As opposed to those who drank too much during the celebratory dinner of Qinhuai’s Riverbank, the production team of The Ultimate Battle was much quieter.

  They had a good hand to begin with but ended up losing everything that they had.

  A box office of 500 million yuan was not shabby, but the negative impact on their reputation was precarious.

  After all, actors and actresses depended on their work and their awards. Take Shen Weiyin for example, her company and her team counted on her to win the title of film empress from her work on this movie.

  Looking around the entertainment circle, not very many could compete with Shen Weiyin. She had more or less secured the film empress title for herself.

  Nevertheless, with the airing of Qinhuai’s Riverbank, Meng Jie certainly posed a big threat to Shen Weiyin. Meng Jie was charming in her cheongsam, and her acting in each look and smile of hers was excellent.

  Shen Weiyin’s team analyzed her situation fully. When the movies were aired at the same time, she and Meng Jie would be certainly competing against each other for the award next year. Unless, for whatever reasons, Qinhuai’s Riverbank’s production team opted out of participating in next year’s film festival.

  That was, of course, impossible.

  Shen Weiyin smoked one cigarette after another. Her path to stardom had been smooth sailing the last few years, and it was rare that she was at loss.

  She had been in the entertainment circle for almost 10 years, and she felt unreconciled.

  Unreconciled about losing to Ye Zhen.

  “I want to take the title of film empress next year.”


  Lu Shaoyan said jokingly from the other end of the cellphone, “You want to be the film empress? That’s not a problem. As I have mentioned before, you just need to help me convince Old Mr. Shen.”


  Shen Weiyin was quiet.

  She knew what Lu Shaoyan meant by that.

  “I have evidence of the crimes that Lu Beichuan had committed. This evidence is enough to make Lu Beichuan lose everything. I can only help you worry-free if the Lu family has gone belly up, don’t you think? That being said, if you can’t pull the trigger on Lu Beichuan still, then forget that I had mentioned it.”


  Shen Weiyin’s fists tightened.

  “Miss Shen, I need Old Mr. Shen to back me. After all, I am just a nameless and faceless one. I do not have the fame and status like Old Mr. Shen does. It would draw much more attention if he was the one who turns in that evidence instead of me. I will gain control of the Lu Corporation then, and you will have nothing else to worry about, Miss Shen.”


  “But… I don’t want Lu Beichuan to…”


  “Don’t worry, I won’t really send him to jail. I am his uncle and I wouldn’t just let someone from my family go to jail. I just want to take over the Lu Corporation. That’s all.”


  Shen Weiyin’s throat tightened, “Do you mean what you’ve said?”


  “Why would I lie to you?” said Lu Shaoyan as he sighed. “You worry so much for Lu Beichuan but what about him? Was he ever considerate toward you?”


  Thinking about how Lu Beichuan had, time and again, embarrassed her, Shen Weiyin gritted her teeth and said, “Okay, I’ll do it. I will go convince my grandpa as long as you promise me that Lu Beichuan will not be hurt.”


  “It’s nice working with you.” After Lu Shaoyan had gotten off the phone, Lin Zhan looked at him and asked, “Why did you lie to her?”


  Toying with his cellphone, Lu Shaoyan smiled and said, “Lu Beichuan goes to jail; you get the beauty. Isn’t that just perfect?”


  Lin Zhan looked away from him. He looked both determined and profound. He uttered not a word.