Chapter 128: Beware of Your Fate

Jade Pavilion.

Zhou Munian meticulously dissected the French blue lobster that had just been air-shipped in, instructing his subordinate, "Go, the meat today is a bit overcooked."

Go immediately lowered his head. "Yes, Boss. I will remind the head chef."

After Lin Zhiwei had left, Ye Linyun remained hunched in her seat, her posture rigid. She dared not glance at Zhou Munian, staring instead at the lavish spread of food and wine with a look of utter despair. Watching Zhou Munian eat with such unhurried composure, she felt like a fish on a chopping block, waiting to be gutted at any moment.

Zhou Munian elegantly set down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth, and spoke slowly, "Linyun, you and I have been working together for quite a few years now."

"Yes." Hearing him speak, Ye Linyun lowered her head in resignation, awaiting her sentence.

"You know my temper, and I know your way of doing things. We have always worked together very happily," Zhou Munian said with a gentle, shallow smile. He swirled his wine glass, but a cold glint permeated his lenses, striking directly at Ye Linyun’s heart.

She trembling reached out, picked up her glass, and took a sip, hoping to numb her frantic nerves.

"You should know what kind of punishment you would have received today," Zhou Munian’s tone dropped, becoming incredibly low. Ye Linyun instinctively leaned back against her chair; she was well aware of his methods.

"Heh, but the 'Masked All-Rounder' has only just begun, and the second live performance is coming up soon. We can't have you showing up with injuries, can we?" Zhou Munian leaned in, his smile remaining as he uttered terrifying words.

Ye Linyun, unaware of his true intentions, remained curled up in silence.

"Linyun, I know you like Ling Ruoyu and want to clear away everyone who covets him. I can understand that sentiment. I admire the 'whatever it takes' attitude—after all, I am that kind of person myself," Zhou Munian said, pacing his words. "However, I remember reminding you that Ling Ruoyu’s background is special."

"I..." Ye Linyun could only manage a single syllable from her parched throat. Fear enveloped her, and she could not fathom how the man beside her intended to punish her.

Zhou Munian waved his hand. "Linyun, I will treat today’s events as if you simply invited Lin Zhi over for a meal. I won't hold it against you, but I must warn you: should there be a next time, be very careful of your fate."

Under the weight of Zhou Munian’s stern, chilling expression, Ye Linyun narrowed her eyes in deep thought. Suddenly, realizing something, she asked, "Boss, did Lin Zhi contact you?"

"Naturally, it was him. You kept things so airtight, even orchestrating a farce to deceive Go. Heh, you’ve really grown bold."

"Boss, I—I did deceive you, but Lin Zhi has no background. Even if Ruoyu finds out, it won't affect your business," Ye Linyun said hurriedly.

"Nonsense. You think your superficial investigation can uncover the truth about others? Do you really believe you run this entertainment industry?" A layer of frost covered Zhou Munian's eyes; he was shocked that Ye Linyun was still so delusional.

"Sister Yun, Lin Zhi holds shares in both Star Entertainment and Ling Ruoyu’s studio," Go added from the side.

"What?" Ye Linyun’s face drained of color. In disbelief, she knocked over her wine glass, and the crimson liquid instantly stained her long dress. Her assistant, Xiao Zhu, rushed forward to wipe it up but was pushed away. "That’s impossible. I checked at the time!"

"That information was strictly protected and encrypted. Had Director Lin not sent it to the boss himself, we would never have found it. Besides, the share contracts were marked as non-public," Go explained, though he inwardly mocked Ye Linyun’s ignorance. She only knew how to look at surface-level information, thinking she held everything in her grasp, never stopping to consider that someone like Lin Zhi, who dared to come alone, could never be that foolish.

Ye Linyun finally realized she had been outplayed by Lin Zhi. She had thought her scheme today was seamless and that even if Lin Zhi contacted her boss, he would have no bargaining chips.

Yet, this Lin Zhi held dual shares in both Star Entertainment and Ling Ruoyu’s studio, which implied that behind him stood the Zhao family of Star Entertainment. Although the Zhao family had withdrawn from the variety and film market in China, they still held a firm grip on anime, exhibitions, and cinema chains. Even though Bermu had always viewed them as a mortal enemy, they had been forced to negotiate long-term, mutually beneficial goals with them in recent years due to the cooling film market.

"Lin Zhi!" Ye Linyun spat the name through gritted teeth. So, all the fear and panic he showed earlier was an act. He had pretended to be clueless and defenseless while playing a masterful hand in private.

He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

"Linyun, I do not want to see a repeat of this. Conduct yourself accordingly," Zhou Munian warned.

"Boss," Ye Linyun tried to argue, but Zhou Munian cut her off ruthlessly. "Do you think that with your limited connections and schemes, you’ve reached the pinnacle of the entertainment industry? Just because people call you 'Best Actress,' you think you own everything? You are too naive. Who gets promoted and who gets kicked out—I believe you know exactly who decides that."

Ye Linyun gritted her teeth. How could she not know she was merely a chess piece?

"Although I will let you off this time, to ensure you understand what a stupid decision you made, you must bear the consequences. The endorsement for ROO’s perfume and your next two films are no longer yours. I will notify Director Qiao to assign them to Qi Ming," Zhou Munian said coldly.

"Boss, the deal with ROO was almost finalized, and I worked so hard for Director Chen’s new film... please, give me one more chance!" Ye Linyun said, nearly sobbing. The endorsement and the two new films were things she had schemed desperately to snatch; she could not let that little bitch Li Qiming take them.

"This is the price you must pay, Linyun. In this circle, what is required is obedience, not acting on your own. This incident serves as a reminder. Don't forget, my patience has limits. This is only a few films and an endorsement—next time, you know what you will face."

With that, Zhou Munian left with Go, leaving Ye Linyun behind, her face streaked with tears.

Her assistant, Xiao Zhu, had not seen Ye Linyun so vulnerable and humiliated in years. Thinking that she had not had it easy either, she hurried forward to comfort her.

Ye Linyun glared with bloodshot eyes. As Xiao Zhu approached, she stood up abruptly and slapped her. Xiao Zhu fell to the floor, looking up at her in terror.

Ye Linyun seemed to have lost her mind, kicking and punching Xiao Zhu while cursing loudly. "Lin Zhi, you ruined me! I want you dead, you bastard!"

Xiao Zhu could only weep silently, enduring the assault.

When Ye Linyun was finally exhausted, she collapsed back into her seat, a fierce, burning flame in her eyes. "So what if I lost the endorsement and the films? Heh, I’m just a chess piece anyway, eventually destined to be kicked aside. Lin Zhi, I won't stop here. If it comes to it, I’ll fight you until one of us is destroyed."