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

In the afternoon, the exclusive lounge area of ​​Xingyue Entertainment was filled with the rich aroma of coffee. Sunlight streamed in through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting sharp, geometric shadows on the floor.

Xue Yi's slender fingers unconsciously traced the edge of the unfolded script, finally stopping at a certain spot, letting out a barely audible sigh that broke the brief silence.

Having just returned from the film set, Xi Hongxia, who was enjoying a rare break, missed the coffee at the company cafeteria and specially invited them to chat and coordinate their work on the seventh floor.

"Sister Xia, have you heard?" Xue Yi's voice carried a complex and unreadable emotion. "Xu Mengjie... was kicked out of the Su family, completely kicked out, and it's said that she wasn't even allowed to take any decent luggage."

Xi Hongxia was applying lipstick in front of a small mirror when she heard this. Without pausing, she glanced precisely at Xue Yi in the mirror and curled her red lips into a highly sarcastic smile.

"Tsk, a freshly baked prime-time drama about a rich family's dream shattered? As expected. What, are you overflowing with sympathy?"

Xue Yi frowned slightly and shook his head, saying, "It's not exactly rampant. It's just... after all, we were once colleagues who fought side by side. Seeing her in this state, it's hard not to feel bad. When she went back to the company to sign the termination agreement with the legal department, Sister Man reminded her that President Zhou had been trying to persuade her for a long time, almost to the point of carving the words 'jump into the fire pit' on the conference table. He analyzed the pros and cons so thoroughly... Sigh, it's just a sigh."

Sister Man is Li Manman.

No one expected that, just over two months later, she, a retired artist, would join Xingyue's legal department, saying she wanted to study law while learning.

Mr. Yue always believed that a person had unlimited potential, so he arranged it for her directly!
Li Manman was well aware of the intricacies of Xu Mengjie's contract termination. Although they weren't close, she kindly reminded her of Xu Mengjie's status as an artist under CEO Yue.

Unfortunately, she didn't listen.

"Thoroughly understood?" Xi Hongxia sneered upon hearing this.

She snapped the small makeup mirror shut, turned around abruptly, and her exquisitely painted eyes shot out a sharp, piercing gaze.

"Mr. Zhou didn't just explain it clearly; he practically laid out all the thorns, snakes, and lava in the fire pit for her to see! She's bewitched! For that mama's boy, Young Master Su, for that illusory title of 'Young Mistress of the Su Family,' she's even willing to give up her very foundation—her singing ability! The Su family will pay the five million in breach of contract fee? Ha! There's no such thing as a free lunch! That's an advance payment for a contract of servitude!"

“Everyone understands the principle,” Xue Yi said with a wry smile, his fingertips irritably curling up a corner of the script. “But once a person gets stuck in a rut and becomes trapped in the situation, all that’s left in front of them is that illusory light. How can they see the bottomless abyss beneath their feet?”

Back then, wasn't it also because of my father's illness...?

Xi Hongxia completely understood what Xue Yi was thinking: "Hey, I'm telling you, don't compare her to you! You two are completely different things!"

Her sneer deepened, almost solidifying into frost. "You think only President Zhou tried to persuade them? I did too! And what happened? They wouldn't listen at all. Now they've been thrown out like trash, and only now, with nowhere else to turn, do they remember us 'former colleagues'? Where were they all this time!"

With a tone of anger and frustration at his incompetence, she quickly grabbed the phone from the table, unlocked the screen, and shoved it directly in front of Xue Yi's face.

Xue Yi looked closely and saw it was a chat interface between Xi Hongxia and Xu Mengjie, with the time stamp clearly showing it was late last night.

Next to Xu Mengjie's profile picture is a long string of shockingly desperate words:
Xu Mengjie: Sister Xia, I was wrong! I really know I was wrong! Utterly wrong!

Xu Mengjie: The Su family is a bunch of liars! Wolves in sheep's clothing! They drained all my savings, and even swindled the last bit of money my mother left me!

Xu Mengjie: Please help me... I'm penniless and have nowhere to live... They're going to deduct my previous endorsement earnings, saying I breached the contract...

Xu Mengjie: Sister Xia, what should I do? I feel like I can't go on living...

Xu Mengjie: [Unanswered voice call request]
Xi Hongxia abruptly pulled her phone back, as if the words on the screen carried a plague, her voice as cold as the Siberian tundra wind.

"See that? The midnight call, a pitiful cry for help. I practically screamed myself hoarse trying to stop her, I was just short of hitting her with a baseball bat on that blockhead! Did she listen? Not only did she not listen, she thought I was being mean and sarcastic, blocking her path to 'marrying into a wealthy family'! Now she knows how to cry for help? Sorry, my heart is made of stone. I won't help a love-struck fool who's asking for trouble, and I certainly won't be a firefighter to put out the fire she started herself!"

As Xue Yi looked at the words that seemed to be stained with tears, he could almost feel the trembling of Xu Mengjie's fingertips as she typed and her despair on the verge of collapse. His lips parted slightly, but he felt that any comfort or evaluation would seem pale and powerless.

"What are you talking about? The atmosphere is so tense." A gentle and clear voice interrupted at the right time. Si Younian walked over with two steaming cups of coffee, handed one to Xue Yi, and pulled out a chair to sit down, his gaze sweeping over the two people with different expressions. "Sister Xia, who are you lecturing this time with such a fiery attitude?"

Xi Hongxia rolled her eyes dramatically, her red lips parting as each word was like a knife: "Who else could it be? Our 'promising former colleague,' Miss Xu Mengjie, whose dreams of marrying into a wealthy family were shattered and who left with nothing! She was just thrown out by the Su family like a used rag, and now she's crying and begging for mercy all over the world!"

Si Younian paused almost imperceptibly in the hand holding the coffee. A hint of surprise flashed across his handsome face, which then turned into a heavy understanding: "Xu Mengjie? She... contacted you?" His voice was still gentle, but it was tinged with tension.

Xue Yi nodded heavily: "Sister Xia just showed me the message. She did frantically call Sister Xia for help last night."

Xi Hongxia snorted heavily, crossed her arms, and adopted a "none of my business" attitude.

Si Younian remained silent for a few seconds, as if making a difficult decision.

He slowly took his phone out of his pocket, unlocked it, swiped his finger across the screen for a moment, then gently pushed the phone screen-up onto the center of the table in the sunlight.

Xue Yi and Xi Hongxia's attention was instantly drawn to it.

In Si Younian's WeChat chat list, the name "Xu Mengjie" was prominently listed, with the time displayed as "this morning".

The message was almost identical to the one sent to Xi Hongxia, filled with hysterical despair, humble repentance, and heart-wrenching pleas for help, with an even more humble tone.

The last one was also a glaring missed voice call request.

Si Younian sighed softly, a hint of pity in his voice: "It was sent just an hour ago. I... haven't figured out how to reply, or rather, whether I should reply at all." His gaze swept over the SOS messages, his brows furrowing deeply.

Xi Hongxia stared at the record, her eyes almost overflowing with sarcasm. She crossed her arms, leaned back heavily in her chair, and let out a sneer.

"Even our company's top actor received it? Well done, Xu Mengjie, you've got a good sense of order in your SOS messages! First it was Xue Yi, that soft-hearted good guy, then it was me, the 'notorious' villain, and finally, when all else failed, you had to bite the bullet and come to me, your colleague with the least friendly but highest status? Tsk tsk, looks like you've really hit rock bottom, and only now that you're completely desperate and have nowhere else to turn, do you remember which way Xingyue's doors are open?"

Si Younian silently put away his phone, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the cold metal casing. The seriousness between his brows did not dissipate despite Xi Hongxia's sarcasm: "Sister Xia, putting aside emotions, her current situation sounds... truly appalling. Kicked out of the Su family, penniless, signed that obviously scam contract with Brilliant, and the Su family is withholding so-called 'huge debts' under various absurd pretexts. Even basic survival is a problem..."

He paused, looked up at Xi Hongxia, then turned to Xue Yi, his tone tentatively serious, "I'm thinking... should we... mention it to President Yue? Even just let her know about it? To see... if there's still a glimmer of hope? After all, her singing talent is truly top-notch, and President Yue was very optimistic about her back then, it was her own..."

"Si Younian!"

Xi Hongxia instantly sprang to attention like a ignited powder keg, sitting bolt upright and slamming her hand on the table, causing the liquid in her coffee cup to slosh violently. Her voice suddenly rose in pitch, sharp enough to pierce the soundproof glass of the roof:
"Did you get your brain slammed in the Su family's door? Did you get waterlogged along with her?!" Xue Yi was also shocked by Si Younian's words and immediately showed strong disapproval, quickly shaking her head: "Younian, this is absolutely unacceptable! Have you forgotten how decisively Xu Mengjie left back then? What was President Zhou's expression when she signed the termination agreement? How much effort and resources did Xingyue pour into her?"

Xi Hongxia was furious, but her words were unusually clear, like a drawn sword:

"Help her? Why should we help her? Just because she's crying so pitifully? Just because she said 'I was wrong'? Find President Yue? Si Younian, tell me, where is President Yue right now? How long has she been abroad? Don't you know how complicated and stressful things are there?! It's a major matter involving overseas industries!"

Why bother Xu Mengjie with such a self-inflicted mess? Why waste her precious time, energy, and her connections and relationships in the industry?! Do you think President Yue isn't good enough to Xingyue and to any of us, isn't trusting enough?! Do you want to be that 'unreliable' and 'unthinkable' person in President Yue's eyes?!

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging anger, but the cold glint in her eyes and the sharpness in her words remained undiminished:
“Xu Mengjie is an adult! She chose this path with her eyes closed, ears covered, and heart blind! She was determined to jump into the fire pit! She personally signed the termination agreement, trampling and crushing the cultivation that President Zhou and President Yue had done for her over half a year! She was the one who shut and welded the door of Xingyue shut from the inside!”

"Regret it now? Want to turn back? It's too late! Xingyue is not a dumping ground for trash! Nor is it a refuge for Xu Mengjie to come and go as she pleases! The company's positions and resources are reserved for those who are prepared, have potential, are worth cultivating, and know how to cherish them!"

"Look at Yan Leilei, who we just signed! In terms of talent, her voice is a gift from God! In terms of character, she's down-to-earth, hardworking, humble, and never arrogant! In every way, she's a hundred times better than Xu Mengjie, who's in such a sorry state and mentally broken! She is the rightful core artist of Xingyue, someone we can entrust our future to!"

Si Younian frowned, seemingly considering the weight of Xi Hongxia's words.

Indeed, he is a compassionate person.

However, regarding Xu Mengjie's situation, as the first artist to "want to terminate her contract with Xingyue after being taken over by General Manager Yue," General Manager Zhou tried to persuade her, Sister Man tried to persuade her after she returned, and people from the legal department and economic department almost took turns to communicate with her.

But she was determined to leave.

And the monthly total...

She has been flying overseas for over a week now, and apart from a few executives, she is no longer in contact with anyone else who tries to message her.

Si Younian thought without hesitation—

If the CEO intervenes, Xu Mengjie will definitely be able to turn the tide!

Just like those investors who were targeting Xingyue before, aren't they now giving them more resources?
Can……

Seeing Si Younian deep in thought, Xi Hongxia emphasized again, her tone stern:

“Si Younian, I am solemnly warning you, you are not allowed to say this to President Yue! Not a single word! If you do, you will be slapping President Zhou in the face! You will be wasting President Yue’s last bit of affection and trust in Xingyue and our team! You can weigh the consequences yourself!”

Si Younian shook his head: "I didn't mean to help. I was just thinking... it was really not easy for President Yue to overcome so many troubles and support Xingyue back then."

He is pure moon-blowing.

Xi Hongxia's tense expression eased slightly, and she snorted, "That's more like it. Remember, resources should be used wisely, on people with promising futures."

Neither of them noticed that behind the frosted glass door leading from the rest area to the inner office, a tall and slender figure had been standing there quietly for quite some time.

Zhou Jue held a freshly printed copy of the "New Quarter Artist Key Resource Allocation Plan," still smelling of ink, which he originally intended to deliver to the rehearsal room.

I happened to pass by and caught sight of the name "Xu Mengjie". As if rooted to the spot, I listened to every word of the heated yet clearly divided debate that had taken place in the rest area.

At this moment, his expression remained habitually calm and restrained, without any major fluctuations.

But deep within those deep eyes, a sharp scrutiny and... barely perceptible approval flashed across them.

Xi Hongxia... This artist, whom Mr. Yue signed against all odds, a woman he once thought was too worldly and shrewd, even somewhat mercenary and opportunistic, has shown remarkable clarity, decisiveness, and loyalty in the face of matters of principle and core interests, which is truly admirable.

Although her words were sharp and even harsh, they were incisive and to the point. She resolutely defended the company's interests and rules, unwaveringly upheld Yan Yueqing's absolute authority and affection, and clearly defined the boundaries between "insiders" and "outsiders."

He recalled Yan Yueqing's meaningful comment when she signed Xi Hongxia: "She is sharp enough and clear-headed enough. Xingyue needs such a knife that can cut through indecisiveness and draw clear lines."

In retrospect, Mr. Yue's judgment was frighteningly accurate.

This "knife," when used effectively at crucial moments, revealed its sharpness and protected the most core values.

Zhou Jue didn't linger any longer. Holding the "Resource Allocation Plan," he quietly turned around and walked steadily toward the rehearsal room.

But his steps seemed lighter and more confident than when he arrived.

Xu Mengjie sought them out because she was desperate and wanted to find a way to save herself, clinging to Yan Yueqing as her last lifeline.

But why should Yue pay for her willful and reckless behavior time and time again? Each act of trust only resulted in betrayal and further depletion; their relationship had long since been exhausted.

The aroma of coffee still lingered in the rest area.

The topic of Xu Mengjie is like a pebble thrown into the lake called "Xingyue," creating brief ripples of anger and sighs before eventually returning to a deeper calm.

Xingyue's orbit is firm and clear, and it will not deviate in the slightest because of the hasty fall of a shooting star.

That rising star, full of infinite possibilities—Yan Leilei—is the future they need to support together and dedicate their resources and efforts to shaping.

The adult world is cruel yet fair; ultimately, one must bear full responsibility for every choice made and swallow the bitter fruit of one's own actions. The distress call will eventually be drowned out by the tacit silence of everyone at Xingyue.

Yan Yueqing's peace and quiet should not be disturbed, nor should she be sacrificed again for the people and events of the past.

Xu Mengjie?
When talking about her, all that comes to mind is the word "what a pity".
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P.S.: Yue Zong has started the overseas Jiang family arc. After leveling up and fighting monsters, this book will be coming to an end~ You can check if there are any plot points left unresolved, or if you'd like to see any more storylines for other characters. After the main story is finished, I will write separate side stories based on your requests. Love you all~ (End of Chapter)