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Fu Yunci was the vice president of the Shi Corporation. In the past, he and Shi Yanbai had studied together at Harvard University abroad.
After graduation, he joined Shi Corporation as the vice president. He was Shi Yanbai’s close friend and confidant, someone Shi Yanbai trusted and relied on deeply.
Fu Yunci paused slightly, frowning as he said:
“Didn’t you once take an interest in a new author, Mu Zi, who wrote an ancient romance novel called The Little Darling Was Seized by the Power Minister? I’ve been binge-reading it these past few nights.”
“In truth, it’s just the same old wine in a new bottle—an outdated, melodramatic ‘you chase, I run’ kind of forced possession plotline.”
“It’s only that Mu Zi’s writing is exquisite, her ideas clever, and she captures the ambiguous push and pull of emotions between men and women so well. That’s why it blew up on the Eggplant website, ranking in the top ten even while still serializing.”
“Now its data across major streaming platforms is stellar, and many film companies have their eyes on it, privately contacting the author. Even the Lu Corporation isn’t an exception.”
“Personally, I think such a melodramatic, cliché story, if adapted into a short drama, could easily become a viral hit—low investment, quick returns.”
“But if it’s made into a big-budget TV drama, I worry audiences today won’t buy it.”
“After all, this kind of drama is outdated and stale. Who still wants to waste time watching tragic, angst-filled romances disguised as sweet love stories?”
“In the novel, the heroine never truly loved the hero, not even on her deathbed. She deceived him with pretty lies again and again, and even tried to escape several times.”
“Every time, she was caught and locked away like a canary in a gilded cage. Nowadays, what’s trending are powerful female leads who slap faces and rise in revenge.”
“Granted, the hero is portrayed as deeply devoted, doing much and sacrificing much for her. But really, it’s nothing more than a one-man show of love.”
“Still, he was terribly deceived—so much so that he was enraged to death by the heroine in the end.”
“If I were that hero, I’d dig three feet into the ground to drag the heroine back and make her pay!”
“Even as a grown man, staying up late at night reading this, I ended up crying my eyes out. This author really knows how to pull readers’ emotions—an absolute master at it—”
Shi Yanbai had also stumbled across this melodramatic story by accident while scrolling through a live-streaming platform.
Normally, he had no interest in such repetitive, formulaic plots. But this author’s writing had something unique—fresh, vivid, and with a strong sense of imagery.
What surprised him even more was that many of the story’s scenes strangely matched fragments that had recently been surfacing in his mind.
They felt like memories—real events he had lived through—gripping his heart tightly, twisting it in pain like tangled vines constricting his insides.
So, he decided to invest heavily and adapt the novel into a television series.
His ink-dark eyes narrowed slightly, his expression firm as he ordered:
“Do as I say. No matter the cost, secure the rights to this novel.”
Though doubtful, Fu Yunci still nodded in agreement.
After years at his side, he knew Shi Yanbai’s style: swift, decisive, ruthless. Whatever projects he invested in were always calculated from a business perspective.
Originally, Shi Corporation had been heavily invested in real estate.
But years ago, when the real estate bubble burst and collapsed, the company suffered massive financial crises, with countless unfinished buildings.
After returning from overseas, Shi Yanbai took over this wreckage. His father had died early, and his grandfather, stricken by the financial disaster, had fallen gravely ill and was in intensive care.
Unlike other real estate moguls who fled with money, Shi Yanbai sold off most of Shi Corporation’s assets at low prices.
He personally went to Wall Street, trading stocks and raising funds to patch a deficit of nearly tens of billions.
Then, with sharp vision, he shifted the company’s focus to the rising live-streaming and short-drama industries.
He struck while the iron was hot, investing in several major projects, and developed multiple gaming apps.
Through sheer willpower, he revived the company that had been on the brink of collapse, turning it into a thriving empire.
Over the past two years, its growth had been unstoppable, like a flood beast.
Shi Yanbai had risen to become Jiangcheng’s leading business magnate, the undisputed giant of the Beijing circle.
Back when Shi Corporation was collapsing due to the real estate crisis and cash flow dried up, with new national policies further depressing sales and housing prices plummeting, the wealthy elite mocked them from the shadows.
Even his two uncles, sensing the downfall, were preparing to run with the money.
But Shi Yanbai, ruthless and relentless, shouldered the billions in debt alone and revived the company.
After all, Old Mr. Shi had once declared: whoever could restore the company’s finances would inherit its leadership.
Among all the talented Shi family members, only Shi Yanbai succeeded.
Now, he sat firmly in the CEO’s chair, controlling Jiangcheng’s economic lifeline. His uncles and cousins, though resentful, had no choice but to concede—after all, they were simply outmatched.
—-
Meanwhile, Wen Fu got into a Ferrari sports car and immediately called Lu Chenyi, dialing several times, but no one picked up.
At last, the call was answered—by his assistant, Sheng Wen.
Wen Fu asked bluntly:
“Is President Lu at the company?”
Sheng Wen froze for a moment.
In the past, Madam always called him “Chenyi” affectionately.
Why was she suddenly so distant, calling him “President Lu” now?
But he brushed it aside, glanced into the office, and said with a frown:
“President Lu is in a meeting with some company executives. It won’t end anytime soon. Madam, are you planning to bring him a homemade meal?”
“President Lu’s stomach hasn’t been feeling well since this morning—likely his old gastric problem again. Why not prepare a medicinal dish to ease his stomach and bring it over?”
Wen Fu said nothing, simply hung up and tossed the phone aside.
In the past, whenever she heard about his gastric pain, she would panic, rushing to deliver the medicinal soup she had carefully prepared.
She had even consulted many traditional Chinese doctors for his condition, knowing painkillers weren’t good long-term.
Through her tireless care, his gastric pain had been under control for years.
But likely because she’d been away recently and he’d been drinking irregularly, the problem flared up again.
Yet—what did that have to do with her?
He had never cared about her. Why should she humiliate herself by running to him again?
They were about to divorce. From now on, there would be no ties between them.
About half an hour later, Wen Fu arrived at Lu Corporation, took the elevator straight to the president’s office.
Assistant Sheng Wen, waiting outside, was surprised to see her arrive empty-handed.
“Madam, you didn’t bring President Lu any medicinal food?”