"I'm very sorry, Yin Yue." Xia Ning Xue was lowering her head apologetically, looking frustrated. "I don't know what's going on either, but every media agency I've contacted is refusing to work with us. I had a couple of recitals canceled last minute, while the Huang Sheng Hall took you out of their performer list all of a sudden. They said they don't want to get involved with you."
"What? Why?!" Ru Yin Yue was just as confused as her agent. She clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Right when she desperately needed money to pay for her mother's hospitalization fees, the companies and media agencies that she relied on for gigs and jobs pulled the plug on whatever contract she had with them. It was almost as if they were doing it on purpose.
But she bore them no ill will and didn't remember doing anything to offend any of them. Moreover, this was too unnatural. One or two companies would be acceptable. Irregular, but perfectly believable. But every single one of them? Evidently there was some sort of conspiracy going on, and she was being targeted for bullying.
It was almost as if she had been blacklisted. But why?
Xia Ning Xue looked hesitant, her expression resembling that of someone who wanted to say something, yet wasn't sure if it was a good idea to bring it up. Having been friends with Xia Ning Xue for a while now, Ru Yin Yue trusted her immensely and she held her agent's hand.
"There's something bothering you, isn't there? You seem to know something? There's no need to hide it from me. I can take it."
"No, that's…" Xia Ning Yue looked away. She took a deep breath and established eye contact with Ru Yin Yue. "Well, okay. You'll find out about this sooner or later anyway, so I might as well tell you now."
"Tell me what?"
Xia Ning Yue swallowed audibly. "Keep in mind that these are just rumors. The people in charge, the ones I directly discussed with, they didn't tell me. They couldn't, for obvious reasons. But while I walk through their offices, I overheard…conversations from their employees. Regular office workers who heard things here and there."
She sighed and looked away.
"From what I could glean from their conversations, it appears that some big shot…some powerful figure is exerting pressure on all these companies to boycott you."
"Powerful figure? Who?"
"I don't know. I'm not sure if the office workers and employees knew either. They were pretty vague about it. It might not even be true. You know how office gossip is." Xia Ning Xue tied to sound dismissive, but failed. She clasped her hands anxiously. "But…Yin Yue, have you offended anyone powerful recently? Someone rich? Or perhaps someone with political power?"
"What are you talking about?" Ru Yin Yue tried to scoff, but she wasn't able to even force out a laugh. "How could I possibly know such people?"
"Really? But you are acquaintances with the Si family, aren't you?"
"Ah…"
At the mention of the Si family, Ru Yin Yue's blood ran cold. She turned pale and looked away. Xia Ning Xue noticed her unusual reaction.
"So something did happen with the Si family, didn't it? What happened? What did you do to them?"
"I didn't do anything to them!" Ru Yin Yue was outraged. When she recalled what happened, she became so furious that she trembled with anger, her clenched fists shaking. "They were the ones who did all sort of awful things to me! Si Zha Nan tried to rape me, but I refused his advances. He was pressuring me to marry him, but I rejected him, then he accused me of playing hard to get…"
She trailed off, almost breaking into tears. Xia Ning Xue quickly placed a comforting hand on her should and tried to soothe her.
"It's all right, Yin Yue. It's all right. I'm on your side."
"T…thanks." Ru Yin Yue wiped the tears from her eyes and took a shaky breath to steady herself, to no avail. "It's just…I don't know."
"I'll admit that I'm surprised, though." Xia Ning Xue stared at her with wide eyes. "I thought you would jump at the chance to marry Si Zha Nan. Aren't you in love with him? Didn't you mention once before that he was your high school crush?"
"But he's not in love with me. A one-sided marriage like that…will never work. It will only be painful."
Ru Yin Yue shook her head. As much as she loved Si Zha Nan, she was painfully aware that he hated her. He would only find himself trapped in such a marriage, venting his fury on her. Since she genuinely loved him (for no reason other than because he was a rich and handsome CEO), she was willing to let him go. So long as he was with somebody he loved and was happy, she would be happy too.
That was what she strongly believed. But now…
"Girl…" Xia Ning Xue was shaking her head incredulously. "What are you doing?! This is your best chance! You should have grabbed it with both hands! This is Si Zha Nan we are talking about! The rich and handsome heir to the Si family! The icy billionaire CEO who lords over a transnational conglomerate! Who wouldn't want to marry him!?"
"He's the one who doesn't want to marry me."
"Wait, didn't you just say that he pressured you to marry him?" Xia Ning Xue sounded incredibly confused.
"Yes. I think his mother is forcing him into this…"
"Seriously, sis, you should just marry him." Xia Ning Xue held both of Ru Yin Yue's hands. "Even if the marriage starts out one-sided, feelings can be built over time. Marriage is not the end, you know? It's the beginning. He might hate you at first, but the more he accompanies you, the more of your good sides he will see and he will eventually fall in love with you. I'm sure of it."
She reached up and ruffled Ru Yin Yue's black hair.
"You're such a lovely person and a beautiful girl, there's no way he wouldn't be moved after living with you for a while. Just grab this opportunity, marry him, make him yours, and then slowly get him to fall for you. You will be stuck together for the rest of your lives, after all. He might not like it now, but he'll gradually come to accept it. He won't waste his life hating you forever."
"I…don't know."
Ru Yin Yue shuddered when she remembered the bitter, vengeful gleam in Si Zha Nan's eyes that night. She never wanted to see him so wild, so…forceful and aggressive again.
"No, really. Tell you what, Yin Yue, you should call him now and tell him that you accept his proposal. I will support you, give you advice on romance. I know what men like." Xia Ning Xue gave her friend a hug. "Just listen to me, sis. You definitely won't regret taking my advice."
"Let me consider." Even though Ru Yin Yue said that, she had no intention of taking her agent's superfluous advice. It made no sense to her whatsoever.
"There's nothing to consider!"
Fortunately, before Xia Ning Xue could launch into some explanation on why Ru Yin Yue should marry Si Zha Nan, her smartphone rang. Catching sight of the screen, Ru Yin Yue gasped. It was the hospital. Anxiety filled her and she quickly swiped the screen.
"Hello? This is Ru Yin Yue. Is this Yi Yuan Hospital?"
"Yes, Ms. Ru." The voice of a nurse emerged emotionlessly from the other end. Ru Yin Yue's heart dropped.
"Did something happen to my mom? Is my mom all right? What's the situation now?"
"Your mother…" At first, the nurse sounded a bit taken aback, but then she composed herself and resumed her cold voice. "Nothing happened to your mother, Ms. Ru. At least not yet. Her condition is the same as always."
"Thank goodness." Ru Yin Yue almost collapsed from relief.
"Unfortunately, there isn't anything to thank for," the nurse said almost snidely. "I apologize for dropping this on you while you're under tremendous pressure, but needs must, I suppose. Yi Yuan Hospital is not a charity. Your mother's hospitalization bills are overdue. I don't mean to sound harsh and uncaring, but unfortunately, we will be forced to discharge her if you are unable to pay them soon."
"Please don't do that!" Ru Yin Yue almost panicked. Her mother's disease required special type of care – machines that were available only in a hospital, and regular supervision from a doctor. Sending her home without those specialized care and equipment would be a death sentence for her. Ru Yin's heart plummeted down her stomach, but she tightened her grip on her smartphone, trying her best not to show any anxiety and failing miserably. "I will make sure to pay the bills!"
"When will you be able to make the payment?" It might be her imagination running wild, but for some reason the nurse's voice sounded icy and ruthless.
"G…give me three days. I'll definitely think of something."
"I will try to extend the payment deadline by three days, but if you are unable to cough up the cash by then, then the hospital will have no choice but to discharge your mother."
Perhaps the nurse was trying to be kind by offering to extend the deadline, but Ru Yin Yue knew it was a façade. She gritted her teeth, her trembling fingers clutching her smartphone.
"…thank you."
"I'll call again in three days." The nurse hung up promptly.
Deflated, Ru Yin Yue sank into the couch, a few tears trickling down her face. Why was the world so cruel to her? If the heavens loved torturing her so much, they might as well take her life. There was no meaning in living, not when the whole world picked on her like this. Ru Yin Yue wanted to weep. She wanted to hurl her smartphone at the wall, but the only thing that stayed her hand was the fact that she couldn't afford a new phone.
Not when her income was literally zero right now.
"Was that the hospital?" Xia Ning Xue was sharp as ever. "You have problems paying the bills?"
Ru Yin Yue hung her head shamefully, but her agent quickly clasped her hand in both of hers, raising it to her chest.
"Calm down, Yin Yue. You still have me. I'll talk to my husband, we'll raise some cash. We'll lend you money. Don't worry, we won't let the hospital kick your mother out!"
"Thank you." Ru Yin Yue forced a smile. She knew the weight of what she was asking her friend and was aware that this wasn't a long term solution. Even if Xia Ning Xue and her husband, Mo Fan, were able to scrape up the cash for this month, there were still the future to worry about. And her lack of a job made it difficult for her to maintain steady payment.
The ringtone from her smartphone cut through the bewildering distress of her mind, and she glanced at the screen idly, wondering if it was the hospital. Did the nurse forget something?
Then she jumped when she saw the name in the caller ID.
Mom Si was calling her right now.