After I died, they cried in the live studio

Chapter 144: Fame
When Sang Shuwan heard this, she felt a surge of blood rushing to her head, and her hands unconsciously clenched into fists. She could never have imagined that Alice, who had always trusted her and supported her with all her strength, would say such hurtful words behind her back. Her eyes were slightly red, and her heart was full of grievance and anger. But she still suppressed her emotions, took a deep breath, and did not rush into the meeting room impulsively, but turned around and left quietly.

In the following days, Sang Shuwan began to pay attention to the newcomers in the company. Soon, a girl named Xia Meng came into her sight. Xia Meng was extremely beautiful, with long black hair as smooth as a waterfall, big eyes, bright and lively, skin as white as snow, and a tall and outstanding figure. She exuded vigorous youth and vitality, just like a dazzling new star in the night sky, easily attracting the attention of many people in the company.

However, Sang Shuwan was keenly aware that Xia Meng did not seem to be serious about her acting career. She spent a lot of time dressing up every day, wearing all kinds of fashionable clothes and impeccable makeup, wandering around the company. She also frequently tried to get close to the company's senior management, always with a sweet smile on her face, and saying all kinds of flattering words.

Once, Sang Shuwan ran into Xia Meng in the tea room again. Xia Meng was chatting with a few colleagues, and when she saw Sang Shuwan walk in, a hint of barely perceptible contempt flashed across her eyes. Then, she deliberately raised her voice and said in a shrill voice: "Some people, after working in the company for a long time, think they are the backbone of the company, and don't look at how fast the market is changing now. Newcomers like me who are young, energetic, and have great potential are the masters of the future."

The colleagues around him laughed awkwardly, not knowing how to respond. Their eyes moved back and forth between Sang Shuwan and Xia Meng, and the atmosphere suddenly became extremely tense.

Sang Shuwan glanced at Xia Meng coldly and ignored her provocation. She walked to the water dispenser, took a glass of water, and then said slowly and calmly: "Everyone has his or her own development trajectory. A momentary glory means nothing. Only those who are truly capable can gain a firm foothold in this circle and stay in business for a long time." After that, she turned around and left the tea room gracefully.

But Sang Shuwan knew that Xia Meng was not a good person, and there must be someone behind her. Moreover, she had a hunch that Sang Jiuyue had something to do with this matter. Sang Jiuyue had always been jealous of her and had done bad things to her many times before, trying to destroy her acting career. This time, it might be another conspiracy carefully planned by Sang Jiuyue.

Therefore, Sang Shuwan decided to take the initiative and investigate Xia Meng's background with the connections she had accumulated over the years in the company. After a lot of hard work, she found that Xia Meng had a very mysterious experience before joining the company. For several months, her whereabouts were almost blank, and no one knew where she went or what she did. Moreover, she seemed to have become rich overnight and suddenly had a large amount of money, which she used to package herself. She also frequently went to various high-end places and lived a luxurious life.

"The money came in such a strange way, there must be some unspeakable secret behind it." Sang Shuwan frowned, staring at the information she had collected, and her suspicions grew like weeds. She secretly made up her mind to find solid evidence and uncover the truth behind Xia Meng.

In order to obtain evidence, Sang Shuwan began to secretly follow Xia Meng. One day after get off work, Xia Meng dressed up as usual, wearing a bright red dress and high heels, and walked out of the company swayingly. Sang Shuwan followed her from a distance, and saw Xia Meng stop a taxi and drive towards a high-end cafe in the city center.

Sang Shuwan also hurriedly called a car and followed closely. She found a secluded corner outside the coffee shop and sat down, staring at the door of the coffee shop without blinking. Not long after, Xia Meng walked into the coffee shop gracefully. Sang Shuwan saw her sitting in a corner, and then a familiar figure appeared, it was Sang Jiuyue.

Sang Shuwan's heart suddenly sank. Her guess was right. It was Sang Jiuyue who was behind the scenes. Sang Jiuyue and Xia Meng were chatting happily in the coffee shop. Sang Jiuyue took out some documents from time to time to show Xia Meng and stuffed a thick envelope into her hand. Xia Meng smiled and nodded continuously, with a proud look in her eyes.

Sang Shuwan suppressed her anger, quietly took out her cell phone, turned on the video function, and recorded the whole scene. She knew that these evidences would become a powerful weapon for her to reveal the truth.

After returning home, Sang Shuwan tossed and turned all night and could not sleep. She lay in bed, thinking about how to deal with the difficult situation. She knew that it was not easy to make Alice believe in herself. After all, Alice invested a lot of energy and resources in Xia Meng, and it took great courage and determination to make her accept the fact that she was being used.

The next morning, Sang Shuwan came to the company. She took a deep breath, tried to calm herself down, and then walked towards Alice's office. Standing at the door of the office, she took another deep breath, calmed herself down, and gently knocked on the door.

"Come in." Alice's voice came from inside the house.

Sang Shuwan pushed open the door and saw Alice sitting at her desk, with a mountain of documents in front of her that almost overwhelmed her. Alice looked up and saw that it was Sang Shuwan, and a hint of displeasure flashed across her face.

"Sang Shuwan, why are you here? I'm very busy now. If you have anything to say, just tell me quickly." Alice said impatiently.

Sang Shuwan was not affected by Alice's attitude. She walked steadily to the desk and gently placed the video and collected information in her mobile phone in front of Alice.

"Alice, I think you must take a look at these things. This is the result of my painstaking investigation during this period. Xia Meng was deliberately arranged by Sang Jiuyue to enter the company. Her purpose was to bring me down. At the same time, she wanted to use you to make you make wrong decisions in the company, which will seriously affect the company's development." Sang Shuwan looked serious, with unwavering confidence in his eyes.

Alice picked up her phone with a puzzled look on her face. She watched the video and her face gradually became gloomy, like the sky before a storm. She picked up the information again and read it carefully word by word, then leaned back in her chair and fell into silence.

The night was as dark as ink, weighing heavily over the city, completely swallowing up the hustle and bustle of the day. In Sang Shuwan's studio, the atmosphere was so oppressive that it made people breathless. The dim light swayed in the silence, reflecting Alice's anxious face. She slumped on the sofa, the coffee in her hand had long since cooled, and water droplets condensed on the edge of the cup, just like her depressed and helpless mood at the moment.

"Shu Wan, Xia Meng's matter can't be delayed any longer." Alice frowned, her voice full of fatigue and anxiety, "She has been in the company for so long, and she seems to be well-behaved on the surface, but I always feel that she is secretly watching us, like a time bomb. The last time we discussed the new quarterly promotion plan, Sang Jiuyue took similar actions the next day. She must have tipped off." Alice became more and more excited as she spoke, her fingers tapping hard on the armrest of the sofa, "If this continues, all our plans will go down the drain!"

Sang Shuwan stood in front of the window, staring quietly at the night outside. The lights of the city flickered in the darkness, but they could not illuminate their current predicament. She turned around, her eyes calm and firm, gently stroked the hair by her ears, and slowly walked towards the sofa.

"Alice, don't be anxious." Sang Shuwan's voice was steady, with a soothing power. "Sang Jiuyue's move was indeed cruel, but she was too conceited and always thought her calculations were flawless. We might as well take advantage of her and turn Xia Meng, this 'chess piece', into our 'sharp blade'."

Alice heard this, a trace of doubt flashed in her eyes, then she sat up straight and asked anxiously: "You mean... use her? But she is Sang Jiuyue's person, how can she be used by us?"

Sang Shuwan raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a confident smile. He sat down on the sofa, leaned forward, and said seriously: "During the time Xia Meng came to the company, she must have found out a lot about us. But she overlooked one point. When we really want to cultivate someone, the energy is beyond imagination. Next, we will give her top resources and let her become the newcomer that the company is promoting." Sang Shuwan's eyes were bright. "Sang Jiuyue saw that Xia Meng was doing well, and she must have thought that her plan was successful, so she would let down her guard. Xia Meng enjoyed these resources and attention, so she might not be willing to be just a pawn."

Alice pondered for a moment, and her eyes gradually brightened. "That makes sense! But this is not enough. How can we draw out Sang Jiuyue's weakness?"

Sang Shuwan leaned back against the sofa, a sly look in his eyes, "When Xia Meng has established herself in front of the public, we will take Xia Meng to Sang Jiuyue's coffee shop to discuss a big advertising endorsement. We need to let Xia Meng know that this endorsement is very lucrative and will have high exposure. Sang Jiuyue is greedy and impatient, and she will definitely be unable to hold back when she hears about this and will try to interfere. As soon as she makes a move, she will be exposed."

Alice's eyes lit up and she clapped her hands excitedly, "Great! Once she gets confused, we can seize the opportunity to counterattack. But as for Xia Meng, how do we do it specifically?"

The two immediately began to discuss in depth. In terms of resource allocation, they planned to hire a top physical teacher in the industry for Xia Meng, who would design courses specifically for her body proportions and temperament characteristics, and would sculpt her to perfection in every posture of standing and walking, as well as the charm of her gestures. In terms of performance training, they would contact the most well-known performance instructors for one-on-one special training, from the delicate expression of emotions to the inner exploration of complex characters, to improve her acting skills in all aspects.

In terms of publicity and promotion, Alice plans to use her connections to get Xia Meng on the cover of fashion magazines, have her participate in popular variety shows, and create topics on social media to quickly increase her popularity.

"I know the editor-in-chief of Fashion magazine. As long as Xia Meng's image and performance are good, there will be no problem on the cover. There is also the variety show Shining Star, which has been looking for newcomers with potential. Xia Meng will definitely shine if she goes there." Alice said confidently.

In planning to go to the coffee shop, they carefully selected Friday afternoon, the time when Sang Jiuyue often went to the coffee shop. Xia Meng's outfit was specially designed by a stylist, which was simple yet high-end, in line with the business atmosphere of the advertising endorsement and able to highlight the youthful vitality. The content of the dialogue was repeatedly polished, so that it could naturally reveal the attractiveness of the endorsement without appearing deliberate.

"Xia Meng, when the time comes, you can just talk about the huge boost this endorsement has given to your career, and casually mention the strong strength of the partner and the scale of the advertising. Keep your tone relaxed, but be sure to grasp the rhythm so that people around you can hear the key points." Sang Shuwan patiently explained to Xia Meng.

All the details were finalized. Although the two had not completely escaped from the predicament, there was already a glimmer of hope in their eyes. The battle with Sang Jiuyue had just begun, and they were ready to meet the upcoming challenges.

Since she and Sang Shuwan made plans that day, Alice has been running around like a clockwork machine. She first visited her long-time friend, the editor-in-chief of the well-known fashion magazine "Fashion". The two sat in a quiet tea room, the aroma of tea wafted in the air, but Alice had no intention of tasting it.

"As you know, our studio has always been focused on discovering new talents with great potential. This time, Xia Meng is definitely an unpolished gem." Alice said sincerely, "She has a unique image, outstanding temperament, and great plasticity. I believe that after she appears on the cover of Fashion, she will definitely bring new topics and popularity to the magazine."

The editor-in-chief took a sip of tea and said after thinking for a moment, "I believe in your vision, but for this newcomer, we still need to see how well she performs. Take a set of test photos. If the results are good, then the cover issue will be easy to discuss."

Alice was delighted and thanked him repeatedly. Then she immediately arranged the photo shoot for Xia Meng.

At the same time, Sang Shuwan personally accompanied Xia Meng to meet the acting instructor, an old artist with great prestige in the industry, whose studio was filled with various trophies and stills.

"Xia Meng, from today on, you have to devote yourself to the world of acting." Sang Shuwan said earnestly, "Every role is a life story. You have to feel, understand and interpret it."

Xia Meng looked at Sang Shuwan's determined eyes, and an inexplicable feeling of emotion welled up in her heart. She secretly made up her mind to work hard to live up to this trust.

In the following days, Xia Meng's life was filled with high-intensity training and learning. Every morning, before the first ray of sunlight fully illuminated the city, she repeatedly practiced various postures and movements under the guidance of her physical education teacher. She never complained even when her clothes were soaked with sweat.

In the afternoon, she immersed herself in the acting class, discussing the inner world of the character with her instructor, and often repeatedly pondered and practiced dozens of times for a single expression or line. In the evening, she would also take time to read various scripts and literary works to constantly enrich herself.

As time went by, Xia Meng's efforts began to pay off. She appeared on the cover of "Fashion" magazine. Once the photo was released, it attracted widespread attention on the Internet, and netizens were amazed at her unique temperament and expressiveness. Soon after, she was invited to participate in the popular variety show "Star Road Shining". In the show, she gained a large number of fans with her outstanding performance and true personality, and her popularity soared sharply.

At this time, Sang Jiuyue was secretly pleased with Xia Meng's increasing media exposure. She said to her trusted assistant, "Humph, Sang Shuwan is still too naive. Not only was Xia Meng, who I planted, not discovered, she even made her a rising star. It seems her company is not far from collapse."

The assistant smiled flatteringly and said, "You are really smart. This move is really unnoticed. Next, should we prepare for further action?"

Sang Jiuyue leaned back in the chair, squinted her eyes and thought for a while, then said, "Don't be impatient, let's observe for a while, and wait until Sang Shuwan completely lets down her guard, then we will give her a fatal blow."

On the other hand, Sang Shuwan and Alice felt that the time was almost right, so they began to plan to go to the cafe. They carefully selected a Friday afternoon because they heard that Sang Jiyue would go to her cafe to relax at this time every week.

They brought Xia Meng to the coffee shop. Xia Meng was wearing a simple yet stylish suit, with light makeup and her hair neatly tied behind her head. She looked capable and energetic. They deliberately chose a conspicuous place near the door to sit down and ordered a few cups of coffee and snacks. After a while, the door of the coffee shop was pushed open and Sang Jiuyue walked in as usual. She was slightly startled when she saw Sang Shuwan and others, and then a disdainful sneer appeared on her face, and she walked straight to the corner where she usually sat.

Seeing this, Sang Shuwan winked at Alice and Xia Meng, indicating that the plan should begin.

"Xia Meng, this advertising endorsement opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Alice deliberately raised her voice and said, "The partner is an internationally renowned brand, and the advertising investment is huge. Once the deal is successful, your career will be taken to a new level."

Xia Meng understood what he meant, and cooperated with an expression of surprise and expectation, saying, "Really? Sister Alice, I will definitely perform well and live up to everyone's expectations."

The sound of their conversation echoed in the coffee shop. Sang Jiuyue sat in the corner. Although she pretended to be reading a magazine, her ears pricked up unconsciously, and a look of jealousy and unwillingness gradually appeared on her face.

Sang Shuwan and Alice were chatting enthusiastically about advertising endorsements, and suddenly the subject changed as they were beaming with joy.

"Xia Meng, this opportunity is indeed rare. Many people in the company are eyeing it." Sang Shuwan stirred the coffee gently, his eyes falling casually on Xia Meng's face, "Everyone is looking forward to it, why should we give it to you?" There was an elusive meaning in his tone, as if he was considering, or testing, his eyes slightly narrowed, observing Xia Meng's reaction.

Xia Meng's heart skipped a beat and she became nervous instantly. Her heartbeat suddenly accelerated, but she quickly calmed down and smiled sincerely. She sat up straight and said anxiously and confidently: "Boss Sang, Sister Alice, I know how precious this opportunity is, and I also know that I am still inexperienced. But I will remember all the resources and opportunities you have given me during this period of time. If I can get this endorsement, I will do my best to bring honor to the company, and I will definitely be wholeheartedly devoted to you in the future and live up to your trust!" She unconsciously clasped her hands together. Because of nervousness, her knuckles were slightly white. Her eyes were full of desire and gratitude, and she looked at Sang Shuwan and Alice without blinking.

Sang Jiuyue was sitting not far away, flipping through a magazine nonchalantly. When she heard this, she paused and the magazine almost fell. Her ears were perked up, and her eyes quietly peeked out from above the magazine, staring at them closely, not missing any expression or any word. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and a trace of suspicion flashed across her face. She secretly wondered if there was a trap behind this.

Sang Shuwan and Alice looked at each other, secretly satisfied with Xia Meng's answer. They casually chatted about some light topics, from the latest fashion trends, to which celebrity's new look was well received, to the exciting plot of a popular movie, without mentioning the advertising endorsement, as if it was just an ordinary chat. Sang Shuwan gently lifted her hair and smiled as she talked about the design highlights of a fashion brand's new season, while Alice echoed and made a little joke from time to time, and the atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant.

Sang Jiuyue waited for a long time, and seeing that they had no intention of mentioning the key content, she couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. She kept changing her sitting position, first crossing her legs, then quickly putting them down, tapping her fingers lightly on the table, making a rapid "click" sound, and her eyes moved back and forth between the three people, trying to capture more information. But Sang Shuwan and the others were chatting enthusiastically, and they just didn't bring up the key points. She became more and more anxious, but it was not easy to go up and ask directly, so she could only suppress her anger, and the impatience on her face became more and more obvious.

After a while, Sang Jiuyue couldn't hold it in any longer, but she couldn't bring herself to ask directly. She snorted lightly, her face full of impatience, and threw the magazine heavily. The paper of the magazine was slightly wrinkled because of the force. She stood up, deliberately sighed loudly, and her high heels stepped on the ground with a hurried and annoyed sound, and she left the cafe, looking back every few steps. With every step, she expected to hear a few words about the endorsement from behind, but until she walked out of the cafe, she still heard those insignificant chats behind her. She was confused and unwilling in her heart, secretly wondering what Sang Shuwan and the others were doing. She looked back as she walked, her eyes full of unwillingness.

After leaving the coffee shop, Sang Jiuyue went straight back to her office. She sat down on the chair with a frown on her face, and the scene in the coffee shop just now kept replaying in her mind. The more she thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong. Sang Shuwan and Alice's behavior was too strange. It was impossible for them to bring up the advertising endorsement for no reason and suddenly change the subject. "Did they find out something? Are they deliberately showing it to me?" Sang Jiuyue muttered to herself, with a hint of panic in her eyes. She picked up her phone and called her assistant: "Keep an eye on Sang Shuwan and the others, and report to me immediately if there is any movement!"

In the coffee shop, Sang Shuwan and Alice looked at Sang Jiuyue's leaving back, with barely perceptible smiles on their faces. They knew that Sang Jiuyue had taken the bait, and it depended on how she would act next. Xia Meng looked at them, and although she was confused, she also knew that she shouldn't ask too much. She silently thought to herself that no matter what happened next, she had to seize this opportunity and live up to the trust of Sang Shuwan and Alice.

In the next few days, Sang Shuwan and Alice continued to work on the company's business as usual, but privately, they were closely following Sang Jiuyue's every move. They knew that Sang Jiuyue would never give up and would definitely take action, and they were ready to meet the challenge. Alice would collect news about Sang Jiuyue's company through various channels every day to see if she had any new moves. Sang Shuwan repeatedly thought about the response strategy in the office. She knew that Sang Jiuyue's counterattack might come at any time, and they must be fully prepared.

At the same time, Xia Meng was also working hard to improve herself. She used this time to study the products and markets related to the advertising endorsement in depth, hoping to show her professionalism and sincerity when she actually negotiated the endorsement. She also took the initiative to ask Sang Shuwan for some knowledge on business cooperation, and Sang Shuwan generously shared his experience and insights and patiently answered every one of her questions.

Finally, on a seemingly ordinary afternoon, Alice received an important message: Sang Jiuyue was contacting the advertising partner, and seemed to want to interfere. Alice immediately told Sang Shuwan the news, and the two looked at each other, with a flash of excitement in their eyes. "It's finally here." Sang Shuwan said softly, with a confident smile on her face. They knew that the real climax of this contest was about to come.

After Sang Jiuyue returned from the coffee shop with a loss, she kept a close eye on every move of Sang Shuwan's studio. A few days later, she heard the news that Xia Meng was about to win the attractive advertising endorsement. The fire of jealousy burned in her heart. How could she watch Xia Meng rise to prominence with the support of Sang Shuwan?

So, Sang Jiuyue secretly colluded with the media, bought off some marketing accounts, and began to smear Xia Meng on the Internet. Overnight, all kinds of negative information came flooding in, saying that Xia Meng was a big shot, disrespectful to her predecessors, and had a chaotic private life, and even fabricated rumors that she had faked her academic qualifications. These rumors quickly fermented and set off an uproar on the Internet. Netizens who did not know the truth followed suit and made accusations, and Xia Meng's reputation plummeted.

At the same time, Alice was also acting in secret. She used her connections in the industry to put pressure on some partners to cancel their intention to cooperate with Xia Meng. Under the pressure of public opinion and Alice's secret manipulation, the brands that had originally extended an olive branch to Xia Meng chose to back off and refused to sign a contract with Xia Meng. Even the variety show that had previously invited Xia Meng to participate removed her for various reasons.

Xia Meng was completely at a loss for what to do in the face of this sudden change. She found Sang Shuwan, her eyes full of fear and helplessness, and she cried, "Boss Sang, what is going on? I didn't do anything, these rumors are all false!"

Sang Shuwan pretended to sigh helplessly and comforted her, "Xia Meng, I didn't expect it to turn out like this. We will find a way, but the pressure from public opinion is too great now. You should take a rest for a while."

Xia Meng left Sang Shuwan's office in a daze. She couldn't understand how all that she had worked so hard for could vanish in an instant.

When Sang Jiuyue learned about Xia Meng's ban, she laughed so hard that she fell backwards. She walked around the office excitedly and said to her assistant, "See, Sang Shuwan has finally failed this time. He wanted to make Xia Meng famous by going against me. He is simply overestimating his own abilities!" As she laughed, she imagined Sang Shuwan's furious look, as if he had already stood on top of the world.

But it didn't take long for Sang Jiuyue to stop laughing. Because her tricks behind the scenes were too obvious, some of her peers were dissatisfied. Rumors began to spread in the industry that she would do whatever it took to suppress newcomers. Some clients who originally intended to cooperate with her also had doubts about her and postponed or cancelled cooperation. Sang Jiuyue's company's performance began to decline. She had to face various difficult problems every day and was busy and exhausted. At the company meeting, her subordinates reported the shrinking business data. She could only suppress her anger, but she could do nothing.

On the other hand, Sang Shuwan and Alice were secretly pleased to see Sang Jiuyue in trouble. They knew that Sang Jiuyue's greed and arrogance had caused her to lose her mind and make a series of wrong decisions, which was exactly what they wanted.

At this time, Xia Meng, after experiencing the initial despair, gradually calmed down. She began to reflect on her experiences during this period and realized that she might be involved in a cruel business struggle. She decided to cheer up and took the initiative to find Sang Shuwan and said firmly: "Mr. Sang, I have thought it through. I am willing to cooperate with your arrangements. No matter what challenges there are, I am not afraid." Sang Shuwan looked at her with a flash of approval in his eyes.

Sang Jiuyue was immersed in the joy of Xia Meng being banned, when she suddenly received a message that Xia Meng wanted to see her. In Sang Jiuyue's luxuriously decorated office, which was slightly messy due to her recent irritability and neglect, Xia Meng pushed the door open and walked in. Her eyes were no longer timid, but full of determination and anger.

Sang Jiuyue looked up and saw Xia Meng. She was startled at first, then a mocking smile appeared on her face: "Why? You dare to come to see me when you are down and out?"

Xia Meng walked up to her step by step, straightened her back, and looked into her eyes fearlessly: "Sang Jiuyue, don't be too proud too soon." Xia Meng's voice was not loud, but it was full of unquestionable power. "From the moment you arranged for me to work as a spy in Sang Shuwan's company, I was being schemed by you. But don't forget, I have my own ideas, too."

Sang Jiuyue's face suddenly changed. She stood up abruptly, put her hands on the desk, and glared at Xia Meng: "What do you mean? Betray me? Don't forget that your current fate is caused by yourself!"

"Betrayal?" Xia Meng sneered, "You used me and treated me as a pawn, which is wrong. During this time with Sang Shuwan, I truly felt what it was like to be nurtured and respected. And you, you only thought about your own interests and trampled on my future at will." Xia Meng took a deep breath, the flame of revenge burning in her eyes, "I came here today to tell you that I will make you pay for all the pain you have brought me. Just wait, I will make you pay the price in the future."

Sang Jiuyue was so angry that she was shaking all over. She pointed at Xia Meng with a trembling hand and said, "Do you think you still have a chance? You have been banned now. No one will give you resources anymore. You are just an unwanted abandoned child!"

"That's not necessarily true." Xia Meng's eyes were firm. "Sang Shuwan and Alice are already helping me clarify. The truth will soon come to light. Then, let's see how you can still be so proud." After saying that, Xia Meng turned around and strode out of the office, leaving Sang Jiuyue alone there, her face turning pale and blue.

Xia Meng turned around and strode out of the office, each step was firm and powerful, and her resolute back seemed to announce to Sang Jiuyue that she was no longer a chess piece that could be manipulated at will. The crisp sound of her high heels hitting the ground gradually faded away until it completely disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Sang Jiuyue stood there alone, her face turning pale and blue, like the rolling dark clouds before a storm. Her eyes were bloodshot with anger, and she stared at the door that Xia Meng had closed, as if she wanted to burn it through with her eyes. Suddenly, a roar broke out from her chest, and the long-suppressed anger erupted like a volcano.

Her arm seemed to be out of control, and she swept across the desk, sweeping the pile of documents to the ground. The white papers fluttered in the air like a group of panicked white doves, and finally fell to the ground in pieces, making the originally tidy office instantly messy.

Then, her eyes were attracted by the exquisite coffee cup on the corner of the table. She brought the cup back from abroad and regarded it as a beloved item in the past, but now it became the victim of Sang Jiuyue's venting of anger. Her hands trembled as she grabbed the coffee cup and screamed hysterically: "How dare this little bitch talk to me like that!" With this roar, she swung her arm vigorously, and the cup, wrapped in her anger, drew a sharp arc in the air and smashed heavily against the opposite wall.

With a loud bang, the cup shattered into pieces, and the ceramic fragments flew around like snowflakes. The brown coffee slowly flowed down the wall, leaving a shocking stain on the white wall, like a pool of glaring blood, and like her shattered dignity at the moment.

"She betrayed me! She deserves it!" Sang Jiuyue roared while pacing frantically in the office. Her high heels stomped heavily on the floor, making a rapid and angry sound, as if it was the drumbeat of her unwillingness deep in her heart. "And Sang Shuwan and Alice, they teamed up to plot against me, I will never let it go!" Xia Meng's firm and provocative eyes kept appearing in her mind. Every time she thought about it, the anger in her heart burned more vigorously. She punched the bookshelf next to her, and the bookshelf shook violently for a few times. Several heavy books could not withstand the vibration and fell to the ground with a "click".

Sang Jiyue knew that Xia Meng now had the full support of Sang Shuwan and Alice. It would be harder than climbing to the sky to suppress her as easily as before. But she had been working in this fiercely competitive industry for many years. How could she swallow this breath so easily and give up? She had plenty of means and was definitely determined to break the situation.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her heaving chest, walked quickly to the desk, grabbed the phone, and dialed the assistant's number. As soon as the call was connected, she ordered fiercely: "Check for me, check every move of Sang Shuwan and the others recently! Don't let go of even the slightest movement! Also, find a few reliable and smart people to keep a close eye on Xia Meng, 24 hours a day, I want to see what tricks she can come up with! If you can't do it well, you know the consequences!"

After hanging up the phone, Sang Jiuyue sat back on the chair that symbolized power, tapping the armrest with her fingers from time to time, making a dull sound. Her eyes revealed a vicious and unwilling look, like a trapped beast, ready to launch the next round of attacks. She knew in her heart that the days ahead would be full of twists and turns, and a more intense and cruel contest was about to begin. But she would never sit still and wait for death, as this war without gunpowder was far from over.

Sang Jiuyue stood in front of the French window in her office, overlooking the busy streets below, with cars and people coming and going, but her eyes were empty and cold. The sunlight shone on her through the glass, but it could not dispel the chill in her heart.

Recalling the betrayal she had suffered in the entertainment industry, those so-called partners abandoned her without hesitation in the face of interests, which made her fall into endless public opinion storms and financial difficulties. Her hands clenched unconsciously, and her nails dug deep into her palms. But just now, in this quiet office, she figured it out.

She slowly turned around, walked to the balcony, took a deep breath, the breeze gently brushed her hair, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, revealing a resolute smile, and whispered softly: "Those who betray me will not have a good end." At this moment, the hatred and unwillingness in her heart turned into a firm force. She decided not to sink anymore and to take control of her life again.

This couple's coffee shop, which she had put so much thought into, became her first step to a new start. When it opened a few months ago, she successfully restored her damaged image by relying on her fame in the entertainment industry and the charity events held from time to time in the shop. But when her goal was achieved, she quickly lost patience with the coffee shop and stopped running it with all her heart.

Seeing that she had not come to check on the business for a long time, the management gradually became lazy. The coffee beans were no longer carefully selected, and the grinding was no longer as focused as before. The quality of the coffee plummeted. The hygiene conditions also became worse, with dust accumulating in the corners and the tables and chairs placed in a mess. The once bustling coffee shop is now deserted, with few customers and a sharp drop in turnover. It is in a precarious situation.