aircannonsinc Chapter 228 All or Nothing
Chapter 228 All or Nothing
In the heart of Nanjing, on the top floor of Tangyan Department Store.
The huge crystal chandelier was not turned on; only a few dim wall lamps were left on.
Two or three empty wine bottles were scattered on the carpet.
The once glittering mansion now houses only two women—Tang Yan and Liu Shishi.
Without the once chattering feline sisters, the empty living room felt somewhat desolate.
Liu Shishi held a half-empty glass of red wine in her hand, her eyes somewhat glazed as she gazed at the myriad lights outside the French windows.
That face, which was always as serene as a chrysanthemum, now bore a mocking expression.
"Tangtang, don't you think it's ridiculous that we created this 'peaceful and quiet little circle' back then?"
Liu Shishi hiccuped, shook her head with a wry smile, and said, "I was so stupid. I really thought everyone in this industry could stay together and support each other without fighting. Now it seems like it was all a joke!"
Tang Yan swirled the wine glass in her hand, her eyes revealing a world-weariness and clarity far beyond her years.
She is a few years older than Liu Shishi and has been in this industry longer, so she naturally has a clearer understanding of things.
"Shishi, you can't blame them. It's just human nature. The longer you stay in the world of fame and fortune, the more pragmatic you become. So-called sisterhood is as fragile as a piece of paper in the face of self-interest."
Tang Yan sneered, her tone icy: "In this company, who wouldn't want to find the biggest, most powerful figure to lean on? Look at us now, who even cares about our insignificant department?"
Liu Shishi wholeheartedly agreed, counting on her fingers and self-deprecatingly listing her faults:
"That's right. Look at Xin Xin, she's really made something of herself now. She has Bai Lu, Sun Yi, and Li Yitong as her 'stand-ins,' and she's determined to be the big sister herself."
What about Ni Ni? She's been going to Hong Kong a lot lately, clearly trying to get close to Liu Yifei (the "Fairy Sister").
At this point, Liu Shishi couldn't help but scoff, her tone full of disappointment:
"The most outrageous one is Nazha. When she first joined the company, she was such an innocent little girl. I really treated her like a younger sister. And now? She's getting incredibly close to Dilraba! I bet she's planning to jump ship and join Yang Mi's camp!"
Tang Yan listened to Liu Shishi's complaints and took a swig of wine.
"Shishi! We're so glamorous now, walking the red carpet, everyone calls us 'top stars'!"
"But being a top star sounds impressive, but in the boss's eyes, it's nothing!"
Tang Yan's eyes were red and swollen: "The boss's net worth is probably over a hundred billion now! Even if we help the company earn a billion in profit a year, will the boss even give us a second glance?!"
"Beauty fades and love wanes, Shishi! I'm almost thirty! How many more years can I enjoy my youth?"
"Look at Liu Yifei, look at Yang Mi! Even if they don't film for a year, they have nothing to be afraid of now!"
"Now, even Zhang Xinyu has one!"
"What's the use of us banding together and doing so much? No kids, no kids! Everything we have now is like a castle in the air; the boss can take it all back to those seventeen or eighteen-year-old newbies with just a word!"
This analysis shattered Liu Shishi's last hope.
Yes, without offspring, no amount of favoritism is like a tree without roots.
When they get old, what will they have to compete with those young and beautiful girls?
"But... what can we do if our own stomachs are failing us?"
Liu Shishi closed her eyes in despair.
She certainly wanted to have a child, but the boss had never used contraception with anyone in recent years.
But neither she nor Tang Yan showed any signs of pregnancy!
"Tangtang... how about we use our connections to get IVF done?" Liu Shishi suggested a bold idea, but then shook her head in frustration. "But... the boss hates it when people make decisions for him. If we beg him to cooperate on IVF... he'll definitely think we're overstepping our bounds. What's the difference between that and forcing him to do it?"
"Yeah..." Tang Yan sighed, her face full of bitterness, "He doesn't care whether we live or die."
The private room fell silent.
Tang Yan stared at the empty wine bottles on the coffee table, her brain working rapidly under the influence of alcohol.
Since the boss isn't cooperating, are we just supposed to watch helplessly as we get kicked out in the future?
Do not!She is not reconciled!
"Shishi..." Tang Yan grabbed Liu Shishi's shoulder, her voice trembling and changing tone.
"I...I have an idea!"
"What method?" Liu Shishi was frightened by her gaze.
"The boss doesn't usually wear it, but he'll wear it in one specific situation!"
Liu Shishi was stunned for a moment, then her cheeks turned bright red!
Of course she knew which situation Tang Yan was referring to!
Behind!
"Tangtang, you...you mean..."
"right!"
Tang Yan's eyes were filled with ruthlessness. "I've inquired! There's a medical-grade one, made of the same material as the regular one, but it doesn't contain any crystal-killing agents. It can guarantee a high survival rate for a short period of time!"
"Next time the boss comes, we'll secretly switch to this kind!"
"One serving is more than enough for our IVF treatment!"
boom!
Liu Shishi's mind went completely blank!
This plan is insane! It's like defying the heavens!
"But... how can we get away and deal with this in just half an hour?" Liu Shishi's voice trembled.
"That's why we have to work together!"
Tang Yan's thoughts were clear; she went through all the details in her mind.
"Next month, on the 6th, will be my 30th birthday!"
"I'll go to Secretary Zhang tomorrow to make an appointment and ask the boss to come over for my birthday that day! The boss is sentimental; if I plead with him earnestly, he'll definitely agree!"
"You came early that day! After the boss and I were finished..."
Tang Yan stared into Liu Shishi's eyes: "You go and stall the boss! No matter what method you use, you have to keep him occupied!"
"And I'll use this time to take the things out and put them in a medical refrigerator! That way they can be stored for four hours!"
"The boss never stays overnight at my place; he'll leave after two hours at most."
"Once the boss leaves, we'll have enough time to take our things to the hospital for IVF!"
"Shishi! This is our only chance!"
"As long as one of us gets pregnant, or both of us do! Even if the truth comes out later, the boss won't really do anything to us for the sake of the child!"
"But once we have a child, we'll have a trump card to turn things around! Those opportunists will eventually come back to us!"
Listening to this extremely dangerous plan.
Liu Shishi's heart was pounding in her chest.
"good!"
Liu Shishi picked up the remaining half-glass of red wine on the table and downed it in one gulp. "Bottoms up! I'll take over on the sixth of next month!"
In this gilded cage called Haofeng, in order to stay and for that vague sense of security, the once peaceful and serene actress was finally forced into becoming a desperate gambler.
……
at the same time.
In a high-end penthouse owned by Zhao Daye in Nanjing city.
Compared to the thrilling events of the two women, the atmosphere here was filled with a sense of resentment and oppression, like that of a wronged woman.
Su Youpeng paced back and forth in the living room in frustration, and couldn't help but loosen his tie.
"Big Eyes, do you think... Li Feng never intended to meet us in the first place?"
"We've been left hanging for almost half a month! Every time we call, Secretary Zhang just says, 'President Li is very busy, please wait a little longer.' We're just wasting our time in Nanjing every day, it's not going to work."
"Alright, stop spinning, it's making me dizzy." Zhao Daye's lips curled into a self-deprecating smile.
"That's how realistic the world of fame and fortune is. Whoever has money and power is the boss."
She placed the wine glass on the coffee table, her eyes filled with a hint of melancholy, and sighed softly.
"Back in the day, when had I ever suffered such humiliation?"
"Sigh... How cold-hearted the world is! If my husband hadn't gone to jail, would we be putting on such a humble act now?"
Upon hearing the name "Old Xu"!
Su Youpeng, who was still complaining, was so frightened that he trembled all over.
Having been in this circle for so long, how could he not know who Old Xu, whom Zhao Daye was talking about, was?
Given the taboo surrounding this former bigwig of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Su Youpeng quickly and awkwardly changed the subject.
"Ahem... Well, Big Eyes, if all else fails... let's not put all our eggs in one basket."
"Aren't you on pretty good terms with Jack Ma from Alibaba? Why don't we try our luck with Alibaba? Boss Ma is so rich, investing tens of millions is a piece of cake for him, right?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Daye rolled his eyes dramatically.
"Youpeng, Alibaba has money, but that's for e-commerce! What do they know about movie marketing?"
"What we want now isn't just the money for filming, it's screen time! Trending topics! Theaters! Do you know what Haofeng Network is holding right now...?"
"Ring ring—!"
Just as Zhao Daye was about to explain to Su Youpeng why Alibaba couldn't compare to Haofeng, the phone on the coffee table suddenly rang!
Zhao Dayan glanced at the caller ID and saw the name flashing on the screen.
Just a second ago, Zhao Daye was complaining, but now the gloom on his face has vanished, replaced by a bright smile!
She grabbed her phone and answered the call with a slightly obsequious tone:
"Hello! Secretary Zhang, hello! Oh, yes, yes, we've been in Nanjing these past few days, we're available anytime!"
On the other end of the phone, Zhang Yuxi's voice remained as cold and businesslike as ever: "Director Zhao, President Li has been too busy lately. He can barely spare an hour after 10 p.m. tomorrow night."
"Very well! Thank you so much for your understanding, Secretary Zhang! Please give our regards to General Manager Li!"
beep...beep...beep...
Hearing the busy tone on the phone, Zhao Daye wasn't annoyed at being hung up on.
"Youpeng! It's done! Tomorrow night at 10 PM!"
Su Youpeng, who had just been complaining about Haofeng bullying him, now had a smile blooming on his face like a chrysanthemum.
The speed at which they changed their tune was astonishing.