Fu Bing took the initiative to show sincerity.
"I know Director Su looks down on me and fundamentally rejects me. My reputation is now indeed tainted, and apart from you, no one else is offering me work opportunities. However, this does not mean I am open to being disparaged at will. You have been saying that the Su Group could waive the penalty for my breach of contract, and I believed you."
"But everything must be put down on paper. A true commitment to not pursue the breach requires it in black and white, not just empty words."
Su Junling scoffed, "You suspect the Su Group of trying to trick you? Who do you think you are, to be worth someone expending energy to scheme against you?"
"When you've been tricked many times, you learn to protect yourself."
Fu Bing's tone was matter-of-fact, devoid of any emotion. Her voice was soft, so even when her words were harsh, she didn't sound aggressive.
Su Junling's face grew tense for a moment, then he suddenly laughed.
If Fu Bing had been cringing and submissive, he wouldn't have spared her a second glance. That would mean she would be crushed by her current debt of over a billion, with no opportunity to turn the tables.
Su Junling, for once, showed Fu Bing a pleasant expression. "The cancellation of your penalty of over a billion from the Su Group, with permanent waiver of accountability, is being processed via contract. The Su Group didn't pursue it before and won't in the future. It will take a week, maybe half a month, for the contract to be fully finalized."
"Thank you, Director Su. I meant no offense just now."
Fu Bing's attitude changed as quickly as flipping through a book, instantly shifting from being as cold as June snow to as warm as spring.
Su Junling ignored her, rose, and walked towards the cinematographer. "Stand-ins, to your marks! Cameras, reset positions!"
Su Junling himself wondered why he was being so patient with Fu Bing. If anyone else had dared to speak to him like that, he would have smashed their head in long ago. Instead of lashing out after being challenged, he now had to swallow his pride and get his older brother's legal team to handle Fu Bing's contract breach with the Su Group.
Thinking of this, Su Junling irritably called his brother.
"Your subordinates are too inefficient! What's so hard about processing a pile of useless contracts?"
Su Junxian had just stepped out of the meeting room. Hearing this accusation, he felt a strong urge to disown his brother for the sake of righteousness.
"You haven't learned anything else in the entertainment industry, but you're quite skilled at keeping female stars. Spending over a billion at a stroke—you're quite generous, aren't you?"
Su Junling couldn't be bothered with his brother's snide remarks. "Just hurry them up, lest people start complaining your work efficiency is too low and say the Su Group is bound to go bankrupt sooner or later."
"If you want to face ruin so badly, come back and run the company into the ground yourself!" Su Junxian retorted and hung up immediately.
A bunch of younger brothers, good for nothing but wasting food and rubbing salt in wounds!
Su Junxian told his special assistant, "Check into Fu Bing."
This woman first caused Qin Jinhai to have a falling out with the Qin Family, and now she's made Junling waive an over a billion penalty for her. Just how devastatingly beautiful must she be to bewitch people to this extent?
"Yes."
The Su Group had never planned to pursue that sum of over a billion. It was just seen as a failed investment. Su Junling repeatedly pushing for progress, however, made him take notice.
Fu Bing caused turmoil in the Qin Family three years ago. As soon as she was released from prison, she's causing Su Junling to act abnormally again. This woman is not to be underestimated.
Fu Bing didn't realize that she had unwittingly made a significant impression on the future helmsman of the Su Family.
She was in the makeup room, waiting in line to get her makeup done.
On Su Junling's set, there was only one large makeup room; no matter how big a star they were, everyone had to behave.
Just as Fu Bing sat down at the makeup table, she saw Wu Shi in the mirror. He was holding her water bottle and script. His eyes were downcast, as impassive as a wooden post.
The actors in the crew quietly discussed tonight's Golden Cauldron Award ceremony. They had all received their invitations.
The Golden Cauldron Award was held once every three years. The last Best Actress recipient was Fu Bing. She had also become the only actor in the industry to have won all major global awards of high prestige.
If she hadn't faced imprisonment, Fu Bing's position would have been unshakeable. Decades later, she would undoubtedly have become a greatly respected figure both inside and outside the entertainment circle.
Everyone looked at Fu Bing and quietly hushed their voices.
It wasn't that Fu Bing didn't feel a sense of loss and indignation. She forcibly suppressed these feelings, maintaining her character's persona for the role.
Once shooting started, Fu Bing's acting was flawless—perfect. She was an actor who never had NG takes. If a fellow actor had an NG take, she would adjust her performance to match their state. The performance is better when actors complement each other. Her shining alone was meaningless; only when the entire cast shone could it be a quality production.
After filming her scenes, Fu Bing removed her makeup and changed her clothes.
Just as she approached her compact van, Su Junling's assistant ran up to her.
"Miss Fu, please wait. Director Su would like to speak with you."
Fu Bing walked toward Su Junling's RV. Wu Shi ignored the contorted expression on Su Junling's assistant's face and followed Fu Bing.
Su Junling saw the man following behind Fu Bing but didn't react much.
"Come with me to the awards ceremony tonight."
"Me?" Even the composed Fu Bing was surprised.
"What? Are you afraid to go?"
Fu Bing pressed her lips together, remaining silent. It wasn't that she was afraid; it was just unnecessary.
"I have other plans tonight." The embroidery designs weren't finished, and she still had a pile of debts. She didn't have time to join in the excitement. If she went, she would become the spectacle for others.
"Tonight is the best way for your comeback. Or do you think being my companion—Su Junling's companion—would be humiliating?"
Su Junling's eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous glint in them.
Scions of wealthy families are constantly flattered by others and tend to overreact to rejection.
After weighing the pros and cons, Fu Bing decided not to refuse further.
"It would be my honor to be Director Su's companion."
Wu Shi looked at Fu Bing's still slender silhouette, then glared at Su Junling.
Su Junling felt an intensely oppressive gaze directed at him. When he looked over, the gaze had vanished.
Su Junling stared at Wu Shi's back, deep in thought.
Fu Bing returned to the side of her compact van and said to Wu Shi, "Drive to Ya Garden to pick up a gown for me and deliver it to the Golden Cauldron Awards venue."
After making arrangements, Fu Bing got into Su Junling's RV.
The thought that Qin Jinhai and Li Qing would also be there made her head ache. And that wasn't even mentioning the crowd of onlookers eager for some drama.
Su Junling had arranged a stylist and clothes for Fu Bing on short notice.
Su Junling watched from the side. "Give her light makeup."
"No need for makeup. I'll go barefaced."
Su Junling raised an eyebrow. "Are you not satisfied with embarrassing yourself alone? Do you have to drag me down with you?"
Fu Bing said earnestly, "Director Su, please trust my decision. Tonight is very important to me. I won't take any foolish risks."
Su Junling discovered that Fu Bing had incredibly persuasive eyes. Whenever she looked at someone with those beautiful eyes, they radiated sincerity, earnestness, and frankness. It seemed he would agree to almost anything she asked. Of course, there was another, more important reason! Even if Fu Bing went out draped in a gunny sack, she would still outshine everyone. She had that kind of asset.
"Suit yourself." Su Junling then genuinely paid her no more mind.
The stylist washed Fu Bing's face, applied skincare products, and that was it.
The gowns prepared by the stylist were all leftovers, the ones other stars hadn't picked. If Fu Bing were to wear one of those, it would indeed be self-inflicted humiliation.
Fu Bing didn't pick one. She explained gently, "My companion has already gone to fetch my gown. We'll just need the car to wait for a bit outside the venue later."
Su Junling remained noncommittal.
He himself hadn't even realized that his gaze was lingering on Fu Bing's face for increasingly longer periods. She always possessed a calm and unruffled composure, as if she could handle anything that came her way with grace. Even when faced with deliberate provocations, she could always find a favorable angle and turn hardship into her advantage. If it weren't for Fu Bing, he wouldn't have the slightest interest in this so-called awards ceremony.
When Su Junling and Fu Bing arrived at the exterior of the awards ceremony venue, Wu Shi had also arrived.
He handed the gown to Fu Bing. Then, with an impassive expression, he made Su Junling get out of the RV. After checking the RV again for any hidden cameras, he stepped out and faced Su Junling, the two of them staring each other down.
Fu Bing changed into the gown and called Wu Shi into the RV.
When Wu Shi entered the RV, he froze.