28: Chapter 28: If you can do it, do it; if you can't, get out.

After school, Su Bai didn't head straight home like he usually did.

Standing under the camphor tree by the school gate, he first looked around cautiously before stuffing the pair of fishnets deeper into his pocket.

He couldn't let anyone see this thing.

It made him look like some kind of pervert! There would be no explaining it!

He was also incredibly helpless.

He had already said he didn't want them, but she insisted on giving them to him anyway!

This punk girl was really generous!

Unbelievable!

Should he just find a place to throw them away?

No, if they were found, he wouldn't be able to clear his name even with eight mouths!

Besides, what if an actual pervert picked them up...

Forget it. If all else failed, he would keep them for now and return them to her tomorrow.

Damn, he wondered if they smelled.

There! Was! No! Way! He! Was! Going! To! Smell! Them!

Then, he pulled out his phone, scrolled to a contact saved as 'Shen Tian', and dialed.

She was the general manager of Baiye Entertainment and one of his most capable subordinates.

After two rings, the call was picked up.

"Boss?"

A capable female voice came through. The background was a bit noisy, sounding like she was in a hallway.

Her voice carried a hint of pleasant surprise and unexpectedness,

"What made you think of calling me today?"

"I have something to ask you."

Su Bai walked a few steps toward the side of the road to avoid the crowd of students leaving school. His voice subconsciously carried the commanding tone of someone in authority.

"Find a quiet place."

"Alright, Boss. Please hold on a moment."

Shen Tian agreed immediately. She seemed to start running, and before long, she said a bit breathlessly,

"Alright, Boss."

Su Bai gave an acknowledgment and asked,

"Do you have Diliyereza's schedule on your end?"

Shen Tian paused, speaking with some hesitation. "Yes... Do you need her for something?"

"For Jingzhou University's year-end gala in a week, a friend of mine wants to invite her as a guest."

There was two seconds of silence on the other end of the line.

"Is that so?"

A subtle hint of amusement crept into Shen Tian's voice.

"What kind of friend is worth you calling personally to ask?"

"A neighbor."

"A neighbor?"

"Yes."

Another two seconds of silence.

Then Shen Tian laughed. It was very soft, but Su Bai could hear the deep meaning behind it.

"Alright, I'll ask around," she said. "I'll call you back later."

"Okay."

—

Baiye Entertainment Headquarters, 19th floor.

Shen Tian sat in an office chair in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, still holding her phone. The screen displayed "Call Ended."

She was a woman in her early thirties, with delicate features, sharp contours, and ear-length short hair. She wore a neatly tailored white shirt.

With the top two buttons undone, a section of her delicate collarbone was exposed.

The setting sun outside shone through the glass, casting a golden glow over her.

She stared at her phone for a few seconds, a slow smile curving the corners of her lips.

A neighbor...

Since when did the boss have a neighbor who required him to call personally?

She placed her phone on the desk and pressed the intercom.

"Have Reza and her manager come up."

Five minutes later, there was a knock on the office door.

Shen Tian said, "Come in." The door opened, and two people walked in.

Walking in front was a young woman in her mid-twenties. She was tall, with features so exquisite they looked painted.

Wearing a simple black knit sweater and jeans, her hair hung loose, and a hint of confusion showed on her face.

This person was none other than Diliyereza, a rising star of the new generation who had been gradually making a name for herself over the past two years.

Following behind her was a middle-aged woman in her forties with permed hair and gold-rimmed glasses, her expression shrewd and cautious.

Reza's manager, Zhou Yun.

"President Shen."

Reza stood before the desk and bowed slightly.

"You wanted to see me?"

Shen Tian leaned back in her chair, folding her hands over her lap, and got straight to the point.

"Reza, did someone contact you before to attend Jingzhou University's year-end gala?"

Reza was taken aback and thought about it with some confusion.

"I think... yes. About two weeks ago, a girl called saying she was from the Jingzhou University Student Union, wanting to invite me to their year-end gala."

"Did you decline?"

"Yes."

Reza nodded.

"Because I have to record a New Year's Eve gala for a local TV station at the end of the year, so my schedule was full."

Shen Tian didn't say anything, turning her gaze toward Sister Zhou.

Sister Zhou quickly chimed in,

"President Shen, that local station is a provincial satellite TV channel with high exposure. It's much more cost-effective than a student gala, and the appearance fee they offered is quite high, so we..."

"Regarding Jingzhou University... was the person who contacted you male or female?" Shen Tian interrupted her.

Sister Zhou was stunned, seemingly not understanding why Shen Tian would ask this, but she still answered honestly,

"I actually remember this very clearly. It was a girl with a soft, sweet voice. She sounded quite young, probably a college student."

Hearing this, Shen Tian nodded gently.

She fell silent for a few seconds, as if in deep thought.

The office was so quiet that the ticking of the clock on the wall could be heard.

Reza and Zhou Yun exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes.

"That local TV station's gala," Shen Tian finally spoke,

"Cancel it."

Sister Zhou was stunned.

"What?"

"I said, cancel it."

Shen Tian's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear and powerful.

"Go to Jingzhou University."

Reza's brow furrowed slightly, but she didn't say a word.

Although she didn't understand, she didn't dare to speak up or ask questions.

Sister Zhou, however, got anxious.

"President Shen!"

She took a step forward, her voice rising an octave,

"That local station is a provincial satellite TV! A New Year's Eve gala! Prime time! Countless artists are breaking their heads trying to get on it! Reza worked so hard to get this opportunity, how can we just pull out like this?!"

"What kind of exposure can a university gala provide? This is a complete waste of resources—"

"I said cancel it, do you not understand?"

Shen Tian's gaze swept over. It was calm, yet it sent a chill down Sister Zhou's spine.

"I'll say this one last time: if you can do the job, do it; if not, get out."

Hearing this, Sister Zhou's voice got stuck in her throat, unable to utter another word.

She opened her mouth, wanting to argue, but meeting Shen Tian's completely unruffled eyes, she swallowed all her excuses back down.

"Yes, President Shen. I'm sorry." She lowered her head, her voice as quiet as a mosquito's buzz.

Shen Tian withdrew her gaze and looked at Reza.

Reza still stood there quietly, without any expression of dissatisfaction or confusion on her face.

She simply nodded gently. "I understand, President Shen."

She hadn't spoken just now, but her mind was racing.

She knew very well what kind of person Shen Tian was.

This President Shen never did anything meaningless; every step she took was calculated!

Jingzhou University's year-end gala—a small event like this wouldn't even register on her radar under normal circumstances.

Why did they suddenly have to go?

And they were even willing to pay the breach of contract fee to decline the local station's invitation just to go?

There was definitely something going on here!

But she knew that some things were not to be asked.

"Go on." Shen Tian waved her hand.

The two of them exited the office, and the door closed gently behind them.

Shen Tian stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.

The setting sun had already sunk below the horizon, leaving only a final streak of orange-red in the sky.

The city lights began to turn on, dotting the landscape.

Slipping her hands into her trouser pockets, she looked out the window, a slow smile curving her lips.

"Little Boss..."

She murmured, as if talking to herself.

"When I offered it to you before, you didn't want it. Are you finally... in heat?"

After saying that, she chuckled to herself.

"Well, you *are* old enough now."

Then she picked up her phone and sent Su Bai a message:

"[Boss, Reza's schedule can be arranged. She will attend the Jingzhou University year-end gala.]"