Page 31

Ultimately, Zhou Yueze plagiarizing Yu Mingze's new drama to promote someone did not directly infringe upon the Ye family's actual interests. If Chairman Ye forcibly stepped in, he could certainly pressure Zhou Yueze into withdrawing his investment, but doing so would merely vent a momentary anger and bring no tangible benefit. On the contrary, it would give the Zhou family an opportunity to show weakness and make outsiders think the Ye family acted aggressively.

By ignoring the matter now, Chairman Ye had instead left the Zhou family stranded on the stage.

After all, Ye Mingyi being abducted by traffickers was an old secret known to everyone in New Sea City's upper circles. The Zhou and Ye families were old family friends as well. Zhou Yueze had dared to speak so recklessly in front of so many people, declaring that he would make the Ye family's enemy the male lead. This made Chairman Ye quite curious about how Zhou Heting, with all his cunning and foresight, would silence the public gossip.

So, by retreating in order to advance, he had silently put Zhou Heting in a difficult position.

Madam Ye naturally understood Chairman Ye's calculations, but she still could not let it go. "No matter what, Zhaozhao was wronged because of this."

Chairman Ye silently sighed, then suddenly changed the subject. "Lawyer Liu reported to me today that Mingzhao has transferred all the real estate, stocks, and funds under his name to Mingyi..."

Madam Ye looked at Chairman Ye in surprise. She did not understand why he was bringing up the past again.

Chairman Ye took off his glasses, pinched the space between his brows where they ached faintly, and closed his eyes. "You're right. Mingzhao is also a child of the Ye family. As parents, we should always be our children's greatest support."

He reached out and took Madam Ye's hand, speaking slowly. "I want to transfer 1% of the shares under my name to Mingzhao."

Chairman Ye paused slightly, then explained, "I had originally planned to give him that 1% as a birthday present on his birthday. I didn't expect someone to be so impatient."

Madam Ye took a deep breath and quickly said, "You're right to do this. The only reason those people dared to bully Zhaozhao was because they thought our Ye family had found Mingyi—"

Madam Ye choked up again. Clearly, she was unwilling to admit that Ye Mingzhao's relationship with Chu Hengyi was not good. Even less willing to admit that outsiders dared to openly bully Ye Mingzhao precisely because, after the Ye family had found Chu Hengyi, they had allowed Ye Mingzhao, their adopted son, to withdraw from Ye Group—the center of power that only members of the Ye family were qualified to control.

Chairman Ye also avoided discussing the matter. He merely said, "Time is of the essence. I'll have Lawyer Liu fly to Hengzhou Film and Television City first thing tomorrow morning. It's time for everyone to know that even if Mingzhao has left Ye Group, he is still part of the Ye family. He was in the past, and he will be in the future. It was destined from the moment he stepped through the Ye family's doors eighteen years ago. No one can change that."

The next morning, Ye Mingzhao, who was having his makeup done, was genuinely startled when he saw Lawyer Liu suddenly appear outside the dressing room. When he saw the share transfer agreement Lawyer Liu took from his briefcase, his shock was written all over his face.

"Lawyer Liu, this is..." Ye Mingzhao stared at the share transfer agreement in disbelief and asked blankly.

Lawyer Liu smiled slightly. "This is Chairman Ye's decision. I've completed all the procedures. Young Master Mingzhao, you only need to sign this agreement."

Ye Mingzhao looked at the pen Lawyer Liu held out to him, his expression shifting uncertainly.

Lawyer Liu did not urge him. He simply maintained his posture of offering the pen, smiling pleasantly.

Ye Mingzhao hesitated before raising his hand to accept the pen, which felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. Out of habit, he subconsciously opened the share transfer agreement and carefully read it from beginning to end, ensuring that no hidden traps or schemes lay within its clauses.

Throughout the process, Lawyer Liu stood quietly beside him without saying a word.

Ye Mingzhao read through the share transfer agreement again. Although everyone knew that Ye Mingzhao, who had hyperthymesia, possessed an almost photographic memory, and never needed to read any document twice.

It was not until Ye Mingzhao had reviewed the share transfer agreement for the third time that he seemed to make up his mind. He picked up the pen beside him, paused, removed the cap, and signed his name decisively in the signature field.

After signing, Ye Mingzhao handed the share transfer agreement to Lawyer Liu without hesitation. The harmless smile, like a spring breeze brushing across one's face, returned to his handsome, charming features.

"Please tell my father," Ye Mingzhao said softly yet firmly, "I will always be part of the Ye family."

The Beginning of the V Countdown

"So Lawyer Liu came to Hengzhou Film and Television City just to have you sign a share transfer agreement?"

Yu Mingze sat before the monitor, looking at Ye Mingzhao with delighted surprise. "They must have learned what happened to you at that bastard Zhou Yueze's celebration banquet. That's why they came up with this way to protect you."

"Now those snobbish bastards won't dare look down on you anymore!"

At that, Yu Mingze grinned and lightly punched Ye Mingzhao's shoulder. "Now I can finally stop worrying. Your uncle and aunt really are good to you."

Ever since that day, Yu Mingze had felt guilty. If he had not insisted on dragging Ye Mingzhao to confront Zhou Yueze, Ye Mingzhao would not have suffered such humiliation at the banquet.

The only reason was that Ye Mingzhao had too much self-restraint. Even when faced with someone so insufferably arrogant, he did not hold it against them.

"If you hadn't stopped me, I would've smashed that bastard's head open!"

Even now, merely mentioning it still left Yu Mingze indignant.

Ye Mingzhao curled his lips. Though he said nothing, it felt as if he had said everything.

Yu Mingze clicked his tongue and stretched lazily in the director's chair. The next second, a check appeared before him.

Yu Mingze blinked and looked at Ye Mingzhao in confusion.

Ye Mingzhao smiled. "When Zhou Yueze withdrew his investment, I said I would make up the funding."

It was just that when Ye Mingzhao left the Ye family, he had already transferred his most valuable real estate, stocks, and funds to Chu Hengyi, leaving barely any money in his account. It was not until the Beggar Prince production team paid him his acting fee, and he used the information gap provided by the original novel to earn another three hundred million, that he acquired his first pot of gold after leaving the Ye family.

At that thought, Ye Mingzhao's gaze flickered slightly, and he could not help thinking of Chu Hengyi, who had helped him earn that first pot of gold.

His phone buzzed, and a message popped up on the screen. Ye Mingzhao glanced at the sender. His dark, ink-black pupils clearly reflected the message on the screen.

[Chu Hengyi: Congratulations.]

[Chu Hengyi: Shouldn't half the credit go to me?]

Ye Mingzhao's lips lifted almost imperceptibly. He subconsciously rose to his feet and called back. "Are you asking for credit?"

Chu Hengyi said, "I prefer to call it stating the facts."

"Telling Zhou Yueze about the reporters was stating the facts." Ye Mingzhao narrowed his eyes. His indistinct outline was faintly reflected on the dim screen bleached by the sun.

Ye Mingzhao walked slowly beneath a tree. Sunlight poured down through the thick canopy, patches of light mingling with cool green shadows as they moved over Ye Mingzhao's face and body.

A faint smile touched his sharply contrasting black-and-white eyes, but it did not have time to reach their depths, leaving only the lightest trace within his clear irises. Under the sunlight, it vaguely revealed a sharp glint. Ye Mingzhao spoke in a leisurely tone, playing the victim. "I was upset for a long time after learning about it from Zhou Yueze. I thought that after what happened with the Chu family, you should have understood that I bear you no ill will."

His voice was clear and elegant, carrying Ye Mingzhao's unique blend of reserve and ease. It was like a babbling spring stream or a gentle rain in spring, tapping against Chu Hengyi's eardrums again and again.

Chu Hengyi laughed softly before saying, "I was also quite upset when Lanhe Yaoji's stock price suddenly shot up so much."

He continued, the statement in his tone outweighing the question. "You intend to replace Zhou Yueze as Beggar Prince's new investor. Are you planning to use this money?"