Chapter 31 - 2#
Xu Qin’s eyes glimmered with shrewdness as she lowered her voice. “Have you forgotten what your dad does? The Chi Group has a project in Macau, and they’re competing with the Zhang family over it. Tomorrow, I’ll have your dad give Chi Gui a hard time.”
“Either way, we’ll make sure you two get another chance to meet.”
“My precious daughter is this beautiful? What man wouldn’t be tempted?”
“That guy called Jing Shun is probably just a fleeting lover. Besides, which wealthy family would let their heir take a male partner? And one with a disability at that?”
Mo Man hesitated. “W-Will that work?”
Seeing her daughter’s interest, Xu Qin pushed further. “Try it, and you’ll find out whether it works or not.”
Mo Man didn’t reply anymore. She tugged her mother toward their own cabin. “Let’s talk later, Mom. Come on, let’s go. I still feel humiliated right now!”
…
Steaming, exquisite dishes were served, and even the wine was replaced with sparkling drinks.
“You mean Director Mo has the final say on the deep-water port project?”
Jing Shun had learned about the family backgrounds of Mo Man and Xu Qin from Chi Gui, and a belated worry set in. “So when you just rejected Mo Man’s private invitation, wasn’t that a bit too dismissive?”
Chi Gui pried open the lobster shell with his fork. “And what else? Was I supposed to agree to meet her alone?”
“…”
Jing Shun was stumped.
Honestly, he couldn’t picture Chi Gui and Mo Man on a date.
He rephrased his words. “What I mean is, isn’t Zhang Aode competing with the Chi Group for this project? If you could win over Director Mo, wouldn’t that give Chi Group an extra advantage?”
He paused and added, “Of course, I’m not suggesting you develop that kind of relationship with Mo Man.”
Chi Gui pretended not to understand. “What kind of relationship?”
Jing Shun huffed and didn’t answer.
Chi Gui chuckled and calmly explained the situation. “Don’t worry. The Chi Group has never relied on that kind of relationship to secure projects. It’s all about hard strength.”
If the Mo family tried to cause trouble behind the scenes over something like this, Chi Gui would simply take it in stride and wait for the right moment to throw it back.
“Miss Mo is still a young lady. I have no other thoughts about her.” Chi Gui looked at Jing Shun, as if deliberately explaining. “Pretending to accept an invitation in front of others would only create unnecessary misunderstandings later. It’s better to refuse her outright.”
Chi Gui had his own principles. He would never entertain thoughts that shouldn’t exist.
“Not exploiting her goodwill to get the resources I want—that’s what respect means.”
“…”
The sea breeze brushed gently.
Jing Shun’s heart stirred. “Mm, you’re right.”
Chi Gui cut a large piece of lobster meat and gestured. “Aren’t you hungry? The Australian lobster today is pretty good. Give it a try.”
Jing Shun looked down and stuffed a piece of lobster into his mouth, nodding in satisfaction. “Mm-hmm.”
Chi Gui asked, “Good?”
“Yeah.”
Night gradually fell, and the moon hung high over the sea, creating a unique scene.
Chi Gui looked at the nearly finished table. “Are you full now?”
Jing Shun nodded. “Yeah.”
Chi Gui checked the time. “The wind is picking up. It’ll get colder on the sea at night. Should we head back early?”
Jing Shun, well aware of his sensitivity to cold, didn’t refuse. “Sure. I’m not interested in any other after-dinner entertainment anyway.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he noticed Ji Tianheng and his group arriving late at the center of the deck. He reminded Chi Gui, “Second Young Master Ji is here. Are you going over? I can head back to the cabin on my own.”
“…”
With what happened last night as a lesson, Chi Gui wasn’t comfortable letting Jing Shun stay alone in the cabin. But he hadn’t had a proper conversation with Ji Tianheng and the others since boarding.
Chi Gui thought for a moment. “Then wait here for me a bit? I’ll just have a quick chat with Ji Er and come back.”
Jing Shun was still feeling fine and wasn’t cold yet. “Mm, okay.”
Chi Gui added insistently, “Don’t wander off.”
Jing Shun knew he was still remembering what happened before. He grunted, “I know. Three strikes and you’re out. Besides, it’s just this short distance. I’m right under your nose. Where could I go?”
Chi Gui smirked secretly, picked up his wine glass, and stood up.
Jing Shun watched him walk away, then leisurely pulled out his phone.
On WeChat, Yu Xiuzhu had sent a message half an hour ago:
“Xiao Jing, the company has started the lawsuit process against Jushi Film. The lawyer says the chances of winning are high.”
“Macau has comfortable weather all year round. Since you’re so afraid of the cold, you can stay there a little longer. I’ve got things covered in Haishi.”
Jing Shun quickly typed back, “Got it, Brother Yu. You handle things—I trust you.”
The moment the message sent, a sudden question dropped on him. “Why are you alone?”
“…”
Jing Shun looked up. Under the deck lights, he recognized the visitor’s face.
It was Xie Congjin.
Under the light and shadow, the man’s bone structure was strikingly advantageous—a face born for the big screen, young and handsome, with bold brows and a noble aura. A typical young master from a prestigious family.
Jing Shun hadn’t expected Xie Congjin to approach him voluntarily. After a moment of silence, he spoke. “Mr. Xie?”
Xie Congjin raised an eyebrow. “Looks like I don’t need to introduce myself.”
Jing Shun said, “Anyone who follows the domestic film and entertainment industry would know how strong Mr. Xie’s momentum has been in the past two years.”
He had seen Xie Congjin’s movies; the guy’s acting was indeed outstanding among his peers.
Xie Congjin didn’t follow that thread. Instead, he swirled his wine glass and brought up something else. “Mr. Jing, don’t you owe me a thank you?”
Jing Shun was startled. “What?”
Xie Congjin hinted deliberately. “This afternoon at the auction, if I hadn’t provoked Zhang Aode, you might have ended up paying sixty million on your own.”
“…”
Jing Shun finally caught on. “So that was you who said that?”
Xie Congjin raised his eyebrow again, admitting it.
Jing Shun didn’t hide it. He raised his sparkling water in acknowledgment. “Thanks.”
The other was right—without that inflammatory remark, Zhang Aode wouldn’t have lost his head for the sake of face.
Xie Congjin took a slow sip of his drink, playing dumb. “I know you’re an actor too. Which company are you signed with now?”
Jing Shun was a little surprised by the focus of his question but answered honestly, “Bamboo Grove Management.”
The moment the words left his mouth, he caught a fleeting disappointment in Xie Congjin’s eyes—so brief it might have been a trick of the light.
Jing Shun tested the waters. “Mr. Xie, have you heard of it?”
Xie Congjin snorted and suddenly turned sharp. “What crappy little company? Never heard of it.”
Jing Shun frowned slightly, defending it. “Bamboo Grove Management is indeed a small company that was recently established. But the company owner—my manager, Mr. Yu Xiuzhu—previously ran Dingxing Studio, which was hardly a small company…”
“I know.”
Xie Congjin shot him a forbidding look. “I came out of Dingxing myself. How could I not know?”
“…”
At his words, Jing Shun’s long-dormant memories came flooding back.
More than two years ago, Dingxing Studio had been suddenly embroiled in a money-laundering scandal, with quite a few artists implicated.
Not long after the fallout, many tabloids reported that many artists in the studio had long since terminated their contracts and jumped ship, having no connection to the illegal dealings.
Xie Congjin was among them.
Jing Shun wasn’t sure what Xie Congjin’s attitude was toward Yu Xiuzhu, but he still spoke up for the latter. “Mr. Xie, was Brother Yu your manager? He was innocently caught up in that. The authorities and the court ruling have already come out.”
Xie Congjin didn’t answer. He just tipped his head back and downed his drink in one go.
He looked at Jing Shun. “Hey, get Chi Gui to switch your agency. Or at least change your manager. Don’t stay under Yu Xiuzhu.”
Jing Shun remained unmoved. “You have a bias against Brother Yu.”
“Bias? So what?”
Xie Congjin clenched his molars and sneered. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Yu Xiuzhu’s best trick is to use ‘it’s for your own good’ to win trust.”
“…”
“And in the end, he uses that trust to sell you out, leaving you with nothing.”
“…”
Those words were meant to demean, but somehow they sounded more like resentment and grievance?
Jing Shun stared at Xie Congjin for a long while, and a sudden guess popped into his head.
He watched Xie Congjin refill his own glass and deliberately tested him. “Mr. Xie, maybe drink a little less? Watch out for your stomach?”
Caught off guard, Xie Congjin froze. “How do you know I have stomach issues?”
Jing Shun’s guess was fifty percent confirmed. He circled back to the original topic. “Brother Yu is fine. He’s not the kind of person you describe. I had surgery not long ago, and he even made me medicinal food.”
“Damn.”
Xie Congjin’s expression shifted slightly. Even gritting his teeth couldn’t hide the sourness.
Jing Shun was now a hundred percent sure. Following the trail of gossip, he pressed on. “Mr. Xie, what’s your relationship with Brother Yu? Ex? Or did he dump you?”
“…”
Xie Congjin refused to admit anything. “What’s it to you?”
“Mr. Xie, you’re the one who came all the way around to ask me questions.”
Jing Shun saw through the surface, dropping the initial formality. “I may be low-tier, but my agency and manager are easy to find online. You came specifically to ask about Brother Yu, didn’t you?”
A flicker of embarrassment at being seen through crossed Xie Congjin’s face. He covered it with a sardonic laugh. “Why would I be asking about him?”
Jing Shun said, “Oh. I thought you were curious. Never mind, then.”
“…”
Xie Congjin was at a loss for words.
Before he could figure out what to say, Chi Gui walked back.
His probing gaze shifted between the two, surprised to find them sitting together. “Jing Shun, Mr. Xie, what were you talking about?”
“Nothing. I’m leaving.”
Xie Congjin got up and walked off without turning back.
Bewildered, Chi Gui turned his gaze to Jing Shun. “You two know each other?”
Still immersed in the subtle thrill of fresh gossip, Jing Shun shook his head, then nodded. “Chi Gui, I think I’ve discovered an incredible secret!”