Counterattack

The director clenched his fist tightly and lunged at Shen Tong, who instinctively dodged the punch. She looked at the enraged director without blinking and calmly said, "Are you starting your revenge already? I thought you'd at least wait until you left. Assaulting a defenseless woman in public would damage your reputation. Besides, how would you explain this to your wife if it made the papers?"

The director lowered his fist dejectedly, glaring at Shen Tong with deep hatred but unable to act on it.

"If you knew it would come to this, why did you do it in the first place? You brought this upon yourself. I hope you'll control your behavior in the future," Shen Tong said righteously before leaving the booth without looking back.

Someone quickly left their booth and followed Shen Tong.

Shen Tong was actually terrified, her back covered in cold sweat. Her bravado had been improvised on the spot. As she left the restaurant, she felt a mix of emotions. But that's how the entertainment industry worked - some people would never learn respect unless you fought back. She had played her hand well.

"Hey, Shen Tong! Well done! I didn't expect you to be so cunning. You're much more formidable than I imagined!" A sudden male voice startled Shen Tong. Who was speaking? Had they seen what happened? She quickly turned around and, recognizing the person, smiled friendlily.

"Oh, it's Reporter Zhang. What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I just witnessed quite a show! The plot twists were more thrilling than any movie I've seen!" Reporter Zhang said with a smile.

"Then you must not have seen many movies," Shen Tong teased, her earlier gloom completely gone.

"Haha!" Reporter Zhang laughed heartily. "I've never met such an interesting girl!"

"Then you must not have met many girls!" Shen Tong winked.

"That may not be true," Reporter Zhang said. "How about I treat you to some tea?"

"I'd prefer a meal. I didn't eat anything back there!" Shen Tong complained. "Besides, I still owe you a meal!"

"Oh right, I remember now!" Reporter Zhang recalled Shen Tong's previous offer to treat him to a meal. "Then let me choose the place." He walked to a nearby home-style restaurant and said, "This place will do. I'm too lazy to go far, and I don't like that foreign stuff. It's not filling!"

"Alright," Shen Tong nodded, and they entered the restaurant.

After they sat down and ordered, Shen Tong began to question him, "Reporter Zhang, why were you there?"

Reporter Zhang smiled and replied, "I heard the food there was good, so I decided to try it..."

"Liar. You just said you don't like foreign food!" Shen Tong interrupted, looking at him skeptically.

"Has anyone ever told you how smart you are?" Reporter Zhang asked.

"Don't change the subject!" Shen Tong said, raising her voice slightly.

Reporter Zhang sighed and looked at Shen Tong helplessly. "Honestly, a friend recommended that restaurant. But when I got there and realized it was a Western restaurant, I was about to leave. Then I saw you enter with that notoriously lecherous director from the entertainment industry. I was curious about your relationship, so I went in."

Shen Tong still looked at Reporter Zhang warily and asked sharply, "Wasn't it for gossip news?"

"Of course not! Do I look that unreliable?" Reporter Zhang laughed it off. "Don't worry, this won't appear in tomorrow's entertainment news."

Shen Tong relaxed a bit. As long as this wasn't published, they could still talk. Besides, she had figured out Reporter Zhang's character - he was a man of his word.

Shen Tong quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, I was too suspicious earlier."

"It's alright, I understand, really!" Reporter Zhang said sincerely, looking at Shen Tong.

"Thank you, you're a true friend!" Shen Tong said, adopting a more casual tone after realizing Reporter Zhang was quite straightforward.

"Of course," Reporter Zhang smiled. "But that move you pulled earlier was so cool. That's exactly how you should deal with perverts like him - beat them at their own game!" He mimicked some martial arts moves dramatically.

"You're exaggerating. I was just protecting myself," Shen Tong smiled nonchalantly. She was also using him, a mutually beneficial arrangement.

"No wonder he cares about you so much," Reporter Zhang muttered.

"What?" Shen Tong leaned forward, not having heard clearly.

"Nothing, nothing!" Reporter Zhang said hastily, quickly changing the subject. "By the way, Chen Xiaoying has been all over the headlines lately with her scandals. She's truly living up to her title as the Queen of Rumors."

"I can't do anything about her," Shen Tong sighed. "But she's certainly contributed a lot to the entertainment sections of newspapers!"

Reporter Zhang smiled, then said seriously, "That may be true, but the public will get tired of it one day. Eventually, it could turn into negative publicity. It's best to be careful."

"I'll keep that in mind," Shen Tong said, though she still felt that Chen Xiaoying had gained quite a bit of fame through these rumors.

Reporter Zhang noticed Shen Tong's reaction and sighed inwardly.

Their food arrived, and they ate without further discussion of the topic.

After saying goodbye to Shen Tong, Reporter Zhang quickly took out his phone and called someone on the other side of the world.

"Hey, your little girlfriend is quite smart. You don't need to worry about her at all!" Reporter Zhang said casually.

Liang Xiaoyuan pinched the bridge of his nose. "What girlfriend? We're just friends!"

"Hey, that's right! A girlfriend is a female friend, isn't it?" Reporter Zhang argued.

Liang Xiaoyuan sighed, "Fine, fine. How's the situation?"

Reporter Zhang became serious and recounted the entire incident in detail.

"She managed to counter that director and turn the situation to her advantage. She really fits the rules of the entertainment industry," Reporter Zhang concluded.

Liang Xiaoyuan's lips curled into a smile, his eyes softening. "Mm. Although she has leverage over him, we still need to keep an eye on that director. I'll be back soon. Before I return, keep track of the director's movements."

"Hey, your girlfriend is so smart, why are you still worrying so much?" Reporter Zhang exclaimed.

"I told you, she's not my girlfriend," Liang Xiaoyuan corrected him again.

"But you know," Reporter Zhang's tone became serious, his demeanor more subdued, "she might be too smart for her own good. Sometimes, clever people can be misled by their own intelligence."

Despite his carefree appearance, Reporter Zhang had been in the entertainment industry for years. He could see through Shen Tong's dismissive attitude towards Chen Xiaoying's situation. He wanted to advise her, but he had neither the position to do so nor any real connection with her.

"I'll handle that matter," Liang Xiaoyuan said. "I have to go now. International roaming is expensive."

Reporter Zhang immediately protested, "Hey, since when did you become so stingy?"

Ignoring Reporter Zhang's outcry, Liang Xiaoyuan quickly said, "Hanging up," and ended the call, behaving completely differently than when he talked to Shen Tong.

Liang Xiaoyuan picked up his phone, eager to call Shen Tong, but then seemed to think better of it and put the phone down with a slight sigh. He had stayed up all night waiting for news that Shen Tong was safe, and now he could finally relax.

Shen Tong had initially planned to return to the company to handle some work, but then she thought, since she had no schedule for the afternoon, why not take a day off and have some fun?

Having made up her mind, Shen Tong started planning her route. After an afternoon of fun, she had taken many beautiful photos, some of which she sent to Liang Xiaoyuan with a simple "Thank you."

Meanwhile, at the company, Su Xiao's emotions had shifted from anxious waiting and hope to disappointment and complete distrust.

The next day, when Shen Tong arrived at the company, she brought Su Xiao his usual milk tea and went to the practice room to wait for him to finish singing. "Here's your milk tea," she said.

Su Xiao's proud face was almost frosty as he walked past Shen Tong without a glance, his whole demeanor radiating rejection and coldness.

"Don't you want your milk tea today?" Shen Tong asked, catching up to him.

Su Xiao turned to look at Shen Tong, remembering what he had seen the day before. He thought she had always been this kind of person, willing to sell herself for money, and continued walking forward with large strides.

Shen Tong scratched her head in confusion. What was going on? Had she offended him somehow? She had been bringing milk tea every day recently. It was puzzling. Shen Tong started drinking Su Xiao's milk tea herself, assuming he was just upset about her not returning to the company with him yesterday and that he would get over it in a few days.

Just then, Liang Xiaoyuan sent a text: "No need to thank me. Have you eaten yet?"

Shen Tong found it strange that Liang Xiaoyuan wasn't curious about how she had resolved the situation. It was very odd. But the thought quickly passed, and she happily replied to his message: "Not yet, it's still early."

Her phone vibrated, and she quickly checked it. "I'm coming back to China soon. Want me to bring you some local specialties?"

Shen Tong thought carefully and replied, "If you could turn those directly into money for me, I'd be even happier!"

Liang Xiaoyuan smiled helplessly, his fingers moving quickly across the screen: "Then I'll see what I can bring you."

Shen Tong pursed her lips, smiling slightly as she replied: "I have to get back to work now!"

Liang Xiaoyuan sent back a few words of advice: "As a manager, it's essential to research every director you'll be dealing with - their personality, interests, recent activities, etc. This will help you navigate the industry better."

Shen Tong felt inexplicably touched upon reading this. After a while, she replied, "Thank you."

Shen Tong waited for several days, but the situation didn't improve. Su Xiao's previously mellowed attitude, and occasional shows of concern for her, had completely disappeared. Now there was only coldness and arrogance. After doing his required work, he never spoke to her and would turn away when he saw her.