The Secret Realm of Time, His and Her Life Through the Changes

Chapter 260 I've come to you to save my life

As they were talking, Zhou Yanruo's phone rang.

"Who would be looking for me at this hour?" Zhou Yanru muttered as she took out her phone.

The phone's caller ID reads: "Zhou Zihang".

Shang Yibo, also curious, leaned over to look at the caller ID: "Why is the big doctor calling you so late? What's up?"

"I don't know," Zhou Yanruo said as she answered the phone. "Zihang, is he looking for me?"

She glanced at the curious Shang Yibo beside her, and as she answered the phone, she thoughtfully turned on speakerphone.

A slightly tired voice came from the other end of the phone, "Yanruo, are you very busy? I just went upstairs to knock on your door, but you weren't home. What time is it? Haven't you gotten off work yet? It feels like I haven't seen you in ages."

Zhou Yanruo: "I've been a bit busy lately. Is there something you need to call me so late?"

Zhou Zihang: "I'm fine, but I feel sorry for you working so hard. Shang Yibo actually treats you like this, it's so inhumane." Zhou Yanruo quickly glanced at Shang Yibo beside her and saw that he was about to speak out. She hurriedly said to Zhou Zihang: "Yibo is with me. If you say that to him, he'll lash out."

"Oh? Who's afraid of him getting angry? I'm just stating the facts. If he gets angry, it means he's guilty."

Shang Yibo joked, "How could I dare to lose my temper with the great doctor? I'm still thinking about your sweet and sour pork ribs. If you don't make them for me, I'll be starving."

Zhou Zihang: "I don't have time to banter with you. Come to my house this weekend, it's been a long time since we got together."

Shang Yibo readily agreed, "Sure, let's order. We have two days left, so I need to make a proper menu."

Zhou Yanruo laughed and said, "You called him in the middle of the night just to cook him something delicious?"

There was a rustling sound coming from the phone, and it sounded like a girl was talking.

Zhou Zihang: "No, that's not it. Hong Yun urgently needs to talk to you. She's at my house now. Can she take the call instead?"

Zhou Yanruo and Shang Yibo exchanged a quick glance, and almost simultaneously teased each other, "You're keeping a mistress in a golden cage!"

A crisp female voice came from the phone: "Stop joking around, you silly couple."

Zhou Yanruo's smile faded, and she asked seriously, "Mr. Hong, is there something you need so late?"

Hong Yun: "I've come to you to save my life."

They were already used to Hong Yun's exaggerated way of speaking.

"What do you need me to do?" Zhou Yanruo cut straight to the point.

"You know I collaborated with the platform on a variety show."

"Yeah, I know. It's been over a month since filming started, right? The release date should be set soon. I saw that the platform's recommendation slots have already started to promote it. I heard that some TV stations are already in talks to buy the broadcasting rights."

“You’re well-informed, and this information is accurate.” Hong Yun sighed and said, “Everything was going smoothly. I even boasted to my grandfather that if this program was a success, my small company would be able to gain a foothold in the industry. My grandfather has already promised to invest more money as a reward for me.”

"Isn't this good?"

"If everything goes this smoothly, I won't be in a hurry to find you."

"Do I need to be involved in negotiations with the TV station? Business negotiations are my specialty. Let me know when you've set the time."

"No, don't interrupt me, let me finish. It's so annoying, nothing is going right."

Shang Yibo listened to the two women chatting, but there was nothing interesting to him. He went to the door and asked his secretary to order some late-night snacks. When he came back, he heard Hong Yun throwing a tantrum.

So he said gruffly, "Hong Yun, what are you doing? Can't you speak properly? Have I spoiled you again?"

Hong Yun didn't respond, but continued, "Yan Ruo, I heard that you received professional artist training before. If it weren't for the unexpected events, you would have already debuted."

Zhou Yanruo: "I just heard it from someone. How could anyone still remember my old, trivial matters? However, what you heard is inaccurate. I have trained, but I am still a long way from debuting."

On the other end of the phone came Hong Yun's voice questioning Zhou Zihang: "Why did you say she was going to debut back then?"

Zhou Zihang quickly explained, "That's right, I'm sure I'm right, it's just modesty."

Zhou Yanruo laughed and said, "So it was Zihang who betrayed me."

Zhou Zihang: "No, don't say I'm a betrayer. If you say that about me, I'll be heartbroken."

Shang Yibo, annoyed that it was so late and the group was rambling on and on, said impatiently, "What are you guys talking about? Hong Yun, can you get to the point?"

Zhou Zihang was wronged by Zhou Yanruo and hurriedly explained, "Let me explain. It's like this, the show that Hong Yun made is called 'Sisters Gone Wild,' which is a skill competition among female celebrities in their thirties and forties. To put it bluntly, it's a singing and dancing competition. The winners form a group, which you in the industry call 'debuting.'"

Zhou Yanruo: "I know that."

Hong Yun chimed in, "That's why things aren't going smoothly. Yingqi, whom our company recommended, is a hot candidate. Given her past achievements and personal qualities, she's practically guaranteed a spot in the final group. That's the industry's assessment, and I'm very optimistic about her too."

"Yes, when the company signed him, I saw his profile. Yingqi herself is quite good, almost a top-tier star ten years ago. It's a pity that she met the wrong person when she was at the height of her popularity. This time, she has a great chance to make a comeback through the show."

“That’s right, I’ve already started negotiating her future business deals and filming opportunities.” Hong Yun’s voice involuntarily rose an octave. “But then, she got pregnant. What could I say? I couldn’t stop her from having the baby, could I?”

"So that's how it is," Zhou Yanruo said, feigning annoyance. "So, you just wanted to push me out there and make me the scapegoat."

Zhou Zihang picked up the conversation, "Yanruo, I know you love the stage. You've never given it up for so many years."

Zhou Yanruo: "I'm not as persistent as you say. I lost interest a long time ago."

Zhou Zihang: "You haven't stopped practicing, aren't you afraid of neglecting your skills?"

Zhou Yanruo remained silent upon hearing this.

Shang Yibo, who had remained silent until now, interjected, "Hong Yun, Dr. Hong, let's reconsider this matter. There's no need to rush to a decision tonight. Let's discuss it further when we meet this weekend."

Zhou Zihang: "That's right, give Yanruo some time to consider."

Hong Yun: "What's there to consider? It's settled then. We'll meet this weekend to discuss the details. Zhou Yanruo, you can start thinking about the contract terms now. That's all, bye."

After saying this, he hung up the phone without waiting for Zhou Yanruo's response.

Zhou Yanruo shook her head helplessly, "Yibo, you don't want me to take this show, do you?"

Shang Yibo put his arm around Zhou Yanruo and asked, "Why do you think that?"

"Just now, you said you needed to reconsider."

There was a knock on the door. "Come in."

"I just had my secretary order some late-night snacks, they've probably been brought up," Shang Yibo said. "I didn't eat much tonight, I'm hungry, have some late-night snacks with me."

Zhou Yanruo: "You still haven't answered me how you plan to reconsider."

"It's about carefully considering the terms of the contract, you silly boy."