Chapter 478

Chapter 478 Aggressive!

“Arrange for lip-syncing?”

Upon hearing this, Toni Landor’s expression instantly turned cold.

She didn’t say a word, looking like she was on the verge of exploding at any moment!

Hathaway sat up straight, her voice very serious: “Gentlemen, we have professional standards. Lip-syncing is something that will never happen with us. Landor must be responsible to her fans, and what you’re suggesting is not only irresponsible to us, but a toxic mentality that plagues the entertainment industry.”

If the organizers of this large-scale concert weren’t the very people sitting across from her, Hathaway would have truly lost it!

What had just been said about having Toni Landor lip-sync was not only unprofessional, it was downright unethical! If word of this got out in the American entertainment industry, it would be met with serious contempt!

Unless absolutely necessary, no artist would ever want to take on the risks that come with lip-syncing!

If the lip-syncing were exposed, not only would they be buried in a flood of criticism, but their credibility with fans would plummet to rock bottom!

Qi Zhanji listened to the translator’s words and gave a cold laugh: “And she dares to call me a toxic mentality? Acting like a saint while playing the whore!”

The young translator was taken aback, and deputy general manager Wang Dongyang quickly gestured: “Don’t translate that.”

Then he hurried to smooth things over: “Young Master Qi, Young Master Yun, Miss Landor, let’s all calm down. Why be so confrontational? The truth is, our cooperation is all for the success of this concert. If we’re already unhappy over a small matter before things even get started, how are we supposed to move forward together?”

As he spoke, Wang Dongyang winked at Qi Zhanji, the meaning clear — there’s plenty of time ahead, no need to rush.

In truth, in the eyes of this entertainment company deputy general manager, Qi Zhanji’s way with women was frankly quite embarrassing, yet this wealthy young heir seemed entirely oblivious to that fact.

Yun Konglan also tugged at Qi Zhanji’s arm, then said with an apologetic smile: “Young Master Qi just thought it was a rare chance to meet Miss Landor and wanted to make friends, that’s all. Please rest assured, he means no harm.”

Toni Landor seemed to understand that letting things get too tense wasn’t ideal, so she closed her mouth and said nothing more, the displeasure in her eyes fading somewhat.

Hathaway raised her glass and said: “How about this — let Landor drink tea in place of wine, and share a toast with our Chinese friends, wishing this concert every success.”

“I’ll drink first as a show of respect.”

Qi Zhanji knew you couldn’t rush things, so he drained his glass in one go.

Toni Landor picked up her teacup and took a small, gentle sip.

Looking at these two-faced people across from her, she felt utterly disgusted.

“Miss Landor, now that you’re in China, you must stay a few more days and let me play the gracious host — I’d love to show you the sights of Ninghai.” Qi Zhanji set down his glass and said with a grin.

Yun Konglan’s gaze discreetly swept over Toni Landor’s stunning figure, and he said with a smile: “Not just Ninghai — if Miss Landor wants to see all of China, what would it matter if I spent a lifetime accompanying her?”

Qi Zhanji shot him an irritated glance. You smooth-talking bastard! We agreed this woman was mine, so why the hell are you rushing to fawn over her?

After that, Qi Zhanji launched into a nonstop monologue, turning the entire dinner almost into a one-man show. He not only talked about his own experiences but also embellished and boasted about his background and status at length, as if terrified that no one would know he was the Su family’s grandson.

Hathaway listened with a growing sense of unease. She understood what kind of influence these old-money heirs wielded in China, and felt a lingering fear — thankfully she hadn’t let things completely fall apart earlier, otherwise the consequences would have been unthinkable.

“If Miss Landor doesn’t mind, I’d be happy to accompany you throughout your entire stay in China. With me around, I’m sure certain things would be much more convenient.”

Qi Zhanji’s seemingly warm hospitality was in fact nothing but self-serving calculation!

If he could stay by her side the whole time, how could he not find an opportunity to make his move on Landor?

Even Yun Konglan found it shameless when he heard that.

On this matter, Hathaway couldn’t speak on Landor’s behalf. The entire private room fell silent, everyone waiting for Toni Landor’s answer.

If she nodded and agreed, then Qi Zhanji’s scheming would already be halfway to success!

A look of difficulty appeared in Toni Landor’s beautiful eyes — but just at that moment, her phone suddenly rang!

“We’re in room 606 at the Huamei Hotel right now. Where are you?”

“Oh, my god!”

Landor looked at the message, her face lighting up with delight! It was a stark contrast to the cold expression she’d worn just moments before!

“Miss Landor, good news?” Qi Zhanji struggled to suppress his irritation. His question still hadn’t been answered, and now she was pulling out her phone to read messages — what was that supposed to mean?

But this time, Landor didn’t answer him at all. She simply stood up and walked briskly out of the private room!

Hathaway jumped to her feet and hurried after her, calling out anxiously: “Landor, where are you going?”

“I’m going to see a friend. You all keep eating, don’t worry about me!”

With that, Toni Landor dashed into the elevator!

Nothing could stop her now.

Hathaway’s face was full of bitterness. This young lady was far too impulsive! Sure, these Chinese rich boys were annoying, but did she have to be so blatant about it!

Watching only Hathaway return, Qi Zhanji and Yun Konglan’s faces darkened, and Wang Dongyang’s expression wasn’t much better either.

You don’t hit a smiling face — they had already lowered themselves quite a bit, so how could Landor still show such disrespect?

“Miss Hathaway, may I ask where Toni Landor has gone?”

This time, Qi Zhanji dropped even the honorific, and it was clear his mood had hit rock bottom.

“Landor ran into an old friend, so she stepped away for a bit.” Hathaway smiled awkwardly. She had to admit, what Landor had done put her in a very difficult position.

“Oh? An old friend?” Qi Zhanji’s eyes flickered: “If it’s an old friend, why not bring them over to meet everyone?”

Though he said that, in his mind Qi Zhanji was already fuming: “You shameless woman, you’ve got no idea how to appreciate what’s in front of you. I set up this whole dinner for you, and you just slip away without a word to see some so-called old friend! More like going to see a hookup!”

“She might find it a bit inconvenient.” Hathaway had a vague sense of who Landor was going to see, but it wasn’t her place to say it outright.

Getting to see him again had been Landor’s wish for a long time.

Hathaway had heard bits and pieces and had her suspicions, but she couldn’t quite imagine what kind of man could make a world-famous superstar lose her composure like this.

“Miss Hathaway, we have treated Toni Landor as an honored guest, setting up this banquet to welcome her. Yet from the very beginning she showed us no respect, and now she’s walked out on the whole table to go see some so-called old friend, without even the most basic courtesy. Is this how Hollywood superstars behave?”

Yun Konglan fired off a string of complaints that left Hathaway deeply embarrassed.

“I’m sorry, everyone. I apologize on Landor’s behalf. She’s just that kind of person by nature, and I hope you won’t take it to heart.”

“Don’t take it to heart? How could I possibly not?”

With Toni Landor no longer present, Qi Zhanji naturally felt free to apply all manner of pressure. He gave a cold laugh: “Who am I? Who is she? Let’s be honest — female celebrities in the entertainment world are nothing but performers. If you don’t find a good backer while you’re still young and beautiful, you won’t be able to marry into a wealthy family once your looks have faded!”

The implication in his words was unmistakable — he was telling Toni Landor to come and grovel at his feet.

In truth, given Hathaway’s personality, she was perfectly capable of slamming the table, giving Qi Zhanji a thorough tongue-lashing, and walking out without looking back. She was a well-known Hollywood agent, and Landor wasn’t the only major star on her roster. But she knew all too well the kind of power these Chinese rich boys wielded. For the sake of Landor’s presence in the Chinese market, she absolutely could not do something so irrational.

Even though the behavior and words of these people disgusted her, Hathaway kept reminding herself that she had to keep swallowing it, again and again.

“Mr. Qi, Mr. Yun, I don’t think we need to let Landor’s personality cause any unpleasantness. Compared to the enormous potential of the Chinese market, these are all trivial matters, aren’t they?” Hathaway made every effort to maintain her composure, smiling as she posed the question.

This woman always seemed so impeccably gracious, like a breath of fresh air.

The reason Landor had come to China to hold a concert in the first place was to deepen her profile here, expand her fanbase, and lay a solid foundation for breaking into the Chinese market in the future.

With major Western entertainment companies all coming to China to cash in, Hathaway naturally couldn’t afford to pass up this enormous opportunity.

If they managed to offend the organizers before the concert had even begun, what then?

“Miss Hathaway, what you consider a small matter is, in my eyes, a very significant one.”

Qi Zhanji continued to press aggressively. He needed to make these two American women understand who called the shots here, and what consequences they would face for crossing him.

Hathaway’s expression stiffened. It was clear the other side had no intention of letting this go. She had long heard that China’s wealthy young heirs were difficult to deal with, and this time she had run into two truly insufferable ones.

“What you care about is the Chinese market, and the Chinese market means nothing to me. What I care about is whether people show me respect, and that is precisely what you’ve failed to do.”

In saying this, Qi Zhanji had laid bare his petty, vindictive nature for all to see.

“So, I’m very curious to see what interesting things will unfold during Toni Landor’s time in China.”

The threat in those words could not have been more obvious.

Hathaway finally realized that there was no way today’s situation was going to end peacefully. If she couldn’t satisfy these young heirs, whether the concert could even go ahead at all was now in question.

All the tickets had already been sold. All the promotion and publicity had been running for a long time. If these rich boys decided to stir up trouble and push for a postponement, what would all those fans who had been waiting with such high expectations think?

At that point, Toni Landor’s reputation in China would plummet to rock bottom.

Hathaway bit her lip, her chest rising and falling visibly, betraying the turmoil within her.

“Please tell me — what would it take to satisfy you gentlemen?”