The Secret of Second Marriage

From that day on, Mr. Jiang disappeared from my life, except for the occasional mention from Tangtang that Uncle Jiang was getting engaged to another woman.

I haven't seen President Jiang since.

When Tangtang called me, the little girl said angrily, "Mom, Uncle Jiang is not a good person. He was clearly dating Mom, but in the end he chose another woman."

"Mom, don't be sad. When I grow up, I'll protect you. I won't get married; I want to live with you forever."

"Daughter, you are still young and don't understand how complicated the adult world is... Your task now is to study hard. When Mom comes back from filming in Hengdian, Mom will hire a nanny, and we will live together and never be separated again."

I say.

"Yes, Mom."

Tangtang said.

After hanging up the phone, I felt quite touched. No matter how messy my life got, my daughter was always by my side, like a warm cotton-padded jacket, comforting me and supporting me to live well.

……

I was filming on set. I finished filming that popular drama during the hottest summer vacation. One day in early August, the crew notified me that filming had wrapped up. I cut a cake and also received a bouquet of flowers.

In the evening, the entire crew had a wrap party at a hotel in Hengdian. Several hundred staff members from the whole crew enjoyed a meal together.

After the meal, we went our separate ways.

I only occasionally hear news about this show in our work group chat.

My final payment for the film has been deposited into my account. I was shocked when I saw that it was only 20,000 yuan. I had been filming in Hengdian for three months. Although I was just a newcomer, my acting skills were not bad, and I played the role of the second female lead, a villain.

The contract states the fee is 300 million.

Our co-star, Chu Ge, is a top-tier, highly-rated actor, and his salary is over 1000 million yuan.

I know I can't compare to others, but I only have a little over 2 yuan in my account, which is far too little.

I immediately contacted my agent, Xie Xue, and asked, "Sister Xie, my payment has arrived. Is it too little? I remember the contract stated over 300 million?"

When Xie Xue heard me picking a fight, she said impatiently, "That's right, didn't we already transfer more than 10 yuan to you in the early stage? This 2 yuan is the final payment."

You need to understand that you're a newcomer, and you only got this big contract because you have our agency backing you.

Jiang Man, do you think you're a very popular celebrity? Do you think you have a lot of choices?

Does the company not need to spend money to train you? When you went to Hengdian to film, didn't you expect to be reimbursed for all your expenses, including meals and hotels? Do you think your agency is a charity?

"Hehe, let me tell you, according to company regulations, after deducting taxes and 80%, the remaining 20% ​​is used to deduct various travel allowances, and that's what you actually get."

"Is this how you play it? Okay."

I said, "Xie Xue, I'll remember you. You've been my manager for so long, have you ever found me a single role? I got this role by auditioning the director myself, and you're still going to deduct my hard-earned money."

Do you think acting is easy? You only sleep three or four hours a day, work more than 18 hours a day, and have to film no matter if it's windy or snowy... The temperature in the Hengdian studios is so high, can you stand it?

After I worked so hard filming, you took all my money. I really suspect you didn't give any to the company at all, or maybe you embezzled it for your own personal use.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Who would want your money?"

Xie Xue seemed to have been hit where it hurt, and suddenly, like a cat jumping up and down in anger, she started cursing: "I've managed so many artists, and I've never seen such an unruly newcomer as you. Do you think I have an obligation to manage you?"

"I'm doing you a favor by even considering you? And you're still haggling with me about money. Let me tell you, this is all company-arranged. If you're so capable, go talk to the company..."

I know that the company's higher-ups don't care about a nobody like me anymore. Xie Xue is only deducting my pay because she has connections with the company's higher-ups.

I finally understand how treacherous people can be. Nowadays, entertainment companies exploit their artists so much that they skin them alive and drain them dry.

I suddenly regret signing with the agency.

Fortunately, the company contract I signed at that time was only for one year. Because I was a newcomer and already over 30 years old, the company didn't think much of me, so they only gave me a little over a year.

I will definitely not renew my contract with the company after it expires next year.

As for Xie Xue, she's never helped me, never thought highly of my manager, and only drags me down behind my back. I'll teach her a lesson sooner or later.

I will definitely prove her wrong. Everyone makes their own way in the world. Even if I am a newcomer, I will work hard to improve my acting skills and strive to improve myself. I refuse to believe that I can't make a living in the entertainment industry.

……

After filming, I returned to Beijing from Hengdian and took a bunch of gifts to Grandma Jiang's house. I thanked her and told her that I would no longer bother her.

Before I picked Tangtang up, I left a very large red envelope for my grandma.

She's been helping me take care of Tangtang all this time, thank you for your hard work.

Grandma insisted on not accepting the red envelope, so I quietly put it in a drawer in the living room and left with the child.

Downstairs, Tangtang and I carried our large and small bags of luggage into the car.

Grandma was quite sad. You could tell she really liked Tangtang and was also happy for me and President Jiang to be together.

She chased after me and said, "Man, it's my grandson who wronged you. He acted like a selfish coward in matters of the heart and hurt you."

Grandma feels guilty towards you. From now on, no matter what difficulties you encounter in this city, just give me a call, and I'll definitely help you.

"Grandma, thank you so much. You've helped me so much. I can't imagine what my life would have been like with Tangtang if you hadn't taken care of me while I was filming in Hengdian."

My eyes welled up with tears.

Although I was destined to be apart from Mr. Jiang, I met a very kind old lady through him, and I was quite reluctant to say goodbye to her.

But reality is reality, and whether you like it or not, life goes on...

Tangtang and I waved goodbye to Grandma, got into the car with a car full of luggage, and left, planning to move into our new home.

When President Jiang learned that I had returned to Beijing, he sent his assistant to deliver the keys and access card to me, saying that the old apartment was a gift to me, and that I could go back to live there whenever I wanted.

But I didn't accept the house. It wasn't because I was arrogant, but because I felt that once a relationship ended, it was over, and there was no need to drag it out. Besides, if I accepted the house, I would feel that our relationship would become unclear.

I have no desire to be a mistress.

President Jiang is engaged, and I heard they'll be getting married at the end of the year.

That's how the adult emotional world is: perfect understanding, no fighting or arguing, and a dignified and silent withdrawal.

No matter how much I miss it, no matter how reluctant I am to let go, I still have to start a new life.

I finally decided to move with Tangtang to an ordinary neighborhood near the elementary school. Although it wasn't very upscale, this old neighborhood had a lot of intellectuals, such as doctors and teachers. The houses used to be allocated by work units and later became housing reform properties.

Although it's an old building, it has complete security, greenery, and recreational facilities. The rent is also reasonable, at over 8000 yuan a month, which is a great deal in Beijing, a city where land is incredibly expensive.

After Tangtang and I moved to our new home, we decided to take a break and spend more time with our child.

I'm just like any other mom, growing flowers and grass at home, making TikTok videos, dressing up nicely every day, and driving Tangtang to and from school.

I posted a video of myself cooking for my child on Douyin, and many fans gave me likes.

I do live-streaming e-commerce every day from home. I don't sell expensive products, but rather things that cost only a few dollars or cents, like toothbrushes, toothpaste, garbage bags, kitchenware, and so on. Although I only make a few cents profit per order, I've personally tested every product to ensure quality, and I've compared prices from multiple vendors to find the best deals.

Most of the attention is directed at stay-at-home moms, and I don't want to rip them off.

I work hard every day to shoot and edit videos and do live-streaming sales. The rest of the time I spend with my daughter and take her to and from get off work.

I don't really want to take on any roles right now because I was wronged by my agent before. My agent has a lot of complaints about me and has basically blacklisted me at the company. Good scripts just don't reach me. On the contrary, if I go out and take on roles myself, I have to pay the company a lot of money.

It's not worth it when you calculate it like this, but I've already filmed a movie and a period drama set in the Republican era, which I heard will be released soon.

I'm currently selling products online, and it's quite tiring every day. I stream from morning till night, but my monthly income is enough to support myself and my daughter, and I can even save some money.

My life has become quite stable.

President Jiang took over the vast enterprise left by his father, carried out sweeping reforms, and became the heir to a well-known company, as well as a very young group leader.

His every move became increasingly mature and ruthless, and he was decisive and ruthless in the business world. I heard that within a few months of taking over the company, he purged the people his stepmother and brother had planted in the group and replaced them with his own people.

As the son of a prominent conglomerate, he inherited more than 50% of the company's shares according to his father's will, causing his net worth to skyrocket and propelling him onto the rich list.

He is no longer the internet company boss I used to know, but a true heir to a wealthy family.

I saw news about him; he signed some business contract, held an opening ceremony, was leading an internal meeting to reorganize and reform the group, and even appeared on television, etc.

Juan had been enduring this for so long, and finally bribed her husband's driver and the company's accountant to obtain the company's true financial information, as well as bank statements showing the scumbag husband had transferred marital property through his mistress over the years, and invoices and purchase contracts for villas, luxury cars, and other items he had bought for his mistress.

I remember it clearly. At the end of August, when it was almost time to play the final card, Juan called me and asked me to accompany her to witness her and her husband take the final step.

Juan said, "Man, I'm getting a divorce. I'm going to confront him tonight. Come with me. I've put up with this for so long, tonight I'm going to beat that scumbag to a pulp. You're my best friend, I want you to watch how I deal with that scumbag and that bitch."

"Juan is my best friend in this city. I will go."

I went makeup-free, wore a tracksuit, and packed pepper spray, pepper spray, a self-defense baton, and other supplies in my bag. After I was all ready, I drove to the villa to meet Juan.

We haven't seen each other much lately, and Juan has lost a lot of weight.

She was wearing a silk nightgown. When she saw me, she came over and hugged me, saying, "Man, I've missed you so much while you were filming. There's so much I want to tell you, you know? I don't really have any close friends in this city. Sometimes, you're the only one I can truly confide in."

"Juan, I miss you too. Men can't be relied on, so we sisters will support and encourage each other to live well."

I say.

Juan said to me, "Man, you're right. Men can't be relied on; women still have to rely on themselves. That President Jiang was so gentlemanly and elegant before, saying he loved you and liked you. But in the end, didn't he still bow to power for money and marry a woman he had no feelings for?"

I have no respect for men like that. They weigh the pros and cons, are shrewd and calculating, and have absolutely no sense of responsibility.

"Juan, actually I understand him quite well. In this world, every adult wears a mask, and everyone has unspeakable hardships and difficulties in their hearts. How many people can truly live freely, cheerfully, and without restraint?"

I say.

Human nature cannot withstand the test.

Juan said, "Man, you're still so beautiful and so young. You'll meet a man who truly loves you."

"I don't want to think about these things anymore. Right now, I just want to focus on acting, earn money, and raise my child."

I say.