Chapter 658: Chapter 658

Li Zimu couldn’t help but say, "Enough, Xiaoxiao, stop talking!"

Her eyes reddened with tears, Xiaoxiao had already started crying. Wiping her tears, she choked up and said, "Why not talk about it? How long do you plan to keep us in the dark? Do you also plan to jump ship like Zhang Yingru did, leaving for another team?"

"You treat us like fools, deceiving us into thinking we’re clueless. But I know everything; Ningning has already told me. It’s her! Her, Zhang Yingru—our agent!"

Xiaoxiao pointed at Zhang Yingru, "Last week, she took over a major girl group reality show at Tonghua Entertainment!

She has already abandoned us. Seeing that we couldn’t rise, she wanted to lead a new girl group. He Jinxia, Meng Wan, Wen Ningning were all forced out by her!"

"You mentioned you’ve had contact with Shengshi Entertainment for a while. Is it because you’ve been thinking about moving to Shengshi Entertainment? To eliminate future competition, did you deliberately ruin JY? Everything that has happened to JY is all because of you!" Xiaoxiao screamed.

"Slap!" Suddenly, a hand forcefully slapped Xiaoxiao, sending her tumbling to the ground.

Everyone was shocked by Li Zimu’s action and instinctively stepped back a few paces.

Tears streaming down his face, Li Zimu yelled, "Enough, I told you to stop talking. Isn’t it chaotic enough now? Stop, I’m begging you to stop!!"

The atmosphere plunged into dead silence. Some members fought back tears, trying not to cry, while others were already crying. The only sounds in the empty, silent corridor were those of stifled sobs and gasps.

Seeing this scene, Zhang Yingru’s eyes reddened slightly. Taking a deep breath, she said:

"You all have many misunderstandings about me, which I understand. No one is perfect; everyone makes mistakes. Sister Ying truly hopes you all will get better and better. I had no intention of suppressing you.

You are all my proteges, like my own children. How could I wish ill on you?"

Zhang Yingru spoke with sincere intentions. She genuinely hoped JY would thrive, regardless of any groups she might lead in the future or whether they would compete with JY. She wanted them to do well.

Even Zhang Yingru herself didn’t believe in the idea that JY could recover.

JY had truly cooled off, through and through.

Zhang Yingru looked at the members weeping inconsolably before her, and she closed her eyes slightly. She had wanted to tell them something else, but suddenly she felt a wave of reluctance.

Life was already so hard; it was better to delay the bad news if possible.

At night, as the dusk fell, Li Zimu stepped out of the dormitory, took out his phone, and called Zhang Yingru.

His voice was hoarse. He had been doing psychological work with the members all day, telling them that even with a new agent, they wouldn’t be affected, using the same reassurances circulating online to comfort them.

But if online fans weren’t aware of JY’s awkward predicament at Tonghua Entertainment, how could he be unaware?

Zhang Yingru’s presence in JY was a significant source of confidence for Li Zimu. He had great faith in her capabilities and believed that everything would get better with her around.

But now, Zhang Yingru had left too...

After a while, the call was answered. Zhang Yingru’s voice came through, "Zimu, what do you want?"

Li Zimu asked bluntly, "Is JY going to disband?"

Zhang Yingru paused in her response, "It shouldn’t."

Li Zimu asked again, "Is JY going to disband?"

He was persistent in seeking a clear answer.

He couldn’t believe that Zhang Yingru would give up on JY that easily unless she too thought JY was beyond saving.

Zhang Yingru was silent for a while before saying faintly, "The specific news has not been released yet, but a high-level executive once hinted to me that the possibility of disbandment is quite high."

Li Zimu took a deep breath, clutching his phone tightly until his knuckles turned pale.

"So that’s why you were so anxious to find a new place, to jump ship?"

Zhang Yingru did not answer. Li Zimu gave a self-deprecating smile, not expecting Zhang Yingru to reply. After all, her agent was very shrewd and wouldn’t likely let slip any information over the phone, which could easily be recorded.

Li Zimu: "One last question, today I had someone confirm that a few days ago you indeed said you wanted to participate in a company’s large girl group reality show. You planned to find a new girl group within the company and support them to rise up. Why do you now want to jump ship?"

Uncharacteristically, Zhang Yingru answered this question, which also served as a warning to Li Zimu.

"Do you think He Jinxia would let us off?"

Li Zimu was taken aback.

Zhang Yingru said calmly: "The entertainment circle is never a friendly place; it’s either you step on me, or I step on you.

When the enemy is strong, we must lie low; when the enemy is weak, we can be arrogant. She must know everything by now, do you think she’ll let us off?"

Li Zimu’s lips parted slightly: "I, I had never thought about these things..."

"Zimu, you should learn to grow up," Zhang Yingru said earnestly and then hung up.

Li Zimu stared blankly at her phone, a look of panic flashing across her face as she seemed to realize something.

"Captain, what did Sister Ying say? Are we really going to disband?" Suddenly, a member’s voice echoed in the quiet corridor.

Li Zimu turned her head and saw that all the members who had been in the dormitory had come out, leaning in the corner and listening to her recent phone call.

Her lips parted slightly, her mind filled with complex thoughts, her brain in disarray, "I, I..."

Xiiaoxiiao interrupted angrily: "Isn’t it obvious? The captain can’t even affirmatively say it, JY is definitely facing disbandment! What about always being there, what about rising from the ashes to take a step further, you’re all liars! Every single one of you!!"

With a loud "bang," the sound of Xiiaoxiiao angrily slapping the door echoed through the corridor.

The next day at noon, He Jinxia again went through a round of scrutinizing gazes, but given her recent surge in popularity on the set, she had not noticed anything amiss.

Qiu Zhenze’s assistant brought him a boxed lunch first, then whispered something to him.

A contemplative look crossed Qiu Zhenze’s eyes, and he reminded her, "Go check Weibo."

He Jinxia furrowed her brows, took out her phone, and was momentarily stunned.

The number one trending keyword on Weibo was—

[Bombshell: Tonghua Entertainment Statement, JY Officially Disbands!]

Opening Weibo, there was a formal statement from Tonghua Entertainment.

V Tonghua Entertainment: [How many six years does one have in a lifetime? We are very thankful for JY girl group’s contribution over these six years, presenting the image that a girl group should have.

From these girls, we saw vitality, effort, and struggle... They brought us wonderful music, fantastic stage performances, and many moments of joy and laughter.

Nevertheless, all good things must come to an end. Due to the company’s development strategy and based on the members’ own wishes, JY has decided, as of today, to officially disband!

The spirit of JY remains with us. Even though they are disbanding, the girls will continue to appear on various screens and seek out their own paths. Among them, JY’s captain Li Zimu, will join a new girl group reality show developed internally at Tonghua Entertainment, becoming a mentor!

Let’s all cheer for the girls! To youth and to you who won’t be let down, the traces of my existence, are the marks in your mind—JY]

He Jinxia read the statement over and over again, even the Tonghua Entertainment seal, her expression somewhat dazed.

It’s disbanded, finally disbanded...

At that moment, her body felt incredibly light, as if a heavy shackle had been lifted from her.