Interrogating Liu Lingling

Since Gu Yan held the press conference, the number of applicants for the auditions had reached an unprecedented height. With just one day left before the week-long registration period closed, the first round of auditions was scheduled to begin in three days. The auditions were set to take place in Hangzhou. Regardless of which city applicants came from or where they had registered, everyone had to arrive in Hangzhou before the auditions commenced, or else they would be disqualified. The tight schedule kept Gu Yan extremely busy, yet she genuinely enjoyed such a fulfilling lifestyle.

"Alisa, which company do you plan to award the contract for organizing the auditions to?" asked her assistant, Lan Ruo. Back in the United States, such decisions had been entirely up to her, but upon returning to China, Gu Yan had stipulated that all major decisions required her personal approval.

"In your opinion, which companies are currently the most suitable candidates?"

"There is no denying your influence in China; entertainment agencies both large and small have applied to organize these auditions." Lan Ruo glanced at Gu Yan's expressionless face and continued, "Among them, Tianhong Enterprise, which has emerged prominently over the past three years, is a very strong choice."

"How so?" Gu Yan tossed the documents in her hand onto the desk, raising an eyebrow. Tianhong—could there really be such a coincidence in this world? She wanted to see what reasons her capable, calm, and astute secretary of the past three years would use to persuade her.

"Your new drama, *The Most Important Person*, is set in the hotel industry, and Tianhong Enterprise happens to own a five-star hotel that we can use as our shooting location. This will save us a considerable amount in production costs. Although this company is relatively new, its potential is immense. Even Boss Han holds Tianhong's boss in high regard; otherwise, he wouldn't have signed Wei Hao's first project in China with them."

"Is that it?" That alone was not enough to persuade her.

"Actually, among the competing companies, the appearance of the Zheng Group was quite unexpected," Lan Ruo said cautiously. As an assistant, she naturally knew that the young master of the Zheng Group shared an extraordinary relationship with her boss.

Gu Yan fell silent, showing no reaction. She knew that Yingqi's participation in the bidding was certainly not as simple as merely wanting more opportunities to interact with her.

"According to my investigation, the Zheng Group and Tianhong have been locked in fierce competition over the past three years. Wherever Tianhong goes, the Zheng Group pulls out all the stops to compete. Take this instance, for example: even though the Zheng Group is primarily a food enterprise, they are competing for a foothold in the film and television industry, which goes entirely against their core business model." Hearing this, a warmth spread through Gu Yan's cold heart. If she still did not understand Yingqi's motive after all this, she truly would have been a fool.

"Give it to the Zheng Group."

Lan Ruo was about to say something, but thinking better of it in the face of Gu Yan's resolute attitude, she kept quiet. Her boss's word was always law, and whichever company was chosen would not make much of a difference to their operations anyway. She believed in Alisa's undefeated myth; even a company on the verge of bankruptcy could be brought back to life by a single drama of hers.

Only after finishing all her tasks did Gu Yan remember to make a phone call to check in on an old friend.

"Annyeonghaseyo!"

"Your Korean has gotten much better," Gu Yan said in a deep voice.

"Ah—Xiao Yan, you heartless woman, you finally remembered to contact me! Three years, tell me where you've been hiding. And what is this about a divorce? Others might not know, but how could I, Cai Mei, not understand you? You were the one who loved Shen Hong to the point of risking your life—how could you just drop him and get a divorce? Didn't you always teach me to keep my composure..." The person on the other end of the line sounded exceptionally excited.

"How are you? Are you doing well in Korea?"

"What do you think?" He was so dazzling, radiating boundless brilliance. Five years of devotion, standing by his side through thick and thin, had indeed earned her his love. Yet the distance between them remained vast...

"Xiao Mei... come back to China. I can make you an overnight sensation, shining brilliantly so that you can stand proudly by his side without having to endure malicious gossip."

"Haha! Xiao Mei, it has been three years, and you've actually developed a sense of humor," Cai Mei laughed heartily on the other end.

"Alisa is my English name." Hearing this, the laughter on the other end vanished, replaced by silence. As the lover of a top Korean star, how could Cai Mei have never heard of that name? Even an artist of Li Min's caliber would have had slim to no chance of getting the opportunity to collaborate with her.

"I've been casting for my new drama recently. The story follows university graduates experiencing the workplace through internships at a hotel. The three of us majored in hotel management, yet none of us ever went through that internship period." As Gu Yan spoke, she felt a burning sensation in her nose. "Let us fulfill the regret of what we never experienced, even if it's just within a drama."

"Actually, Li Min..."

"Bring him back to China with you. The male and female leads of this drama belong exclusively to the two of you. That is my promise."

"No..." Cai Mei anxiously refused. "Let him be the male lead if you wish, but I won't be participating." Scandal already surrounded them; she could not appear on screen with him again, let alone selfishly ruin his career.

Given Cai Mei's resolute attitude, Gu Yan knew there was nothing she could do. They truly were friends, both absolute fools. They always put the person they loved first, only to end up hurting themselves the most in the end.