Chapter 17: Firing Herself, All Just to Bring Yang Mi Back?

Hearing her agent’s words, Wu Yufei was momentarily stunned, clearly unable to process what she had just heard. Then, wide-eyed, she demanded, “What did you say?!”

Qi Lu took a deep breath and repeated firmly, “Wu Yufei, you have been fired. Chairman Liu asked me to notify you.”

Her tone was no longer polite. She had long grown tired of Wu Yufei’s arrogant and overbearing attitude. All the previous patience had been for the sake of her salary. Now that Wu Yufei’s star was fading, Qi Lu had no intention of indulging her any longer.

Wu Yufei was dumbfounded, her face filled with disbelief and confusion. “What? Qi Lu, explain this clearly! What’s going on?!” she asked incredulously.

She couldn’t believe Qi Lu was serious—this was too sudden, and completely without reason! She hadn’t done anything wrong. Besides, it was the chairman’s first day in office. Why would he fire her? This had to be a joke!

Qi Lu replied calmly, “It’s exactly as I said. If you don’t accept it, you can ask Chairman Liu yourself.” With that, she turned and left, unwilling to engage further.

Wu Yufei’s mind went blank upon receiving the news. She stood frozen, unable to regain her composure for a long time. “No, this can’t be happening,” she muttered to herself, panic rising within her. She knew her agent wouldn’t joke about something like this.

Feeling confused and angry, Wu Yufei declared, “I’m going to see Chairman Liu. I need to know what’s really going on!” She was about to leave when her phone rang. Looking at the screen, she saw it was a call from her best friend.

Without hesitation, she answered. On the other end, her friend’s voice was anxious: “Yufei, what’s going on? Did something happen over there?!”

Wu Yufei was taken aback. “How did you know something happened?” she asked.

“My dear, listen, our chairman...” Before Wu Yufei could finish, her friend interrupted urgently, “How would I know otherwise? Just check online now! There’s nothing but negative news about you everywhere. Your entire public image is collapsing! What’s going on? Is the company trying to blacklist you?”

Her friend’s words struck a chord deep within Wu Yufei. “What?” she whispered. “I’ll take a look.” After hanging up, she quickly opened her phone.

Scrolling through the internet, Wu Yufei saw the barrage of scandals and negative reports about herself. It was like a thunderclap out of a clear sky; she was stunned.

Her mind went blank, then dizziness overtook her. She swayed unsteadily, almost collapsing if not for the makeup artist who caught her. “What... what’s going on?!” she whispered, unable to accept or believe the scene before her eyes. How had she suddenly become the target of such exposure?

This was obviously a deliberate attack. Yet she couldn’t figure out who would do such a thing. After all, she had offended too many people.

“No, I have to see Chairman Liu!” she resolved once she regained her senses. She hurried to find Liu Yanbin.

At the door of the chairman’s office, she pushed open the door and rushed in, voice urgent: “Chairman Liu, what exactly is going on?!”

Liu Yanbin looked up from his work, his expression darkening. “Don’t you know how to knock? So rude!” he reprimanded.

Wu Yufei was taken aback but stepped forward and demanded, “Chairman Liu, on what grounds are you firing me?” Her tone was defiant, accustomed to arrogance.

Liu Yanbin furrowed his brows and scoffed coldly. “You’re Wu Yufei, right? And you still have the nerve to ask me? Haven’t you seen the scandals about you online?”

“I’m not just firing you,” he continued. “You’ll also have to compensate the company for the damages.”

Wu Yufei was dumbfounded. Being fired was already outrageous enough; now she had to pay some absurd damages?

Liu Yanbin’s voice was cold and sharp: “Do you understand how much harm your public image collapse has caused the company?”

“You breached your contract. According to the agreement, you owe a ten-million-yuan penalty.”

“You’d better prepare it quickly, or I’ll take legal action against you.”

Every word hit Wu Yufei like a blow.

“This is outrageous!” she snapped, her spoiled heiress temper flaring up. “Do you even know I’m the face of Jiaxing Media? How dare you fire me!”

Liu Yanbin sneered. “The face? You’re nothing but a pariah now—someone everyone wants to see fall.”

“Wu Yufei, you need to know your place,” he said coldly.

Wu Yufei’s face flushed red. She had no argument and instead shouted, “Do you know who my boyfriend is?! If you do this, he won’t let you off. I advise you to have the company’s PR suppress those online rumors, or else—”

Before she could finish, Liu Yanbin interrupted with a mocking smile: “Ha, those so-called scandals? The company’s PR leaked them.”

“To be honest, I’m disgusted just reading them. Now, leave—and remember to pay the penalty on time.”

“As for your boyfriend, you’re welcome to try.”

He then lowered his head, uninterested in continuing the conversation. To him, she was simply a fool.

Wu Yufei’s face burned with anger. She glanced inadvertently at the documents on Liu’s desk. The next moment, her expression changed drastically.

Among the papers was a contract for Yang Mi.

Wu Yufei was unsettled, the sight like a sharp needle piercing her eyes. She stared at Liu Yanbin, a mix of shock and fury on her face.

“Chairman Liu, what’s this? Why is Yang Mi’s contract here?”

Liu Yanbin glanced at the contract and smiled coldly. “That? It’s Yang Mi’s previous contract. After firing you, I plan to personally invite her back. I’m even doubling all her benefits.”

“I’m telling you, this has nothing to do with you.”

Wu Yufei stared at him in disbelief.

What was he implying? Fire her, then bring Yang Mi back?

Suddenly, she realized the one behind this was likely Liu himself.

“What... what do you mean?” she demanded loudly. “Why are you doing this? Why?!”

“Chairman Liu, have I offended you in any way?” she asked, utterly confused. She didn’t even know him.

Liu Yanbin’s voice was cold and detached. “You haven’t offended me personally. But you’ve offended someone you shouldn’t have.”

“Well, before I lose all patience, you’d better leave quickly.”

Wu Yufei was stunned. Offended someone she shouldn’t have? Did that mean she had crossed Yang Mi, and that’s why Liu was targeting her?

She couldn’t understand. What connection could Yang Mi possibly have with Liu Yanbin? One was an ordinary celebrity, the other a powerful new owner of Jiaxing.

“Chairman Liu, is there some misunderstanding here...” Wu Yufei insisted, unwilling to accept this.

Liu Yanbin suddenly slammed his hand on the desk, impatient: “Get out! Don’t make me say it again!”

Tears welled in Wu Yufei’s eyes. She felt utterly wronged.

“Fine, we’ll see about that!” she spat bitterly and stormed out, clicking her heels loudly.

Downstairs, she could hold it no longer. She pulled out her phone and called Chen Ase. “Honey, I’m being bullied! Boo hoo~”

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