When Ning Hui, meticulously dressed, entered the office once again, she was unexpectedly greeted by the presence of another woman.
A woman who bore some resemblance to her but whose fame and fortune far surpassed her own.
"Miss Ning, please take a seat."
Although a simple phone call could have sufficed to resolve the matter, Jiang Chen felt that some things were better explained in front of Pei Yun Xi.
After all, his previous statements were merely one-sided and lacked persuasive power.
By suggesting Jiang Chen could learn some acting skills from Ning Hui, Pei Yun Xi was to a certain extent acknowledging Ning Hui’s professional caliber. Regardless of her internal thoughts, Ning Hui managed to display a friendly and elegant smile upon entering the office, greeting Pei Yun Xi.
In terms of their relationship, the two women weren’t close, but they were colleagues in the same circle and had inevitably crossed paths at various events and public gatherings.
Pei Yun Xi also smiled and nodded in return, without putting on airs that she was A-list and Ning Hui was not, approachable and contributing to the harmonious atmosphere.
Ning Hui took a seat on the sofa, smoothing out her permed long curls. She looked significantly better compared to two days ago.
The past couple of days had been calm, without incident, allowing the actress to shed some of her anxiety. However, the tinge of unease in the depths of her heart couldn’t be entirely dispelled.
"Miss Ning, I asked you to come today to inform you about something. Regarding Xiong Ding Yuan’s situation, the Xiong Family has made it clear they will not pursue it further."
Jiang Chen was exceedingly polite, showing Ning Hui ample respect.
Firstly, out of personal integrity.
Secondly, because Pei Yun Xi was watching, he deliberately acted this way.
If previously one could dismiss it as subjective conjecture, now Liao Xiangdong had explicitly informed him that regarding the Phoenix Court affair, the "Blood Guanyin" had intervened and mediated the issue, ensuring it would be put to rest without repercussions.
"So Miss Ning, you can rest easy now."
As he spoke, Jiang Chen, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, glanced at Pei Yun Xi, signaling that his previous words had been honest, and his conscience was clear.
Pei Yun Xi appeared calm and composed, with an unperturbed expression, but she must have understood his genuine intentions.
For a woman like Pei Yun Xi, sweet words would be of no use; tangible actions were required.
By now, she should have felt the significance she held in his heart.
Upon hearing Jiang Chen’s definitive words, Ning Hui could hardly contain her joy. There was no reason for the man to go out of his way to deceive her, meaning the colossal lie had indeed dissipated like smoke.
"Mr. Jiang, thank you!"
Had Pei Yun Xi not been there, the actress might well have knelt down in her agitation.
"Miss Ning, there’s no need to thank me. I did nothing."
Jiang Chen shook his head with a smile, not taking credit.
Truth be told, he wasn’t certain why Lan Peizhi would go out of her way to interfere; perhaps it had to do with that particular individual who had apologized to him.
"Miss Ning, you no longer need to worry. You can continue with your work and life."
Having said this, conventionally Ning Hui should express her gratitude profusely and then take her leave promptly, but that wasn’t what she did.
"Mr. Jiang, about my joining your company..."
She was fraught with uncertainty, her demeanor poignant and charming.
Throughout, Pei Yun Xi was like a pristine statue, silent, uttering not a word.
You wanted to join CX Entertainment seeking shelter, to escape potential retaliation from the Xiong Family.
But now, with the Xiong Family having explicitly opted for peace, is there still a need to switch allegiances?
That’s what he thought, but such thoughts were not appropriate for outspoken words.
"Miss Ning, our company is just starting out; everything is still in the process of being figured out. There’s no need for you to..."
Jiang Chen wanted to tactfully decline. Even if signing Ning Hui, who didn’t demand any specific terms, would be beneficial and harmless to the development of CX Entertainment, he had to consider Pei Yun Xi’s feelings.
Although she had said she didn’t mind, even supported his offering help, sometimes a woman’s words aren’t to be taken at face value.
Although Pei Yun Xi might not be the type to be petty or say one thing and mean another, proper decorum was still necessary.
"Mr. Jiang, but I have already proposed the termination of my contract to my boss, and he has agreed."
Ning Hui interrupted Jiang Chen’s words, adopting a helpless look as if she had no place to go, easily triggering a man’s protective instincts.
Jiang Chen was at a loss for words.
He couldn’t help but steal a glance at Pei Yunxi.
Ning Hui saw through all these little movements without missing a beat.
After the incident at Fenglai Fang, besides feeling panic, she had also tried her best to investigate the information about this company.
Fei Yi had also introduced some to her.
She was almost certain that this young man who could dine at the same table as Ye Xiao and was called ’Brother Jiang’ by Fei Yi, must have taken a liking to Pei Yunxi.
Even though he was also ambiguously involved with the princess of Jin Hai.
No man is free from flirtation.
Especially those with money and power.
Such incidents were commonplace for Ning Hui, who lived in the giant dye vat of the entertainment industry.
She knew that to enter CX Entertainment, she would need Pei Yunxi’s approval.
"Yun Xi, I know you have some reservations about acting in certain scenes; no worries, in the future, I can be your body double," said Ning Hui, without hesitation lowering her stance and showing undisguised compliance.
An actress of secondary status really didn’t have to stoop to being someone else’s body double.
Typical play for sympathy.
In the eyes of those who are mature, it’s frankly worthless.
But the key is, this act is quite effective.
"President Jiang, since Ning Hui is so sincere, I think the company might reconsider," said Pei Yunxi.
Jiang Chen was slightly distracted.
Not by Pei Yunxi’s "charitable heart."
It was not strange for her to speak for Ning Hui, also a female artist; it was the deliberately distanced "President Jiang" that felt odd to Jiang Chen.
Before, she seemed to have never addressed him like that; when they first met, she called him Jiang Chen, but since returning from Yunfu, it seemed...
Jiang Chen thought for a moment and realized there seemed to be no address at all.
"Once we were betrothed, and now my husband lays dangerously ill. Moreover, today I spared your life, and others will surely say that I still hold old affections for you. If I asked you for help, all the world’s heroes would curse me for having no shame and being promiscuous."
"All we need to do is have a clear conscience. Why bother with what others say?"
"What if I don’t have a clear conscience?"
Jiang Chen couldn’t help but recall a classic line from ’The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber.’"
Trying to fool oneself is like plugging one’s ears while stealing a bell.
No silver here—three hundred taels.
If Pei Yunxi had a clear and open heart, she certainly wouldn’t beat about the bush, yet she was deliberately distancing herself, could that mean...
Ning Hui looked at him with a strange expression, inexplicable.
Pei Yunxi furrowed her eyebrows slightly,
"President Jiang, what are you laughing at?"