Chapter 4: Dear Movie Emperor, How Can I Help You?

A flicker of astonishment passed through Lin Xingmian’s eyes, and his expression froze for a moment. “Huh?”

“Is there really a need to be so surprised?”Jiang Zijin remained composed, leisurely getting up to pour himself a glass of water.

“Don’t worry, I’m not trying to latch onto you, nor have I fallen in love with you at first sight.”

“Recently, the founder of Jingsheng Group, Ms. Jiang Rong, passed away. She left all her shares to me.”

“I need to inherit the estate.”

Lin Xingmian furrowed his brows slightly. “But… what does that have to do with marrying me?”

Jiang Zijin dropped a vitamin C effervescent tablet into the glass of water, his tone calm. “There’s a precondition to inheriting this estate—I need to get married.”

“Get the marriage certificate, marry, and once I officially inherit Ms. Jiang’s shares, we’ll go our separate ways.”

“Coincidentally, you owe me a favor. What do you think?”Jiang Zijin turned around and handed the glass of water to him.

Lin Xingmian’s gaze darkened slightly, his eyes filled with a hint of scrutiny.

Marriage was no trivial matter, especially when it involved inheritance rights.

They were practically strangers who had only met once. Wasn’t he afraid that Lin Xingmian might turn on him and seize his wealth?

Moreover, Jingsheng Group was one of the top four tech conglomerates in the country, with countless subsidiaries and products under its umbrella. Its massive scale and wealth were beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Who was he? How did he have the right to inherit shares in Jingsheng Group?

Jiang Zijin seemed to sense his confusion and explained, “My name is Jiang Zijin. I’ve been living abroad for over twenty years, only to suddenly discover that I have a wealthy mother in China. After her death, she left me shares as compensation. I suppose you could call it… motherly kindness?”

Lin Xingmian was stunned for a few seconds. A mixed-race heir to Jingsheng Group’s future leadership—wasn’t that… the antagonist from the novel?

Perhaps to create a compelling antagonist, the novel’s Jiang Zijin was portrayed as someone whose appearance and wealth were no less impressive than the protagonist’s.

In the novel,Jiang Zijin was bold and unrestrained. In the later stages of the plot, after officially taking control of Jingsheng Group, he used its power to suppress the male lead.

Later, the male lead teamed up with Jingsheng’s competitors in an attempt to bring the company down.

But Jiang Zijin turned the tables by selling  Jingsheng’s shares to them, then fled with a fortune.

After all the chaos, he not only suffered no losses but also left the country with a hefty sum.

Compared to Lin Xingmian, who died early as cannon fodder,Jiang Zijin was clearly far more capable.

If he married him, would it increase his chances of survival?

Lin Xingmian looked at him, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes.

“What’s there to hesitate about?” The man tilted his head slightly, setting down the glass of water. “We’ll sign a prenuptial agreement, so you don’t have to worry about any financial issues.”

“Once I inherit the estate, a thank-you fee of 30 million will be transferred to your account.” The man stood with his arms crossed, his expression indifferent.

“We’re both adults! We’ll each get what we need, and I’ll prioritize giving you suitable resources when available. When the time is right, we’ll part ways.”

Lin Xingmian remained silent. The terms he offered were shockingly favorable. It was hard to tell whether he was compensating Lin Xingmian or the other way around.

“…If all you need is to get married, shouldn’t there be better candidates?” Lin Xingmian spoke slowly.

Jiang Zijin met his probing gaze and suddenly smiled.

“No one is more suitable than you.”

“I have no fame domestically, and your identity is perfect for helping me break into the Chinese market. It would also greatly benefit my inheritance of Jingsheng…”Jiang Zijin meticulously analyzed the advantages of marrying him. “In conclusion, you are currently my best choice.”

“What I choose has always been the best.”

Lin Xingmian nodded. It seemed like a fair deal, worth giving a try.

Although he had escaped this crisis, he had no idea what would happen next.

If anything unexpected occurred, he could still leverage the antagonist’s influence to buy himself some time.

With money and resources at his disposal, it was a win-win situation he couldn’t refuse.

“…I can agree to it,” Lin Xingmian’s voice was cool and crisp, like a clear spring falling on rocks.

Jiang Zijin’s pupils contracted, and his body stiffened slightly.

“So straightforward? No further consideration?” he asked, his tone filled with doubt and disbelief.

“Of course, but you’ll have to do me a favor first,” Lin Xingmian stated directly.

Jiang Zijin’s eyelashes lowered, his voice husky, “…The terms I’ve offered are already quite generous. Are you trying to raise the stakes? Don’t you think you’re being too greedy?”

Lin Xingmian lifted his eyelids, his expression calm.

“My worth is far more than thirty million. Since you understand my value, you should show your sincerity.”

“As the reigning Grand Slam actor, I can’t just marry anyone casually, even if you are an Enigma.”

Lin Xingmian casually picked up the belt hanging on the sofa, threading it through his trousers, as if threatening to leave immediately if Jiang Zijin didn’t agree.

Jiang Zijin chuckled, his tone laced with an indescribable excitement.

“Really… then, dear Grand Slam actor, what can I do for you?”

——

Lin Xingmian changed into a brand-new suit, took the elevator, and left the penthouse.

The elevator was filled with a pleasant aroma of incense, accompanied by soothing and elegant light music.

Lin Xingmian took out his phone from his pocket, inserted the SIM card, and pressed the power button.

He had removed the SIM card earlier at the venue to prevent anyone from calling him during his escape.

The phone screen lit up, and instantly, several missed calls and WeChat messages popped up.

The phone kept vibrating, but he expressionlessly pulled down the notification bar and blocked all of Tang Xia’s contact information.

Lin Xingmian logged into Weibo, and as expected, his name topped the trending list.

#Lin Xingmian Missing#

#Lin Xingmian Absent from Golden Eagle Awards#

#Is It Discomfort or Arrogance?#

Lin Xingmian quickly skimmed through the video. On the grand, golden stage of the Golden Eagle Awards, the host called his name, and the music swelled, but the camera couldn’t find him.

The camera hesitated for a moment, then focused on the face of a young actor in the back row.

The actor faced the camera without any hesitation, maintaining a perfect and composed smile.

When he smiled, he looked even more like Lin Xingmian.

The camera lingered on him for five or six seconds before finally panning back to the stage.

The host called his name several times, but no one responded, so they made a few jokes and quickly moved on.

The video ended, and the dark screen reflected Lin Xingmian’s slightly furrowed brow.

So, this was when the protagonist, Ji Ansheng, made his appearance?

He exited the video and scrolled down.

The comment section was filled with nothing but scathing remarks.

[“Oh my god, Lin Xingmian actually dared not show up for such an important event without even communicating with the production team. Does he think he’s earned too much and wants to retire from the industry?”]

[“I always said he’s a hypocrite, constantly boasting about how professional he is and how much he respects his fellow actors. What a load of nonsense!”]

[“He embarrassed everyone on the spot. That’s just so like him!”]

[“I heard the backstage was in complete chaos yesterday, and an entire security team was mobilized to look for him. Such a diva~”]

[“With an actor like him, the domestic entertainment industry is doomed!”]

[“I think that young guy just now looks great, way better than Lin with his nose stuck up in the air.”]

The comment section was even flooded with comments promoting Ji Ansheng.

Ji Ansheng, a 20-year-old Omega, played the role of the cute and loyal junior brother in the ancient fantasy idol drama “Palace of Wind and Snow.” In this drama, which was dominated by a bittersweet love story, his lively and humorous character lightened the overly heavy plot. Ji Ansheng gained a small but dedicated fanbase because of this role.

Now, thanks to this video, Ji Ansheng’s real-time keyword ranking had climbed to the top three.

Lin Xingmien stared at Ji Ansheng’s keyword, feeling that this whole situation wasn’t as simple as it seemed.

His manager, Tang Xia, didn’t have any direct conflict with him. Lin Xingmien believed he had treated those around him well, so why would Tang Xia sabotage him at such a critical moment? What could he possibly gain from it?

After all, Tang Xia’s salary was directly tied to his own.

The continuous vibration of his phone interrupted Lin Xingmien’s thoughts.

A text message from an unknown number popped up on his screen.

[“Lin Xingmien, don’t think just because you blocked me that I can’t find you! Get your ass back to the company right now!”]

[“I’m waiting for you at the company with the person in charge! You’d better think carefully about what you’re going to say! Otherwise, none of us will have a future!”]

Lin Xingmien scoffed and blocked the number again.

Tang Xia knew him well, but he also knew Tang Xia just as well.

Tang Xia was meticulous in his work and always wore a smile, but now that his plan had failed, he was throwing a tantrum.

It’s fine. Let him be arrogant for a little longer. He won’t have this chance again in the future!