Part 57：Is she out of her mind

Lan walked through the noisy corridor, her heels clicking rhythmically against the polished floor. The chaotic backstage hum of voices and movement followed her until she slipped into the fire escape.

Finally, some quiet.

Under the dim emergency lighting, her face hardened into a mask of composure. She exhaled deeply, pulled out her phone, and dialed He's number.

"Mr. He."

"What is it?" His voice was impatient.

"Zoe refuses to take the beauty device endorsement."

"Why? Is she out of her mind, turning down easy money?" There was an edge of mockery in his tone.

"She's concerned about the risks," Lan explained calmly. "Beauty products often face quality complaints and consumer lawsuits. She doesn't want to damage her reputation."

He snorted dismissively. "She doesn't want it? Too bad. She's taking it."

Lan hesitated before responding. "Mr. He, she's still upset about the Eighth Time's Charm incident. I can't push her too hard right now."

"You're her manager," He said, his voice sharp. "This is a small matter. If you can't even handle this, what's the point of you?"

Lan's fingers tightened around her phone. She wanted to defend herself but found no words.

"Lan," He continued, his tone icy, "I've already agreed to this deal. If you can't get Zoe to cooperate, then maybe you're not cut out for this job. Don't waste my time."

With that, he hung up.

Lan lowered her phone slowly. The faint shadows of the fire escape lights played across her face, making her expression unreadable.

She stood there alone for a while, letting the silence ground her before she opened the door and stepped back into the bustling backstage area.

The production team rushed about, the ordered chaos forming a familiar backdrop. It was the kind of scene Lan had seen countless times, a microcosm of the entertainment industry—hectic, relentless, and unforgiving.

As she watched the people moving purposefully around her, a memory surfaced.

There was a time when Lan had dreamed of becoming a star herself.

But her aspirations were cut short. She lacked the looks, the charisma, and the connections to make it big. Facing reality, she had pivoted to management—a suggestion that had come directly from He.

She remembered that meeting vividly. He had summoned her to his office and, with his usual arrogance, laid out her options. "You don't have what it takes to debut," he had said bluntly. "Even if you did, without a major opportunity, you'd fade into obscurity. But I can offer you a second option—stay and become a manager. If you're interested, sit down, and we'll talk. If not, the door's right there."

He's demeanor was infamous at Chengqian Entertainment. Arrogant and domineering, yes, but his track record was undeniable. Within three years, he had propelled three actors to A-list status, turning the company's talent division from a minor player into a major revenue driver for the conglomerate.

Lan hadn't hesitated long. She was practical, ambitious, and hungry for success—qualities He had seen in her.

After accepting his offer, she had managed several artists in quick succession. Some had failed to rise and quit the industry. Others had left for greener pastures.

And then there was Zoe.

When Lan first met Zoe, she had genuinely believed she could guide her to the top. But she also understood the nature of their industry—when a tree becomes famous, the wind always seeks to break it.

In the early days, it was just the two of them. Even though the road was tough, the shared hope of success kept them going. But after Zoe's unexpected rise to fame, the company had swooped in, eager to claim their share of the pie.

Zoe's resistance to becoming a puppet wasn't welcomed. The company didn't like artists who didn't follow orders, especially under the watchful eye of Wei. And Lan knew she couldn't afford to lose He's favor by siding with Zoe entirely.

Lan was a realist. She would climb the ladder with Zoe, but she wouldn't join her in banging against a wall.

From the beginning, Lan had always been logical, decisive, and ambitious. And she wasn't about to change now.