By evening, Ou Yunchen was the first to arrive at Lan Gongzi. The guests he had invited also took their seats, but Xi Ya was conspicuously absent.
Just as everyone raised their first glasses, a knock sounded on the private room door.
Sister Lan: "Good evening, everyone. Tonight, I've specially prepared deep-sea sashimi for you all."
Yang Danzhou quickly handed her a glass of wine. Sister Lan, being a seasoned socialite, immediately accepted it.
Yang Danzhou: "It's truly thanks to Boss Ou that we have this opportunity to dine at Lan Gongzi."
"I've heard for a long time that Lan Gongzi is extraordinary, but I didn't expect its boss lady to be even more so. Sister, you are truly a great beauty."
Sister Lan: "You flatter me. I'll drink this glass to your success, wishing you all great endeavors."
Sister Lan downed the entire glass of white wine, much to the satisfaction of the guests in the room, who exclaimed their approval.
Sister Lan: "Then I won't disturb you further. If you need anything, please call a server. I hope you all enjoy your meal and drinks."
Sister Lan smiled and nodded cordially at all the guests. However, as she closed the door, she subtly shook her head at Ou Yunchen. Upon seeing this, Ou Yunchen gave a look of understanding.
It seemed Xi Ya was definitely not coming tonight.
Ever since Ou Yunchen rejected Xi Ya's confession, the popular girl group member had rarely appeared before him. She had even unfollowed Ou Yunchen on Weibo, causing a stir among many fans.
Yang Danzhou: "Boss Ou, I'll toast you. Thank you for the invitation."
After finishing this glass of white wine, Yang Danzhou's cheeks were flushed. She was known to be a bold female CEO at banquets; she could hold her own against all the men present.
The purpose of tonight's banquet was twofold: to win over these influential figures to support Yunniao Technology's new IP, and to explore future collaborations between their products and the upcoming AI beauty IP.
Just then, Ou Yunchen's phone rang. It was a number he hadn't heard from in a long time.
Ou Yunchen: "Excuse me, I need to take this call outside."
— Ou Yunchen on the phone —
Xi Ya: "You canceled my endorsement?"
Ou Yunchen: "Who taught you to call your boss and start with a question?"
Xi Ya said indignantly: "Boss, good evening."
Ou Yunchen: "I invited you, why didn't you come?"
Xi Ya: "An artist does not attend dinner parties or serve drinks. That's a rule you set!"
Ou Yunchen: "Artists must obey all company regulations. That's also a rule I set!"
Xi Ya: "The company is promoting a new girl group. Do you think I'm useless now, so you're making me serve drinks?"
Xi Ya sounded wronged, her voice trembling.
Ou Yunchen: "As long as they are artists, I will support them. I give all artists the same opportunities. You can't always be at the top; ups and downs are normal."
Xi Ya: "It's like how you lied to me back then!"
Ou Yunchen: "What did I lie to you about?"
Xi Ya: "What you said in front of all the media, have you forgotten? You said I was your girlfriend!"
Ou Yunchen: "Xi Ya, that was to save your group's image. It was a PR tactic, to divert attention. You've been an artist for so many years, don't you understand?"
Xi Ya: "But I believed it! Ever since then, every love song I sing has been about you!"
Ou Yunchen: "You don't need to come tonight. Go get some rest."
Xi Ya: "I'm coming anyway!"
— Ou Yunchen ends the call —
After hanging up, Ou Yunchen took a deep breath. This uncooperative artist was actually holding a grudge.
He didn't know whether to blame Liu Jinhua for not properly guiding this young girl, or himself for his impulsive decision to use a risky PR strategy back then.
However, in Ou Yunchen's heart, Xi Ya had always been a straightforward and brave young girl.
Perhaps it was because she was wholeheartedly devoted to her passion for music and dance, and had never truly experienced the complexities of society. She was still a child at heart, pure and simple.
Just as Ou Yunchen was about to return to the private room, he heard someone calling his name from the stairs.
Liu Jinhua: "Boss, I'm here."
Ou Yunchen's eyes widened as he looked at the slightly breathless, top agent. He stopped her in surprise.
Ou Yunchen: "Why are you here?"
Liu Jinhua: "Xi Ya went to a class reunion. I tried to persuade her for a long time, but she refused to come. She's probably drunk by now."
Ou Yunchen remembered their phone call. No wonder the girl's tone had sounded so odd. It seemed she really had been drinking.
Ou Yunchen: "If she's not coming, then so be it. Why are you here?"
Liu Jinhua straightened her back and puffed out her chest. "I dressed up specifically for this. I won't embarrass the boss."
Ou Yunchen: "I didn't ask her to come for entertainment. This isn't that kind of banquet!!!"
Liu Jinhua: "Ah? I thought..."
Ou Yunchen: "You've been with me for so long, and you're the most clueless one!"
Liu Jinhua: "But, Boss, didn't you get angry and cancel all her brand endorsements because Xi Ya didn't show up?"
Ou Yunchen: "I didn't cancel them; I recommended them to others."
Liu Jinhua: "I thought, whether Xi Ya or I came, as long as we entertained those guests, the endorsements would be safe..."
Ou Yunchen: "I wanted Xi Ya to come for a different project. I want to create a beauty brand in Xi Ya's name, so she can endorse her own brand. Do you understand?"
"The people inside are all top executives in this industry. They can help Xi Ya build a brand-new beauty brand!!!"
Liu Jinhua: "Boss, I was wrong. I should leave..."
Ou Yunchen: "Get back here!"
Liu Jinhua: "Boss..."
Ou Yunchen: "Come in with me. You know what you need to do, right?"
Liu Jinhua nodded vigorously. She was very familiar with banquets and drinking sessions!
Returning to the private room, Ou Yunchen introduced the guests to Xi Ou's star agent, Liu Jinhua.
Yang Danzhou: "It's an honor. I've heard of Agent Liu for a long time. If I recall correctly, Sister Liu used to be JC's agent, right?"
Liu Jinhua: "Yes, yes. That's all in the past, and not very glorious."
Yang Danzhou: "I understand, I understand. It just goes to show that Mr. Ou is very good at recognizing talent. Gold will always shine eventually."
Liu Jinhua quickly raised her glass.
Liu Jinhua: "Thank you for your kindness, bosses. My artist, Xi Ya, couldn't make it today. I apologize on her behalf and yours. I'll drink three cups as a penalty."
Yang Danzhou: "Oh dear, Agent Liu, you make it seem like we bosses are bullying you. Look, your boss is embarrassed."
Ou Yunchen was indeed embarrassed. It was supposed to be his event, and even without Xi Ya, he could have managed the flow.
But Liu Jinhua had single-handedly shifted the spotlight to herself. Perhaps from her time with JC, she was used to humbly begging capitalists for work for her artists.
Liu Jinhua downed three cups without stopping. Ou Yunchen was somewhat impressed by her.
One could only say that what was supposed to be a business dinner had, thanks to Liu Jinhua, completely devolved into a drinking spree.
Yang Danzhou: "No, no, no, Sister Liu, you are truly my good sister. I can't drink anymore, really..."
They had barely touched upon the main topic, and all the substance was lost in alcohol.
The guests in the private room were already half-drunk, some of them passed out on the table, snoring loudly, having succumbed to Liu Jinhua's charm.
Yang Danzhou, under Liu Jinhua's various persuasive drinking tactics, was now so inebriated he could barely speak coherently.
Ou Yunchen leaned against the corner, forehead in his hand, watching his agent take down all the guests. He felt an inexplicable sense of weariness.
However, by sheer accident, he had managed to get these bosses to agree to cooperate and build a brand-new beauty brand together.
Liu Jinhua sidled up to Ou Yunchen. When she drank, she became exceptionally lively. There was no topic she couldn't discuss, and no subject she wasn't enthusiastic about.
Within a few sentences, she could elicit the gossip these bosses enjoyed hearing.
Liu Jinhua pointed proudly at the disheveled bosses.
Liu Jinhua: "Boss, are you satisfied?"
Ou Yunchen gave a thumbs-up and then stood up, preparing to open the door.
At that moment, the private room door was pulled open from the outside.
Xi Ya: "Hi!"