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The first to surface were naturally the media outlets and social platforms closely tied to Zhou Film and Television Company. Ye Mingchen simply could not determine whether someone else was pulling Zhou Yueze's strings.

If this were merely a clash of pride between younger people, there was absolutely no need to take things this far.

He just could not understand—what did the Zhou family stand to gain from this?

The Ye and Zhou families had been friends for generations. What was there that they could not say face-to-face?

Surely they did not think that just because Mingzhao's biological parents had come looking for him, the Ye family would simply hand over the child they had raised for eighteen years?

Upon hearing this, Chairman Ye suddenly laughed. "Back then, Hua Rui hired traffickers to abduct your younger brother in order to retaliate against the Ye family. Your mother and I were exhausted by the whole affair and had little energy left to manage the Group's affairs. At the time, your Uncle Zhou helped us handle matters inside and out. He did our family quite a few favors."

Out of gratitude for Zhou Heting's efforts, Ye Linyuan introduced Zhou Heting to quite a number of projects. That was when the Zhou family gradually began to rise.

Zhou Heting was someone who knew how to repay kindness. After gaining a firm foothold, he invited Ye Group to cooperate on every major project he developed.

Over time, outsiders came to see the Ye and Zhou families as one entity. Zhou Group also gradually grew into New Sea City's leading powerhouse, second only to Ye Group.

Time passed so quickly. In the blink of an eye, more than twenty years had gone by.

Ye Mingchen was stunned by his words, unable to understand why his father had suddenly brought up something from so long ago.

Chairman Ye spoke slowly. "The Ye and Zhou families remained close for so many years because our interests aligned. If one day we developed differences, it would not be surprising for us to go our separate ways."

As Chairman Ye spoke, he gave Ye Mingchen a meaningful look. "In this regard, you are not as adaptable as Mingzhao."

Ye Mingchen felt somewhat ashamed. He knew he was neither as intelligent and perceptive as Zhaozhao nor as decisive in his actions.

Chairman Ye smiled faintly. "That is the crux of the matter."

Zhou Heting had noticed this long ago. Unfortunately, Zhou Heting had overestimated human nature and underestimated the human heart.

Chairman Ye waved a hand. "There is no need to pay too much attention to these petty squabbles out in the open. Since Ms. Ruan Cuimei wishes to acknowledge kinship, arrange for her to go to the hospital for a paternity test. If her mother-son relationship with Mingzhao can be confirmed, send lawyers to file a lawsuit in court immediately."

Ye Mingchen was startled. "Wouldn't that be a little too..."

He did not finish. Chairman Ye sneered. "If we are not ruthless enough, how can we keep those petty villains in line?"

Everything Zhou Heting had done this time was nothing more than an attempt to drive a wedge between Ye Mingzhao and the Ye family. Unfortunately, Mingzhao was no fool, and neither were the Ye family. How could they possibly do something that would hurt their loved ones and please their enemies?

After thinking for a moment, Ye Mingchen added, "There is also the matter of Mingyi shorting Zhou Film and Television Company. Because Zhou Group stepped in to prop it up, Zhou Film and Television Company's stock price has surged. I was worried something might happen to Mingyi, so I asked whether he needed help. He told me not to interfere."

Chairman Ye thought of the youngest son they had only recently brought home, and his head began to ache.

After a long silence, Chairman Ye said slowly, "Since he does not want you to intervene, just watch for now."

Chairman Ye thought of Ye Mingyi's various moves in the stock market. "Since he is capable of this much, he should know what he is doing."

"What exactly is that Third Young Master Ye thinking?" Thinking of what he had seen while reviewing the surveillance footage that morning, Yu Mingze found it utterly strange. "Instead of sleeping in the middle of the night, he actually spray-painted the walls. He even painted your lounge chair like that. Does he think doing this will slow down our filming schedule?"

Director Li Zhengzheng, seated nearby, looked as though he wanted to speak but hesitated. He glanced at Yu Mingze several times, but in the end, he still did not dare say a word.

Ye Mingzhao calmly changed the subject. "Where is Jiang Shangyun? Why haven't I seen him?"

"Him?" With Ye Mingzhao's interruption, Yu Mingze instantly forgot what he had been about to ask. His gaze drifted, and he curled his lips dismissively. "He went out last night and never came back. He probably has too much shame to return!"

Yu Mingze had no interest in Jiang Shangyun's affairs. "If Ruan Cuimei really is your biological mother, what are you going to do? Are you going to acknowledge her as your mother?"

Ye Mingzhao smiled at Yu Mingze.

For no reason, Yu Mingze felt a chill run down his spine. He leaned closer to Ye Mingzhao and asked mysteriously, "Come to think of it, something this huge has happened. Why hasn't Ye Group done any PR?"

Were they really just going to let Ruan Cuimei make a scene in front of the reporters?

Ye Mingzhao smiled faintly. "If we do not let her make a scene, how will we find out what she and the people behind her really want?"

Yu Mingze froze.

Yu Mingze's tablet chimed as an entertainment news alert popped up on the screen—

Yu Mingze glanced at it carelessly, but his expression abruptly changed. "The Prince's Transformation has wrapped filming!"

He tapped into it and saw dozens of topics appear in an instant, nearly twisting his nose out of shape with anger. "It just wrapped filming, and it already has more than thirty trending topics. Zhou Yueze really is loaded!"

Ye Mingzhao joined in and took a look. Thinking of the trap Chu Hengyi had planted in The Prince's Transformation production team, he chuckled. "He can finally reel in the net!"

It had dragged on for so long that he had genuinely worried Chu Hengyi's limited funds would not hold out.

At that same moment, Ye Mingzhao's phone buzzed.

Yu Mingze had sharp eyes and was sitting close by, so he inadvertently saw the sender's name. He could not help asking in astonishment, "Why is Liu Rumei messaging you?"

"Isn't she the female lead of The Prince's Transformation?"

Chapter 35

After work wrapped up that evening, Ye Mingzhao and Yu Mingze drove to a five-star hotel in downtown New Sea City.

Ye Mingzhao had originally planned to go alone, but Yu Mingze was especially interested in Liu Rumei contacting Ye Mingzhao in private. He insisted on tagging along and even volunteered himself as Ye Mingzhao's driver.

"Why have you two been contacting each other behind my back?" Yu Mingze remained hung up on it the entire way, asking again and again, "What conspiracy is there that I don't know about?"

"Are you planning to use Liu Rumei to dig a pit for The Prince's Transformation production team?" Yu Mingze's imagination ran wild. "But The Prince's Transformation has already wrapped filming and been submitted for review! Even if you want to pull something, isn't it too late now?"

Yu Mingze chattered on endlessly, trying to use his brain full of idol-drama clichés to deduce Ye Mingzhao's next move. Before long, his mind ground to a halt. "Come on, don't be so mysterious every time—"

"Someone is following us!" Ye Mingzhao glanced at the rearview mirror and suddenly spoke.

Yu Mingze's analysis came to an abrupt stop. Seeing the van relentlessly pursuing them in the mirror, he cursed. "It has to be those paparazzi! They couldn't get into the production set, so now they want to follow us and break some major story."

"Don't worry." Yu Mingze floored the accelerator. "I'll definitely shake them off."

Ye Mingzhao sat calmly in the passenger seat and chuckled at his words. "Do not speed."

"They're just entertainment reporters. Our lives are far more valuable than theirs." Ye Mingzhao rolled down the window and waved his hand outside. His calm voice was instantly scattered by the howling north wind. "Let them follow."

"With them helping us, we can save ourselves quite a bit of trouble."

Under Ye Mingzhao's constant reminders to drive safely, Yu Mingze finally drove them to their destination.

The two got out and entered the hotel. A moment later, a van pulled up beside Yu Mingze's car. The man in the passenger seat snapped several photos toward the hotel entrance, then hurriedly got out of the vehicle.

Yu Mingze and Ye Mingzhao arrived at their reserved private room, where Liu Rumei was already waiting.

When she saw the two enter, Liu Rumei sprang up from her seat as though a spring had been installed beneath her. She greeted them stiffly, "Mr. Ye, Producer Yu."

The look Liu Rumei gave Yu Mingze was clearly one of surprise, as though she had not expected him to come as well.

Yu Mingze looked at Liu Rumei, who wore sunglasses indoors despite it being nighttime, and he too found it somewhat surprising. He keenly sensed that something seemed off about Liu Rumei's condition, but he did not ask anything.