Less than two days after the incident at the hotel, the Qis’ company, which had declared bankruptcy and undergone restructuring, found itself in crisis due to numerous illegal activities. Qi Mo, as the person in charge, was forced to undergo investigation.

At this point, the Qi family had no funds left for public relations. The news quickly spread, and various scandals that the family had previously suppressed were unearthed and widely reported by the media.

Yu Yan didn’t believe for a second that this wasn’t the result of someone fanning the flames.

Carrying a cup of milk tea made by Jiang Mo, Yu Yan went upstairs and casually forwarded the news to Shen Yuchen. The response came almost instantly, briefly explaining the situation.

Qi Ke was a cunning and devious person. While Qi Mo was the official in charge of the company’s restructuring and took the fall, Qi Ke managed to distance himself from the situation.

Not only that, during the company’s bankruptcy restructuring, instead of trying to revive it, Qi Ke used the opportunity to embezzle money and transfer assets overseas, clearly preparing to flee the country.

Yu Yan suddenly understood. In his memory, Qi Ke was a shrewd individual, as evidenced by how he managed to take down Zhaoxing.

How could someone so sharp let the company fail within a month of restructuring? It turned out he had been using the guise of bankruptcy restructuring all along to transfer assets.

Seeing that Shen Yuchen wasn’t too busy, Yu Yan initiated a video call.

The call was answered instantly. Judging by the background, Shen Yuchen seemed to be in his study at home.

“You got off work early today?” Yu Yan instinctively locked his room door as he returned to his own space.

“Mm, there’s not much going on lately, so I decided to take a break.” Shen Yuchen massaged his temples.

Yu Yan leaned closer to the screen. “Why do your eyes have bloodshot veins? Have you been staying up late recently?”

“Just a bit.” Shen Yuchen’s insomnia had improved a lot, but he’d been busy handling matters related to the Qi family in recent days, leaving him little time to rest.

“Did you use eye drops?”

“I did.”

Yu Yan made a sound of acknowledgment. “Then maybe you should rest?”

“No need, I’m not tired.” Shen Yuchen shook his head. “I just finished a call.”

“Who were you talking to?” Yu Yan glanced up curiously.

“My mom. She suggested going to see a play this weekend.”

If it was about going to see a play, it would undoubtedly involve Zhang Cancan as well.

Yu Yan wasn’t sure whether it was Zhang Shujun or Zhang Cancan who enjoyed plays, but one thing was certain: Shen Yuchen didn’t. His preferences leaned more toward outdoor activities.

Yu Yan blinked a few times. “Did you agree?”

“No.”

“What’s so great about plays? How about we go racing this weekend instead? Then we can stop by Brother Fang’s shop to support his business. Or we could hang out at your place, build Lego, play games, and I’ll make milk tea for you. I just learned from my mom—it’s not too sweet, and I think it’s pretty good.”

He shook the half-empty cup in his hand.

Shen Yuchen nodded in agreement. “You make the milk tea, and I’ll cook.”

“Deal! I haven’t tried your cooking yet.”

“This time, you can.” Shen Yuchen rubbed his eyes again.

“Bro, you really should rest. I’m hanging up.”

Shen Yuchen refused. “I’m not tired.”

“You keep staring at the screen; it’s not good for your eyes. Why don’t you put on a steam eye mask while we talk?”

“No need.”

“Then I’m ending the video call!”

Looking at Yu Yan’s persistent expression, Shen Yuming ultimately couldn’t refuse. Obediently, under Yu Yan’s supervision, he re-applied the eye drops and put on a green steam eye mask with cartoon patterns.

The steam eye mask was prepared by Yu Yan, but it looked a little out of place on Shen Yuchen’s face. Should he get Shen Yuchen an eye massage device instead?

Taking advantage of Shen Yuchen’s inability to see while wearing the eye mask, Yu Yan didn’t switch the video call to audio. Instead, he openly observed Shen Yuchen while simultaneously browsing options for an eye massage device for him.

Shen Yuchen had been incredibly tired recently, so the video call didn’t last long.

As soon as the call ended, Yu Yan received a message from Xiao Man.

Chen Qingyu was incredulous when he received Xiao Man’s call and confirmed several times to make sure it was real. However, he didn’t directly agree to sign a contract with the company and instead wanted to discuss it in detail with Yu Yan in person.

This small request was something Yu Yan naturally wouldn’t refuse, so they agreed on a meeting time.

The location was set at Fang Chi’s restaurant. First, because it provided good privacy, avoiding paparazzi, and second, because Fang Chi had given Yu Yan a membership card that allowed him to charge meals to an account.

The next day, Yu Yan arrived at the restaurant fifteen minutes early, only to find that Chen Qingyu was already there.

Chen Qingyu had toned down quite a bit. He no longer had the timid look he had when clinging to Qi Ke, nor the arrogant demeanor he showed while waiting for someone at the restroom door. Instead, he seemed serious and professional.

“Do you have any objections to the contract?”

Chen Qingyu shook his head. “You really want to sign me?”

Yu Yan knew he was alluding to that glass of wine. “Yes. So, do you want to know why?”

“Pretty much.”

“I looked into you. You don’t have any major scandals, your acting skills are decent, and you have a fan base. Why wouldn’t I sign you? As for that glass of wine… I didn’t even drink it, did I?” Yu Yan didn’t dwell on it. He was willing to give Chen Qingyu a chance.

Chen Qingyu nodded slowly. “Since you looked into me, you should know about some of my scandals.”

Chen Qingyu had been abandoned in his hometown after his parents divorced when he was young. His parents, after forming new families, no longer cared for him, making him essentially a “de facto orphan.”

After learning about his background, Yu Yan felt that as long as Chen Qingyu hadn’t broken the law, his actions were understandable. A person with no one to back them up has to fight harder for fair treatment.

Yu Yan understood this better than anyone, which was why he was willing to give Chen Qingyu a chance.

The so-called scandals about him were nothing more than labels like “unfilial” or “ill-mannered,” which were insignificant in Yu Yan’s eyes.

“Those scandals don’t even require PR.” Yu Yan didn’t care. “Any other questions?”

Chen Qingyu shook his head. “For now… no.”

He had no objections to the contract or the profit-sharing terms and also agreed to follow the company’s arrangements. The contract was soon signed.

“Do you have any ongoing projects or unfinished shoots right now?” Yu Yan asked curiously.

Although Chen Qingyu had terminated his previous contract, his ability to gain a substantial fan base in the entertainment industry indicated his competence and connections.

Yu Yan had already planned a development route for him but didn’t want to impose his own ideas.

“No, I’ve been on ice for a few months now.” Chen Qingyu shook his head.

Previously, in order to pursue his studies, he had accumulated a significant amount of debt. Most of the money he had earned in recent years had been used to repay that debt, with a portion donated. He didn’t have much left, which was why Qi Ke had been able to threaten him with being sidelined.

At the moment, the timing was a bit awkward. Yu Yan planned to personally invest in a movie, intending to cast actors from his signed artists, but that would take another half to a full month to start.

This period was too short to film a movie or TV series. The best option would be to send Chen Qingyu to a variety show to maintain his presence.

However, Yu Yan believed that actors should maintain a sense of mystery, so he rarely allowed his artists to participate in variety shows unless necessary.

After some hesitation, Yu Yan ultimately contacted He Zhiyu to place Chen Qingyu in the production team of Falling into the Mundane.

A few days ago, the male third lead of the production had been involved in a scandal and withdrew from the team. They were now auditioning for a replacement.

Chen Qingyu’s acting skills were solid, and he already had a fan base, so he wasn’t a newcomer. Casting him as the male third lead in Falling into the Mundane wouldn’t raise any objections.

After He Zhiyu contacted the director, they arranged an audition time.

Since there were many scenes left to be reshot, the sooner the better.

Once everything was confirmed, Yu Yan prepared to take Chen Qingyu directly to the production team. They had barely taken a few steps when Chen Qingyu called out.

“Brother Yan, does the company have dorms?”

Yu Yan was slightly taken aback. “You want to stay in the dorms?”

He hadn’t considered the dorm situation before. He Zhiyu and the others had their own homes, and Cao Yuanye lived with his mother in a rental. However, the cost of renting in Beijing wasn’t cheap.

Chen Qingyu hesitated. “If there’s one available.”

“Did your previous company provide dorms?” Yu Yan pulled out his phone and asked Xiao Man about the dorm arrangements.

“Yes, but it was a four-person room. I didn’t get along well with them,” Chen Qingyu said softly.

A four-person room?

Yu Yan hesitated for a moment and withdrew the message he had sent.

Even within the same company, competition could lead to conflicts. Living in a four-person room under such circumstances would inevitably cause problems.

[Xiao Man: Brother Yan, what’s up?]

Yu Yan: In the next couple of days, Chen Qingyu will be joining the crew. Assign an assistant to keep an eye on him and have He Zhiyu guide him for a bit.

Xiao Man: Brother He might not be too willing. His team is already well-established.

Yu Yan: Just tell him this is a new junior I’m assigning to him.

Xiao Man: Got it.

After a moment of hesitation, Yu Yan dialed Shen Yuchen’s number.

The phone rang for a while before it was finally answered just as he was about to hang up.

“Chen-ge, are you busy?”

“Not busy. Go ahead.”

Shen Yuming signaled the end of the meeting, and the group of executives let out a collective sigh of relief as they carefully left the room with their files, anxious to avoid staying a moment longer and risk being scolded.

“Do you have any fully-furnished, move-in-ready apartments available? Preferably in a secure residential area. I need one for use as a dormitory.”

After all, this was for an artist, so the security of the residence had to be solid to prevent obsessive fans from finding their way in.

Minghua had many secondary businesses, and real estate was its bread and butter. It would be much easier to find a sample unit or an unsold property through Shen Yuchen than to go looking on his own.

“When do you need it?”

Yu Yan glanced at Chen Qingyu across from him. The latter seemed a bit anxious.

It made sense—since he had terminated his contract with his former company, he naturally couldn’t stay in their dorm anymore. With no close friends around, living long-term in a hotel would be a huge expense for someone strapped for cash.

“Now,” Yu Yan said directly, not waiting for a response. “Just send me the address, and I’ll bring him over.”

“Who are you bringing?”

“Chen Qingyu, a new artist signed by the company.”

Shen Yuming’s tone lowered. “The guy who toasted you?”

Yu Yan gave a vague nod. “That’s him.”

The line went silent for a long time.

Yu Yan wasn’t sure if Shen Yuchen disapproved of him signing Chen Qingyu or if he was simply searching for a suitable property. Since Shen Yuchen had said earlier he could forgive him, it likely wasn’t about the signing.

“I’ll send you the address and the door code.”

“Thanks, ge. Dinner’s on me next time.”

As soon as the call ended, Yu Yan received the address and the lock code.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you to get your luggage first.”

Chen Qingyu nodded and asked immediately, “What car are you driving, Yan-ge? I have a lot of luggage—it’s all piled up at the inn.”

Yu Yan stopped in his tracks. “We’ll take a cab and hire a moving company for the luggage.”

The place where Chen Qingyu was staying wasn’t a hotel but a small inn hidden near a hospital. These types of inns were particularly cheap, but the conditions weren’t great.

Once the movers had loaded up the luggage, Yu Yan brought Chen Qingyu to the new apartment.

The residential area was located on West Third Ring Road. The environment was excellent, and the property manager verified their identities before letting them in.

Following the address Shen Yuchen had sent, they arrived at a large flat with five bedrooms and two living rooms.

The apartment was luxuriously decorated with artistic flair, clearly designed by a professional interior designer.

Chen Qingyu, rarely seen flustered, hesitated. “Are you sure we’re in the right place?”

He voiced what Yu Yan was thinking.

“Let me check.”

Yu Yan casually took a picture and sent it to Shen Yuchen along with a voice message. “Ge, did you send me the wrong address?”

Shen Yuchen replied quickly with a voice message. “No mistake.”

“This place looks expensive,” Yu Yan commented.

His idea of a dorm still involved the four-person rooms Chen Qingyu had mentioned earlier. Coming across this five-bedroom, two-living-room luxury flat left him in disbelief.

Shen Yuchen’s next voice message was a long one: “You don’t have to pay for it. This apartment has been sitting empty. Two years ago, I hired Ye Zhan to do the interior design after he got kicked out of his home.”

With just a few words, Yu Yan pieced together the story. This was an apartment Shen Yuchen had specially arranged to help a friend who had been thrown out of their home and left penniless.

Shen Yuchen was just too good!