Life countdown begins, ice queen bursts into security room

It snowed in Kyoto at 2 a.m.

Ye Anran stood under the eaves of the convenience store, dragging her suitcase, watching the snowflakes fall to the ground and melt quickly.

The image of Longyao Media's headquarters during the day kept replaying in my mind.

Wang Qiang sat on a large leather sofa, a cigar between his fingers.

Several investors sat beside her, their eyes scanning her up and down.

"Anran, the company has given your studio so many resources over the years. Now that 'Wuji' is losing money, someone has to take responsibility." Wang Qiang exhaled a puff of smoke.

Ye Anran stood in front of the desk: "Chairman Wang, there's a problem with Chen Kai's script. I mentioned it on set."

"Chen Kai is a top director in China. You're saying he has a problem?" Wang Qiang sneered.

"Alright, enough nonsense. There's a gathering tonight, you're coming with me. If you keep these bosses happy, the company can mediate the breach of contract issue for you."

A portly investor stood up, walked up to Ye Anran, and reached out to touch her face.

"With An Ran's looks, you won't find another one like her in the entire Chinese entertainment industry. If you just nod your head tonight, we'll cover the 300 million for you."

Ye Anran turned her head away from that hand.

"Chairman Wang, I only act in movies, I don't drink with clients."

Wang Qiang stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray, his face darkening.

"You're asking for it. Do you think you're still that high and mighty superstar? You're burdened with 300 million in debt now! If you don't agree, get out! Let's see who dares to help you!"

As the memory ended, Ye Anran tightened the collar of her coat.

She came to terms with reality: on the table of capital, she was never a diner, but merely a dish.

Scroll to the bottom of the contacts list, and you'll see Jiang Fan.

Gu Qingqiu's words before she left echoed in his ears: "There's still one man in this circle who can save you. But his appetite is much bigger than mine right now."

She closed her eyes, her fingers trembling as she pressed the dial button.

The call connected after three beeps.

"Speak," Jiang Fan's voice came through the receiver, hoarse from just waking up.

"I agree to your conditions." Ye Anran's voice was hoarse. "The studio will be fully integrated into Xinghuo Media."

"It's too late." Jiang Fan said calmly. "This was the price two weeks ago. Now you're burdened with 300 million in breach of contract fees, and the studio is just an empty shell. What do you have to offer me?"

Ye Anran gripped her phone tightly.

"Then... what do you want?"

"Buy the next available flight to Zhangjiajie, and we'll talk when we meet."

The phone call ended, and the dial tone was particularly jarring in the wind and snow.

Without hesitation, Ye Anran opened the ticketing app and booked a flight to Hunan Province at 4 a.m.

10:00 AM. A presidential suite at a five-star hotel in Zhangjiajie.

Jiang Fan, wearing a bathrobe, sat on the sofa in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, holding a cup of black coffee in his hand.

The doorbell rang.

Su Yuyan opened the door, led Ye Anran in, then turned and left, closing the door behind her.

Ye Anran took off her mask and baseball cap, revealing her haggard face.

Her eyes were bloodshot, and her trench coat carried the chill of her long journey.

"President Jiang." Ye Anran walked to the coffee table.

Jiang Fan put down his coffee cup and looked her up and down.

"Have you figured it out?"

"As long as you help me resolve that 300 million and smooth things over with Longyao Media's blacklist," Ye Anran said, looking directly at Jiang Fan, "I'll sign a five-year contract. You decide the profit-sharing ratio."

Jiang Fan leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers twice on the armrest.

"I want more than just your studio. I want you as a person." Jiang Fan's tone was flat. "From today onwards, all your schedules, scripts, and even your private life will be entirely under my control."

Ye Anran gripped the hem of her clothes tightly with her fingers.

This is a contract of servitude with absolutely no bottom line.

But she had no choice; it was better for Jiang Fan to benefit than for him to fall into the hands of those disgusting capitalists.

She nodded: "Okay."

Jiang Fan picked up the phone on the table, dialed a number, and pressed speakerphone.

"President Jiang, you weren't done enough last night, so you're calling me again so early in the morning?" Gu Qingqiu's voice rang out.

Ye Anran suddenly raised her head.

"I've signed with Ye Anran. The breach of contract penalties from those brands are cancelled."

Ye Anran stood there stunned. That was Gu Qingqiu from Shengda Group, a powerful figure who could shut her down with just a word.

Jiang Fan spoke to her in a tone that was more of a command than a discussion.

Gu Qingqiu chuckled twice on the phone.

"Quickly. Is President Jiang treating me like a thug forcing a woman into prostitution, while he's playing the hero saving the damsel in distress?"

"Enough talk. Are you leaving or not?"

"Withdraw. I dare not disobey President Jiang's orders. I will immediately notify the legal department to withdraw the lawsuit. However, she will not be able to get back those brand endorsements for the time being."

"No need. Just cancel the penalty for breach of contract."

Ye Anran looked at Jiang Fan. Three hundred million yuan in breach of contract fees, gone in a single phone call.

The arrogant and haughty Gu Qingqiu was surprisingly easy to talk to in front of this man.

"You plotted against me." Ye Anran's voice trembled.

"I'm just making you see your true situation in this industry." Jiang Fan stood up and walked up to her. "Without capital to back you up, you're nothing."

Looking at Jiang Fan's young and handsome face, Ye Anran completely admitted defeat.

She took off her gray trench coat and threw it on the sofa.

She walked up to Jiang Fan, stood on tiptoe, put her hands on his shoulders, and straddled his lap.

"I've never been in a relationship. I don't know how to please a man," Ye Anran said, her voice trembling. "Teach me."

Jiang Fan reached out and put his arm around her waist; it was very slender and soft.

He supported Ye Anran with one hand, picked her up, and strode towards the bedroom.

Ye Anran was thrown onto the bed, her body sinking into the soft mattress, and she instinctively shrank back.

Jiang Fan suppressed it.

Ye Anran frowned, her fingers gripping the bed sheet tightly.

She thought it was just a transaction, and that she could grit her teeth and bear it.

She soon realized she was wrong.

The impact Jiang Fan brought far exceeded her expectations.

Every move he made precisely struck the weakest point in the defense.

Ye Anran's breathing became completely disordered.

"Jiang Fan..." she tried to speak, but her voice broke into fragments.

Ye Anran loosened her hands from the sheets and climbed onto Jiang Fan's back, her fingernails scratching red marks on his firm muscles.

Jiang Fan looked at the face beneath him, a face hailed as the most beautiful in the Chinese entertainment industry. His aloof and noble demeanor was completely shattered, replaced by an undeniable blush.

An hour passed.

Ye Anran lay paralyzed on the bed, her long hair soaked with sweat, her chest heaving violently, and her eyes unfocused.

Jiang Fan leaned against the headboard, and at the edge of his retina, the semi-transparent virtual panel began to flicker.

【Ding. 】

[A deep fit with an SSSS-class target object was detected.]

Lifespan increased by 10000 points.

Current lifespan: 413300 points.

As expected of an SSSS-level rank, this deal was incredibly profitable.

After more than ten minutes, Ye Anran finally regained some consciousness.

She turned her head and looked at Jiang Fan, who was leaning against the headboard.

It felt as if all the bones in her body had been reassembled, but the lingering aftertaste made her feel a strange shiver.

"What do you want me to do next?" Ye Anran asked in a hoarse voice.

"Rest for two days first." Jiang Fan stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray on the bedside table. "Then I'll arrange a role for you in Journey to the West."