The Secret of Second Marriage

I was stunned. I didn't expect that Shen Qi would take special care of me at the press conference today because of Shen Xing.

I sighed softly, "Please thank Shen Xing for me."

Why don't you go and thank him in person?

Shen Qi suddenly lost control of her emotions and said, "I worked with Shen Xing on set before, and he's a very nice guy!"

He really likes you. The girl's picture he uses as his phone's lock screen is probably you, right?

He never flirted with other actresses on set; he just quietly filmed.

Why did you have to hurt that guy's feelings? You know he likes you, why didn't you give him a chance?

"I already have a boyfriend."

I say.

It's impossible for Shen Xing and me; I kept those words to myself.

But Shen Qi understood it.

She paused for a moment, then seemed to be defending Shen Xing, saying, "Miss Jiang, you have a boyfriend and you're still entangled with Shen Xing. What kind of behavior is that?"

If you truly hurt Shen Xing and caused him great harm, what will your colleagues and seniors in the entertainment industry think of you?

"I don't care what other people think! You know what? In my last marriage, I cared a lot about what others thought."

I endured grievances that I couldn't even understand myself, pretending to be a good person in front of everyone, being a virtuous wife and loving mother, taking care of the children, serving my husband, and being filial to my parents-in-law.

Trying to please everyone? And the result? Who pleased me? Who cared about my feelings?

My ex-husband cheated on me with his female secretary, and my in-laws kicked me out of the villa.

I'm living my marriage a second time. From now on, my feelings are the most important thing. I won't care about anyone's opinions. Let whoever wants to look, look; if they don't want to look, they can close their eyes. I just want to live freely for myself this once!

As for Shen Xing, I have very little contact with him now, and maybe one day we'll completely cut ties!

I took a deep breath and said.

Shen Qi was stunned.

She always thought I was a middle-aged woman with a deep mind, who was toying with Shen Xing's feelings.

But I never expected that I would be such a sincere and carefree woman.

She said, "Sister Man, you seem like a very experienced woman. Let's grab a drink sometime."

"Okay, it's on me."

I said it very generously.

It was almost 1 p.m. when we left the production crew. After the recording, the crew ordered boxed lunches for each of us guests.

I finished a quick lunch in the car, and the police officers at the local police station told me that the matter had been clarified.

The cigarette ash on my agent Xie Xue's fingers, the burn scars, the purplish-blue bruises all over her body, and the wounds from being beaten on her body have nothing to do with me.

Xie Xue's husband has a history of domestic violence. Every few days, he suspects that Xie Xue is being abused by someone else.

Xie Xue is using this incident to blackmail me and spread rumors and slander against me online. She has already signed a confession at the police station.

The police officers from the local police station called me to mediate the matter. If mediation fails, they will proceed with legal proceedings.

I thought for a moment and said to the police officer, "Officer, may I speak with Xie Xue alone for a while?"

"Sure, no problem. You can negotiate it yourselves. If you can reach an agreement, it will save us the trouble of mediating."

The police said.

I drove to the police station, parked my car in the yard in front of the station, registered my name and ID number, and met the police officer who was handling my case.

The police took me to an interrogation room where I met Xie Xue.

There were surveillance cameras in the room, and the recording function was turned on. Before the police left, they told us to communicate well and not to resort to violence!

Xie Xue was brought to this room and sat opposite me. She wasn't handcuffed, and her face was gloomy and resentful as soon as she came in.

She finally lost her temper and said sarcastically, "Jiang Man, I thought a woman nearing forty like you knew nothing!"

I never expected you to be so cunning! You even brought a recording pen to the company to terminate your contract. If I had known, I would have had the security guard check you several times before letting you in!

"What deep-seated grudge do we have? She's clearly my manager, yet she keeps finding ways to sabotage me! Xie Xue, your professionalism is absolutely appalling; you don't deserve to be a manager!"

I say.

When Xie Xue heard me criticize her, she got even angrier. Her eyes were a bit fierce, as if she wanted to devour me. She said, "So many newcomers in the entertainment industry can't make it. I really didn't expect that you, a divorced woman in your thirties, would actually become famous."

Jiang Man, it's not that I'm targeting you on purpose! It's because you've offended someone.

As an agent, Xia Weiwei often gave me designer bags and clothes, treated me to fancy meals at upscale restaurants, and frequently sent me red envelopes and bought me late-night snacks.

And you? You never even tried to curry favor with me. All you did was rigidly stick to filming all day long, and you had absolutely no sense of social etiquette!

Looking at your poor and shabby appearance, I thought you would never become famous in your life!

Xia Weiwei is a million times richer and more elegant than you. She's a genuine second-generation rich kid. Of course I'm going to put my resources and future on Xia Weiwei. Why would I put them on a poor woman like you?

It's a pity that fate is so unfair; why is it you who's become famous?

"Where were you when I was filming in Hengdian during the hottest summer days, when the temperature was close to 40 degrees Celsius, wearing heavy costumes and shooting scene after scene?"

I work until 11 or 12 every day before I finish, and when I drag my tired body back to the hotel, where are you?

Where were you all while I was studying the script over and over again and honing my acting skills?

You consider Xia Weiwei your best friend. If something happens to you, will Xia Weiwei even come to see you?

Knowing that woman as I do, she probably deleted all your contact information a long time ago, because you're no longer of any use to her.

idiot!"

I gave a cold laugh.

Xie Xue was stunned after hearing this.

She was detained for spreading rumors and defamation, and asked her lawyer to pass on a message to Xia Weiwei, asking her to help her find connections to bail her out.

But Xia Weiwei hasn't even come to visit her yet, and has even quietly unfollowed her agent's Weibo account on social media... It seems she's completely giving up on her as a pawn.

Xie Xue gritted her teeth and said, "Jiang Man, I didn't come to see you today to bring up old grudges. I know you hold a grudge against me. I'm close to Xia Weiwei and I use all sorts of methods to suppress and mess with you!"

But I called you here today, so tell me, what do you want in return for letting me go? I'll admit defeat, okay?

She said, "Now that you're famous for acting, you've gained recognition, landed gigs and endorsements, and can even appear on TV shows."

You're not short of money, so why are you so fixated on me? Can't you be a little more generous?

"If that's your stance, then I have nothing to discuss with you! How should compensation be determined? Let the court decide. But I have one condition: those who should be arrested must be arrested, and those who should be sentenced must be sentenced. The law shouldn't wrong an innocent person, nor should it let a guilty person go free!"

I looked at this shameless woman and sneered.

"you……"

Xie Xue didn't forget to threaten me: "I advise you not to be so cocky, Jiang Man. You're just a newcomer in the entertainment industry, and you've only filmed one relatively popular TV series."

In a few years, the audience will gradually forget you! Then you'll be nothing!

"I'm your agent, after all. If you dare send me to jail, I have connections and can ruin you. You'd better think carefully before you speak!"

"Then you should stay there and reflect on your actions."

I said, "I don't mind having one more enemy!"

I packed up and prepared to leave because I felt I had nothing to talk to this malicious agent.

"etc"

Xie Xue probably really doesn't want to go to jail, because once she does, she'll lose both her career and reputation.

She quickly stopped me and said, "Don't go yet, sit down and talk to me properly. Tell me your needs, and see if I can meet them."

You just want to terminate the contract, right? I am, after all, a shareholder of the agency, I have some shares, and I can speak to the higher-ups.

"As long as you don't pursue criminal charges against me, I can get the company to terminate your contract as soon as possible!"

"I can talk to you. If you want me to drop the lawsuit, you have to agree to three of my requests. First, consider it a loss that the company has been deducting so much from my pay for the resources they've introduced to me during this period."

However, when I go out to find acting roles myself, I get my full pay back, not a penny less, for any roles I get through my own abilities!

Second, terminate the contract within one week.

Third, I demand that you publicly apologize to me on your WeChat Moments and Weibo accounts, and you are not allowed to delete it for 7 days!

After thinking about it, I made three requests.

I am not a ruthless woman, nor am I a woman who has lost her mind.

Xie Xue gritted her teeth and said, "Jiang Man, aren't you going a bit too far? You were a newcomer back then. If you didn't have a company, who would have asked you to act?"

What gives you the right to demand such an exorbitant amount? Also, when artists terminate their contracts with their management companies, they usually have to pay the management company a large termination fee.

"And you actually expect our company to pay you? Besides, that money—several million dollars—went into the pockets of the company's top executives. How am I supposed to compensate you?"

"If you don't agree, then we'll have to go through legal proceedings."

I said it indifferently, without any emotion.

Xie Xue cursed: "A woman like you with no compassion will get her comeuppance sooner or later!"

How could you do this to me? Do you even want to stay in the entertainment industry? I've never seen an artist like you!

"Now you've seen it for yourself."

I said, "I'm a little tired and need to go back and rest. If you don't agree, that's fine too; then we'll see you in court."

Silence, silence for about 3 minutes.

I straightened my sleeves, picked up my bag, and prepared to leave.

But just as I was about to step out of the detention cell, Xie Xue suddenly called me back and started playing the emotional card: "Man, I know you are a soft-hearted and kind woman."

Back when your ex-husband had nothing, you were willing to follow him to Beijing to make a living, endure hardship, live in a basement, and pick up discarded vegetable leaves from the market to make noodles.

Director Zhang told us all about how you saved money and made your ex-husband successful.

I know you won't go so far as to kill us all!

I'm so sorry, okay? I really didn't mean it. I was bewitched by that bitch Xia Weiwei, which is why I kept targeting you!

"Can you just forgive me this once?"

"Don't worry, I've made up my mind not to forgive you!"

I said, "I am no longer the foolish woman who always puts others first, sacrifices herself, and tries to please others."

Right now, I just want to be a little selfish and think more about myself. What do you think?

When you maliciously spread rumors and slandered me online, trying to ruin my career, did you never think about today?

Xie Xue, I won't back down an inch!

"Fine, Jiang Man, I admit defeat. I will fulfill all three of your conditions, but remember, one day I will make you kneel before me and apologize."

Xie Xue's eyes were filled with hatred.

I said, "Then you'd better find someone to take care of these three things as soon as possible. After these three things are done, I will withdraw the lawsuit. My bottom line is only three days. If you can't keep your promise after three days, then we won't have any room for negotiation."