Chapter 23: Seeking a New Path

Only then did Jiang Yu come back to her senses.

She let out a bitter laugh. "Well, at least this time he didn’t throw me straight into the mud, leaving me not even a chance to breathe."

"That may be so, but Jiang Yu, this isn’t like you," Lin Zhiwei’s voice paused, probing gently. "Are you really planning to just accept it like this?"

Jiang Yu didn’t answer immediately.

He’s trying to block every path, just so I’ll beg him for mercy...

Lin Zhiwei’s impatience was evident on the other end of the call.

"Jiang Yu, what are you thinking? You’ve struggled in this industry for years—when have you ever been so weak? Fu Boyun is counting on your debt to keep you from fighting back, that’s why he’s so brazen!"

"Of course I know that." Jiang Yu’s voice dropped, tinged with barely-suppressed emotion. "But Lin, do you really think I can just break free of his control so easily?"

Lin Zhiwei fell silent.

She knew all too well what Fu Boyun was capable of.

Jiang Yu’s mind wandered back to the day she signed that contract.

It was nothing short of a slave contract; to pay for her mother’s medical treatment, she had no choice but to hand over all her freedom.

Now, Fu Boyun wielded that contract like a weapon, pinning her on the chessboard of his design again and again.

"If it weren’t for my mother..." Jiang Yu shook her head, swallowing the rest of her words. "Anyway, I can’t go head-to-head with him just yet."

Lin Zhiwei was quiet for a moment, her tone heavy with reluctance. "Jiang Yu, do you remember that investor I mentioned before?"

"I remember." Jiang Yu nodded. "But can he really help me escape Fu Boyun’s control?"

"He might not be able to get you out completely, but at least he can give you some breathing room," Lin Zhiwei replied coldly. "No one in this business can rely on others forever. If you want to take control of your own life, you’ll have to fight for it yourself."

Resolve gradually returned to Jiang Yu’s eyes. She nodded. "All right, I’ll do as you suggest."

The next day, Jiang Yu didn’t return to the set. Instead, she arranged to meet the investor Lin Zhiwei had mentioned.

She donned a black dress, tailored to perfection, her makeup tidy and understated, exuding confidence and elegance.

At the appointed café, Xu Zhengyang, the investor, had already been waiting.

He was a man in his forties, sharply dressed in a suit, his gaze keen with the shrewdness of a seasoned businessman.

"Miss Jiang, I’ve heard so much about you." Xu Zhengyang rose, extending his hand.

"Mr. Xu." Jiang Yu gave a poised smile and shook his hand with composure.

Once they were seated, Xu Zhengyang got straight to the point.

"I’ve already heard about your situation from Miss Lin. If you’re willing to join my company, I can offer you a more reasonable contract. But first, I need you to do something for me."

Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow. "Please, go ahead, Mr. Xu."

Xu Zhengyang let out a soft chuckle. "I need you to help me acquire a project currently in Fu Boyun’s hands."

Jiang Yu paused for a moment, then smiled. "So, Mr. Xu, you want to use me against Fu Boyun?"

"Miss Jiang, I have no wish to make things difficult for you," Xu Zhengyang replied with a faint smile. "But I believe Fu Boyun’s exploitation has long since worn your patience thin. This is just cooperation—mutual benefit."

Jiang Yu’s gaze turned cool and sharp.

This man was no ordinary character.

She took a sip of coffee. "Mr. Xu, I’ll need some time to consider."

"Of course," Xu Zhengyang nodded. "But I hope you’ll give me your answer soon. Opportunities don’t wait."

Leaving the café, Jiang Yu’s heart remained heavy.

As she reached the corner and prepared to hail a cab, a black Maybach suddenly pulled up in front of her.

The window rolled down slowly, revealing Fu Boyun’s cold, chiseled face.

"Jiang Yu, you’re becoming more and more disobedient." His voice was low, edged with barely-concealed fury.

Jiang Yu’s heart skipped a beat.

This bastard—had he really installed a GPS tracker on her?