Even after they were back in the car, the others couldn’t help but keep glancing at Rong Guang.
The most popular look for girl groups at the time was still smoky eye makeup, bold, fluorescent pink lipstick, heavy eyeshadow, and big, wavy hair in red or gold, paired with sexy and fiery stage outfits.
On stage, with the added effect of spotlights and stage production, it could just about be called dazzling and didn’t seem too exaggerated.
But that kind of makeup couldn’t be worn in daily life. And after wearing it on stage for so long, no one wanted to touch cosmetics offstage. As a result, they all looked like completely different people, the contrast being immense.
And since they were still young, they all looked like pale, malnourished university students.
It wasn’t that they had never worn light makeup before, but they had truly never seen someone like Rong Guang, whose light makeup, in contrast to her heavy stage makeup, didn’t seem plain at all and could even leave a lasting, stunning impression.
Duan Nong couldn’t help but lift her head and sneak a peek in the rearview mirror at Rong Guang, who was sitting in the middle seat.
She really was beautiful.
It wasn’t just them who thought so. Even the other artists they passed on the way to the car couldn’t help but steal a couple of glances in their direction.
They could even hear a lot of whispering, people wondering if their group had gotten a new member.
Duan Nong pursed her lips, feeling annoyed at the comment.
Rong Guang paid it no mind, closing her eyes and feigning sleep.
After she finished what she needed to do today, she would bid a final farewell to this chaotic residential complex, which housed far too many seventh and eighth-tier artists.
At precisely nine in the morning, the office door was pushed open from the outside.
Cai Xiang led the five girls into the room, closing the door behind her. She called out to the man in front, “Brother Chen, I’ve brought them.”
Chen Changping, who was sitting in the back playing on his phone, didn’t even look up. “Mm, have a seat. Rong Guang, you stay here. Cai Xiang, take the other three out and arrange their matters.”
Rong Guang’s expression remained unchanged, but Duan Nong, beside her, couldn’t sit still. “Brother Changping, we’re a team, after all. What kind of work requires separating us?”
Chen Changping smiled amiably at Duan Nong. After all, this was a little princess from a wealthy family, someone he couldn’t afford to offend.
He said with a smile, “It’s nothing like that, Nongnong. Brother has something to discuss with Rong Guang. Your Sister Cai will tell you the details.”
Cai Xiang knew how to read the room. She stepped forward and winked at Duan Nong, signaling that she had something to tell her in private, and half-coaxing, half-deceiving, she led the other three girls away.
Chacha stayed behind. Chen Changping saw her, but seeing she was just a little girl who had tagged along, he didn’t say anything.
As the irrelevant people were cleared out and the door was closing, Rong Guang could still hear Cai Xiang’s childish lies from outside, ‘Brother Chen is doing this to get Rong Guang to change her mind… You girls…’
She pursed her lips and watched the door shut.
Chen Changping heard it too and coughed awkwardly. Only then did he turn to Rong Guang. He was stunned by her appearance for a good while before his expression returned to normal.
“Rong Guang, don’t blame us,” Chen Changping said, placing both hands on the desk. “Universe Entertainment is much better than our company, with more opportunities for growth. After you go over, your development will definitely be better than it is now.”
Rong Guang’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile. Having been reborn, if she still couldn’t understand the subtext of Chen Changping’s words, then she would have lived the next eight years of her life in vain.
Chen Changping had clearly done something shameful and wronged someone, yet he still wanted their praise.
Even though what he did was extremely unscrupulous, he still hoped Rong Guang would remember that he was doing it for her own good.
So Rong Guang had to remember him, her old boss. If her career didn’t go well, she couldn’t blame him. If she really made it big, she should remember today’s favor and be grateful to him.
She should thank him for finding her a good future, thank him for not holding back her development.
Rong Guang let out a cold laugh.
Pah.
Rong Guang completely ignored Chen Changping’s script and said with a smile, “Brother Chen, in that case, when can I go to Universe?”
As expected, Chen Changping was taken aback.
There was no gratitude he had imagined, no reluctance to leave her old company, not even any sort of rambling speech.
The prepared remarks were shoved right back down his throat by Rong Guang’s unconventional question. Chen Changping managed to say, “Well…”
He truly didn’t know how to answer for a moment.
Rong Guang’s contract naturally needed to be sold as soon as possible.
To put it bluntly, even if a girl group was a massive hit at their debut, the hottest period of their career lifespan was three years at most.
NO.1 had managed to hang on for three years relying on Rong Guang and Duan Nong, but their stats in every aspect had long since declined. The company had been thinking of ‘selling off’ Rong Guang for a while.
But they weren’t stupid, and Universe was even less so.
They wanted to sell her off quickly while she still had some popularity, so the price they asked for wasn’t low.
How could Universe not know what they were thinking?
The contract was dragged out again and again. Even though a gentleman’s agreement had been signed on the surface, it would be a year later by the time all her endorsement work was truly finished.
During this year, the company certainly wouldn’t spend any more money on Rong Guang for nothing—wouldn’t that just be paving the way for Universe?
Clearing his throat, Chen Changping said, “The handover will still take some time, but it will be soon. During this period, Brother Chen has thought about it for you. You should take this opportunity to rest at home for a while, recharge your batteries. Consider it a vacation the company is giving you.”
After speaking, he observed Rong Guang’s expression and added, “Brother Chen will also put in a good word for you, have a word with finance, and give you a salary of five thousand a month. Just think of it as your pocket money.”
“So,” Rong Guang’s eyes curved into a smile as she said lightly, “what you mean is, during this ‘handover period with Universe,’ the company won’t be arranging any more work for me?”
Chen Changping choked.
Then, a wave of anger surged up. He subconsciously slammed his hand on the table, his expression about to change.
Having been in a high position for many years, he was long accustomed to these glamorous young stars fawning over him and trying to curry favor. When had he ever been cornered by someone’s words like this?!
However, Rong Guang gave him no chance to lose his temper.
She stood up directly, using the force from her knees to push the chair back, maintaining the smile on her face. “Brother Chen, that’s fine. If the company won’t give me work, I’ll just have to find it myself—I remember our company’s contract doesn’t restrict artists from seeking their own work opportunities, right?”
Chen Changping watched her grimly, then gave a dismissive smile and nodded.
He refused to believe that a young, inexperienced girl from a group, with no manager and no connections, could find any opportunities on her own in an entertainment industry that lacked for nothing but people.
Not to mention she had an even younger, inexperienced girl with her.
Chen Changping sneered, his gaze subconsciously shifting to Chacha, who was sitting in the corner.
Chacha was looking up at the surveillance camera in the corner, her expression focused and very serious, as if she were curious about what that thing with the flashing red light was for.
And a simple-minded fool at that.
Chen Changping pursed his lips, a sudden wave of pity for Rong Guang’s almost foreseeable tragic future washing over him.
Seeing that Chen Changping had said all he needed to say, Rong Guang smiled as well.
She suddenly sighed, her voice softening as she said gently, “Brother Chen, don’t blame me for my attitude today. After all, I’m out here trying to make a living with my little sister, and I still have my grandma to support at home. I have to be able to put food on the table.”
Behind her, Chacha chimed in on cue, “Yes, sister.”
“Alright.” Seeing this pitiful display, Chen Changping lost all interest in giving her a hard time.
He sat back down, crossed his legs, reopened his game with one hand, and waved the other at Rong Guang as if shooing a fly. “Close the door on your way out. Go on.”
On her way out, Rong Guang came face to face with the other three members at a corner as they were about to enter a different practice room.
It was unclear what Cai Xiang had told them, but it was most obvious with Duan Nong. The expression on her face was no longer the haughty look of someone waiting for her to bow her head and beg for forgiveness, but had transformed into one of utter anger and betrayal.
However, Rong Guang had other things to do and really didn’t have time to soothe the feelings of these young sisters who were still children. She took Chacha, who was still studying the camera, and got on a nearby elevator.
Behind them, Duan Nong angrily bit her lip.
“Nongnong, don’t be angry.” Tang Shi stepped forward and shook Duan Nong’s arm, her tone somewhat fawning. “Didn’t Sister Cai just say? Once the leader… once Rong Guang hits a wall, she’ll come back to the company on her own. Her contract is still with the company, so she can’t leave even if she wants to. It’s not up to her.”
“That’s right,” Yi Chun added. “When she realizes her mistake, we’ll persuade her to apologize to you, and the four of us can make up and continue performing together.”
Duan Nong hesitated for a moment, but then clenched her teeth and gave up the idea of chasing after her to demand an explanation.
In the elevator.
Chacha heard the elevator’s broadcasted announcement and glanced up at the screen inside.
Blinking, she said, “Sister Guangguang, look.”
“Yes, I’m looking.” Rong Guang took two steps back, resting her hands on the elevator’s handrail. Her somewhat stern eyes had completely softened, replaced by a familiar warmth.
Chacha looked at her expression and said with certainty, “It’s the person in the photo in your room.”
“Yes, that’s her.” Rong Guang smiled.
Chacha nodded and went back to fiddling with the camera.
She thought it was a good thing, but she didn’t quite know how to use it yet.
“Don’t break it,” Rong Guang said, stroking Chacha’s head. “Sister is going to an audition this afternoon. Remember to help me film it, I need to study it. If you get the chance, take a few more pictures of the person on the screen.”
“Okay.” Chacha nodded and obediently put the camera away. “I won’t break it.”
“Good girl, Chacha.”
After putting the camera away, Chacha looked again at the repeating broadcast in the elevator. Her gaze shifted between the screen and Rong Guang’s transfixed expression. “She’s the person you like,” she said.
“Yes,” Rong Guang didn’t deny it, nodding. “And no. She’s the person I love.”
“Mm.” Chacha nodded again, her young face full of seriousness. “When we see her this afternoon, I’ll help you tell her. I’ll tell her you love her.”
Chacha was definitely a person of action who always followed through on her word. Once she said this, there was no way she wouldn’t do it.
Rong Guang froze, instantly breaking out in a cold sweat.
