Chapter 149: 149: If you want to go, go. I’m not going.

“`

“Hello, Director Xu, I am Xu Yang from Yang Xin Investment.” Xu Yang said.

“Mr. Xu, hello, hello,” Xu Zhen was very polite.

Wu Jing had just called him, mentioning that someone wanted to invite him to direct a movie, which he hadn’t taken very seriously.

But when he heard it was Xu Yang, the largest investor in War Panther, he paid attention.

After the huge success of War Panther, various stories about the making of the film had become well-known.

Wu Jing, being in a desperate situation, encountered a benefactor who made a hefty investment of twenty million, and only then was the film produced.

Moreover, this person was also the owner of Fengcai Guild and Jiang Di Lao.

During the pre-release and release period of War Panther, Fengcai Guild worked tirelessly to promote it.

Besides the quality of the film itself, Fengcai Guild’s promotional efforts were indispensable for War Panther’s box office earnings of 1.5 billion.

Otherwise, it might have stalled at five or six hundred million.

This was a consensus in the industry.

Subsequently, when seeking investors for War Panther 2, a series of events occurred, eventually leading to a conflict between Xu Yang and Hua’an Film and Television.

Xu Yang’s tactics made Hua’an Film and Television retreat in defeat, suffering heavy losses, and in the end, they could only seek peace.

This battle made people realize the terror of Fengcai Guild.

It also made people realize that Xu Yang was not someone to be provoked.

If a giant like Hua’an Film and Television could fall to Xu Yang, anyone else who dared to provoke him was courting death.

After these events, although Xu Yang was an outsider to the industry, his name had become louder than many industry tycoons.

Xu Zhen was originally an actor. Since the day Too Embarrassed became the top-grossing domestic film, Xu Zhen had transformed from an actor into a sought-after top director.

Even so, Xu Zhen knew that he did not carry much weight in front of someone like Xu Yang.

Therefore, he spoke to Xu Yang with utmost courtesy.

“Director Xu, here’s the thing, I have a movie that needs a director, and I think you’re quite suitable. Do you have the time?” Xu Yang got straight to the point.

If Xu Zhen were like Wen Muye, impatiently saying he had no time or interest, Xu Yang would not pay any more attention to Xu Zhen, he might even not consider Xu Zhen for a leading role.

With the screenplay in hand, he wasn’t afraid of not finding actors and directors.

However, judging from Xu Zhen’s polite tone, it seemed unlikely to be like Wen Muye.

“Mr. Xu, thank you for your trust. To be honest, many people have approached me to direct films. How about this, send me the screenplay, and I will have a look. If it’s suitable, I’ll take it on; if not, I can only apologize and not waste your time. Is that okay?”

Having mingled in the industry for years, Xu Zhen had climbed from a minor actor to his current position, he was not comparable to a newbie like Wen Muye when it came to dealing with people and business.

By saying this, he paid sufficient respect to Xu Yang while also leaving himself room to manoeuvre.

Even though Xu Yang represented strong capital, Xu Zhen, who had finally become a top director, needed to cherish his own reputation. He couldn’t possibly agree to direct a lousy film.

Otherwise, if he directed a flop, the audience wouldn’t blame Xu Yang—they would blame him.

Once his reputation was tarnished, it would be very difficult to clean.

“Alright, send me your email address, and I’ll forward the screenplay to you.” Xu Yang had no objection.

Such an attitude from Xu Zhen demonstrated he was someone responsible for himself and for the film he would direct.

If Xu Zhen had simply agreed to any investor asking him to direct a film, his reputation would have likely been ruined long ago.

After ending the call, Xu Yang soon received an email address from Xu Zhen.

Xu Yang sent the screenplay and followed up with a message: Director Xu, I’ve sent the screenplay.

Xu Zhen replied: Alright, I’ll look at it in the next couple of days and get back to you.

…

That afternoon.

“`

Liu Yujuan successfully divorced Yang Tiancheng and even secured property worth over twelve million.

The shared property from the marriage had amounted to that much in her hands.

With this money, she could live a life of luxury for quite a long time.

Yang Tiancheng was left feeling depressed, not only having lost over ten million but also facing a hopeless career.

“Yang Tiancheng, from now on we’re strangers, I hope you can find your way back to the pinnacle of your career.”

Liu Yujuan said hypocritically before she left.

“Bitch!” Yang Tiancheng could only curse resentfully as he watched Liu Yujuan’s retreating figure, but there was nothing he could do about it.

…

That evening, at a certain apartment complex.

Liu Yujuan rented a two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment here, where she lived with Zhao Yulu.

A little past nine o’clock, she pulled a suitcase out of the bedroom and said to Zhao Yulu, “Yu Lu, let’s go meet your dad.”

She was intent on reconciling with Zhao Hai and seemed quite confident about it.

Yang Tiancheng’s words had gone in one ear and out the other.

“If you want to go, go. I’m not going,” Zhao Yulu said. Though she didn’t acknowledge Yang Tiancheng as her stepfather, she felt his words made sense and agreed with them.

That was the notion that Zhao Hai would never reconcile with her mother.

No man would ever accept a woman who had once betrayed him.

But her mother just wouldn’t listen, and there was nothing she could do.

“How can you not understand my good intentions? I’m doing this all for you. Why won’t you help me at all?” Liu Yujuan was indignant.

Having her daughter accompany her would certainly make the situation a bit better.

In any case, seeing his daughter would soften Zhao Hai’s heart, right?

“Mom, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but this matter… Forget it, there’s no point in talking. You won’t listen anyway. I definitely won’t go. You can go if you want,” Zhao Yulu said, too weary to bother further.

“You… Fine, I’ll let you see that even without your help, I can get back with your dad,” Liu Yujuan said as she dragged her suitcase away.

She hailed a taxi and went straight to Zhao Hai’s place.

She climbed the stairs and knocked on the door.

Soon, the door opened.

“Zhao Hai, I…”

Liu Yujuan began to speak but stopped abruptly.

Because the person who opened the door wasn’t Zhao Hai but a woman.

It was Zhou Ruyan, the woman she saw meeting with Zhao Hai outside Jiang Di Lao that day.

Moreover, Zhou Ruyan was wearing pajamas.

This made Liu Yujuan’s face sour.

Could it be that Zhao Hai and Zhou Ruyan were already…

“Why are you here?” Liu Yujuan asked with a hostile tone.

“You’re here for Brother Hai, aren’t you?” Zhou Ruyan didn’t answer but asked calmly.

“Nonsense, if I’m not here for him, would I be here for you? Young lady, let me give you some advice: be honest and upright in life; don’t think about taking shortcuts all the time. Otherwise, things won’t end well for you.”

Liu Yujuan’s words were harsh, almost outright accusing Zhou Ruyan of being shameless.

“I’ve always been honest and upright, and I don’t feel like I’ve done anything underhanded. As for whether the outcome will be good, that’s not for you to worry about. Instead, as Brother Hai’s ex-wife, someone who once betrayed him and now wants to get back together with him, you’re the one who won’t have a good outcome. I’d advise you to give up on that hope,” Zhou Ruyan retorted forcefully.

Now that she was with Zhao Hai, of course, she needed to defend her own rights and wouldn’t allow an outsider to belittle her.