Heavens!

What direction is this plot going?

Just now, when Guan Ciyan looked at Jian Buqing from the second floor, it seemed like he was interested in him. He had never looked at anyone like that before.

Could it be that the Guan family uncle and nephew are going to fight with Guan Ciyan over someone?

Guan Jingyu pulled Jian Yang aside and asked, “Yangyang, does my uncle trust you now?”

Jian Yang asked in return, “Aren’t you worried that your grandfather took Jian Buqing away?”

Guan Jingyu paused for a moment. “It’s a bit outrageous, but why should I worry?”

Forget it, maybe his feelings haven’t developed enough yet. Guan Jingyu would regret it later.

Right now, Guan Jingyu only cares about Jian Yang’s position beside Guan Ciyan. The last time they spoke on the phone, Jian Yang sounded seriously ill and as if he was being held somewhere by Guan Ciyan. Guan Jingyu was panicking, unable to get through to him. He didn’t dare rush over for fear of exposing his relationship with Jian Yang to Guan Ciyan.

After waiting so long for this banquet, he unexpectedly saw what appeared to be a real-life poster of Jian Yang hanging in the air.

Guan Jingyu began to suspect that Jian Yang might have turned against him, but at the same time, he didn’t believe it, because Jian Yang liked him so much.

“Yangyang, did you really say on stage that you’ll be starring in Wen Ye’s comeback movie?”

Jian Yang was stunned when he heard this.

“I don’t know either,” Jian Yang said innocently. “It’s just that when we went to find Director Wen Ye that day, we bumped into Guan Ciyan. You left first, but when Director Wen Ye saw me, he told Guan Ciyan that he wanted me to star. You know, I didn’t have a chance to refuse with Guan Ciyan there.”

Guan Jingyu could never have imagined that Jian Yang was actually the key to persuading Wen Ye to return. He always thought of Wen Ye as a genius who liked working with newcomers, just like how Bai Shun was nurtured. In his mind, Jian Yang only got involved in his battle with Guan Ciyan because of his love for him and was an informant he placed beside Guan Ciyan.

“You?” Guan Jingyu’s first reaction wasn’t to question if Jian Yang had betrayed him but to mock him. “How could it be you?”

That look in his eyes was as if to say, how could Wen Ye choose you?

Jian Yang thought to himself that this person was both stupid and arrogant. He continued to play innocent. “Why don’t you ask him?”

Guan Jingyu hadn’t considered the possibility of being betrayed. Instead, he was happy. “Grandfather already promised that I could also join the cast, but I don’t know if I can play the lead role. Yangyang, if you’re also in the movie, you can suggest to Director Wen Ye that I play the lead, and I’ll find you a good role too.”

Jian Yang: ??????

“Then… thank you?”

“You’re welcome. It’s only right for me to take care of you, since you’ve helped me so much.” Guan Jingyu, lost in the fantasy of playing the lead role, began to educate Jian Yang. “I brought your parents here so they could help you get back from your uncle. Their status will make it easier to talk to grandfather. Besides, they’re still your parents. You shouldn’t treat them like this. I promised to let your brother join the project, and that’s why they agreed to come.”

“You even promised to let Jian Buqing join?”

This world is truly crazy. Why does everyone think Jian Yang should just hand over the lead role? Why can Guan Jingyu and Jian Buqing easily join major projects just because they have money and connections?

What about his endless auditions?

In his past life, he kept circling in idol dramas, thinking his acting was good, but when he tried to shift genres, he kept failing. Whenever there was a good production, either his role got hijacked, or he was just asked to walk through scenes.

Why?!

“I was worried about your brother’s talent, but after seeing his performance just now, he wasn’t bad,” Guan Jingyu smiled. “He could be a supporting character for me.”

“You really think you’ll definitely get the lead role?”

“Of course, grandfather will help me. After all, I’m the only young master in the Guan family.”

Jian Yang couldn’t be bothered to argue. He had no one behind him. Only Guan Ciyan was backing him, but with greater benefits ahead, Guan Ciyan would definitely abandon him.

Whether it was Jian Buqing or Guan Jingyu, they had people behind them. Jian Buqing lost his role with Director Xu, but there were still plenty of roles waiting for him. After making his debut in front of so many directors, producers, and investors tonight, the resources the Guan family would provide him in the future would be endless.

Jian Yang looked up to the second floor. Guan Ciyan was no longer there. Earlier, Guan Ciyan had told him to use all the resources available. He had also said that he would never be bothered by Jian Yang using connections to take shortcuts. In reality, fairness was just a lie to those like him who had no resources or background.

“Yangyang, what’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?” Guan Jingyu came up to Jian Yang, his fingers gently touching beneath Jian Yang’s eyes. “What’s wrong? Did you cry?”

Jian Yang snapped out of his thoughts. Everyone’s gaze in the hall suddenly focused on him, even a few people showing admiration and respect.

What was going on? Did Guan Jingyu wiping his tears have such an impact?

In the awkward silence, Jian Yang pretended to check his phone. He lit up the screen, and a headline flashed across the screen:

“Unknown young man, conquering the Guan family’s two uncles.”

Jian Yang widened his eyes. His trembling fingers tapped the screen twice before he could open it.

An unknown young man is entangled with the young master of the Guan family at a hotel in the early morning, with a photo of him speaking to Guan Ciyan at the hotel door the day he first arrived. “According to previous reports, Guan Ciyan spent three hours with the young man at the hotel, and when he left, he had changed clothes.” The image is the same one used to slander Guan Ciyan, showing him entering the hotel with the young man and leaving alone.

Jian Yang hadn’t fully processed the news when Director Xu’s call came in.

“Jian Yang, didn’t you say you wouldn’t do this? Why did you get involved in such a mess?”

“Is this news true?”

Jian Yang’s throat felt as if it was blocked by a layer of torn cloth. He wanted to say it wasn’t true, but the report seemed to be based on real events with photos to back it up.

“Jian Yang? Hello?”

Jian Yang’s heart started to race, a bitter taste rising in his throat. He parted his lips to respond to Director Xu, but no words came out. Before he could say anything, Director Xu hung up, and everyone around continued to gaze at Jian Yang with various expressions.

The action of Guan Jingyu wiping his tears confirmed the truth of the news. The young master of the Guan family, a new top-tier celebrity, and his uncle competing for the same lover was certainly shocking. But what was even more intriguing was the enigmatic Guan Ciyan, who had saved the Guan family’s business and established the Fuyu Holy Hall, surpassing all entertainment companies—he was someone people wanted to learn more about.

The two became one person. The most eye-catching figure was this person.

What kind of skills does it take to handle both the Guan family’s uncles and nephews?

No matter where Jian Yang looked, he kept meeting the curious and excited gazes of others.

He tremblingly sent a message to the event team assistant:

“Who sent this news?”

“Who is in charge?”

The assistant quickly called him, “It’s from our own media company. I’m currently with the person in charge in the back garden. Young master, how do you want to handle this?”

How should he handle it?

Jian Yang couldn’t speak, and he didn’t know how to respond.

How could he handle this? Even the title of “young master” was a lie. The real young master was only Guan Jingyu.

Guan Jingyu had also seen the news and was shocked, but much better off than Jian Yang. He just said, “This is bad,” and went to find Old Master Guan.

Leaving Jian Yang alone to face everyone in the lobby.

Jian Yang left and headed toward the back garden.

The winter garden showed no sign of decay, with various flowers and vibrant green plants, though Jian Yang couldn’t appreciate it. Behind the garden was a servant’s room on the first floor, which had been converted into an office for the event team.

The beautiful assistant from the event team had lost her lipstick, revealing pale, tired lips, her face filled with worry. She forced a smile when she saw Jian Yang, “Young master, they’re here.”

It was a chubby man in a black suit, looking worse than Jian Yang. He begged the assistant, “Jiang Ke, please help me, we’ve been working together for twelve years, please help me, Director Guan will help me because of you…”

“I have no face to help you!” Jiang Ke slapped the man away. “I told you before not to act on your own. You’ve been scheming to please Director Guan, causing so much trouble. I can’t help you this time. Just listen to the young master.”

“Y-Young master?” The man pointed at Jian Yang. “He’s not, he’s the one from the Jian family who was sold off. Young master?”

Slap—

Jiang Ke was the first to slap the man.

The man covered his face, still turning around when Jian Yang’s fist came down. The man staggered back, and Jian Yang used all his strength to pin him to the ground and kept punching relentlessly. Someone tried to intervene, but Jiang Ke stopped them, “Let the young master handle it. It’s better than letting Director Guan deal with him.”

The man didn’t dare to fight back. But Jian Yang was weak, and his punches didn’t do much damage. If it weren’t for Mr. Su’s care over the past half-month, Jian Yang might have fainted earlier in the lobby.

Why? Why did it have to be like this?

He had just played a role. He had just earned Director Xu’s favor.

His show hadn’t even aired yet.

He had promised Director Xu that this kind of situation would never happen.

Now, how would he explain this? Director Xu trusted him so much. Would his show be canceled, or would they recast his scenes? He’d have to pay a penalty.

The contract clearly stated that any actions of the actor that violated public morals during the airing period could result in a penalty.

That amount was something he could never afford.

He was labeled as a kept man before even officially debuting, with rumors flying. How could his career continue?

“Why? Why?” Jian Yang grabbed the man’s collar. “Who sent this news?”

Another punch landed on the man’s face.

“Young master, I’m sorry, it wasn’t me, it was Director Guan. Director Guan told me to send it,” the man pleaded, holding onto Jian Yang’s leg. “Young master, please stop hitting me.”

“Please, young master.”

Jian Yang, in a fit of rage, his golden eyes bloodshot, closed his eyelids and felt a burning pain, like a wet cloth dipped in boiling water pressed against his eyes.

The man had been beaten for a while, still holding onto Jian Yang’s leg, preventing him from moving. Jian Yang’s chest burned with fury, as if it were on fire, and he lifted a computer from the nearby desk, throwing it at the man’s shoulder.

“Ah—”

The man screamed in pain and collapsed to the ground.

Jian Yang pressed his knee against the man’s chest, his hands gripping the man’s neck. “You deserve to die!”

“Jian Yang,” Guan Ciyan pushed the door open and called his name.

Jian Yang kneeled among the chaos, his knee pressing into the media manager from the company. His eyes were bloodshot, filled with tears, and he looked like he might cry at any moment. His hair was disheveled, his white handmade suit stained with patches of black and white, his hands covered in tiny red and purple bruises, and the cuffs soaked in blood.

His normally obedient, sharp eyes were clouded with a gray mist, his eyes bloodshot, showing a sickly glow. Guan Ciyan sternly said, “Jian Yang, get up.”

He had pleaded with Elder Su for treatment, and in the blink of an eye, he had been tortured to this state.

Jian Yang blinked hard, trying to make out Guan Ciyan’s figure, but all he saw was a blurry double image. He couldn’t make out Guan Ciyan’s face, just as he couldn’t understand what kind of person Guan Ciyan really was.

His throat tasted sweet and metallic. Jian Yang opened his mouth and called out, “Sir.”

Fresh blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, staining the pure white collar of his shirt, turning the leaves of the Mahonia into a reddish hue, and his haute couture suit became a rag, wrapped around the bruised and battered Jian Yang.

Guan Ciyan caught Jian Yang’s collapsing body, gently lifting his hand to inspect the wounds, and whispered, “Does it hurt that much?”