Even though netizens were condemning Bai Yue, arguing that her film remuneration was already high enough without resorting to tax evasion, Sister Yu’s strong public relations redirected the focus onto Lin Chengdong. All of Bai Yue’s various investments with Lin Chengdong were exposed, from exploding phone batteries to infringing games, and the speculative yet ultimately failed Chengtan fish farm.

Lin Chengdong instantly became known among netizens as the “Investment Jinx.” Entertainment industry magnates, who are highly superstitious, found Lin Chengdong to be an ill omen and began considering withdrawing their investments from his projects.

However, Lin Chengdong had already siphoned off the project funds and lent them out through private banks. In such a short time, this money couldn’t be retrieved, meaning he had no money to pay these magnates. He could only frantically appease them, delaying and procrastinating.

Netizens found this person terrifying, even controlling the highly reputable actress Bai Yue. Coupled with Zhang Chun being Lin Chengdong’s exclusive screenwriter, the discussion about Lin Chengdong grew even louder.

[I heard Zhang Chun was sued many times for infringement before, and it was always Lin Chengdong who resolved it for him! Birds of a feather, definitely not good people!]

[Lin Chengdong even wants to turn our Bai Yingchuan into another tool for transactions! We disagree!]

[Heh, probing, validating, pushing the envelope – probably Lin Chengdong’s three-step plan to control Bai Yue, right?]

[This Lin Chengdong is from Huanyu Film and Television, I suggest a thorough investigation into Huanyu Film and Television!]

[Heh, last year, a financial director at Huanyu Film and Television seemed to be under investigation, right? The internet remembers!]

[Coincidentally, that financial director was Lin Chengdong’s college classmate~]

Lin Lu sat before an untouched student meal, his hand trembling as he held his phone.

He looked up, disbelievingly, at Bai Yingchuan opposite him, his throat choked with emotion, “You… it was you… right?”

“What?” Bai Yingchuan lowered his eyes, steadily putting a bamboo shoot tip into his mouth.

“You incited your mother to do that? My dad… what did my dad do to deserve this from you? He got you good roles, top remuneration, and this is how you repay him?”

Lin Lu had never lost his temper before. This was the first time his eyes were wide, his lips trembling with anger, and his voice rising sharply.

The surrounding classmates, who had been about to gather around Bai Yingchuan for lunch, quickly retreated.

“What’s wrong? Isn’t Lin Lu usually quite good-tempered?”

“You don’t know? Lin Lu is Lin Chengdong’s son!”

“My goodness… so now he and Bai Yingchuan are enemies meeting, their eyes red with hatred?”

Lin Lu’s head buzzed as he listened to the discussions around him. All he wanted now was to find a place to lock himself away where no one could find him.

Bai Yingchuan looked up at him, his gaze devoid of any evasion or guilt.

“You mean letting my mother and I star in poorly produced works that erode our reputation is good for us, then?”

Lin Lu opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but his mind was blank. He didn’t know what to say.

“Or do you think it was good for me that you infiltrated my fan group, incited fans to attack Qilin Video, causing industry platforms and film companies to avoid me?”

Bai Yingchuan’s gaze turned cold, sweeping over Lin Lu’s eyes like sharp blades.

“Or perhaps you can explain on behalf of your father: on the surface, he negotiated high remuneration for my mother, but on the other hand, he stipulated that my mother must collaborate with designated PR companies using thirty percent of her remuneration? And these PR companies not only had no effect, but the beneficiaries were executives of the platform or Lin Chengdong’s associated interests?”

Bai Yingchuan’s gaze was incredibly heavy. The invisible pressure made Lin Lu sink little by little. That suffocating swamp was consuming him, making it hard for him to breathe.

Everything he and his father had planned was seen through by Bai Yingchuan.

“Lin Chengdong is truly strange. As a high-ranking executive and major shareholder of a reputable film and television company, he could have earned endless money by simply making legitimate films. He could have collaborated normally with my mother and me, yet he insisted on having us bear the brunt and follow behind him. Oh, your father never discusses ‘cooperation.’ Because cooperation implies equal standing between parties, and what he wants is to dominate others, to use others to do what he doesn’t want to do, right?”

Lin Lu’s shoulders trembled. “Stop talking! Bai Yingchuan, stop talking!”

“Alright, then I won’t say anymore.” Bai Yingchuan finished the food on his plate, slowly stood up, and went to clear his tray.

Lin Lu was left standing alone.

He loved Bai Yingchuan, so much that he wanted to possess and control him.

He had used every method, so why was this the result?

Not far away, Jiang Ruotang, Jian Sha, and others also finished their meal and left the table with their plates.

Jian Sha whispered, “The investigation and evidence collection for my case are complete. Those two bastards, Zhang Chun and Wang Hui, will get their comeuppance. Now Zhang Chun’s backer, Lin Chengdong, is about to fall, which is truly satisfying.”

Cai Ji, however, looked worriedly at Jiang Ruotang: “But Lin Chengdong is a high-level executive at Huanyu Film and Television. Will your dad be implicated?”

In his previous life, Lin Chengdong’s affairs never came to light, and his father became Lin Chengdong’s scapegoat.

This time, it was probably unlikely.

“It’s okay. If there’s a tumor, it has to be scraped out, no matter what. Whether it’s a drop in stock prices or external audits, it’s temporary. Huanyu Film and Television’s reputation isn’t Lin Chengdong; he won’t bring Huanyu Film and Television down,” Jiang Ruotang replied.

Zhao Changfeng then asked worriedly, “Jiang Ruotang, you’re not going to sympathize with Lin Lu and go comfort him, are you?”

“No.”

Jiang Ruotang glanced indifferently at Lin Lu. From the moment Lin Lu instigated Geng Yu to report him, Jiang Ruotang had completely given up on this life’s Lin Lu.

Lu Guifan propped his chin, following Jiang Ruotang’s gaze, and said softly, “On the surface, Lin Lu appears to be detached from worldly concerns, but in reality, he has a strong possessiveness and desire for control over the things he cares about.”

Jiang Ruotang coolly said, “Oh? You observe quite carefully.”

“Therefore, Bai Yingchuan is still too naive.”

“How does that relate to Bai Yingchuan again?”

“Because the former once controlled you, and the latter wants to attach himself to you. To put it plainly, both have ill intentions towards you,” Lu Guifan said calmly.

Hearing this, Jiang Ruotang felt a little sweet again.

Lu Guifan’s meaning was that he observed these two because of Jiang Ruotang.

“Then what do you mean by ‘Bai Yingchuan is too naive’? Bai Yue has already turned herself in, and the investigation into Lin Chengdong will probably start soon. They’ll likely uncover all of Lin Chengdong’s secrets. All of this can be attributed to Bai Yingchuan.”

Lu Guifan’s lips curled upwards slightly. “He, when it comes to people he dislikes, no matter how much they give, even if it’s crucial to him, he can’t understand or respect it. He can only immerse himself in feelings of disgust.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ruotang fell silent.

Because what Lu Guifan said was exactly who he was in his previous life, wasn’t it?

“His personality, his clear-cut likes and dislikes immersed in his own world, to put it bluntly, is cold and indifferent. If he encounters truly villainous people, he probably won’t escape so easily; he’ll at least lose a layer of skin. He’s too extreme in how he deals with people and things, making it hard not to face backlash.”

Jiang Ruotang’s fingertips trembled slightly.

Bai Yingchuan’s image had always been gentle, polite, and amiable, but his inherent self-centeredness and resoluteness were something Jiang Ruotang only gradually understood after several years, while Lu Guifan saw through Bai Yingchuan’s character flaws in just a few months.

Jiang Ruotang lowered his head, exhaled, and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

“You’re different.”

“Hmm? How different?” Jiang Ruotang looked up at Lu Guifan.

“You’re a patient and skilled pilot.”

“Ah?”

What kind of strange metaphor was that?

“Facing Lin Lu’s influence, you didn’t confront him head-on but chose a safer, gentler soft landing.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ruotang smiled. This could also be considered the result of his ten years of social experience and refinement in his previous life.

Lu Guifan gently patted Jiang Ruotang’s shoulder. “Let’s go.”

In the afternoon, Lin Lu didn’t attend classes. Unable to bear the pointing fingers of his classmates, he returned home early.

As he entered the living room, he saw his mother hurrying out, followed by the nanny, driver, and several suitcases.

“Xiao Lu! Why are you back? Go, hurry, your dad is throwing a tantrum at home. He’ll definitely take it out on you if he sees you!”

“Take it out on me?”

“He’s blaming you for not keeping an eye on Bai Yingchuan and letting him incite Bai Yue to cause such a huge commotion!”

Just as his mother was about to pull Lin Lu away, Lin Chengdong’s voice came from upstairs.

“Lin Lu, your mom wants to run, are you running too? Without me, Lin Chengdong, what do you think you are?”

Lin Lu froze for a moment, released his mother’s hand, and walked upstairs.

“Sigh… this child…” His mother tried to pull Lin Lu back, but Lin Lu was already half-grown, and she couldn’t hold him back.

At this moment, Lin Lu just urgently wanted to know how their family was doing and how much of an impact Bai Yue’s confession had on Lin Chengdong.

Arriving at Lin Chengdong’s study, the door was ajar. Lin Lu’s throat was so tense he didn’t know how to swallow.

The media was condemning him, various speculations flooded in, and it was even rumored that relevant departments were preparing to investigate Lin Chengdong.

Lin Lu didn’t even know how bad the situation had become.

He only knew that his father was at the center of the storm.

“Dad…” Lin Lu took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

Just one step in, Lin Lu’s foot kicked a broken teacup. The entire study was a mess, and Lin Chengdong sat at the desk, clutching his head, as if he couldn’t find a way out, or perhaps just refused to face reality.

From a young age, Lin Lu knew his father wasn’t as easygoing as he seemed. He would throw tantrums at home, he was terrifying when he didn’t smile, he had many friends, and many people disliked him, wanting his life when he was weak, but Lin Chengdong had always pulled through.

Only this time, Lin Chengdong’s dispirited appearance reminded Lin Lu of a phrase—at the end of his rope.

“Xiao Lu, Dad was stabbed hard by Bai Yue and Bai Yingchuan. This stab is very serious.”

“Mm.” Lin Lu nodded, pulled out the chair opposite Lin Chengdong, and sat down. “Tell me.”

“The project that several bosses and I were planning to launch will probably be halted. This project wasn’t just for making movies; many people behind it wanted to siphon money out of the movie budget. These people, Dad can’t afford to offend.”

Lin Lu exhaled. His intuition told him the problem was probably more than just this. “It’s not about offending people by pausing the project anymore. Even those who wanted to siphon money wouldn’t cause trouble at this critical juncture. The problem is, Dad… is there still funding in the project?”

Lin Chengdong looked up at Lin Lu, his eyes like a dying beast caught in a trap. This expression made Lin Lu tremble with fear; what Lin Lu feared most had probably already happened.

“The project funds were already siphoned out under various pretexts and invested in private banks for usury… Originally, it could have earned thirty to fifty percent interest. What else can earn money like that now? Even making movies can’t!”

“Then withdraw from the private bank now, retrieve all the money, and return it to the project!”

Lin Chengdong forced an ugly laugh: “Hahaha, what foolishness are you talking about? How can money that’s already been lent out be retrieved immediately?”

What a massive hole this was, Lin Lu didn’t even dare to imagine. His legs went weak, and he almost fell into his seat.

“But… Dad, Bai Yue’s self-exposure will lead to tax and economic crime investigations. Put past projects aside; this project hasn’t even started filming, and most of the funds are gone. This simply cannot be explained… Huanyu Film and Television will soon remove you from your position, so you won’t be able to use Huanyu’s funds for this project. Even if you gather money, you won’t be able to put it back! This project’s reputation is also ruined… if the economic crime investigators tell them the money is gone…”

Lin Chengdong’s smile was hideous. “The house you’re living in now, our shares in Huanyu Film and Television, the cars… everything will have to be sold…”

“Dad, you shouldn’t have gotten involved in those unreliable investments. Wasn’t it good enough just making movies steadily, like Uncle Jiang? Even if he can’t beat anyone on the board, as long as his movies are blockbusters, everyone has to give him some respect.”

As Lin Lu said this, Lin Chengdong’s eyes suddenly lit up.

“Right! I can go find Jiang Huaiyuan! As long as I beg him, let him be my producer, my director, and he and Zhao Yunshu have a film and television company, maybe they have money to fill the hole! As long as Jiang Huaiyuan gets involved, those bosses won’t clamor to withdraw their investments! They want the project to continue, so they can’t hold me accountable, and I can slowly repay the money I owe them!”

He stumbled out of the study.

Lin Lu’s eyes widened, and he grabbed Lin Chengdong. “Dad… are you crazy? If you drag Uncle Jiang into this, what if those executives who colluded with you to siphon funds get into trouble, and the project really gets shut down? What about all the money Uncle Jiang invested?”

Lin Chengdong grabbed Lin Lu’s shoulders, his gaze turning cold and terrifying. “Why should I suffer losses when he and Zhao Yunshu invested in Aoxiang Technology and made a huge profit? If he doesn’t go to hell, then you and I will. What do you choose?”

Lin Lu froze for a moment, stepping back half a pace.

He didn’t want to lose everything he had, didn’t want to be pointed at. He had lived a clean, unblemished life. Why should he fall into the mud?

The so-called destiny in this world is all about cause and effect.

Lin Lu looked at his wide-open door and secretly thought that the Jiang family was no longer the Jiang family of the past, and Jiang Huaiyuan was no longer someone Lin Chengdong could easily manipulate.

School hadn’t let out yet. Jiang Ruotang looked at the empty seat next to Bai Yingchuan. He had a premonition that the critical moment he had been preventing and fighting against was about to arrive.

Lu Guifan followed Jiang Ruotang’s gaze and lightly tapped his forehead.

“You’ve done all you can. The rest is between adults.”

Listening to the calm and gentle voice, Jiang Ruotang’s turbulent heart settled down.

“Mm.”

It was truly wonderful. In his previous life, he would sit alone, sending many messages asking Lin Lu how he was doing. Without Lin Lu by his side, Jiang Ruotang felt lonely and helpless.

But now, his heart was at peace, stable, without the slightest wavering.