Chapter 8: A Sky-High Empty Promise Falling from the Heavens

A massive, unexpected opportunity fell from the sky, leaving Sui Lingfang completely stunned.

"What did you say? Jin Li is trending again? How did she trend? Are you talking about that incident on Cat Paw Live?" she asked rapidly.

The agent on the other end of the phone said, "Get back to the company immediately. While you're on your way, scroll through your Moments and short video feeds; big data will tell you exactly how Jin Li trended. As for Yi Xuan, just let her handle her own schedule for now. She’s a grown woman; you can’t keep revolving your life around her!"

Sui Lingfang hurriedly gave He Yixuan a few instructions and hailed a taxi back to the company.

In the car, Sui Lingfang first opened her Moments. After scrolling through several posts, she discovered that many people had shared a photo of a "Black-Clad Koi" who had won 200,000 yuan.

Why did this Black-Clad Koi look more and more familiar?

After scrolling a bit more, she finally found someone sharing a video and clicked on it.

By the time she reached the middle of the video, she was truly dumbfounded.

That familiar figure, that familiar face, and especially those incredibly long, curled eyelashes—wasn't that the little "eyelash sprite" she had met just three days ago?

Aha! So Jin Li was actually that Black-Clad Koi who went to the Taoist temple to burn incense, scratched a lottery ticket in front of the temple, and ended up winning 200,000 yuan?!

A red dot appeared on her Moments tab, indicating a new post. Sui Lingfang clicked on it instinctively.

It was a post from a peer in the industry expressing their thoughts.

【Before I entered this industry, I loved the Pink Girls group, and I was especially fond of Jin Li. Now that I’m in the industry, I’ve always sought a collaboration with her, but it’s a pity her health is so poor.

Jin Li is truly Jin Li; she shines wherever she goes. People who have topics surrounding them will never lack for topics. She’s trending again—she actually, really, trended!

Which colleague can tell me how to contact Jin Li’s agent? I’ll V you 50 tomorrow to treat you to a Crazy Thursday!!!】

This person had also attached many images, all of which were trending search lists from various short video and blog platforms.

Among them, hashtags like #TheBlackCladKoiFound, #JinLiIsTheBlackCladKoi, and #MissBlackCladKoi were all sitting high on the trending charts!

Sui Lingfang’s heart pounded, and she gripped her phone tightly. Only one thought occupied her mind: she had to seize this massive opportunity!

But then, she thought of Jin Li’s health and took a few deep breaths.

Stay steady, stay steady!

By the time she rushed back to the company, the boss had already arrived, as had all the other agents. Sui Lingfang, Jin Li’s exclusive agent, was the last to arrive.

That was the only benefit of a small company; everything felt like a family workshop, and everyone could be called in at a moment's notice.

The boss glanced at her, didn't waste any words, and got straight to the point: "Now, let’s discuss the marketing and promotional route for Jin Li, as well as the follow-up work arrangements."

The meeting lasted for two hours, and Sui Lingfang’s mood shifted from initial excitement to calm.

Her colleagues had great ideas, offering suggestions for Jin Li from every angle. They even thoughtfully proposed that her working hours should only be nine-to-five, with weekends off.

Sui Lingfang stood up, scanned the room, and said calmly, "There is only one final question: can Jin Li’s health actually hold up?"

As soon as the words were out, everyone fell silent.

During the discussion, everyone had consciously avoided this issue.

After a long while, the boss said, "Have Jin Li come to the company tomorrow. I will personally take her to Jingda Hospital to see an old doctor of traditional Chinese medicine."

Three years ago, when Jin Li vomited blood during a live stream, the boss had personally taken her to Jingda. After the visit, he announced that Jin Li would suspend all public appearances to recuperate.

Three years later, facing Jin Li’s resurgence, it felt as if they had returned to that same point in time.

Everyone felt both joy and worry. Would fate provide a different answer this time?

The meeting ended.

The boss left first, and the other agents slumped in their chairs, letting out a slight sigh of relief.

Zou Da, the agent who had called Sui Lingfang back, tugged at his tie and asked, "How is your Jin Li doing?"

Sui Lingfang said cautiously, "She mentioned to me that she’s been feeling quite well lately, but I don’t know if she’s up to the level of taking on outdoor gigs."

Zou Da clicked his tongue. "Be careful. The boss has high expectations for Jin Li’s comeback this time."

The boss had a deep obsession with Jin Li; anyone would be deeply impressed by the first failed investment of their life.

To the boss, Jin Li was a professional stain that he could never forget.

Back then, to snatch Jin Li from other companies, the boss had offered an unprecedented 20/80 split (20% for the company, 80% for Jin Li) and signed her to a ten-year contract.

Everyone thought Jin Li’s arrival would bring the company to a brand-new starting point, and they were all geared up to make a big splash. However, reality cruelly poured a bucket of cold water on them—

Jin Li’s health was poor, a fact they hadn't been informed of beforehand. They had been scammed!

Dawn Entertainment was backed by Dawn Investment, a well-known private equity firm in the industry that specialized in private funds and was never short on cash.

Coincidentally, the bosses of both companies were the same person.

Although the boss didn't care about the high signing fee that had gone down the drain, he was certainly still bitter about the failure. Otherwise, why would he drop his monitoring of hundreds of millions in funds just to come to the company for a meeting the moment he heard Jin Li was trending?

Sui Lingfang sighed and murmured, "I hope she can seize this opportunity, too."

Jin Li, however, was completely unaware of all this.

She was diligently attending her online classes. Perhaps the [Twice the Result with Half the Effort] effect influenced one's state of mind; Jin Li found that when she focused, her thinking became exceptionally active.

Immersing herself in the ocean of knowledge made her forget the passage of time in the outside world.

Lines of comments scrolled through the live stream, but Jin Li didn't look at a single one, fully immersed in her studies.

Gradually, some viewers left, while others stayed, and those who remained silently accompanied Jin Li in her studies.

Some were at a critical stage of preparing for civil service exams, graduate school entrance exams, or university exams. Seeing Jin Li studying so seriously, they couldn't resist opening their own study apps and joining in.

When the sun slanted to the west and a beautiful, golden sunset spilled over Jin Li, casting a layer of gold on her laptop, she finally emerged from her focused state.

In the blink of an eye, it was already five o'clock. It was time to prepare dinner.

Jin Li first stretched, then looked at the camera. It was as if a blank-faced doll had suddenly been imbued with life, a fairy descending from the heavens to the mortal world—

A single glance felt like an eternity.

She gave a brilliant smile to the screen: "Thank you all for studying with me. Let's continue tomorrow."

The next second, the live stream went black.

Only the real-time comments below continued to scroll, expressing the viewers' excitement.

[I’m obsessed with Jin Li’s looks. What kind of adorable little human is this? You can see stars in her eyes! This isn't a magazine shoot, so how am I lucky enough to see magazine-cover quality in a live stream?]

[Dropping a '6' first. I'll be here to study with Miss Koi again tomorrow!]

[I’m going all-in on the Jin Li stock. You guys do whatever you want.]

As for Jin Li, who was being discussed by everyone, the first thing she did after turning off the live stream wasn't cooking, but rather... dealing with Sui Lingfang, who was about to storm over.

With a kind inquiry.

Here it comes, here it comes! Goodnight, everyone!