The doorbell rang, so Qiao Chen walked to the entrance and opened the door. Qiao Chen wasn't surprised to see the face of the guilty traitor standing outside sullen.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?" Xu Jiemin said with a gloomy face.
Qiao Chen thought about how dramatic Xu Jieming was acting. There were probably things he couldn't say at the door, so Qiao Chen relented and allowed him in. The quicker he finished his spiel the quicker he'd leave.
Qiao Chen sat in the middle of the two-seater sofa in the living room and said, "There's nowhere for you to have a seat. You can just stand there and tell me whatever you need to say."
Xu Jieming knew that that Shu Qichen had rented this apartment after his father's accident. However, this was the first time he had ever visited Shu Qichen. He looked at the small, bland, and cluttered living with some distain before he asked, "Did you run away from Mr. Li last night?"
"If I didn't run away, then what else would I do? Stay and have him rape me?"
"I told you that I'd lend you the money for your operation. All you had to do was help me with a small favor like this. You just had to make Mr. Li happy. Well you couldn't even do something so small like that that for me. To make matters worse, you've even offended the man. Didn't you want to do the operation for your eye?" Xu Jieming interrogated angrily.
Li Huang had been drooling over Shu Qichen for a long time now. Xu Jieming was finally able to trick Shu Qichen into the hotel room. He had even drugged him to stop him from escaping. He had no idea how that Shu Qichen was be able to escape. All of the promises and agreements he made with Li Huang for the investment plans flew right out the window the moment Shu Qichen ran away. Xu Jieming was furious.
"Hmm… I don't think I care about the surgery that much. However, aren't you the one who's very troubled because Mr. Li pulled his support?" Qiao Chen said carelessly.
"You don't care?" Xu Jieming asked. He was surprised by Shu Qichen's indifferent attitude about it. He remembered that Shu Qichen was the one who panicked at the news that he would lose his eyesight. If he hadn't worked himself up in such frenzy, then Xu JIeming wouldn't have been able to trick Shu Qichen into entering the hotel room all to make Li Huang 'happy'. Why doesn't it matter anymore?
"Why don't you just cut to the chase? Do I need to rip it out of you? Hmm.. now would you try to threaten me by breaking up or would it be something else?" Qiao Chen goaded impatiently. His patience had run thin, and he didn't want to see the man's face anymore. He'll collect the debt this mongrel owed him later in the future- too bad for him that the interest rate was quite high.
"You already know I'm here to break up with you?" Xu Jieming asked. He never would have even expected that Shu Qichen could guess about it. It was even more surprising that he didn't even seem to care. Before this that debacle that ended in failure, Shu Qichen was the one who came to him. This was the same Shu Qichen who would probably even crawl on his knees for his assistance because of the debt collectors pounding on his doors after his father's death.
"My dad's already dead. I've sold every single one of my shares to you. You are the largest shareholder now. This isn't even mentioning how you are the number one celebrity around. I even offended Mr. Li on your behalf. Would you come here to help me? I think it's quite obvious that you're here to break up with me since I'm no longer useful to you."
Xu Jieming didn't know why Shu Qichen's character did a complete 180 and in such a short amount of time either. However, he was very annoyed with Shu Qichen's attitude. The only thing that held him up was that dead father of his. Now that the man was dead, so was Shu Qichen's usefulness. This trash had no right to be so arrogant towards him.
"I really did come here to break up with you. However, don't forget that we haven't even slept with each other, so don't go around and run your mouth with claims about us in the future. You'd better not try to mess with my reputation, or else…."
"Oh? Are you scared that I'd spill the beans and tell the press how degrading it was for you to pursue me? You can relax. No one will believe me now that my reputation is in the gutter. Besides, I'm the one who doesn't want anyone to know that I even agreed to you courting me. This is such a black stain in my life. How could I even live with myself if this made headlines?"
Xu Jieming was a very famous actor. He had acted in many different films and won numerous awards. Although Shu Qichen idolized him and sought to be like him in the future, it was Xu Jieming that chased after him first. Shu Qichen didn't like men. He did try to accept Xu Jieming's courting because he idolized the man. However, he never told his father about Xu Jieming nor did he let Xu Jieming touch him.
"Since you don't want to let people know, then we should act like we were never together. You're talking a lot of shit. It looks like you are very determined to leave this industry. Whatever, I have some advice for you. You aren't some rich young master anymore. No one cares about you or what you have to say. It doesn't matter what work you want to pursue from now on. All I have to do is say something and then you won't have any future in that industry anymore. You should understand your position in this situation- in this world."
"Yeah." Qiao Chen nodded. "You should know your position too. You used to bend over backwards for me and my father, but now you have the balls to order me around and tell me not to talk?"
Xu Jieming had a huge inferiority complex, but was very arrogant. Xu Jieming was quite prideful and proud of everything he had gained. The last thing he wanted to hear was how he used to kiss Xu Jieming's and Xu Jieming's dad's asses to get more attention from the company. It was too bad for him that Qiao Chen had the urge to use this very thing to piss him off.
Xu Jieming looked at Qiao Chen somber expression and said, "I'll see if you can still act so high and mighty the next time I see you."
"I won't let you down." Qiao Chen replied defiantly.
Qiao Chen use the system to look up Xu Jieming after he left. He was trembling with anger. It was Xu Jieming who sabotaged his father's car. It was Xu Jieming who caused his father's accident and death. Qiao Chen picked up the cup form the table and threw it to the wall.
Qiao Chen slammed his hands on the glass table and grinded his teeth. He had already guessed that Xu Jieming had something to do with his father's deat. However, it was different to see the whole thing play out with his own two eyes. Qiao Chen couldn't suppress his anger. This was the first time he could have encountered a father that was kind to him, but he didn't even get to meet him.
He felt even worse because it was his fault! He was the one who opened the door to the wolf. Xu Jieming pretended that he was looking for Shu Qichen at the Shu's villa. Then he snuck into the garage and tampered with his father's car.
Qiao Chen grinded his teeth again and then thought, 'Xu Jieming! I won't let you off that easily!'
............…
Qiao Chen thought that it would have taken at least two or three days for people to see his script, but he received a call from Xingyu Film and TV the very next day. The staff on the phone told him that President Du wanted to personally meet with him and talk about the script. Then the staff scheduled a meeting that afternoon.
Qiao Chen had written the script, but had the system edit it to Du Jingnan's style and preferences. Qiao Chen had cast the line and was prepared to wait. He never expected for Du Jingnan to take the bait so quickly.
Qiao Chen took a taxi to the Xingyu corporate building. He had barely entered the first floor's doors when a man and a woman approached and stopped him.
The elegantly dressed woman sneered, "Shu Qichen? What are you doing here? Are you here for an audition? Hmph you never really change. Can't you tell that you don't have the acting skills? You can't walk around like you did when you had your dad's help. He couldn't even help you with any of Xinyu's shows or movies when he was alive. What makes you think that you have the capability to audition for a Xingyu production? The company doesn't even want to renew their contract with you."
Qiao Chen didn't say a word in reply. However, the woman kept talking like he knew her and her agent. This was Sun Weiwei. She was Wei Dian Entertainment's artist. Sun Weiwei used to be a small time model, but she would just sleep with whoever she could to make it big. She was able to sleep with the right people and played an assortment of roles throughout the past few years. She wasn't exceedingly popular, but she did have some fame. She was dressed up very beautifully today, so she should have come here for an audition. She probably thought that Qiao Chen was going to audition for the same role as her too.
Initially, it was Sun Weiwei who tried to seduce Mr. Shu. She wanted to sleep her way into Wei Dian and use Mr. Shu's influence to enter Wei Dian Entertainment. However, Shu Qichen's mother was still alive at that time. Mr. and Mrs. Shu were joined at the hip. Their love was stronger than gold, so numerous beautiful and pure hearted actresses couldn't even get in Mr. Shu's sights. So a small time model like the calculating Sun Weiwei couldn't even enter Mr. Shu's general area let alone his line of sight.
Sun Weiwei was able to finally sleep her way into the Wei Dian Entertainment company, but she never got over the fact that Mr. Shu didn't want her. She held a grudge and wouldn't stop talking about it. Once she was able to enter the company, she couldn't beat watching Shu Qichen get the speaking roles when she was assigned as a background actor. However, she didn't dare show her hate. She used to always smile at Shu Qichen and treat him nicely. Luckily for her, she didn't have to keep up that façade after Mr. Shu died.
In his previous life, it was Sun Weiwei who would make Shu Qichen's work in various small roles or even stand-in roles a hell. She'd constantly scold and berate him on every film or set they shared.
"Oh! It's you! Xiuju, I almost didn't recognize you. You're dressed up so glamorously and in such a racy attire too. Are you auditioning for the role of a brothel operator? Geez Xingyu sure is particular about their casting. You even have to audition to be a brothel owner? Well, with your temperament, Xiuju, I'm sure you would get the role." Qiao Chen said with a smile.
The two things that annoyed Sun Weiwei the moset were when people said her real name or when they talked about how she was usually some nameless background character when she first debuted. Qiao Chen did as he did best. He mentioned both of the things she hated the most and even poked fun about how she had the air from some whorehouse owner. She was vibrating with anger.
"Why can't you speak like a civilized person? Who are you to run all the way over here to Xingyu and criticize others when you don't even have an agent?" Sun Weiwei's agent fiercely scolded Qiao Chen.
He's really just like a guard dog. Qiao Chen smile sarcastically. He noticed that it was almost time for his meeting with the script reviewing staff. He didn't want to waste any more time, so he walked around them to go inside.
"Stop right there." Sun Weiwei commanded. "Did you get invited to the audition? How dare you walk into an audition uninvited? Do you think I won't have security throw you out?"
"I was invited to talk about my screenplay, not some audition. If you want to get a security guard then you can go ahead and call one over. Then you can watch and see whether or not I'll be thrown out."
"A screenplay? Hahahah…" Sun Weiwei and her agent laughed heartily. They laughed so hard that they forgot about their public image. Everyone knew that Xingyu was even more script with their screenplays than they were with their casting. No one would believe that Shu Qichen would be able to write a script good enough to caught Xingyu's eyes.
"Since you're here to talk about your screen play, then you don't have to even go up. I'll call the team leader in charge of the script reviewing staff and have him personally talk to you." Sun Weiwei laughed. She started to look for the contact list in her phone.
Qiao Chen stopped and patiently waited outside. He'd give her the privilege of seeing the entire scene she wanted to see.
"Hello? Cai~ it's me Weiwei. I'm in the lobby right now. Come downstairs. There's something you have to deal with here."
Cai Hao, the Xingyu script reviewing staff head, soon came down and warmly greeted Sun Weiwei.
Qiao Chen used the system to check Cai Hao's information. This person was the new script reviewing staff head. He was at a TV station and wrote for them before he began working at Xingyu. He had an affair with Sun Weiwei a long time ago. It was no wonder why he came so quickly after Sun Weiwei's call.
"I don't know if you'll recognize this person or not. He used to belong to our company. His name is Shu Qichen." Sun Weiwei said as she used her Chin to point to Qiao Chen.
"I haven't met him personally, but I do know him." Shu Qichen was all over the news a few days ago, so of course he knew of the man.
Shu Qichen started acting at 16. He had always wanted to rely on his own abilities. He thought that he could hone his acting skills one day in the future. He never paid for propaganda to increase his popularity. This meant that he had never been famous in the seven or eight years of his entire acting career. However, he had been constantly in the news, so he was quite famous now.
"He said that he's here to talk to you guys about his screenplay to your company. I want to know what screenplay he was talking about. Did you read it?" Sun Weiwei looked at Qiao Chen with gleeful eyes and a sarcastic smile.
"I don't have a script appointment today." Cai Hao was the head. He was responsible for the scripts sent in by famous writers and authors. Other people were responsible for the scripts sent in by the new or unknown writers. However, he didn't believe that Shu Qichen had the capability to write anything good. Even if there were people from the staff that wanted to talk to him about his script, it was very unlikely that it would get the green light.
"Did you hear that? They didn't ask for you to talk about some crappy script. Are you going crazy because your dad died? Did the company's termination hit you too hard?" Sun Weiwei mocked. Then she turned back to Cai Hao and said, "Something might have gone wrong with his brain. Why don't you quickly have security kick him out? It isn't good for riffraff to make trouble in your company."
"Someone called Zheng Qi called me and made the appointment. Xiuju, you're so capable. You can even call the script reviewing team leader down here. I think it's better if you call that person first and ask them, hmm?" Qiao Chen crossed his arms, looked at the three people before him, and calmly said.
"There's no need to call. Even if Zheng Qi really did ask for you, your script can only continue through after I give it the go ahead. Hurry up and leave or else I'll really call security on you." Cai Hao impatiently and arrogantly said.
Cai Hao knew that Sun Weiwei had called him down to embarrass Shu Qichen for her. Even though he had only been working at Xingyu for a few months as the team leader, everyone had to talk to him about the scripts' okay. Even his own scripts were rejected. So what if Zheng Qi might have called him in? What could Shu Qichen even write? Nothing amazing, that's for sure.
Qiao Chen knew that it wasn't necessary to talk about his screenplay today. He didn't care too much about it either. Du Jingnan had already seen the script, so he decided to go back home and wait for him to personally look for him,
Just as Qiao Chen was leaving, he received a call from Zheng Qi.
"Why aren't you here yet? President Du is almost here." Zheng Qi asked.
"I'm downstairs in the lobby. Your script reviewing team leader said that I don't need to talk to you guys anymore. He told me to go back, because he wasn't going to approve the script. I'm getting ready to head out and submit it to a different company." Qiao Chen looked at Cai Hai as he replied.
"What? The script head is trying to drive you out?" Zheng Qi exclaimed in shock. Then she hurriedly collected herself and said, "Don't leave yet. President Du is already on his way. Wait a minute. I'll come down and talk to them."
"It's okay. I'll have the chance to work with your company sometime in the future. I'll just submit this script to a different company first." Qiao Chen said indifferently.
"Give me three minutes- I'll be down immediately. Just please wait three minutes." Zheng Qi said hurriedly and hung up. She had already left her office and was stepping right into the elevator.
Their company had incentives. If one selected a really good script from a pile of them, then there is a huge bonus. However, Zheng Qi didn't care about the bonus too much this time. What she really wanted was to use this opportunity to kick Cai Hao off his team leader position.
Zheng Qi had been working in Xingyu for a long time. She should have gotten the head position because of her seniority. However, Cai Hao suddenly jumped ahead of her because of his connections and relationships. The head was responsible for selecting the scripts from famous writers and screenwriters. There wasn't a big pressure to choose the scripts because they were all seasoned professionals. The bonuses for the head were also crazy good. Zheng Qi was very resentful of Cai Hao, but decided to wait. Her intuition was telling her that this was what she had been waiting for. She finally had the opportunity to knock Cai Hao off of the head position.
"It's useless even if you have Zheng Qi. I already told you that your script won't get the green light if I don't okay it. Since you have to wait for Zheng Qi to come, then I'll just have to tell her the same thing but with you as the audience. Maybe then you'll finally just give it up already." Cai Hao arrogantly said and threw Qiao Chen a disdainful look.
Sun Weiwei and her agent stood next to Cai Hao and waited to see the good show.
Qiao Chen inwardly thought that it was too funny. People had always said that it was hard to deal with belligerent demons like these. He would have lived all these lives for nothing if he couldn't even handle these little demons today.