Ling Chen gently patted Tang Shiyun’s back, soothing her collapsing emotions, and softly said, "Alright, stop crying, I’ll shoulder everything for you."

After crying for a while, Tang Shiyun gradually stopped her tears and sobbingly said, "Ling, I... I’m afraid I can’t stay."

"How so? Has the matter been settled on their end?"

"The other party agreed to pay the penalty, and President Yang is helpless. Even taking it to court would be useless. They are drafting the contract now."

Ling Chen took Tang Shiyun’s hand and walked with her to a sofa nearby where they sat down. Looking at Tang Shiyun, tear-stained and pitiful, Ling Chen spoke, "Girl, this is originally your family matter, and I, as an outsider, should not interfere. However, putting aside everything else, I want to know what your heart truly desires. Do you wish to go to another company, or do you want to continue staying here?"

"Mr. Zhu and President Yang have always taken good care of me, treating me like family. Of course, I want to stay, but... my mom..." Mentioning her mother, Tang Shiyun’s expression immediately turned gloomy.

If it weren’t for Yao Li meddling, she wouldn’t be this heartbroken. Nevertheless, that’s her mother.

Ling Chen smiled faintly, reached out to wipe away the tears at the corners of Tang Shiyun’s eyes, and said, "You’re already eighteen, an adult with the right to make your own decisions. It’s appropriate to respect Miss Yao, your mother, but you can’t hand over your entire life to her. You need to learn to control your own destiny. In terms of gratitude, President Yang and Mr. Zhu have spent so much effort developing you. If you leave them now and turn to another company, even if they don’t say anything, outsiders will criticize you for being ungrateful. Of course, I know this isn’t your choice; it’s mainly because of your mother."

Tang Shiyun whispered, "I tried to persuade my mom, but she won’t listen to me."

"You, everything about you is good, just your character is too soft. On this matter, your mother’s approach is terribly wrong, and you can’t afford to make the same mistake alongside her."

"Ling, then what should I do?"

"Like I said earlier, you need to learn to make decisions for yourself, and you must take a firm stance on this issue. Frankly speaking, for better or for worse, what your mom is doing now is ruining your future, treating you merely as a tool to make money without considering your feelings at all. If you can’t break free from your mom’s control, you will have a hard time growing in the future."

Seeing Tang Shiyun looking hesitant, Ling Chen continued to persuade, "Girl, if you trust me, do as I say, and don’t let your mom interfere anymore."

After saying that, Ling Chen fell silent. He knew that Tang Shiyun was a filial daughter, and asking her to go against her mother was undoubtedly difficult. But he had no choice; for Tang Shiyun to be free, she needed to break away from Yao Li’s control.

Time ticked away, second by second, and Tang Shiyun kept her head down, indecisive. Ling Chen understood her feelings, so he didn’t rush her, giving her ample time to think things through.

Over ten minutes later, a knocking sound came from outside the office. Following that, Zhu Yansong entered, saying, "Miss Tang, Miss Yao and Mr. Tang are asking you to come over." After saying this, Zhu Yansong glanced at Ling Chen with an inquiring look.

Ling Chen shrugged his shoulders, looking at Tang Shiyun beside him, and gently grasped her hand, asking, "Made a decision?"

Tang Shiyun slightly lifted her head, her soft eyes carrying a hint of firmness. Catching the expression in her eyes, Ling Chen smiled, knowing she had made her own decision.

"Go ahead."

Tang Shiyun stood up and followed Zhu Yansong to the door, hesitating slightly as she turned back to look at Ling Chen on the sofa, softly saying, "Ling, can you come with me?" After speaking, she fiddled with the hem of her clothes, hesitantly adding, "I’m afraid... I’m afraid I won’t have the courage when the time comes; if you were by my side, I..."

Before Tang Shiyun could finish speaking, Ling Chen grinned and nodded, saying, "No problem."

Leaving the office, the three of them went straight to the conference room on the same floor.

Pushing the door open, they saw five people sitting inside. Besides the chairman of Silver Star Entertainment, Yang Chengfeng, and Yao Li, there were three middle-aged men in suits, probably lawyers judging by the serious and stern expressions on two of their faces.

As for the other middle-aged man, he was a representative from another company, named Xu Qiang, whom Zhu Yansong had mentioned to Ling Chen before coming in.

Seeing Ling Chen following behind, Yang Chengfeng, who had been maintaining a stern face, brightened up and quickly stood to greet him with a smile, "Mr. Ling, hello!"

"President Yang." Ling Chen greeted politely, then turned his gaze to Yao Li next to him.

At this moment, Yao Li was also looking at Ling Chen, not hiding her displeasure. Especially seeing Ling Chen coming in with her daughter, she became even more upset, pulling Tang Shiyun aside and coldly asked, "Why are you with him?"

"I..."

"Miss Tang."

Before Tang Shiyun could finish speaking, Xu Qiang, accompanied by his lawyers, walked over with a smile and eagerly handed a contract to Tang Shiyun, saying, "The contract is ready, just need your signature, and you will have no further ties with Silver Star Entertainment; our company will pay the full penalty."

Looking at the contract presented to her, Tang Shiyun did not reach out to take it but instead said to Yao Li, "Mom, I have something I want to talk to you about."

Yao Li impatiently said, "Whatever you have to say, we can talk about it back home; sign the contract first." Saying that, Yao Li stuffed the contract and a pen into Tang Shiyun’s hands, urging her to sign quickly.

Tang Shiyun glanced at Ling Chen standing next to her, her expression steadied, and she casually placed the contract on the conference table.

Seeing her daughter’s actions, Yao Li frowned and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Mom, I can’t sign this contract."

"What?" Yao Li was stunned, her face immediately looking troubled as she repressed her anger and said, "Why won’t you sign? We have arranged everything for you; do you know how much effort and heartache I’ve put into this matter for you? Are you trying to kill me by saying you won’t sign now?"

Tang Shiyun pleaded, "Mom, please don’t be mad, let me explain slowly."

"I don’t want to listen." Yao Li waved her hand, pointing at the contract on the table and said, "If you still consider me your mother, then sign it quickly."

Tang Shiyun gathered her courage and said, "Mom, please don’t force me; I’ve already decided, I won’t leave Silver Star Entertainment before my contract expires."

Hearing this, Yang Chengfeng and Zhu Yansong immediately showed joy, forming a stark contrast to the tightly furrowed brows of Xu Qiang.

Seeing her daughter disobeying her and making decisions on her own, Yao Li became furious and exclaimed, "Are you deliberately trying to infuriate me to death? Tell me, is it because of this bastard?" Yao Li pointed at Ling Chen, her breathing becoming more rapid.