Life countdown begins, ice queen bursts into security room

Shen Nian's rented apartment is in an old residential area in the north of Shanghai. It's on the sixth floor and there's no elevator.

At six o'clock in the afternoon, someone knocked on Shen Nian's door.

Shen Nian got up from the sofa, dragged her slippers over, and looked out through the peephole.

She was a middle-aged woman wearing a dark blue suit.

Her makeup was impeccable, and her lips were a vibrant red. She was carrying a brown handbag.

Shen Nian opened the door, leaving it a crack.

"Miss Shen Nian?"

"Who are you?"

"Fang Min. Xinghui Business Consulting." The woman smiled. "May I come in and have a seat?"

Shen Nian's hand remained on the doorknob.

Star Shine Business Consulting.

She had never heard of that name before.

"I don't know you. What do you want with me?"

"Good news." Fang Min took a brown paper envelope out of her bag and handed it to Shen Nian. "Regarding your copyright dispute with Hua Xingyu, Sheng Hai wants to discuss a solution that satisfies both parties."

Shen Nian stared at the envelope but did not take it.

Fang Min turned slightly to the side so that the words "Settlement Agreement" printed on the envelope were facing Shen Nian.

"Ms. Shen, it's not convenient to talk at the door. Could we come inside and chat? Just five minutes will do."

Shen Nian stood behind the door and bit her lip.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she took a step back.

Fang Min walked in and glanced around.

A single room of 15 square meters.

A bed, a table, and a chair. On the table are a half-eaten instant noodle and a row of medicine bottles.

Shen Nian stood at the door with her arms crossed over her chest.

Fang Min sat in the only chair, opened the envelope, and spread the documents out on the table.

"Miss Shen, I'll be frank." She pointed to the first page.

"Shenghai is willing to admit that Huaxingyu made a management error regarding the ownership of the copyright of 'Fanxing'. The company will pay you five million yuan as compensation for copyright infringement and emotional distress."

five million.

Shen Nian didn't speak, her fingers clenching her sleeves tightly.

In all her life, she had never seen a bank account balance exceeding five figures.

For the year after her diagnosis, she relied on borrowed money to afford the medication she needed.

Fang Min ignored her and continued turning to the second page.

"In addition, Sheng Hai is willing to offer a new management contract. The signing bonus is three million, and the term is four years. The company will do its best to rebuild your personal brand, including album production, variety show resources, and commercial performance arrangements—all through the company's highest-level promotion channels."

She raised her head, her gaze gently falling on Shen Nian's face.

"Five million in compensation, plus three million in signing bonus, totaling eight million. There are only two conditions—you withdraw your copyright lawsuit against Huaxingyu and terminate your existing contract with Fanyin Culture."

The room was quiet.

Shen Nian's face changed color several times.

Eight million.

The number was so large that it took her several seconds to process what it meant.

I can pay off all the medical bills, move out of this rented house where even hot water is unreliable, and stop counting pills late at night to see if I'll have enough for next month.

Her nails dug into her palms.

"You want me to betray Jiang Fan."

"It's not a betrayal," Fang Min said, shrugging gently, as if she were chatting with a little sister who was having trouble making a decision.

"It's a choice. Ms. Shen, a small studio with a registered capital of 100,000 yuan, a newly debuted talent show champion, and a manager who just resigned. What can you gain by following Fan Yin?"

She paused for a moment.

"How long can they protect you? A lifetime?"

Shen Nian bit her lower lip.

"He's already protecting me."

"No, he just gave you a song and a live performance," Fang Min said calmly.

"And then what? Sheng Hai's legal team has forty-seven people. If they mobilize all their resources to drag the lawsuit out for two or three years, can you afford to wait that long?"

Shen Nian had thought about this question more than once.

She didn't know how to answer.

Fang Min continued, "In your current state, are you suited for this kind of protracted battle?"

Her gaze shifted towards the row of medicine bottles on the table.

Shen Nian subconsciously took half a step back.

Fang Min leaned forward slightly and spoke even softer.

"I am familiar with your situation."

"Severe depression and social avoidance. Appearing in court in this state, facing the media, and being cross-examined... Ms. Shen, to put it bluntly, if Sheng Hai's lawyers simply bring up your medical records in court and question your mental state and the accuracy of your memory, the validity of your testimony will be greatly reduced."

Shen Nian's hands began to tremble, and her arms, which were wrapped around her chest, tightened even more.

Fang Min stood up, put the documents on the table, and placed the pen next to them.

Shen Nian looked at the row of medicine bottles on the table, then at the pen that Fang Min had put down.

She lowered her hands from her chest.

"I won't sign."

Fang Min paused for a moment as she packed her handbag.

"Ms. Shen, you have three days to think it over carefully."

She picked up her bag and walked to the door.

He turned back and added a sentence.

"Miss Shen, don't ruin your future for someone you've only known for less than half a month."

The door closed.

The sound of high heels echoed down the stairs, fading into the distance.

Shen Nian stood still, staring at the document on the table.

She walked over, sat down, picked up the document, and flipped through it page by page.

The terms are clearly stated.

Once the money is received, the lawsuit will be withdrawn, all cooperation with Fanyin will be terminated, and a confidentiality agreement will be signed, prohibiting any further public discussion of the copyright matters of "Fanxing".

Shen Nian put down the documents.

Her gaze fell on the corner of the table.

There was another contract in that spot.

Artist contracts of Fanyin Culture Studio.

Shen Nian closed her eyes.

Thinking back to the thirty-page contract she signed at Sheng Hai a year ago, she thought it was the beginning of her dream, but it turned out to be the gateway to a nightmare.

She then remembered the dead rat that Hua Xingyu's fans had sent her.

I remember the days when I didn't dare to go out for seven consecutive months and survived on takeout and pills.

When she opened her eyes again, she picked up the settlement agreement and tore it in half.

Then it was stuffed into the plastic bag for trash under the table.

She picked up her phone, found Jiang Fan's WeChat account, and typed a message.

"A woman claiming to be from Xinghui Business Consulting came to me. She gave me eight million to withdraw the lawsuit and terminate my contract with Fanyin."

send.

Three seconds later, the other side replied.

"Did you sign it?"

Shen Nian smiled. She lowered her head and typed.

"The contract is in the trash."

There was silence on the other end for about ten seconds.

Then a message popped up.

"We're moving tomorrow. Li Cheng has already rented a new apartment for you. It has access control and surveillance cameras."

Shen Nian stared at the line of text for a while.

My nose feels a little sore.

She put down her phone, walked to the windowsill, and poured a glass of water on the nearly dried-out potted green plant.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Fanyin Studio.

Jiang Fan put down his phone, his smile fading.

He turned his chair around to look at Li Cheng.

"Sheng Hai went to find Shen Nian. Eight million yuan, to get her to drop the lawsuit and terminate the contract."

Li Cheng was eating half a sandwich when he heard this and swallowed it without even chewing.

He swore and threw the sandwich on the table.

"That old bastard Cao Qiming always picks on the weak. Shen Nian didn't sign, did she?"

"Didn't sign it. Tear it up."

Li Cheng breathed a sigh of relief.

"This girl is good."

"Help her move first thing tomorrow morning." Jiang Fan tapped the table. "Her condition has just improved, we can't afford any more mishaps. Also, starting tomorrow, someone must accompany her for her daily schedule and outings."

Li Cheng nodded.

"I've asked Zhou Yutong to keep an eye on things. That girl may not be good at much else, but she's really good at protecting her own."