Page 21

It was precisely because the two families were so familiar with each other that the younger members of the Ye family paid little attention to their attitude when dealing with the younger Zhou family members. They said whatever they wanted and never cared about Zhou Yueze's dignity.

Ye Mingxi's complaint made Zhou Yueze look even more awkward. He looked uneasily at Madam Ye, unable to utter a word.

Ye Mingzhao watched the conflicted Zhou Yueze coldly. Of course, he knew why Zhou Yueze had done this. But since Zhou Yueze did not want to say it, he would not force him to.

Ye Mingzhao always remembered his considerate, thoughtful good-guy persona. With a silent sigh, he said, "Forget it. This hasn't caused any irreversible losses. Let's just treat it as our production team deliberately creating a publicity stunt for promotion."

Upon hearing Ye Mingzhao's words, the Ye family grew even more indignant. "How can that be—"

Before they could finish, an overjoyed Zhou Yueze interrupted them. "Thank you, Mingzhao. I knew you wouldn't hold this against me—"

"But," Ye Mingzhao interrupted Zhou Yueze before he could finish, unhurriedly saying, "now that this has happened, we also need to consider what the entire production team thinks."

Ye Mingzhao's dark, unfathomable eyes met Zhou Yueze's directly. His tone was mild and measured. "On the day of a new drama's launch press conference, one of the investors actually bribed reporters to make things difficult for the male lead..."

Ignoring Zhou Yueze, who looked like he wanted to speak but hesitated, Ye Mingzhao continued, "Once word of something like this gets out, it will inevitably affect outsiders' impression of the whole drama."

The moment he finished speaking, Yu Mingze, who had been holding it in for a long time, burst out angrily, "Zhaozhao is right! Zhou Yueze, I really don't know what you were thinking, doing something so harmful to others and useless to yourself. What kind of spell did Chu Qingyi cast on you? You actually stabbed your fiancé and the brother you grew up with in the back just to vent his anger!"

Zhou Yueze was rendered speechless. "I didn't..."

"I think you should pull your investment!"

Their voices rang out at the same time. Zhou Yueze froze for a beat before belatedly turning to Ye Mingzhao and asking in disbelief, "What did you just say?"

"You should pull your investment," Ye Mingzhao said flatly. "I'll make up the funding gap myself. Consider it your compensation to me."

Zhou Yueze stared blankly at Ye Mingzhao, unable to speak for a long while.

Ye Mingzhao's expression was open and relaxed as he calmly asked, "Is there any other problem?"

Of course there was a problem!

Zhou Yueze was practically angered into laughing by Ye Mingzhao's righteous attitude. "Why should I pull my investment? I'm—"

"I think Zhaozhao makes sense!" Before Zhou Yueze could finish, Yu Mingze interrupted him again. "You should pull your investment. Then Zhaozhao can join the production with his own funds."

Yu Mingze shot Zhou Yueze a sidelong glance. "Didn't you just say that as long as Zhaozhao was willing to forgive you, you would do anything? Or maybe you shouldn't pull your investment after all. Just transfer your shares to Zhaozhao as an apology."

Using an investment worth hundreds of millions to apologize to Ye Mingzhao—was there something wrong with his own brain, or with Yu Mingze's?

Zhou Yueze drew a deep breath, nearly losing control of his expression. His tone hardened as well. "You want to force me to pull my investment over such a tiny matter? We're all friends who grew up together. I advise you not to act so impulsively!"

"A tiny matter?" Ye Mingchen, who had remained silent the entire time, suddenly spoke. His gaze turned faintly cold as he looked at Zhou Yueze. "You think this is a tiny matter?"

Zhou Yueze's breath caught. He knew he was in the wrong.

Ye Mingchen said calmly, "I also advise you to watch your attitude."

He actually dared to bully Ye Mingzhao in front of the Ye family! Ye Mingchen narrowed his eyes slightly and studied Zhou Yueze thoughtfully. He wondered whether this was Zhou Yueze's own attitude or the Zhou family's.

Ye Mingchen's warning made Zhou Yueze's heart skip a beat.

Under the scrutinizing, amused gazes of the five Ye family members, Zhou Yueze suddenly came back to his senses. His eyes instinctively turned toward Chu Hengyi.

Chu Hengyi lazily raised a brow and tilted his head slightly at Zhou Yueze. Under the fluorescent lights, his amber eyes gave off an inorganic gleam. He was like a beast lying silently in the grass, poised to strike and devour its prey. Whether it was his near-six-foot-three height or the excessively sharp, ferocious aura around him, both gave Zhou Yueze ample pressure.

Zhou Yueze silently looked away. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Fine! I'll pull my investment right now! Don't regret it!"

With that, Zhou Yueze left the dressing room without looking back.

"Ignore him!" Yu Mingze waved a hand impatiently. "Who knows what's wrong with him! He actually undermined his own production team for Chu Qingyi. It's simply harmful to others and useless to himself!"

Harmful to others and useless to himself?

Ye Mingzhao curled his lips imperceptibly. Not necessarily!

Chu Hengyi carefully observed Ye Mingzhao's expression. His face remained calm and unreadable, but his mind was racing as he silently considered Ye Mingzhao's purpose in directing this entire scene himself and forcing Zhou Yueze to withdraw his investment from the Beggar Prince production team.

Ye Mingzhao noticed Chu Hengyi studying him as well. He smiled at Chu Hengyi, his eyes curving pleasantly, without the slightest trace of anger.

Chu Hengyi silently looked away.

For some reason, Chu Hengyi did not expose Ye Mingzhao—not over the reporters, nor over Jiang Shangyun.

Perhaps he felt Ye Mingzhao's little schemes had nothing to do with him, or perhaps he was saving up something big for a crucial moment.

But no matter what reaction Chu Hengyi might have next, it was all within Ye Mingzhao's plan.

In fact, Chu Hengyi's failure to expose his little scheme on the spot in front of Zhou Yueze had indeed caught Ye Mingzhao somewhat off guard.

But it did not matter. This insignificant interlude would not affect Ye Mingzhao's next arrangements.

Not long after Zhou Yueze stormed off the set, Director Li Zhengzheng came running over in person, drenched in sweat, to inform everyone that the Michelin chef had finished preparing lunch. "...Shall we eat together?"

Naturally, the Ye family did not refuse the director's invitation.

While everyone filed out of the dressing room, Li Zhengzheng quietly sidled up to Yu Mingze. "When President Zhou left just now, he said he was going to pull his investment—"

"Let him pull it." Yu Mingze waved a hand and lowered his voice as well. "Zhaozhao will cover the funding gap."

Realization dawned on Li Zhengzheng. He glanced at the six Ye family members walking ahead and did not ask any further questions.

The Ye family, the cast, and the crew enjoyed a cheerful lunch together.

After lunch, Ye Mingzhao planned to take his rarely reunited family around Hengzhou Film and Television City. Yu Mingze volunteered to be their guide. "I've been here so many times for filming. I know this place better than the local tour guides!"

The Ye family smiled. Since they were already here, they naturally had to take a proper look around. It was just a little regrettable that they had come to visit the set today, and Ye Mingzhao had not been scheduled to film anything all day in order to entertain them.

"I originally wanted to see Zhaozhao act with my own eyes!" Second Brother Ye Mingxi rubbed his nose regretfully. The feeling was probably much like a parent looking forward to their child's kindergarten performance.

Ye Mingzhao's eyes curved into crescents. "I have a scene tomorrow morning. If you aren't in a hurry to leave, you can stay and watch me film tomorrow morning."

The Ye family exchanged looks and immediately decided to stay one night at Hengzhou Film and Television City before leaving.

Yu Mingze laughed. "Then I'll have the production team book a few more rooms... Actually, the night scenery here is very nice too."

Madam Ye asked curiously, "From what I've seen, most productions filming here are period dramas. Aren't you filming a modern drama? Why did you come here too?"

Yu Mingze explained, "Only part of our drama is being filmed at Hengzhou Film and Television City. The rest will be shot on location in other cities."

Madam Ye smiled kindly. "If you need anything, Ye Group can also make things easier for your filming."

After all, this was their Zhaozhao's first drama. As his family, they naturally had to show their support.