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Even if some people spoke up for Chen Chengrong and explained that the film turning out this way was not his fault or responsibility, very few were willing to listen to the truth. Their voices were drowned out online without causing even a ripple.

Most netizens did not know or understand the truth or the reasons behind it, yet they followed the crowd in mocking and trashing the film and Chen Chengrong, as though joining in the insults made them feel physically and mentally refreshed and was somehow the right thing to do.

The online environment back then was a complete mess. Some netizens were simply cursing the film, while others took the opportunity to muddy the waters for their own gain. After all, Chen Chengrong had risen to fame far too smoothly. It was not as if everything had gone perfectly for him, but he had never faced any major setbacks either, drawing the jealous eyes of many.

After all, in the entertainment industry, it was hardly unusual for people to do all sorts of things behind the scenes to compete for resources—stepping on others, smearing them, even forcing them out of the industry.

Chen Chengrong could make films, but he was terribly inarticulate. Though he wanted to explain himself, he was mocked instead and accused of making excuses. On top of that, the producer at the time wanted to shirk responsibility and distance himself from the incident, so he worked with capital to continuously suppress every online comment and explanation that favored Chen Chengrong. Otherwise, Chen Chengrong could forget about continuing in the film and television industry.

Capital controlled public opinion and steered the narrative. Chen Chengrong had grievances he could not voice, while his wife and daughter had only just escaped danger. They still needed rehabilitation and a completely quiet environment free from disturbance, far away from online attacks, so they could recuperate in peace.

So Chen Chengrong simply withdrew from the internet and stopped looking at those comments, devoting himself entirely to his family and taking care of his wife and daughter.

In his mind, the fact that the film had not turned out well was undeniable. No matter why it had been ruined—whether he had misjudged people or failed to withstand capital's arbitrary interference... he was the director, so he bore responsibility that could not be shirked. It was only natural that he would be criticized.

But he did not believe he would remain down forever. Directors spoke through their work, not through their mouths or anything else.

As long as he continued making films and made good ones in the future, this smear-driven reputation would naturally pass.

But when he finished writing and polishing a new script and wanted to begin filming, he found it unimaginably difficult. He did not even have enough funding.

His clash with capital back then had been too ugly. Some people said that the film industry had plenty of directors—Director Zhang, Director Li, Director Wang, and others. It would not miss one Director Chen.

Now, even if Chen Chengrong swallowed his pride and begged for investment, he could not get much money.

Did he really have to compromise again? Chen Chengrong thought with a grim face. If worse came to worst, it seemed his only option was to sell his house and the foundation land of his old family home, but even then, the money might still not be enough.

Just as Chen Chengrong was at his wit's end, a call came through to his phone from an unfamiliar number.

Chen Chengrong answered with a frown, assuming it was some junk call trying to sell something or scam him. Then his eyes slowly widened, and an expression of wild joy and disbelief appeared on his face. He shot to his feet and nodded repeatedly. "Okay, okay... no problem. Then, then tomorrow I'll bring the script to your company right away. I'll definitely be there on time. All right, goodbye."

After hanging up, Chen Chengrong remained dazed by the sudden surprise until his wife asked what had happened. Only then did he grab her in an embrace and say happily, "Someone wants to invest in my film!"

Early the next morning, Chen Chengrong got up and tidied himself well in advance. Once everything was ready, he took the script and hailed a taxi to the address given over the phone yesterday, feeling both nervous and expectant.

Right, yesterday's surprise had come so suddenly that before the call ended, he had forgotten to ask the other party's surname. He also had no idea how they had learned that he had finished working on a new script and was preparing to make a film, or that he lacked investment and urgently needed money...

Chen Chengrong thought it over from every angle but could not come up with anything. Who could it be? Did they genuinely want to invest in his new film?

Would this trip successfully secure the funds to start filming? And if the other party invested, what conditions would they set? He only hoped they would not disregard his wishes and forcibly stuff people into his film again...

Lost in thought all the way there, he finally arrived at the Jinbai Group office building.

The moment he got out of the car, Chen Chengrong could not help widening his eyes. Was this entire place the other party's company?

Jinbai Entertainment... It seemed there was not even a sign up yet.

No, when had this building been completed?

It was actually this office building in the new district. Had they rented the whole place for their offices?

As Chen Chengrong thought, he walked inside awkwardly. Just as he was about to ask the front desk, Yuan Guangjin, who had been waiting on the first floor for some time, led him to the top floor.

When he learned that Yuan Guangjin was actually the CEO's special assistant, Chen Chengrong could not help being surprised. Had he come specifically to receive him?

Yuan Guangjin smiled. "President Cai specifically instructed me to personally receive Director Chen. President Cai attaches great importance to this meeting with you and is very interested in your new script. We've arrived at the thirty-eighth floor. Director Chen, this way, please."

"Okay, thank you." Chen Chengrong immediately followed him, feeling a little more confident about securing the investment.

Inside the office, Cai Jinbai invited Chen Chengrong to sit down after he entered.

For a moment, Chen Chengrong was startled by President Cai's appearance. He had thought Cai Jinbai was some celebrity actor he did not know. He was simply too good-looking.

This time, Xuan Yu was not sitting beside Cai Jinbai. Instead, he had returned to his true form, shrunk himself down, and lazily coiled around Cai Jinbai's wrist with his eyes half-closed as he dozed.

His true form was a black dragon, covered in pitch-black scales like the finest ink-colored jade—smooth, bright, crystalline, and lustrous. He felt wonderful to the touch as well, cool and comfortable in the hand. Coiled in a small ring around Cai Jinbai's wrist, he made Cai Jinbai's fair skin appear even whiter, creating an exquisitely beautiful contrast.

However, Xuan Yu's position was covered by Cai Jinbai's cuff. Aside from Cai Jinbai himself, Chen Chengrong did not see him at all.

After Chen Chengrong sat down, Cai Jinbai casually stroked the black dragon coiled around his wrist.

It was a habit he had developed long ago, because Xuan Yu often transformed into a small dragon and stayed there.

Both of Cai Jinbai's wrists had nearly become Xuan Yu's exclusive territory.

When Cai Jinbai's fingers touched him, Xuan Yu flicked his tail and curled it around his fingertips.

"Director Chen, there's no need to be so reserved. I asked you here this time because I wanted to discuss investing in your new film," Cai Jinbai said, withdrawing his fingers.

Chen Chengrong sat upright, his face tense and his expression serious. He clutched the document folder containing the script in his hands. Hearing this, he said with some nervousness, "President Cai, I have spent three years carefully polishing this script. The plot is absolutely compelling. It will not disappoint you."

He had actually wanted to say that this film was also intended to win awards, but when he thought of the ridicule and abuse his last film had suffered, he did not dare say it. Even after saying just that one sentence, sweat began to bead on his forehead. As he continued, he stumbled several more times and could not even pronounce his words clearly.

After finishing, Chen Chengrong felt as though he was about to collapse.

He gradually lowered his head, annoyed with himself for being so clumsy with words.

Would President Cai dislike him because of this and refuse to invest in him?

Chen Chengrong felt deeply uneasy.

Cai Jinbai said, "May I read the script first?"

"Oh, yes, yes, of course." Chen Chengrong hurriedly handed the script over.

Chapter 11

Cai Jinbai took the script and began reading it with full concentration.

Chen Chengrong sat on the sofa with a tense expression, listening to the soft rustle of pages turning. His hands unconsciously clasped together, his heart in turmoil. Not much time had passed, yet it felt unbearably long. Fine beads of sweat even formed on his forehead, and he wiped them away.

Chen Chengrong had said that he had carefully polished this script for three years, and its quality was indeed assured. The content was compelling, while the details and foreshadowing were arranged reasonably and perfectly. When the plot reached its climax or a reversal, it made one want to slap the table in admiration, immersing one in either an exhilarating sense of satisfaction or a cold sweat of unexpected shock. Even at the ending, it left one wanting more.

Cai Jinbai read with careful attention. Xuan Yu was not interested in it. He shifted around Cai Jinbai's wrist, changed positions, and closed his eyes again to doze.

The film was called "Black or White."

It meant that something was either black or white, but that was an extreme and absolute view.

Black or white was a metaphorical description, implying that there was also a gray area between black and white.

The film was the same. It perfectly illustrated that the plot and central thread of the entire story were neither absolutely just, correct, and kind, nor absolutely unjust, wrong, and vile.

The protagonist was an undercover police officer who constantly struggled with human nature and made agonizing choices. He had once come into contact with the edge of darkness and evil, nearly falling into it. But in the end, justice defeated evil, and as an undercover officer, he successfully destroyed and eliminated the greatest cancer in the area.

At the core of the story, the protagonist had been undercover for many years. Back then, he had graduated from the police academy filled with righteous conviction, become a police officer, and sworn to risk everything for the people. Yet after becoming an undercover agent, he gradually began to doubt himself, others, even his former colleagues and friends, leaving him increasingly lost.

The young man who had once worn a bright, sunny smile at graduation had now become dejected and dispirited, unshaven, as though surrounded by fog with no future in sight.

The environment could change a person. Even if you did not want it to, it would eventually happen imperceptibly.

Those who struggled through the life of an undercover agent and stared into the abyss for too long would eventually find the abyss staring back. Those who fought dragons for too long would eventually become dragons themselves.

During his undercover work, the protagonist saw too much darkness. Sometimes he had no choice, while at other times he was forced to do things that might violate his own principles and bottom line. The boundary between black and white became blurred.

When you examined evil, evil examined your heart like a mirror.

This place was filled with depravity and extravagance, awakening the deepest desires in people's hearts.

The protagonist gradually began to lose track of whether he was truly an undercover agent, or whether his previous life had merely been a dream...