They surrounded me right after the breakup.

Gyeongju Airport, arrival hall.

Zeng Yi came out first, dragging a suitcase and carrying a bag on his back.

Linghua followed behind, her hands in her hoodie pockets, looking around.

"This is Jingzhou?" She took a breath. "Drier than Shencheng."

"It's autumn..."

There were quite a few people waiting to pick up passengers, holding signs and crowding behind the railings.

Linghua saw a young woman in a black suit holding up an A4 sheet of paper with "Miss Linghua" written on it.

"Who is that?"

"It's the company's administration," Zeng Yi said. "Chairman Jiang arranged for them to pick us up."

The administrative staff helped them with their luggage and led them to the parking lot.

A black Buick GL8 was parked on the side of the road with its hazard lights flashing.

"Chairman Jiang has arranged a welcome banquet. I'll drive you two there tonight," the administrative assistant said as she drove.

Linghua glanced at the time; it was 8:15 PM. It would take at least half an hour to get from the airport to the hotel.

This means the company boss had been waiting for them for a long time.

Pinweixuan, second-floor private room.

Fang Chongwen, Mao Buyi, and Xia Yutong had already arrived and were sitting with Jiang Han playing Guandan.

Fang Chongwen was wearing a dark blue jacket and his hair was neatly combed, looking much more formal than when he was at the company.

Mao Buyi was still wearing that dark-colored knitted sweater.

After getting off work, Xia Yutong changed into a dress, transforming from a career woman into a young beauty.

"Attorney Xia, can you please stop messing with me! Boss Fang has already beaten up Old K, and we haven't even been dug up yet!" Jiang Han complained helplessly.

Xia Yutong looked aggrieved: "I...I've already tried my best!"

"Mao Mao, you only have two cards left. Why did you play a pair?"

"I...I didn't notice."

"You're driving me crazy!"

Xia Yutong was calm and composed even when faced with complex case files, but she knew absolutely nothing about playing cards. She was so frustrated by Jiang Han's words that she almost cried.

Fang Chongwen frantically signaled to Mao Buyi with his eyes, secretly cursing the kid for being so stupid, not knowing how to go easy on the boss.

You take this casual game of Guandan (a card game) so seriously. Jiang Han finally gets to play his card, and you just blow it up.

9 pm.

The waiter knocked on the door, and Zeng Yi and Linghua came in.

"Let's eat, let's eat, that's enough fighting!"

Jiang Han threw down his cards, sat in the main seat, and pointed to the empty seat next to him.

"Sit down, you must be tired from the journey."

"It's alright." Linghua sat down and put her bag next to the chair.

Fang Chongwen stood up, walked over and shook hands: "You must be Linghua? Zeng Yi has mentioned you to me several times on the phone, and I'm so glad to finally meet you today."

Linghua shook hands and said, "Hello, Teacher Fang."

"Sit down, sit down, don't be shy," Fang Chongwen invited her to sit down.

Mao Buyi nodded to Linghua.

Xia Yutong stood up and introduced herself: "I am Xia Yutong, the legal counsel of Xingyue Media. For any contract-related matters in the future, please contact me directly."

Linghua glanced at Xia Yutong a couple more times. She was really pretty; she didn't look like someone in legal work, but more like someone who filmed a gay movie.

The waiters began serving the dishes, simultaneously refilling everyone's wine glasses.

Jiang Han raised his glass and stood up: "Come on, welcome Zeng Yi and Linghua! You two have come all the way from Shenzhen, you must be tired from your journey! Cheers!"

Linghua picked up the glass, touched it, and then downed it in one gulp with hearty gusto.

During the second round of toasts, Linghua stood up and used a decanter to fill everyone's glasses at the table.

The technique was skillful, the angle of the dispensing device was just right, and not a drop was spilled.

When it was Fang Chongwen's turn, he waved his hand and said, "No, no, let me slow down."

"Please help yourself, Teacher Fang." Linghua filled her own cup. "I'll finish mine."

He downed it in one gulp.

"President Jiang, let me toast you again. Thank you for giving me this opportunity!"

Linghua poured the wine from a small cup into a large cup and used a decanter to make a loud splash.

Jiang Han drank half a glass; he didn't dare to drink with a Mongolian girl.

"You're welcome. Thank yourself."

After three rounds of drinks and five courses of food, the meal was served.

Fang Chongwen had already pushed his wine glass aside and started drinking yogurt instead.

Mao Buyi was drunk, and Xia Yutong stared blankly at Jiang Han.

Jiang Han sighed and shook his head, thinking that he needed to find skilled drinkers in the company.

"Linghua, how much can you usually drink?"

"I haven't calculated it in detail."

"One pound?"

"One pound is definitely no problem," Linghua said. "Any more depends on the condition."

Jiang Han gave a thumbs up, saying that girls with a high alcohol tolerance are rare talents wherever they go.

"Linghua, would you like to sing a song?"

Upon hearing this, Linghua didn't hesitate or refuse; she immediately stood up and cleared her throat.

He opened his mouth and immediately began a long Mongolian song.

When her voice came out of her throat, it was like the wind on the grassland, coming from afar and going away.

When the last note faded, the private room was silent for two seconds.

The waitresses at the door were drawn in by the music coming from inside and stopped to listen.

By the end of the dinner, Xia Yutong was unsteady on her feet and could only be supported by Jiang Han.

"Which hotel is Linghua staying at?"

"The whole season was ordered with the help of the company administration," Zeng Yi said.

"Okay, I'll have the logistics department arrange a permanent place for Linghua later. She can make do for one night."

"President Jiang, what time tomorrow?" Linghua asked, concerned about the arrangements.

"See you at the office at 10 o'clock."

"OK!"

After everyone had left, Jiang Han helped Xia Yutong walk towards the parking lot.

Xia Yutong took two steps, but her high heels got stuck again. She laughed and kicked them off, stepping barefoot on the ground.

"Aren't you afraid of hurting your feet?"

"Hehe, the ground is flat, and I have small feet, so I can't step on anything dirty."

Jiang Han shoved her into the back seat of the Maybach and got into the driver's seat himself.

"Where to?"

Xia Yutong leaned back in the back seat and remained silent for a long time.

Jiang Han looked in the rearview mirror and saw her curled up in the seat, her skirt crumpled up, her eyes closed, and her breathing heavy.

"Xia Yutong, where do you live?"

"Um…"

"..."

Jiang Han gripped the steering wheel and remained silent for a few seconds.

The light turned green, and the cars behind honked their horns frantically, urging them to hurry up.

Jiang Han sighed, stepped on the gas, turned onto another road, and drove towards the Park Hyatt Hotel.

……

On the other side, at the headquarters of Universal Music Greater China.

The light in the general manager's office was still on.

Jiang Guangyao sat behind his desk, a music platform data report from the previous week displayed on his computer screen.

Mao Buyi's three songs occupied the top three spots on the hot songs chart, and the number of plays for "Xiaochou" is still rising, having dominated the chart for several consecutive days.

He pushed the report forward, leaned back in his chair, and rubbed his temples.

The phone on the table rang, and he answered it without thinking.

"Mr. Jiang, breaking news: Xingyue Media is preparing to sign two more new talents."

"Understood." Jiang Guangyao hung up the phone.

He sat at his desk, staring at the album poster of Mao Buyi next to him, then picked up the landline and dialed a number.

"Have Shan Yichun come to my office tomorrow."

Jiang Guangyao put down the microphone and started spinning the globe on the table.

Universal Music has been deeply rooted in Greater China for twenty years, signing the most popular singers and producing the best-selling albums.

It's embarrassing to say that a newly acquired entertainment company has managed to mess up the charts like this with amateur singers.

We have to push it, even if it's tough!

Shan Yichun was signed last year. She has a formal vocal training background and is also good-looking, but she hasn't been able to find suitable songs yet.

Jiang Guangyao originally wanted to refine it for a while longer, but now it seems he can't wait any longer.

He picked up a pen and wrote a few words on a sticky note: Shan Yichun, new album, one month.

Then stick the sticky note next to the computer screen.