Chapter 5 My darling.
That afternoon, the entry "Huo Heng and Shen Zhiyi break up" directly became the number one hot search. In the comment section, fans happily celebrated that their husbands were single again, while a small number of people were curious about the reason for their breakup.

[Shen Zhiyi, is this the time to cross the river and burn the bridge after he has gained enough resources? 】

[In fact, Shen Zhiyi didn’t get any resources. She only played small supporting roles.]

[What's wrong with a minor supporting role? This is a big director's crew. If she relies on herself, she probably won't even be qualified to play cannon fodder. ]

Under the manipulation of Huo Heng's agency, public opinion completely turned to Huo Heng's side. Fans felt sad that their idol was used and then abandoned, and were happy that the scheming girl had finally gone away. No one was curious about why Huo Heng showed his affection in the live broadcast room but was slapped in the face.

"What's going on? Why is Shen Zhiyi suddenly uncooperative?"

Huo Heng's agent was frightened by this sudden change and asked angrily, "Did you make her angry? How many times have I told you to be nice to her? Without her as a shield, how can you meet Xu Xia?"

Because they had signed the contract, she wasn't worried that Shen Zhiyi would tell others about Xu Xia. But without her to take the blame, what would happen if Huo Heng and Xu Xia were photographed meeting again in the future?
Huo Heng looked unhappy. "I didn't provoke her. She just thought the resources I gave her were not good enough."

I really misjudged her. It turns out she is so vain.

"Then give her a good role so that you can agree to get back together with me as soon as possible, or you can convince Xu Xia to admit her relationship with you."

Xu Xia has now transformed from a female idol into an actress, so she won’t suffer much loss by admitting her relationship.

"No," Huo Heng refused without even thinking. "Her team marketed her as a career-focused person. Rumors of a romantic relationship would have a bad impact on her."

He made up his mind and reluctantly said, "I'll go talk to Shen Zhiyi. Where is she?"

Huo Heng waited in the company for three hours before Shen Zhiyi came back.

"Zhiyi," Huo Heng tried to slow down his expression, "I have secured a second female role for you. It's a big production. Although it's a villain role, it has a lot of scenes. Go and audition."

Shen Zhiyi was no longer surprised by Huo Heng's behavior. He was fully aware of his own problem and thought that their relationship broke down because she wanted better resources.

It's ridiculous.

During these three years, Huo Heng always forced her to appear in the dramas he starred in, and even signed contracts for her. His agent also always arranged a messy schedule for her, causing Shen Zhiyi to be forced to give up the roles she got through auditions due to time conflicts. If not, how could she have only played those meaningless small supporting roles in three years?
"I do not need."

Huo Heng frowned, holding back his anger, "Don't say angry words, how could you not need it?"

He tried to reason calmly, "You have to think clearly. Without me helping you get roles, and without our agency backing you up, you wouldn't get any roles at all. You've been in the industry for several years. Do you still believe in the empty words that hard work pays off?"

Shen Zhiyi asked back, "Why do you think I can't get a good role?" Huo Heng seemed to be amused by her naivety, "Zhiyi, it took me five years to get my first leading role. Do you think you are better than me——"

It took him more than a year and a half to reach his current position, which is an opportunity that many people will never encounter in their lifetime. And how could it be so easy for Shen Zhiyi, who has no background at all, to make a name for himself?

The phone suddenly rang. Shen Zhiyi picked it up, responded twice, and then turned on the speakerphone.

"Could you please repeat that?"

"Okay, Miss Shen, congratulations on passing the audition, but our director has decided to change your role after seeing your performance. What do you think of the female lead?"

The smile on Huo Heng's face suddenly froze, and he said without thinking, "Don't give up on yourself and star in some rubbish web dramas—"

The person on the other end of the phone smiled politely, "Sir, this is not a rubbish web drama, but a serious historical drama, a big production. Our director's surname is Meng, the same Meng as Meng Fansheng."

Meng Fansheng is a master in the international film industry and a well-deserved famous director.

Shen Zhiyi hung up the phone and stood up, no longer looking at the ugly expression on Huo Heng's face, "I don't think there's any need for us to talk any further."

After coming out of the agency, Shen Zhiyi wanted to take a taxi back to her small apartment, but a Rolls-Royce with a license plate ending in 999 stopped in front of her.

Secretary Qin, who was sitting in the passenger seat, got out of the car and opened the door. Shen Zhiyi then saw Pei Yu sitting in the back seat. He was wearing a silver-gray suit with his suit jacket casually draped next to him. He had a computer on his lap and seemed to be having a video conference with someone. When the door opened, he just glanced over and nodded silently.

Shen Zhiyi was stunned. She didn't expect their second meeting to come so soon. She subconsciously wanted to escape, "I have something else to do——"

Pei Yu raised his head. He was wearing a pair of rimless glasses. His eyes looked indifferent and cold through the lenses. He tapped the edge of the computer with his fingertips and said without any emotion, "Let's talk in the car."

Shen Zhiyi got into the car silently and sat awkwardly in the seat next to him.

The moment the car door closed, she vaguely heard someone on the other end of the computer ask in English, "Who is she?" She nervously dodged to the side, not wanting to be in the camera, nor did she feel that she needed to be introduced.

When silence returned to the car, Pei Yu raised his hand and covered Shen Zhiyi's legs with his suit jacket, and replied in English in a lazy and somewhat low voice.

“My darling.”

Perhaps it was because his voice was so attractive that Shen Zhiyi could actually hear a hint of tenderness in it.

(End of this chapter)