How About A Divorce? - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Being Protective

The location was set by Zero One. It was not far from the set, a ten-minute drive away.

In the car, Sang Yun was pumping herself up. She had already planned out how to escape after punching someone. Her only concern was, “Director Shi, do I have to pay money if I hit someone?”

Shi Li looked at this inexperienced person curiously. “Is paying money a big deal? Being blacklisted is.”

“That’s okay. I wasn’t that big of an actress anyway. If I can’t do this job, I’ll just find another one. I won’t starve to death.” She paused. “But not having money will actually make me starve to death.”

Shi Li snorted. “Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.”

“The people at Zero One are all decent people,” Wen Yu actually wanted to say a bunch of phonies, but she held her tongue. “They won’t get physical.”

When they arrived, a man was waiting in the garage. When he saw them, he came up to them eagerly. “Director Shi, Teacher Yuan, thank you for coming here so late at night.”

As he spoke, he held the elevator door open. After everyone was inside, he was the last one to enter and press the floor number.

“Besides CEO Wang, who else is here?” Shi Li asked.

“There’s also Director Li,” the man said, leading the group to a private room. Inside, there was a man and a woman. The woman knew Shi Li. When she saw them, she smiled and came up to her. She shook Shi Li’s hand. “Director Shi, it’s been a long time.”

“I’ll go get someone to serve the dishes,” the man who led them left.

“I ordered all your favorite dishes from last time,” the woman—Wang Hanrui—smiled warmly. “We’ve been waiting for you to come.”

Director Li Jie pulled out a chair for them. Shi Li pretended to be flattered and tried to stop him, but she didn’t succeed. She sat down gracefully and crossed her legs. The sole of her sports shoes still had mud from the set.

Li Jie then went to pull out a chair for Yuan Yiyang. Yuan Yiyang subconsciously looked at Wen Yu, wanting to give her the seat next to Shi Li. Wen Yu, on the other hand, pulled out a chair at the food serving area and sat down directly.

“Sit next to me,” Wen Yu said to Sang Yun.

After everyone sat down, Wang Hanrui symbolically asked about the identities of Wen Yu and the other person. Shi Li only said that they were part of the crew and didn’t say much else. The ranks of these few people from Zero One were not high enough. They hadn’t seen Wen Yu before, so they didn’t pay much attention to her. Their focus was all on Shi Li and Yuan Yiyang.

Wen Yu was calm. Sang Yun was just chowing down, muttering as she ate, “I’m starving after a full day of filming.”

She even used the public chopsticks to get some food for Wen Yu. “You should eat too.”

She was the only person at the table who was eating without a care in the world. Wang Hanrui smiled and told Sang Yun to order a few more dishes. Sang Yun didn’t hold back. Based on the principle that these people were not good people, she ordered several expensive dishes. After the food was served, she ate with great relish.

“CEO Wang, why didn’t CEO Lin come with you?” Shi Li asked after a few rounds of polite conversation with Wang Hanrui.

Wang Hanrui: “That’s also the reason why only we came to see you.”

“How so?”

“CEO Lin is no longer in charge of this sector’s business. The reason I’m here is to let you know in advance that from now on, I will be the one directly dealing with you.”

Wen Yu frowned and looked at her.

“The annual contract between Zero One and you is also about to expire. We would like to continue the contract. At the same time, we are also willing to acquire your finished dramas. The price is negotiable, and the promotion will be sufficient. After all, we’ve been working together for so many years. We will also relax the conditions. You…”

Wen Yu interrupted her. “Lin Yanqing is not in charge of these things anymore?”

Wang Hanrui was stunned. Seeing that Wen Yu directly called Lin Yanqing’s name, she became a little more cautious. She said, “Yes, CEO Lin’s main responsibility has always been the AIGC sector. She’s in the process of transferring the authority for the short drama sector.”

The research and development of AIGC products had little to do with short dramas, but—

“Aren’t some of your short dramas based on AIGC?”

A considerable number of short dramas were based on AI generation, especially those with creative ideas that were difficult to film. They were low-cost and had high returns. Zero One’s training model was also mature. As long as it was a business related to algorithms, Lin Yanqing had the authority to get involved.

“But this is not CEO Lin’s main responsibility,” Wang Hanrui smiled.

Wen Yu glanced at Shi Li. Shi Li raised her eyebrows and shrugged, not taking the hint that Wen Yu was giving her.

—Shi Li was Lin Yanqing’s person. Even if the business didn’t completely overlap, she was still Lin Yanqing’s private resource. If Lin Yanqing didn’t agree, neither the short drama department manager nor Shi Li could do business by bypassing Lin Yanqing.

But Shi Li didn’t immediately express her opposition.

Wen Yu understood what Shi Li meant: If the conditions offered by the other side were good, Shi Li wouldn’t mind putting her friendship aside for money.

Yuan Yiyang was still filming for Shi Li, so her position was naturally with Shi Li.

Wang Hanrui was about to try and figure out Wen Yu’s background, but suddenly there was a clatter. Wen Yu slammed her cup on the table. Water splashed all over Li Jie. Li Jie stood up with a whoosh, wanting to scold her, but when he met Wen Yu’s gaze, he didn’t dare to make a sound.

Wen Yu ordered the man who had led them in. Her voice was cold. “Clean it up.”

The man couldn’t figure out Wen Yu’s background. He wanted to move, but Wang Hanrui stopped him. “Xiao Zhang, go call a waiter.”

The waiter outside heard the commotion and quickly came in to clean up. Xiao Zhang handed Li Jie a tissue. The two of them went to the restroom.

For a moment, there was only the anxious rustling sound. No one spoke again.

Even Sang Yun, who was usually carefree, was intimidated by Wen Yu’s anger.

“You’re a bit ungrateful, Shi Li,” Wen Yu said in a calm voice.

No matter how easygoing she was, she was still the investor that Shi Li had to curry favor with. The people in front of them had “backstabbing Lin Yanqing” practically written on their faces, yet Shi Li was still wavering. She couldn’t tell the difference between the most important card and the least important one.

For a moment, everyone looked at Wen Yu. Sang Yun’s eyes widened in shock at that one sentence. Yuan Yiyang looked down, acting like a vase. Wang Hanrui realized something. She frowned in thought, and her face looked bad. After all, Wen Yu was directly slapping her in her own territory and embarrassing her.

Shi Li, on the other hand, was still calm. She smiled. “We’ve only just started eating. It’s not too late to scold me after we finish.”

She got up and got a new cup to pour water for Wen Yu. “Calm down.”

Wen Yu didn’t drink the water, but she didn’t say anything else.

“CEO Wang, please continue,” Shi Li said.

Wang Hanrui’s expression softened slightly. She handed over a contract. “This is a draft contract. Director Shi can take a look. I can’t say anything more.” She glanced at Wen Yu.

“Okay,” Shi Li took it.

No one was really here to eat, except for Sang Yun, and Sang Yun was now too scared to be hungry.

The group got up to leave. Before they left, Yuan Yiyang went to the restroom. Wang Hanrui went with her. Shi Li and Wen Yu stood in the hallway, while Sang Yun was packing up the leftovers.

No one had eaten much. It would be a waste to throw it away.

Wen Yu’s gaze shifted from the very relaxed Sang Yun. She looked at Shi Li and said, “Talk.”

Wen Yu’s anger at the table was just for Wang Hanrui to see. Shi Li did have the intention to waver, and it was possible that she would abandon her friend for profit, but she would never show it in front of Wen Yu. If she did, it was on purpose.

She didn’t want to burn her bridges with Wang Hanrui, and she didn’t want to offend Lin Yanqing. But she had to please the one who was in charge. So after Wen Yu got angry, Shi Li could use a few words to close the distance between herself and Wang Hanrui.

After all, Wen Yu had basically slapped both Shi Li and Wang Hanrui in the face at the same time.

The reason for Wen Yu’s fake anger was a text message from Lin Yanqing:

“Help Shi Li out. I just landed. I’ll be there in forty minutes.”

Lin Yanqing had obviously seen Shi Li’s inquiry. She must have instructed her first and then Wen Yu.

Wang Hanrui had probably also guessed Wen Yu’s identity and confirmed it. After all, the photos of Lin Yanqing and her at a gala were still on the website.

“I am indeed interested in the collaboration that Wang Hanrui mentioned,” Shi Li said, flipping through the contract in her hand.

“And then?”

“Something is wrong with Lin Yanqing, right? If Lin Yanqing doesn’t take responsibility for these results later, I plan to get someone to take the fall.”

Wen Yu: “?”

“I have some finished dramas that have been sitting around for the past few years. They’re all second-hand goods. If I can use Zero One to push them, I can make a profit without getting my name dirty,” Shi Li’s eyes curved in a calculating way. “These dramas won’t be credited to Qianchuan Films. Let Wang Hanrui take the loss.”

Oh-ho.

Wen Yu thought to herself. What a black-hearted woman.

“It’s still the same old story. If we have a deep collaboration with Zero One, we’ll be completely exploited,” Shi Li said.

Because of Zero One’s “let the best one win” model, the paid sector was being cannibalized by the free sector. The IAP (in-app purchase) was being crushed by the IAA (in-app advertising) from the very beginning. This was not a good sign for the industry, and it would especially encroach on the interests of studios.

“And the way that woman, Wang, is talking so extravagantly, do you know what it sounds like?”

Wen Yu: “What?”

“Bluffing,” Shi Li’s eyebrows arched. She was a little mischievous. “I’m also this eloquent when I’m bluffing people.”

Wen Yu nodded. “Then you’ve been bluffing people all along.”

Shi Li was stunned for a moment. She came to her senses and smiled. “Thank you for the compliment, CEO Wen.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Don’t worry, I’m loyal. CEO Wen, you should take care of things on Lin Yanqing’s side. There must be a reason why her authority was suddenly taken away,” Shi Li joked. “Don’t tell me she’s transferring assets. That will affect the division of property in your divorce.”

“Do I need that little bit of her money?” Wen Yu tilted her head and curled her lips. She sounded extremely contemptuous.

Shi Li: “…”

Damn rich people.

Her phone suddenly vibrated. Shi Li saw that it was a call from her studio. She raised her hand to signal and walked to a stairwell compartment on the side. From the sound, she went down one floor to answer the call.

Sang Yun had also finished packing. She was carrying three large insulated bags and walked over happily. “Let’s go.”

“Shi Li is on the phone. Little Yuan is in the restroom. We’ll wait for them for a bit.”

“Oh, okay,” Sang Yun blinked. She was both curious and awkward as she spoke. “Wen Wen, do you have another identity?”

She had come to her senses while packing the food. Wen Yu hadn’t done any work since she joined the crew. Shi Li and Yuan Yiyang were also very polite to her. Just now, she had a fiery temper at the dinner table, and no one dared to say a word.

“I’m a big shot” was practically tattooed on her forehead.

Poor little Sang Yun only realized it after she finished eating.

“I don’t have an identity. My wife just has a big one,” Wen Yu said.

It was the truth. The main reason was that Lin Yanqing had a high position at Zero One. Wen Yu only had a few shares and no real power.

“I see.”

“Hey!” Suddenly, someone in the hallway shouted at them. The two of them looked over and saw Li Jie pulling on Yuan Yiyang. That Xiao Zhang was also half-blocking Yuan Yiyang.

Yuan Yiyang shouted at them again, “Where’s Shi Li!”

Wen Yu walked over. The two men were completely clueless and separated them. Li Jie said, “We’re discussing business.”

“What kind of business requires you to pull and tug on her and talk privately?” Wen Yu said.

Li Jie, in his position, had never been questioned by a young person before. Plus, he had just been embarrassed by Wen Yu at the dinner. His face looked even worse. “Director Shi and we have reached a collaboration. I’m just talking about the details with Miss Yuan. After all, we will be directly dealing with Miss Yuan from now on.”

The two of them had just missed the scene where Wen Yu scolded Shi Li. They were looking down on people. He wanted to act like a father figure. “You must be an assistant. You’re young and ignorant. There’s still a lot for you to learn. There are some people you can’t offend.”

After saying that, Li Jie grabbed Yuan Yiyang’s wrist. “Little Yuan, let’s go talk over here.”

Yuan Yiyang was about to tear up, but she couldn’t show her face to his face because of his position. She could only look at Wen Yu. “Where’s Shi Li?”

“What do you need her for? Am I dead?” Wen Yu picked up the ashtray next to her. “You old man, what are you talking about? Are you talking about your own funeral?”

Li Jie was furious. “You—!”

He didn’t finish his sentence before Wen Yu threw the ashtray full of cigarette ash at his head.

The damage was low, but the humiliation was high.

“Come here,” Wen Yu said. Yuan Yiyang quickly came over. She was shocked and surprised, and at the same time, a little worried. “Will this have a bad effect on you?”

“The only person who can affect my reputation right now is Lin Yanqing,” Wen Yu said.

As for this group of people from Zero One, it was still the same old saying. If it weren’t for Lin Yanqing’s name, they wouldn’t even have the right to get in front of her.

Li Jie was stunned by the hit. He didn’t hear what Wen Yu said. He was enraged and was about to charge forward. Suddenly, a woman walked out from the side—Wang Hanrui sternly scolded Li Jie. “What are you doing!”

Xiao Zhang, who had been silent and pretending to be dead, began to speak rationally. “This assistant was the one who started it. It’s so random!”

Wang Hanrui: “Shut up!”

Li Jie was nervous and unhappy. “CEO Wang, she’s just an assistant. There’s no need to protect her for Director Shi’s sake. We, Zero One, are the client.”

“Assistant what assistant!” Wang Hanrui was exasperated by these two idiots. She turned to Wen Yu and said, “I’m sorry, CEO Wen. These two haven’t met you before. They don’t know when to keep their mouths shut. When I get back, I’ll go through the process to deduct their performance review. Please don’t be angry.”

Li Jie was confused. “CEO Wen what?”

“Shut up!” Wang Hanrui whispered to Li Jie.

Sang Yun was also a little confused, but Yuan Yiyang was holding onto her sleeve, so she didn’t say anything.

The stairwell compartment behind them was pushed open. When Shi Li saw the scene, she quickly walked over. “What’s going on here?”

Wang Hanrui: “It’s nothing, nothing. Let us drive you back.”

She just wanted to make this a small issue and send this important person away. Who tries to poach a client right in front of her wife? And this young lady is not someone to mess with.

Tomorrow, CEO Lin will definitely have a lot to say.

The thought of Lin Yanqing’s way of doing things made Wang Hanrui shiver. If it weren’t for someone at the top hinting at it, she wouldn’t have wanted to poach Lin Yanqing’s client. As she was looking pained, she heard Shi Li say with a smile, “No need. We have someone picking us up.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the elevator door on the side opened, and a woman stepped out.

When they saw her, the three people from Zero One turned pale.

Wen Yu clicked her tongue. “What took you so long?”

Lin Yanqing’s eyes lightly glanced at the three of them, and then she looked at Wen Yu gently. “You’ve worked hard today.”

“You handle the rest. I’m not getting involved. When you’re done, I have something to ask you.”

“Okay.”

Wang Hanrui forced a smile. “CEO Lin.”

Li Jie’s voice was trembling. “CEO Lin.”

He swallowed. There was still cigarette ash on his eyelids. For a moment, he didn’t know if he was scared or if the ash was irritating him. His eyes were bloodshot.

“Then this person is…”

He was asking about Wen Yu. Wang Hanrui couldn’t answer. Lin Yanqing disdained to answer. Wen Yu felt it was beneath her to talk to him.

It was Shi Li who was a good person. She smiled and said, “The second young miss of the Wen family in Beicheng. Her name is Wen as in Wen Rong, the political commissar of the second district.”

Wen Rong, Wen Yu’s older sister, the political commissar of the Second District Command in Beicheng.

Li Jie felt his knees go weak. He was about to kneel down.