The慶華 Street next to the apartment the original owner rented.
In a corner of a coffee shop.
Ding Yun was meeting Hu Meimei, whom she had not met for nearly a month, and whom she wasn't sure could be counted as the original owner's friend, stirring her coffee in silence.
"Sister Siyan, are you... alright?"
After a long silence, Hu Meimei suddenly looked at Ding Yun's unadorned face and said this.
At this moment, Ding Yun was reviewing the original owner's memories about Hu Meimei and had already roughly understood that Hu Meimei was also an artist under her agent.
The two of them were even rivals back then.
Their relationship should only be considered a superficial one.
Besides maintaining a decent relationship in front of their agent and outsiders, they hardly contacted each other in private, so Ding Yun really couldn't guess what Hu Meimei wanted from the original owner's memories.
However, since the other party did not show any malice, Ding Yun pondered for a moment and then said calmly:
"I'm doing alright. At least I can sleep for eight hours a day now, and I don't have to worry about the damage to my skin from wearing makeup for over ten hours a day. Moreover, due to lack of work, my hair loss has also eased up a lot.
By the way, my dark circles have also improved significantly.
My skin used to be so bad that I could barely go out without makeup. Look at me now, even without makeup, I'm still not very good-looking, but at least there are no obvious flaws. This shows that the skincare products I used before.
Their effect was not as good as getting a few more hours of sleep!
Ding Yun's words completely choked Hu Meimei, leaving her speechless.
After a long while, she rolled her eyes helplessly and said:
"Forget it, I'm too lazy to pretend with you.
And don't pretend to be indifferent here. I don't believe you can remain calm and enjoy life when you have no work and are even considered shelved.
I'm here to see you for only one reason today.
Let's join forces..."
"?"
Ding Yun was confused at this moment, so she could only ask: "Join forces? What do you mean by that?"
"Isn't what I said clear enough?
It means joining forces to fight against the company. I've had enough of this exploitative company and its exploitative agent. After so many years, the company has only provided us with some help in the beginning, and since then, they've just been leeching off us.
The artists promoted by big companies are directly assigned roles. What does our company do? They help us secure an interview opportunity, as if it's a great achievement.
As if it's a great favor.
Whether it succeeds in the end still depends on us. If there's someone with a powerful company behind them among those interviewing, we're just there to make up the numbers.
The company can't help us at all.
And regarding public relations, although you have yourself to blame for your image collapse this time, the company's inaction has indeed disheartened everyone.
So we want to join forces to increase our influence.
And sue the company.
At the very least, we can terminate our contracts with the company. With my current popularity, even if I go solo and do live streams or sell products, my monthly income would not be what it is now. What do you think?"
If both sides were evenly matched, Hu Meimei would probably be more tactful, but now, in Hu Meimei's opinion, Ding Yun was already like a grasshopper after autumn, unable to jump much.
On the surface, she was the one approaching Ding Yun for cooperation.
But in reality, Xu Siyan was the one who needed help more urgently.
Not Hu Meimei.
So, she simply laid her cards on the table, as she didn't think Xu Siyan would refuse.
"You can sue if you want to sue.
Why are you looking for me? I don't think you'll be short of me if you want to fall out with the company and sue them."
Ding Yun still didn't play along and continued to ask.
"The more people, the more strength!
Besides, to put it bluntly, you have nothing left to lose now. We are bringing you along out of sympathy for our shared predicament.
Don't be ungrateful.
Don't think we can't do without you!"
Seeing that Ding Yun did not immediately nod in agreement, Hu Meimei knew that this matter might not go as smoothly as she thought, so she immediately changed her tactics.
As she spoke, she deliberately pretended to pack her bag.
As if intending to leave.
Ding Yun, however, calmly picked up her coffee and took a sip, remaining silent and simply watching Hu Meimei with a slight smile.
Seeing this, Hu Meimei immediately lost her composure.
Damn it, why isn't she playing by the rules?
Should she leave or stay? If she really got up and the other party didn't try to keep her, wouldn't it be even more awkward? If she sat there, her previous actions would be difficult to explain.
After a long while, Hu Meimei's cheeks flushed slightly, and she almost gritted her teeth as she uttered an excuse:
"Um, I've had too much coffee and need to use the restroom. You stay here, I'll be back later!"
Then she picked up her bag and turned to go to the restroom.
As soon as she entered the restroom and locked the door, Hu Meimei gnashed her teeth and cursed in a low voice:
"Damn it, why didn't she die.
Didn't they say she was in poor health and had depression? If she had depression, why didn't she just end it all after being scolded like that? If she had died directly.
Why would I have to go through all this trouble.
And come to her for help...
So annoying!"
"Damn it, but there's no other way. The arrow is already on the string and must be shot. If she had died, the lawsuit with the company would have proceeded smoothly. Now that she's not dead, there's a question mark over this matter. What should I say to her!"
"Do I really have to bow my head?"
At the same time, Ding Yun, who had found an excuse to sneak to the restroom door and pretend to walk around a few times, clearly heard Hu Meimei's low curses.
Then, she naturally turned and left.
She did not stay at the coffee shop waiting for her.
Ding Yun could already roughly guess the other party's intentions. It was likely that Hu Meimei initially thought the original owner would be unable to bear the blow and commit suicide, and then she could use the original owner's suicide.
To expose the company's harsh contract.
And demand unconditional termination of the contract.
As long as a life was lost, the matter could absolutely not be taken lightly, and it might even become a trending topic. This would undoubtedly be very beneficial to her plan, and perhaps the company would even terminate the contract under pressure without a lawsuit.
But now Xu Siyan's body was fine.
Hu Meimei had already made some preparations, and might have even been noticed by the company or the agent, which was why she said the arrow was on the string and had to be shot, and specifically came to seek Ding Yun's cooperation.
However, she still failed to recognize the situation.
She even thought Ding Yun was easy to fool and control.