Chapter 13 Birthday Banquet (3)

Hearing that the young master of the prestigious Chu family, the nephew he had watched grow up, was being called a toad by this arrogant rich kid, Wang Long slowly closed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Xia Zhu, Mr. Xiao Gao, you do realize that today is my birthday banquet, right?"

Xia Zhu quickly apologized, "Director Wang, I'm sorry! We..."

Before she could finish, Gao Ning interrupted, "Director Wang, I'm really sorry! Let me apologize to you! I'm just someone who speaks his mind, and I can't stand those freeloading scumbags!"

With a smirk on his face, Chu Yuxuan turned to Zhao Yanan and said, "President Zhao, someone's insulting your little pretty boy, and you're just going to let it slide?"

Zhao Yanan, looking cold and indifferent, couldn't be bothered.

But Wang Long wasn't going to take it anymore. On one hand, Gao Ning was simply too arrogant, and on the other, he knew that Chu Yuxuan was keeping quiet to avoid ruining his birthday banquet.

Suddenly, Wang Long slammed his hand on the table and shouted angrily, "Xia Zhu, to be honest, I didn't even plan on inviting you here today. And as for this Mr. Xiao Gao, you're not welcome here. Please leave!"

Xia Zhu's palms were already sweating as she repeatedly apologized.

Gao Ning didn't expect that this famous director would be so unreasonable. Was he really going to turn against him over a freeloader?

"Director Wang, I was just joking around. You don't have to get so worked up, do you? Heh... I genuinely want to be friends with you. After all, we'll inevitably have business dealings in the future..."

Before he could finish, Wang Long retorted, "Mr. Xiao Gao, let me advise you not to use business as leverage against me! You probably don't understand the rules of our circle. Do you think it's your father who decides whether or not a film gets screened? Hmph... I may be a small player who can't afford to offend your Gao family, but the investors behind me... they might not even consider your family worthy! To be blunt, I'm not worried about the screening issue at all, because those investors have plenty of ways to secure screenings. Now, do you understand?"

Having been told off so bluntly, Gao Ning was left utterly speechless, his face alternating between red and pale with embarrassment.

Wang Long continued, "I've already given you enough face, but you just had to push it! Who the hell do you think you are? Take your gifts, grab your woman, and get out of here! Move it!"

Gao Ning, too ashamed to lift his head, grabbed Xia Zhu and started heading out.

However, Xia Zhu shook off his hand, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at Wang Long, "Director Wang, I'm... I'm sorry about today! I... I really didn't mean to ruin your mood!"

Wang Long replied irritably, "Leave before I lose my temper, okay?"

Biting her lip, Xia Zhu looked deeply hurt and asked, "Director Wang, I don't understand. Weren't we good friends before? Why... why did you say you didn't plan on inviting me this time? Did I do something wrong that made you unhappy? Tell me, and I'll change it!"

She truly couldn't understand why this mentor had suddenly become so cold toward her.

"You don't understand?" Wang Long sneered at her, then glanced at Chu Yuxuan before turning back to Xia Zhu, "Even now, you still don't get it?"

To him, even if this famous actress was a fool, she should at least be able to guess what was going on when she saw him with Chu Yuxuan. Did she really think he had supported her because of her acting skills?

Xia Zhu looked over at Chu Yuxuan, even more confused—what did this have to do with him?

Chu Yuxuan smiled lightly, "Don't look at me. I'm just a kept man."

Zhao Yanan, sensing that this was still her company's artist, decided to step in, "Xia Zhu, you should leave now and stop upsetting Director Wang. We'll talk about the rest after tonight."

"Understood, President Zhao!" Xia Zhu nodded, apologized to Wang Long again, and turned to leave.

"Xia Zhu," Zhao Yanan called after her, "One last piece of advice: share some of your romantic energy with your brain, and don't ruin your own future!"

Gao Ning, waiting by the door for Xia Zhu, shot a resentful glance at the three of them, gritting his teeth.

After they left, Chu Yuxuan laughed, "Uncle Long, you're brave to provoke the Gao family's son. Aren't you afraid he'll cut off your film screenings?"

Wang Long rubbed his temples and chuckled, "Unless their family doesn't want to make money out of spite! Ha, who would turn down money? Besides, your father has invested in nearly all of my films. How many heads does Gao Zhensheng have that he dares to offend your father?"

Chu Yuxuan understood, "I knew it. No wonder you're so confident... That old fox Chu Zhiqing is quite a figure in Jiangcheng. You've chosen the right backer."

Zhao Yanan: …

Wang Long laughed, "Isn't that the truth? I still often count my blessings that I attended the same university as your father and even shared a dorm room with him. Honestly, that brother of mine has helped me out a lot."

Chu Yuxuan teased, "You've helped him plenty too, introducing him to many actresses, haven't you?"

Wang Long shamelessly replied, "A gentleman always seeks a fair lady! Besides, your father is single now, isn't he?"

"Yes," Chu Yuxuan said with a playful expression, though there was a hint of coldness in his eyes, "Dead or divorced, he's managed to keep things tidy."

This seemed to touch on a sensitive subject, and Wang Long quickly stopped smiling, changing the topic, "Alright, alright, why don't you two lovebirds go dance and liven things up?"

As soon as he said that, Zhao Yanan and Chu Yuxuan replied in unison, "No!"

Wang Long was stunned and exclaimed, "Well, look at that..."

Chu Yuxuan raised an eyebrow, "Wife, we're already so in sync?"

Zhao Yanan rolled her eyes, "Chu Yuxuan."

"Hmm?"

"Act like a human being."

Wang Long: …

Meanwhile, outside the club, Gao Ning was furious. He kicked his car door a few times and cursed, "That Wang Long is truly ungrateful! How does he expect to survive in this industry after offending the Gao family?"

Xia Zhu, looking ashen, silently opened the car door and sat inside. Gao Ning followed her, started the car, and turned on the heater. He glanced at Xia Zhu with some guilt, "Xia Zhu, that b*st*rd Chu is really shameless. He just divorced you and is already cozying up to that big-breasted, brainless rich lady Zhao Yanan! He must have been fooling around with her long before the divorce! That's why I wanted to stand up for you, but who would have thought..."

"It must be because of Zhao Yanan that Wang Long didn't care about my father's face! That b*tch, I wonder if she's also involved with Wang Long!"

Xia Zhu suddenly snapped, "Don't talk about Director Wang like that! I owe everything I have today to his support. If he were that kind of person, would he have helped me without expecting anything in return?"

Gao Ning held Xia Zhu's cold hand and said patiently, "You never truly know someone. Maybe Wang Long didn't dare make a move on you before because my father had warned him... He's just a typical fair-weather friend, turning on you the moment he's done with you! Now that he's teamed up with Zhao Yanan, who knows what powerful backer they've found, he even dares to ignore my father. Hmph... I'll make sure he regrets this! Xia Zhu, I'll make him kneel and apologize to you!"

"No... Director Wang isn't like that!" Xia Zhu shook her head, her thoughts in turmoil. "He's really not that kind of person!"

After thinking for a moment, Gao Ning said, "Xia Zhu, think about it. Wang Long treated you pretty well before, so why did his attitude change after you divorced Chu Yuxuan?"

Xia Zhu recalled how Wang Long had looked at Chu Yuxuan when he said, "You still don't understand," and wondered aloud, "Could all of this... be related to Chu Yuxuan? But... how could he have such power? It's impossible!"

Gao Ning sneered, "He has no power, but his woman does! After you divorced him, he must have wanted revenge, so he whispered into Zhao Yanan's ear... and that whisper made its way to Wang Long!"

Xia Zhu took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

She couldn't believe that Chu Yuxuan could be so dark. During their two years of marriage, he had always been honest, gentle, and considerate, always listening to her and taking care of her.

But... how could she explain his marriage to Zhao Yanan? There was no way to explain it. The facts were in front of her, and she had no choice but to believe what Gao Ning was saying.

Chu Yuxuan was not the man she thought he was.