What Should I Do if My Best Friend Is a Green Tea? [Transmigrated Into a Book]

Yan Xi knew that since it was Zhou Qingyu's company, with Yu Xiao and Lin Zhi keeping an eye on things, Qu Yan wouldn’t dare go too far.

This kind of behavior was like someone inviting celebrities to a party just to show off their connections.

But Yan Xi still felt irritated.

The entertainment industry was a game of capital. To those with money, it represented profitable projects. For the artists navigating it, it was a ladder to fame and fortune.

Yet even in this world of extravagance and excess, there were still those who worked hard in silence.

Yan Xi believed every industry was like this—no matter how murky or corrupt, there were always people who remained simple and pure.

Jiang Tao was one of them. No matter how stubborn he was, his dedication to his craft was unwavering. Shen Xinghe was another—he had the education to land a stable job, but he loved acting. Even if it meant starting from the bottom as an extra, even if it meant being blacklisted, he was willing.

Then there was US, training as an idol trainee in Korea, and Chu Tingbai, who loved photographing beautiful people.

And Han Shu.

Yan Xi believed that those who worked hard with sincerity deserved respect. They shouldn’t be treated as playthings for the wealthy. She didn’t deny that part of her motivation for helping them was for Zhou Qingyu’s sake, but another part was simply because she wanted to.

That was why she was so furious when she found out Han Shu had been summoned to a place like this by Qu Yan.

The door of the private room burst open with a loud crash, slamming against the walls on either side.

The people inside jumped in shock, their carefree mood instantly shattered. Tension filled the air as all eyes locked onto Yan Xi, who strode into the room.

Qu Yan’s face visibly stiffened.

But she maintained her composure, opting for diplomacy first. "Yan Xi, what’s the meaning of this? You scared my guests!"

Yan Xi had met Qu Yan a few times before, always in Zhou Qingyu’s presence. Following Zhou Qingyu’s lead, she had always addressed Qu Yan as "Auntie."

"Auntie," Yan Xi said politely, "I’m here to take my artist back."

She swept a glance over the other artists present. "What are you all still sitting around for? Does Starlight not have schedules for you? Skipping work to party at a club—how is this any different from playing hooky?"

The artists froze for a second before scrambling to their feet and gathering behind Yan Xi.

She turned back to Qu Yan. "Auntie, enjoy the rest of your evening. We’ll be leaving now."

As Yan Xi turned to go, Qu Yan rushed forward and grabbed her arm. "What do you think you’re doing? My guests are still here! You can’t just take everyone away!"

Yan Xi stopped. "Auntie, this isn’t part of their job."

Qu Yan’s temper flared. She had already swallowed her pride when Yan Xi barged in, but now Yan Xi was humiliating her in front of everyone by taking the artists away.

She was the CEO of Starlight Entertainment. Yan Xi was just a VP—who did she think she was?

Qu Yan took a deep breath, her voice turning icy. "Yan Xi, I just invited them to sing. What’s the big deal? You’re overreacting."

"Singing? Fine." Yan Xi held out her hand. "Was this a contracted event? Do you have the paperwork? Is it a commercial performance or a charity event? Have taxes been filed?"

The barrage of questions left Qu Yan speechless.

"I asked my own artists to sing. Why would I need all that?"

"Then it’s not work." Yan Xi lowered her hand, her gaze turning cold. "If it’s not work, why should they stay? The company invests in them, pours resources into their careers—not so they can sing for your entertainment!"

Qu Yan was stunned. The Yan Xi she knew was always gentle, with a sweet smile. This was the first time she had seen her so stern.

But Qu Yan refused to back down. She was the elder here.

Her expression darkened. "Yan Xi! Even regular companies have PR events. Having them mingle with clients is for Starlight’s future! What’s wrong with that?"

"Clients?" Yan Xi scanned the room. "There are Starlight clients I don’t recognize? None of you look familiar—are you even from the industry?"

She turned back to Qu Yan, her voice colder still. "CEO Qu, if I had to guess, these are connections your Qu family wants to maintain, aren’t they?"

Humiliated in front of everyone, Qu Yan’s face twisted.

She wasn’t young anymore, and her extensive cosmetic procedures left her skin unnaturally taut. When she gritted her teeth, her expression turned almost grotesque.

"Yan Xi," she hissed, "you’d better remember—I am the CEO of Starlight!"

Yan Xi arched a brow. "What, are you going to tattle to Qingyu? Or file a complaint with the board? Go ahead. I don’t care."

She addressed the artists again. "Lin Zhi, pass this down: From now on, Starlight artists are only required to do their contracted work. No more forced social events. If that wasn’t the policy before, it is now—and no executive gets an exception."

The artists stood frozen, struggling to process her words.

Lin Zhi blinked, then smiled faintly. "Understood."

Outside the club, Qiao Yan had already arranged transportation to take the artists back.

Just as they were about to leave, Yan Xi called out to them.

Confused, they turned—only to see her step forward and bow deeply.

The gesture caught them off guard. They barely knew this new VP. Rumors said she and Qu Yan had only gotten their positions through connections to the young mistress. So why was she doing this?

"I apologize," Yan Xi said solemnly. "As Starlight’s artists, you deserve to have your rights protected. What happened today was my failure—I didn’t shield you as I should have."

This was how every entertainment company operated. Even regular businesses sent pretty employees to schmooze clients. If you called it inappropriate, people would laugh and say you lacked "social skills."

But was it right?

Just because something was normalized didn’t make it correct. Some things were wrong from the start.

Yan Xi couldn’t change the past, but she could start now.

"I’ll set up an anonymous complaint system. From now on, if any executive pressures you into something you’re uncomfortable with, report it. Your contract with Starlight is a partnership. I want you to succeed—because when you do, Starlight does too."

The artists were speechless.

In the private room, her words might have just been a show of force against Qu Yan. But now, with no audience, she had no reason to keep up the act.

She seemed… sincere.

After everyone dispersed, Qiao Yan hurried Han Shu into a company van, rushing him to the audition site for The Singer.

The Singer was a hit competition show. Han Shu wasn’t the only wildcard contestant—he’d have to outperform the others just to earn a spot on stage.

Yan Xi planned to visit Zhou Qingyu on set. She needed to keep an eye on Pei Yubai—even though Zhou Qingyu had now broken free from the plot’s control, who knew what kind of trouble Pei Yubai might stir up next?

But just as she got into the Mercedes and hadn’t even had the chance to tell Master Zhao their destination, Lin Zhi stopped her.

"President Yan, something’s happened."

Yan Xi’s heart skipped a beat. Zhou Qingyu’s public image had been doing well lately—surely there couldn’t be another scandal?

"What is it?" she asked.

"Xingyao Entertainment forcing artists to accompany clients for drinks has gone viral."

Yan Xi felt her head spin.

She had considered this possibility before, but she hadn’t expected someone to expose it right after she’d just dealt with the issue.

The private club had strict confidentiality measures, but that didn’t guarantee no one would secretly film. Before, Xingyao didn’t have any high-profile artists, so the scandal wouldn’t have gained traction. But now, with Zhou Qingyu, Shen Xinghe, and Han Shu—all well-known names in the industry—it was a different story.

Moreover, Han Shu had just been through the K Company incident, making netizens particularly sensitive to such topics.

In the car, Lin Zhi showed Yan Xi the online backlash. The whistleblower had released a secretly filmed video showing Xingyao artists drinking and singing at the club—with Han Shu clearly visible among them.

[I used to think Xingyao was a decent company, but now this?]

[At this rate, Xingyao isn’t much better than K Company!]

[But it’s just drinking and singing, right? Maybe the artists were just there to have fun?]

[Did you see Han Shu’s expression? He looked like he was about to cry!]

[The entertainment industry is all the same—no good apples here.]

[Oh no, I just became a fan of Shen Xinghe! Please tell me he doesn’t have to do this too!]

[Spare US, they’re still kids!]

Yan Xi massaged her temples, wincing. The news had just broken, and it was still unclear who had leaked it.

Lin Zhi cautiously asked, "Could it be President Qu?"

Yan Xi shook her head. "Qu Yan is Xingyao’s CEO. She wouldn’t do something so self-destructive."

"Then I’ll have Wu Liao take down the trending topic and handle it quietly."

Yan Xi paused for a moment. "No. Tell Wu Liao to issue an apology statement."

Lin Zhi’s eyes widened. "President Yan! Wouldn’t that be admitting guilt?"

"If someone managed to film in a high-security club, they must have known about this for a while—they might even be involved. If we deny it now and they release even more damning evidence, what then?"

Yan Xi sighed. "We were in the wrong. An apology is the only way forward."

[Host, this also happened in the original novel,] the system suddenly chimed in.

Yan Xi froze. "I don’t remember that."

[You were abroad at the time, working on a project with your advisor. You didn’t even have time to check the news.]

[In the novel, Xingyao initially denied the allegations. But when more evidence surfaced, it became an indelible stain on the company’s reputation.]

Yan Xi thought for a moment. "But according to the timeline, this should’ve happened next year, right?"

She remembered that period—when the Zhou family and Zhou Qingyu faced continuous crises, around the time after New Year’s. By the time she resurfaced, Zhou Yanci was already dead, and the Zhou family had been acquired by Pei Yubai.

The system noticed the discrepancy but wasn’t surprised. [Probably because Miss Zhou’s luck value increased, speeding up the plot.]

Just like how Zhou Yanci’s sudden death was originally set for after New Year’s—in the novel, he didn’t have cancer. Most likely, the plot was trying to undermine Zhou Qingyu’s progress to ensure Ye Luoyi’s eventual rise.

Yan Xi tapped her chin. The Xingyao scandal had been a minor subplot in the novel. The company’s downfall was mainly due to Zhou Qingyu funneling resources to Pei Yubai. While the drinking scandal damaged their image, it wasn’t fatal. In the novel, Xingyao would’ve collapsed much earlier without the Zhou family’s backing.

But if this had happened in the novel, Yan Xi already had a good guess who was behind it.

.

Wu Liao released the apology statement, expressing Xingyao’s deep regret for its actions and confirming that all involved executives would face disciplinary action.

Additionally, Xingyao invited public oversight, offering a 100,000-yuan reward for anyone who reported similar misconduct in the future.

[!!!]

[I was about to unfollow them, but now I’m following all their accounts!]

[100,000?! Easy money!]

[Is this for real? Xingyao’s going all out!]

[But forcing artists to drink is still wrong!]

[True, but at least they’re owning up to it. Most companies would just sweep it under the rug.]

[I hope they keep their word. After Han Shu and Shen Xinghe, I actually had a good impression of Xingyao~]

In the conference room, Yan Xi fixed Xu Yangyang with a cold stare.

Finding the whistleblower had seemed like searching for a needle in a haystack—but once she had a direction, confirming her suspicions was easy.

Especially since Xu Yangyang had approached her in the parking garage earlier that day.

Xu Yangyang glared back defiantly. "What? Did I expose something untrue? Xingyao pushed me down first—I’m just returning the favor!"

Yan Xi arched a brow. "Xingyao pushed you down?"

Xu Yangyang: "All the other artists get resources. Why don’t I?"

Yan Xi almost laughed.

She had deliberately sidelined Xu Yangyang. There was no way she’d let someone who’d hurt Zhou Qingyu thrive using Xingyao’s resources.

But in the novel, Zhou Qingyu had never treated Xu Yangyang unfairly.

When Zhou Qingyu became the punching bag in variety shows, bearing the brunt of comparisons and mockery, Xu Yangyang was only collateral damage. And after returning to China, Zhou Qingyu ensured Xu Yangyang had red-carpet gowns and roles—never shortchanging her.

Yet Xu Yangyang still exposed Qu Yan’s drinking scandal.

Yan Xi took a folder from Lin Zhi and laid out the records in front of Xu Yangyang.

"Your first red-carpet appearance—when no designer would lend you a gown, Qingyu bought the latest collection for you out of her own pocket. When you failed an audition, Qingyu invested five million to get you a supporting role. The CD endorsement was originally hers, but she gave it to you because she heard you needed money."

"And let’s not forget the bags, clothes, and jewelry she bought you while shopping together—need I go on?"

"Name one other artist at Xingyao who’s been treated this well. And you dare say we suppressed you?"

Xu Yangyang paled but stubbornly retorted, "That was in the past! Besides, Zhou Qingyu only treated me like that because she saw me as her lapdog! I fetched her tea, carried her bags—those resources were just payment!"

Yan Xi scoffed. "Are your hands made of gold? A few acts of service are worth millions?"

Xu Yangyang was still seething with resentment. "I've slaved away for Zhou Qingyu—of course she owes me some resources in return!" She shot Yan Xi a disdainful look. "Yan Xi, what makes you any different from me? You got where you are today by sucking up to Zhou Qingyu too!"

"Yeah," Yan Xi admitted without hesitation. "I owe my success to Qingqing."

"But unlike you, I’d never stab her in the back. I wouldn’t secretly like her smear campaigns online after she gifted me a designer bag. Whether her initial kindness was genuine or not, I’d never repay someone who helped me with malice."

Xu Yangyang scoffed. "That’s because Zhou Qingyu treated you well! She never saw me as anything more than a tool—"

"She didn’t see you as human?"

Yan Xi nearly laughed, her hand twitching as if she might slap Xu Yangyang. "That’s because you never saw her as human either! To you, she was just an ATM!"

Yan Xi had never believed in unconditional kindness. Relationships were reciprocal—whether in love, friendship, or even family ties.

And of all the people she knew, Zhou Qingyu’s sincerity was the purest.

A single bouquet of flowers from her had left a lasting impression.

Pei Yubai’s love, though sweetened by fleeting moments in their story, had etched itself into her memory.

Even the fans she’d met by chance—knowing they’d waited late at night to greet her at the airport—Zhou Qingyu would fret over them, treating them to meals and ensuring they got home safely.

She might have a sharp tongue, but for every kindness shown to her, she returned it tenfold.

Yet ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‍so many people in this world cared only for pretty words, blind to the actions behind them.

"Xu Yangyang, you’re not wrong," Yan Xi said coldly. "I’m the one who told Qiao Yan to cut off your resources. And let me make this clear—as long as I’m at Xingyao, you’ll never get a single opportunity from this company."

Xu Yangyang’s pupils trembled. "Yan Xi, you’re going too far!"

Yan Xi smirked. "Feel free to terminate your contract. But don’t forget the penalty fee."

Xu Yangyang’s shoulders shook with rage. She wanted to fight back, to defy Yan Xi—but Yan Xi was now Xingyao’s VP. There was nothing she could do.

A knock sounded at the conference room door, and Wu Liao entered, tablet in hand.

"President Yan, public opinion has shifted. The netizens are on our side now."

Yan Xi blinked. She’d expected the whistleblower rewards to help, but not this much.

Wu Liao projected the latest updates onto the screen.

The turning point was a video.

It picked up where the earlier exposé had left off—Han Shu being forced to sing for General Manager Feng—only this time, the door burst open, and Yan Xi stormed in.

The footage showed her confrontation with Qu Yan inside the private room, ending with Yan Xi bowing in apology to all the artists outside the club.

The video went viral instantly. With Xu Yangyang’s initial leak already fueling outrage over Xingyao’s alleged misconduct, this follow-up quickly topped the trending charts.

Jiang Tao, Xiao Yu, Shen Xinghe, Han Shu—one after another, they spoke up in Xingyao’s defense.

Jiang Tao & Xiao Yu: "Without Xingyao, we could never have made The Bottom Line the way we envisioned. We stand with Xingyao!"

Shen Xinghe: "Everything I am today, I owe to Xingyao. My gratitude runs deep—may the company thrive."

Han Shu: "Thank you for your concern, everyone. I’m fine. These practices exist across many agencies, but under the leadership of our CEO and President Yan, we’re committed to doing better."

Though the voices were all tied to Xingyao, their collective impact was undeniable. Overnight, the narrative flipped—

"After watching that video, Yan Xi is so cool! I always thought she was some meek little bunny. Had no idea she could be this fierce!"

"Supporting our idols! Supporting Xingyao!"

"Yan Xi’s follow-up actions seriously won me over."

"I knew Yan Xi would never bully her artists!"

"Ugh, I don’t know why, but her final words got me emotional. Wish I had a boss like that!"

Meanwhile, Zhou Corporation’s official account issued a statement: Qu Yan was stripped of her position at Xingyao, and all decisions by the new VP were endorsed. The company would also conduct internal audits to root out similar misconduct, encouraging employees to report any superiors who pressured subordinates into social drinking.

As a multinational conglomerate with countless subsidiaries, Zhou Corporation’s announcement sent shockwaves through the industry.

Yan Xi narrowed her eyes at the clarification video.

It was clearly filmed on the sly—grainy and shaky.

But the angle, the framing, even the quality matched Xu Yangyang's leak perfectly.

Whoever shot this had likely filmed the original exposé too.

[Host, I traced the IP. The person who posted this is the same one who later delivers the final blow to Xingyao in the novel’s climax.]

Xu Yangyang's leak about forced drinking shouldn’t have included video evidence—she wasn’t even present. She must’ve gotten it from one of the artists involved.

That person had recorded the entire incident, sending the first half to Xu Yangyang before Yan Xi arrived.

Yet they kept filming, probably hoping to dig up more dirt on Xingyao.

In the end, though, they chose to clear the company’s name.

Back in the conference room, Xu Yangyang stared at the screen in disbelief.

How was this possible?

A scandal this dark—reversed just like that?

And she knew who’d leaked the video. They’d given her the first half!

Yet they’d sided with Xingyao in the end?!

Her jaw clenched so hard her molars ached.

"Made up your mind yet?" Yan Xi asked. "Will you keep rotting at Xingyao, or terminate your contract like an adult?"

Xu Yangyang’s voice shook. "Do I even have a choice?"

Yan Xi gestured to Lin Zhi, who slid the termination papers across the table. "Sign. And don’t forget the penalty fee. Given all the bags and jewelry Qingqing gifted you, it shouldn’t be a problem."

Xu Yangyang’s glare burned into Yan Xi, her eyes bloodshot with fury, but she scrawled her signature anyway.

"Oh, and one more thing," Yan Xi added, collecting the contract. "After this, you should retire from the industry."

Xu Yangyang snarled, "Who the hell are you to decide that?"

"I won’t blacklist you outright, but no project tied to Xingyao will ever hire you again."

Yan Xi smiled. "And if you try anything sneaky? Well, behaving means you’ll just fade into obscurity. Cross me, and I’ll make sure you can’t work anywhere. Choose wisely."

With that, she strode out without a backward glance.

The moment Xu Yangyang was out of sight, the system materialized, its little orb bouncing excitedly around her.

[Host! You were so cool just now!]

【But how are you going to make Xu Yangyang unemployable in other industries? I’m so curious!】

“I can’t do that!”

Yan Xi blinked her eyes. “I was just trying to scare her a little, so she won’t stir up trouble again!”

【？？？】

【Will that actually work?】

“It might?”

Yan Xi didn’t look back, but as she left the conference room, she glanced at the glass wall. In the reflection, Xu Yangyang was gritting her teeth, visibly furious but too intimidated to retaliate—clearly, the bluff had worked.

Yan Xi shrugged. “Xu Yangyang hasn’t done anything illegal, so there’s nothing I can do. All I can do is scare her with words.”

The system rubbed its chin thoughtfully: 【Don’t worry. If she causes trouble again, you can hire a few thugs to intimidate her! Xu Yangyang’s a coward—she’d definitely back off after a scare!】

Yan Xi frowned sternly. “System, that’s not right. That’s illegal. Even if you’re just a system, you still have to follow the law, got it?”

【……】

【Weren’t you the least law-abiding person before?!】

“Nonsense! I’m a model citizen!”

【……】

As Yan Xi reached the VP’s office door, a sudden “ding!” echoed in her head.

Then, the system flashed a notification:

【Xu Yangyang has left the industry. Zhou Qingyu gains +2 Luck Points.】

【Reversing the Xingyao PR crisis boosts company morale. Zhou Qingyu gains +3 Luck Points. Current Luck Points: 71.2.】