Unlike Ye Zhou and Jiang Tingyuan’s smooth sailing recently, the protagonist couple had been down on their luck these past few days.
In order to obtain the filming rights for Battle City 2, Jiang Yu had invested almost all his funds, including his mother’s personal savings that she had scrimped and saved over the years. He had even mortgaged the company he had finally managed to set up. Although he was still the legal representative, in reality, this company did not completely belong to him until he had repaid the loans.
Jiang Yu originally thought that it would not be difficult to find investment for Battle City 2 due to the reputation of the previous film. Even if he was embarrassed, it would only be temporary.
However, it turned out that although Jiang Yu had the filming rights to Battle City 2, and there were indeed many investors interested, if they were to put in money, they would certainly want equivalent benefits in exchange.
This was a fat piece of meat that everyone wanted a bite of. If Jiang Yu wanted to monopolize this fat meat, he would have to get rid of Jiang Tingyuan early on and take over the Jiang family himself, otherwise it would just be wishful thinking in broad daylight.
If Jiang Yu wanted to realize the value of Battle City 2’s rights, then currently, unless he sold the rights or found another company to co-produce, he wouldn’t see a cent for the time being. But Jiang Yu desperately needed funds right now. Without sufficient capital, he couldn’t even pay the screenwriters to adapt Battle City 2.
Left with no choice, Jiang Yu chose Summit Entertainment and Xing Rui Entertainment, which had offered relatively generous terms, to cooperate with, out of the few companies that had extended an olive branch.
Jiang Yu would share the rights, Summit and Xing Rui would invest funds, and the three parties would temporarily work together to complete the project.
This way, Jiang Yu finally got some funds back, although it wasn’t a large amount. There was no doubt this would be a blockbuster production, but blockbusters meant long shooting periods. During the filming, Jiang Yu couldn’t just do nothing.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, but rather that the external debt he owed didn’t allow it. Although the interest on the loan was not as terrible as loan sharks’, the principal was still there accruing interest that Jiang Yu wouldn’t be able to withstand if it rolled on for a few years.
Moreover, Jiang Yu also wanted to raise more funds before Battle City 2 officially started filming, so he could fight for a bigger share of the box office.
As the protagonist Cheng Ran’s financial sponsor, Jiang Yu had become so poor, so Cheng Ran naturally also had hard times.
Under such circumstances, making money had to be put on the agenda.
At this time, a screenwriter from Jiang Yu’s company offered a script that caught Cheng Ran’s eye. After discussing it, the two decided to make a small gamble for a big win.
Cheng Ran took on the role of producer in the crew. During the preparation process, he coincidentally learned that the little director kept by Jiang Tingyuan was also preparing to shoot a film.
Cheng Ran had never interacted with Ye Zhou before, apart from Jiang Yu occasionally mentioning him in passing. Their only contact had been at that auction.
Perhaps the impression Ye Zhou had left on him at the auction was too deep, so Cheng Ran didn’t have any good feelings towards him. On the contrary, he felt an instinctive disgust.
Upon learning that Ye Zhou was casting, Cheng Ran got the actor’s contact information and poached him to his own crew with double the price.
But this didn’t seem to affect the progress of Ye Zhou’s crew at all.
Seeing that Ye Zhou’s crew was about to start filming soon, Cheng Ran somehow felt a little anxious. It was as if a voice was telling him that he couldn’t let Ye Zhou smoothly finish shooting this film.
By some strange combination of circumstances, Cheng Ran found Wang Hong, the assistant director of The Pursuit. As expected, Wang Hong already had a deep grudge against Ye Zhou. He didn’t need Cheng Ran to say much before he patted his chest and guaranteed he could ruin Ye Zhou’s reputation.
So, Cheng Ran gritted his teeth and secretly sold off more than half of the luxury goods and cars Jiang Yu had previously bought him. Part of it went to Wang Hong as reward, while the rest was kept to buy water armies to fan the flames when things came to light.
Things went very smoothly. After Wang Hong spoke out, Ye Zhou instantly became a target of public criticism, with several confirmed actors backing out in succession.
Just as Cheng Ran was preparing to add more fuel to the fire and make it burn even more vigorously, the originally excellent situation took a sudden sharp turn.
First, someone spent heavily to remove the hot searches on Ye Zhou. Before Cheng Ran could buy more, Wang Hong and Liu Yunlan’s affair was exposed.
In the face of such a popular little flower like Liu Yunlan, a behind-the-scenes director like Ye Zhou naturally didn’t have much appeal. The situation instantly reversed, and if Cheng Ran wanted to get Ye Zhou trending again, he would have to spend money. But where did he have any money left to spend on this?
The only one who could spend huge sums at a time like this to protect Ye Zhou was probably his financial backer, Jiang Tingyuan.
People are not afraid when the gap is big, but rather when placed side by side for comparison.
Before seeing Jiang Tingyuan, Cheng Ran had always thought Jiang Yu treated him well enough already, and that he should be content.
But after witnessing Jiang Tingyuan’s extravagant expenditure for Ye Zhou, then looking back at Jiang Yu…
Cheng Ran shook his head, not daring to think further.
Seeing that Ye Zhou’s crew successfully started filming and was running more and more smoothly day by day, while he himself was still spending money and getting stressed over that bit of Wang Hong’s mess.
Cheng Ran’s heart felt like it was being clawed at and felt extremely uncomfortable.
Right then, his phone rang. Cheng Ran picked it up and saw the number on the screen. Without any hesitation, he declined the call.
However, the other end seemed determined. As long as Cheng Ran didn’t pick up, they would call non-stop, one after another.
Cheng Ran was annoyed by the ringing and was about to switch off his phone when his hand slipped and he accidentally answered.
As soon as the call connected, an enraged male voice came through.
“Mr. Cheng, just to help you with this matter, the reputation I’ve been building in the industry for so long has been completely destroyed. How am I supposed to get by in the industry circles afterwards?!”
Cheng Ran directly said, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about. This whole thing from beginning to end is you being jealous of Ye Zhou. What does it have to do with me?”
Wang Hong choked. How could he not understand what Cheng Ran meant?
“If it wasn’t for you finding me, why the hell would I have provoked Ye Zhou? Why did I have trouble myself?!” His voice cracked from anger, mixing with heavy breathing and static as it reached Cheng Ran’s ears.
In contrast to his frustration, Cheng Ran remained calm, speaking neither hastily nor slowly. “Director Wang, I think you’ve misunderstood. I only reached out to you because I was interested in collaborating on a film project. But considering you’re probably too busy these days, let’s connect again when the timing is right.”
Cheng Ran paused briefly before continuing, “Well, since it seems you don’t have time to work now, let’s forget it for today. We can collaborate again when the opportunity arises.”
Having said that, Cheng Ran was unwilling to reason with Wang Hong further and was about to hang up.
Unexpectedly, Wang Hong’s previously enraged voice suddenly became eerily calm, replaced by a cold laugh.
Cheng Ran’s hand paused as he was about to end the call, a vague sense of unease welling up within him.
His unease was soon validated when, after the icy laugh, Wang Hong lowered his voice and said, “Mr. Cheng, you’re not planning on getting involved with me anymore?”
“Then don’t blame me for dragging you down to hell with me.” As he said this, Wang Hong suddenly laughed and continued, “I, Wang Hong, haven’t been in this industry just one or two days. Do you think I wouldn’t have prepared at all?”
Not waiting for Cheng Ran’s reaction, Wang Hong added, “Anyway, my reputation is already ruined, so I have nothing to lose. I just wonder if Mr. Cheng is worried that his new film that just started filming will get affected.”
“Intentionally poaching actors at high prices, using money to push negative headlines about fellow directors, malicious competition, underhanded means – I’m sure you can’t wash away that kind of notorious reputation.”
As if recalling something, Wang Hong suddenly slapped his forehead, his tone abruptly rising several degrees, “Oh right, I heard that Mr. Cheng is good friends with Jiang Yu, the boss of Jianghe Media. He recently acquired the rights to Battle City 2.”
“Even if you’re unafraid of being implicated… then,” Wang Hong deliberately drew out the last word. “Would Mr. Jiang be worried?”
With this statement, Cheng Ran instantly lost the casual manner he had maintained earlier, his face draining of color.
Yet he still forced himself to stay calm, sneering, “Director Wang, who are you trying to intimidate? I have no grievance with Ye Zhou, so why would I smear him? Even if you spread this, who would believe it?”
“I won’t beat around the bush with you. Our conversation when we first met, I recorded it.” Clearly, Wang Hong wasn’t easy to deal with either.
Unwilling to continue sparring with Cheng Ran, he directly stated, “My ask isn’t much, 5 million. Transfer it to my account before 8pm tomorrow, and this matter between us will be settled.”
“If I don’t receive the transfer by 8pm…” Wang Hong chuckled lightly, making no attempt to conceal his threat, “Then I’m afraid I’ll have to apologize. While so many people are paying attention right now, I’ll post our audio conversation on Weibo.”
The call ended.
However, Cheng Ran’s hand gripping the phone only tightened further, his knuckles turning white from exertion. His lips had unknowingly bitten so hard they drew blood.
After a long while, Cheng Ran finally couldn’t restrain himself and smashed the phone to the ground.
The shattered screen flickered briefly before going completely dark.
Hearing the noise, a crew member knocked on the door from outside the break room and asked, “Producer Cheng, is everything okay?”
“It’s fine, I accidentally dropped a cup on the floor,” Cheng Ran took a deep breath, suppressing the grievance in his heart and trying to make his voice sound normal.
After the crew member left, Cheng Ran collapsed exhaustedly into a chair.
What should he do now? Not only did he fail to impact Ye Zhou at all, but he had also brought trouble onto himself instead.
Wang Hong asked for 5 million. Where could Cheng Ran get 5 million for him? If he really had that much, Ye Zhou wouldn’t have gotten off the hot search rankings so easily…
…
In the evening, filming ended for the day.
Cheng Ran returned home carrying a large bag of vegetables. Finding the house pitch black, he placed the items on the shoe cabinet and fumbled to turn on the lights. But before he could find the switch, he was enveloped in a warm embrace.
The unique scent let Cheng Ran gradually relax his guard. He hugged Jiang Yu back.
Sensing something off with Jiang Yu, Cheng Ran gently asked, “Ah Yu, why didn’t you turn on the lights when you got back?”
Jiang Yu didn’t speak, only holding Cheng Ran tighter.
In all the years they’d known each other, Jiang Yu seldom revealed vulnerability in front of Cheng Ran. He was always proud, overbearing, and unruly.
Cheng Ran was startled, hesitating slightly before gently asking again, “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
Jiang Yu didn’t answer, simply maintaining the embrace, motionless as if he had fallen asleep.
The room was quiet. After a moment’s hesitation, Cheng Ran eventually reciprocated the embrace.
Burying his head in Jiang Yu’s arms, he let go of the frustrations that had been pent up recently, enjoying this brief moment of peace.
Cheng Ran kept reassuring himself that the bad things happening now were only temporary.
At the very least, they still held the rights to Battle City 2. As long as they had enough time, this movie would definitely become a cash cow, bringing them five times, even ten times the profit.
As for Ye Zhou, the only reason he could be so proud was that Jiang Tingyuan was backing him.
But in the end, Ye Zhou was nothing more than a little plaything kept by Jiang Tingyuan. How long could he enjoy the limelight? It depended on when Jiang Tingyuan would tire of him.
He was a little curious – when Jiang Tingyuan got bored and no longer willing to clean up his messes, how would the idiot Ye Zhou manage?
However, what Cheng Ran clearly failed to realize was…if Ye Zhou and Jiang Tingyuan’s relationship was one of kept lover, then what exactly was his relationship with Jiang Yu?
Did he really believe that while others had kept lovers, he and Jiang Yu were true love?
If there had to be a difference, the only one was that for kept lovers, Jiang Tingyuan was far wealthier than Jiang Yu.
The embrace lasted a long time, until Cheng Ran’s legs started going numb. He let go and led Jiang Yu towards the living room.
Smelling the strong alcohol on Jiang Yu, he gently asked, “Ah Yu, how much did you drink? Let me make you some sobering soup first.”
Jiang Yu paid Cheng Ran no mind, his hand around his waist gripping even tighter, causing some pain.
Cheng Ran patted his hand and coaxed, “You’re hurting me, let go. Have some soup first or you’ll have a headache tomorrow.”
Perhaps Jiang Yu really had too much to drink. Unlike his usual arrogance and flair, he miraculously became an obedient good boy, loosening his hold as told.
Cheng Ran placed a light kiss by his face before getting up, about to tidy up the vegetables scattered on the floor. But he hadn’t taken two steps before Jiang Yu grabbed his wrist from behind.
Next, his waist was encircled, and his entire body locked in Jiang Yu’s embrace, unable to move at all.
Thinking Jiang Yu was being clingy, Cheng Ran thoroughly enjoyed this rare soft side beneath his domineering exterior. He allowed Jiang Yu to hold him as they lingered tenderly for a long time.
Ultimately, it was Cheng Ran who let go first. He patted Jiang Yu’s arm and gently coaxed, “Alright, Ah Yu, wait for me in the living room, okay? I’ll be right back.”
But Jiang Yu didn’t budge.
After several futile attempts to persuade him, Cheng Ran became a little helpless. He could only try prying Jiang Yu’s fingers off one by one.
Having finally pried his hands off with great difficulty, Cheng Ran was about to turn on the lights when he heard Jiang Yu’s voice from behind.
“Qiu Ze…”
“When are you coming back…”
Jiang Yu’s voice was somewhat hoarse from drinking. Though not loud, when it reached Cheng Ran’s ears, he felt as if all the blood in his body had frozen in that instant.
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