Chapter 66: A Sudden Encounter

Hearing this, Shen Mo sucked in a sharp breath.

【As expected of the CEO running a hundred-billion company—he's just that badass.】

Liu Yue's eyes flickered; she was unwilling to take things that far either.

But there was no choice—those craftsmen really were important, yet the Liu Company couldn't let them hold it hostage either.

After all, they were getting more and more out of hand.

The loss from offcuts and scraps was already pushing the Liu Company's tolerance to its limit.

Lose a few hundred thousand today, lose a few hundred thousand tomorrow, and the day after that the losses add up to enough to keep Shen Mo for a year.

Although the Liu Family held the controlling stake, there were still some other shareholders here and there, and they needed to eat too.

What's more, they were getting more and more out of hand.

Shen Mo and Liu Yue stayed at the branch office while also going to inspect companies hoping to get investment or financing.

It was an entertainment company, covering media, short dramas, TV drama production, celebrity talents, and other industries.

The boss, Zhou Xing, was a thirty-five-year-old strapping handsome guy—and crucially, single.

When Liu Yue, Shen Mo, Zhao Yanyan, and the others went, they received an enthusiastic reception from Zhou Xing.

Zhou Xing led the three of them to see the girl group the company was currently launching.

Not bad at all—all youthful, pretty girls.

Zhou Xing's reputation within the company was also very good.

This company's reputation out in the world was also very good.

Looking at the inspection as a whole, the entire entertainment company could be summed up as "not bad."

The reason Zhou Xing wanted financing was that he was thinking about the company's future and hoped to catch the eye of some big capital.

Because fundamentally, this entertainment company was not short on money.

But Zhou Xing lacked connections.

Zhou Xing felt that if he handed over a portion of shares and got cash-flow support, and the company then produced a few big projects, the company could prepare for an IPO.

And Liu Yue and Zhao Yanyan's connections could help Zhou Xing complete the IPO.

During the lively chat, Zhou Xing's female secretary came in to pour tea for everyone.

Zhou Xing also brought up some of the company's future projects—ones about to be launched and ones already launched.

Zhao Yanyan took an interest in a red-themed film.

Zhou Xing hurriedly introduced it: "This red-themed film is one we're preparing to put in the Lunar New Year slot."

"The projected box office is around one billion."

"Our investment cost is eighty million, so the profit is still very decent."

Zhao Yanyan grew interested; the more they chatted, the happier she got, and at noon everyone even went together to eat at the company cafeteria.

At the table, Zhou Xing expressed his respect for Ms. Wen Ya.

Liu Yue merely smiled at that.

When leaving, Liu Yue, Zhao Yanyan, and Shen Mo saw that there were still people practicing non-stop in the dance studio.

Very hardworking.

The whole company was very impressive.

Shen Mo could say his impression was very good.

In the car on the way back, Liu Yue made her decision: "Not investing."

Shen Mo was stunned.

【Why?】

Zhao Yanyan sighed: "I originally thought he'd be someone worth investing in, but turns out he's a scumbag."

Shen Mo was even more stunned, and hurriedly said: "We've been together the whole day today—how come I didn't see any problem with this company?"

Zhao Yanyan didn't speak; Liu Yue explained: "Zhou Xing's female secretary was too pretty, and she didn't even knock when she came in."

"The two of them instinctively exchanged a look full of illicit affection?"

"And Zhou Xing's public statement is that he's single."

"A man who publicly claims to be single but has something going on with his female secretary—it makes it hard not to doubt his true intentions."

"A man like that is either a scumbag who lingers among the flowers or a good-for-nothing with no sense of responsibility."

Shen Mo was utterly shocked by this assessment and couldn't help saying: "Isn't there a chance the two of them are dating and just don't want to go public?"

Zhao Yanyan shot Shen Mo a glance and snorted: "Oh, then if you were dating, would you keep it secret?" "Especially when you're young, handsome, and rich."

This……

Shen Mo had already figured it out, and said glumly: "I'd definitely go public, otherwise how would my wife be sure of my loyalty to her?"

"If you truly love someone, you should give her a sense of security."

【Sure enough, I still need more practice.】

Liu Yue rubbed her temple and said softly: "Exactly, that's how it is."

"If you love someone, you'd definitely give them enough sense of security, not play at a secret affair."

"No matter how you look at this Zhou Xing, he's having a secret affair—and that's just not right."

Ring ring.

A phone rang.

Liu Yue picked up the call—it was Zhou Yue.

"Yueyue, Yanyan, that Zhou Xing has a problem."

"I just found out—he started his rise thirteen years ago, and the earliest, most famous artist from his company was Meng Bai, who's already retired from the industry now."

Liu Yue asked, puzzled: "Meng Bai? You mean that fool of a woman who's a Best Actress winner yet keeps playing supporting roles and trashing herself?"

Zhou Yue's voice came through: "Yes, that's her."

"I heard from Wang Fugui that Meng Bai and Zhou Xing were in a relationship, and Zhou Xing's company first grew by feeding off Meng Bai's blood and flesh."

Liu Yue's face instantly turned ugly—if that was true, then Zhou Xing was absolutely disgusting.

"In that case, we definitely can't invest."

"Mm, okay."

Zhao Yanyan gave Zhou Xing a call, casually using some flimsy excuse about the company having a problem and being temporarily unable to invest, to wrap up this inspection.

After going back in the evening, Shen Mo looked up Meng Bai.

A very impressive résumé.

Child-star debut, won Best Actress and Best TV Actress at eighteen, and was a top-tier celebrity.

But starting at twenty-one, for some unknown reason, she started playing supporting roles in every production, giving all the female-lead roles to completely unrelated people.

As her popularity gradually declined, she also began doing all sorts of CP marketing.

Finally, at twenty-six, she completely faded out of the entertainment industry and retired.

The most recent online information about her was her appearing at a high-end restaurant in Modu, dressed sloppily while eating, though she was still extraordinarily beautiful in the photo.

Shen Mo felt there had to be a story behind this, possibly even a huge scandal.

Liu Yue saw Shen Mo looking up Meng Bai and said casually: "Maybe this Meng Bai will step forward to hammer Zhou Xing when he's at the peak of his fame."

Shen Mo was stunned.

Liu Yue looped her arm around Shen Bai's neck and whispered in his ear: "Never underestimate a woman's desire for revenge."

"No matter how sweet and innocent, how stupid Meng Bai is, she's still a person in the end, and a woman at that—she definitely has a desire for revenge."

Shen Mo felt it was impossible.

Liu Yue smiled and said nothing.

Shen Mo thought he and someone like Meng Bai would never meet.

After all, the two sides really had no connection.

But that very evening, when he returned to Jinghai, Shen Mo met Meng Bai.

It was the second-wedding banquet of Wang Fugui's father Wang Chunsheng—Meng Bai was the bride.

The old thing fully displayed the nouveau riche's trademark: collecting a second bride price.

Both the Liu Family and the Shen Family attended this banquet.

The Shen Family even came with Shen Yilong and Zhu Kailan together.

The two, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, looked to be in decent spirits.

Through chatting, he learned that the Wang Family and the Shen Family had a business partnership, so not coming would have been inappropriate and too embarrassing.

Besides, the two families didn't have any deep-seated grudge.

Wang Chunsheng might be tacky, but he was a very generous person.

And Wang Chunsheng was extremely capable of bowing his head—even toasting Shen Mo himself.

(End of Chapter)