Do Not Speak Ill of My Mother!
Chapter 503: Pick the person you trust the most

Chapter 503: Pick the person you trust the most

For anyone else, they would have just heard a story of redemption.

But it was only Si Younian who could truly empathize with Xue Yi.

Because he had already experienced Yan Yueqing’s gentleness six years ago.

Some people are like the sun in the sky, no matter how cold someone is, when touched by her, waves of warmth would flow into their hearts, melting the coldest layer of frost.

Xue Yi sniffed, "With the boss around, there have been significant changes in Xingyue, not as drastic as the reforms at Zhongxing, but in a small place like Spring City, it’s already big news...

Senior brother, I know, the boss wants to create a new Xingyue, a Xingyue completely different from the past. I dare not say it will reach the heights of Zhongxing... but at least... I can finally be at peace with myself..."

Si Younian deeply understood, "Being at peace with oneself sounds simple, but it’s not easy at all."

Xue Yi was moved, "I knew the senior brother would understand! When studying, I always felt like I had the world in my hands and could change it at will. It wasn’t until I started working that I realized many things just don’t develop as one anticipates...

Opportunities are really rare, and even fewer can be seized. To meet the boss at my most desperate time... The hardships from before weren’t in vain.

Senior brother, the current Xingyue is really good, and... and I’ve finally mustered the courage to ask you if you’re willing to come over? After all, it has shown me a future... To be honest, if the previous shareholders and directors had asked me to poach you, no matter how high the offer, I wouldn’t have agreed..."

Si Younian smiled sincerely, "You rascal, you’ve gotten quite eloquent."

After Xue Yi spoke his true thoughts, he became less tense, "I just want to invite those who remain true to their original intentions to create the future together."

"The future?" Si Younian suddenly asked, "How do you know I don’t have a future at Soaring Sky?"

Xue Yi earnestly replied, "Because in the face of absolute power, all efforts are in vain! It took me several years to understand this, most of the time it’s not about who’s right, it’s about who has the bigger fist.

Senior brother, you just said that the agent harbored thoughts of exploiting you underhandedly. That indicates... there are conflicts and issues within Soaring Sky. How could a mere agent dare to scheme against a popular artist without someone noticing? Is she acting on her own? Or does the studio’s boss tacitly condone it?

If it’s the former, the senior brother need not worry, but what if it’s the latter? How long do you think you can resist? Of course, by saying this, you might think I’m chasing fame and fortune, obsessively climbing upward...

I... I don’t deny that I have the desire to climb higher, but from now on, even if I encounter someone more powerful than the boss, I will not waver! To me, the boss is the limit!"

Xue Yi took a deep breath and spoke genuinely, "Senior brother, is this the life you want? As you climb to the summit step by step, as you become more attractive, as more hands reach out to you... Soaring Sky can protect you once or twice, but when enough benefits are presented to them... how can you ensure Soaring Sky will never be tempted?"

Si Younian’s heart jumped wildly, and his mind buzzed as if it had been heavily struck by a hammer!

Xue Yi added, "Senior brother, only with the boss, I can guarantee she would never do such a thing. Since we aspire to advance, shouldn’t we find a more powerful individual to protect ourselves? At least... not to let us risk falling into hell?"

These words indeed silenced Si Younian.

He had been with Soaring Sky for years, to say he had no feelings for it? Impossible!

In fact, Si Younian was the one who felt the strongest about the studio!

Even after finding out Yan Yueqing was at Zhongxing, he had many opportunities to move there, including after the reforms at Zhongxing, Si Younian thought about developing his career there but ultimately stayed at Soaring Sky.

It was not just because Zhongxing was not recruiting.

He himself couldn’t bear to leave Soaring Sky.

From a small studio gradually developing to its current state, Si Younian had invested so much emotion in it... Even after tonight’s incident with Guan Chun and the Executive Director, he wasn’t thinking of instantly leaving Soaring Sky.

Curled up in agony in the corner, was he worried that this incident was related to the senior management of the studio?

As Xue Yi had said, what if everything tonight had their silent consent?

What should I do?

Should I keep bowing to the overarching environment, time and time again?

If it wasn’t agreed upon by them, then it must be Guan Chun taking matters into her own hands! But she has made quite a bit of money over the years, and invested a lot into the studio... When the time comes, and Soaring Sky has to choose between her and me...who will they choose?

The emotionally attached Si Younian was tormented by these matters.

He had thought about leaving, he had even thought about retiring from the industry... but he had never considered switching to another company.

However, Xue Yi’s words had sparked something in him.

He shouldn’t moral-bind himself, should he?

Even if he had poured in a lot of emotions, differing principles would lead to parting ways.

The most dignified departure would be to say goodbye amicably.

His contract was about to expire... An artist’s renewal usually happens three months in advance.

He didn’t sign the renewal immediately because Soaring Sky knew his character; they knew that despite various offers from elsewhere, he would still choose them. Even waiting two more months made no difference, as he would surely renew before the contract ended!

In other words, it was this very mutual trust that made Si Younian reluctant to leave.

Leaving felt like betraying a pledge of allegiance!

This self-imposed moral straitjacket was torturing him deeply.

Guan Chun couldn’t understand; seeing him not sign the contract, she assumed he had other intentions and immediately arranged this inevitable demise.

Si Younian lowered his eyelashes, lost in a self-mocking realization: "It’s only now that I understand, morality is meant to constrain oneself, and shouldn’t be expected to bind others. All this time...I’ve been too naive..."

"You’re right, if one chooses to climb higher, then one must find a strong backing, otherwise, how can one ensure they’re not eroded by the influence of the major environment?!"

Soaring Sky didn’t have an easy time developing to where it is today.

As a veteran artist who has been there from the start, his contributions have been witnessed by everyone.

Especially when luck struck and he shot to fame, the workload of the studio was largely arranged according to his wishes.

But, in the end, it’s just a matter of non-conflicting interests.

The studio’s growth requires money and power, needs to establish a solid foundation step by step.

Artists can be replaced, but these opportunities are truly rare.

If a powerful person offered twenty million, specifically requesting him, the studio would scoff, for he brings in much more than that in a year.

But what if the stakes are raised, a hundred million, even ten or twenty billion?!

At that sum, not to mention the studio, even he himself might be tempted!

Nevertheless, he was just tempted, whereas the studio might actually do something about it, both in desire and action.

Principles mean nothing in the face of these things!