After the divorce, I started to transfer

Seeing Wu Mengting's anxious look, Chen Feng mentally ranted.

In his heart, Zhang Yuxi's importance was undoubtedly relatively small compared to his other female confidantes.

Therefore, even if he were to sever ties with Zhang Yuxi, the impact on Chen Feng would be negligible. He could continue his philandering ways, and there seemed to be no substantial change in his personal lifestyle.

This has basically no impact on the current "stalemate" between him and Wu Mengting.

However, Chen Feng could understand Wu Mengting's thoughts, which was that the fewer people there were, the better.

Considering her mindset, Chen Feng didn't actually call Zhang Yuxi right away, but said, "Don't rush, let me finish this meal first, then we can contact her."

Upon hearing this, Wu Mengting's tense expression eased slightly, and she stopped urging him.

Sun Xiaorui, who had been playing a completely invisible role the whole time, finally breathed a sigh of relief. She had been worried that the two of them would suddenly start arguing, which would put her in a difficult position.

After all, she couldn't afford to offend either of them.

Moreover, judging from Chen Feng's statement at this moment, there is no doubt that Wu Mengting still holds a very important place in his heart, even the most important one. At least, that's the case among all the women around him.

This realization deepened her respect for Wu Mengting.

Wu Mengting had finished eating, but instead of getting up and going upstairs to write her new script as usual, she sat quietly in her seat, watching Chen Feng eat.

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable being stared at like that, Chen Feng didn't know what to say, so he just ate his rice faster.

After quickly finishing the remaining food in his bowl, he slammed down his chopsticks and stood up, saying, "I'll go upstairs and call her now."

After saying that, Chen Feng went straight upstairs.

Wu Mengting's gaze followed his retreating figure until he disappeared from sight, then she slowly turned to Sun Xiaorui and asked, "What do you think about this?"

Sun Xiaorui looked up at her blankly, unsure how to answer for a moment: "..."

Wu Mengting urged, "Tell me, do you really think he'll be so ruthless as to completely sever ties with Zhang Yuxi?"

Sun Xiaorui then carefully said, "Since he promised you, I suppose... he'll keep his word, right?"

Wu Mengting's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile of satisfaction as she nodded: "I hope so. At least now that things are out in the open, I won't have to pretend I know nothing about their affair anymore, and I won't have to be hypocritical in front of her anymore."

Sun Xiaorui hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't help but voice her concerns: "Our company has only been promoting her for less than a year. Next, she will be starring in your new drama, at which point her popularity and commercial value will likely reach a new level. Letting her leave at this critical juncture would probably be a significant loss for our company's overall interests."

Upon hearing this, Wu Mengting fell into a brief silence. After a moment, she spoke slowly and deliberately: "The character she plays in this new drama is not very likable. If someone delves into the plot, they will find that this character is a vicious and scheming woman at heart. Not many viewers will truly like such a character."

Sun Xiaorui was stunned for a moment before belatedly realizing Wu Mengting's true intentions. This was clearly a plan to "settle personal scores." She was doing this intentionally, or rather deliberately, to portray Zhang Yuxi's character in the drama as a treacherous and disreputable figure, and this kind of scheming was probably hard for everyone to detect in the early stages of the scriptwriting process.

Only after the entire TV series is completed and finally broadcast will the true nature of the characters gradually be revealed as the plot unfolds.

This tactic... can really be described as rather insidious!
For a fleeting moment, Sun Xiaorui felt a pang of sympathy for Zhang Yuxi.

However, on second thought, she felt that Wu Mengting's scheme might not succeed.

In the entertainment industry, there are indeed many actors who have been disliked by the audience because of their unlikable roles, especially those "villainous" roles that have been portrayed in a very classic way, such as the well-known "Grandma Rong".

In reality, any knowledgeable production company or industry professional would greatly appreciate a talented actress like the one who played "Grandma Rong".

After all, if you were a director, you would definitely prioritize actors who have the ability to create classic characters when casting.

In this way, Wu Mengting's actions may actually increase Zhang Yuxi's future fame rather than decrease it, and naturally, this will lead to higher commercial value.

Furthermore, any rational viewer clearly knows that the characters played in movies and TV dramas are completely different from the actors themselves in real life.

After sorting out her thoughts, Sun Xiaorui asked, "Can't you see the problems with the character just from the script? If you could, Zhang Yuxi, with her shrewdness, probably wouldn't have taken this role."

"As you know, my new drama has a dual female lead setup. They start out as inseparable, like sisters, but eventually turn against each other, their love-hate relationship turning into a bitter feud. At first glance, both characters have their own charm and hardships, both pursuing their true love and happiness. But the further the story progresses, the more you'll discover that the character played by Zhang Yuxi becomes increasingly cunning and scheming. On the surface, this seems like the growth and upgrading of the character's abilities, which will resonate with many viewers and make the viewing experience exhilarating."

"However, once they've watched the entire series and come to a deeper understanding, they'll realize the character's hidden treachery and malice. Without a thorough, meticulous analysis of the script and later plot, it's difficult to see through all of this early on. Even if she did see it, I don't believe she'd be willing to give up such a golden opportunity to propel her career to new heights. So, this series is like a beautifully packaged, seemingly delicious and tempting devil's fruit; it's up to her whether she eats it or not."

After listening to Wu Mengting's analysis, Sun Xiaorui couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration, secretly marveling that the title of "golden screenwriter" was indeed well-deserved.

Moreover, after hearing Wu Mengting's explanation, she felt that the method didn't seem so insidious anymore. Because this wasn't a conspiracy at all, but a perfectly legitimate and open strategy; the final decision was entirely up to Zhang Yuxi herself.

Sun Xiaorui nodded in agreement and said, "That's right. She's always longed to become famous, which is why she initially sought out Brother Feng as her sugar daddy, and later proactively signed with our Fengmang Film and Television. Then, it was thanks to 'Qingyu' that you tailored for her that she truly became an overnight sensation, reaching near-top-tier popularity. However, her popularity has been declining recently, and she's clearly at a disadvantage in the resource competition with Zhang Jingwen, being overtaken by her. She must be unwilling to accept this. Therefore, your new drama is undoubtedly the best choice for her to turn things around."

A faint smile appeared on Wu Mengting's lips, her expression as if she had everything under control. She said slowly, "Now, it's up to her to make her own choice."

……

After returning to his room, Chen Feng did not immediately call Zhang Yuxi. Instead, he went to the bathroom and took a hot shower.

The rising steam seemed to wash away some of the oppressive atmosphere at the dinner table. Afterward, he changed into a comfortable vest and shorts, lazily lay down on the bed with his phone in hand, and then leisurely made a call to Zhang Yuxi.

Zhang Yuxi, on the other end of the phone, was actually quite anxious, waiting for Chen Feng's reply.

She practically never lets go of her phone, so when the screen lit up and she saw it was Chen Feng calling, she answered immediately.

"Boss, have you discussed this with General Manager Wu? What did she say?"

Zhang Yuxi was anxiously waiting, so as soon as the call connected, she skipped all the pleasantries and went straight to the point. Chen Feng paused for a second on his end, then, without any further tact, said directly, "Mengting doesn't agree to deal with Hu Rui..."

"Why?!" Zhang Yuxi interrupted Chen Feng before he could finish speaking, her voice filled with shock and barely suppressed anger. "How could President Wu be so protective of her own? What Hu Rui did was so egregious, directly damaging our company's reputation and interests. Even if she is President Wu, she can't just disregard company rules and regulations like this, can she?"

Chen Feng seemed uninterested in explaining further, simply stating the facts in a calm tone: "A little over a month ago, Hu Rui discovered our affair. A paparazzi took photos of us at the Four Seasons Hotel and contacted her, who then bought all the photos. She then told Mengting everything. So, more than a month ago, Mengting already knew about you and me."

The news struck Zhang Yuxi like a thunderbolt, leaving her completely stunned and feeling utterly disheartened.

She knew better than anyone the power Wu Mengting wielded in the company. More importantly, Wu Mengting was a renowned screenwriter and producer in the industry. Last year, she gained her current popularity and status precisely because of "Qing Yu An," which Wu Mengting personally wrote and produced. It can be said that Zhang Yuxi was entirely made a star by Wu Mengting.

Since learning that Wu Mengting had started writing a new script, she and her agent have been keeping a close eye on it every day, paying close attention to the script's progress.

Just a few days ago, her agent went to great lengths to find out that this new drama was set up with two female leads, and was tailor-made for her and the rising star Zhang Jingwen.

Upon hearing the news, she was overjoyed and eagerly awaited Wu Mengting's completion of the script, filming, and broadcast, so that her career could reach new heights.

As a result, the sudden "bad news" she heard at this moment made all her previous beautiful expectations seem to instantly turn into a mirage.

A long silence fell over both ends of the phone call. After a while, Zhang Yuxi did not speak again.

Chen Feng seemed to have anticipated her reaction, and continued, "So, now you should understand why Hu Rui targeted you like that back then, right? She did it to vent her anger for Meng Ting and to curry favor with her. And Meng Ting now owes her this favor, so she firmly opposes punishing her, and even... wants to promote her."

Zhang Yuxi had calmed down a bit from her initial shock, and her voice sounded somewhat hoarse: "Then... what do you mean? After all... you're the boss of this company, aren't you?"

“Although I am the boss of the company, as you know, I basically never interfere in the company's daily affairs. I always leave them entirely to Mengting, Ren Ziyu, and Sun Xiaorui. I only get involved in major company decisions, like Hu Rui's situation now. But now, Mengting wants to protect Hu Rui. What do you think I should do?”

Zhang Yuxi could easily understand the underlying meaning in Chen Feng's words. It unequivocally indicated that Wu Mengting held a far greater place in Chen Feng's heart than she did. Now, a direct confrontation had formed between her and Wu Mengting. In this standoff, Chen Feng's choice was self-evident: he would undoubtedly side with Wu Mengting, not her.

A surge of resentment welled up in Zhang Yuxi's heart, but she had nowhere to vent it. She could only swallow her resentment and grievances, biting her lower lip. After a long while, she asked with some difficulty, "So, you agree to promote Hu Rui?"

Chen Feng still felt a little uneasy. Although Zhang Yuxi was indeed one of the less important women in his heart, the two had shared some good times. Moreover, Zhang Yuxi had always been very sensible and knew when to advance and retreat, never making any unreasonable demands on him.

When the two of them were together, it was mostly pure and happy time, without so many annoying and troublesome things.

To put it simply, being with him is both convenient and worry-free for Zhang Yuxi.

From this perspective, he was actually quite satisfied with Zhang Yuxi.

Unfortunately, things have come to this point, and Wu Mengting has already laid everything out in the open, just like she did with Yang Wenqi. If Zhang Yuxi continues to stay in the company, it would be tantamount to openly slapping Wu Mengting in the face, and in that case, what authority would Wu Mengting have left in the company?

Not to mention comparing Zhang Yuxi and Wu Mengting side by side.

Zhang Yuxi is ultimately just a contracted artist with the company. Although she made a lot of money for the company after her resurgence in popularity last year, she is likely to make even more money for the company in the future, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

But Wu Mengting is now the core and soul of Fengmang Film & Television. Without her, the company would not have achieved its remarkable rapid progress over the past year.

It is precisely because she single-handedly wrote and produced several phenomenal hit dramas that the company has achieved its current remarkable success, directly boosting the company's market valuation several times over.

This consideration stems from the most realistic and pragmatic perspective of corporate interests.

As for the emotional weight Zhang Yuxi holds in Chen Feng's heart, she is even less comparable to Wu Mengting.

Wu Mengting was the woman who chose to follow him before he had fully made his fortune, and even after learning that he had a terminal illness, she remained by his side and tolerated his philandering ways.

It can be said that Fengmang Film & Television truly flourished and achieved explosive growth in market value under her leadership.

From the very beginning, Zhang Yuxi's relationship with Chen Feng was tinged with a transactional element. Although Chen Feng was indeed very happy when he was with her, as she brought him great satisfaction both physically and emotionally, and provided him with ample emotional value.

But she made almost no substantial contributions to either Chen Feng's career or his love life.

So, faced with such a choice, what else could Chen Feng do?
At least on the surface, when Wu Mengting forced him to choose between Zhang Yuxi and Chen Feng, Chen Feng's answer would inevitably be Wu Mengting.

However, no matter what, not only is Hu Rui, the instigator, not being punished, but she is even being promoted instead. This is something Zhang Yuxi finds hard to swallow.

In fact, even Chen Feng himself felt a little embarrassed.

So Chen Feng sighed softly and said in a tone as gentle as possible, "On the surface, I agree, but in reality, it's a demotion in disguise. I plan to appoint her as the company's publicity director. At first glance, it seems like she's been promoted to the vice president level, but in reality, it's a complete removal of her from the artist department, the powerful department that holds the power of life and death over artists. I will appoint a new artist department manager."

Hearing Chen Feng say that, Zhang Yuxi's frustration finally eased a little.

Although she didn't understand the company's organizational structure very well, she knew clearly that the position of artist manager was a crucial department with real power for a film and television company.

The title of publicity director sounds impressive, but at least it means she's no longer in charge of this artist.

Zhang Yuxi knew in her heart that she had no chance of competing with Wu Mengting, not to mention that she still held onto her last hope for Wu Mengting's new drama and was hoping to continue to receive her support.

So she quickly shifted the topic to what mattered most to her at the moment, and asked anxiously, "President Wu... what is her attitude towards me now? Can I... still continue to star in her new drama?"

Chen Feng thought to himself, "You've finally asked the most crucial question."

"After she brought our affair up, she was initially very adamant, absolutely refusing to let you continue participating in any film or television projects she was in charge of. Finally, after my repeated insistence, she relented. However..."

"But what?" Zhang Yuxi's heart jumped into her throat, and she immediately asked.

"She wants you to leave the company." (End of Chapter)