earn hundreds of millions a year. How many daughters-in-law of wealthy families get that much money every year?"
Thinking of her monthly living allowance, Ye Jin nodded in agreement.
"True. Most wealthy families give their members an annual living allowance of around ten million."
Huo Yun's heart instantly burst into bloom.
"Your potential is one in ten thousand even in this industry. Look at you today-you put in just a tiny bit of effort and completely crushed He Cheng!"
The corner of Ye Jin's mouth twitched. With acting skills like He Cheng's, wasn't it perfectly normal for an average actor to crush him as long as they took it a little seriously?
But she didn't argue with Huo Yun's flattery. Who didn't like hearing nice things?
Seeing this, Huo Yun became even more certain that she had persuaded Ye Jin. Pumped full of enthusiasm, she said, "Xiao Jin, with your potential, as long as you work hard, and with my resources, I can definitely make you a top-tier leading actress. Work a little harder, and even a best actress award will be in the palm of our hands!"
After saying that, she gazed at Ye Jin with shining eyes. She believed this was her best chance to persuade Ye Jin.
Yet under her expectant gaze, Ye Jin firmly shook her head, her tone resolute. "Yun-jie, you can fool other people, but don't fool yourself too. I can't become a best actress."
Huo Yun had always been perceptive, so she naturally heard Ye Jin's intention to back away in those words. Of course she wasn't willing to accept that and intended to try persuading her some more, but before she could speak, Ye Jin beat her to it.
"Yun-jie, I know very well that I don't have much talent for acting. More importantly, I'm not particularly interested in it either. In fact, once I finish this production, I don't plan to keep acting."
Huo Yun froze on the spot.
What?! She actually planned to stop acting altogether? Was she going to leave the industry completely and become a wealthy wife? So Ye Jin had performed so well today because she felt guilty?! Everything she'd just done had been nothing but wishful thinking!
Ye Jin could also guess what Huo Yun was thinking from her expression. To keep Huo Yun from continuing to imagine things until she angered herself to death, she hurriedly added an explanation.
"It's not that I'm leaving the entertainment industry completely. I just want to move behind the scenes and invest in and develop projects. Besides, how can being a celebrity compare to being capital when it comes to money and status?"
As she spoke, she looked at Huo Yun with as much sincerity as she could muster. "Yun-jie, if you're willing to trust me, we can keep working together and set up a film and television investment company. I have some confidence in my judgment. In the future, we'll be the industry's capital sharks, and we won't have to work for anyone else."
"Yun-jie, you've reached the peak as a manager. Are you really content to spend your whole life working for someone else? We can start a company and handle everything from investing to promoting talent. You'll never again have to drink yourself into a stupor with those big bosses to secure resources for your artists, or even end up in the hospital getting your stomach pumped."
For a moment, Huo Yun was dazed. She felt as though her brain was about to stop working.
Ye Jin had indeed touched on the sore point in her current career. And there was more to it than that: she and the head of her management company also had conflicting ideas and many disagreements. Several times, they had even argued outright during meetings.
Her boss favored signing more traffic stars and making as much money as possible while they were still popular, whereas she believed they should make thorough long-term plans for their artists rather than chase quick money.