Chapter Fifty-Five: The Throne

“Peach, we women only have a few good years as our capital, while men—those dogs—remain young at heart until their dying day. Miss your chance now, and there won’t be another like it. Young Master Zhang said, as long as you’re willing to join our company, not only will you get an apartment, but you’ll also get a sports car rental. As long as you stay with the company, all of that is yours.”

Seeing Peach’s unreadable expression, Enhui spoke up indignantly on her behalf, “Think about it—our company’s film projects won’t even give you a speaking role. That’s no respect at all. What’s the point of staying?”

“That’s it?” Peach rolled her eyes. “How boring. Trying to poach me with so little sincerity, and it’s just a rental anyway. No creativity at all. If you don’t have the money for it, why pretend to poach people?”

Enhui’s cheeks twitched. If Young Master Zhang hadn’t specifically asked for you, do you think I’d bother with a washed-up little influencer like you? Do you really think you’re still the queen of that platform?

Now you don’t even make a fraction of the gifts I get from my fans.

Pathetic.

Cursing inwardly, Enhui kept up the sisterly act on the surface. “Peach, what happened back then was someone else trying to drive a wedge between us. I swear to the heavens, I had nothing to do with it. I started as a nobody and made it here step by step all thanks to you, Peach. How could I ever do something so heartless?”

“It’s all in the past. Let’s not bring it up.” Peach suddenly changed the subject, self-mocking. “By the way, who else is going? I have no competitiveness now. Too many from our company are leaving; it’ll be hard for me to stand out.”

“That’s a secret for now. You’ll know when you get there.” Enhui wasn’t stupid—she wouldn’t reveal her cards until Peach had actually jumped ship.

Peach wasn’t naïve either. She sneered, “So this is your deep sisterly affection? Not even telling me who’s involved—how am I supposed to trust you?”

Enhui stared intently at Peach, weighing the credibility of her words.

Truthfully, anyone she could have poached had already left with her and Xue Qing. If Zhang Jun hadn’t specifically named Peach, she wouldn’t have bothered with her. There weren’t any names to give anyway.

But her eyes flickered, and Enhui leaned in, lowering her voice. “Peach, I’ll tell you this just for old time’s sake. Whether you come or not, don’t breathe a word of it.”

Peach nodded.

“Honestly, Yue Yun is also thinking of leaving, but her signing bonus hasn’t been negotiated yet. Peach, if you could help us lower her bonus demand, the company would definitely take care of you.”

Peach was astonished. “How come I didn’t know about this?”

“Peach, you’re just too trusting,” Enhui sighed regretfully. “Don’t be fooled by Yue Yun’s innocent act—she’s the shrewd one. Not like us, who can’t stand seeing others lose out.”

Just to be sure, Enhui reminded her, “I’m only telling you. Don’t tell anyone else.”

Peach nodded silently. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Ye Qiu entering the restaurant. Her eyes lit up, then grew flustered; she turned away, hoping he hadn’t noticed her, but then his familiar voice rang out: “What a coincidence.”

“Manager Ye,” Peach stood up, hurrying to explain, “I…”

The words caught in her throat.

She was afraid Ye Qiu would misunderstand her intentions to defect, but also worried that saying too much would stop her from extracting more information from Enhui. She didn’t believe Yue Yun was cunning—she only feared Enhui’s crew was setting her up.

Ye Qiu waved dismissively, unconcerned. “Who you eat with is your private business. The company doesn’t forbid dining with former colleagues.”

“Tch, since when do you get to interfere? Just because you’re fair-skinned?” Enhui snorted, her gaze sharp with challenge.

She was no pushover for Ye Qiu.

She almost hoped he’d try something in public; for an influencer, that would mean a flood of traffic.

“Idiot.”

Even paying her attention would be beneath him.

Ye Qiu cursed under his breath, then turned to Peach. “I’ll be at the next table. We need to discuss your upcoming schedule.”

Did he just ignore her?

Enhui felt deeply slighted.

He must be playing hard to get, she thought, pretending to be aloof to attract my attention.

What a typical, self-important man.

Wait—he’s really leaving?

“Peach, it’s your private time now. You don’t have to bother with him. He’s encroaching on your personal space, trying to manipulate you. I’m telling you, men like that are twisted. Having to work for rich women makes them bitter, so they…”

“That’s enough!” Peach cut her off loudly.

She’d intended to keep up the pretense to glean more information, but this woman’s loose tongue and slander of Ye Qiu were intolerable. “Enhui, this is my business. And drop the cutesy, innocent act around me—it’s disgusting.”

“Who’s disgusting?” Enhui, now that the masks were off, revealed her true self. “At least I’m not someone who sleeps with her top supporter while fleecing fans. Now that’s disgusting.”

“You…”

Peach trembled, tears brimming in her eyes.

She thought she had recovered, but now realized how fragile she still was.

“What, trying to play the victim again?” Enhui mocked. “Thought you were the company’s queen? You think a few tears will get you sympathy and flattery? Which guy would dare come near you now? Who wants to be the next sucker, huh? Hahaha…”

Peach wished the ground would swallow her up.

Her raw nerves felt exposed as if every gaze in the restaurant was laced with derision and contempt. In her mind, she could already hear their mocking voices.

“She’s the streamer who hooked up with her top supporter, right?”

“So shameless.”

“While raking in gifts from fans, she was playing games offline with her number one. She really gets around.”

She wanted to explain, but no one would believe her. People only saw the maliciously edited clips.

Emboldened, Enhui pressed on, “Why so quiet? Is it because you know even a word from you stinks up the place?”

A tear slipped down Peach’s cheek, but she no longer had the strength to defend herself.

“Tears are useless. The more you cry, the happier the real villains become.”

A clean white tissue was gently offered to her.

Peach, eyes red from crying, looked up in surprise at Ye Qiu’s calm, kind expression.

“I really don’t know how you ever became the company’s top streamer,” Ye Qiu said, exasperated. “Everyone knows traffic is king; it’s all about the numbers. How can a washed-up influencer like you still not get how to work the crowd?”

Peach stared blankly at Ye Qiu, her dazed mind slowly coming back to life.

Bit by bit.

A spark of excitement flickered in Peach’s eyes, like a meteor streaking across the night sky, growing radiant against the backdrop of her tears.