Chapter 138: The Art Style Suddenly Turned into a Palace Intrigue Drama!

Compared to the ease and self-cultivation of the past three years, Zhao Jinzhi’s abruptly renewed, piercing aura startled several people present.

Most of the board members never expected her to suddenly launch an offensive against Meng Nan!

Faced with her interrogation, Meng Nan also felt a wave of panic inside.

Anyone with discerning eyes could see that Zhao Jinzhi was clearly making a fuss over a minor issue to achieve a larger goal. First, she used an artist who could never possibly pass deliberation to flush out those in the talent agency who had chosen to stand on Meng Nan’s side. Last night, bypassing the board's agenda entirely, she carried out a major purge of the talent agency.

In a publicly listed company with a board of directors like Huaqi Group, this was not compliant with the rules.

Yet now, she relentlessly seized upon Wu Siyang's violation of personal conduct, immediately directing the spearhead straight at Meng Nan.

This time, no one could say a single word in defense!

Meng Nan took a deep breath.

Meeting Zhao Jinzhi's needle-like gaze, he said in a deep voice, "Wu Siyang having problems is a matter of his personal conduct. As the CEO of the company, I certainly bear administrative responsibility toward the group, but do I have the right and energy to monitor my subordinates' private lives? After all, he didn't notify me when he was messing around with the artists under our agency."

Knowing full well that Wu Siyang was completely beyond saving, Meng Nan decisively abandoned him.

Although this whitewashing attempt lacked persuasiveness, it was at least somewhat logical.

By employing the tactic of sacrificing the rook to save the king, Meng Nan clawed back a tiny shred of initiative.

"Of course, as CEO, I am definitely responsible for such an incident. I will submit a self-criticism regarding this matter. As for the Chairperson asking how I managed the company over the past three years, I will also prepare a comprehensive report before next month's annual meeting."

"If the Chairperson still has other questions or is dissatisfied, she can address them through the board or privately with me. I can handle them, but..."

"What is going on with this artist? During yesterday's auditions at the talent agency, you, as the Chairperson, directly recommended a sixty-five-year-old artist. Surely that isn't compliant with the rules, is it?"

With that, Meng Nan took out a document bag he had been carrying and distributed copies of the files inside to everyone present.

"Moreover... last night, many people in the talent agency were called in by the Human Resources Department and had their positions reassigned. As CEO, I was completely unaware of this, which also seems non-compliant with the rules. And what an even greater coincidence... Heh, all the people who were called in are those who disagreed with signing this... this candidate you pushed so hard for. How do you explain this?"

Meng Nan’s counter-attack made all the directors on the board tremble inwardly.

It was here!

Had this day finally arrived?

Facing the suddenly tense atmosphere, several steadfast fence-sitters shifted their gazes elsewhere, contemplating their noses and minds like meditating Buddhist monks.

Seeing Meng Nan directly lay his cards on the table, seemingly intent on having a decisive showdown today and extending yesterday's factional struggle within the talent agency into the boardroom, a few individual directors were horrified—*Idiot, the timing is all wrong!*

It was obvious that Zhao Jinzhi's offensive this time had been long prepared; now was simply not the time to create confrontation!

"What? As the Chairperson, do I no longer even have the right to recommend an artist to the company?"

Taking in the varied expressions of everyone present, Zhao Jinzhi smiled faintly.

"Today, I looked into this veteran actor, Chairperson. Setting aside his capabilities for a moment, to my knowledge, this person suffers from severe cerebral thrombosis. He probably doesn't have much time left, yet you recommended such an artist to the talent agency. Tell me, isn't that putting people in an awkward position? Furthermore... as I understand it, just a few days ago, this artist had some very unpleasant dealings with our group's copyright department. Bringing such a person into the company's roster... Heh. Have you lost your mind?"

"Hey, hey, hey!"

Seeing Zhao Jinzhi's smile growing increasingly radiant yet more and more bone-chilling, Board Member Qian Shuli immediately rose from his chair.

Prior to its listing, Huaqi Group had undergone two rounds of financing, resulting in a rather complex equity structure. With a complex equity structure, the composition of the board was even more intricate. Representatives of various investing capitals, employee representatives, artist representatives, company veterans holding massive amounts of founding shares...

It was comparable to the Warring States period.

As the representative of Songnan Capital, Qian Shuli had always maintained the image of a peacemaker on the board.

Faced with the hair-trigger tension, Qian Shuli smiled broadly and reached out his hands.

"You mother and son shouldn't make things so tense! It's just an artist, President Meng. Since it's someone Chairperson Zhao values, just sign him! With hundreds of artists in the company, one more won't hurt. Right?"

"Chairperson Zhao, President Meng is young after all. If there's anything, you can just teach him! Since you're dissatisfied with the talent agency side, why don't we have the board re-negotiate and send a capable person over to sweep away the foul atmosphere in the company? Right? If you're not at ease, you can choose the candidate yourself, and we'll all support it, won't we?"

"You!"

Seeing Qian Shuli be the first to jump out in support of Zhao Jinzhi, Meng Nan was stunned.

Just as he was about to speak, he caught the extremely obvious warning glint in Qian Shuli's eyes.

He closed his mouth.

Watching the grand drama unfolding before her, Zhao Jinzhi raised an eyebrow.

What a classic maneuver of cutting off one's tail to survive.

"Very well."

Seeing the other party use advance as a retreat, stripping away all her momentum by offering control of the talent agency, Zhao Jinzhi smiled slightly.

She beckoned to her assistant, Wang Mei, standing beside her. "A-Mei, you've been with me for twenty years. You're familiar with every department in the company. If the talent agency is handed over to you, can you run it well?"

"I will give it my all!"

Wang Mei bowed slightly and replied in a loud, clear voice.

"Good." Zhao Jinzhi nodded, smiled slightly at everyone on the board, and said, "Then I propose that Wang Mei take over as General Manager of the talent agency. Who agrees, who opposes?"

Meeting her gaze, the directors raised their hands one by one.

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"I agree."

Watching all the directors complete their vote with unanimous approval, Zhao Jinzhi took a deep breath. Finally, her gaze fell upon Meng Nan.

"President Meng, regarding the talent agency, A-Mei will be assisting you with your work from now on."

"Understood."

Looking at the forest of high-raised hands across the room, Meng Nan replied almost through gritted teeth.

...

"Why did you propose giving up control of the talent agency just now?"

Inside Meng Nan's office.

Faced with Qian Shuli, who was biting on a cigar with a gloomy expression, Meng Nan asked fiercely.

"Haven't you figured it out yet? Your stepmother made thorough preparations for today. Heh, if I hadn't stepped in as a peacemaker to cede the talent agency, I'm afraid today's board discussion wouldn't have been about who should become the general manager of the talent agency, but rather how to deal with your dereliction of duty as CEO!"

Qian Shuli let out a soft huff and said with a hint of dissatisfaction, "A-nan, I know you're anxious. But Zhao Jinzhi's move came too suddenly. It completely disrupted our rhythm. Losing a talent agency today is already our smallest possible loss."

"Damn it!"

Hearing this, Meng Nan kicked the bookshelf hard. "Then am I just supposed to swallow this? After this happened, how am I supposed to maintain my footing in the company? Being forced by that woman to surrender the talent agency and having to swallow this old piece of trash named Li Shixin—what will others think of me?"

"Heh." Qian Shuli waved his hand and took a deep drag on his cigar. "Don't be impatient! Signing this actor is not necessarily a bad thing. Your stepmother is probably trying to call a stag a horse, testing the company's various departments for their level of obedience to her. But isn't this also digging a grave for herself? After all, this veteran actor is the first artist she has recommended in three years. If he fails to make any waves... tell me, what will that signify?"

"Senile and muddled?"

Meng Nan frowned, his eyes lighting up.

"It will prove that she has grown old and can no longer keep up with the times. When that happens, the outcome will be the same. All you need to do is let everyone up and down the company know that your stepmother has aged and is no longer capable of leading the company to glory. That will be enough. You're young, what are you afraid of?"

Hearing Qian Shuli put it this way, Meng Nan took a deep breath.

He picked up the phone.

"Hello, spread the word. Tell everyone we can trust that this rookie named Li Shixin... leave him out in the cold until he's completely finished. Chairperson Zhao? Screw your Chairperson Zhao! I'm going to deal with this guy, not even Jesus can save him, I said so!"

...

When he received the call from Huaqi Talent Agency, Li Shixin was eating breakfast downstairs at his hotel.

"Li... Mr. Li, c-c-c-c... could you please come to Huaqi Talent Agency for a visit? T-t-t-today, our company re-evaluated your audition performance and felt, felt that you meet our company's signing standards and business development direction. Could you, could you trouble yourself to come over to the company so that we can... have an in-depth contact regarding the signing issue, and talk, talk, talk, talk about it?"

Listening to the voice of the young woman on the other end of the line, which sounded as if her upper and lower teeth were chattering together, Li Shixin bit into his steamed bun and frowned.

Is talking to the old man really that terrifying?

Or are you, young lady, up to something shady on your end while making this call?