"Who's there?" Lan turned around and asked.
"It's me, Lan." Hu walked in with two thermal containers in her hands.
Lan looked at her in surprise. "Didn't I tell you to go home and rest? Why are you here again? And with two containers?"
"I made some food and soup myself," Hu said shyly. "I brought them over for you two."
"How considerate," Zoe chuckled. "You know how to cook?"
Hu's face lit up when she saw Zoe. "Zoe, you're awake!"
"Yes, I am. So, is there a portion of the soup for me?"
"Of course, there is!" Hu eagerly brought the containers over. "I wasn't sure if you were awake yet, so I made two portions just in case."
Lan's lips curled into a smile. "This little one sure knows how to get things done."
Hu giggled bashfully.
"Alright, Zoe, Lan, you two eat first. I'll head back now and return around ten tonight."
"What for? Why come back at eleven?" Zoe asked curiously.
"Someone needs to be here with you," Lan explained. "I have a train at eleven tonight to meet someone for business. Otherwise, I'd stay here with you."
"That's too much trouble. I can manage on my own for a night," Zoe reassured them. "I'm feeling fine now; tomorrow is just for another checkup."
Lan immediately dismissed the idea. "No way. Someone has to stay here in case any paparazzi try to sneak in."
Hu nodded. "Lan is right, Zoe. I don't mind staying. You'll have a lot of tests tomorrow anyway. If Lan isn't around, I can still help you."
Zoe could only agree. "I feel bad troubling you like this."
"Don't worry about it," Hu replied quickly.
Once Hu left, Lan glanced at the closed door. "She's a sweet kid, bringing us homemade food. It's much better than takeout." With a sigh, she added, "Honestly, with your workload and all the money you're earning for the company, it's about time you got another assistant."
"Oh?" Zoe raised an eyebrow.
"But let's wait until you wrap up this film and leave the set. We'll see if there's someone suitable. It's best not to bring in two assistants at once; it could lead to drama."
Zoe took a sip of the soup and commented, "This is turtle soup, right? By the way, how much does Hu make a month?"
"Three thousand."
"Three thousand? How does she survive in Shanghai on that?" Zoe widened her eyes in shock.
Lan shot her a glance. "She stays in the company dorms, so no rent. She can eat at the company cafeteria or have meals covered when working with you. When traveling for work, there are allowances too. It all adds up to four or five thousand a month. For someone like her, who didn't go to college, she's doing quite well. Plenty of girls out there would kill for her job."
Zoe let out a small "Oh," realizing her own naivety.
"Plus, being a celebrity assistant isn't just about the salary. She's gaining experience, building connections, and learning skills—it's an invisible investment in her future. Do you think she plans to be an assistant forever? If you're mindful, give her opportunities to grow. When she moves on, this experience will be a solid foundation for her."
Zoe chuckled. "That sounds like some heartfelt advice from someone with personal experience."
"Call it what you want, but it's the truth. I used to be an assistant too, although not for long." Lan shook her head. "I've done everything—marketing, PR, planning, you name it. I crawled my way up to where I am now."
"You're probably earning quite a bit this year," Zoe teased. "After all, you've turned me into a top-tier star."
"Sure, top-tier," Lan laughed. "And to keep you there, I have to catch a red-eye train to Beijing tonight to negotiate a deal first thing in the morning."
"What deal?" Zoe asked.
"Not telling. If it doesn't go through, you'll just end up disappointed. Focus on your work, and I'll handle mine."
"Fine, I get it."
Lan suddenly remembered something. "Oh, by the way, watch out for that girl, Siyao."
"Siyao?" Zoe thought for a moment. "Oh, the one Yong asked me to look after on set?"
"Yeah. I heard she's not as simple as she seems. Last time at the office, someone saw her practically clinging to Yong. They were this close to sticking together."
Zoe's eyes widened. "The two of them? Really?"
"Who knows? Just something I heard. Better to keep an eye out." Lan slapped her thigh. "Speaking of which, there's something else I need to tell you."
"What's that?" Zoe asked, curious about what could make Lan this annoyed.
Lan took a deep breath. "About the accident today—it was the TV station's fault. Their safety measures weren't in place. When Yong called me, he said he'd handle the negotiations with the station and asked me to manage your side. He even wanted me to post an update on your Weibo account to reassure fans. I refused since I don't have your login details. Instead, the company account posted a brief statement. At that time, I was still getting you checked at the hospital and hadn't even reached out to the station. When I finally did, they told me everything had already been settled with our company. No compensation—they simply offered a few spots for our artists in upcoming shows. That's when I realized Yong had used your accident to negotiate a deal for the company."
Zoe was stunned and furious. "So Yong traded my injury for a business deal?"
Lan nodded solemnly.
After a moment of thought, Zoe asked, "Lan, what do you think we should do?"
Lan hesitated. "I'd suggest you swallow this for now. Sometimes you have to lose the small battles to win the war. Yong's actions benefited the company overall. The higher-ups won't say anything. To them, you're just collateral damage."
"I can't just take this lying down. If I let this slide, who knows what'll happen next?" Zoe frowned.
"It depends on whether you want to quietly resist or make some noise. If he can leverage your injury for the company's gain, why can't we use this situation to get something we want? Honestly, I couldn't care less about a small compensation payout." Lan smirked, knowing exactly what Zoe's choice would be.