Chapter 997: Side Story: The Scorching Summer (1)

July.

The sun was so scorching that the number of umbrellas on the streets was in no way inferior to those seen on a rainy day.

It had been nearly four months since the "father-son storm" involving Lu Yan He and Chen Pinhe.

After achieving the feat of winning the Best Actor award at the Xitu'er International Film Festival for the second time before the age of thirty, he had entered a state of "seclusion."

It was not that he was out of work.

On the contrary, his work rhythm remained as tight as ever.

From March to April, he filmed *Burning Fire 3*, but he did not make an appearance from the opening ceremony to the media set visit.

In May, he seamlessly transitioned into the cast to film his scenes for *Godless 2*.

That month was dedicated to filming his parts, with all shooting scheduled around his availability.

In June, he gave himself a vacation. He went to Africa and spent two weeks at a local wildlife park. Being with animals meant he didn't have to face crowds of people who recognized him—he only had to stay in a quiet local estate.

This estate was the private property of Zebby Doyle.

After the Xitu'er Film Festival, Zebby Doyle had called to say that if he needed a place to rest quietly for a while, he could provide one.

So, Lu Yan He came.

Sometimes, it is indeed true that avoidance is shameful but effective.

Although everyone said he had nothing to avoid.

Chen Ziyan's report to the police station regarding Chen Pinhe—poured a basin of water into a pot that was already boiling over.

The effect wasn't just the pot exploding; it was the sky exploding.

Although Chen Ziyan's report was more form than substance.

It was true that she had no evidence of any substantive criminal acts committed by Chen Pinhe; she could only prove that he was not as ignorant as he portrayed himself to be, from the connections he had long established with He Yuan to the truth about how Feng Xiu and her son were taken abroad—

But through these, Chen Pinhe's image as a "hypocrite" was thoroughly solidified.

On a global scale, he was widely boycotted, and several film and television projects were directly called off or he was removed from them.

For example, the second season of *Seventeen Layers: Reboot* directly decided to write his character out—

They didn't even need him to film the "death" scene; it was concluded directly through the dialogue of other characters.

Meng Li became the biggest winner of the second season of *Seventeen Layers: Reboot*.

Because thanks to Chen Pinhe's exit, this globally popular show changed its second season to feature her character as the primary lead.

Besides that, several of Chen Pinhe's overseas film projects all fell through because of this.

This was the effect Chen Ziyan wanted to achieve.

Chen Pinhe hadn't actually committed any criminal acts?

He used He Yuan to whitewash himself, portraying himself as an innocent who knew nothing?

Dream on.

The clamorous discussions were like a sudden rainstorm on a midsummer afternoon.

It came rolling in, covering the sky and the earth, enveloping the entire world.

Lu Yan He would either lock himself in the crew, burying his heart and soul into the world of his character, or run off to a place with no people, keeping company with animals.

After the summer special issue of *Jump Up* hit the shelves, Chen Siqi's busy work came to a temporary pause.

She came to Lu Yan He's side and asked, "How long do you plan to stay in seclusion?"

Lu Yan He said, " *Men in Black* will be released in October; I'll come out then."

"Fine." Chen Siqi nodded, "As long as you have a plan for when you'll come out of seclusion. Some people in your entertainment industry have even asked me, wondering if you've retired for good."

"……"

Chen Siqi said, "There was a production that had been dead-set on your schedule, waiting for your reply from the beginning of the year until now. Seeing that they really couldn't lock you down, they went to Lang Xia instead."

"Went to Lang Xia?" Lu Yan He was puzzled, "Even if I don't act, there's still Li Zhibai, Yan Liang, Li Yuefeng, Liu Zefan, and the others. How did they end up going to Lang Xia?"

"Because Lang Xia has been very proactive in pursuing this work. Even though the producers' first choice was you, he didn't care at all; he even lowered his salary to show his sincerity."

"Well, that settles it then."

Chen Siqi: "Ma Zhiyuan tried to open a burner account to livestream two days ago, but it was reported in less than five minutes. There is absolutely no possibility for him to come out now."

"He's still at it?"

"Yeah." Chen Siqi laughed, "Back then, he killed a thousand enemies and lost eight hundred of his own to livestream, wanting to smear Zhou Ping'an, but Zhou Ping'an ended up perfectly fine. I heard he's already in contact with various companies."

"Where is he going?" "I don't know." Chen Siqi shook her head, "Ever since he resigned from Shijin, many places have offered him olive branches, but he went straight abroad and disappeared for a long time."

What surprised Lu Yan He was that Yan Liang actually wanted to hire Zhou Ping'an.

"My current team's capabilities are just average." Yan Liang said, "Hiring Zhou Ping'an to help me manage the team and improve their skill level—do you guys think that would work?"

"Not letting him continue as your agent?"

"Forget about him being an agent." Yan Liang shook his head, "I can't trust him either. I just think he can help me train the team; my current team's level is a bit behind."

Lu Yan He said, "Zhou Ping'an's ability is definitely up to the task, but if you're only hiring him to help train your team, would he be willing?"

"He definitely wouldn't be willing under normal circumstances, but now..." Yan Liang blinked slyly, "That statement of his made his situation in the entertainment industry very difficult. Everyone is worried that he might expose some private matters if things don't go his way—even if he did it for self-preservation, he did betray his former company and former boss, after all. Who can guarantee that they are clean? It's not easy for him to return to the entertainment industry."

"The olive branch you're offering is a timely rain for him." Lu Yan He laughed.

"Exactly, that's what I think too." Yan Liang also nodded with a smile, "So, I'm preparing to meet him."

"Sure, your plan is well-timed."

Yan Liang's team was indeed dragging him down a bit.

His current agent was his former assistant.

After his contract with Star Entertainment expired, he didn't sign with any other agency, but opened his own studio instead, with a team dedicated to handling his affairs.

This meant he had no support for the time being and had to rely entirely on himself.

However, Yan Liang really didn't have to worry about resources at the moment.

One *Friends* movie a year was enough to guarantee his studio's financial stability.

Not to mention, the *Gold Rush* spin-off movie starring Yan Liang grossed 800 million at the box office during the Spring Festival, an excellent result, and the second one was already on the way. Besides that, *Speed of Life and Death* would also be released globally this year. It looked like he would be in a period of rapid career growth for the next few years; he wasn't lacking in resources at all.

However, although he wasn't lacking in resources, the level of the team was still very important for someone who was already an international-level star.

Lu Yan He had Chen Ziyan at the helm, Li Zhibai had Lin Suyang carrying the flag, but Yan Liang lacked a strategist who could stabilize the rear.

Yan Liang hoped to let Zhou Ping'an help him cultivate such a strategist.

"Brother Ping'an, it was refreshing for you to just drop everything and leave back then, but I suddenly lost my agent overnight. Now you want to come back and be my agent again—isn't that a bit absurd?"

Meng Li sat at the table, not even taking off her sunglasses, crossing her legs and slowly tending to her nails.

Zhou Ping'an: "Cutting ties with you immediately back then was for your own good. Otherwise, Star Entertainment and the interests behind Ma Zhongquan would not only have retaliated against me, but also against you. Did you really want to see that happen?"

Meng Li gave a light huff.

"Come to think of it, this is trouble you brought upon yourself."

Zhou Ping'an: "I know you've hired a temporary agent now, but are you satisfied with that agent's professional ability?"

Meng Li didn't speak.

She only said, "If you come back to be my agent now, won't Star Entertainment and the interests behind Ma Zhongquan retaliate?"

"The matter has already passed; Ma Zhongquan's affair is a closed case, settled once and for all. Retaliating against me now serves no purpose other than venting their anger. In reality, besides these things, I naturally have other things in my hands; they won't take action just to vent their anger." Zhou Ping'an said, "I was the one who pulled the strings for you to go to Shijin. The current person in charge of Shijin Entertainment definitely won't like you, but I still have some people left at Shijin. You should be able to feel that there are people at Shijin silently helping you."

Meng Li asked back: "Why did you come to me?"

"Because the *Seventeen Layers* series was something I helped you bridge and make happen in the first place. Now that Chen Pinhe is out, and because you participated in the version produced by Lu Yan He, you've gained the benefits of both versions, logically becoming one of the core characters of this series. As long as you don't anger Lu Yan He, you can use this IP to further open up your popularity internationally."

"Hmm." Meng Li nodded, "You're right, but what does that have to do with me continuing to hire you as my agent?"

"Because without me, you can't maintain a long-term cooperative relationship with Lu Yan He." Zhou Ping'an was full of confidence, "That statement of mine back then, although it offended Ma Zhongquan, Star Entertainment, and Chen Pinhe, you also know why I did it—I was on Lu Yan He's side. Everyone says I had a falling out with Lu Yan He, but you know best whether I actually had a falling out with him."

Meng Li fell silent.

What Zhou Ping'an said really hit her weak spot.

At this moment, Zhou Ping'an's phone suddenly buzzed.

"Yan Liang is calling me." Zhou Ping'an showed the phone screen to Meng Li, "Think about it, I'm going to take the call first. I hope you give me an answer as soon as possible; it's not like I have nowhere else to go."

After he finished speaking, he stood up and went to the side to take the call.

Meng Li glared indignantly at Zhou Ping'an's back.

How did she feel like she was being manipulated?! ===== CHAPTER 998 =====