Chapter 138: Endorsement? No More!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Xia Ling really did not like speaking to such an impolite person. If it were up to her, she would not even look at him. However, since Li Lei called him “Uncle Gu,” she still replied. “I’m Ye Xingling.”
She said it very matter-of-factly; like the entire world knew who she was.
In reality, she had already been noticed because she was escorted into the hall by two handsome and dazzling men. In the conference, there were also many people who knew who she was. The way she reported her name was mostly nonsense. Father Gu was furious. He actually wanted to ask her what her relationship with Li Lei was why and why was Li Lei protecting her so much such that he hurt his precious daughter for her!
She was only an unworthy small star!
Father Gu coldly said, “I know who you are. You’re endorsed by the Gu Family’s Meteor Wings company.”
Xia Ling did not respond further and quietly waited for what was about to happen.
A few guests that were surrounding them secretly thought to themselves. “Does she not know the status of the Gu Financial Magnate? She should be grateful that they are willing to use a small star like her as their spokesperson. How could she stand in front of an important regular like him and remain so proud and indifferent? How can she be so ignorant? Even if she has a good backing in Li Lei and is Li Lei’s woman, she should not insist on being pampered like that and let her wealthy partner help her deal with the people she offends.”
They secretly shook their heads and felt that she was too pampered and ignorant and would eventually be abandoned by her wealthy partner.
Father Gu indifferently said, “You have two choices now. Either you apologize to Lin Lin, or you give up the ability to be endorsed by Meteor Wings.”
There was an uproar among the surrounding guests. For Meteor Wings, that was the most significant endorsement the Gu Family made in recent years! Could it be canceled by just a single sentence? It was said that Ye Xingling was a rather effective spokesperson, and the popularity of her and the perfume was rising. That…
“That’s like killing one thousand enemies but harming eight hundred of your own men!” An old man that was holding a red wine glass shook his head. “That girl is not sensible, but Mr. Gu is not being wise as well!”
The surrounding people were also unhappy about his decision.
However, Father Gu did not care. He was right that the Meteor Wings endorsement was important, but how could it be more important than his precious daughter? It was even less important now that she was suffering in front of Li Lei. He knew that his precious daughter had been infatuated with Li Lei since a young age and had always wanted to marry into the Li Family. If she were humiliated so badly in front of Li Lei, she would definitely not be able to handle it. Besides, he was also eager for them to get married. Although the Gu Family was big, it was far incomparable to the formidable giant that the Li Family was. If his daughter were able to marry into the Li Family, the entire Gu Family would be able to gain in leverage and status. Then, Meteor Wings would no longer matter to him. The endorsement would no longer matter to him. Both would no longer be important.
Sacrificing Meteor Wings’ endorsement to get his daughter back in the playing field, in Father Gu’s eyes, was very worth it.
Li Lei could not guess what Father Gu was thinking and frowned.
Actually, even if he was not talking about the entire Li Family, the small Skyart Entertainment company that he owned in this country did not lack money. Even the money that he had exposed was just the tip of the iceberg. The company could do just as well without the endorsement from Meteor Wings. However, this endorsement was important to Xia Ling as it could help her advance in her career and pave the way for her to achieve fame.
He did not wish for her career to be ruined because of an insignificant matter.
“Uncle Gu, I will apologize on behalf of Xiao Ling.” Li Lei said very politely. “I also want to apologize to Lin Lin. Lin Lin, I’m the one who rejected you, so naturally, I should be held responsible. I will visit you and make amends on another day. I’m really sorry.”
He bowed his head towards Gu Lin and Father Gu.
Gu Lin was enraged. What was that all about? She wanted that irritating woman to apologize, but instead, Brother Lei lowered his voice and apologized on her behalf?! She had always remembered Brother Lei as a very prideful person; he had his pride engraved in his bones. No matter how gentle or indolent he looked, the pride in bones did not give way easily, and she had never seen Brother Lei bow to anyone before!
Gu Lin was resentful and in an awkward position. She hated Xia Ling even more now. Lifting her finger and pointing at Xia Ling, she said, “Brother Lei, your apology is useless! She must apologize to me. If it weren’t for her, you wouldn’t have rejected my invitation to dance. Her health is none of your business! What gives her the right to insist that you take her home? Does she not have feet? Can’t she go home by herself?!”
She fired her questions like cannonballs in a very sharp voice.
At this point in time, she had gained the attention of all the guests in the hall.
Li Lei opened his mouth to speak. “She is my…”
“Employee.” Xia Ling finished his sentence. There was no doubt that she was Li Lei’s girlfriend and that Li Lei was willing to disclose their relationship to the public. However, she did not want their relationship to be so high-key. She wanted to be a more dazzling queen than her past life and reach the top. The path to fame was very steep. She did not wish to cause complications at such an early stage and let others suspect that she became famous due to some disgraceful means.
“You’re nothing without Brother Ziheng.”
Xia Yu’s vicious statement in her past life haunted her and became one of her inner demons. In this life, she wanted everyone to see her ability and not her love affairs or the people backing her.
As for Li Lei, as long as he had the heart to ensure that she was not wronged, she was content.
The timing was not right yet. Once she had gained some stability in her career, she would announce their relationship to the whole world.
Li Lei swallowed the other half of his sentence, feeling his chest become a little stifled. However, if hiding the relationship was her wish, he would satisfy her. He smiled and naturally continued, “She’s a very important employee. Even if I’m wronged, I cannot let her be wronged.”
If she was an A-list celebrity, it was self-explanatory for an entertainment company to accommodate her. However, Xia Ling was not. At best, she had the potential to excel as a star. Was it worth it for the Big Boss of the prominent Skyart Entertainment to be so caring towards her?
At once, everyone was speechless.
There were many young girls present who were green with envy. Even if they were celebrities or capable women, who did not wish for someone handsome and influential to protect them? Li Lei’s status was also very extraordinary. Although there were so many distinguished guests, they were afraid that only the boss of the organizer, Pei Ziheng, was on par with him.
All kinds of stares were fixated on Xia Ling.
“Ye Xingling, if you have any guts, don’t hide behind Brother Lei! Apologize to me! Otherwise, you can forget about my family’s endorsement!” Gu Lin furiously exclaimed.
Xia Ling felt that if she refused to say something, she would be labeled as a coward.
“Lin Lin…” Li Lei began to say.
Xia Ling held on to Li Lei and coldly said to Gu Lin, “It is such a pity that the excellent Meteor Wings’ reputation will be destroyed by the hands of a missy like you who don’t know any better. You don’t want me to endorse your product? Fine! I hope you remember what you have said and do not come begging me to come back in the future.”
After saying that, she turned to Li Lei and said, “Let’s go.”
Li Lei actually wanted to try to salvage the endorsement, but since he saw Xia Ling acting so confidently, he gave up on the idea. Forget it, Xiao Ling’s happiness is the most important. Besides, she said before that she did not like endorsements. In the future, I will give her better opportunities to make up for it. Li Lei thought.
With this in mind, he nodded his head to Uncle Gu and, with an attitude that was neither humble nor disrespectful, said, “I apologize again, Uncle Gu. We will be leaving first.”
He held Xia Ling’s hand and walked towards the large door.
The guests immediately made way for the young man and woman who had garnered a lot of attention. Many people secretly admired them in their hearts. It was evident that the status of the Li Family was different. When Meteor Wings’ terms changed due to some external factor and the Second Young Master Li did not agree with them, they just gave up the endorsement easily…
However, before the two people could leave, they were stopped by someone.
“Stop there.”
It was a familiar, mellow voice that caused Xia Ling’s heart to jump abruptly.