Chapter 101

In the conference room, about seven or eight executives from the company were seated around a long table.

Except for Shi Yao, whom Jiang Ji had barely seen before, Jiang Ji didn’t recognize most of the others.

Qin Qingzhuo, who had been invited as the program’s music director, had at least crossed paths with these people before.

Leading the meeting was the company’s chief content officer, surnamed He, who was most familiar with Qin Qingzhuo. He greeted him, “Qingzhuo, you’re here too.”

“Well, after all, Jiang Ji is an artist signed to my studio,” Qin Qingzhuo walked over, pulled out a chair, sat down next to Jiang Ji, and placed the stack of printed materials he was holding on the table in front of him, smiling, “I’m just here to listen. I hope you don’t mind?”

“Welcome, welcome,” Mr. He smiled, “Actually, the main reason we asked Jiang Ji to come today is to act as a mediator. After Jiang Ji posted that Weibo yesterday, Director Shi called me to reflect on it first. I thought, if there are any misunderstandings or conflicts between two people, let’s seize this opportunity to clear the air. If Jiang Ji has any demands, feel free to speak up, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you, okay?”

After a few seconds of silence, Jiang Ji looked at Shi Yao opposite him. “I’d like to hear Director Shi’s explanation first, if that’s okay?”

His tone was calm, which surprised Qin Qingzhuo a bit. He had come prepared to support Jiang Ji before the meeting.

“Of course,” Mr. He looked at Shi Yao, “Director Shi, as a senior, would you like to go first?”

Shi Yao’s expression was not good. He had probably been questioned by these executives a lot after the incident, plus he was used to being domineering on the show. Now, he frowned, clearly reluctant to be the first to back down.

The conference room fell silent for a moment. Mr. He was about to say something to ease the tension when, just as he said “Director Shi,” a notebook suddenly flew over and hit Shi Yao in the face heavily. “I told you to speak, stop acting tough!”

Everyone in the room turned to look at the person who spoke, including Qin Qingzhuo. At this moment, this fiery-tempered executive glared at Shi Yao and scolded him publicly, “Look at the mess you’ve made. We have to clean up after you!”

Shi Yao seemed extremely fearful of this hot-tempered executive. Even after being hit by the notebook, he didn’t say a word, not even daring to look at him. After a few seconds, he looked at Jiang Ji and finally spoke, “Jiang Ji, I’ve offended you before. I’m sorry.”

Jiang Ji still didn’t respond, his face showing no expression. However, if one looked closely into his eyes, they would catch a hint of subtle mockery. He watched Shi Yao perform as if he were watching a poorly staged play, calmly observing.

“We’ve worked together for so many episodes, and we’ve had some bond,” under the gaze of several executives, Shi Yao had to continue, “Jiang Ji, I know you have grievances against me, but some things were beyond my control. You know, in this environment, without hype, there’s no heat. I did these things without any selfish motives, just to make our show popular. When the show gets popular, you’ll also get more attention and resources in the future. Isn’t that right?”

After saying this, he glanced at Jiang Ji, with a rare sincerity in his tone this time. “We’ve had no complaints in the past, no grudges recently, so let’s put this behind us, shall we?”

“Beyond your control,” Jiang Ji repeated his words, pondering before asking, “Then, Director Shi, I’d like to know, who among the people present made you feel that way? After all, besides them, no one seems to be able to force you to do anything on the show.”

He subtly set a trap for Shi Yao. Shi Yao definitely wouldn’t dare to blame these executives. He immediately defended himself, “Jiang Ji, that’s not what I meant…”

“Also, Director Shi, which incident made you feel that way?” Jiang Ji interrupted him, his tone becoming colder, “Was it manipulating the votes to eliminate my band, or forcing Teacher Qin to sing on stage even though he wasn’t feeling well, or hiring paparazzi to photograph an eight-year-old girl, causing everyone to accuse her of being a thief?”

The blatant facts were laid out before them, and Shi Yao’s face alternated between red and pale. It seemed he couldn’t bear the embarrassment.

“Alright.” The executive who had just thrown the notebook at Shi Yao intervened at this moment, “Young man, where it is possible to let people off, you should spare them. Now that Director Shi has apologized to you, don’t hold onto past grudges. How about this? The program group will give you another two million, consider it as compensation for your feelings. You delete the Weibo, and the program group will also issue a reconciliation notice. That’ll be the end of it, okay?”

“I don’t need compensation, and I don’t accept the apology,” Jiang Ji said calmly, “If you want to listen to my demands, it’s simple. Just as my Weibo said, have Shi Yao leave the program group. Otherwise, Asperatus will withdraw from the finals.”
Upon hearing this, several high-level executives exchanged glances, all seeming rather evasive.

Seeing that Jiang Ji refused to follow the path he offered, the person speaking for Shi Yao frowned unhappily. “Young man, you’ll be mingling in the same circle in the future. Don’t be too extreme in your actions, or you’ll suffer big losses.”

This person not only shared the same mentality as Shi Yao, Jiang Ji thought with disgust, but even his tone was as hypocritical as Shi Yao’s.

“What circle are you referring to?” Jiang Ji posed a humble inquiry. “The entertainment circle, the variety show circle, or the music circle? Since Director Shi feels trapped in this circle, I’d rather not join it. It’s better to put an end to this matter and cut off my chances of mingling in this circle completely.”

“Stop it! Watch your words!” The executive who had thrown the notebook interrupted him, slamming the table, then glanced at Qin Qingzhuo sitting next to Jiang Ji. “Qin Qingzhuo, manage your people!”

Seeing that the situation was turning unfavorable, Mr. He, who was chairing the meeting, quickly interjected, “Mr. Luo, we’re here to solve problems today. Please calm down first.” Then he reassured Qin Qingzhuo, “Qingzhuo, don’t mind. Mr. Luo is just a bit hot-tempered; he didn’t mean to come at you.”

“It’s okay, I understand.” Qin Qingzhuo had been leaning back in his chair listening to Jiang Ji without any intention of stopping him. Now, with a smile on his face as if he didn’t care about Mr. Luo’s rudeness just now, he said, “But since Mr. Luo wants to hear my opinion, let me say a few words.

He sat up a bit, his tone neither urgent nor slow. “Jiang Ji is indeed a bit young, and his attitude is sharp. Please forgive him. But he has his reasons for doing so. Director Shi’s previous actions not only harmed his family but also almost caused irreparable consequences. Please consider, if someone almost caused your family to lose their lives, would you forgive him?”

No one spoke, but several high-level executives exchanged glances again.

“I won’t say more unnecessary words,” Qin Qingzhuo said, getting up and handing out the materials he had brought. “I prepared some materials before coming. You can take a look, just for reference.”

When he handed the material to Mr. Luo, his hand paused for a moment. From the bottom, he pulled out a document and handed it over.

As everyone looked through the materials, their expressions became increasingly serious.

After everyone had roughly gone through them, Qin Qingzhuo finally spoke up. “The first set of materials is nothing special, just some traffic statistics. The data objectively reflects why the audience watches this show and who they watch it for. The second set of materials isn’t surprising either. It’s some cases I’ve collected where people used the show’s authority to profit for themselves or interested parties. Of course, this information isn’t difficult to obtain, and you probably already know about it, but for various reasons, it hasn’t been publicly discussed. As for the third set of materials…”

As he reached the bottom of the materials, some of the high-level executives looked puzzled because they hadn’t seen the “third set of materials.”

Qin Qingzhuo intentionally paused and glanced at Mr. Luo, who was sitting with his head down and brows furrowed, before continuing, “Sorry, slip of the tongue, there is no third set of materials. I think our attitude has been made very clear. Of course, the final decision depends on your wishes. We won’t disturb you any further.”

After Qin Qingzhuo finished speaking, he turned to Jiang Ji and said, “Let’s go,” then stood up, nodded at Mr. He, and left the conference room.

Outside the conference room, the two walked toward the elevator.

As they stepped into the elevator, Jiang Ji finally spoke, “What’s the third set of materials?”

He could tell that Qin Qingzhuo’s mention of the “third set of materials” just now was definitely not a slip of the tongue, but rather a deliberate prod.

“It’s a surprise prepared specifically for Mr. Luo.” Qin Qingzhuo smiled, but it was different from his usual smile, with a hint of cunning. “Guess why the others didn’t voice their opinions much, and only he insists on keeping Shi Yao?”

Originally, Jiang Ji had only thought the two were birds of a feather, but hearing Qin Qingzhuo say this, he had a certain speculation. “Could it be that they…”

Qin Qingzhuo pulled out a recorded video from his phone and handed it to Jiang Ji. “Watch this.”

Jiang Ji took the phone, and on the screen was a chat log between Shi Yao and Mr. Luo, including some explicit content. “Is this recorded from Shi Yao’s phone that day?”

“Yeah,” Qin Qingzhuo nodded. “Originally, that day, I just planned to find some evidence on Shi Yao’s phone, but when I opened each chat, I unexpectedly found this. At the time, I couldn’t identify who this person was. Later, through Xia Qi, I confirmed Mr. Luo’s identity.”

“To think of recording such chat content,” Jiang Ji raised an eyebrow, looking up at Qin Qingzhuo. “Teacher Qin, you really are…”

“I’m really bad, right?” Qin Qingzhuo laughed and said, “I also think so.”

Jiang Ji lifted his hand, put his arm around Qin Qingzhuo’s shoulder, and held his chin, turning away from the elevator camera, he gave Qin Qingzhuo a peck on the cheek. “You’re really amazing.”

Qin Qingzhuo smiled for a while, then continued as they walked out of the elevator, “With this, Mr. Luo probably won’t dare to insist on protecting Shi Yao. As for the other high-level executives, in their eyes, Shi Yao is just a pawn. Keeping this pawn now is obviously not a wise decision, so this chess game… should have results soon.”

Jiang Ji responded with a simple “Hmm.”

Qin Qingzhuo’s judgment was correct. At nine o’clock in the evening, the production team issued an announcement.

The wording was very clear — “Due to recent online controversies, Shi Yao will withdraw from the ‘Restless Band’ program, and Xia Qi will serve as the program’s chief director for the final.”

In addition, it explained that they would continue to investigate Shi Yao’s manipulation of votes, pressuring the band to sign contracts, exposing the privacy of band members, and a series of other incidents, temporarily appeasing the boiling public opinion.

When the news was announced, Qin Qingzhuo had just dismounted from Jiang Ji’s motorcycle.

The night temperature was low. After locking the bike, Jiang Ji asked him to go inside first.

As he locked the bike and climbed the stairs, Qin Qingzhuo stood waiting at the entrance, not entering the house.

Jiang Ji rubbed his ears with his palms. “Isn’t it cold? Why aren’t you going in?”

“Suddenly thought of having you record your fingerprint,” Qin Qingzhuo smiled and said, “so I waited here for you.”

“Fingerprint recording?” Jiang Ji was momentarily stunned.

“Yeah,” Qin Qingzhuo turned around, lowered his head, and tapped a few times on the fingerprint lock with his fingers. “Alright, come here to record it.”

He stepped aside, letting Jiang Ji stand in front of the door, but Jiang Ji didn’t move.

“What’s wrong?” Qin Qingzhuo turned his face.

In the night, Jiang Ji stared at him, showing a slightly dazed and youthful expression on his face.

“What are you staring at?” Qin Qingzhuo smiled and took his hand. “Record your thumb; it’s more convenient when opening the door.”

Only then did Jiang Ji respond with a “Hmm.”

Qin Qingzhuo pinched Jiang Ji’s fingers to record the fingerprint, pressing it three times on the display to input it into the system.

Then he released Jiang Ji’s hand. “Change hands and record another one.”

Jiang Ji switched to the other hand and extended it in front of him.

“Do I have to hold it for you to press?” Qin Qingzhuo chuckled. Although he said that, he still held Jiang Ji’s fingers and pressed three times on the display. Jokingly, he said, “Does it look like stamping handprints? Once this handprint is stamped, you’ll be mine… It’s done, try it.”

He opened the door and closed it again, letting Jiang Ji test the newly recorded fingerprint.

Jiang Ji held the doorknob, and as his thumb touched the recognition area, a soft “beep” sounded, and the door opened.

“Alright, it’s so cold outside,” Qin Qingzhuo pushed lightly on his back. “Hurry, go inside.”

He followed Jiang Ji into the house, but as soon as they closed the door, Jiang Ji turned and pressed him against it.

Tongue against lips, it was the kind of direct and forceful kiss, a surge upon entry.

Jiang Ji’s fingers slipped into his hair, tightening the gaps slightly, forcing Qin Qingzhuo to tilt his head up for the kiss.

Qin Qingzhuo endured the passive experience, almost breathless when they separated.

Most of the time, he preferred gentle and gradually deepening kisses. However, he discovered that an occasional intense kiss could quickly ignite him.

“Just recording a fingerprint, why so fierce all of a sudden?” Their noses almost touching, Qin Qingzhuo intentionally teased Jiang Ji. “Could it be that recording fingerprints is your fetish?”

“Why did you ask me to record fingerprints?” In the dim light, Jiang Ji looked at him and asked.

“What’s the reason for that? You are my boyfriend,” Qin Qingzhuo said with a smile, thinking for a moment before adding, “Isn’t wanting you to consider this place as home a good reason?”

Jiang Ji lightly pecked his lips, staying silent for a while.

Since coming to Yancheng, he hadn’t really thought of any place as home. The houses he rented were just “places to stay,” never considering them as homes. But now, Qin Qingzhuo had him record fingerprints and considered this place as home.

Since being with Qin Qingzhuo, the feeling of swelling in his chest hadn’t appeared again. However, Jiang Ji now felt that sensation rekindled.

He kissed Qin Qingzhuo’s lips firmly, lifting him off the ground. “Just stamping fingerprints is not enough.”

With his back against the door, Qin Qingzhuo’s arms hooked around Jiang Ji’s neck, and he chuckled lowly. “Then stamp some other prints.”