While Shen Tong was in a foul mood, Liang Xiaoyuan called, "Shen Tong, can we meet? Or, maybe we can have dinner together."
"Okay!" Shen Tong didn't know why she agreed so readily, especially since she was just angry at Liang Xiaoyuan moments ago.
Liang Xiaoyuan continued, "Come down quickly, I'm waiting for you outside the office."
Shen Tong gathered her things and headed downstairs. When she arrived, she found Liang Xiaoyuan waiting for her. Since their argument about being late, Liang Xiaoyuan had never been late for any of their appointments.
Liang Xiaoyuan opened the car door for Shen Tong, motioning for her to get in.
As he drove, Liang Xiaoyuan said, "Shen Tong, you know, Xie Sangyan is much more talented in music than Chen Xiaoyong..."
"If you're here to persuade me to give up the chance for Chen Xiaoyong to release an album to Xie Sangyan, then save it. I won't agree," Shen Tong interrupted him, not wanting to hear more.
It's true that Liang Xiaoyuan had helped her many times and provided many opportunities for Chen Xiaoyong. But those opportunities were ones that Xie Sangyan didn't need. Now that there was a direct conflict of interest, Liang Xiaoyuan chose Xie Sangyan without hesitation. However, as Xie Sangyan's manager, Liang Xiaoyuan was supposed to prioritize her. Shen Tong fell into a deep internal conflict.
"Shen Tong, can you just let me finish?" Liang Xiaoyuan, seeing her resolute attitude, felt helpless.
Shen Tong couldn't stop thinking about Liang Xiaoyuan cheering for Xie Sangyan, which made her inexplicably irritable. "I don't want to hear it. Stop talking."
"Do you treat everyone who becomes your competitor as an enemy, regardless of your relationship with them?" Liang Xiaoyuan, feeling a chill, spoke his mind. "Is money the only thing that matters to you?"
Shen Tong, infuriated, blurted out, "In my world, nothing is more important than money! Yes, that's exactly what I think! Money is the only thing that brings me peace of mind!"
"So, when I am no longer useful to you, you'll cut ties with me, right? You only befriended me because I could help you and benefit you," Liang Xiaoyuan said, losing control. "Of course! Now that you have Xia Zixuan as your backer, why would you need someone like me, a mere manager?"
Shen Tong countered, "I value money over friendships! But what about you? When my interests conflicted with Xie Sangyan's, didn't you choose to help Xie Sangyan without hesitation?"
"I'm her manager; of course, I have to consider her interests!" Liang Xiaoyuan quickly explained, not understanding why Shen Tong was being so unreasonable.
"And I'm Chen Xiaoyong's manager. I have to consider her interests!" Shen Tong said coldly.
Liang Xiaoyuan, feeling frustrated, asked, "If it's all about work, why do you treat me like an enemy? Didn't you say you wanted fair competition from the start?"
Shen Tong, unwilling to admit her bad attitude towards Liang Xiaoyuan today, said, "I haven't treated you like an enemy! I've always been like this!"
"You've always been like this? Do you believe that?" Liang Xiaoyuan asked.
"Stop speaking! Right now, I'm finding you very annoying!" Shen Tong, losing control, said, "If you want to help Xie Sangyan, just say so. Why play the friendship card? As a Director at Fengxing Entertainment, you can just discuss it with the company and get it done. I don't have any say in it!"
"Do you think I'm doing this just for Xie Sangyan? Like you said, I'm a Director at Fengxing Entertainment. If I wanted this opportunity, one word would be enough!" Liang Xiaoyuan replied.
Shen Tong was taken aback. Was he not doing this for Xie Sangyan?
"You're a new manager with little experience. Your smooth progress is due to my and Xia Zixuan's help. But relationships are unreliable. You need your own skills to succeed!" Liang Xiaoyuan said, meaningfully.
Shen Tong looked at Liang Xiaoyuan and asked, "Are you seriously competing with me to help me improve?"
"Why else?" Liang Xiaoyuan responded, feeling a bit sad. "But it seems my efforts are meaningless. They aren't what you want."
Shen Tong's mood lifted, but thinking about her earlier words to Liang Xiaoyuan made her feel embarrassed and unsure of what to say.
The atmosphere grew tense and quiet. Time seemed to drag on until they finally arrived at the restaurant.
Liang Xiaoyuan broke the silence, "If you don't want to talk anymore, I can leave. Lunch is already reserved. Just go to table 8."
"What's the point of eating alone?" Shen Tong asked as Liang Xiaoyuan turned to leave.
Liang Xiaoyuan, surprised, turned back, "Didn't you say you found me very annoying?"
"Annoying or not, I still need company for lunch," Shen Tong, feeling better, reverted to her usual self with Liang Xiaoyuan.
Hearing this, Liang Xiaoyuan felt relieved, sensing Shen Tong's attitude had returned to normal. After parking the car, they headed to table 8 together.
"Liang Xiaoyuan, did you mean everything you said today?" Shen Tong asked while eating.
"I don't think I've ever lied to you," Liang Xiaoyuan replied.
Feeling guilty about her attitude and words, Shen Tong lowered her head, "I shouldn't have treated you like that today. I apologize. And thank you for always helping me."
In Liang Xiaoyuan's world, Shen Tong never seemed to do wrong or was always forgiven. He shook his head, "It's okay. Besides, I misunderstood you today. And don't thank me. I help you because I want to, so don't ever thank me again."
"Then I won't be polite with you anymore!" Shen Tong smiled. Liang Xiaoyuan's help had far exceeded what she could repay. So, she decided to relax and take it in stride.