Jiang Ruotang realized something and immediately called Lu Guifan.

“Hello?”

Lu Guifan’s voice sounded, surprisingly giving off the impression of a powerful figure calmly fishing, making Jiang Ruotang seem a bit childish in comparison.

“Um… I have something to ask you…”

“If you’re asking about that reporter, he’s from my parents’ hometown.”

Jiang Ruotang paused, “So, you really taught Jian Sha to climb on the windowsill?”

“It wasn’t that extreme. I just told Jian Sha to have emotional tension, to make reporters and society sympathize with her… but I didn’t expect her tension to be so strong.”

Lu Guifan’s voice was calm, making Jiang Ruotang want to fiercely pinch his neck through the air.

“I thought you were the type to insist on suing and taking the high road.”

“Is that so? I told you before, I’m not a good person.”

Jiang Ruotang chuckled, “If being bad can solve problems, then please continue to be bad.”

After all, Lu Guifan’s timing with the reporter was perfect. Jiang Ruotang had originally wanted to arrange an interview for Jian Sha, but a rigid, formal approach wouldn’t have had such a good effect as this one.

Once again, Jiang Ruotang felt that Lu Guifan was a top strategist, from having Zhao Yunshu persuade Jian Sha’s parents to orchestrating public opinion… Lu Guifan had thought through every step, meticulously planning each move.

Jiang Ruotang thought to himself, since they had changed Jian Sha’s parents’ attitude and removed the thorn that was truly most likely to hurt Jian Sha, no matter the outcome of the infringement case, Jian Sha should be able to take her college entrance exam peacefully!

---

Zhang Chun’s assistant hit a wall at the Jian family’s house and returned to the studio with his head down. When he reported the Jian family’s attitude to Zhang Chun, Zhang Chun never expected a high school girl to be such a tough nut to crack!

He couldn’t keep this hidden any longer and immediately called Lin Chengdong to inform him.

The big bosses had already given a tight preparation schedule. To attract investment, the project’s content had already been released to the public. If this copyright dispute was exaggerated by the media, the entire film’s reputation would be ruined.

When Lin Chengdong heard this, his anger shot straight to his head. He didn’t care that he was still in the company elevator and roared on the spot.

“Didn’t you tell me there wouldn’t be any copyright disputes? How is there one again! Then pay to solve it! If 500,000 isn’t enough, make it a million! If a million isn’t enough, make it two million! You were so quick to take advantage of others, but now you’re too stingy to pay and not afraid of dying! 100,000 yuan? Are you trying to brush off a beggar? If the other party wants credit, then give her credit! The project has already been approved, and now you’re telling me this has turned into a criminal case?”

“It’s Bai Yingchuan! Bai Yingchuan set a trap for me! He called me and recorded it! That original author is his classmate, and he’s helping his classmate mess with me! And she’s just a high school student, isn’t 100,000 yuan enough? Bai Yingchuan must have incited her, that’s why she’s so insatiable!”

Zhang Chun could only push all the blame onto Bai Yingchuan now to deflect Lin Chengdong’s anger.

“What? It’s actually Bai Yingchuan?”

Lin Chengdong was furious. He drove straight to Bai Yue’s house, ringing the doorbell as if it were a death knell.

As soon as Bai Yue opened the door, her arm was grabbed by Lin Chengdong. Bai Yue couldn’t resist the force at all and fell onto the sofa, her head almost hitting the coffee table. Her whole body trembled.

Lin Chengdong’s wide eyes and bulging veins on his forehead made her suspect he was going to strangle her with his bare hands.

“What… what’s wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong with me? Your son, Bai Yingchuan, is far sicker! He’s colluding with his classmate to mess with Zhang Chun, trying to directly derail this movie! Do you know how angry those big bosses will be? They can ruin your reputation with a flick of their finger! Bai Yue, has your beauty expired along with your brain?”

It was fine to say Bai Yue’s acting wasn’t good, but absolutely not that her beauty had expired; wasn’t that like saying she was past her prime?

And her brain having expired was even more intolerable.

Bai Yue straightened her back and argued loudly, “My brain has expired? I’ve always refused to let Yingchuan take this movie, do you know why? An eighteen-year-old boy has his own ideas; no one can force him. He doesn’t even care about me, his own mother, so why would he care about your so-called big bosses? Do your ‘big bosses’ have anything to do with him? He’s backed by Little Sweet Fruit now, and his popularity is soaring; he doesn’t need to ride on anyone’s coattails! His energy is all on the college entrance exam now. You’re the one who insists on disturbing him, making him unhappy, and making him feel controlled! If you’re so amazing, buy Little Sweet Fruit, then he’ll listen to you!”

Being fiercely rebutted by Bai Yue, Lin Chengdong was at a loss for words. He paced around with his hands on his hips twice, then pointed at Bai Yue and said, “You must sort out your son! You must ensure that his classmate accepts Zhang Chun’s terms and settles the copyright dispute! If he can’t do it, both you and your son are finished!”

Having said his piece, Lin Chengdong turned and left.

Bai Yue froze there, the loud slamming of the door echoing in the empty house. Three or four seconds passed before Bai Yue exhaled and collapsed onto the sofa, as if drained of all strength.

However, Bai Yue’s words also reminded Lin Chengdong that Little Sweet Fruit was currently thriving. The copyright issue would probably not be easy to resolve, and most likely, a new script would have to be written and submitted for review, which would delay the project’s launch. If Little Sweet Fruit could invest some money at this time, it might be able to quell the anger of the other big bosses.

Lin Chengdong immediately used his silver tongue and asked a friend to sound out Gao Cheng. Who knew the other party would tell him that Gao Cheng was not in Sheng City and wouldn’t be back anytime soon.

“What? Out inspecting projects? When will he be back?”

“I don’t know either? But you used to look down on Gao Cheng so much and constantly tripped him up, and now you want to cooperate? How can there be such a good thing in this world—former rivals burying the hatchet and giving you money?”

Lin Chengdong was left speechless by the retort, and looking at the constantly fermenting trending topics and discussions on Weibo, he only felt a splitting headache.

As for Gao Cheng, he had gone to Shenzhen City, where the animation industry was most developed, early this morning. He believed that Little Sweet Fruit couldn’t always rely on imports; it also needed to develop original animation or acquire IPs for adaptation, to have its own works.

Zheng Huasheng also went along to oversee the costs and learn more about the animation industry. Naturally, Lu Guifan’s father had to stay by Zheng Huasheng’s side to take care of his inconvenient legs, though this time he didn’t have to be the driver.

Lu’s father visited Shenzhen City for the first time. It was a very economically developed city in the southeast, especially with the emerging IT industry springing up like mushrooms. The three best animation production companies in China were all located there.

Looking at the brand-new high-rise buildings, Lu’s father was truly impressed.

And Attorney Hong was busy with Jian Sha’s case, Professor Yang had also returned to his overseas university, and the two children needed someone to look after them. Lu’s mother wasn’t coming home these past few days, specifically in charge of the two children’s food and daily life.

Lu Guifan’s home was cold and quiet anyway, so Jiang Ruotang naturally seized the opportunity to lure him home.

---

During the afternoon break, Jiang Ruotang lay on his desk, deliberately resting his left arm on Lu Guifan’s half-read English academic journal. It was said to be a cutting-edge academic journal sent to him by Professor Yang, and it was Lu Guifan’s new favorite. Jiang Ruotang felt neglected.

“Alas, when new books laugh, who hears old friends cry?”

Lu Guifan turned his face, and seeing Jiang Ruotang’s expression, he wanted to laugh, but he held back, knowing Jiang Ruotang valued his dignity.

“I don’t know if new books laugh, but it’s your turn to erase the blackboard this class, isn’t it?”

“Huh? Why didn’t you remind me earlier!”

With that, Jiang Ruotang quickly rushed to the front of the classroom, grabbed the chalk eraser, and furiously wiped the blackboard clean.

When he turned around, he saw Jian Sha standing blankly below the podium, looking at him: “Thank you, Ruotang…”

Jiang Ruotang: “Ah?”

So it was actually Jian Sha’s turn to erase the blackboard this class?

Damn it, Lu Guifan, have you reached the point where you can lie without batting an eyelid?

Jiang Ruotang still put on a smile and said to Jian Sha, “The chemistry teacher’s writing on the board was too high. Instead of waiting for Her Majesty to summon, it’s better for your humble servant to proactively solve it for Your Majesty.”

Jian Sha hadn’t laughed so happily in a long time. She patted Jiang Ruotang’s shoulder and said, “With your keen insight, promotion and爵 will be just around the corner!”

Jiang Ruotang returned to his seat. Lu Guifan was writing something with his head down, looking so serious it was annoying. This made Jiang Ruotang unable to resist provoking him.

The bell for class rang, and seeing Teacher Song Qinghe walking past the window about to enter the classroom, Jiang Ruotang’s hand went under the table, aimed for Lu Guifan’s waist, and pinched him.

I don’t believe you won’t make a sound!

Who knew Lu Guifan had prepared in advance? His abdominal muscles tensed up. Jiang Ruotang only pinched his clothes, and the other party didn’t even frown.

Teacher Song was already standing at the podium. Lu Guifan seized Jiang Ruotang’s wrist, pulled him down, and then shoved the practice paper he was writing on in front of Jiang Ruotang.

Only then did Jiang Ruotang realize it was his own paper. Lu Guifan had written the important idea for the second to last big problem on it.

Jiang Ruotang had just taken two serious glances when he heard Teacher Song call his name, asking him to go up and solve the problem.

What a coincidence? Lu Guifan, are you perhaps Teacher Song’s intestinal worm?

He went up to the podium, and although he stumbled a bit, he still solved the problem with the hints Lu Guifan had given him.

Teacher Song indeed applauded him again. If high school also gave out little red flowers, Jiang Ruotang estimated he would have collected 99 of them to present to Lu Guifan as a confession.

Back in his seat, Jiang Ruotang nudged the other person with his elbow and whispered, “Did you foresee that Teacher Song would call on me?”

“You’ve been stumped by this problem twice in a row. If I were Teacher Song, I’d call on you too.”

Actually, Lu Guifan had heard it from Teacher Song when he went to collect everyone’s homework.

---

Forty minutes into the class, Jiang Ruotang lasted about halfway before his eyelids started drooping, and his head nodded down in jerks like a fishing pole.

Unconsciously, someone took his hand, fingers intertwined with his. Jiang Ruotang vaguely felt that the other person’s hand was really big, warm and comfortable enveloping his own…

“Ouch…”

The next second, Jiang Ruotang snapped awake, his fingers aching as if crushed in a finger torture device.

Teacher Song, who had walked to the back of the classroom, turned his head, seemingly trying to identify the source of the sound.

Fortunately, Jiang Ruotang had a good rapport with his classmates; even though they knew it was him, they all acted as if they had no idea.

The hand that had inflicted the torture withdrew, and only then did Jiang Ruotang realize it was Lu Guifan.

“You hurt me so much…” Jiang Ruotang gave the other person a reproachful look.

“You’re quite tender; a little force and it hurts.”

Although the other person’s tone was completely calm, this sentence… inexplicably led to a misinterpretation.

You’re tender! You’re the one who hurts with a little force!

---

After evening self-study, Lu Guifan packed his backpack. Just as he was about to put the journal away, Jiang Ruotang held it down.

Jiang Ruotang looked at Lu Guifan with wide, bright eyes, full of anticipation and suggestion.

“Big Class Monitor, instead of going home alone to face four walls and an empty house, why don’t you come home with me?”

Lu Guifan leaned back against the chair, looking at Jiang Ruotang coolly: “Why? Do you want to sleep with me?”

Jiang Ruotang almost choked on his own saliva.

Cai Ji, on the other side of the aisle, was already laughing out loud, his little curly hair trembling.

“If your expression wasn’t so serious, I’d already have taken out my checkbook,” Jiang Ruotang joked along with him. “Tell me, how much per night? A CEO like me has plenty of checks!”

Lu Guifan pressed Jiang Ruotang’s head, “Is that so? I’m very expensive.”

“Oh, how expensive?”

“Keep a total score of 500 in the second mock exam.” Lu Guifan looked over.

From Jiang Ruotang’s angle, he could just see the corner of his eye behind the lens, like a trace left by the finest brush on paper.

Jiang Ruotang gasped, clutching his heart, “Really expensive! It’s not money you want, it’s my life!”

Jian Sha in front also started to laugh. Since the infringement incident, this was the most she had laughed in a day.

Lu Guifan’s palm reached under Jiang Ruotang’s elbow, lifted it, and took out the magazine underneath.

“I’ll go home first to get some things.”

Hearing Lu Guifan say that, Jiang Ruotang contentedly returned to his own territory.

---

If Jiang Ruotang was filled with joy, then Bai Yingchuan was about to confront Bai Yue head-on.

Sister Yu drove Bai Yingchuan home, chatting along the way about the fans’ reactions on Little Sweet Fruit.

As they changed shoes in the entryway, Sister Yu turned on the living room lights. When they met Bai Yue’s eyes, cold as a ghost’s, both of them froze.

“Mom, are you sitting there without a sound, acting in a ghost movie?” Bai Yingchuan said with an unbothered expression, even his tone was calm.

But Sister Yu could feel the impending storm between the mother and son.

“Sister Yu, you should go back first. I have something to tell Yingchuan.”

“Oh, okay.”

Sister Yu gave Bai Yingchuan a suggestive look, meaning “call me if anything happens.” She understood that a battle was inevitable between the mother and son.

As the door closed, the entire space felt like a large ice cellar, even breathing felt cold.

Bai Yingchuan slowly walked to the kitchen. He was supposed to get cucumber juice, but when he saw the sugar-free cola, he thought of Jiang Ruotang, so he opened the can of cola and gulped several mouthfuls.

The calmer he was, the more turbulent Bai Yue’s heart became. If her soul could leave her body, she probably would have flown in front of Bai Yingchuan, wishing she could strangle this rebellious son.

When Bai Yingchuan turned around and walked towards her, Bai Yue finally spoke.

“Why?”

“What ‘why’?” Bai Yingchuan didn’t sit on the nearby sofa but on the coffee table opposite Bai Yue.

He was very handsome, inheriting all the good points of his mother’s appearance, and adding a kind of power that went straight to the heart.

At this moment, as he looked at her, his gaze held an unspoken pressure.

With broad shoulders and legs crossed, his figure was already that of an adult male.

Bai Yue repeated coldly, “Why are you helping your classmate mess with Zhang Chun?”

Bai Yingchuan replied in a matter-of-fact tone, “Because I want this movie not to be made. If it’s not made, you and I don’t have to get involved in Lin Chengdong’s mess.”

“Then why did you personally mess with Zhang Chun? You deliberately let Lin Chengdong know you were messing with him!” Bai Yue’s voice rose.

Bai Yingchuan remained calm.