Chapter 2: The Hunter and the Prey

The moment the call connected, Wang Yao's slick and sharp voice immediately burst out, as if the accumulated filth of three days had finally found an outlet. "Lin Weiyu! You finally decided to answer the phone? What, tired of playing the wrist-slitting game? Afraid now? Let me tell you, don't play these games of feigned indifference with me, it won't work!" His voice was full of condescending mockery and impatience, as if he was certain that the girl on the other end of the line was currently cowering in some dark corner, trembling. "I'm giving you one last chance! Sign that termination agreement immediately! Eight million in liquidated damages, not a penny less. I want to see the money in the company account before 5 PM this afternoon! Otherwise, you'll be reported as a defaulter across the entire internet, and you'll be waiting for a court summons! I guarantee you'll spend the rest of your life working for the company to pay off your debts!" A barrage of threats and coercion, like machine gun fire, came raining down, every word laced with poison, enough to completely break someone who was already mentally fragile. After Wang Yao finished speaking, he leaned back triumphantly in his leather office chair, even lighting a cigarette, preparing to enjoy the crying and pleading he had already rehearsed countless times in his mind. That would be his most delightful entertainment of the day. However, what he received was utter silence. No crying, no begging, not even a hint of panicked breathing. Only silence. A cold, heavy silence, carrying an extreme sense of oppression. Just as Wang Yao's patience was about to run out and he was about to burst into a tirade, a cool, emotionless voice finally came slowly from the receiver. "Wang Yao." Not Lin Weiyu's usual timid "Brother Wang," but a direct address by name. The two words were spoken in a flat tone, as if reciting a symbol completely unrelated to herself. Wang Yao froze for a moment, his brows instantly furrowed. This wasn't right. When did that idiot Lin Weiyu dare to speak to him in this tone? “What kind of attitude is that? Lin Weiyu, don't push your luck…” “Eight million.” Gu Qingshuang directly interrupted his subsequent rant, her voice still as calm as still water. “Is this the only reason you called?” Her tone was less of a question and more of a confirmation of an insignificant matter, as if the eight million wasn't a crushing debt, but merely the price of a bowl of wontons at a roadside stall. This extreme contempt stung Wang Yao's pathetic self-esteem more than any fierce resistance could. “Nonsense!” He almost shouted, trying to cover up the fleeting unease deep within him. “Lin Weiyu, have you lost your mind? You're notorious now, worthless! This eight million is compensation for ruining the company's reputation! It's your only way out!” “Way out?” Gu Qingshuang chuckled softly. The laugh was extremely light and brief, yet it was like a sharp icicle that precisely pierced Wang Yao's eardrum through the phone line. He inexplicably shivered. “Wang Yao,” Gu Qingshuang's voice finally carried a hint of subtle “interest,” like a chess player examining a flawed game. “You're in a hurry.” Not a question, but a statement. “Why would I be in a hurry? What do I have to be in a hurry about!” Wang Yao's voice suddenly rose, his bravado masking his inner fear. “You're the one who should be in a hurry!” “Really?” Gu Qingshuang said slowly, flipping through the PDF file on her phone. Her voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached Wang Yao's ears. “You're so eager for me to sign, even resorting to the low-level tactic of forging court summons to threaten me, because… what are you afraid of?” Wang Yao's heart skipped a beat! Forging court summons? How did she know? That was just something he said to scare her! This stupid woman, didn't she used to believe everything he said? "What nonsense are you talking about!" "I've read the contract, and it's written very 'thoroughly'." Gu Qingshuang completely ignored his咆哮 (roaring), continuing at a steady pace, her words like precise drumbeats, striking at his most vulnerable nerves. "Especially the clauses, they're designed quite cleverly, practically blocking all possible loopholes." Wang Yao subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, a sinister smile returning to his lips. Good thing you're sensible! That contract was specifically designed by the company's legal department to "handle" disobedient artists; it's flawless! "However..." Gu Qingshuang changed the subject. Those two light words instantly made Wang Yao's heart, which had just settled down, leap into his throat again. "I'm just curious about a small detail," Gu Qingshuang's tone sounded innocent and confused, like a student humbly seeking guidance. "On page nineteen of the agreement, the last clause of Appendix C, which is clause 11. That sentence is particularly long; I had to read it several times to understand it." Appendix C? Clause 11? Wang Yao's mind went blank. How could he possibly remember such an obscure clause! He only knew the core clauses regarding liquidated damages and liability allocation; he always ignored those legal clauses in the nooks and crannies! "A clause concerning the effective date of the 'final termination notice'," Gu Qingshuang seemed to be kindly reminding him. "It mentions a 'written notice,' and the agreement only officially becomes effective twenty-four hours after the notice is delivered." She paused, then asked softly, in a tone of sudden realization: "Wang Yao, did you... send me that written notice?" "..." In the office, the color drained completely from Wang Yao's face. The hand holding his phone began to tremble uncontrollably. Written notice? What the hell is that! He only remembered that the legal department had reminded him that all procedures must be followed. But he only wanted to get the money quickly, force Lin Weiyu to sign, and get rid of this hot potato. In his opinion, sending a PDF and making a threatening phone call was already a "great favor"! That clause... what exactly did that clause say? What would be the consequences if he forced her to sign without completing the proper procedures? In an instant, cold sweat drenched his shirt. For the first time, he felt that the girl on the other end of the phone, whom he had always considered his plaything, had transformed into an unfathomable black hole. All the tactics and threats he was so proud of were silently swallowed up. He realized that the positions of hunter and prey seemed to have reversed without him even noticing. "Lin... Lin Weiyu..." His voice was dry and trembling, no longer arrogant, "What exactly do you want?" "What do I want?" Gu Qingshuang's voice finally returned to its initial coldness, the emotionless pronouncement of a predator, "That's a question I should be asking you." She sat up straight in the hospital bed. Although her body was still weak, the eyes reflected on the phone screen were astonishingly bright, filled with a chilling glint. "Now, let's talk about my conditions." "First, a public apology. Star Entertainment Company must issue a formal apology statement, in the company's name, to me personally and to the public, for its failure in crisis management and for failing to protect the basic rights of its artists." "Second, that termination agreement is void. A new 'Peaceful Termination Agreement' will be drafted, allowing both parties to part amicably without any penalty fees." "Third," she paused slightly, a cruel smile in her voice, "All the profits I generated for the company over the past three years, after deducting costs and reasonable shares, the remaining amount, along with the loan on my apartment that you illegally mortgaged, must be transferred to my account within twenty-four hours, without a single cent missing." Wang Yao was no longer just shocked, but utterly terrified. He was like a dog with its throat choked, mouth agape, but unable to make a sound. An apology? A peaceful termination? And the company had to pay her money?! She was crazy! This woman was absolutely insane! "You're dreaming!" After a long pause, he finally squeezed out these three words through gritted teeth. “You can refuse,” Gu Qingshuang’s tone was terrifyingly calm, “but my patience is limited. In twenty-four hours, if you haven’t complied, my lawyer will not only discuss the issues in Appendix C, Article 11 with you, but might also casually mention your unclear accounts, tax evasion over the past few years, and… those incidents of sending underage trainees to Producer Zhang’s parties.” “Boom—!” Wang Yao’s brain completely exploded. His vision went black, and he almost fell off his chair. How… how did she know all this?! These were his deepest secrets, the “pledge of allegiance” that allowed him to secure his current position! Fear, an unprecedented fear, like countless icy hands reaching out from the depths of hell, gripped his heart tightly. He finally understood that the person on the other end of the phone was no longer the Lin Weiyu he could manipulate. It was a devil. “I… I…” He wanted to say something, but found himself unable to form a complete sentence. “Shh,” Gu Qingshuang said softly, “Think carefully. I’ll wait for your good news.” After saying that, without waiting for any reaction from Wang Yao, she decisively hung up the phone. The hospital room returned to silence. Gu Qingshuang casually threw the old phone aside, her face devoid of any triumphant joy, as calm as if she had merely dealt with a trivial piece of garbage. The Wang Yao connection couldn’t be severed yet. He was connected to Su Manqi, and even deeper figures. What she needed to do now was to strike a warning blow, first securing the most basic survival space and start-up capital for herself. She closed her eyes and began to plan her next step. Leaving Xingyao was only the first step; next, she needed a stage that would allow her to return to the public eye and maximize the advantages of this body. Just then, the phone she had thrown into the corner of the bed suddenly “dinged,” and the screen lit up. It was a text message. From an unknown, encrypted number. The content was short, but it caused a genuine ripple in Gu Qingshuang’s icy eyes for the first time. They thought they had buried you, but beneath the ruins often lie the foundations of a throne. The last spot in the survival reality show "Desperate Island" is reserved for you. Do you dare to come?