The moment Lin Su stepped back into the private room with Director Shen beside her, the atmosphere shifted, but not in tension, only in surprise.
Director Park and Producer Chen were the first to react. They both quickly got up on their feet and headed towards the entrance where Director Shen stood in all his glory. This man could singlehandedly end or elevate an agency with just the lift of a finger, so they dared not offend him. Everyone else followed suit.
Xu Yan spoke first. "Wait—" she blinked, eyes widening. "Is that… Director Shen?"
Director Park didn't allow her finish speaking before he quickly said, "Director Shen, it's an honor. This way, please."
Lin Su glanced at them, slightly amused by their reaction. "I ran into him outside. It was just… coincidence."
"Coincidence?" Xu Yan whispered under her breath. "The kind I want in my life too."
Shen acknowledged them with a calm nod, his gaze moving across each face in the room, assessing but not intimidating. "So this is the team behind the new anticipated series? I'm honored to be able to meet such an amazing team."
He then turned to the director and said, "You must be Director Park. I've heard little about you, but I trust my judgment. This series will mark the rise of your agency career, as well as your cast. They will no longer be known as rookie actors, and many agencies will come knocking, one after the other. The sooner you give your agency a name, the better."
Before Shen could continue speaking, Director Park cut in.
"I appreciate your kind words, but lately, I have to move back to the States to be with my family. And I am putting the agency up for sale on the market. As for my team, I will personally terminate each one's contract without consequences."
He paused briefly before adding, more clearly, "Normally, breaching a contract comes at a cost—heavy penalty fees, compensation claims that could run into millions, and even temporary blacklisting from other agencies. Some actors lose years of opportunities because of it. But in this case, I will ensure none of that happens. Everyone walks away clean."
"After the premiere of our second series, I'll relocate to the States."
The words landed like a bolt from the blue.
For a moment, no one spoke. The air felt heavier, as though the room itself had absorbed the weight of what had just been said.
Mei Lin was the first to react, her voice calm but edged with disbelief. "You're leaving? Just like that?" She let out a quiet scoff. "You really know how to drop a bombshell at the worst possible time."
Director Park met her gaze. "I didn't plan for it to sound like that."
"But it does," she replied. "We just built something from the ground up, and now you're pulling the rug out from under it."
Xu Yan looked between them, her usual liveliness dimmed. "So what happens to us? We just… scatter?"
Jian ran a hand through his hair. "We haven't even taken off yet."
Liu Wen spoke more gently, though her concern was clear. "You always said this team had potential. Was that just talk?"
Director Park shook his head. "No. That's exactly why I'm doing this. You don't need me anymore. If I stay, I become a ceiling. If I leave, you become your own foundation."
Zhao Yiming finally spoke, his tone steady but probing. "Or we fall apart before we even get the chance."
A faint silence followed. It was the kind that spoke louder than words.
Mei Lin crossed her arms, her expression tightening. "You're walking away when the harvest is just about to come in. That's like planting a tree, watering it for years, and leaving just before it bears fruit."
Director Park gave a small, tired smile. "Sometimes, knowing when to leave is just as important as knowing when to stay."
Xu Yan's voice softened. "But it still feels like being left behind."
"No," he said quietly. "It's giving you space to move forward."
Shen, who had been observing quietly, finally spoke. "You're leaving when the tide is about to rise. Most people would cling to it with both hands."
Director Park nodded. "And that's exactly why I'm letting go. If I hold on too tightly, I might drown in it instead."
Shen studied him for a moment, then sighed faintly. "What a pity. A man standing at the door of fortune, yet choosing to walk away. Not many would understand that."
Lin Su stood quietly, absorbing everything. The warmth from earlier had cooled into something more complicated. Not entirely sorrow, not entirely fear—but something in between.
Her voice was soft when she finally spoke. "So after the premiere… that's it?"
Director Park looked at her and nodded. "That's it."
The room fell silent again, but this time it wasn't shock—it was acceptance slowly settling in.
Producer Chen Wei cleared his throat, trying to ease the weight of the moment. "Well… tonight is still a celebration. Let's not let this news overshadow everything we've accomplished."
Mei Lin exhaled slowly. "Easier said than done."
Liu Wen reached out, gently nudging her. "We'll figure it out. One step at a time."
Jian nodded. "Yeah. No use crying over spilled milk."
Xu Yan forced a small smile. "And we're not done yet. The premiere hasn't even happened."
Zhao Yiming added quietly, "This might just be the beginning."
Lin Su looked around at all of them. Despite everything, they were still standing together. Maybe uncertain, maybe shaken—but together.
And sometimes, that was enough.
Glasses were slowly raised again, not as loudly as before, but with deeper meaning.
"To us," Liu Wen said softly.
"To us," they echoed.
Shen watched them in silence, his expression unreadable, but his eyes held a certain understanding—as if he could already see the road ahead, winding, uncertain, but filled with possibility.
Outside the room, the night remained still.
And inside, what was meant to be a simple celebration had quietly turned into a turning point none of them could ignore.
The night would be remembered—not for its laughter alone, but for the moment everything began to change.