169: Chapter 170 Want to terminate the contract? What are you thinking?

For most ordinary people, the turbulent waves of the entertainment industry are more like a spectacular drama, a topic of conversation over tea and meals.

"Hey, did you see? Leng Ba landed that endorsement for the beauty serum!"

"Saw it, saw it! The boss of Xingchen Technology personally stepped in to support her; that's so bold!"

"That's not the most explosive part! It's that boss, Jiang Jing, who bought the entire Qianda Film! Oh my god!"

"Really? Is it that exaggerated? Just how rich must he be?"

"Tsk tsk, this celebrity has really boarded a giant ship…"

Similar discussions can be seen everywhere in offices, classrooms, and gatherings of friends.

The gossip-loving crowds excitedly exchanged information, marveling at the magic of capital and joking about the opportunities of celebrities; this is a nature carved into their bones, adding much joy to their dull lives.

However, when the news that Leng Ba had become the Asia-Pacific spokesperson for the Xingchen beauty serum appeared clearly on the mobile phone push notifications before Chu Yuqing and Lin Ruoxi, the air in the space where the two women were seemed somewhat unnatural.

Chu Yuqing stared blankly at Leng Ba's bright and moving photo on the phone screen and the glaring words "Asia-Pacific Brand Spokesperson," her fingers tightening unconsciously.

She silently handed the phone to Lin Ruoxi beside her.

Lin Ruoxi was reading a book; her gaze swept across the screen, and her fingers, which were turning the pages, paused.

The room fell into an inexplicable silence, with only the faint sound of traffic coming from outside the window.

After a long while, Chu Yuqing finally raised her head, squeezed out a somewhat forced smile, and said with a hint of bitterness in her voice: "Ruoxi, are we… are we being a bit ungrateful?"

She paused, her tone dropping: "To actually… actually think that we could compare ourselves to a top-tier superstar like Leng Ba… we really overestimated ourselves."

Lin Ruoxi closed the book and sighed softly. A trace of disappointment flashed in her eyes, but it was mostly self-mockery.

She took the phone, glanced at it again, and then set it down gently.

"It's not being ungrateful," she shook her head, her voice very light, as if she were analyzing the situation or trying to convince herself, "It's that we… seem to have really been spoiled by Jiang Jing."

"He casually gave us an endorsement and changed our destiny, so we subconsciously felt that we should have a share of all the good things, and even… developed a possessiveness that we shouldn't have."

Lin Ruoxi's tone was calm but hit the nail on the head: "Actually, he has already helped us enough; he never owed us anything."

Chu Yuqing nodded vigorously, as if to shake off the thoughts she shouldn't have in her head: "Right! We can't be so greedy! This endorsement has already brought us so much fame and opportunity; one must know how to be content!"

Lin Ruoxi nodded in deep agreement.

The two women looked at each other and smiled. In that smile, there was relief and clarity, but more of it was a faint sense of reluctance and disappointment.

Silence descended once more.

"Then we…" Lin Ruoxi stopped mid-sentence.

Finally, as if having made a huge decision, Chu Yuqing took a deep breath and picked up the phone: "Let's call Jiang Jing, shall we? We'll take the initiative to terminate the contract… we can't make things difficult for him, nor can we… block someone else's path."

By the end, her voice was trembling slightly.

Lin Ruoxi looked at her and nodded slowly, her eyes firm: "Okay, let's call."

The call connected. Listening to the "beep… beep…" sound coming from inside, the hearts of the two women were in their throats, nervous and anxious.

The call was quickly answered, and Jiang Jing's voice came from the other side: "Hello? Yuqing, what's the matter?"

Chu Yuqing's palms were sweating nervously. She glanced at Lin Ruoxi's encouraging look, mustered her courage, and said in as steady a tone as possible: "Jiang Jing… Boss Jiang… we, we saw the news about Miss Leng Ba's endorsement… we wanted to… we wanted to…"

She couldn't continue, so Lin Ruoxi took over, her voice clear but carrying a trace of imperceptible nervousness.

"Boss Jiang, we are very grateful for the opportunities and help you gave us before. We discussed it and felt… felt that we might not be suitable to continue serving as brand spokespersons now. We would like to… take the initiative to terminate the contract."

There was silence on the other end of the phone for two seconds.

Just when the two women's hearts sank to the bottom, thinking that Jiang Jing would go with the flow and agree—

"Pfft…" A burst of irrepressible laughter suddenly came from Jiang Jing over the phone.

Chu Yuqing and Lin Ruoxi were both stunned, looking at each other.

"I tell you two," Jiang Jing's smiling voice came through, his tone filled with inexplicable teasing, "What on earth are you thinking about all day? Who told you that you were being terminated?"

"Huh?" Chu Yuqing was dumbfounded.

"Leng Ba is the Asia-Pacific spokesperson; does that conflict with your promotional endorsement?" Jiang Jing asked rhetorically. "Xingchen Technology is so big, and the product line will only grow in the future. I still need to rely on you to open up more campus and youth markets. What? Do you look down on my humble temple? Want to jump ship?"

"No! Absolutely not!" Chu Yuqing quickly denied it, her face turning red with anxiety. "We just thought… thought…"

"Think what think," Jiang Jing interrupted her directly, his tone overbearing but reassuring. "Just do your jobs with peace of mind! There is no reason for me, Jiang Jing, to take back words that I have already spoken."

"What is given to you is yours. Others are others, and you are you. Do you understand?"

His words were like a stabilizing needle, instantly soothing all the anxiety, nervousness, and self-doubt of the two women.

A huge wave of warmth and a sense of security surged into their hearts, washing away the previous disappointment, leaving only full emotion and a trace of shame.

So… it was they who had overthought it.

So… he had never thought about giving up on them.

"Un-understood!" Chu Yuqing's voice was filled with excitement, and she nodded vigorously, even though Jiang Jing on the other end of the phone couldn't see it.

"Thank you… Jiang Jing." Lin Ruoxi also said softly.

"Alright, stop overthinking. Just prepare well for your upcoming promotional activities. If the results aren't good, I do have [punishment] measures." Jiang Jing chuckled.

"Guarantee to complete the mission!" The two women said in unison, their voices filled with joy.