C8 Warmth

"Yes, Director Gu, whatever punishment you decide, we'll accept without complaint," another male host said, throwing caution to the wind.

The others quickly agreed, except for Xiaoying, who couldn't help but twitch her lips in frustration at her teammates. They were falling apart before Gu Yifan even said a word, revealing their hand too soon.

The station didn't have any popular hosts at the moment. If they didn't come back, the station would fall into obscurity. Xiaoying was counting on Gu Yifan to back down so she could smoothly agree to return without losing face.

But the others didn't see it that way. Gu Yifan might not be intimidating, but the people backing her were powerful. They didn't want to take the risk. If Gu Yifan decided to quit the station out of spite, those people could easily set her up with another company, leaving them with no choice but to leave A City.

They couldn't gamble on that, and that was their honest feeling.

Gu Yifan noticed their expressions. People were unpredictable. Xiaoying, whom she had personally chosen, was the first to turn against her. In contrast, the others were much more straightforward.

Gu Yifan suddenly felt tired. If it weren't for wanting to bring her grandfather back for a better life, she wouldn't even want to continue running the station.

Seeing that Gu Yifan still hadn't spoken, the group grew even more anxious.

"Director Gu, please let us come back. That person said if you don't let us stay, we shouldn't remain in A City either." Zero pleaded with a quiver in her voice, seeking Gu Yifan's forgiveness. If not for the last shred of her dignity, she might have even knelt before him.

"Take a seat," Gu Yifan finally spoke, inviting them to sit and talk. While Xiaoying was still confident that Gu Yifan would relent, the others sensed that this time, Gu Yifan was determined to stand his ground. If not for Zero's repeated pleas, they might already be packing to leave.

It seemed Gu Yifan was about to take action against them.

As expected, once they were seated, Gu Yifan looked around at them and said, "I'm aware of the recent radio incident. I don't blame you for leaving; after all, that person is beyond my reach too."

Hearing this, Xiaoying's confident smile widened. She knew Gu Yifan wouldn't let them go.

"However, I'm not sure if your return is genuine," Gu Yifan continued in the same steady tone. "If you come back, your base salary will be cut in half, and your commission will drop to 20%."

"Twenty percent?" Xiaoying shrieked. The base salary was only $8,000, so cutting it in half wasn't a big deal, but the commission was previously 50%. Their monthly income was around $50,000, and now reducing it to 20% was something Xiaoying, accustomed to spending freely, couldn't accept!

Gu Yifan raised an eyebrow, glancing at Xiaoying. She wasn't aware of how much this gesture resembled someone else's.

Xiaoying was the first to voice her dissatisfaction, continuing to grumble, "Director Gu, we've been with you for years. Treating us like this is really disheartening."

Ignoring Xiaoying's complaints, Gu Yifan turned to the others. "Do you all feel the same way?"

Lingling bit her lip and firmly said, "Let's do as Director Gu says."

The other three nodded in agreement. A little less money was better than not being able to make a living and having to move their families.

Satisfied with this outcome, Gu Yifan then addressed Xiaoying, "You can leave now."

Xiaoying was shocked and shouted loudly, her sweet image long gone. If her fans saw this scene, they'd probably stop supporting her.

"Director Gu, how can you let me go? Do you know how many fans I have?"

Gu Yifan leaned back comfortably, sneering at Xiaoying. "Of course, I know how popular you are. I was the one who brought you to the top, and naturally, I can also bring you down. Leave now, and don't let me see you again."

Gu Yifan showed no mercy in dismissing Xiaoying. The others were relieved they hadn't been foolish enough to challenge Gu Yifan.

Afterward, Xiaoying was escorted out by security. She sat in a daze for a long time at the base of the building, while passersby pointed and even posted videos online. Her face was pale, filled with regret. They had all agreed to Yifan's demands—why had she been so foolish? But it was too late to turn back now.

Leaving A City wasn't the end of the world. She refused to believe she couldn't survive without Yifan. Just wait, Yifan! One day, you'll know this despair! Xiaoying glared back at the building before walking away, step by step.

As she left, someone immediately reported the situation to Moyan, who flawlessly executed his follow-up plan. Not only was Xiaoying unable to find her footing in A City, but Moyan also ensured that their business partners were informed. It was a simple matter of not hiring one person; for businesspeople, exchanging a favor for such a small issue was a no-brainer. This led to Xiaoying's increasingly difficult life.

Every time she faced hardship, her hatred for Yifan grew.

In the conference room, after Xiaoying left, the remaining four couldn't decide if they were relieved or more fearful of Yifan. Either way, the decision was in Yifan's hands.

"You can all go now. If you're staying, be ready to work hard," Yifan said, waving them out.

Once they settled into their familiar roles, the four of them finally relaxed. After wrapping up the task, Gu Yifan wasn't feeling great. She gave a few instructions to her assistant and then took a cab home.

As she walked in, she saw Tang Anan busy in the kitchen. The warm light cast a gentle glow on her, making her seem so serene. This was their home, and in that moment, all her exhaustion melted away.

In a fleeting thought, Gu Yifan wondered how nice it would be if the person in the kitchen was her future partner. But she already had Tang Anan and couldn't be greedy.

Hearing a noise behind her, Tang Anan turned around and saw her friend lost in thought. She waved a hand in front of her face.

"You're back."

"Yeah, I'm back." Gu Yifan hugged Tang Anan, savoring the warmth of the moment.

"Yifan, are you okay? Did Hsu Moyan do something to you?" Sensing her friend's distress, Tang Anan didn't push her away but asked urgently.

Gu Yifan shook her head. "It's fine, everything's sorted. I'm just really tired and want to sleep for a bit."

Tang Anan, feeling concerned, said, "Then go ahead and rest. I'll call you when dinner's ready."

Gu Yifan's sleep was restless, and as the day before Hsu Moyan's wedding approached, she seemed increasingly unsettled. Tang Anan noticed and grew more anxious, but with Gu Yifan saying nothing, she didn't dare reach out to Hsu Moyan.