The entire room froze, Mo Fei continued innocently." Could you repeat the question?"
Silence, The kind of silence where even the air conditioner seemed to stop working.
Fei Yan's hand froze halfway to her coffee cup. Director Wang blinked slowly. Chen Guoliang's face twisted like someone had just insulted his ancestors.
Louis closed his eyes. I'm going to lose my job. No one spoke, Then someone at the far end of the table whispered under their breath. "...Did he just say he wasn't listening?"
Another executive muttered,
"After everything we just discussed?"
Chen Guoliang slammed his hand on the table. "You weren't listening?!"
Mo Fei didn't flinch. Instead, he tilted his head slightly and spoke with the most innocent expression he could manage. "I just got discharged from the hospital. "My health isn't very good yet." He smiled politely. "You shouldn't be angry."
A vein immediately appeared on Chen Guoliang's forehead. "It was you who sent yourself to the hospital!" he snapped.
Mo Fei blinked. Then nodded thoughtfully as if he had just heard something extremely wise. "I see.... You're right, That won't happen again."
Across the table, someone nearly choked on their tea. Louis slowly pressed his fingers to his temple. A headache was forming.
A senior executive sitting near the director finally spoke up. This was Vice Director Zhao Ming. His voice was calmer. "Regardless of what happened, the fact remains that your career is on the brink of collapse." He looked directly at Mo Fei. "The only reason you are sitting here today..."
He gestured slightly toward the room.
"...is because you have been extremely profitable for Z Entertainment."
Mo Fei listened quietly.
Zhao Ming leaned forward slightly. "So this board has agreed to hear your explanation, Convince us, Why should we keep you?"
Mo Fei thought about it for two seconds. Then he spoke honestly. "I can turn it around."
The room shifted slightly. Chen Guoliang leaned forward immediately.
"Oh?"His voice dripped with sarcasm. "And why should we believe that?"
Mo Fei answered without hesitation. "Because everyone already hates me, that means I'm famous."
Chen Guoliang blinked. Vice Director Zhao froze. Fei Yan slowly covered her mouth.
Louis lowered his head. My career is over.
Silence.
Then
An unexpected laugh broke the tension. At the head of the table, Director Li Zheng, the president of Z Entertainment, was laughing. Actually laughing.
He leaned back in his chair and wiped the corner of his eye.
"Well."
He looked at Mo Fei with visible amusement.
"I don't know what happened to the once gentle Mo Fei..."
He paused.
"...but I like this new version."
Several executives immediately protested.
"Director Li... "
"This is irresponsible..."
"We cannot risk the company's reputation..."
Li Zheng raised one hand. The room went silent instantly. "Mo Fei.
Mo Fei looked up.
"I will give you one last chance. You will turn this scandal around. You will rebuild your reputation and you will win back the favor of your fans and the public."
His eyes sharpened.
"If you succeed, Z Entertainment keeps you."
A pause.
"If you fail..."
He closed the folder.
"...your contract ends."
Mo Fei smiled awkwardly. "Director..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "You overestimate me."
Several executives looked like they might faint.
Chen Guoliang immediately stood up. "This is unacceptable! We cannot gamble the company's image on him!"
Others began speaking at once.
"This is reckless."
"We should vote."
"Director Li...."
Li Zheng's hand slammed lightly on the table. Silence returned instantly. "My decision stands."
And just like that
Mo Fei had been given one final chance.
The boardroom doors closed behind them.
Mo Fei stepped out into the hallway like a man who had just finished a successful shopping trip.
He even started humming. A cheerful, completely inappropriate tune. Louis walked beside him in silence. They passed several employees pretending not to stare.
Mo Fei finally turned toward him with a bright smile. "Well."
Louis didn't respond. Mo Fei clasped his hands proudly behind his back. "I just saved both of our jobs."
Louis stopped walking and then he slowly turned his head and stared at Mo fei. Then he sighed. The sigh of a man who had already accepted that this was his life now.
"Yes," Louis said flatly. "You did." He continued walking. "But I have a question."
Mo Fei followed beside him. Louis glanced sideways. "What exactly is your plan to win back the internet's favor?"
Mo Fei didn't even hesitate. "With my beauty and charm."
Louis "...."
His soul briefly left his body. He imagined digging a small hole in the ground. Placing Mo Fei inside it and covering it with dirt. Peaceful.
Unfortunately, that was illegal. Instead he slowly pulled out his phone.
Tap.
Tap.
Then he turned the screen toward Mo Fei. "I secured something earlier."
Mo Fei looked at the screen. "A commercial shoot?"
Louis nodded."For an orphanage charity campaign."
Mo Fei Frowned."How does that help me?"
Louis stared at him like he was explaining gravity to a rock. "If you want to rebuild your image..."
He slid the phone back into his pocket. "You start from the bottom."
They reached the elevator. Louis pressed the button. "The easiest way to turn a scandal around is public sympathy."
The elevator opened. They stepped inside.
Louis continued calmly. "And nothing generates sympathy faster than posing nicely with children."
Mo Fei thought about it. Then nodded enthusiastically. "Oh. That actually makes sense."
The elevator descended.
"I love children," Mo Fei said proudly. "A man like me will definitely be loved by them."
Louis rolled his eyes so hard they almost made a full orbit. The elevator reached the lobby. They walked outside.
Louis opened the car door for Mo Fei and Mo Fei slid into the passenger seat like royalty.
Louis shut the door. Walked around the car.
Got in and started the engine.
As the car pulled away from Z Entertainment, Louis glanced sideways.
Mo Fei was already leaning comfortably against the seat. Completely relaxed, Like his career hadn't almost been destroyed thirty minutes ago.