Chapter 514: The Conflict with Chenghe
Ye Zhiyun had raised her spirits. It was clear that she was quite interested in this topic, and this was also Zhu Yiqian’s purpose for coming. If she hadn’t had some preparation, how could she have just come over so casually? During this period of time, she had had so much contact with Ye Zhiyun, and she also knew the other party’s personality.
Of course, Zhu Yiqian had also just recently learned that Ye Zhiyun’s ex-girlfriend was Yu Linna. This had taken her a lot of effort. But this was an unimportant matter. The important thing was that she was now talking to Ye Zhiyun.
“Please tell me the details.”
“I guessed you would be interested.”
Zhu Yiqian smiled, put down her teacup, and then crossed her legs.
“In the entertainment industry, everyone knows your ex-girlfriend’s name, Shion-sensei. A very resonant name. You also know how much money many people have offered to find her to write a script. Before, Chenghe had offered 40 million. You’re not unaware of this. But she didn’t agree.”
“Are you trying to say that this matter is related to Chenghe?”
“You’re so smart. You’re right.”
Zhu Yiqian smiled helplessly and continued to pick up her cup to drink tea.
“But that shouldn’t be, right? Although Chenghe is big, it’s not to the point where they would have a prejudice against her just because she didn’t write a script for them. Chenghe can just find someone else. There’s no need to be hung up about her.”
“That’s where the problem lies.”
Zhu Yiqian’s smile slowly faded, and her expression also became not so relaxed.
“I can guarantee that the falling out between Yu Linna and Chenghe is definitely not because of the script. But I’m not clear about what happened in between. But everyone in the entertainment industry says that she has offended Chenghe.”
Just this one sentence had made Ye Zhiyun’s heart rise.
Chenghe, this was the largest film company in the country, and even an existence that could cover the sky with one hand. In this big dyeing vat of the entertainment industry, among all kinds of groups, Chenghe was undoubtedly the most dazzling, and also the darkest. For so many years, it had always occupied a dominant position, and Chenghe’s industrial system was quite perfect, and its star-making ability was also first-class.
And most importantly, Chenghe had always had dealings with the triads, and also with the government. For Chenghe, many people with a big shot status in the entertainment industry had said that this was an existence that should not be provoked if possible. After all, this company was best at bullying the weak. Just because of the great power behind it, they could easily make many people fall.
In the past, many female stars in the entertainment industry had come from Chenghe, but after their contracts with Chenghe were up, they would basically not continue to cooperate. Even if they did, it was a rare situation.
“But she doesn’t belong to the entertainment industry.”
“Strictly speaking, that’s right. But while she is a novelist, she is also a scriptwriter. In other words, her profession does not conflict with yours. After all, they are in the same circle. Besides, how many of those who have offended Chenghe have had a good end? You can provoke anyone, but you just can’t provoke Chenghe. This is the rule of the industry. When you reach the position of an A-list director one day, you will also understand these principles. Those who go against Chenghe, not many have had a good end. The serious ones would be to leave the entertainment industry, or to die in a foreign land. The lighter ones would be Nangong Ying’s end.”
“Nangong Ying? What does it have to do with her?”
“Do you think she was blacklisted for no reason? Do you really think she could be blacklisted just for those politically incorrect remarks and those ridiculous rumors? Let me tell you, she also offended Chenghe. She was unwilling to renew her contract with Chenghe, and then she even went to court. How could Chenghe let her go? To have her blacklisted for a year was already merciful. How great is the power behind Chenghe, do you think?”
Zhu Yiqian put down her teacup.
Even for a frivolous person like Zhu Yiqian, when she talked about Chenghe, her face was full of seriousness. In the eyes of almost everyone in the entertainment industry, Chenghe was an existence that absolutely could not be provoked. Just like the imperial court in ancient times, it was not an existence that could be touched at all.
How many things had Chenghe done all these years? No one knew. But as businessmen, they surely had to put their interests first. How much black money was in this, no one could say for sure. But the few major families in the country, in front of Chenghe, still couldn’t get a good fruit to eat. One could imagine just how terrifying Chenghe was. The only ones who could compete with Chenghe were the top-tier wealthy families, as well as the e-commerce and game companies that were on the same level as Chenghe. But these wealthy families, they would not go head-to-head with Chenghe for no reason.
“So you mean, if I let it be, one day Nana will also be targeted by Chenghe?”
“I think she probably already has been.”
“…”
“Zhiyun, I’m just telling you this, to give you a heads-up. I’m not clear about what your ex-girlfriend has done, but what I can say is that it’s better to have less contact with her. With your current strength, to want to challenge Chenghe is too young. Recently, something will surely happen in the entertainment industry. I can guarantee it to you. Be mentally prepared.”
Ye Zhiyun sat there, breaking out in a cold sweat. To ask her to be calm, it was really not certain that she could be calm.
She had had contact with Chenghe before, just when Nana had been signed to a tyrannical contract, she had made a move. At that time, Chenghe had not taken them as a big deal and had just taken the eighty million and had left. But no one had expected that a few years later, she and Yu Linna would both be standing at the top of their respective fields. At this time, it was impossible for Chenghe to ignore them.
Especially Yu Linna, she also knew a huge secret of Chenghe. Although Chenghe was not afraid of her exposing it, it was still not at ease. As long as Yu Linna was still in the country for a day, Chenghe would not be at ease for a day.
“Thank you, Miss Zhu. You’ve brought some very important information.”
“Oh dear, then why don’t you thank me? This news is exclusive. How should you thank me?”
“I owe you a favor.”
“Hehe, just a favor?”
Zhu Yiqian smiled wryly, but did not say anything more. She also knew in her heart that it was impossible to get more from Ye Zhiyun. If it was just like this, then it was fine. At least it was still a little useful.
And after Ye Zhiyun had learned of this matter, the first thing she had thought of was to find Yu Linna.
At this time, Yu Linna was with Stephanie in Guangnan. Before Stephanie went to America, she would be in China for a period of time. She had said that she had wanted to come to China a long time ago. After telling her parents, they had also agreed to her coming. The main reason was that she still wanted to see Yu Linna.
“Linna, is this your home? So small.”
“Hahaha, I’m living here now. This is Wenqing… it’s the cheap rental area that my employer has assigned to me. The rent is also relatively cheap, about 650 a month. The location is also good. The main thing is that it’s on the first floor, and it’s a whole rental. There’s only one neighbor. As soon as you go out, there’s a convenience store. Although there are also other authors who plan to move in, there are very few female authors at Wenqing’s side. More than seventy percent of the female authors live here.”
This house that Yu Linna lived in did indeed have a relatively good location, and the scenery was also good. It was a typical retirement area, quiet and without anyone being noisy. Before, when Yu Linna had lived in a slum area, the rent was 400 a month. But at that time, she was really poor and often couldn’t pay the rent. In the end, she had even been kicked out. Now, to live here, the pressure was not great for her. After all, she was different from before.
After entering, Stephanie had taken a good look and had found that it was a far cry from the Chinese-style mansion she had imagined, and was a little disappointed.
After that, Stephanie had discovered that Yu Linna lived alone, and did everything herself, and had no family. She had also looked at the house and had not seen anything related to her family.
“Linna, you live alone, right?”
“Yes.”
“I see. You live separately from your family. I get it, I get it. Now many Chinese people are used to this.”
With that, Stephanie had even nodded, with a smug look.
Yu Linna’s eyes were a little dim, but she quickly adjusted and gently knocked her on the head.
“What’s wrong? It hurts!”
“Hahaha.”
Yu Linna smiled and then went to the fridge to get something.
“Stephanie, I don’t have a family. Never have.”
“What are you joking about? It’s not funny at all…”
“I’m not lying to you. I have no parents. I’ve been growing up alone since I was little. Here’s an apple.”
“…I’m very sorry.”
“It’s fine. Have some fruit.”
Stephanie felt that she seemed to have hit a minefield. She tactfully did not talk much about this topic and changed the subject instead. Before, she had not understood. Now that she had discovered Yu Linna’s life story, to be honest, she still felt a little sympathy. But she was also living very well now. It must have been quite hard these past few years.
“I think I’ll be staying here for a period of time. Linna, you have work during this period, right?”
“Mmm, I do. But I usually don’t go out. It’s basically writing work.”
“Writing things is quite boring. Don’t you have any fun?”
“What else can I do besides writing?”
“There are many emerging industries now. For example… you can also do a live stream! You’re so cute, and you’re a good person, and you speak so nicely. There will surely be many people watching your live stream.”
When Stephanie had talked about live streaming, only then did Yu Linna remember that the last time she had live-streamed was a long time ago. As a writer, although there was no need to live stream, it was also okay to live stream occasionally. Fang Jiangning had also persuaded her several times, saying that they could go and live stream together.
“It seems to make a bit of sense. Do you think I’m suitable for live streaming?”
“Of course you are!”
“Then I’ll think about it.”
When she had said she would think about it, she actually already had a bottom line in her heart.
During the period of time that Stephanie had moved in, Yu Linna would take good care of her. Stephanie had said that she had taken on a role in a film in America. Although it was a supporting role, it provided food and lodging, and it was also an opportunity. As the two of them were talking, Yu Linna had gone out because she had to buy groceries. Stephanie was bored at home and had gone with her. The two of them were talking and laughing. When Yu Linna was passing by a supermarket, she had suddenly found a young man standing in front of a gift shop, worrying over a pile of goods. He looked as if he were very hesitant.
“An acquaintance?” Stephanie asked.
“Yes.”
Yu Linna walked over, wanting to say hello.
“You, with the surname Gao. What are you doing here? Are you buying a gift?”
A certain young man with the surname Gao was startled and turned his head, only to find that it was Yu Linna. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. But when he saw another foreign girl next to Yu Linna, he looked flustered again. He looked around, to see if there were any other acquaintances. After learning that there were no other acquaintances, only then did he relax.
Yu Linna had the idea of teasing him. She didn’t know why.
