Chapter 21: Wanna Cooperate?
After ringing several times, Shang Liu's lazy "Hello" snapped Yin Chengjue out of his thoughts.
Though his mind was back, his mouth seemed to have a mind of its own, so Yin Chengjue heard himself say, "Got time? Let’s grab a drink?"
Yin Chengjue patted his lips, feeling like he was too immersed in his past life—he had actually blurted out the regret he carried from back then.
There was a long pause on Shang Liu’s end before he cautiously asked, "President Yin?"
Yin Chengjue: "Not replaced by a doppelganger."
Shang Liu: "Then this is…?"
Yin Chengjue: "Wrong number."
Shang Liu let out an understanding "Oh" and said, "Then I won’t disturb President Yin’s hookup. Just don’t stay out too late, remember to show up on time tomorrow."
Yin Chengjue: "Don’t hang up yet. There’s something I need to discuss with you."
Shang Liu: "Business or personal?"
Yin Chengjue: "…" It was after work hours, so business was usually off the table, and they had no personal matters to discuss. Shang Liu asking this was basically saying he didn’t want to talk. After years of cold war, Yin Chengjue knew Shang Liu’s tactics all too well.
Yin Chengjue smirked: "Something that’ll interest you."
Shang Liu: "Like?"
Yin Chengjue: "Like someone trying to poach your star, and your star agreeing, and I just happened to witness it."
Shang Liu sounded indifferent: "If the star’s that unreliable, good riddance."
Yin Chengjue shrugged: "I don’t really care. I’m just a parachute drop—if I land in the wrong spot, I can always fly back up and try again. But that star of yours? You invested real money in them. If you don’t feel the loss, no one else will."
[空降 (kōng jiàng): lit. parachute drop; fig. someone appointed to a high position without climbing the ranks]
And so, in a VIP booth at a late-night bar, two men with completely incompatible personalities sat face to face.
A waiter brought in their ordered drinks and fruit platter, instantly shivering from the murderous tension in the air. The question of whether they needed "special services" died on his lips as he hurriedly set everything down, stammered, "Enjoy," and fled, shutting the door behind him to seal the terrifying atmosphere inside.
After dozens of silent clashes across the table, Yin Chengjue picked up his glass but didn’t continue their earlier topic. Instead, he said, "I know you’ve never had much faith in me, but we’re in the same company now. No matter how much we dislike each other, we shouldn’t let it cost us money, right?"
Shang Liu: "President Yin, you’re really wronging me here. How could I possibly lack faith in you?"
Yin Chengjue: "So, wanna cooperate?"
Shang Liu couldn’t help but frown. Since when was Yin Chengjue so different from the rumors?
Yin Chengjue pulled out a file from his bag, along with related documents, and slid them toward Shang Liu.
Shang Liu gave him a suspicious look before picking them up to skim through.
The further he read, the darker his expression grew—by the end, his face was practically pitch-black.
"Where did you get these, President Yin?" Shang Liu’s left thumb kept spinning a pale jade ring on his index finger—a telltale sign of his rising anger.
The neatly compiled materials even included photos, clearly taken from surveillance or tracking, but sharp enough to unmistakably identify the person in them.
It was a rising starlet he had high hopes for.
Also, Huansheng Entertainment’s current film empress, double-crown actress, their biggest cash cow.
To put it bluntly, barring any major incidents, this actress would remain Huansheng’s golden goose for at least the next five years—steadily raking in more and more money.
But now, Yin Chengjue was using these documents to show that this very woman had been secretly forming cliques within the company, pressuring those who refused to join her, and had already gathered a following of rising starlets.
What was she planning?
Connecting this to Yin Chengjue’s earlier words on the phone, Shang Liu’s alarm bells rang loudly.
"I’ll investigate this myself," Shang Liu abruptly stood up.
Yin Chengjue swirled his glass and waved: "Take care, Liu-Liu~"
Shang Liu: "…Just call me by my name, President Yin."
Yin Chengjue feigned hurt: "How could I? Since we’re cooperating, shouldn’t we be closer? I came here with nothing but sincerity."
Shang Liu’s expression was complicated: "President Yin, you’re really…" Nothing like the rumors.
He didn’t say the last four words, but Yin Chengjue could guess.
"Oh, right," Shang Liu, already at the door, turned back as if suddenly remembering something. "That survival show—isn’t the first live performance coming up? You seemed pretty interested in that trainee. Did you get tickets?"
Busy with other matters, Yin Chengjue had almost forgotten!
Shang Liu seemed to read his expression and smiled again: "Actually, the show sent our company a few tickets. Pretty good seats."
Hmm
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