Chapter 965: At My Wits' End

Zhou Ping'an was very uncomfortable.

He hadn't been this uncomfortable for a long time.

It wasn't emotional discomfort, but being threatened—

Ma Zhiyuan's behavior actually made Chen Ziyan threaten him directly to his face.

It can be said that Chen Ziyan's reaction exceeded Zhou Ping'an's expectations.

However, on the other hand, Zhou Ping'an felt that even so, it was very normal.

After all, Ma Zhiyuan's behavior would disgust anyone.

It's just—

What the hell?

High-speed rail parent theory?

The reason why Zhou Ping'an had a wait-and-see attitude, watching Ma Zhiyuan court death, was because Zhou Ping'an believed that no matter what death Ma Zhiyuan courted, it had nothing to do with him. He could directly push Ma Zhiyuan out—even, use this as "sacrificing huge interests for the sake of expressing a stance" to seek more compensation.

Chen Ziyan didn't buy this at all.

The person is under your name, you must manage it.

And, those things Ma Zhiyuan said were all past events when you were still at Star Entertainment.

He can know those, it's hard to get rid of the relationship with you.

Zhou Ping'an is no longer afraid of Ma Zhiyuan doing something like a fish dying and the net breaking, but to ruin the cooperative relationship he finally re-established with Lu Yan He because of his broken matter, that would be too much of a loss.

Zhou Ping'an would never want to see this happen.

Having communicated with Ma Zhiyuan too many times in the past, Zhou Ping'an never thought that this matter could be solved by intimidating or threatening Ma Zhiyuan to make him shut up from now on.

On his side, he was already "at his wits' end" with Ma Zhiyuan.

Unless breaking some bottom lines.

Zhou Ping'an was even less willing.

He had already gone ashore, at this time let him dirty his hands and break the bottom line again?

Are you kidding?

Zhou Ping'an took out his phone and sent a message to Deputy General Ma Zong: General Ma Zong, are you free now?

When Zhou Ping'an left Star Entertainment (Woodpecker), he didn't have a very happy time with Ma Zhongquan.

However, after a long time, this matter slowly faded.

People go to higher places, which is a common sense.

Although it is said that Zhou Ping'an took away some star artists from Star Entertainment (Woodpecker), causing some impact on Star Entertainment (Woodpecker)—however, the impact was not big.

Zhou Ping'an didn't betray Ma Zhongquan in other aspects, stabbing Ma Zhongquan, so Ma Zhongquan didn't have a reason to hold a grudge against Zhou Ping'an for a long time.

And, Zhou Ping'an now relies on the Shijin Group.

If we really talk about the level, it's not necessarily who is higher or lower between him and Deputy General Ma Zong.

Zhou Ping'an got out of his car and got into Ma Zhongquan's car.

"Ma Zhiyuan might expose the solid evidence of the company's suppression of Lu Yan He back then."

Ma Zhongquan looked at him seriously.

"What do you mean?"

"Ma Zhiyuan secretly kept some evidence of the company's suppression of Lu Yan He back then, and used this to contact Lu Yan He, trying to make a deal with him." Zhou Ping'an said, "I beat Ma Zhiyuan, but, his character, you also know, the effect, I really don't know."

"How much does Ma Zhiyuan know?"

"I didn't ask." Zhou Ping'an said, "Do you think we need to test it?"

Ma Zhongquan had a dark face.

"This matter, Lu Yan He already knows anyway, do you think it can still threaten us?"

"The public doesn't know these things. Once specific things and details are exposed, even if Lu Yan He is silent and doesn't pursue it, public opinion will also affect both of us." Zhou Ping'an said, "No matter if it is me or you, we will inevitably be affected by public opinion."

Ma Zhongquan: "Does Ma Zhiyuan know why the company suppressed Lu Yan He back then?"

"I didn't know back then. If he knew, it definitely wasn't known through my channel. In fact, what was going on back then, I only had some vague guesses. You never told me why, just someone asked you to help. I think Ma Zhiyuan shouldn't know, otherwise, when he looked for Lu Yan He, he should have used this to trade with him."

"Have you communicated with Lu Yan He?"

"I communicated with Chen Ziyan." Zhou Ping'an said, "Her reaction was very strong. I can feel that she and Lu Yan He don't want this matter to be exposed to the public after so many years, but her meaning is very clear. Once Ma Zhiyuan really pokes the matter open, she can no longer pretend not to know, and will definitely react. So, by then, not only will public opinion have pressure on us, she will also have pressure."

Ma Zhongquan's expression was gloomy.

Now Star Entertainment and Woodpecker have lost first-tier stars like Lu Yan He, Li Zhibai, Yan Liang, Ma Zhiyuan, Jiang Yuqian, etc., and are lacking in follow-up, with no one to top up, and the brilliance is not as good as it was back then.

Ma Zhongquan's pressure was already very high.

If this matter happens again, it is very likely to force Ma Zhongquan to step down directly.

Zhou Ping'an is holding this point, so he found Ma Zhongquan directly.

Based on his understanding of Ma Zhongquan, Ma Zhongquan will definitely solve this hidden danger.

"What do you plan to do?" Ma Zhongquan asked.

"I did everything I could, the effect is not big." Zhou Ping'an said, "Speaking of which, this matter, we are actually paying for others. Who wanted to suppress Lu Yan He back then? General Ma Zong, why don't you go find that person? We did so many things for him back then, now he shouldn't be a bystander, right?"

Ma Zhongquan was silent.

The boiling discussion about Ma Zhiyuan on the Internet lasted for about two weeks before gradually calming down.

However, this matter made Ma Zhiyuan basically not eat the box office dividend of *Scumbag*.

On the contrary, the female lead of *Scumbag*—newcomer Lu Yueni, became famous overnight.

Lu Yueni's contract was signed with the company under Yu Jiang's name.

This was the condition for her to star in *Scumbag* back then.

When she knew that the company was preparing the sequel to *Scumbag* and still wanted to use Ma Zhiyuan, she was a bit depressed.

Lu Yueni found Yu Jiang and said: "Teacher Yu, do we really have to cooperate with Ma Zhiyuan again for the sequel? There are so many negative news about him on the Internet."

Yu Jiang's attitude towards Lu Yueni was still very gentle and tolerant.

Lu Yueni was only nineteen years old and was a sophomore student.

Now, she became famous overnight in her own film.

Yu Jiang said with a smile: "Ma Zhiyuan's negative news has always been a lot. When *Scumbag* was in the production stage, many people opposed using him to star in the film, but look, such a subject matter, such a character, he is actually suitable to play it, everyone can substitute into it."

"But what about me?" Lu Yueni said a bit depressed, "Everyone asks me what I think of him when I go out to participate in activities recently. I don't know how to answer, it's very difficult. And, many people feel that I am willing to star in a film with him, which means my relationship with him is good, and they all look at me with colored glasses." Yu Jiang patted her hand.

"What's this?" Yu Jiang said, "The more the male lead is criticized, the better it is for you. Otherwise, your attention will be divided by half." Yu Jiang said, "I am looking for another male actor to act in the sequel of this film with you now, not to mention the effect, even if it is good, think about it, that male actor without negative news, wouldn't he not appear in the situation of being abandoned by the audience like Ma Zhiyuan?"

Lu Yueni listened, always feeling something was wrong, but didn't know how to refute it.

Yu Jiang said: "You have to believe me, you are a signed actor of the company, he is not, I definitely protect you, support you, not him."

"Okay, Teacher Yu."

Yu Jiang: "Also, one point, you must not have any contact with him privately."

"I won't have contact with him, he is really annoying, filming with him is a very uncomfortable process."

Yu Jiang said: "It's okay, besides this film, I will arrange other films for you, you won't only cooperate with him in the future."

"What?! The salary is still 500,000?!"

Ma Zhiyuan's face was iron blue.

Zhou Ping'an spread his hands and said: "Yu Jiang said, the controversy on you is too big, plus so many people are crusading against you during the film's release, everyone opposes filming the sequel, she is also bearing pressure to continue using you, so the salary can't be raised."

"Are you kidding?! This film's box office is 400 million!"

Zhou Ping'an shrugged his shoulders.

Ma Zhiyuan: "Didn't you talk to her?"

"Talk about what?" Zhou Ping'an said, "People are sure that you can't refuse now. Even if the salary offered to you is lower, you must accept it."

"Why should I accept it? I can not act."

"You can of course not act, but then you won't have other shows to act in." Zhou Ping'an said, "You finally returned to the mainstream market, next, you can only go to take web movies."

Ma Zhiyuan was furious.

"Then what's the use of me taking it? Returning to the so-called mainstream market, I can only get a salary of 500,000."

"After these things happen, if the sequel film you star in can still continue the box office success, it can show that these negative news about you don't affect the audience from going to the cinema to watch the film at all, and your commercial value can truly return a bit." Zhou Ping'an said.

Ma Zhiyuan: "... You reached some private deal with her, right? Are you persuading me to take it?"

"I don't persuade you, you can do whatever you want." Zhou Ping'an said, "Anyway, you don't listen to what I say, what I say has no meaning, you look at it yourself. I just relayed the news from Yu Jiang to you."

Ma Zhiyuan's face was iron blue, standing in place, thinking silently for a few seconds, turned and left.

Zhou Ping'an watched Ma Zhiyuan's back silently, and after he left, he made a call to Yu Jiang.

"Teacher Yu, about the salary, I have already told Ma Zhiyuan." He said, "With his current situation, although it is difficult to get a good reward in the mainstream film and television market, but, you also know, with his traffic heat, for a project like *Scandal-ridden*, adding a 0 at the end is completely not excessive."

"General Manager Zhou, the film market changes rapidly. There are too many situations where the previous one earns a full pot and the next one loses the bottom of the pants. You also know, I also want investors to be willing to continue to invest, and let company colleagues believe that this project will not lose money." Yu Jiang said, "Besides me, I believe no second company will use him in a theatrical film project."

Zhou Ping'an: "But without him, whether the second one can replicate the box office success of the first one, you are also not sure, right? This subject matter has been tied to Ma Zhiyuan's own image, hasn't it?"

Yu Jiang: "What do you want to do?"

"Leave the second male lead to me." Zhou Ping'an said, "I have a male actor under me who is not bad, I will help you get Ma Zhiyuan to agree to continue starring for 500,000."

Yu Jiang: "... What is the situation with that male actor of yours?"

"How about tonight, I bring him out to meet you?" Zhou Ping'an said, "Are you free tonight?"

The sunset hung on the horizon.

In the twilight, there was purple mist fading away.

A coffee shop, bar counter.

Lu Yan He took the coffee from Zhang Ruozhi, who was wearing staff uniform, walked out of the coffee shop in big strides, hung the coffee paper bag on the motorcycle, put on the helmet, a handsome posture of getting on the car, turned his head to look inside the glass door.

He waved at Zhang Ruozhi, the corners of his mouth raised, his smile sunny and bright.

The motorcycle started.

Zhang Ruozhi stood behind the bar counter, watching Lu Yan He ride the motorcycle away.

In the coffee shop, it happened that the previous music finished playing, and started playing the interlude in the film *Love Letter*.

*Sweet Rumors*.

"Congratulations to Teacher Lu Yan He for wrapping up!"

Wei Hong personally held a bouquet of flowers and sent it to Lu Yan He.

Lu Yan He filmed in the crew for three days.

Basically, it can be considered an important character in a certain episode of this show.

This is no longer a guest appearance in the conventional sense.

Conventional guest appearance is just a few lines of dialogue, showing a face.

Lu Yan He took the flowers and said: "A very pleasant filming experience."

Li Zhibai came over, hammered his shoulder, and said: "You acted so well, you stole the show, I have to cut your highlights later."

Lu Yan He: "Whatever you want, anyway, I didn't invest in this show."

Li Zhibai: "..."

Lu Yan He turned to look at Zhang Ruozhi.

"After filming this show, can you rest for a while?"

Zhang Ruozhi nodded.

"But it seems I also have to participate in some overseas promotion for *Grandma's Legacy*." She said.

"Oh, right, *Grandma's Legacy* is also impacting this year's North American awards season, then we should see each other at some public relations activities in the United States." Lu Yan He said, "After this show is broadcast, I am quite curious about the final effect of our scene."

"Definitely a big hit!" Wei Hong said with a smile, "Just now when that *Sweet Rumors* started playing, several people on the scene had red eyes. *Love Letter* is too classic for many people."

"Indeed, many people want to watch *Love Letter* once every winter."

"Otherwise, when this show is broadcast, you guys arrange a re-screening of *Love Letter*." Li Zhibai suddenly proposed, "I think when the episode you appear in is broadcast, many people will want to revisit the film *Love Letter*."

Lu Yan He: "Seems like it can be done, I'll tell the company, let them arrange it." ===== CHAPTER 966 =====