Chapter 974


    Chapter 974 Surprising Punchline


    Ning Ran was also a bit surprised, but it made sense when she thought about it.


    Hu Jinghui had only been so arrogant as he had his father backing him up. With his father''s authority


    being suppressed, Hu Jinghui''s arrogance had significantly diminished. He no longer had the audacity


    to behave in an arrogant manner.


    However, this face-to-face apology was indeed beyond expectation, and it was quite a bold move.


    The camera focused on Ning Ran again.


    Since he bowed like he was bidding hisst farewell, everyone reckoned that Ning Ran ought to give


    Hu Jinghui some sort of response.


    The host reminded Ning Ran, “Ms. Ding, do you have anything to say to the contestant?”


    Ning Ran took the microphone and responded, “Oh, if you hadn''t reminded me just now, I would have


    completely forgotten about that incident. When you suddenly bowed to me, I was taken aback. I


    thought maybe it was some sort of farewell ceremony, like I was about to be executed! I had to pinch


    myself to make sure I was still alive and well. Anyway, enough about that. Let''s move on. You can start


    singing now!”


    Then, she made a gesture for him to start singing.


    Laughter filled the entire venue.


    Even the other mentors and the production team couldn''t stopughing. They marveled at Ning Ran''s


    beauty and wit as she became the one who livened up the atmosphere of the show.


    This time, the contestant sang a popr song that was trending online.


    Fortunately, Ning Ran had taken the time to listen to the current trending songs'' ylists on her phone


    beforeing. Otherwise, it would have been quite embarrassing if she had been unfamiliar with the


    song.


    The singing was actually pretty good, much better than the previous performance.


    Maybe Hu Jinghui suddenly realized it was difficult to advance by relying on connections, so he had to


    brush up on his basic skills.


    The evaluations the other three mentors gave were average, and it was Ning Ran''s turn to give her


    comments.


    Ning Ran said into the microphone, “You sang very well, better thanst time. Now, let me ask you, do


    you have a girlfriend?”


    Hu Jinghui was taken aback. “Yes, Ms. Ding.”


    Ning Ran nodded. “Ah, I knew it. Only with the nourishment of love can one sing love songs so


    beautifully.”


    Another mentor joked, “But you saidst time that only those without love could sing love songs well.


    Have you changed your opinion?”


    “If my opinions were consistent every time, where would be the fun in that? I like to keep you on your


    toes and give you a chance to find fault with me. It''s all part of the entertainment, and it keeps the


    audienceughing. So, let''s make the most of this opportunity and see what surprises await us today!”


    Ning Ran''s surprising punchline caught everyone off guard, inciting another bout of raucousughter in


    the crowd.


    After the program ended, Ning Ran felt a bit tired.


    Although the show wasn''t physically demanding, managing her expressions in front of the camera was


    still quite exhausting.


    Cheng Xiangyun walked over to her. “You must be tired. Should we rest here for the night or return to


    Flower City immediately?”


    “Do we have anything scheduled for tomorrow?” Ning Ran asked.


    “We scheduled a brand endorsement shoot, but Sir Chen said he doesn''t want you to be too


    exhausted. He thinks you should have at least a day of rest after a day of work, so it has been


    rescheduled for the day after tomorrow,” Cheng Xiangyun exined.


    Upon hearing this, Ning Ran couldn''t help but smile.


    Once artists from otherpanies gained poprity, they would eagerly ept endorsement deals,


    often working tirelessly for long hours. It seemed as though they wished they could work for twenty


    hours a day, taking advantage of every opportunity that came their way.


    That became the norm in the industry, as it allowed artists to maximize their earnings during their peak


    poprity and generate significant revenue for both themselves and their respectivepanies.


    However, Nan Chen refused to conform to the norm. He made her work for a day and then insisted on


    giving her a day of rest.


    Is he taking me for an artist or a retiree? If all the bosses in the entertainment industry shared his


    mindset, nobody would want to be a part of the business, for they would certainly suffer financial


    losses.


    Ning Ran waved her hands. “Don''t listen to him. I still need to work when it''s necessary. Star


    Entertainment has more than just me as an artist. If I get special treatment, what would other artists


    think?”


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Cheng Xiangyun vehemently shook her head in disagreement. “Absolutely not! Sir Chen is the big


    boss, and I can''t go against him. You telling me not to listen to him means I should listen to you instead.


    Are you trying to get me in trouble? And as for how other artists perceive it, why should you concern


    yourself with that? They are artists, but you are the boss'' wife! Can you treat them equally? Don''t be


    absurd!” Cheng Xiangyun ranted as she guided Ning Ran toward the parking area.


    Ning Ran thought about it and realized Cheng Xiangyun was right. With Nan Chen backing her, the


    others would indeed be reluctant to act against her.


    She made a mental note to talk to himter to make sure he didn''t excessively interfere with the


    entertainmentpany''s work. It wouldn''t be good for the overall operation of thepany, after all.


    “Do we have any other arrangements?” Ning Ran asked.


    “Oh, right! Someone called for you. She introduced herself as Ouyang Li and said it was an important


    matter. I told her you were working, and she even shouted at me. What a crazy woman,” Cheng


    Xiangyun added.


    “Ouyang Li? Why is she looking for me? Does she want me to endorse Sunshine Corporation?” Ning


    Ran chuckled.


    “She just said she wanted to meet you, but she didn''t reveal the purpose,” Cheng Xiangyun replied.


    “Then let''s talk about it tomorrow. Everyone is tired today. We''ll stay at the hotel for now and return to


    Flower City early tomorrow morning.”


    The next morning, Ning Ran received several more calls, all of them from Ouyang Li.


    Ning Ran couldn''t figure out why Ouyang Li wanted to see her.


    Could she have had an unpleasant experience with Nan Chen and wanted to vent her frustrations?


    She could have just scolded me over the phone if that were the case. Does she really need to meet in


    person? Is she so concerned about formalities?


    Hence, Ning Ran told Ouyang Li the time of her arrival at Flower City''s airport. If there was a genuine


    matter, they could have a brief conversation at the airport.


    Essentially, Ning Ran meant that she wouldn''t make a special effort to meet Ouyang Li. If thetter had


    any important matter, she should drop by the airport to meet with Ning Ran instead.


    It wouldn''t matter if Ouyang Li didn''t show up.


    To Ning Ran''s surprise, Ouyang Li actually agreed.


    After arriving in Flower City, Ning Ran met Ouyang Li at a nearby café.


    Ouyang Li looked different from the confident and arrogant woman Ning Ran had seen in the elevator a


    few days ago.


    The woman looked rather down that day.


    Ning Ran suddenly realized why Ouyang Li wanted to see her.


    “Ms. Li, what brings you here?”


    Ning Ran took a sip of coffee and frowned. The taste wasn''t good.


    Ever since she got used to brewing coffee for Nan Chen, Ning Ran had unintentionally be quite


    particr about its quality.


    Ordinary takeaway coffee would no longer sit well with her.


    “Ning Ran, Nan Chen has caused various troubles for our stores in Flower City, and reopening them


    seems distant. I''m under a lot of pressure at thepany. Could you make Nan Chen stop and allow


    my stores to resume operating?”


    Ouyang Li''s request aligned with Ning Ran''s guess.


    “Nan Chen isn''t a government official or a department head, so talking to him won''t make a difference.


    And as for me, don''t expect that talking to me will help either. I''m just a nobody in this industry, with no


    real influence or power,” Ning Ran responded, shaking her head.


    “No. The investigation of my stores must be rted to Nan Chen. I know he''s trying to stop our


    coboration with Prosperity Holdings. I''m willing to give in and cancel the partnership to make him


    back off,” Ouyang Li said.


    Is Ouyang Li begging for help? Has she finally realized the power of the Nan family?


    Ning Ran propped her chin on her hand and asked, “Why don''t you talk to him yourself, then?”


    “I couldn''t meet him. He refused to see me. He said I needed to make an appointment, but even after I


    tried to schedule one with his assistant, I still couldn''t get through to him. It''s absolutely absurd! It''s


    easier to meet a deity than it is to meet him!” Ouyang Li expressed her frustration, her anger evident as


    she struggled to maintain control.


    Ning Ran understood Ouyang Li''s frustration. She could imagine the immense pressure and stress that


    thetter was under.


    The sudden investigation and forced closure of stores at Sunshine Corporation, apany involved in


    banking, sent waves of terror through the industry. The magnitude of such a situation, especially for a


    largepany, was truly daunting.


    If this issue wasn''t resolved quickly, it would cause panic among clients, and Sunshine Corporation


    would copse within a short period.


    Ouyang Li was genuinely desperate and scared.