Chapter 501: Chapter 501 - 495: Haven’t Rested Properly for Days?

Shi Su signed a half-year variety show contract with Mr. He. Recently, Mr. He has another ongoing talent competition show and invited her as a guest performer to record the final episode to boost its buzz.

It also matches Mr. He’s requirement to announce during this recording that she will participate in the entire next variety show by Mr. He and Mr. Xv.

The topic of Shi Su actually recording a variety show is already being prepped for trending searches.

In the car, Shi Su prepared to do her makeup. She was holding the Shi Family ledger given to her by Shi Lingkang in one hand, and a cup of black coffee in the other, looking down with concentration.

Jun, after coming to the capital recently, worried about her and decided not to return to Jiang City, staying with her and Lin Chen to record the show.

But it was too early, and Jun and Lin Chen were yawning in the car, so tired that tears were coming out. In contrast, Shi Su, who hadn’t slept all night, seemed not the least bit tired, just occasionally sipping black coffee to stay alert.

"Even though Mr. Jing is still in the hospital, you’re pushing yourself too hard," Jun yawned again.

Shi Su didn’t respond, still focused on the ledger on her lap.

In the past five years, there have been no major changes in the Shi Family’s accounts, mostly under Mr. Shi’s control. Aside from a few failed investment cases, there’s nothing amiss. Even those losses didn’t affect the foundation of the Shi Family; a loss of a few billion can be recouped in the next investment’s profit. Not long ago, Shi Dongyang accompanied the old man to Hong Kong for a project, but currently, this project hasn’t collaborated with the Shi Family and was ultimately removed from the annual report, not included as part of the corporate revenue.

The accounts also included the company that Shi Lingkang established in Jiang City, which later changed managers due to the recall from the capital.

Her second uncle, Shi Wancheng, has indeed been focused on Jingjian these years, with little connection to the Shi Family’s business network.

This means, for several years, in the Shi Family’s business map, Shi Wancheng appears almost hidden. Even though he poses a great threat, after Shi Lingkang returned to the capital, he relinquished this opportunity. Yet, it seems he has no intention of contending with his brother, but still moved Shi Dongyang in front of the old man. Although this son is useless, he became one of the biggest obstacles for Shi Lingkang over these two years.

Clearly intending to contest for the family fortune, yet he continues to act as if he’s completely uninterested, rarely visiting the Shi Family, and his relationship with Mr. Shi is quite ordinary, not close.

After all, he’s Mr. Shi’s biological son; why create such appearances? What’s the purpose?

There’s never been any rumors of Shi Wancheng severing ties with Mr. Shi...

Nothing has happened in recent years. Did something occur much earlier?

As Shi Su was about to turn the page, the car stopped at the entrance of the makeup room at the variety show recording site. Miss Chen perked up and called her for makeup. She downed the remaining half of her coffee and got out with the accounts in hand.

This variety show is a dance competition. One of the guest performers for the finale cannot attend due to a leg injury, and the other guests can’t reschedule, so they have to record today. Shi Su can fill in this gap.

However, other guest performers practiced their dance a week in advance. Shi Su didn’t have this and has only six hours before the final recording to master her routine and coordinate well with the contestants.

Since entering the makeup room, Shi Su spent half the time examining the Shi Family’s accounts, going back over twenty years, and spent the latter half looking at the dance choreography and the routine she had to learn on an iPad.

Once everything was ready, Shi Su went directly to the practice room.

Two hours into her practice session, Lin Chen and Jun stood outside, checking the time.

Jun: "She hasn’t seriously danced for many years and just got out of the hospital a few days ago. Suddenly, practicing at high intensity, I don’t know if her body can handle it."

Lin Chen: "Whether she can handle it or not, she already signed the agreement. Her sudden decision to sign this half-year contract with Mr. He must have her reasons. She likely has other connections with Mr. He. Otherwise, why would she, nearly retiring, suddenly participate in so many shows?"

Jun: "Mr. He is a notable figure in the capital with connections we can’t reach. He likely can, probably because of the Shi Family’s issues, and Mr. Jing’s matter. For such a big deal, Shi Su must balance the Shi Family and her work, while also handling Mr. He’s channels and contacts. How long has it been since she’s had a good rest?"

Suddenly, Lin Chen stopped talking, knocking on the door to bring Shi Su out for a rest, but when she opened the door, she saw Shi Su still practicing diligently, too focused to notice them.

Four hours into her practice, Shi Su, with her dance gradually shaping, started rehearsing with the contestants. They were young men in their twenties, full of energy, accustomed to training hard for months.

But Shi Su hadn’t rested well in the hospital. After being discharged, she worked endlessly, and last night she didn’t sleep at all. At five in the morning, she had been picked up by Jun’s car, practicing till now.

The earlier makeup was for rehearsal uniformity. Now, her makeup was drenched in sweat, clothes soaked, yet she pressed on diligently with practice.

When Mr. He entered to check, all the contestants were on break, afraid to sit in case they couldn’t get up. Shi Su had just gone through another round and, overwhelmed by exhaustion, stumbled, kneeling on the floor, hands pressing down as she gasped for air. The contestants quickly gathered to check on her.

Shi Su waved her hand: "I’m fine."

Mr. He told the contestants to practice next door and came closer: "Su, I really appreciate you helping out. You’ve done really well; take a short breather."

Hearing Mr. He’s words, Shi Su turned her head to look at him. After a few deep breaths to steady herself, she sat back on the floor, gasped a few more times, and said, "Is Shi Wancheng coming back this afternoon?"

Mr. He handed her a bottle of water: "Tomorrow is the Jingjian project. He can’t be absent. The latest he’ll return is certainly this afternoon."