Jiang Fei arrived at the clinic just in time. Qiao Yiyi’s BMW had just pulled up, and he arrived shortly after in Ye Yuanyuan’s Hummer.
However… it seemed Qiao Yiyi had run into a bit of trouble.
Jiang Fei and Ye Yuanyuan came from the opposite direction of Qiao Yiyi. While Qiao Yiyi’s BMW parked right in front of the Jiang Clinic, Ye Yuanyuan’s massive Hummer had to park on the roadside across from the clinic. The two cars didn’t cross paths.
Since they weren’t dealing with troublemakers like Gao Hengyuan this time, Ye Yuanyuan didn’t recklessly cut across the road. She was usually a law-abiding citizen and didn’t flout the rules.
At that moment, a flashy Ferrari pulled up right behind Qiao Yiyi’s BMW.
In recent years, wealthy individuals in the country had become more common, and luxury cars were no longer as rare as they once were. However, for the average person, cars like Ferraris were still out of reach.
The man who stepped out of the Ferrari had a pale complexion and a somewhat frail appearance. He approached Qiao Yiyi, who was wearing large sunglasses that covered half her face.
“Yiyi, I heard you went to the provincial hospital for a throat check-up today. I was planning to meet you there, but before I could arrive, you left. I had to chase you all the way here.”
It was clear that this young man was not only familiar with Qiao Yiyi but also knew that she was the one in the BMW. Otherwise, with her disguise, even someone who knew her might not have recognized her at first glance.
The young man was very familiar and enthusiastic, smiling as he blocked Qiao Yiyi and her manager, Aunt Mei. He glanced at the sign of the Jiang Clinic and asked curiously, “Yiyi, why are you here? You’re not planning to go into this clinic, are you?”
Qiao Yiyi didn’t remove her sunglasses, so her expression was hidden. However, her subtle body language made it clear that she was unhappy to see this young man.
She immediately turned to her manager, Aunt Mei, who knew Qiao Yiyi well enough to understand what this gesture meant.
Qiao Yiyi was upset, thinking that Aunt Mei had secretly informed Mr. Li of her whereabouts, which was why he had tracked her from the provincial hospital to the Jiang Clinic!
Aunt Mei was also surprised to see Mr. Li. She quickly leaned in and whispered to Qiao Yiyi, “I didn’t tell him! Even if I wanted you two to meet, I wouldn’t do it this way! He must have sent someone to follow us!”
At this point, Aunt Mei’s tone also carried a hint of anger, and she glared at Mr. Li.
No one liked being followed or approached in such a manner.
Especially someone like Aunt Mei, who was strong-willed and assertive.
Previously, she had been polite to Mr. Li because Qiao Yiyi’s career in the country required his help in many areas. Offending him would make things difficult.
But Aunt Mei had never considered actually pairing Qiao Yiyi with this notorious playboy!
Hearing Aunt Mei’s explanation, Qiao Yiyi immediately understood that Aunt Mei wouldn’t have done such a thing.
“Li Jirong, what do you want from me?” Qiao Yiyi asked coldly, her tone unfriendly.
“Hmm. Yiyi, your voice does sound much better. It seems the treatment is working. I’m relieved to hear your voice,” Li Jirong said, not at all bothered by her coldness. Instead, he looked genuinely pleased.
As a well-known playboy in the entertainment industry, Li Jirong didn’t rely solely on his status to pursue women. His methods were quite effective.
For example, his gentlemanly demeanor now could win over most women who initially disliked him.
Unfortunately, Qiao Yiyi wasn’t one of those women.
When a woman truly dislikes a man, nothing he does can move her. Moreover, Qiao Yiyi knew very well that this playboy wasn’t worth her time.
So, she didn’t plan to give him any face. She asked coldly, “I asked you why you’re here. If you have nothing important to say, please leave!”
The fact that this playboy had sent someone to follow her made Qiao Yiyi, who was usually polite and never put on airs, lose her cool. She had always disliked Li Jirong, and now she disliked him even more.
Why would she care about his feelings?
Li Jirong’s eyelids twitched, and his expression became slightly unnatural. A hint of darkness flashed in his eyes, but he suppressed it.
Qiao Yiyi was currently the most popular female singer in the country, not some third-rate celebrity he could toy with. He couldn’t treat her the same way he treated those small-time stars.
For most domestic celebrities, a snap of his fingers was enough to deal with them. With Qiao Yiyi, he could apply pressure behind the scenes, but he couldn’t outright threaten her. That would be counterproductive.
“I came to see you, Yiyi, because there’s something important.”
After calming himself, Li Jirong spoke seriously, “Our company is investing in a top-tier 3D blockbuster with a budget of over 100 million. We’re even bringing in Hollywood stars and crew. Everything is ready—funding, script—but the female lead hasn’t been decided yet. When I heard about this, I immediately thought of you. So, I’ve been pulling strings and finally managed to secure this opportunity for you…”
In today’s entertainment industry, with the rise of the internet, making money from albums was nearly impossible. The music industry was almost on the verge of collapse!
The only way singers could make decent money was through concerts. But concerts were exhausting, and as Qiao Yiyi had experienced, they could even damage one’s voice. Moreover, most of the concert revenue went to the organizers and agencies.
Only a small portion ended up in the singer’s pocket.
That’s why, in the entertainment industry, actors made money far faster than singers, especially A-list movie stars.
Hadn’t many once-popular singers already shifted their focus to acting, treating singing as a side gig?
So, when Li Jirong offered Qiao Yiyi a role in a movie without hesitation, it was like dropping a bombshell.
And not just any movie—a blockbuster with a budget of over 100 million. In the current domestic film industry, this was top-tier production.
The female lead in such a high-budget film was something even top actresses would covet. Qiao Yiyi, despite her popularity, was primarily a singer with little acting experience. Such an opportunity wouldn’t normally come her way.
Li Jirong smiled confidently, waiting for Qiao Yiyi to take off her sunglasses and thank him.
This was his expertise—pursuing women wasn’t just about sweet talk. It was about knowing what they wanted.
If you could give them what they desired, most women would fall into your hands.
For example, if Qiao Yiyi wanted to seize this opportunity, wouldn’t she have to comply with Li Jirong’s wishes? His ability to manipulate the situation would be effortless.
The power to exploit wasn’t limited to directors; investors often held even more sway.
Qiao Yiyi didn’t remove her sunglasses. Instead, she frowned and cut Li Jirong off, “I’m sorry. I have no interest in pursuing a career in film. You can give this opportunity to someone else.”
Li Jirong, who had been smiling confidently, was stunned. He looked at her in disbelief.
She… just rejected him?
She told him to give such an opportunity to someone else!
Was she being overly principled, or was she playing hard to get?
“Yiyi, I’m not just making empty promises! If you don’t believe me, I can send you the relevant documents. In about a week, you’ll see the news online. The film crew will hold a press conference!” Li Jirong explained.
He thought Qiao Yiyi didn’t believe him and thought he was bluffing, which was why she dismissed him so casually.
But this time, Li Jirong wasn’t entirely lying. To win over Qiao Yiyi, the beloved singer of countless fans, he had put in some real effort.
“I said I’m not interested in pursuing a career in film. Whether what you’re saying is true or not, I’m not interested,” Qiao Yiyi said firmly. She was about to turn around with Aunt Mei and head into Jiang Fei’s clinic.
Aunt Mei, who had also been displeased with Li Jirong, was somewhat tempted after hearing his offer.
A film with a budget of over 100 million, featuring Hollywood stars and crew! Such an opportunity was rare, even for someone like Qiao Yiyi.
Participating in such a film and landing the female lead would greatly benefit Qiao Yiyi’s career. Even if she decided to leave Korea and return to China, her path would be much smoother.
However, Aunt Mei also knew very well what the cost of such an opportunity would be.
A playboy like Li Jirong, going to such lengths to help Qiao Yiyi—what could he possibly want?
It was obvious!
So, while Aunt Mei felt regret and found the opportunity tempting, she wouldn’t persuade Qiao Yiyi to accept. If she did, she wouldn’t be Qiao Yiyi’s manager but more like a pimp…
Just as Qiao Yiyi was about to head inside, Jiang Fei and Ye Yuanyuan, having parked their car, crossed the street and approached. Unaware of the situation, Jiang Fei greeted them with a smile, “What a coincidence! You just got here too?”