’If I mishandle this, it could blow up at any moment.’

Xu Yun wasn’t worried about other forms of retaliation, but the other party’s official connections felt a bit tricky.

’After all, no matter how much money you have, you can’t beat someone with authority.’

Just as Xu Yun was wondering if he should keep a certain distance from Xino, a situation developed with Song Xiaowei next to them.

They were separated by only a partition, so as long as the other party wasn’t deliberately keeping their voices down, you could hear them if you listened closely.

It turned out to be Director Bi from her radio station department, trying to get Song Xiaowei to have a drink with him. Song Xiaowei seemed unwilling, and he was relentlessly trying to persuade her.

He was using his position as her superior to pressure her, both in his words and between the lines.

Several other colleagues were also chiming in, trying to persuade her.

Saying things like, "It’s just one drink," "It’s no big deal," and "You won’t even get drunk."

They were all men; Xu Yun and Yan Can knew exactly what the director had in mind the moment they heard it.

Yan Can asked tentatively, "Xu Yun, should I go over and help your girl out?"

"She’s Brother Xu’s friend. If anyone’s going to help, it should be Brother Xu himself."

Xu Yizhen reminded him from the side, "What business is it of yours to go over there?"

"No need."

Xu Yun calmly took a sip of his coffee and said, "Let’s listen for now. We’ll decide what to do later."

"..." Yan Can was speechless.

Perhaps because Song Xiaowei was just a rookie who didn’t know how to appreciate a favor—he had taken the initiative to toast her, yet she kept refusing to drink—the director felt he was losing face and was being put in an awkward position.

Director Bi put down his wine glass, his tone growing heavy. He said with deep implication, "Our department only has one permanent position, but we have two interns. An attitude like yours makes things very difficult for me."

A colleague at her side immediately tried to persuade her, "Xiaowei, just have a drink with the director. The director praised your professional skills and wanted to give you this opportunity. That’s why he invited you to dinner."

"If I drink with him today to get a permanent position, does that mean tomorrow I have to sleep with this old bastard for my job?"

Song Xiaowei couldn’t take it anymore. She shot to her feet, not holding back in the slightest, and threw a glass of wine on him.

She said with contempt, "Bi! Take a good look at yourself!"

"Song Xiaowei, are you crazy!"

Soaked in wine and now being cursed at, Director Bi exploded in rage. "Believe it or not, I’ll have you thrown out of this TV station!"

"Fine! I’d like to see how you’re going to kick me out!"

Song Xiaowei was completely unafraid. "Others might be scared of you, but I’m not, you bald bastard."

"Fine, fine, fine. Just you wait."

Director Bi threatened, "Song Xiaowei, I’ll make you beg me on your knees."

"Is that so?"

Xu Yun rose to his feet, pulled aside the partition, and appeared before them.

He looked at the bald man and smiled. "I’d really like to see how you’re going to make her beg you on her knees."

"Who are you?"

Director Bi was taken aback by Xu Yun’s sudden appearance.

"Who I am isn’t important."

Xu Yun walked over, poured a full glass of liquor from the decanter, placed it in front of the man, and said, "You like forcing people to drink with you, don’t you?

Now, drink this glass of liquor and bark like a dog twice, and I’ll forgive you."

"Are you insane?"

Director Bi shot him a look of shame and fury, glanced at the others, and decided that discretion was the better part of valor. He turned and left immediately.

Seeing that Director Bi had already gone, the other three colleagues also scurried away.

Song Xiaowei looked at Xu Yun in surprise and said happily, "What are you doing here?"

"If I wasn’t here, what would you have done if you got bullied?"

Xu Yun smiled. "But I didn’t expect you to be so brave! Aren’t you afraid he’ll retaliate?"

"I only dared to do that because I have you to back me up."

Song Xiaowei said, blushing, "If it were the old me, I wouldn’t have had this much confidence."

"Don’t worry, ma’am. He’s just a minor director at a TV station department."

Yan Can puffed out his chest and said confidently, "Brother Xu doesn’t even need to get involved. I’ll find someone to take care of him for you."

This was the second time Song Xiaowei had seen Yan Can.

The first time had been at a KTV when she was trying to get into the television station.

He had been with Xu Yun then, too.

And she had gotten into the station all thanks to a single phone call from Xu Yun.

So she didn’t doubt for a second that Yan Can, and by extension Xu Yun, had connections within the television station.

This was one of the reasons she had dared to defy Director Bi to his face!

Now that she had Xu Yun backing her, she didn’t need to swallow her pride and compromise like everyone else.

"Alright, you can handle this for me."

Xu Yun said, "Don’t try to save me money. Spend whatever you need to, not a penny less. Just get it done."

’Friends are friends, but when it comes to business, money that needs to be spent must be spent.’

"I get it. Don’t worry, Brother Xu."

Yan Can smiled. "I don’t have many other skills, but I’ve got plenty of friends in low places, and I’m pretty good at spending money to make things happen."

"Then I’ll have to trouble you."

Xu Yun said, "You and your date can get back to it. We’ll be leaving now."

"Alright. Take care, Brother Xu."

As Xu Yizhen watched Song Xiaowei follow him, a hint of envy appeared in her eyes.

’As an artist in the great dyeing vat of the entertainment industry, it was rare for anyone to stay completely clean.’

’In the face of capital, they were nothing.’

’If you wanted to make a name for yourself, to climb the ladder, talent alone wasn’t enough. You needed someone to give you a chance, someone willing to back you.’

’For example, her first short series—she only landed the female lead after making certain compromises. That role led to who she was today, and to her current, second short series.’

’But ever since she got together with Yan Can, that director from before no longer dared to make a move on her.’

’Everything that had happened between them was treated as if it had never occurred.’