That afternoon, Li Qianqian arrived at the office. She had just sat down to pull out the files of the artists under her management when someone kicked the door open.
"Li Qianqian, don't push your luck! Even a dog deserves a bone. I spent all night drinking with that fat hag and endured her pawing at me—didn't we agree that if I kept her company, I’d get the second male lead in *Epiphyllum*? Why aren't you keeping your word?"
Pei Jin slammed his clenched fist onto the desk, his eyes burning with rage. After a year of oppression, he had reached his breaking point and no longer cared about offending Li Qianqian.
"You love throwing every resource at the artists under Yu Shushu's wing, so why did you even sign us? Your brother is a piece of trash who can't be helped; no matter how many good resources you dump on him, he’s still a waste of space!"
These two statements were a heavy blow to Li Qianqian. As the memories rushed into her brain, she felt a tightness in her chest.
In the original book, her predecessor had no interest in her career but was obsessed with favoring her younger brother. She had handed over all her resources to him, but since he was signed under the female lead, Yu Shushu, all the professional achievements were credited to Yu Shushu. Her predecessor had suggested multiple times that her brother join her own team, but because he was secretly in love with the female lead, he refused. He even demanded that she divert resources to other artists under Yu Shushu. This left the five artists she had personally signed with absolutely no resources.
Yet, despite having top-tier projects thrown at him, the brother remained mediocre, frequently caught acting like a diva and displaying terrible acting skills.
Pei Jin was the top artist under her predecessor. He was the youngest son of the Pei family, but because he dreamed of being an actor and refused to go home to inherit the family fortune, his family provided him no support and forbade him from revealing his identity, hoping he would give up when things got hard.
He had the misfortune of ending up with an agent like her predecessor, which made his life miserable. After being tricked into entertaining that fat woman only to have the role given to someone else, he snapped, headed home to inherit the family business, and secretly vowed revenge. The Pei family knew everything, so when the predecessor was kicked out of the Fu family, the Li family immediately severed ties with her, and unable to even find a job, she ended up homeless.
Li Qianqian weighed her options. Pei Jin had genuine potential: he had the looks, the acting skills, and the drive. She made a quick decision and tapped the desk.
"When did I ever say you weren't getting the role of the second male lead in *Epiphyllum*?"
"Don't try to lie to me! The whole company is saying Li Baichi is the second male lead for *Epiphyllum*!" Pei Jin’s voice was full of explosive agitation. He reached up to clutch his stomach, which was aching.
"Look for yourself," Li Qianqian said, pulling a contract for *Epiphyllum* from her drawer as her memories dictated.
Pei Jin opened it, half-doubting, and saw that the idiot’s name was indeed not on it. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and the pain in his stomach intensified, but he refused to show weakness in front of such a heartless agent.
He gritted his teeth, "My name isn't on here either!"
Li Qianqian didn't hesitate; she took a pen and wrote "Pei Jin" on the contract. "You didn't get this role because you entertained Madame Wang. You got it because you were the right fit."
Pei Jin was stunned; it felt as if the sky were falling. Was this really something that a vicious woman like Li Qianqian could say?
Li Qianqian saw his shock but didn't bother to explain. Noticing his pale lips and the way he held his stomach, she stood up and walked to the water dispenser. As she poured him a cup of warm water, she said, "Sit down and rest for a bit. I’ve poured you some warm water. Have you had lunch? *Epiphyllum* starts filming the day after tomorrow—if you don't take care of your health, how are you going to be in any state to act?"
"I... I haven't." Pei Jin sat on the sofa, dazed, staring at the cup being handed to him. It felt surreal. He couldn't help but feel that something bad was about to happen—that he was being set up again.
"I'll order you some food. Eat whatever you like." Li Qianqian returned to her desk, used her phone to order him some light porridge and side dishes, and then stopped paying attention to him, beginning to review the files of her other artists to distribute resources more appropriately.
As Pei Jin ate the porridge, he wondered if he was dreaming. Li Qianqian was actually looking out for him? Could the porridge be poisoned?
Just then, a knock sounded at the office door. "Knock, knock!"
"Come in," Li Qianqian said without looking up.
Yu Shushu walked in on high heels, with Li Baichi trailing behind her. Knowing Li Qianqian’s true status, Yu Shushu’s tone was extremely polite. "Qianqian, I brought Baichi here to pick up the script for the second male lead in *Epiphyllum*."
"Pei Jin, why are you here? Don't tell me you're trying to seduce my sister to steal my role?" Li Baichi noticed the man on the sofa and spoke with disdain. He walked over, slumped onto the sofa, and propped his legs up on the table, intentionally bumping Pei Jin’s meal.
Pei Jin gripped his spoon tightly. In the past, he would have taught this idiot a lesson, but now, having finally secured the role, he endured it for the sake of his dream and his refusal to return home to inherit the company.
"Why are you so quiet? Are you exhausted from keeping that fat hag company last night?" Li Baichi leaned in with a smirk and kicked his foot out, intentionally knocking over the bowl of porridge.
The warm porridge splashed onto Pei Jin’s trousers, soaking a large patch. Pei Jin squeezed his fists so hard his knuckles cracked.
In a flash, a figure darted over, and a loud slap landed on Li Baichi’s face. "Smack!"
Li Baichi jumped up, clutching his cheek in disbelief as he stared at the person who had hit him.
"Is this your upbringing? If Mom and Dad didn't teach you better, I don't mind stepping in and straightening you out myself!"
Li Qianqian watched her predecessor’s brother with cold eyes. His life had been a smooth ride; his parents had favored him since school, paving his way at every turn. After she had married into the Fu family, he had thrived in the entertainment industry, enjoying abundant resources despite his poor acting. He spent his days lying around and collecting money, having never suffered a single hardship in life. He was ignorant, spoiled, and rotten.
"Mom and Dad have never hit me! Who do you think you are to discipline me? You hit me because of him? Did this lowlife seduce you? How can you even look at trash like this?" Li Baichi pointed at Pei Jin, furious. His sister had always indulged him; he couldn't handle her hitting him because of some dog.
"Watch your mouth. There is surveillance in my office. If you want your reputation to suffer even more, I don't mind releasing the footage."
At Li Qianqian’s words, Yu Shushu was startled. She hadn't expected Li Qianqian to act this way toward her own brother. If such footage were released, all of Li Baichi’s recent projects would be ruined. She discreetly tugged on Li Baichi’s sleeve, signaling him to soften his tone.
But Li Baichi was too angry to comply. He immediately lashed out with a threat: "You really are sleeping with him! Apologize to me, or I'm telling the Fu family that you're out there playing around!"
"Go ahead. The door is right there. Get out," Li Qianqian scoffed, pointing at the exit.
"Fine! Li Qianqian, I’m never calling you sister again!" Li Baichi stormed off. He assumed that, as always, his sister would eventually come to coax him and compensate him with more roles. He wasn't worried at all. He’d make Pei Jin pay later!
"Qianqian, calm down. You know how Baichi is—he doesn't mean what he says. He’s just been having a rough time at work lately, so he’s a bit irritable," Yu Shushu said softly, playing the peacemaker, terrified that Li Qianqian might, in a fit of rage, give the *Epiphyllum* role to someone else. After all, it was a massive campus-themed IP.