The next day, as expected, newspapers carried the story of Zhao Chenlin’s disturbance at Yazhi. One photograph showed him making a spectacle of himself at the company entrance. Most readers could scarcely believe a grandson of the Zhou family would behave so disgracefully. Zhou Lin was furious enough to tear the paper in half. She had specifically contacted the newspaper the day before and told them not to report the incident. They had agreed, so how dare they go back on their word?
Zhou Lin called the newspaper to demand an explanation. The person in charge told her that the publisher had personally ordered the story to run. He had already chosen the day’s lead article when the publisher suddenly told him to replace it with this one. There was nothing he could do. Zhou Lin did not know if her father had seen the paper. Just in case, she called Zhao Chenlin and ordered him to come to the Zhou residence for dinner that evening. With Father’s opinion of Zhou Cheng steadily worsening, this was the perfect time to make themselves look good.
Zhao Chenlin had plans to visit Feise with Wei Wei that night and was reluctant to go. He had been enjoying his freedom lately, much more than when he lived in the Zhou house. Going back would mean returning to the miserable rule that he had to be home by ten. But he did not dare say so. His mother would certainly scold him.
Wang Cheng knew that Zhou Lin’s family was involved in the photographs, but he had not realized Wei Wei was implicated too. He told his brother, and Zheng Jingen said he would handle it.
On the surface, the Zheng family were not the sort to show their emotions. In reality, they acted with remarkable speed and decisiveness.
Zhou Shichang removing Wang Cheng from his position was no small matter for the Zheng family. Zhou Group currently supported them, but if control of the business passed to someone else, Zhou Lin would never continue that support. In other words, the identity of Zhou Group’s next heir concerned the Zheng family’s future too. Wei Wei had no idea disaster was approaching.
Now that he no longer had to go to the branch office, Wang Cheng visited Yazhi whenever he had the time. He personally helped arrange the artists’ work and took an active part in planning. His presence finally reassured artists who had been anxious. As for those who had rushed to flatter Zhao Chenlin when he swaggered into the company, they soon noticed their work offers dwindling and were filled with regret.
Pan Zhihai knocked and entered, placing a document on Wang Cheng’s desk. “Young Master Zhou, this is a funding request we submitted to headquarters the day before yesterday. The money Zhou Group previously invested in our television drama has nearly been used up.”
“Then apply for more. What’s the problem?” Wang Cheng asked, picking up the file.
“The request was rejected.”
Wang Cheng raised an eyebrow and opened it. Sure enough, the space for approving the application was blank. “Why? Who rejected it?”
“I hear it was Manager Zhou. She’s responsible for this area in the first place. Perhaps she’s deliberately making things difficult because of the last incident.”
Pan Zhihai watched Wang Cheng’s face cautiously. “Someone also passed on her message. She says that since Yazhi is your personal property, it has nothing to do with Zhou Group. Manager Zhou also intends to withdraw investment from several upcoming film and television scripts. One of those films is supposed to be He Zihuan’s major entry into the movie industry.”
“It’s only been a few days, and she already thinks Zhou Group belongs to her?” Wang Cheng laughed. Suddenly it occurred to him that Zhao Chenlin’s stupidity might not be something he had acquired later in life. Perhaps he had inherited it.
“Young Master Zhou, what should we do? People outside are already saying Yazhi is nothing without Zhou Group’s backing. Some of our artists are becoming unsettled,” Pan Zhihai said worriedly. If Yazhi ran into trouble, artists who had begun making names for themselves might leave to protect their careers.
“Don’t worry about the money,” Wang Cheng said. “If Zhou Group won’t invest, other companies will. They aren’t the only people with money.” What he did not mention was that he still had Dongwang Group. He had lent his older brother a substantial sum earlier, but he could afford to fund a movie or two. Failing that, he could always recruit Chu Yifeng as an investor.
Zhou Group had invested in quite a few productions, and the withdrawal of its funds seemed to confirm the reports that Wang Cheng had been expelled from the family. Everyone predicted Yazhi’s downfall. But before long, observers noticed that the filming crews had not stopped work despite Zhou Group’s withdrawal. Fresh investment had been secured almost immediately.
The new investors’ names were not disclosed, so nobody knew exactly what had happened. What they did know was that Yazhi’s artists continued their schedules as usual. Those filming television dramas kept filming; those making movies stayed on set; those recording albums continued as normal. Nothing seemed affected in the slightest.
Zhou Lin, who had been waiting for Yazhi to run into difficulty, was astonished. How could Wang Cheng have plugged such an enormous funding gap?
Zhao Jiansheng reminded her not to forget Aimer Group. Chu Yifeng was Wang Cheng’s lover. Of course he would not stand back and watch Wang Cheng suffer. Canceling investments just to teach him a lesson was unlikely to work. Worse, it would damage Zhou Group’s interests, and if people found out they were abusing their authority for personal reasons, the consequences would be unpleasant.
“What’s there to be afraid of? I’ve already thought of an excuse. I won’t leave any evidence,” Zhou Lin said. Wang Cheng had caused her plenty of grief, and she wanted him to experience the same. Yet even without Zhou Group, he had Aimer behind him. What a lucky man.
“Just be careful,” Zhao Jiansheng said. He had a nagging sense there was more going on than appeared. Wang Cheng was far too calm. Surely he couldn’t be indifferent to losing his place at Zhou Group. At noon, Wang Cheng received a call from Wang Ning’an. His older brother invited him to dinner that evening at the Gu family’s old residence. Although Wang Cheng was not Gu Shouzhuo’s biological grandson, he was family to Wang Ning’an, their father, and their mother. He had also played no small part in helping them cut ties with the Wang relatives. Wang Ning’an wanted to introduce him to Gu Shouzhuo, and the old man had agreed. Wang Cheng was curious about the elder Mr. Gu. Strictly speaking, his older brother’s situation resembled his own. He wanted to see whether the old man sincerely cared for his parents, brother, and sister, and whether his older brother was being treated well in the Gu family. So he accepted.
“By the way, Big Brother, you wouldn’t mind setting an extra place, would you?”
Wang Ning’an sounded helpless. “Half the capital is watching you two now. You still dare go around together in public?”
“It’s better now that we’re exposed. Everybody knows already, so why should we sneak around? That would be more suspicious,” Wang Cheng replied unconcernedly.
“Suit yourself.”
That was a yes. Wang Cheng happily conveyed the good news to Chu Yifeng.
Quite a few reporters had been following Wang Cheng lately, eager to uncover more sensational material. When they saw him leave with the other man in the scandal, their journalistic instincts told them there was a story worth pursuing. They followed the pair to the Gu residence. Reporters with some knowledge of the capital recognized the elegant, old-fashioned house as the home of the Gu family’s patriarch. Their imaginations ran wild. They assumed the Gu family must be the new investor Wang Cheng had found. They could not get inside and had to wait outside, but some had already sent the information to their newsrooms. Editors began inventing possible angles. With the Gu family involved, tomorrow’s headlines practically wrote themselves.
Like Zhou Shichang, Gu Shouzhuo looked kindly and approachable. Yet there was a difference. Zhou Shichang always radiated authority, while Gu Shouzhuo seemed like an ordinary old man. He had pronounced wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and a gentle gaze. He had evidently been smiling often lately and hardly ever looked stern.
“So you’re Ning’an’s younger brother? A fine-looking young man indeed.”
Gu Shouzhuo either knew nothing of the rumors about Wang Cheng and Chu Yifeng or did not care. He regarded Wang Cheng with warmth because of his affection for Wang Ning’an.
“You flatter me, Grandpa Gu,” Wang Cheng replied with a smile.
Gu Shouzhuo chuckled. “No need to be modest. I truly think you’re an excellent young man, better than most your age. Old Zhou is fortunate to have a grandson like you. Of course, I’m fortunate to have a grandson like Ning’an.” There was unmistakable pride in his voice.
Wang Cheng was relieved to hear how highly the old man regarded his brother.
“And you must be Old Chu’s eldest grandson. He’s mentioned you often when we’ve met. Very impressive for such a young man.” Gu Shouzhuo’s company had dealings with the government, so he had encountered Old Master Chu a number of times. Each time the old man had boasted of his eldest grandson’s accomplishments. Meeting Chu Yifeng in person at last, he found the praise justified.
Chu Yifeng smiled faintly. “You’re too kind, Elder Gu. Grandfather often mentions you too. He says you’ve contributed a great deal to the country and that we should learn from your example.”
It sounded a little flattering, but Gu Shouzhuo was delighted.
Dinner went pleasantly for everyone. Only afterward did Wang Ning’an bring up the real reason for his invitation. He had heard about Yazhi’s situation and wanted to repay part of the money he had borrowed from Wang Cheng. The money was not from his recent earnings; Gu Shouzhuo had lent it to him.
Wang Cheng refused. “Big Brother, I really don’t need money right now. Yazhi had a few problems, but they’re already resolved. If Zhou Group won’t invest, I still have Dongwang Group and Aimer.”
“Are you sure you don’t need it?” Wang Ning’an studied him, worried that he was refusing for his brother’s sake.
“If you don’t believe me, ask Boss Chu. He invested in a movie and a television drama for me.” Wang Cheng immediately dragged Chu Yifeng into the conversation.
Wang Ning’an believed him without needing to ask.
“All right, then. But if you ever need investors, you can come to me anytime,” he said. Wang Cheng nodded. “I won’t forget. We should be going.”
Wang Ning’an watched them leave before returning to the old house. The reporters lying in wait outside photographed the scene too. Wang Ning’an had never appeared in entertainment gossip, so they did not recognize him and decided to investigate his identity back at the newsroom. At that moment, Wang Ning’an glanced back toward the direction of the departing car.