After the script for "Ambitions of the Azure Clouds" was submitted to the National Radio and Television Administration and successfully approved a week later, the project immediately moved into a fast-paced casting phase.
As for the casting, Jiang Youli had already fully delegated it to Director Liang Shenggui, so she didn't pay much attention to it. Instead, she began preparing her debut original album.
For her first album, Jiang Youli planned to release only three singles.
Meanwhile, online rumors began circulating that Jiang Youli was deliberately shelving Jiang Zhao, and many netizens started attacking her.
"If you can't forgive Zhaozhao, and you refuse to work with Zhaozhao, then just let Zhaozhao go cleanly! Keeping Zhaozhao locked up and shelved—this behavior of Jiang Youli's is truly disgusting!"
"I'm not even a Jiang Zhao fan, but I can't stand this anymore! I'm just a music lover, and every one of Jiang Zhao's songs moves me deeply. The music scene rarely has such a dedicated, original, high-quality singer anymore. I really don't want to see Jiang Zhao's talent buried and silenced! Otherwise, for music lovers like us, this would be a great pity, and for the entire music industry, a huge loss!"
"Trash Xingguang Entertainment, trash Jiang Youli, let Zhao Zhao go now!"
"That's right, cancel the contract! Let our best Zhaozhao keep shining!"
Jiang Youli didn't need to guess to know that these defamatory comments online were likely the doing of Dafeng Entertainment, which had been pulling strings behind the scenes to push Jiang Zhao into terminating his contract with Xingguang Entertainment.
Last time, Jiang Xing had just betrayed her by testifying on behalf of Qi Feixue to help her with the antidote. This time, she wondered what choice Jiang Zhao would make.
Soon enough, Jiang Youli found it amusing—there was nothing to guess about.
Clearly, Jiang Zhao would choose to betray her as well.
Just as she was thinking about this, a new WeChat message popped up on her phone.
Jiang Youli tapped it open and saw that it was from Jiang Zhao.
[Xiao Li, have you seen the trending searches online?]
[Want to talk?]
Jiang Youli replied.
[What is there to talk about?]
He responded quickly:
"As long as you ask me to stay, I absolutely will not terminate my contract with Xingguang Entertainment, and I'll clarify on Weibo that it's me who doesn't want to leave, and it has nothing to do with you."
Jiang Youli: "Are you threatening me?"
Jiang Zhao: "It's not a threat, Xiao Li. How can you not see this as me begging you?"
Jiang Youli said, "I'm a grown woman. I'm perfectly capable of telling a threat apart from a plea."
...
Over at Dafeng Entertainment.
Jiang Zhao stared at his sister Jiang Youli's brief reply, feeling somewhat sour inside.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions.
Across from him, Zheng Zegang noticed Jiang Zhao's reaction, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. A look of satisfaction gleamed in his eyes, as if everything was going according to his plan.
Zheng Zegang drawled, "So? Did your sister show any signs of wanting to reconcile with you?"
Jiang Zhao remained silent, his emotions a tangled mess.
On one hand, he was disappointed by his sister's attitude. On the other, he began to wonder whether what Zheng Zegang had said held some truth.
Seeing this, Zheng Zegang continued, "I told you long ago that this kind of clinging and begging for her forgiveness is useless. Women, you see, need to be conquered."
He paused, then added, "There's only one way to make your sister accept you again: become stronger than her! Use your strength to conquer her, whether as her man or her brother."
Zheng Zegang's words pierced through Jiang Zhao's heart like a sharp blade.
He couldn't help but think of the past—how his sister Jiang Yonghe had fawned over him and his brother Jiang Xing. Could it really have been because she thought they were stronger than her?
Zheng Zegang seemed to read Jiang Zhao's mind, and he went on to explain, "Think about it, why did Jiang Yonghe go to such lengths to please you and your brother Jiang Xing back then? Isn't it because she felt you two were more capable than her and could be the pillar she could lean on?"
Jiang Zhao began to re-examine his relationship with his sister. Perhaps Zheng Zegang was right—only when he truly became powerful, and could become his sister's pillar of support, would she be willing to reconcile with him.
After a moment of silence, Jiang Zhao finally spoke: "I understand. I'll go to Xingguang Entertainment this afternoon to terminate my contract and then sign with Dafeng Entertainment."
Zheng Zegang nodded with satisfaction, knowing his goal had been achieved. "Very well. I'll have the contract ready this afternoon and look forward to your joining." There was a note of confidence and anticipation in his voice.
...
That afternoon, Jiang Youli had just finished recording the last song in the studio when her secretary, Little Yang, hurried over with a grave expression. "President Jiang, Jiang Zhao is here again. He wanted to wait in your office, but I didn't think that was appropriate, so I had him wait in the waiting room instead."
Jiang Youli nodded. "Got it."
She knew very well what Jiang Zhao wanted to discuss this time.
She took the glass of warm water Little Yang handed her, drank half of it, then left the studio and headed toward the waiting room.
When Jiang Youli entered the waiting room, Jiang Zhao's gaze immediately locked onto her.
His eyes were somewhat anxious, as if he had a lot to say.
Jiang Youli sat down slowly on the sofa across from him, her expression blank as she looked at Jiang Zhao.
"Xiao Li, I felt that things couldn't be properly explained over WeChat, so I decided to come and talk to you in person," Jiang Zhao said, his voice tinged with helplessness.
Jiang Youli said nothing, simply looking at him quietly, waiting for him to continue.
"So you really won't forgive me, and you're determined to shelve me?" Jiang Zhao's brows furrowed tightly, a hint of urgency in his tone.
Jiang Youli didn't answer his question directly. Instead, she pressed him: "So those posts online that heavily defamed me and the company—they were your doing, weren't they? Your purpose was to force me to use the company's resources to promote you?"
Jiang Zhao quickly explained, "It wasn't me!" But as soon as the words left his mouth, even he felt how weak and unconvincing the denial sounded.
After all, given the state of his relationship with his sister Jiang Youli, even if he said it wasn't him, she probably wouldn't believe it easily.
Sure enough, Jiang Youli said, "Whether or not you did it directly, you're definitely involved one way or another."
Jiang Zhao said with a pained look, "Xiao Li, I'm serious. If you're willing to set aside your prejudice and resentment toward me, I'm still willing to stay at Xingguang Entertainment, keep writing songs, and earning money for the company. I still remember everything I said to you before—no matter how much I earn, I'll give it all to you."
But Jiang Youli rejected his offer without a second thought. "I'm serious too. I don't need you to earn money for me."
A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Jiang Zhao's mouth. He knew his sister Jiang Youli's resolve was firm, and no amount of persuasion would change her mind.
After a moment of silence, he raised his head and looked at Jiang Youli, saying, "Since that's the case, what about what you mentioned earlier about terminating the contract with me..."
