152: Chapter 152 The entire group will suffer!

The sound of the door closing echoed in the hallway for two seconds.

Lu Cheng leaned against the wall, a towel still draped around his neck, looking at the tightly shut door, his mouth twitching slightly.

"What the hell..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the door was knocked on again.

This time, the knocking was very light, and the rhythm was much more polite than before: three short taps with a half-second pause in between.

Lu Cheng walked over to open the door.

Standing outside the door was Su Wan.

The young girl had changed into light gray loungewear, her long hair draped over her shoulders, and she was holding two cups of milk tea in her hands.

She glanced at both sides of the hallway, her gaze pausing for a moment in the direction where Agent Lin and Sister Bai had disappeared, before turning her head to look at Lu Cheng.

"Can I come in?"

"Come in."

Su Wan slipped into the room, placed one of the milk teas on the coffee table, and sat down on the sofa with the other cup.

Her movements were very natural, but her eyes kept drifting toward the door.

"What was up with those two people just now?" Su Wan pointed toward the door. "I could hear the commotion from next door. That woman in the business suit was quite loud."

Lu Cheng walked over, picked up the milk tea, and took a sip. It was still warm, and the sweetness was just right.

He set the cup down and spread his hands.

"It's a long story."

"Speak normally."

"Basically, the Education Bureau found me a partner, but the partner's agent thought my status wasn't high enough, so she came to hold me accountable. Manager Yu Xiuqi shut her down on the spot, and the collaboration was canceled directly."

Lu Cheng leaned back on the sofa and clicked his tongue, shaking his head.

"I never expected such a cliché drama to happen to me."

"Who was that woman?" Su Wan asked.

"Her name is Sister Bai, titled the Heavenly Sound Maiden, a singer in the Meridian Opening Realm." Lu Cheng counted on his fingers. "Twenty-six years old, tens of millions of fans, a top celebrity in the entertainment industry."

Su Wan's hand holding the milk tea paused. She did know Sister Bai.

In her past life, Sister Bai eventually became more than just a Meridian Opening Realm cultivator.

At the age of thirty, this woman acquired a certain sound-based talent and transformed from an idol singer into a battlefield support Source Master for the Federation. Later, during the defense against the Northern Border beast tide, a single performance of her 'Requiem' suppressed the mental activity of thousands of Pollution Beasts, forcibly buying the front line four hours of time for supplies.

At that time, Sister Bai's status could no longer be described by mere top-tier celebrity status.

However, right now, Sister Bai should still just be a newcomer who had only recently entered the Meridian Opening Realm.

Su Wan pushed these thoughts aside and took a sip of her milk tea.

"And then? They just left like that?"

"What else?" Lu Cheng shrugged. "That agent was so angry her face was distorted, and she left after dropping a threat to 'wait and see'."

"But I don't think they're done. That Agent Lin is clearly not someone to be trifled with; I expect they'll make more trouble after they go back."

Manager Yu Xiuqi had been burying his head in his terminal on the sofa since earlier, but now he finally looked up.

He swiped across his terminal screen, and a light screen popped up above the coffee table, covering the entire screen with dense names and school emblems.

"It's good that student Su Wan is here too." Manager Yu Xiuqi adjusted his glasses. "This is the list of all participating teams for this National High School Competition. You can take a look and familiarize yourselves."

Lu Cheng and Su Wan leaned in to look at the same time.

The light screen was divided into several sections according to regions, with the names of the participating schools and team member information listed under each section.

Manager Yu Xiuqi tapped the light screen twice, and the names of eight schools were separately highlighted.

"These are the eight teams favored to win this time." Manager Yu Xiuqi pointed to them one by one. "Imperial Capital No. 1 High School, Shenglan Private High School, Modu No. 3 High School, Jingmen Martial Arts High School, North District 3 Comprehensive High School, Nanwu Affiliated High School, Northern Border High School, and Donglinhai High School."

...

On the other side. Xingyu Hotel Lobby.

Agent Lin's face was livid. Sister Bai followed behind her, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, wanting to speak several times but finding no opportunity.

"Simply shameless!" Agent Lin cursed as she walked. "A high schooler who isn't even fully grown yet, no idea what his background is, acting all high and mighty!"

"And that Manager Yu Xiuqi, is the Education Bureau so great? They just cancel the collaboration whenever they want?"

"Do they know how many media outlets our Xingyu Group is connected to?"

Sister Bai finally spoke: "Agent Lin, about what happened just now... I actually think that Lu Cheng is not simple."

Just now in the room, from the moment she entered until she left, Lu Cheng's expression had been too calm from start to finish.

That kind of calm was not a feigned composure; he truly didn't care.

Agent Lin's footsteps faltered. She turned back and glared at Sister Bai. "What do you mean? Are you speaking up for that kid too?"

"I'm not speaking up for him." Sister Bai shook her head. "I just think that someone who can make the Education Bureau willing to cancel the collaboration with Xingyu Group just to protect him cannot be just an ordinary high school student."

The anger on Agent Lin's face froze for a moment.

She was no fool.

Having been in the entertainment industry for over a decade, there was no scene she hadn't seen, and no type of person she hadn't dealt with.

What Sister Bai could think of, she could also figure out once she calmed down.

But figuring it out was one thing; swallowing this anger was another.

"So what if he's some young master from a wealthy family?" Agent Lin gritted her teeth. "Which of the young masters and misses from the great families in the Imperial Capital haven't I met? I've dealt with the children of high-ranking officials too, and I've never been treated like this!"

She took out her terminal and dialed a number.

The phone rang twice before it was answered.

"Hello, President Zhao, it's me." Agent Lin's voice instantly shifted from the previous exasperation to a restrained, aggrieved, tearful tone.

"I'm sorry to bother you so late, but something has happened here, and I really need you to make a decision."

President Zhao on the other end asked what happened.

Agent Lin took a deep breath and began to exaggerate the story.

"I came to coordinate with the organizing committee for the National High School Competition today, and the high school student they pushed on us has such a bad temper..."

"I communicated with him very politely, saying that Sister Bai is, after all, a singer in the Meridian Opening Realm, and her fan count and traffic popularity are well-established, so the partner selection should at least have some basic qualifications, right?"

"And guess what he said? He gave me attitude directly, said our Xingyu Group wasn't cooperating, canceled the collaboration on the spot, and even said something like 'Sister Bai's status isn't high enough'."

"President Zhao, Sister Bai's status isn't high enough? When I heard that, I really... I held back my anger for half a day just so I wouldn't lose my temper on the spot."

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds.

Agent Lin thought President Zhao was angry, which made her feel a bit better, and she was preparing to add more fuel to the fire.

"President Zhao, this really can't just be let go. Their Education..."

"Shut your mouth!"

President Zhao's roar exploded from the terminal, so loud that even Sister Bai, who was standing nearby, could hear it clearly.

Agent Lin felt as if a basin of ice water had been poured over her from head to toe, and she almost dropped the terminal in her hand.

"P-President Zhao?"

"Do you have any idea what kind of place that academy is?! Navigator Academy! Do you know that our big boss at Xingyu Group came from that academy?!"

"The person who came out this time... even our big boss wouldn't dare to offend him!"

"I thought that since you've been with the group for so long, you couldn't possibly be this brainless!"

Agent Lin's face turned pale instantly.

"You now, immediately, right now, take Sister Bai back to the Xingyu Hotel and apologize to them!" President Zhao fired off like a machine gun. "If they don't accept your apology, I guarantee you won't be coming back!"

"No, President Zhao, that high schooler, he..."

"I'm telling you, if this collaboration really falls through because of you, forget about you as an agent, even I will be in deep trouble! You figure it out yourself!"

The phone hung up. The busy signal was exceptionally harsh in the quiet lobby.

Agent Lin stood in the center of the lobby, the screen of the terminal in her hand still lit, reflecting her face which had completely lost all color.

Sister Bai stood beside her, not knowing what to say.

"Agent Lin..." Sister Bai said softly.

Agent Lin snapped out of it, her lips trembling.

"Let's go." Sister Bai sighed softly.

"W-where to?"

"To apologize." Sister Bai reached out and pressed the elevator button. "President Zhao is right. The only thing we can do now is to hurry and apologize before things reach the point of no return."

Agent Lin bit her lip, her eyes turning red.

She had been an agent for over a decade; it had always been others bowing to her. When had it ever been her turn to apologize to others?

The elevator door opened, and the two walked in.

In the enclosed elevator space, Agent Lin took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself down, but her fingers were still trembling slightly.

The words she had said in the room just now flashed through her mind repeatedly.

The door to room 1715 was right in front of them.

Agent Lin stood at the door, raised her hand, lowered it, then raised it again.

Sister Bai reached out and pressed the doorbell for her.

A few seconds later, the door opened.

The one who opened the door was still Manager Yu Xiuqi.

He stood at the door, the gaze behind his glasses calm to the point of indifference. Seeing that it was Agent Lin and Sister Bai standing outside, his expression didn't flicker in the slightest.

"Manager Yu Xiuqi..." Agent Lin squeezed out a smile that was uglier than crying. "Regarding what happened just now, I want to come and apologize. It was me..."

"I'm sorry." Manager Yu Xiuqi interrupted her, his tone strictly professional. "Your matter is already being handled by the follow-up team. Please do not disturb us."

Having said that, he moved to close the door.

"Manager Yu Xiuqi! Manager Yu Xiuqi, please wait!" Agent Lin hurriedly reached out to hold the door frame. "I know I was wrong! My attitude was bad, and I spoke too harshly. I apologize to you, and I apologize to student Lu Cheng! Please give us another chance!"

Manager Yu Xiuqi looked at her, his gaze devoid of any warmth.

"Ms. Lin, the collaboration has been canceled."

"The organizing committee will follow the procedure to coordinate with the legal department of Xingyu Group to handle follow-up matters. If you have any requests, you can reflect them through official channels."

"No, it's not a request..." Agent Lin was so anxious she was about to cry. "I just came to apologize, really, just to apologize!"

The sound of the elevator door opening came from the other end of the hallway, and the sound of leather shoes stepping on the carpet approached rapidly.

A middle-aged man in a dark gray suit with graying hair but a vigorous spirit walked over with large strides. He was followed by two assistants, both carrying briefcases, looking nervous.

President Zhao. The current head of Xingyu Group.

The moment Agent Lin saw President Zhao, the last bit of color drained from her face.

President Zhao walked up, first glanced at Agent Lin's state, then took a deep breath, turned to face Manager Yu Xiuqi, and bowed ninety degrees.

"Manager Yu Xiuqi." President Zhao's voice was low and sincere. "What happened tonight is due to my Xingyu Group's poor choice of personnel and lax discipline."

"Lin Yue's improper remarks and behavior do not represent the position of Xingyu Group."

"I apologize sincerely on her behalf to you, to student Lu Cheng, and to the Education Bureau organizing committee."

Manager Yu Xiuqi watched President Zhao's bowing posture, his brows twitching slightly.

Agent Lin stood to the side, frozen stiff.

She had worked with President Zhao for so many years; she had never seen President Zhao bow his head to anyone.

President Zhao straightened up, his gaze sweeping coldly over Agent Lin.

"Lin Yue."

Agent Lin shivered all over.

"Apologize to Manager Yu Xiuqi."

"M-Manager Yu Xiuqi, I'm sorry..." Agent Lin's voice already carried a sob.

President Zhao's voice had no emotional fluctuation:

"As an employee of Xingyu Group, Lin Yue was arrogant in attitude and inappropriate in speech during the cooperation with the Education Bureau organizing committee, seriously violating the company's basic professional ethics."

"Effective immediately, Lin Yue is dismissed from all positions in this company and will never be employed again."

Agent Lin was stunned.

She opened her mouth, but couldn't make a sound.

Fired?

She had been with President Zhao for twelve years, since Xingyu Group was still a medium-sized entertainment company. Now, because of one sentence, she was fired directly?

"P-President Zhao..."

"You can leave now." President Zhao didn't even look at her. "The company will settle your salary and severance pay according to the law, and you don't need to worry about the rest."

Agent Lin stood in place, her lips trembling for a long time, and finally, two lines of tears fell from her eyes...

She turned around and walked unsteadily toward the elevator in her high heels, her steps so shaky that it looked like she could fall at any moment.

President Zhao waited until she was far away before turning back to Manager Yu Xiuqi.

"Director Wang, this matter is the responsibility of my Xingyu Group." He took a document from his assistant. "This is the supplementary agreement we have already drafted."

"Xingyu Group is willing to donate an additional twenty million in the name of Sister Bai and the National High School Competition as an education fund for impoverished areas, with all funds to be allocated by the Education Bureau."

"In addition, Sister Bai will continue to serve as a commentary guest according to the original plan and cooperate with all arrangements of the organizing committee, without any additional conditions."

Manager Yu Xiuqi took the document, flipped through two pages, and then looked up.

"President Zhao, we need to consult with Director Wang."

"Of course, of course." President Zhao nodded repeatedly. "Regardless of the outcome, this mistake is borne solely by my Xingyu Group and will never affect the mood of any organizing committee member or special guest."

Manager Yu Xiuqi took the document and turned into the room.

President Zhao stood in place, the shirt on his back already soaked through with cold sweat.

If something really went wrong this time, and especially with his own people acting like divas, let alone that piece-of-trash Agent Lin Yue, even Xingyu Group would suffer along with it.