Chapter 642: Chapter 642

Li Zimu’s gaze hardened, and she lowered her head, lost in thought.

Seeing this, a team member nudged her, "Captain? Captain!"

Li Zimu came back to her senses, looked at her team members’ eager eyes, steadied her expression, and made up her mind. She stood up and said, "Let’s go, let’s see Wen Ningning."

When JY and the others arrived at the company, Wen Ningning and her group had just walked out of the meeting room, and they bumped into each other as they were wrapping up.

Wen Ningning’s complexion was much better than it had been in the meeting room. A smile hung on her face after she came out, a sign of relieved burdens.

The reputation of lawyer Zhang Cheng was not unwarranted. Under his negotiation, the penalty she had to bear was greatly reduced. With the cash she had on hand, she could pay in full without owing anything.

Since the termination contract could only take effect after the penalty had been settled, Wen Ningning seized the moment and immediately transferred a sum as penalty. In the presence of the company executives and lawyer Zhang Cheng, she was completely disassociated from JY and was no longer an artist under Tonghua Entertainment.

That meant Wen Ningning was now free. She could choose another company to continue her career in the entertainment circle, or switch careers altogether.

Wen Ningning and lawyer Zhang Cheng were the last to leave, discussing various matters as they walked. Most of the conversation consisted of Wen Ningning asking questions and Zhang Cheng responding.

All the company executives had left, only Zhang Yingru was still waiting at the door. Seeing them come out, she walked forward a few steps to Wen Ningning’s side and calmly said, "Ningning, there are some things I’d like to talk to you about."

Even though she was no longer an artist at Tonghua Entertainment, Wen Ningning remained wary of Zhang Yingru. Having spent six years at JY, she knew very well what kind of person Zhang Yingru was, and she was not easy to deal with.

As her artist, it was somewhat better, as Zhang Yingru would not harm her own people. But now that they had parted ways, she had to be vigilant about Zhang Yingru possibly playing tricks.

Zhang Cheng originally intended to leave to give the two some privacy, but at that moment Wen Ningning suddenly said, "Lawyer Zhang Cheng, you don’t have to leave. Whatever we discuss will be completely above board, it doesn’t matter if others hear it."

Wen Ningning smiled at Zhang Yingru, "Sister Ying, whatever you want to say, you can say here. Lawyer Zhang is not an outsider; it won’t be an issue."

Zhang Yingru looked deeply at Wen Ningning, her expression a mix of a smile and not a smile, "You seem very afraid of me."

Wen Ningning, as if hearing a joke, let out an exaggerated "haha" and sarcastically replied, "Of course I’m afraid of you, who in JY isn’t?"

Zhang Yingru: "Now that you’re no longer my artist, you don’t need to be afraid of me. We might still have opportunities to cooperate in the future."

Wen Ningning, not daring to ponder deeply, simply answered, "Perhaps, who can say about the future?"

Zhang Yingru looked up at Zhang Cheng and tentatively asked, "I don’t know what your charging standards are, lawyer Zhang Cheng? I feel like we might have opportunities to cooperate in the future, and I’d like to understand your rates in advance."

A chill ran through Wen Ningning’s heart. Could Zhang Yingru have realized that Zhang Cheng was not someone she had hired?

Zhang Cheng glanced at Zhang Yingru, smiled gently, and said seamlessly, "The fees vary depending on different disputes among celebrities. For detailed consultation, you can call my office."

Zhang Yingru appeared casual, "Just for a contract dispute like Ningning’s, how do you charge?"

Wen Ningning grew tense, her hand clenching into a fist again. She always felt Zhang Yingru had noticed something, but she was no longer an artist at JY, so there was nothing to fear even if she was found out!

"Right, there’s nothing to be afraid of!"

Zhang Cheng glanced at Wen Ningning and then looked towards Zhang Yingru, who was posing casually. He spoke lightly, "The fees range from 100,000 to 500,000, varying according to the specific case. Why, does Agent Zhang have some business to refer to me?"

Zhang Yingru nodded, "I happen to have a friend who was asking about you. She’s not a celebrity, but she knows that you are not only adept at handling contractual disputes between stars and companies but also very skilled in dealing with civil litigation. However, because she couldn’t find your company’s telephone number, she came to me."

Zhang Yingru’s statement was half-true and half-false, confusing Wen Ningning’s thoughts.

Wen Ningning couldn’t determine whether Zhang Yingru had really found something or was just asking for a friend as she had said.

Zhang Cheng replied, "People outside the circle wouldn’t know my studio’s number, but as someone from within the industry, you certainly do. Whether I take her case depends on the specifics of the matter. You can give her my studio’s number. For more details, she should come to the studio and consult."

Zhang Yingru nodded and smiled, "Okay, I will send her your studio’s number."

Zhang Cheng indeed lived up to his reputation as an aging fox, as no valuable clues could be found on him. It seemed that understanding who was behind Wen Ningning would require the assistance of others.

Thinking this, Zhang Yingru once again turned her attention to Wen Ningning.

Her eyes slightly darkened, and she spoke calmly, "Ningning, you were lucky to have Lawyer Zhang Cheng here this time. Lawyer Zhang Cheng is a renowned expert in the industry, and with his help, the penalty you had to pay was much reduced."

As she spoke, Zhang Yingru carefully observed the expression on Wen Ningning’s face. "You hired a very capable lawyer."

Wen Ningning forcibly squeezed a smile on her face and tried to keep her voice steady. She had already left the team and didn’t need to be afraid of Zhang Yingru!

Yes, there was no need to be afraid...

Wen Ningning replied with a laugh, "Sister Ying, you flatter me."

"Sister Ying, Sister Ying!" While they were talking, a crisp and pleasant voice suddenly interjected. Looking up in the direction from which the voice came, they saw a member of the JY girl group running towards them. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by N0velFire.ɴet

Seeing these members, Wen Ningning wore a calm expression, unlike some members who looked at her with angry, resentful eyes!

"Sister Ying, Ningning, you..." Li Zimu hesitated to start.

Zhang Yingru spoke indifferently, "Wen Ningning has already terminated her contract with the company. From now on, she is no longer a member of JY, no longer an artist under Tonghua Entertainment, and no longer part of your team.

Although your relationships have become a thing of the past, when you meet again, it should still be as friends. Now that you have met, wish each other well."

After listening, Li Zimu’s facial expression changed slightly, but soon, she raised a slight smile and said, "Ningning, I hope we can still meet in the entertainment circle in the future, and that we can continue to work together."

Wen Ningning held a deep bias against Li Zimu, a bias that had been buried in her heart since the group was first formed. The quarrel the day before yesterday had caused her to erupt with all the resentments of the past, and that night she had even uttered some harsh words, all of which Li Zimu had borne.

Now that she had left the team, Li Zimu continued to put on an act for Zhang Yingru to see, but Wen Ningning didn’t want to continue performing anymore.