Chapter 134: The Struggle Between the King and the Crown Prince!

"No, what on earth are the people below doing lately? How could an artist of this age even pass the preliminary screening?"

Looking at Li Shixin’s personal information on the artist profile, Sun Cheng steadied his emotions, thoroughly enraged!

"What's going on?"

Seeing the dramatic shift in Sun Cheng's demeanor, Xu Haishan frowned and asked.

"President Xu, see for yourself." Reviewing the file once more, Sun Cheng pushed Li Shixin's artist card along with the dossier directly in front of Xu Haishan.

Picking up the documents, Xu Haishan took only a single glance before his brows knitted tightly together: "This is a complete joke!"

With that, he slapped the file shut and tossed it onto the desk.

Beside them, agent representative Li Juan looked intrigued, picked up the file, and after spotting Li Shixin’s profile photo, chuckled as well.

"Isn't this hilarious? What are the folks in the preliminary screening department doing? An old mister in his sixties—even if the company invests resources to push him, how many years does he have left to jump around? How long can he make money for the company? Nonsense. What's even more absurd is that the interview panel actually passed him, and rated him 4A-level at that... Who even interviewed this batch of newcomers?"

In response to his inquiry, Sun Cheng thought for a moment and said, "This batch should have been handled by Lu Cuishan, Cui Ling, and Zheng Huan."

Hearing these three names, the smile on Li Juan's face faded, and he puzzled, "That shouldn't be right. The three of them have never slipped up when it comes to interviews. Especially Cuishan; his eye for talent is extremely sharp. How could they give such a high evaluation to a newcomer like this? Is his ability really that strong?"

Thinking of this, he picked up the thermos cup in front of him, took a gentle sip of tea, and casually flipped Li Shixin's file to the next page.

"'The actor possesses outstanding acting skills, excellent vocal and dance standards, and a remarkably high level of songwriting ability. It is hoped that the review panel will give serious consideration and approve his signing. Suggested contract tier: D. Recommender... Puff!'"

"Cough, cough, cough, cough!"

Upon catching sight of the official seal in the recommender column, Li Juan wasted not a single drop of the tea he was swallowing. He spat it directly into the face of Sun Cheng opposite him!

"Li Juan, what do you think you're doing?!"

Coated entirely in saliva and tea, Sun Cheng leaped up from his chair, wiping his suit with his tie while shouting angrily.

Holding the dossier in his hands, Li Juan didn't even have time to wipe away the stray tea dripping from his mouth and collar. He looked stiffly at his colleagues and spoke with a trembling voice.

"I think this newcomer is actually quite good. In terms of image... just look at these wrinkles, how full of vitality! Look at these eyes... how profound! And look at this comprehensive interview review; it shows that this newcomer is extremely talented! He can act, he has singing and dancing foundations, and what's even more rare is his compositional talent. Extraordinary, simply extraordinary!"

Looking at Li Juan—who had just moments ago spouted a barrage of ridicule—instantly swallow back his words and reissue them polished into a rainbow of praise, everyone in the conference room fell silent.

"Li Juan, what... is wrong with you?"

After staring at Li Juan for a long while, someone finally asked with a furrowed brow.

Li Juan grinned awkwardly, said nothing, and simply opened the second page of Li Shixin's file, handed it over, and pointed a finger directly at the recommender section.

"Puff!"

Upon catching a clear view of that bright red seal, that colleague spat his drink out instantly as well!

"I agree with Li Juan's opinion! However, this matter still requires leadership to make the final call."

"Wait, did all of you get cursed today or something... Cough! Putting it that way, this newcomer is indeed not bad. I reserve my judgment; let leadership decide."

Watching colleague after colleague change their tune the moment they laid eyes on the file, Xu Haishan lost it!

"What on earth is going on with you all?!"

"Cough." Facing the frantic Xu Haishan, Li Juan took back the file and handed it right in front of him.

When he saw that the recommender was authenticated by Zhao Jinzhi's signature seal, Xu Haishan shuddered violently!

Connecting this to the recent rumors swirling within the group, his mouth parted slightly.

Almost instantly, a cold sweat broke out and poured down in sheets.

"Everyone, let's pause the contract deliberations for a moment. This matter... I need to report it to the higher-ups."

"Understood, understood." Hearing that they wouldn't have to state their positions, the group of talent agency executives breathed a massive sigh of relief.

Damn it!

This is fatal!

Chairwoman Zhao hadn't intervened in artist contract matters for a full three years; that domain had been entirely managed by Crown Prince Meng.

Recently, word had it that the Crown Prince and the Queen were at odds.

Yet who could have imagined... that the vicious power struggle between the Queen and the Crown Prince, which had been generating so much gossip lately, was actually real.

Furthermore, the opening salvo of this covert battle was about to ignite right here in their department!

They couldn't handle this; who could possibly handle this, who would dare?!

...

"What?"

On the seventeenth floor of the Huaqi Building, in the general manager's office.

Looking at the new artist contract file before him, Meng Nan's brows locked together fiercely.

When he saw Zhao Jinzhi's recommendation, the muscles on his sharply chiseled face twitched violently!

Yet, in front of his subordinate, he forcefully suppressed the urge to blow his top.

Amidst Xu Haishan's breathless silence, after a very, very long time, Meng Nan let out a dry laugh.

"It's perfectly normal. Perhaps Chairwoman Zhao discovered and favored this newcomer out in society. Why bring this to me, though? You all can just make the decision yourselves."

"Cough." Xu Haishan was not put at ease by Meng Nan's smile. After weighing his words for a moment, he probed tentatively, "President Meng, this... this newcomer's situation is a bit special. So I'd like to ask for instructions: should we pass... or not pass?"

"This newcomer looks quite exceptional!" Meng Nan chuckled, narrowing his eyes. "All three interviewers gave him an A rating, and his conditions are good. He's very capable!"

"Cough. I suppose so." Xu Haishan offered a dry laugh in response.

Observing Xu Haishan, who remained bowed before him, Meng Nan closed the file, stood up, and walked over to his side.

Tapping Xu Haishan lightly on the shoulder, he smiled like a warm spring breeze: "However, I just feel that this person's age is a bit on the older side. After all, he's sixty-five. Who knows how many more years he can stay in the spotlight? Manager Xu, what do you think?"

Ah!~~~~

At this very moment.

Xu Haishan felt as though an enraged prairie dog had taken up residence in his heart!

Having reached his current position, how could he possibly fail to understand? Although Meng Nan was ostensibly talking about this newcomer named Li Shixin, every single word was aimed squarely at the group's chairwoman, the Iron Lady of Huaqi, Zhao Jinzhi!

This son of a bitch was forcing him to choose a side!

"Manager Xu, why aren't you saying anything?"

Seeing the smile Meng Nan flashed as he leaned in closer, Xu Haishan shivered all over.

Rapidly calculating in his mind, he weighed Zhao Jinzhi's performance over the past two years against Meng Nan's current standing in the company.

"President Meng makes a valid point! I'll head back right now and immediately hold deliberations. I will take your opinion closely to heart!"

He hardened his heart!

Watching Xu Haishan's thoroughly submissive expression, Meng Nan chuckled and straightened up.

This feeling was simply fantastic.

Slowly settling back into his chair, he crossed his long legs and rested them on the desk.

With a casual wave of his hand.

"Then what are you waiting for? Go on."