Chapter 12: What's Going On

Chief Editor Wan, who had never been defied here before, was nearly beside himself with rage. He jabbed a finger at Xiao Ma and unleashed a torrent of curses.

After his tirade, Xiao Ma simply ignored him. This only infuriated Chief Editor Wan further, and he picked up the phone. “Just you wait,” he snapped, and when the call connected, he barked: “Security, come over to Studio Three. Someone’s causing trouble. Get this trash out of here.”

Feng Chenchen originally had no quarrel with Xiao Ma, but Xiao Ma was good-looking, and Ye Gongmin was a jealous type. Every time Feng Chenchen belittled other handsome men in front of Ye Gongmin, it worked like a charm. Besides, she needed to give Chief Editor Wan some face—after all, he’d helped her rise to prominence. Though her own talent played a part, Wan Ziguan’s recommendation had undoubtedly fast-tracked her success.

Even this crucial extra issue—others were waiting for the Victoria spot, but Feng Chenchen spoke up, and despite some stylistic disagreements with the factory, she got her way. Now, she put on a sneering, mercenary expression and mocked, “Who is this, anyway? What lunatic let him in here? Shout all you want, he won’t leave. If you want freedom, go to the street—sneaking in here, you should at least keep a low profile. A pervert trying to peek at girls, disrupting our work.”

Xiao Ma chuckled. “Those truly dedicated to their work aren’t so easily thrown off. I’m just standing here, not even trying to meet you. Your own restless hearts are your problem—you came to talk to me, didn’t you?”

Feng Chenchen, never before spoken back to by a man, jabbed a finger at him and marched over. “Who are you? Do you even know who I am?”

“Hey, hey, calm down,” someone interjected.

Given Feng Chenchen’s notorious temper—she’d been known to get physical at work—Chen Xiao and Tao Zi hurried over to mediate.

Feng Chenchen, even more displeased, snapped, “And who are you two supposed to be? Whose side are you on?”

Tao Zi and Chen Xiao murmured, “Sorry, Sister Feng, we’re… the new hires about to start with you.”

Feng Chenchen immediately turned to Chief Editor Wan. “I don’t want these two newcomers. Tell them to leave.”

Ye Gongmin thought she’d gone too far and frowned. “Chenchen—”

“Don’t you butt in! My luck’s been rotten lately. Got my drafts axed by President Hong several times, and now even the newbies dare talk back?” Feng Chenchen shouted.

Ye Gongmin quickly turned away, covering his face. Damn it, he’d invested too much in her already—he ought to “make use” of her a bit more before moving on; otherwise, with his temper, he’d have changed girlfriends on the spot.

Wan Ziguan was in a bind. He didn’t want to go after Chen Xiao and Tao Zi, just Xiao Ma. Who could have guessed things would spiral into such a mess?

“Well, Chief Editor Wan, what’s your verdict?” Feng Chenchen demanded coldly.

At that moment, a very displeased female voice cut through the tension: “So, looks like this category doesn’t need to make the front page? Wow, what a crowd. Shooting a movie, are we?”

“President Hong… President Hong… President Hong…” Everyone fell back a step or two, lapsing into silence.

Chief Editor Wan tried to say something, but Fei Hong raised a hand imperiously. “No need. I know everything—there are cameras and recorders, after all. I’ve been watching.”

Everyone was rendered speechless, but there was nothing they could do. She was a notorious control freak.

“Throwing your weight around, are you?” Fei Hong, face dark, shot Feng Chenchen a hostile look.

Feng Chenchen faltered. “I—”

“No need to explain. You’re out. I’m blacklisting you. The elevator’s behind you, and the lingerie you’re wearing now is my personal gift. Leave, now,” Fei Hong interrupted.

“You—” Feng Chenchen was stunned, pointing at Chen Xiao, Tao Zi, and Xiao Ma. “You’re blacklisting me for these three nobodies?”

“You flatter yourself. You’re out because you disrespected me. With the schedule this tight, you ignore my direction, waste my time with three rejected drafts, and still have the energy to bicker with irrelevant people? Clearly, you’re suited for the life of a pampered heiress. All the talent in the world is useless without the right attitude. Security!”

Feng Chenchen was no pushover. As a top-tier star, being spoken to like this made her throw whatever she was holding to the ground. Wearing nothing but a bikini, she stormed toward the elevator.

Ye Gongmin was shocked. Hell, he’d just witnessed the decisive ruthlessness of a real-life “Devil Wears Prada”—and she was a goddess to boot!

“You—” But he was at a loss for words, unsure how to explain this to Feng Chenchen.

“And you are?” Fei Hong blinked at Ye Gongmin.

He hesitated. “I’m—”

But Fei Hong cut him off. “Actually, I don’t have time to hear who you are, nor did I invite you. The elevator’s behind you.”

Ye Gongmin’s face was thunderous. He quickly protested, “I’m friends with your CEO—”

“That’s of no use here. You’re not friends with my security staff.” Fei Hong waved over two guards. “Show him out.”

Before he could say another word, Ye Gongmin was hustled into the elevator. Though he didn’t usually hold grudges against women, he was almost too furious to speak.

Everyone else could only hang their heads. This was just how Sister Fei Hong operated—everyone knew it. At least in the workplace, she was always like this.

Chief Editor Wan, pipe in mouth, tried to say a few words before leaving, but Fei Hong cut him off again. “You’re out too.”

“What—” Chief Editor Wan was enraged, his pipe dropping to the floor. “You— President Hong, you would do this to me?”

He didn’t bother explaining; he knew that once Fei Hong spoke, she never took it back. Better to vent his anger than plead.

“Would you like a reason?” Fei Hong asked coolly.

Chief Editor Wan stamped his foot in frustration. “I’d really like to hear it. What did I do wrong?”

Fei Hong pointed at Xiao Ma. “He’s my important guest. By picking a fight with him, you’re showing I haven’t done my job. But that’s impossible—I’m never at fault, so it must be you. Second, you’re incompetent. Feng Chenchen lost it, but you pandered to her instead of controlling her. You wasted my time with multiple reviews. Worst of all, you let her get distracted from her work to argue over trivialities. Why should I keep you?”

Chen Xiao and Tao Zi, practically NPCs in this scene, were dumbfounded. They stared at the oddball man in amazement. This loser was Sister Fei Hong’s guest? And for his sake, even an industry heavyweight like Wan Ziguan was dismissed?

Incredible!

Chen Xiao’s eyes shone as she looked at Xiao Ma. Tao Zi, meanwhile, seemed embarrassed and awkward.

Wan Ziguan, furious, pointed at Xiao Ma. “You’d throw me out for the sake of this nobody?”

Fei Hong replied, “Right now, I have to have him on the cover. I can’t do without him. But you, who only cause trouble, are replaceable. He isn’t. Understood?”

“The board will have something to say about this!” Wan Ziguan retorted coldly.

“Fku! You aren’t even qualified to answer to the board. I answer to them, you answer to being out. I’ll courier you your personal belongings. Security!” Fei Hong spat out the curse, then gave Chen Xiao and Tao Zi an unfriendly look. In theory, the two hadn’t done anything wrong, but what better way to show her dominance than to eliminate a few innocents along the way?

She was just about to speak when Xiao Ma, like a character crashing in from the wings, jumped in. “Don’t you dare look at them. If you go after them, I’ll have you thrown out too, you loser.”

“Give it a rest. I haven’t even entered your game—how can you throw me out of it?” Fei Hong, knowing he was eccentric but not malicious, replied.

“You know nothing of power. Everyone here is in my game,” Xiao Ma said.

“My time isn’t meant for waiting around,” Fei Hong declared, and simply tried to drag Xiao Ma into her office by the hand.

Xiao Ma, in one of his fits, clung to a pole and refused to budge.

“Are you coming or not?” Fei Hong asked, exasperated.

“I’m a man of principle. I don’t go just because someone shouts,” Xiao Ma stubbornly clung to the pole.

It made for a ridiculous scene: Fei Hong, relentless, dragging away at him, not even caring about right or wrong—she just wanted things done. Xiao Ma, meanwhile, had no intention of being pulled along.

Almost everyone gawked in amazement. Someone who could refuse her summons—especially a man—was unheard of.

Chen Xiao and Tao Zi were so stunned their jaws nearly hit the floor.

“Are you done? Will you let go or not?” Fei Hong, unaccustomed to failure, was beginning to look exasperated.

Xiao Ma held fast, refusing to release the pole.

Fei Hong glanced over, then pointed at the pole. “Maintenance, dismantle this pole.”

The onlookers nearly fainted from shock.