The vicious female supporting role is posted in the opposite direction by the cub

The "tap, tap, tap" of high heels striking the ground was like a cold death knell, each sound crushing Xu Mengjie's already broken heart before finally disappearing completely at the end of the corridor.

Xi Hongxia's words, chilled to the bone, seemed to carry a biting coldness, repeatedly cutting into her ears, puncturing the bubble of love that she relied on for survival, which was wrapped in a huge, sweet dream, leaving it riddled with holes.

Finally—with a "crack," it shattered completely!
The sound was so clear that it made her soul tremble.

In the empty, dimly lit corner, the cold wall supported her swaying body.

Tears welled up silently, a mixture of despair and a near-self-destructive impulse, streaming down her face.

After an unknown amount of time, as if she had squeezed out her last bit of strength, she trembled as she raised her hand and hastily wiped away the disheveled state of her face, dark tear stains spreading on her sleeve.

Taking a deep breath, I finally pushed open the door leading to the artist director's office.

The scene inside the door contrasted sharply with her breakdown.

Zhou Jue was sitting behind a large, gleaming desk, intently organizing project documents with Director Tang. The afternoon light streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, outlining his meticulous profile.

However, this tranquility was instantly shattered by Xu Mengjie's intrusion.

Zhou Jue was clearly taken aback when he saw the girl at the door, who looked distraught and whose eyes were swollen and red like walnuts.

He put down the documents in his hand, his brows furrowed slightly, and his eyes quickly shifted from doubt to concern, but deeper still, confusion.

This girl, who was in a meeting just half an hour ago, was personally selected by President Yue to be under his wing, with a bright and promising future ahead of her. Why is she like this now... as if she has been abandoned by the whole world?
“Xiao Xu?” Zhou Jue’s voice was gentle, trying to soothe him. “What’s wrong? You look so pale. Sit down and talk.” He pointed to the chair opposite his desk.

Seeing this, Director Tang very tactfully stood up: "You guys chat, I'll go out and take care of something." He quickly left, gently closing the door behind him, shutting out the outside world.

"Thank you... Director Tang..." Xu Mengjie's voice was so low and hoarse that it was almost inaudible, filled with deep shame and sobs. Only when she and Zhou Jue were left in the office did she lower her head like a frightened rabbit, not daring to look into Zhou Jue's eyes, but staring intently at her own intertwined fingers, which were white at the knuckles.

"Mr. Zhou... Mr. Zhou..." she murmured, her broken sobs almost incoherent.

Looking at her like this, the concern on Zhou Jue's face quickly faded away like a tide.

Years of industry experience allowed him to keenly sense the approaching storm. He didn't urge her, but simply leaned back slightly in the large leather chair, his hands crossed on the table, his long, slender fingers tapping lightly unconsciously. His gaze sharpened and hardened, scrutinizing the girl on the verge of collapse before him like a scalpel.

The air in the office seemed to freeze instantly, becoming heavy.

"Speak, what happened?" Zhou Jue's voice was steady, but carried an undeniable power. "Is it a problem at work? Or... a personal issue?" He deliberately emphasized the last four words, his gaze fixed on the other person's lowered head.

Xu Mengjie shuddered violently, as if pierced by that gaze. She looked up, her eyes blurred with tears, at Zhou Jue, her lips trembling violently, as if gathering her last bit of courage. That courage seemed to come from the abyss of despair. Finally, those words seemed to be forced out of her shattered chest, laced with blood and a final, resolute determination:

"I...I want to...terminate the contract."

The air was deathly still.

The last trace of expression on Zhou Jue's face vanished completely, as if he had put on a cold mask. He looked at the girl in front of him, her face streaked with tears, yet her eyes held an almost insane stubbornness, and the last bit of human warmth in his eyes was extinguished.

Only Xu Mengjie's suppressed, intermittent sobs filled the office, sounding particularly jarring in the empty space.

The silence lasted for a good ten seconds, each second like a heavy hammer blow to Xu Mengjie's taut nerves. Zhou Jue's crossed fingers tightened slightly.

“Xiao Xu, to be honest, during the background check, I learned about your situation… contract termination?” Zhou Jue finally spoke, his voice as calm as a machine, devoid of any emotion, yet carrying immense pressure. “Do you know what you’re saying?”

Xu Mengjie just shed tears, nodded vigorously, and dug her nails deep into her palms.

Zhou Jue leaned forward slightly, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's as he fixed it on her: "Xingyue's future plans include your name, Xu Mengjie, and you are a key candidate for their development!"

He pointed to the scattered documents on the table. "We're discussing several major projects, and there are several options that are perfect for you! You could even say they're opportunities tailor-made for you—something many people dream of. And yet you're telling me you want to terminate the contract? Why?"

His voice suddenly rose, tinged with regret.

“Because…because…” Xu Mengjie’s tears flowed even more fiercely, her voice broken and shattered, “I…I have to leave…here…”

"Must? Leave?" Zhou Jue sneered, his voice exceptionally clear and cold in the silent office. "For what? Love? Family? Or the gossip of certain people?"

His gaze was piercing, as if he could see through her skin to her inner struggles and the shadow left by Xi Hongxia. "Xiao Xu, when you entered this industry and signed the A-level contract, you should have understood what that meant! This industry has no room for naivety or being love-struck! President Yue values ​​your talent and your potential! She's willing to shield you from the storms and pave the way for you, not for you to abandon everything and run away for some romantic entanglements or family matters!"

He took a deep breath, trying to suppress his surging anger, and his tone shifted to a more earnest admonition, tinged with a hint of stern disappointment:
"Leaving now is like extinguishing the spark that has just been ignited within you! Do you think you have anything left in this industry without Xingyue and Yue Zong's protection? Your talent? Talent needs a platform and resources to be amplified and realized! Without Xingyue's support behind the scenes, without Yue Zong's name to protect you, how far do you think you can go? How fast can you go? Do you know how many people are eyeing your vacant position? Do you know what termination means? Breach of contract penalties, the risk of being sidelined, industry criticism, a loss of resources... Have you considered these?"

Zhou Jue's voice was deep and powerful, each word like a cold stone hitting Xu Mengjie: "It's not too late to turn back now. I can pretend I didn't hear anything that happened today. Go back and calm down, get a good night's sleep, and tomorrow, I hope to see a Xu Mengjie who is ready to meet the challenges and live up to President Yue's expectations."

He stared intently at her, his eyes filled with a last glimmer of hope, wishing his words could awaken this young man who was blinded by emotion.

He mentioned Yan Yueqing, the project, and the future prospects—these were the most realistic and tempting factors.

However, what responded to him was Xu Mengjie's even more torrential tears and an almost numb stubbornness.

She shook her head violently, her face filled with an overwhelming despair, as if the brilliant future Zhou Jue had described was nothing more than another, more magnificent, and more suffocating cage for her.

Xi Hongxia's words and the man's retreating gaze had completely overturned her world.

All she saw was the disillusionment with love and the urgent need to escape.

“No…Mr. Zhou…I’m sorry…I…I have to go…” She sobbed uncontrollably, her eyes filled with empty stubbornness. “I…I can’t stay any longer…Please…let me go…” The last glimmer of light in Zhou Jue’s eyes was completely extinguished. Looking at the girl before him, who was unyielding and completely consumed by despair and stubbornness, reason and ruthlessness once again took absolute control.

He knew that no amount of persuasion would be of any use.

This promising talent, whom both he and Yan Yueqing had high hopes for, chose to exile himself.

He remained silent for a few seconds, and the only sound in the office was Xu Mengjie's suppressed sobs, like a funeral dirge in the background.

Then, Zhou Jue spoke calmly and without any emotion, his voice as formulaic as reading a cold death sentence:
"Ms. Xu Mengjie."

He stopped calling him "Little Xu," creating the most complete distance between them.

"According to Article 7.3 of your Class A Artist Contract with Xingyue Entertainment, if an artist unilaterally terminates the contract without a legitimate reason during the contract period, they will be liable for a penalty of three times the estimated total revenue for the remaining years of the contract. Furthermore, according to Article 9.1, from the effective date of termination, the company has the right to reclaim and freeze all resources, projects, and artist-related rights allocated to you. The termination process will be strictly carried out in accordance with legal procedures, and the company's legal department will coordinate with you regarding subsequent matters."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over her tear-streaked yet still stubborn face, his voice growing increasingly icy and chilling:
"Furthermore, I must remind you. The company is not a charity, much less a hotel where anyone can come and go as they please. We value your talent and are willing to invest resources in your development based on our expectations for your future worth. But your decision today proves that you cannot live up to those expectations and have betrayed General Manager Yue's trust. Positions are always reserved for those who can seize opportunities and are worth developing. They will not, and cannot, be reserved for someone who voluntarily gives up and ruins their future."

Every word was like an icicle, piercing Xu Mengjie's heart. The penalty for breach of contract, the freezing of resources… these immense realities, in her world now overwhelmed by despair, were merely heavy stones that couldn't stir much of a ripple. She simply nodded numbly, as if her soul had already left her.

"I... understand... thank you, Mr. Zhou..." Her voice was as soft as a breeze.

Zhou Jue stopped looking at her, as if she had become an insignificant presence.

He picked up his phone and dialed a number: "Legal Department, send someone to organize the documents and handle Xu Mengjie's contract termination."

He put down the phone, picked up the document he had just put down, calmly picked up a marker, and marked it with a big "X".

Each stroke is like a knife cut.

Zhou Jue stopped looking at her and said, "Book a plane ticket back to Xingyue. Someone there will handle your matter."

Having said that, his gaze fell intently on the page, as if the conversation had never happened.

"Thank you... thank you, Mr. Zhou..." Xu Mengjie lowered her head in shame.

Outside the window, the huge neon sign of "Zhongxing Entertainment" shimmered in the night (or dusk), its light still dazzling, yet exuding a coldness that kept people at a distance.

The light shone on Xu Mengjie's tear-streaked, distraught face, and also cruelly reflected the thorny path she had chosen.

She was the first person to voluntarily choose to leave during Yan Yueqing's era.

Her figure disappeared behind the heavy door of Zhou Jue's office, leaving behind a huge question mark about "why" and a heavy sigh that only Zhou Jue could hear, a mixture of disappointment, regret, and professional coldness, which echoed silently in the suddenly deathly quiet corridor.

The moment the door closed completely, Zhou Jue finally looked up from the documents and stared at the closed door, his expression complex and unreadable.

He knew that a promising new star had fallen before it even rose.

But Xingyue's orbit will never deviate in the slightest because of the passing of a shooting star; it will continue to move forward with cold and unwavering determination.

He made another call: "Send me the list of candidates from last time so I can take a look."

After saying that, Zhou Jue flipped through the pages that had just been marked with an X.

Yes! They're all great projects! I can't bear to let them go!
Xu Mengjie is gone, but countless more Shen Mengjie, Zhang Mengjie, and Li Mengjie will emerge!

Just choose again!

Xu Mengjie's departure caused quite a stir at Xingyue.

It wasn't because I was shocked, but because I couldn't understand her "lack of common sense".

Xue Yi had been through a lot and knew she was troubled by love, so he even called her for an hour to talk to her. But Xu Mengjie seemed to be under a spell and refused to turn back...

He had no choice but to give up.

Xi Hongxia was busy filming her new drama with Meng Chengchu and didn't want to get involved in the discussion about being love-struck.

However, Meng Yingge took it to heart after learning about this matter and took the initiative to introduce her junior sister, Yan Leilei, to the group.

As the "Golden Voice" and top graduate of the vocal music department of the Imperial Conservatory of Music this year, Yan Leilei's talent is truly astonishing.

Her vocal range spans four octaves, allowing her to master both powerful dramatic soprano arias and deeply moving pop love songs.

What's even more remarkable is that she possesses skills akin to "perfect pitch" and "vocal cord bionics"—she can instantly replicate melodies she hears live, and even accurately mimic the timbre of different singers, switching effortlessly from ethereal to husky.

When she graduated, both Zhongxing and Xingyue had suspended recruitment of new talent due to restructuring and resource integration. Although Yan Leilei was sought after by many agencies and even received offers from overseas record labels, she wanted to work with Yan Yueqing. When she learned that neither company had any recruitment plans, she was sad for a while and decided to settle for a company that specialized in film and television OSTs.

During a break in rehearsals, Meng Yingge dialed Zhou Jue's number: "President Zhou, I'd like to recommend someone for the vacancy left by Xu Mengjie. I guarantee with my career experience that her talent surpasses all the new generation singers currently on the market."

Zhou Jue was surprised that someone had delivered a helpful opportunity so soon after he had just fallen asleep, and immediately decided: "Have her come for an interview tomorrow, I will personally assess her." (End of Chapter)