Chapter 25 – 025

“Nonsense! I’ve already spent the money; how could I not make it back?”

The salary and penalty fees from Guangyao added up to no small amount.

But Xie Yunjing’s mood didn’t improve at all. That money wasn’t Gu Xian’s responsibility to begin with.

“Hey! What’s with that expression?” Gu Xian grew wary. “You’re not thinking of going back on your word, are you?”

“I’m not.” Xie Yunjing pressed down on Gu Xian’s hand, which was itching to grab his collar again, and operated his phone for a moment. “Done. Just wait for the bank’s review.”

Thanks to Xie Huaihong’s “business,” the two of them already had some financial dealings between their bank accounts. Seeing the transfer receipt on Xie Yunjing’s phone, Gu Xian put on a fake smile. “As expected of Third Young Master Xie, your generosity knows no bounds.”

“…” Xie Yunjing raised his hand toward Gu Xian’s face.

Gu Xian eyed him suspiciously. Was this guy planning to touch his face?

“Ah!”

The hand that seemed aimed for his face suddenly changed course and flicked Gu Xian on the forehead.

“If you don’t want to smile, then don’t.”

Gu Xian clutched his forehead. “What did I say?! The moment I’m polite to you, you take advantage of it!”

“You don’t even need me to be polite to you,” Xie Yunjing pointed out who was truly the more overbearing one. “Consider this money an investment. Draw up a contract for me tomorrow.”

He patted Gu Xian’s waist. “Now, can you get off me?”

Gu Xian was practically straddling him, the position both suggestive and excessive, yet Gu Xian seemed completely oblivious.

“Investment?” There was, of course, no reason to refuse free money. As he leaned back, Gu Xian straightforwardly asked, “How much of a share do you want?”

“The same percentage you gave Li Yuqiu and the others will do.”

“Crafty!”

Of course, he wouldn’t shortchange Li Yuqiu and the others. Even if he ended up losing money himself, he wouldn’t let them take a loss, so their share naturally wasn’t small.

“Are you trying to bargain with me?”

“Forget it.” Gu Xian yawned, wrapping himself snugly in his half of the blanket. His voice was slightly muffled as he mumbled, “After all, you’re the biggest backer right now.”

*

With the funding issue resolved, it was time to prioritize the preparation of the production team.

Adapting the novel into a drama required making changes to the original work. Although Mei Zhiya, the author, was willing to assist, she wasn’t professionally trained in screenwriting. Since 《The Legend of Song Mountain》 was being made with profit in mind, achieving this goal required hiring a professional and experienced screenwriter and director.

Gu Xian frowned and asked his newly hired assistant, Yu Le, “No one’s willing to take the job?”

Yu Le wore a pained expression. “Yes, Mr. Gu. I’ve approached all the teachers you’re interested in five or six times. I’ve even raised the pay and benefits repeatedly, but not a single one of them is willing to take on our project.”

Yu Le was the one who initially decided to have Guangyao purchase the rights to 《The Legend of Song Mountain》. However, after Wei Wenxian, a nepotism hire, parachuted in, the two clashed due to their vastly different values, and Yu Le was subsequently ousted from Guangyao.

Being able to decide to purchase the rights to 《The Legend of Song Mountain》 before the IP adaptation craze even began was a clear testament to Yu Le’s sharp foresight. Moreover, as a loyal fan of the book, he had already carved out a promising career at another company. Yet, when Gu Xian approached him and explained that Guangyao was serious about producing 《The Legend of Song Mountain》, he immediately switched back to Guangyao.

Thus, Gu Xian had no doubt about Yu Le’s dedication.

With sincerity and competitive terms on the table, yet no one willing to take on Guangyao’s project, there could only be one explanation, someone was sabotaging them.

“Mr. Gu, could it be that Fengxing has put out the word?”

Fengxing had returned the rights to 《The Legend of Song Mountain》, but that was mainly to pocket the hefty 70-million-yuan breach-of-contract penalty. Meanwhile, the production of 《The Legend of Le Mountain》 was moving forward at full speed. Fengxing was playing both sides for profit, and to prevent 《The Legend of Le Mountain》, their knockoff, from being crushed by 《The Legend of Song Mountain》, the original, in direct competition, it was no surprise that Fengxing would try to trip Guangyao up.

“It’s not just Fengxing.” Gu Xian tapped the desk, thanks to the funding from a certain unknown benefactor, his office finally had a proper desk.

“With the terms we’re offering, if Fengxing wanted to buy everyone off, they’d have to pour all the 70 million yuan they earned from Guangyao’s breach of contract right back in, and it still wouldn’t be enough.”

“Could it be that Guangyao is being blacklisted by the entire industry?” Yu Le’s expression grew even more grim. “All those previous incidents were caused by Wei Wenxian, and he’s already been sent to prison by you, Mr. Gu. Surely the industry wouldn’t implicate Guangyao over this?”

“It’s not a blacklist. Guangyao’s just a small, broken company; it’s not important enough for that kind of treatment.”

Blaming Guangyao for Wei Wenxian’s mistakes was absurd. Even in the worst-case scenario, the Gu Group’s size far surpassed that of any entertainment company. If they were willing to invest, they’d be a goldmine that every entertainment company would fight over. The industry would still have to show respect for the Gu Group’s influence.

“Someone’s stirring up trouble,” Gu Xian said as he tidied the items on his desk. “But I’ll need to investigate further to figure out exactly who it is. For now, let’s call it a day and head home. You’ve been running around nonstop these past few days, so go back and get some proper rest.”

After letting Yu Le off work, Gu Xian naturally didn’t stay much longer himself.

He sent out a few messages to Li Yuqiu and some other well-informed contacts before heading into the bathroom to take a shower.

Xie Yunjing, having wrapped up some work he hadn’t finished at the office, returned to the bedroom from the study just in time to hear Gu Xian’s phone ringing.

The caller ID displayed an unfamiliar number with no saved name.

Xie Yunjing picked up the phone and knocked twice on the bathroom door. “Gu Xian, your phone.”

“Who is it?” Gu Xian’s voice, muffled by the sound of running water, sounded a bit hazy.

“No idea.”

It seemed that an unsaved number equated to being unimportant, so Gu Xian casually said, “Just answer it for me, will you? I just finished lathering up with soap!”

The phone rang until the very last moment before someone finally picked up.

“Hello.” Xie Yunjing was just about to explain that he wasn’t Gu Xian when an arrogant laugh from the other end interrupted him.

“Hahaha, Gu Xian, having a tough time lately, aren’t you?”

Xie Yunjing frowned slightly. “Who are you?”

Whether it was due to overconfidence or unfamiliarity, the person on the other end failed to notice that this wasn’t Gu Xian speaking. He continued arrogantly, “Me? I’m Jiang Longxing! What, don’t recognize me after a few years?”

Jiang Longxing?

Xie Yunjing vaguely remembered the name, it seemed to belong to someone who went to the same high school as him and Gu Xian.

Xie Yunjing didn’t respond, and Jiang Longxing, perhaps misinterpreting the silence, laughed even more smugly. “Hahaha, having a hard time finding a screenwriter and director lately, huh? Let me tell you, this is just the beginning. You won’t find anyone in the future either!”

Jiang Longxing was like a hen that had just laid an egg, eager to cluck loudly enough for everyone to know how big and perfectly round his egg was.

“You don’t need to waste time trying to investigate me. I’ll tell you straight up, it’s me who’s been making those calls to block you from finding screenwriters and directors. Others might show you some respect, but not me, because I know you, the so-called eldest young master of the Gu family, are all names and no substance!”

“Silent for so long? Must’ve hit a nerve, huh? Tsk tsk, Gu Xian, look at you now, so arrogant before, and now so pathetic. You even ended up as Xie Yunjing’s plaything!”

Xie Yunjing finally remembered.

Back in high school, Jiang Longxing had been disciplined by Gu Xian several times for bullying classmates and harassing girls. Ever since then, he’d harbored a grudge against Gu Xian, going out of his way to provoke him, pick fights, and constantly insert himself into their conflicts whenever Xie Yunjing and Gu Xian clashed.

Jiang Longxing’s interference was unpredictable, sometimes he sided with Xie Yunjing, other times with Gu Xian. No one could figure out what he really wanted, and both Xie Yunjing and Gu Xian found him incredibly annoying.

“Gu Xian,” the voice on the other end turned somewhat flippant. “Having a rough time under Xie Yunjing, huh? Why don’t you come to me instead? If you beg me properly and keep me happy, I might just let you enjoy a few good days, hahaha!”

Xie Yunjing’s gaze turned icy in an instant, and he finally spoke again.

“You’re not worthy.”

Author’s Note:

Xiao Xie’s twisted possessiveness: Only I am allowed to be my wife’s rival!