Part 66：You seem very guarded around me.

"I actually wanted to have a chat with you last week, but I was too busy to get around to it," He said casually, sitting down on a single sofa nearby. He made no mention of the scandal that had been causing a stir.

After speaking, he glanced at Lan and added, "Go check with Hong on how the communication with Song's side is going."

Lan nodded, her gaze lingering briefly on Zoe before she turned and left the office.

Now it was just He and Zoe in the room.

Zoe wasn't sure what He wanted to discuss, but based on past interactions, she knew his attitude toward her was less than favorable.

Would he outright declare her blacklisted, or would it be more veiled threats and coercion to make her comply with the company's plans?

He spread his hands, looking slightly helpless. "You seem very guarded around me."

"Not at all, Mr. He," Zoe denied with a fake smile.

He gave a small smile. "Did Lan tell you something?"

"She told me she has submitted her resignation and won't be my manager anymore."

He appeared to remember suddenly. "Ah, yes, that did happen."

"Do you want a new manager?" He asked.

Zoe stayed silent.

He continued, "You've reached a new stage in your career. A more experienced manager would be beneficial for your development."

"Mr. He," Zoe replied, "whether I've truly reached a new stage is something only time will tell. But the issues between Lan and me won't be resolved simply by changing managers."

He raised his eyebrows. "Issues? What issues? Tell me."

Zoe smiled. "Come on, Mr. He. Don't feign ignorance."

He looked at her in mild surprise.

"That said, I do appreciate you being upfront with me," Zoe continued. "I've wanted to have a candid conversation with you for a while."

"If there's something on your mind, speak freely," He encouraged with a nod.

"When you signed me, what was it about me that caught your eye?" Zoe asked, pointing to her face. "Was it just my looks?"

He didn't deny it. "That was part of it."

"Does the company want to groom me as a mere pretty face, or do they see me playing a bigger role?" Zoe questioned.

He hesitated before responding, but Zoe cut in, shaking her head. "Let me guess—you're in a difficult position, aren't you? Someone in the company dislikes me and doesn't want to see me succeed, so they're blocking me from receiving the company's support right from the start."

"I wouldn't call it a difficult position," He replied. "Did Lan tell you this?"

"Lan has always tried to maintain peace. She wouldn't stir up conflict between me and the company." Zoe shook her head. "But she hasn't been subtle either. She doesn't care if I know. I'm not some pampered princess with a family shielding me from reality in a fairy-tale castle."

"Well…" He paused, then said, "The company has always had high hopes for you. If not for your recent, unexpected rise to fame, we would've started building your profile next year. You have great potential, but too much attention too soon can be detrimental. Early fame often leads to an early fall. I wanted you to spend a couple of years honing your skills first. That sharp edge you showed earlier—it's too much and can offend people. This industry is complex, and the stakes behind the scenes are even higher. The prouder you are, the more likely you are to be targeted."

"Is that so?" Zoe smiled faintly, looking down.

He fiddled with the ring on his fourth finger. "You might not believe me."

"Not really," Zoe admitted. "If the company has such high hopes for me, why did they push me to take that beauty device endorsement?"

"Ah, you're still hung up on that," He said.

"It hasn't been resolved, has it?"

"I've already turned it down," He said. "It's resolved."

Zoe was stunned. She hadn't expected that response.

"You were adamant about not taking it, so I declined on your behalf," He explained. "The initial suggestion was because the endorsement fee was high. Accepting it would've brought in money and set a benchmark for future endorsement rates. The product's quality was fine; it passed all inspections. The only downside was that the brand was new and lacked recognition. But big, established brands prefer top-tier stars."

"If you already turned it down, why was Lan still so troubled?" Zoe frowned.

"Was she?" He spread his hands. "I wouldn't know."

Leaning forward slightly, He continued earnestly, "Look, you've been under contract with the company for over a year. If the company wanted to exploit you for quick money through non-stop live-streaming or back-to-back gigs, we could have. Why get stuck on one endorsement? For the beauty device, I did press her a few times because she kept telling me you were considering it. If you didn't want it, just say no. Whether you took it or not didn't matter much to me—I just don't like being strung along without a clear decision."

Zoe's expression showed a hint of uncertainty. "Is that so?"

"It's a good thing you're passionate about acting," He said. "The thing I fear most is artists who lack ambition. The Eighth Time We Fell in Love might be a simple romance series, but it's a stepping stone for working with Yuehai Network. If the collaboration goes well and the results are good, their self-produced and commissioned projects will prioritize you in the future."

"Mr. He," Zoe called softly.

"Go ahead," He encouraged, a hint of approval in his gaze.

Zoe looked up, smiled faintly as if embarrassed, and asked, "You don't really think Song and I are dating, do you?"