Chapter 59 - 1#
Hengcheng, Longchuan Villa District.
Agent Xie Chunfeng sipped his drink while speaking calmly into the phone. “Brother Chen, Yu Lin has been busy with group training lately. Yes, his career is on the rise, so being busy is a good thing.”
“Oh, I asked the assistant. He said he did see Li Chuan and Jing Shun walking together that night, but he didn’t know what they were going to do.”
“Brother Chen, I’m really sorry. I might not be able to help. Yu Lin’s next new drama is very important, and I don’t dare disturb him or let him get distracted.”
“……”
Jin Yulin listened to the fake politeness coming from beside him. He flipped through the script but couldn’t focus until the insincere call ended, and only then did his tense breathing relax slightly.
Jin Yulin’s brows furrowed with conflict. “Brother Xie, is it really okay to brush them off like this?”
If Jing Shun really went through those nasty things, and his testimony could help him, he shouldn’t stand by and pretend not to know.
Xie Chunfeng tossed his phone aside. “What’s wrong with it? This is called ‘playing it safe.’”
“Jing Shun can’t produce solid evidence now, but Meng Zhide is the one who got hurt more. Who knows how this thing will turn out later?”
He had already found out what happened at the hotel last night and analyzed it for his artist. “If you rashly step forward to testify, you might not gain any benefit.”
Jin Yulin hesitated, “But Traces is still airing. If this blows up and involves Brother Ting……”
“That’s not your concern.”
Xie Chunfeng cut him off immediately. “Fu Changting’s status and position are right there. He and his team will find a way to handle it. Besides, haven’t you figured it out yet? He’s pretty anxious about Jing Shun’s incident.”
“……”
Jin Yulin’s eyes shifted slightly as he recalled how Fu Changting had looked after Jing Shun on set and during the show recordings.
Xie Chunfeng hinted, “I didn’t tell you, but some netizens are already shipping Jing Shun and Fu Changting as a ‘heretical’ CP based on the leaked set photos.”
“I’ve watched a few of Jing Shun’s scenes on set—Yu Lin, to be blunt—”
“His acting skills are no worse than yours. If it weren’t for his leg problems, and you two being the same age, you would be rivals.”
Jin Yulin’s grip on the script tightened slightly. “Who says he’s my rival?”
Xie Chunfeng patted his shoulder. “Yes, you’re doing much better than him right now. But what kind of place is the entertainment industry? Who knows when someone might rise up and push you down!”
“You can’t be too careful, understand? I’d rather Jing Shun suffer a bit in this Meng Zhide incident and lose some of his reputation, so he won’t be a threat to you at all.”
They don’t spread rumors to harm others, but there’s no need to be kind and help others either. Though “playing it safe” sounds cold, isn’t it a clever approach?
“Meng Zhide is now a leader in the variety department of Phoenix TV with plenty of resources. There’s no need for us to offend him just to help Jing Shun.”
Xie Chunfeng was the slyest kind of agent. In his eyes, there was no right or wrong, good or evil—only maximizing his own artist’s interests.
“Instead, I can use this opportunity to build up some goodwill with Meng Zhide. If a good opportunity comes up later, maybe you’ll get a share of it, understand?”
Jin Yulin remained silent for a long time, ultimately suppressing his conscience for his own benefit. “You handle it.”
……
The call ended.
Chen Jiang relayed Xie Chunfeng’s words verbatim, looking around the hospital room. “When it doesn’t concern them, they just stay out of it. It’s obvious they don’t want their artist to get involved in this mess.”
Fu Changting frowned. “Is that his idea, or Yu Lin’s?”
Chen Jiang countered, “Did Yu Lin reply to the WeChat message you sent him?”
“……”
The answer was clear.
Fu Changting sighed, momentarily unsure what to say.
Jing Shun exchanged a glance with Chi Gui, unsurprised by this response. “Brother Ting, it’s fine.”
“Jin Yulin is on the rise and not close to me. It’s only natural that he doesn’t want to testify.”
In the entertainment industry, indifference is the norm.
There’s no need to morally pressure anyone into doing anything.
Yu Xiuzhu understood this well. He offered an alternative perspective. “We have the call recording. If we submit it to the police, at least it can prove Meng Zhide is lying and is the aggressor.”
Just as he finished, Chen Yiming walked into the ward.
He looked at the large group of people, walked straight up to Chi Gui, and handed over the expedited information he had found. “Sir, I found it.”
Jing Shun leaned in curiously. “Found it? What did you find?”
Chi Gui passed the documents to Jing Shun in bed and asked instead, “Aren’t you curious how a scumbag like Meng Zhide managed to become the head of the variety department at Phoenix TV after changing jobs?”
“Huh?”
Jing Shun quickly flipped through the documents in hand, his gaze sharpening.
Yu Xiuzhu couldn’t help asking, “What is it?”
Receiving a look from Chi Gui, Chen Yiming explained bluntly, “Phoenix TV’s top brass underwent a major reshuffle before the New Year. Now there are two factions internally, and neither gives in to the other.”
“Meng Zhide has been close with Zheng Wei, one of the high-level executives. Under his invitation and guarantee, he parachuted straight into the variety department.”
Last night, after landing, as soon as Chi Gui learned about Meng Zhide, he had Chen Yiming use all of the Chi family’s connections to investigate. He firmly believed—
A man of such low moral character must have done dirty things behind the scenes.
Chen Yiming said, “Several shows recently produced by Phoenix TV have mid-roll ads from brands that have worked with the Chi Group before, so I started investigating from that angle.”
As Chi Gui’s assistant, Chen Yiming had plenty of connections. For Chi Gui’s sake, people were willing to talk to him.
So, a loose-lipped brand manager easily let it slip—
In the past six months, Meng Zhide, with his decades of sycophantic flattery, had organized plenty of drinking parties, inviting heads of various brands to attend.
Chen Yiming hinted subtly, “He’s pretty good at ’tailoring the treatment to the patient.’”
Using sex-fueled drinking parties, he secured sponsors for mid-roll ads and sponsorships, while also helping the top executive Zheng Wei pocket plenty of kickbacks.
With that, he quickly secured his position.
Chi Gui took the documents back from Jing Shun, saying softly, “Don’t stare too long, you’ll get dizzy.”
“Oh.”
Jing Shun obeyed obediently, but new ideas were brewing in his mind.
He looked at everyone around the hospital bed and voiced his thoughts. “Even with the recording evidence, the police might not give Meng Zhide a heavy sentence for last night’s incident.”
“Instead, if we push Meng Zhide too far, he might go all out and drag Brother Ting and me down. That will definitely affect the ongoing broadcast of Traces.”
Chen Jiang chimed in urgently, “Exactly! That’s what I’m worried about!”
Fu Changting had worked hard to reach his current position, and there were also capital forces behind the scenes trying to bring him down. News of him hitting someone wouldn’t sound good if it spread, and if it blew up, it could damage his reputation.
As Fu Changting’s agent, Chen Jiang hoped his client could avoid being dragged into this as much as possible.
Chi Gui roughly guessed what Jing Shun was thinking. “Jing Shun, tell me. What do you want to do?”
Meeting Chi Gui’s trusting and supportive eyes, Jing Shun didn’t hide his intentions. “I want to make Meng Zhide’s crime even worse.”
Not only should he suffer at the hands of the police, but he should also be kicked out of the industry entirely! Only by publicly exposing his evil deeds can we avoid more people getting hurt!
Yu Xiuzhu, who knew the toughness hidden beneath Jing Shun’s gentle exterior, agreed. “Yeah, we shouldn’t let him off too easily.”
If they want to send Meng Zhide to prison, let him serve a full sentence!
Jing Shun turned meaningfully to Fu Changting and made a request. “Brother Ting, why don’t you go and settle with Meng Zhide first? No matter what, pull yourself out of this first.”
Only if the other party let down their guard could they be made to fall harder!
Fu Changting caught on quickly. “Alright.”
…
Half a month later, at the Wolong Hotel in Haishi.
Meng Zhide arrived at the top-floor private room half an hour early. As he entered, he saw Zheng Wei seated at the head of the round table. “Yo, Chairman Zheng, why are you here so early today?”
“Bored of the wife at home, thought I’d come early to get some air.” Zheng Wei noticed the gauze still wrapped around his head and couldn’t help but laugh. “Is that noggin of yours alright?”
“When I got your assistant’s call that day, I thought you’d be locked up. I was even thinking to pull some strings to get you out.”
Meng Zhide sat down at an angle, lit a cigarette. “It’s fine.”
As he blew out smoke, he puffed up with pride. “A few celebrities in the entertainment world—what are they scared of? They wouldn’t dare to make a big scene out of something like this.”
“The footage from inside the room couldn’t be captured, and one of the corridor cameras was broken—no audio either.”
Besides, compared to Meng Zhide chasing after Jing Shun, the footage of Fu Changting slamming him against the wall was far more inciting and misleading.
“Fu Changting’s team was worried that I’d leak the surveillance video and give him the ‘violent assaulter’ scandal. They came to negotiate privately with me the next night.”
The terms were simple—
They would cover Meng Zhide’s medical expenses and convince Jing Shun to drop the police complaint and stop pursuing the matter.
At the same time, Meng Zhide had to keep quiet about his injuries, delete the hotel surveillance footage, and keep it all under wraps.
Zheng Wei knew about Meng Zhide’s shady dealings and pressed further. “What about the young actor Jing Shun? He’s okay with letting it go?”
Meng Zhide flicked his ashes directly onto the floor, completely lacking manners. “I had Fu Changting’s team threaten him.”
“Jing Shun acted in Fu Changting’s drama. If he dares to refuse, his scenes will be cut.”
Big-time stars have their worries, and small-time nobodies have theirs.
So, they take what they need and each step back.
Meng Zhide had his own set of rules for dealing with people, touching his forehead. “Fu Changting is no small figure in the industry. Instead of making an enemy out of him, it’s better to avoid trouble.”
Too bad he didn’t get to play with that pair of legs that day.
But on second thought, recalling that Jing Shun could already stand and walk, Meng Zhide lost interest and desire altogether.
Knock knock.
The door to the private room opened.
A parade of handsome men and beautiful women walked in—small-time models and little influencers.
The leading one cooed, “President Meng, everyone’s here.”
Meng Zhide pushed up his glasses and signaled. “Same rules. Perform well tonight and loosen up. There will be ad opportunities and money for you lot later.”
“In your line of work, if you don’t cast aside your shame, you’ll get nothing. Get it?”
“Yes.”
Voices of agreement rang out.
Meng Zhide gestured to Zheng Wei. “Chairman Zheng, pick one first?”
This wasn’t Zheng Wei’s first time at such a party. He casually picked someone he liked. “You, come here.”
“Yes.”