"Let's start by introducing everyone."

Jiang Ye pointed to Tan Meng beside her, "This person next to me, she participated in Chasing Light Girls and achieved amazing results, she debuted just eight months ago and became a new top star-"

Tan Meng quickly waved her hand, "No, no, no."

"Why are you being humble, Teacher Tan, I haven't finished yet."

"--the top girl group's undisputed C position, Jiang Ye-'s teammate, Teacher Tan Meng!"

Tan Meng hit her head with a fan, "Go away!"

Jiang Ye rubbed her head and bowed to everyone in the audience.

Everyone in the audience laughed.

Although Tan Meng was initially reluctant to do stand-up comedy.

But she's actually very suitable to be Jiang Ye's straight man.

Her personality, combined with the subtle expressions she naturally reveals when she retorts to Jiang Ye, perfectly fit the role of the straight man.

Although they were both new to stand-up comedy, they didn't have any deliberate traces of performing stand-up comedy and delivering jokes.

It was as if two girl group idols were performing a regular comedy show for everyone.

"Then, Teacher Tan Meng, I have to test you."

"Netizens say that our company has a 100% debut rate, achieving a feat never seen before in the history of survival shows."

Jiang Ye looked at Tan Meng and asked, "So, tell me, why were we both able to debut?"

Tan Meng: "Of course, it's because we have exceptional skills."

"Wrong."

Jiang Ye said, "Skills are definitely one aspect, but more importantly, our company has good feng shui."

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"What's our CEO's last name?"

"Qin."

"That's right."

Jiang Ye said, "Is CEO Qin's Qin a regular Qin? It's obviously the Qin of Qin Shi Huang."

Tan Meng: "Wow!"

"So, we've been winning from the starting line."

"After all, our CEO, he has royal blood."

Tan Meng: "But what does that have to do with our debut?"

"You don't even know that, you really need to get scolded."

"CEO Qin's Qin is the Qin of Qin Shi Huang, so what are we?"

Jiang Ye looked around the audience and finally slammed her hand on the table, "Royalty!"

She boldly brought up the royal family joke that had been circulating, and she seemed to have a clear conscience, very confident.

Everyone in the audience laughed and applauded.

"But it's okay."

"Royalty, so be it."

"This good fortune is something others wouldn't even have if they wanted it."

Jiang Ye said, "There's a saying, 'Fans follow their idols', so we're like employees following our boss."

"And you know what, our CEO really does have a bit of a royal air about him."

Tan Meng: "Oh? How so?"

"Don't even mention it, just in terms of aura, our CEO has it down pat."

"He has the genes of an emperor and the aura of a traditional domineering CEO."

"What's that called?"

Jiang Ye slammed her hand on the table, "Kingly aura!"

As soon as she said "kingly aura", everyone in the audience burst into laughter.

Only Qin Yue, sitting in the first row, said: "..."

These days, employees dare to joke directly with their boss.

They're pretty bold.

•••

After the stand-up comedy routine ended, Jiang Ye had just gotten off stage when she received a notification from Qin Yue asking her to go to his office alone.

Jiang Ye: "?"

Jiang Ye's heart immediately started pounding.

No way.

Qin Yue isn't that petty, right?

It's true that joking with the boss as a working stiff is a bit presumptuous, but wasn't that the theme that Qin Zong set, making her really think that everyone in the company was equal?

Why is he bringing this up now?

Inside the office.

Jiang Ye cautiously pushed open the door and asked, "CEO Qin, did you need me?"

"If it's because the stand-up comedy joke offended you, I apologize in advance."

Jiang Ye clasped her hands together, looking timid, "It's just the company's annual meeting, I was just trying to create a good atmosphere, please be understanding."

Qin Yue: "?"

Qin Yue chuckled, "It's not because of that."

"?"

Jiang Ye thought for a moment about why Qin Yue would call her, and after thinking for a while, she said, "Oh, you want to ask when I'll repay the money I donated to the orphanage in my name, right?"

"You should have seen my monthly salary statements, I'm working hard to save up."

"But don't worry, I'll definitely pay it back."

Qin Yue: "..."

Qin Yue: "It's not because of that."

Qin Yue took out a contract from his drawer and pushed it in front of her, "Your artist contract can be upgraded."

"You've been with our company for over a year."

"You were busy before, so I didn't have time to notify you."

"Since you're back for the annual meeting, why not upgrade your contract while you're here."

Jiang Ye was slightly stunned, she counted the time and realized that she had indeed been with the company for over a year, it was time for the contract upgrade that was mentioned in the original contract.

Who doesn't like to make more money?

Jiang Ye immediately sat down in the chair opposite Qin Yue and started to carefully read the upgraded contract.

Qin Yue held a coffee cup and asked her casually, "How have you been feeling since your debut?"

Jiang Ye said as she read the contract, "It's been good."

Qin Yue: "You still remember who helped you debut, right?"

Jiang Ye: "How could I forget!"

"Since you remember."

Qin Yue said slowly, "Then you still joked with me at the annual meeting, huh?"

Jiang Ye: "..."

She immediately broke out in a cold sweat and quickly said, "Sorry, CEO Qin, I won't do it next time."

"It's not a matter of daring or not daring."

Qin Yue said calmly, "Since you know that I helped you debut, don't you want to say something else to me?"

Jiang Ye thought for a moment and showed the classic positive attitude of a working stiff, "Thank you, boss, I'll work hard."

Qin Yue: "... That's not what I meant."

Qin Yue took a sip of coffee, paused, and then said, "It's something else."

Although he didn't smile, Jiang Ye felt that his words had a subtle smile in them.

Jiang Ye: "?"

"I helped you debut, I helped you with marketing."

Qin Yue simply stated the facts, "Don't you want to give me something in return?"

Jiang Ye: "..."

For some reason, even though what Qin Yue said was true, it made her feel a little uncomfortable.

It's as if her debut was all thanks to Qin Yue.

As long as his marketing was in place, he could send anyone and they would achieve the same success as Jiang Ye.

"Thank you, CEO Qin, for your great kindness."

Jiang Ye lowered her head and looked at the contract again, "I will definitely dedicate myself to the company, even unto death."

Qin Yue: "..."

Qin Yue: "Who wants you to dedicate yourself to death?"

Jiang Ye flipped to the profit-sharing page of the contract and asked, "Are you having second thoughts, do you want to change our profit-sharing method? I have no objections."

Qin Yue: "..."

He paused and then said directly, "Jiang Ye, this circle isn't as simple as you think."

"I know you've just debuted, and you're developing smoothly, the future looks bright."

"But have you ever thought about what you would do if one day you couldn't stand, if you fell?"

Qin Yue's words were clear.

There was even a hint of warning in them.

You're confident that you can be famous now.

Can you be famous for a lifetime?

Think about who helped you debut, do you understand what's most important?

Jiang Ye had finished reading the contract.

She signed it smoothly and suddenly smiled, raising her head, "I won't let myself fall."

She paused and then said slowly, "And I believe you won't let me fall either."

Qin Yue was taken aback.

He realized that Jiang Ye was actually a smart person.

She understood every word he said, and then she pretended to be oblivious, subtly deflecting his implication.

And then, with that last sentence, she responded to his warning.

Qin Yue was silent for a moment, acknowledging in his heart that Jiang Ye was right.

From the company's perspective and his own self-interest, he would also ensure that Jiang Ye stayed famous.

But he paused and then said, "Don't you feel regretful that you didn't get something more?"

"I'm only grateful for what I have."

Jiang Ye signed her name, put down her pen.

She stood up, bowed slightly, "Goodbye, CEO Qin, I'll definitely work hard in the future!"

Clearly the tone of a diligent office worker.

Qin Yue: "..."

After she left, Qin Yue took another contract from his drawer.

If Jiang Ye had been a little softer, hinted a little...

He could have immediately offered this contract, which was several times better than the one she signed.

For anyone in the entertainment industry, this is a very tempting shortcut.

But Jiang Ye didn't even glance at it.

Well.

It's good that he didn't take it out.

Otherwise, Jiang Ye might have changed the upgraded contract into a termination contract.

Someone like Jiang Ye might be willing to be his cash cow.

But she would never, ever become the kind of obedient caged bird he wanted.

Qin Yue thought for a moment and threw all his thoughts, along with the contract, into the shredder.

•••

"He Zhou, what are you doing here?"

"By the way, did you see Jiang Ye just now?!"

A colleague patted him on the shoulder, excitedly, "How was it? Did you ask her for an autograph, fulfill your dream of chasing stars?"

He Zhou: "..."

He Zhou: "Yeah."

Actually, when Jiang Ye got off stage, he wanted to find her.

But she immediately left with others.

They always seem to repeat this pattern.

She always leaves him with only a back view.

He Zhou stood in front of the company's annual meeting signature board for a while.

As the company's signature artist, Jiang Ye only needed to avoid the important people from the company's upper management when signing, so she naturally signed her name in a higher, more central location.

And his name, as someone who had only been with the company for a short time, was signed in a far corner.

The gap is still huge.

But it seems okay.

As long as he can see her shining in his field of vision.

He can always have the courage to chase after her back.

One day in the future, he will definitely make Jiang Ye see his existence.

•••

After the annual meeting, on the way back to the villa, Jiang Ye sneezed several times in a row.

Jiang Ye sniffed, muttering, "Who's talking bad about me?"

Tan Meng: "Why don't you say that someone might be secretly thinking of you?"

Jiang Ye immediately got goosebumps all over.

She quickly pulled up her collar, silent for a moment before suddenly saying, "I know."

Tan Meng: "What."

"It must be Cheng Zhen."

"She asked me to bring her late-night snacks when I get back today."

Jiang Ye slapped her head, "How could I almost forget!"

Tan Meng: "..."