Liu Pinran listened to Lan's explanation with a smile, but his gaze remained fixed on Zoe.
It was clear—he was waiting for Zoe to personally apologize.
Lan glanced at Liu, startled, and then noticed He Yong subtly signaling to her with a look.
The signal was obvious: Get Zoe to apologize.
But Lan knew Zoe too well. Getting her to bow her head to Liu Pinran? Impossible.
The company was the one at fault here.
They had forced Zoe to drop Song's Questioning the Heart in favor of Eighth Crush. Comparing the two projects, anyone with half a brain could see which was superior.
Still, He Yong's signal couldn't be ignored. Lan forced a smile and turned to Zoe. "Zoe, this whole situation did inconvenience Liu. How about a quick apology? Once we're on set, we'll show our sincerity by working hard."
Zoe's eyes stayed fixed on the table in front of her, her face expressionless. She didn't respond, nor did she lift her gaze to anyone in the room.
"Zoe?" Lan called her name again, her voice carrying a faint pleading tone. She knew Zoe wouldn't relent, but she had to put on a show for He Yong.
The room fell into an awkward silence.
Even Liu's smile faded as his expression turned sour. He looked at Zoe with visible displeasure.
To Liu, a starlet like Zoe—no matter how popular—was just a small player in the grand scheme. Backed by Yuehai Media and with deep connections in the industry, Liu held significant influence. He was used to being flattered by actors and actresses, big or small. Zoe's indifference was a slap in the face.
"It seems Miss Zoe isn't particularly enthusiastic about Eighth Crush," Liu remarked to He Yong with a pointed smile.
He Yong pressed his hand down in a calming gesture. "She's young, Liu. Fresh into the industry and still headstrong. You've seen it all—why let a little thing like this bother you?"
Liu chuckled lightly but didn't let it go. "He, you don't understand. Film production costs are through the roof these days. If Miss Zoe refuses to cooperate on set and delays the shoot, that would be a nightmare for me. If she really doesn't want to do it, maybe it's better to resolve this sooner rather than later."
He Yong's face darkened.
Before he could respond, Zoe finally lifted her head. Her eyes glimmered with sharpness, and her tone carried a faint edge of mockery. "Liu, I don't want to be in this drama, but I'd never sabotage a production. If I sign a contract, I honor it. There's no need to worry about that. I simply wanted to work on better projects—it doesn't mean I'd slack off on this one just because it's a romantic comedy. Lan, He, since the contract is signed, may I leave now?"
He Yong's patience snapped. He slammed his hand on the table, his voice cold and biting. "Zoe, this is the company. If you want to throw a tantrum, save it for home. Who do you think you're showing off to here? People like you get a taste of fame and immediately lose all humility. Do you really think you'd still be relevant without the company?"
Zoe's jaw tightened as she locked eyes with him, her gaze unwavering. "He, do you really think my success is purely because of the company?"
He Yong froze, caught off guard by the question.
Zoe's voice grew colder. "Am I the arrogant one here, or is it all of you? You kept me in the dark, signed agreements behind my back, and left me clueless enough to agree to Song's project. Then you forced me to turn him down. Now you're talking about loyalty and cooperation?"
She turned her piercing gaze to Liu. "Liu, you said I can quit if I don't want to do it. Is that offer still on the table? How about we end this now and find someone else to play the role?"
Liu was stunned into silence.
Without waiting for a reply, Zoe stood up, her expression icy, and walked out of the room.
As the door closed behind her, she heard the unmistakable sound of He Yong slamming the table again and shouting, "Ridiculous!"