Wen Cheng wasn't intimidated. Just because Cha Cha couldn't speak up didn't mean he couldn't. Besides, his words weren't directed at just him. As a good older brother, he couldn't tolerate this!
"Really? A true talent? You mean that inflated award you received this year, or that 3.8-rated, cheesy idol drama? Oh right, didn't you also go on a variety show this year? What was it called again? 'The Real Actor'? I think the judges' criticism of you even trended on social media?" Having a mother who keeps up with current events finally came in handy at this moment.
Cheng Ziyao hadn't heard such harsh words in years. Even if the judges criticized him, he still managed to crush those veteran actors, didn't he? That's real talent! A padded drama? His fans spent a lot of money on that show and for him. Those giving low scores are just his haters; they have nothing to do with him.
"Don't spread rumors and talk nonsense here!" Cheng Ziyao couldn't tolerate being insulted with such words. She even took off her sunglasses and glared at Wen Cheng with a vicious look.
Wen Cheng is fearless.
"Since you don't think you're someone with connections, then what are you babbling about here? If you weren't someone with connections, would you be here advising President Wen to reshoot the promotional video?"
"You!" Cheng Ziyao's chest heaved with anger. Suddenly, an unbearable sense of contradiction spread through his heart. He felt that no matter how he argued, he couldn't win against the boy in front of him. Everything he said was shut down. He could only say that he was extremely uncomfortable!
“Go back now. I’ve made myself perfectly clear,” Wen Yunyi warned.
Wen Yunyi could no longer rely on Wen Cheng to stand up for him; this was the only thought left in his mind.
Cheng Ziyao looked at Wen Yunyi in disbelief, then suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly, "Xiao Yi, there used to be people who always told me you were selfish and not as well-behaved as you seemed on the surface, and I would always stand up for you. It seems I was too confident. I even turned down a movie opportunity abroad for your promotional video, and this is the result you give me?"
There are many oddballs in this world, but Wen Cheng has rarely encountered such an oddball. He can attribute all his mistakes to others. He is the king of double standards. Wen Cheng can also vaguely see the blindness he has been influenced by his fans. It turns out that if you hear nice words too much, you will really believe that what they say is true.
Xie Nianyu frowned, clearly unable to bear it any longer. He probably hadn't seen such a shameless person in a long time. Before he could speak, Wen Cheng, whose fighting spirit was unusually strong today, continued to speak forcefully.
"What foreign movies are you talking about? Tell us! Although the promotional video can't be filmed anymore, I believe President Wen will still give you a chance to return to the crew." Wen Cheng spoke slowly, completely ignoring Cheng Ziyao's previous insults, which was quite infuriating.
Cheng Ziyao gritted her teeth, "What's it to you?"
Wen Cheng's words gave Wen Yunyi an idea, and he followed up by asking, "Zi Yao, tell me what movie it is, and I'll try to find some connections for you."
"I already said I'm not a nepotism hire! I don't need that kind of connection!" Cheng Ziyao roared, feeling humiliated.
"Pfft!" Yan Luan, who was watching the show, couldn't help but laugh. Even the cool guy had his moments of being amused. After a soft "pfft," Yan Luan tried hard to suppress his laughter.
But Cheng Ziyao was unhappy. He felt that since these two people came, everyone in the office was hostile to him. Before, when he came here, everyone was very polite to him. Wen Yunyi even offered to give him some of the company's shares!
"why are you laughing?"
Yan Luan coughed. He was the most clueless one and really didn't know what to say back. He could only say calmly, "Anyway, I didn't laugh at you."
"Pfft pfft pfft!" This time, Wen Cheng and Xie Nianyu couldn't hold back. The last person to hold back was Wen Yunyi. However, this was also the first time he had seriously and comprehensively gotten to know Cheng Ziyao again.
"Such a famous movie, you can get back into the cast without spending any money, what are you afraid of?" Wen Cheng continued to question after laughing. When Brother Qi wasn't around, Wen Cheng felt that her long-lost logic had returned.
He just felt that Cheng Ziyao didn't seem very serious!
"Me!" Cheng Ziyao paused noticeably, then forced herself to say, "I already said I want to rely on my own efforts. I've already given up that opportunity, so I have no right to go back!"
Hehehe! Look how noble he portrays himself. Wen Cheng even wants to record all of this and show it to Brother Qi.
This is incredible!
Of course, Wen Yunyi wasn't stupid; even with his biased perspective, he noticed something was off.
"Ziyao, if you want to, I don't need to spend too much. It's just a matter of saying a word. Isn't making movies what you've always wanted to do? Would you say that the on-screen opportunities your boss gets for you in the industry are due to connections?" Chacha finally rallied her spirits again!
"I..." Cheng Ziyao's guilty conscience grew increasingly pronounced, but everyone in the office was watching him. If he couldn't continue the conversation here, this promotional video would be forever out of his reach.
“Because I really want to try your promotional video. I’ve read the script, and I think I’m fully capable of playing both roles. I can do it for free, but Xiao Yi, this is your first time starting a business, and I hope I can help you in any way I can. There will be other opportunities to make movies in the future, but this time, you’ve found two unreliable newcomers. Have you thought about the consequences? How about this, I can fund a reshoot. Really, Xiao Yi, you have to believe that I’m a professional!” Cheng Ziyao tried to change the subject.
"Actually, what you're really interested in is the quality of this promotional video, right? It's the debut work of the youngest son of the Wen family. People outside the industry may not know about it, but it's enough to let some well-known directors and producers in the industry know about it, right?" Wen Cheng spoke the truth without reservation.
Cheng Ziyao could no longer hold back. Every time he tried to craft a beautiful story, this person would shatter it and expose his true colors to Wen Yunyi.
He turned around and strode towards Wen Cheng, his hand gathering strength, clearly intending to assault her. But the next second, the aggressive Cheng Ziyao was pushed down by Yan Luan.
Although Yan Luan is a decent fighter, it's definitely not this bad. From Wen Cheng's perspective, Yan Luan's hand only touched Cheng Ziyao's coat.
? ? ?
Wen Cheng looked shocked, like a cat. Has the entertainment industry become this blatant about staged accidents? They can just fall apart like that, don't they need to be prepared?
"Xiao Yi!" Cheng Ziyao cried out in anguish, "Is this the good newcomer you found?"
Wen Yunyi's gaze grew increasingly indifferent. If the previous attempts were mere appetizers, this was utterly pathetic. Trying to play the victim and feign weakness in front of him? It was like trying to teach a fish to swim before a master. Wen Yunyi was an expert; in his eyes, Cheng Ziyao was increasingly resembling a clown.
If he was a spirited young man in college, then now...
“Ziyao, the reason I’m willing to help you time and time again isn’t because I admire your personal charm so much, but because you missed your most important job interview in college when you were injured and hospitalized while helping me chase away some thugs who were harassing me. Don’t make my gratitude seem so cheap; I find it dirty, do you understand?” Wen Yunyi said, word by word.
Cheng Ziyao stiffened and stopped wailing.
This was the first time he had heard such harsh words from Wen Yunyi, as if he were the one being spoken to.
"Dirty? Xiao Yi, you betrayed me and found two unknown newbies, so you think that's not dirty? I've trusted you all this time, do you think I'm threatening you with that? Ha, your loyalty is nothing more than that." Cheng Ziyao got up and patted off imaginary dust.
Throughout it all, he never thought he had done anything wrong.
This is also a master of self-deception.
"You're the one who wanted the spot, you're the one who wanted to film the promotional video, you're the one who wanted to join the cast—it's been you from beginning to end. Tell me, how many favors did my brother do for you in similar situations? Now it's all his fault? If you're so self-righteous, thinking it's all your own hard work, then after you leave this house, be more assertive, refuse all of my brother's investments, and never mention your relationship with the Wen family in public," Wen Cheng said seriously.
We can't let that bastard get away with this! Let him walk out with his head held high!
Author's Note:
I made it! Goodnight~
Chapter 97 Salary Card
Reject all connections with the Wen family? Cheng Ziyao's face stiffened. In the entertainment industry, he would only be like those young, unremarkable stars without connections, enjoying temporary fame, only to be replaced by better-looking and more capable newcomers in no time when he turned twenty-five or twenty-six.
Although he didn't have the bad habit of taking Wen's resources for free, people in the entertainment industry aren't naive fools. They've all given Wen's face to some extent. Even if he didn't want to admit it, there were indeed more suitable candidates for the drama "Meteor Shower" than him. He vaguely heard his agent say that it was a very talented boy, but unfortunately lacking luck and connections. At the time, he dismissed it, because he believed that this drama was earned through talent.
But when Wen Cheng announced that she was severing ties with the Wen family...
Cheng Ziyao abruptly stopped herself from leaving.
Wait, what did he just hear again? What was it again?
When Wen Yunyi saw Cheng Ziyao hesitate, the last bit of pity in his heart was completely drained away. Who would be the one to harbor resentment? Wen Yunyi would never be the one to harbor resentment. Wen Cheng's directness seemed to be more effective than his own tactful approach. Wasn't that exactly what Cheng Ziyao had revealed?
"Ziyao, isn't the condition my brother mentioned exactly what you want? What are you hesitating for? Even if I stop helping you with your career, you'll still succeed through your own efforts, won't you?" Wen Yunyi seemed completely persuaded by Wen Cheng, but his words were also subtly provoking Cheng Ziyao's most important pride.
Cheng Ziyao gritted her teeth, unable to bear it any longer, and stared at Wen Cheng with the eyes of a jackal staring intently at the meat on the platform.
"Brother? That's impressive. I'm just your friend, Xiao Yi. When did you suddenly become a brother? Just because I filmed a promotional video for you doesn't mean you're my brother. Ha, if we're talking about brothers, you only have that biological brother who was brought back to live with you," Cheng Ziyao said sarcastically.
He couldn't get it, nor could he let the other party have a good ending. Wen's resources? He refused to believe that he couldn't transform the business within two years based on his own strength.
Having come from the same school, Cheng Ziyao didn't think he was any worse than Wen Yunyi, and besides, he wasn't a fake young master!
When people are in dire straits, they may develop unrealistic fantasies.
But after saying that, Cheng Ziyao couldn't see any change in Wen Yunyi, and he didn't seem to be stimulated at all. Instead, he walked past him and looked at the boy behind him.
"Are you talking about me?" Wen Cheng's face showed undisguised schadenfreude.
? ? ?
What's the meaning?
Cheng Ziyao looked somewhat bewildered and asked uncertainly, "You are... Wen Cheng?"
"Yes, didn't I just tell you? And this is Yan Luan, Chengcheng recognizes her younger brother. The two kids' images match the characters in the promotional video. Is there anything wrong with your own company having your own kids endorse it?" Xie Nianyu asked, feigning innocence.
Cheng Ziyao's face instantly turned multicolored; she could practically perform a face-changing act.
Looking at the clean-cut boy in front of her, who had no air of being from the entertainment circle, she realized that he was actually the Wen family's biological son whom they had just recognized.
He could let Wen Yunyi go; he knew that with Wen Yunyi around, he could always be in the right if that matter came up. But Wen Cheng was different. Wen Cheng didn't owe him anything, and he was still the genuine young master of the Wen family.
But this is a clichéd story that only appears in scripts, right? Could it be that these people teamed up to scare themselves?
Cheng Ziyao felt a sliver of hope and chance.
At that moment, Secretary Zhang knocked and entered. Seeing the people standing inside, including the person who had trended on the company's social media that day—the benefactor who had given the entire company a two-week vacation—Secretary Zhang was immediately excited.
"Mr. Wen, Young Master Wen," Secretary Zhang greeted politely.
Then Wen Yunyi and Wen Cheng nodded in agreement at the same time.
Cheng Ziyao felt a sudden jolt in her heart.
Apart from Secretary Zhang, who was completely clueless, everyone else watched him with amusement, eager to see him make a fool of himself. Wen Cheng wished she could immediately share this joy with Brother Qi!
Cheng Ziyao stumbled back a few steps, a victim's expression suddenly appearing on her face.
"Xiao Yi, I've misjudged you all these years." Cheng Ziyao gave a self-deprecating laugh.
If Wen Cheng hadn't been certain that there was absolutely no romantic relationship between the two, she would have suspected it was a major breakup scene, with the scumbag putting on a saintly act and saying, "I misjudged you."
Hey!
And then they just let Cheng Ziyao go so easily?
Of course it's not that easy. Never underestimate a salted fish that can stand up!
"Since you think you were wrong, you're a dog if you mention him again in public!" Wen Cheng added sharply.
Cheng Ziyao stumbled and almost fell flat on her face in front of everyone.
But the current Wen Cheng is completely different from the one before. If he dares to confront someone on their turf, Cheng Ziyao is not a complete fool. He takes bigger steps and is no longer as arrogant as when he arrived.
"Brother Cheng, are we just going to let it go like this?" Yan Luan was the first to object; this was too lenient on him.
Wen Cheng nodded solemnly, "As long as I win the argument, that's fine."
Whoever gets angry now loses!
As soon as Cheng Ziyao entered the elevator, her colleagues on this floor became excited.
"My God, wasn't Cheng Ziyao so arrogant when she first arrived? How come she's like this now?"
"Damn, this feels so good! I've been fed up with his jerk attitude for ages. We're all born of the same parents, but even President Wen isn't as arrogant as him! He's all expressionless in TV dramas, but here he's acting like a movie star. I don't know why, but I'm so happy!"
"Hey, keep your voice down. This is Mr. Wen's friend; maybe they've had a fight."
"Hey, I know some inside information. Cheng Ziyao doesn't come here unless she has a reason. Every time she comes, she takes away a big resource. This time, we have one here recently. I heard from a friend in the industry that Cheng Ziyao was rejected from a film crew abroad because of her poor acting skills. As soon as she returned to China, she came here before even going to her own company. It seems like the negotiations broke down!"
"What the heck? Isn't Chengcheng in our promotional video? He's fighting with the little prince? Are you out of your mind?!"
"Chengcheng only revealed his identity today, do you think he'll know?"
"I just saw Chengcheng take the little boy inside,"