Sitting between representatives from Xi Corporation's PR department and Quan Fumin's management team, Yang Zhilan watched lawyers parse through contract amendments with the enthusiasm of surgeons performing delicate operations.
"A written letter would suffice," Quan Fumin's manager said with a tired sigh, tapping his pen against the mahogany table.
"Absolutely," confirmed Director Liu from PR, a sharp-faced woman who'd spent the last hour negotiating like each word cost her personally. "After all Miss Yang's identity needs protection. A letter allows us to control the narrative without putting her face front and center again."
Yang Zhilan shifted in her seat, still unused to being discussed like a chess piece that needed careful positioning. Quan Fumin sat across from her with his usual cold demeanor.
"The movie's numbers are holding," his manager continued, pulling up charts on his tablet. "Not spectacular, but stable. The scandal didn't tank us completely—your defense video helped with that, Fumin. But we need Miss Yang completely removed from anything related to this release cycle. No premieres, no behind-the-scenes content, nothing."
"How long?" Yang Zhilan asked quietly.
Director Liu gave her an assessing look. "At least until the controversy dies down. A month, maybe two. By then, the public will have moved on to the next scandal."
"Which means," Quan Fumin interjected, his voice carrying that particular tone he used when making demands, " No more hovering PR teams, no more manufactured appearances. Everything goes back to being a normal."
The meeting dragged on for another forty minutes—contract clauses, release schedules, approved talking points for the letter. By the time Yang Zhilan signed the final documents, her hand ached and her head throbbed with the beginning of a tension headache.
As they walked out of the office, Quan Fumin's manager trailed behind at a respectful distance looking at her with disdain.
She remembered him from a few years ago as well after gaining her memories. He used be so sassy and unfriendly with her.
It has toned down a bit but it seems he still didn't like her and somehow, it was refreshing to see. At least he never changed.
"Thank you," Yang Zhilan said as they walked to the elevator together, "For not throwing me under the bus when you could have."
"We're friends," Quan Fumin said simply. "Friends protect each other."
" Fumin, I'm sorry—"
"He's a lucky man, Xi Jinwei." He interrupted looking away from her.
"I-I'm the lucky one," she said back embarrassed. She would not push the matter anymore if he didn't.
Quan Fumin smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Take care of yourself, Yang Zhilan. And if he ever doesn't treat you right—"
"He will," she interrupted, more certain than she'd been of anything in a long time.
After he left, Yang Zhilan stood in the lobby for a moment, breathing in the freedom of suddenly having nowhere to be, nothing scheduled, no stares to avoid. For the first time in weeks, her days belonged to her again.
She pulled out her phone and texted her brother: *Still available to help me move?*
His response came immediately: *You're really doing this?*
*Yes.*
*Fine. But I'm judging every life choice you're making.*
She laughed softly, already heading to the bus stop.
YOU ARE READING
Batter My Heart,Mr Xi (Book 2)
Romance(Sequel to Ties and Fate.) Yang Zhilan's idyllic village life is shattered when her late adoptive father's past comes back to haunt her family as he had double-crossed a very powerful mercenary group. Adding to the turmoil, she doesn't remember t...
