Rong Qiao’s heart pounded as she looked at the unfamiliar number on her phone screen.
She had waited for days, eagerly anticipating this very call. "Hello?" she finally answered, trying to calm her racing pulse and feign composure.
"Miss Rong? I am Cheng Jue, CEO Lu's assistant," the voice on the other end stated directly, identifying himself immediately.
The mention of CEO Lu sent a wave of relief through Rong Qiao.
She had finally received the call!
"Hello, what can I do for you?" Rong Qiao asked, putting on the airs of a prominent star.
Cheng Jue replied calmly, "Our CEO wishes to meet you. Tomorrow morning at ten, at Yun Shang Club."
"Did CEO Lu say anything else?" Rong Qiao, despite her excitement, remained rational. Knowing one’s enemy is key to victory. She hoped to glean some information from Cheng Jue.
However, she had overestimated herself and underestimated Cheng Jue’s integrity.
"Miss Rong, I am merely conveying a message," Cheng Jue responded.
Rong Qiao’s expression froze slightly, and she muttered an apology.
There was little else to discuss. Cheng Jue, having fulfilled his boss's task, ended the call.
Rong Qiao, however, was in turmoil.
She clenched her fists, pacing her room for a long time, her heart filled with apprehension.
Though she believed her decision was right, facing a formidable figure like Lu Yanbei left her lacking courage and confidence. Yet, if she didn't, years of effort in the entertainment industry would be in vain.
She refused to fade into obscurity without a trace.
Her company was determined to blacklist her, not only preventing her from appearing in public but also demanding she repay all her earnings to cover a massive breach of contract penalty.
Rong Qiao was increasingly frustrated, having barely slept for days.
Now, with an opportunity before her, she was determined to seize it.
Thinking about the meeting tomorrow, Rong Qiao grew nervous again. She meticulously pondered what to wear and how to present herself.
Yun Shang Club was well-known in B City and even across the country, with notoriously exorbitant membership fees.
Rong Qiao had only heard of it before, never having had the chance to visit.
"Miss Rong, please follow me." Dressed in sunglasses and a hat, Rong Qiao had concealed herself completely, fearing recognition. Her attire served a dual purpose: to evade paparazzi and to avoid causing trouble for Lu Yanbei.
From past experiences, she knew Lu Yanbei disliked publicity stunts. Furthermore, he was married, and any rumor linking them would only harm her reputation.
After escorting her to a private room, Cheng Jue quietly withdrew.
Two bodyguards stood guard at the entrance, ensuring their conversation remained private.
Rong Qiao offered a thank you and walked further in, her high heels clicking on the floor.
She figured, whether she faced the challenge head-on or hesitated, the outcome would be the same. It was better to be decisive.
To her surprise, Lu Yanbei was not alone in the room.
A woman sat beside him.
Rong Qiao recognized her instantly.
"Mr. Lu, Mrs. Lu," Rong Qiao said, taking a deep breath and stepping forward to greet them politely.
Su He smiled at her. "Miss Rong, a pleasure to meet you!"
Su He extended her hand, gesturing for Rong Qiao to sit. "Would you care for something to drink?"
Rong Qiao pursed her lips. "Juice, please."
Su He pressed a button on the table, and a moment later, a server brought in a glass of fresh juice.
Throughout the exchange, Su He did all the talking; Lu Yanbei remained silent.
Rong Qiao was secretly astonished.
She had expected Lu Yanbei to question her, but it was the Mrs. Lu who dominated the conversation.
After some polite formalities, Su He got straight to the point. "We've invited Miss Rong here today to inquire about the phone call before the wedding. Do you, perhaps, know something?"
Rather than wasting time and resources on an investigation, it was more efficient to directly ask Rong Qiao, an insider.
Seeing Su He's directness, Rong Qiao didn't beat around the bush. "Not long ago, a celebrity named Qiao An'an approached me, proposing a collaboration, which I refused."
"Qiao An'an?" Su He didn't seem surprised by the name. After all, as a recluse, there were only a few people she had grievances with.
"Yes," Rong Qiao stated frankly. "She said... that she was originally betrothed to Mr. Lu, and that you, Mrs. Lu, stole everything that belonged to her."
"Hmph! She certainly knows how to twist the truth!" Su He scoffed. "Do you believe her?"
"Naturally, I don't." Rong Qiao’s tension eased as she realized Su He, unlike the stereotypical wealthy wife, had no airs. "Although I don't know her specific plan, I could tell she genuinely harbored resentment towards you, Mrs. Lu. That's why I went to great lengths to get your contact information to secretly warn you."
"Miss Rong is very kind," Su He said with a half-smile. "However, I am curious why you didn't agree to collaborate with her? After all, your current predicament is partly related to my husband, Mr. Lu."
"If he had intervened then, you wouldn't have become a discard by the company."
Rong Qiao’s expression faltered briefly, and she quickly clarified, "Mrs. Lu, you've misunderstood. It is I who have implicated Mr. Lu. Mr. Lu had no obligation to help me, and I dare not complain."
"Mm, it seems you are an intelligent person!" Su He picked up her milk tea from the coffee table and took a sip. "Tell me, what reward are you seeking?"
Rong Qiao opened her mouth, momentarily speechless.
She hadn’t expected Mrs. Lu to be so straightforward.
"Even if you don't say it, I can probably guess," Su He said with a smile. "You worked hard in the entertainment industry for many years, finally gaining a foothold, only to offend people by refusing to succumb to quid pro quo. You must feel very resentful!"
"Yes!" Rong Qiao gritted her teeth and said, "The achievements I have today are all from my hard work. Why should they erase all my efforts with a single sentence!"
"When I first debuted, I ran errands everywhere, worked as a stunt double, endured icy water in the dead of winter, and worked while burning with a forty-degree fever. To play a role well, I spent months learning pastry making, all for a few minutes of screen time..."
As Rong Qiao spoke, her emotions intensified, and her eyes began to well up.
Su He knew Rong Qiao came from a modest background and entered the industry by chance. But she had a good personality; even after becoming famous, she never suppressed others, and her assistants had stayed with her for years, indicating good character.
She had watched some of Rong Qiao's dramas. Her acting skills weren't extraordinary, but they were sufficient to keep the audience engaged.
Su He was willing to help someone with such integrity and work ethic.
This was one of the reasons Su He insisted on having Lu Yanbei bring her and letting her lead the conversation. She knew that if Lu Yanbei handled it, he would likely label Rong Qiao as an accomplice, leaving her no chance for redemption.
Su He wasn't a saint, but fundamentally, Rong Qiao had done nothing wrong to her; instead, she had helped her. Although her warning hadn't been of significant practical use, it had at least allowed Su He to be more prepared and prevented chaos after the incident.
Rong Qiao was a person who remembered kindness.