“Oh, how does Mr Cao know me.”
Zhao Dong’s words were a question, yet full of confidence. A successful man like him being recognised was no surprise.
Cao Bo exclaimed, “Of course on TV. Mr Zhao, as a representative of returned overseas Chinese, appeared on interview shows, right. I remember you even published a book.”
What was the book’s name. Cao Bo had forgotten.
The cover featured Zhao Dong himself. Cao Bo had no other skills, but he was good at remembering faces.
It turned out to be through that book “The Zhao Family Letters”.
Thinking of the book inevitably brought to mind the ghostwriter Song Fotxiang, and the humiliating memory of fleeing Rong City.
Especially Song Fotxiang, an out-of-favour poet, a shameless writer willing to ghostwrite for money. Recently, he published a book called “Elopement at Dawn” that sold very well…
Zhao Dong shifted the topic rather stiffly. “Mr Cao has not yet answered me. Are you willing to join hands with me to teach Xu Mei a lesson.”
Cao Bo neither agreed nor refused. He countered Zhao Dong.
“Leaving aside my matter with Xu Mei, I wonder how she offended Mr Zhao.”
Zhao Dong feigned profundity. “I do not know Miss Xu. Miss Xu has had no chance to offend me. But Mr Cao should know that many things in this world are not simply black or white. Miss Xu has not offended anyone. She merely chose the wrong camp. Her existence has become one of the obstacles we must clear.”
Chose the wrong camp. Should not have jumped ship to Ji Xin.
Xu Mei was truly unlucky.
After much effort to terminate her contract with Guan Zong, she jumped to a new company. Unexpectedly, the new company’s background was so complicated. She had not yet seen success, but enemies were plentiful.
If not blocked by Xu Mei, Cao Bo would certainly call to mock her. Your eye for picking a new employer is not great.
Besides schadenfreude, Cao Bo felt an inexplicable discomfort.
Xu Mei had no background in the industry.
If she had not joined the talent show, Xu Mei would be an ordinary female university student.
After debuting, she neither signed with a good company nor gained appreciation from a powerful agent like Yuan Fenghui. She had been tricked and exploited, naively squeezed by Guan Zong for a long time. With no one backing her, Xu Mei was purely grassroots. Now, she was about to be schemed against by this Zhao fellow.
Who to blame.
Perhaps blame the name not chosen well.
If called “Mei”, it would be precious beautiful jade.
But it had to be “Mei”, a tree branch.
A tree branch was not even the main trunk. Others could trim it at will, regardless of the branch’s thoughts. Cao Bo’s mind was wandering when Zhao Dong lost patience.
“Of course, I will not let Mr Cao help for nothing. Mr Cao can not only vent his anger but also receive my thanks.”
Cao Bo looked up sharply. “Thanks. What thanks.”
Zhao Dong was full of confidence. “Rest assured, the offer will satisfy Mr Cao.”
Cao Bo was truly curious.
What offer. Could it be direct cash.
If cash, how much would the other side give.
Cao Bo raised his glass from the table. “Come, come. I toast Mr Zhao first. After this drink, we can talk slowly.”
Zhao Dong and Cao Bo clinked glasses.
“So, Mr Cao agrees.”
Cao Bo said vaguely, “Whether I agree depends on what offer Mr Zhao gives. You and I are both businessmen. In a businessman’s eyes, everything has a price tag. Do you not agree, Mr Zhao.”
This hit the right note. Zhao Dong in turn toasted Cao Bo a glass.
Though meeting for the first time, the two shared strikingly similar values. They chatted very congenially at the dinner.
Zhao Dong indeed offered a very generous “thanks”, generous enough that Cao Bo found it hard to refuse.
Though called “Young Master Cao”, and now having his own company, neither the Cao family nor Cao Bo himself was anywhere near “vastly wealthy”.
The offer from Zhao Dong exceeded what Cao Bo earned from investing in a TV drama.
A TV drama from inception to preparation, shooting and production, finally selling broadcast rights, took so much effort.
Zhao Dong’s money was earned easily. Just say some bad things about the ex-girlfriend to the media, let the ex-girlfriend’s reputation shatter, and a large sum would enter the account immediately. Cao Bo was truly tempted.
…
Gong Sheng personally rushed to Xiang Province.
Zhao Dong had beaten Gong Sheng by a step and already met Cao Bo face to face.
What the two said, Gong Sheng did not know. Anyway, when Gong Sheng tried to arrange a meeting with Cao Bo again, it was impossible. Cao Bo avoided Gong Sheng entirely.
After learning this, Xu Mei called Cao Bo for the first time since their breakup.
Some say the best ex is like “dead”, completely quiet. Xu Mei thought she executed this well. After breaking up with Qin Yi, she had only called him once.
That one call let Xu Mei be reborn from the ashes.
After breaking up with Cao Bo, Xu Mei had not contacted him once. She had blocked him.
Contacting Cao Bo for the first time after the breakup, Xu Mei wanted to reason with him.
To Xu Mei’s surprise, not only had she blocked Cao Bo, he had blocked her too.
Calling from a new number got through, but upon hearing it was Xu Mei, the other side hung up immediately, leaving no space for Xu Mei to “reason”. Even calls from Gong Sheng failed. Any call from Ji Xin’s side, Cao Bo refused entirely.
Xu Mei thought for a moment and turned to Yuan Fenghui for help.
Tianjiao had cooperated with Xiang Province TV. Yuan Fenghui had more connections in Xiang Province.
Yuan Fenghui did not refuse. On one hand, she agreed to Xu Mei. On the other, she ran to Wen Ying to collect a favour. “This is not helping Xu Mei. It is helping you. I know you and Xie Qian are good friends.”
“…Thank you, Teacher Yuan.”
What could Wen Ying say. She could only grit her teeth and admit owing Yuan Fenghui once.
Having collected two favours, Yuan Fenghui acted swiftly. Soon, she learned Cao Bo’s latest movements.
“Cao Bo will attend the launch press conference for ‘Crown of Thorns’. He is the producer for ‘Crown of Thorns’. This press conference, that Guan fellow invited many media to attend.”
Many media attending.
That matched Wen Ying and Xie Qian’s guess.
If Cao Bo, before so many media, spoke of “explosive details” from dating Xu Mei, and Zhao Dong fanned the flames from behind the scenes, buying off some media to set the pace, Xu Mei would truly be blackened to death.
Wen Ying learned this news. Xu Mei soon knew too.
Gong Sheng was still in Xiang Province and called Xu Mei. “This time, you are implicated because of the company. The company will not abandon you. If Cao Bo leaks to the media, the company will spare no expense on PR for you. I also asked Mr Xie’s opinion. Mr Xie said if public opinion cannot be suppressed, we send you abroad for further study. Wait two or three years and return. The public will have long forgotten these old matters. You can fully transform into a powerful actress then.”
Xu Mei felt deeply moved inside.
The same situation, if she were still at Guan Zong’s company, what would happen.
That stingy Guan Zong would never spend on PR for her. He would abandon her outright.
Much less send her abroad for study.
An artist no longer earning money had no value in Guan Zong’s eyes. The company would not invest heavily.
Gong Sheng had no reason to deceive Xu Mei.
Because Xu Mei had a handle on Cao Bo, but not on Ji Xin.
Xu Mei smiled silently. “No need for such trouble. Those people want to use me to attack ‘Alleyway Folks’. You can just have Oriental Channel cut my remaining scenes. Anyway, my role is supporting. Its presence enriches the plot setting. Without it, the whole drama will not collapse.”
