Was this his doing?
Wei Ting clenched her fists tightly as realization dawned upon her. Her meticulously done nails dug into her flesh, and she completely disregarded her image, lunging at Song Qiao with a furious tirade.
"Damn you! What the hell did you do?"
"You son of a bitch, do you know how many people would kill for this contract?"
Song Qiao raised an eyebrow, displeased by Wei Ting's foul language. He wasn't about to humor her and shot back,
"Try saying that again if you dare! Believe me, I'll teach you a lesson!"
"Cough, cough!" Cheng Ran coughed loudly, her voice urgent.
She subtly tugged at Song Qiao's sleeve. The message was clear: his wife was right there!
Song Qiao quickly reined himself in, pouting as he explained,
"She started it..."
Cheng Ran nodded, not blaming Song Qiao. Instead, she turned to confront Wei Ting,
"You asked him to replace you, and now you're blaming him. Are you sick in the head?"
The other models and staff in the studio finally caught on.
"What? She actually got that b*tch replaced?"
"How did he manage that?"
Everyone stared at Song Qiao in disbelief, struggling to comprehend his identity. They had spent the last few minutes speculating, and they knew that only a few individuals at the very top of Huajiang Group could accomplish such a feat with a single phone call. If they could latch onto Song Qiao, their rise to fame would be inevitable.
With this thought, many of the female models' gazes towards Song Qiao shifted, becoming suggestive and filled with an alluring glint. Even some of the male models couldn't suppress their excitement and seemed eager to try their luck. What if he had a particular taste?
This development startled Cheng Ran. She quickly pulled Song Qiao closer, shielding him as if he were a precious heirloom. This put her in direct confrontation with the furious Wei Ting.
Wei Ting's eyes blazed with anger as she bellowed,
"Good for you! I knew you wouldn't be so bold otherwise."
"So you've found yourself a kept man!"
Such words couldn't faze Cheng Ran. She stood tall, hands on her hips, and declared proudly, "Yes, I have! So what!"
*Pfft.*
Song Qiao burst out laughing at Cheng Ran's defiant stance. Wei Ting, on the other hand, trembled with rage, nearly passing out.
"You! You! I..."
Wei Ting took several deep breaths, her trembling finger pointed accusingly at Cheng Ran. She clearly intended to take out all her frustration on her.
"Since he's with you, this debt is yours to settle!"
"Huajiang Group suddenly canceled our cooperation. Do you know how much I'm going to lose?"
"Not even considering the long-term consequences, this one project alone is worth ten million!"
"Pay up, or I'll see you in court!"
"Hmph!"
Cheng Ran scoffed, unfazed. "You must be out of your mind wanting my money! No way!"
Wei Ting gritted her teeth, spitting with menace, "I'm warning you, don't think I can't deal with you just because my contract with Huajiang Group is canceled."
"I'm telling you now, if you don't pay this money..."
"I'll shut down your studio today!"
The crowd had been enjoying Wei Ting's downfall, but her threat brought them back to reality. They remembered how Wei Ting had achieved her fame. It wasn't because Huajiang Group had recognized her potential from the masses and plucked her out. It was because she had attached herself to the Zheng family! With their backing, she had reached her current status. The rumors outside were likely true; her relationship with the young master of the Zheng family was probably more than just professional. If the Zheng family intervened, making a studio disappear in Shanghai would be child's play!
Cheng Ran's father, though a deputy helmsman of the Tongmen sect, was clearly not someone she could rely on. The smiles on everyone's faces froze. Cheng Ran's confidence wavered.
This emboldened Wei Ting, who puffed out her chest haughtily, sneering at Cheng Ran,
"Don't think I don't know your relationship with your family is strained. Of course, if Helmsman Cheng were to back you up, I wouldn't dare to act rashly. But do you really think that's possible? Hahaha!"
Wei Ting's laughter was manic, clearly reveling in her plan to bully Cheng Ran, the pitiable child with no family support. She glanced at her expensive wristwatch and pressed on aggressively,
"I don't have time to waste here. You have three minutes to think it over."
"Either compensate me for all my losses, or I'll have my people trash your studio!"
"Think carefully, don't waste my time. Because in three minutes, it won't just be ten million!"
*Crack.*
Cheng Ran's eyes welled up with tears. She clenched her fists, glaring at Wei Ting. Her strained relationship with her father was common knowledge in Shanghai, especially after their blow-up at her last birthday party. Cheng Dong not only hated Song Qiao but also himself! She couldn't possibly ask her family for help now. Her only reliance was Song Qiao, her verbally agreed-upon fiancé. Cheng Ran wasn't even sure if he wanted her, understanding that his primary goal was to break the engagement between the Cheng and Guo families. She was merely a bonus.
Lost in these thoughts, Cheng Ran felt tears welling up. She sniffled, pleading with Wei Ting in a dejected and pitiful tone,
"I can't come up with that much money right now. Please wait until I receive payment for my upcoming advertisements. I'll find a way to gather the rest and give it to you, okay?"
*Hiss.*
Seeing Cheng Ran compromise, Song Qiao couldn't help but suck in a breath through his teeth. He stepped forward, gently placing a hand on Cheng Ran's shoulder, and said,
"Why are you being so kind to such an ungrateful wretch?"
"Shut up!" Wei Ting immediately snapped, seeing Song Qiao about to interfere again. She hadn't forgotten who had caused her to lose the Huajiang Group contract. Muttering curses, she raised her hand to slap Song Qiao.
"How dare you defy me! I'll beat you to death today!"
*Slap!*
Wei Ting was an ordinary person, and her slapping speed couldn't compare to Song Qiao's. The moment she lunged forward, Song Qiao preempted her with a swift backhand, sending her flying.
"A dog barks a few times, and you ignore it. Must it keep barking relentlessly?"