Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Despite a minor disruption caused by Jiang Shangyun, Yu Mingze's carefully planned premiere of *Prince of Beggars* still concluded successfully. In fact, thanks to Jiang Shangyun's unexpected appearance, even more netizens who usually didn’t pay attention to entertainment gossip became aware that a new urban idol drama called *Prince of Beggars* would soon be broadcast on Xinhai TV.

For a moment, Yu Mingze wasn’t sure if he should feel pleased or frustrated.

“...The huge buzz around the premiere of *Prince of Beggars* was all thanks to your family drama sparking heated debates online,” Yu Mingze said helplessly, and somewhat guiltily, as he looked over the trending data from various social platforms that his assistant had compiled.

He had been looking forward to his work gaining more recognition, but not like this—excessively exploiting the private affairs of the cast members. Especially when that cast member was his best friend.

“I used to think Jiang Shangyun was a decent guy,” Yu Mingze paused, then corrected himself, “or at least someone with basic morals.”

Unexpectedly, he turned out to be just like his mother, who had abandoned her own child.

“He acted all high and mighty, but in a real crisis, all he did was try to guilt-trip the victim!”

A person’s true character is only revealed when they’re in a difficult situation.

While Yu Mingze was fuming with indignation, Ye Mingzhao stayed remarkably composed.

He had long known what kind of people Ruan Cuimei and Lin Feng were, so he had never held any expectations. Therefore, he wasn’t disappointed in humanity.

“On the flip side, if Jiang Shangyun hadn’t made a scene, our promotion wouldn’t have been nearly as effective,” Ye Mingzhao tried to reassure Yu Mingze.

Upon hearing Ye Mingzhao’s words, Yu Mingze could only look at him with exasperation. “You're just too nice. That’s why people keep taking advantage of you!”

Hearing this, Ye Mingzhao gave him a deep look.

Was Ye Mingzhao really that easy to push around?

Zhou Heting and his son, who had been ousted from the Zhou family’s board of directors, certainly didn’t think so.

The timing of the premiere of *Prince of Beggars* coincided with the Zhou family’s emergency shareholders' meeting. Therefore, the shareholders and directors attending the emergency meeting were unaware of the commotion at the premiere of *Prince of Beggars*. However, as the emergency meeting concluded and the Zhou family business underwent a major overhaul of its twenty-two board members, the gossip about Jiang Shangyun’s disruption at the premiere quickly spread among the shareholders and directors.

The first to notice this news was Ye Mingxi, who was almost furious. “Those shameless jerks! How dare they mess with Zhaozhao!”

The Ye family had already shown mercy to Ruan Cuimei. They hadn’t expected the Jiang family to be ungrateful and even try to morally blackmail Ye Mingzhao at the premiere. Luckily, Ye Mingzhao was sharp and quick on his feet; otherwise, he’d have been branded as someone who ‘loves money more than family’ or ‘forgets loyalty for profit.’

Still, plenty of clueless netizens kept criticizing Ye Mingzhao.

“Parents can do no wrong. Even if Ruan Cuimei messed up, she’s still Ye Mingzhao’s mom. His actions are downright disrespectful.”

“He doesn’t even spare his own parents. What kind of heartless, ungrateful person is this? Why would the Ye family take him in? Don’t they worry he’ll go after their assets?”

The more Ye Mingxi scrolled through the netizens' comments on the trending topics across various platforms, the angrier and more distressed he became for Ye Mingzhao. “How can they say such things? Zhaozhao is the victim. Are these people confused and unable to tell right from wrong?”

As Chairman Ye and Ye Mingchen stepped out of the meeting room, they too caught wind of the online backlash.

Hearing Ye Mingxi’s words, their first reaction was to call Ye Mingzhao.

It was unclear what Ye Mingzhao was doing, but his phone wasn’t answered. The Ye family then thought of Liang Huiwei and Chu Hengyi, who had also attended the premiere, and immediately called the mother and son.

After three rings, Liang Huiwei was the first to answer the phone.

As soon as Jiang Shangyun was escorted to the rest area, Ye Mingzhao had anticipated the subsequent fallout. So, he immediately advised Liang Huiwei that no matter what happened at the premiere, she should not get involved.

At this critical moment when the Ye family business was acquiring the Zhou family business, Ye Mingzhao didn’t want any disturbances that could affect the image and reputation of the Ye family business. He didn’t intend to involve the Ye family because he could handle the situation himself. If Liang Huiwei got involved, she would become an uncontrollable variable.

Liang Huiwei knew that her presence in public represented not only the Ye family but also Ye's film company. She trusted that Ye Mingzhao's intelligence and experience would help him manage the situation well. Therefore, she did not oppose Ye Mingzhao's suggestion, but she still felt that she should do something.

"Jiang Shangyun's sudden appearance at the premiere event was quite strange."

Ye Mingzhao didn't trust human nature and figured Ruan Cuimei and her son would stir up trouble to protect themselves. However, from an observer's perspective, Liang Huiwei immediately noticed that Jiang Shangyun's attitude was somewhat off.

"Let's put aside whether the process for medical parole requires Ye Mingzhao's personal expression of forgiveness," Liang Huiwei calmly analyzed over the phone, "Just talking about Jiang Shangyun, his appearance at the premiere, kneeling and crying, only conveyed his wish for Zhaozhao to apply for medical parole."

"But his actions were completely contrary to his request."

Chairman Ye, deep in thought, took the tablet from Ye Mingchen and re-watched the entire video of Jiang Shangyun kneeling and pleading with Ye Mingzhao for forgiveness.

Over the phone, Liang Huiwei continued, "Usually, when we ask someone for a favor, we adopt the most sincere low posture. Though Jiang Shangyun appeared humble by kneeling and crying, his words were meant to smear Zhaozhao or provoke him."

For instance, the abrupt mention of Lin Feng compensating Zhaozhao with fifty million at the premiere event. This had no connection to Ruan Cuimei's medical parole, yet Jiang Shangyun chose to expose this in front of reporters. At first glance, it seemed like he was seeking justice for Ruan Cuimei, but wasn't the intention to make more unsuspecting people believe that Ye Mingzhao was a person who disregarded family for wealth?

If Ye Mingzhao had been provoked into saying something inappropriate, it could have led to more negative public opinion during the live broadcast.

Fortunately, Ye Mingzhao immediately presented the recording of Lin Feng, shifting the focus of the entire incident elsewhere.

However, Ye Mingzhao's clever response could not hide the fact that Jiang Shangyun's every move was aimed at provoking him.

Having been married for many years, Chairman Ye immediately understood his wife's implication, "Are you suggesting that someone is behind Jiang Shangyun?"

Liang Huiwei said, "I noticed on the trending searches that many marketing accounts and netizens were criticizing Zhaozhao, implying that he had ulterior motives to seize the Ye family's property. Regular netizens wouldn't think that deeply. And those marketing accounts subtly accusing Zhaozhao of being cold-hearted have previously done soft advertisements for brands under the Zhou family business. What a coincidence, don't you think?"

Chairman Ye had a slight realization and asked, "How is Zhaozhao now?"

Liang Huiwei said, "He is emotionally stable."

As she spoke, she looked towards Ye Mingzhao and Chu Hengyi standing side by side at the end of the corridor and said with relief, "Mingyi is comforting him."

*

"Jiang Shangyun's disruption at the premiere was part of your plan, wasn't it?"

At the same time, the two, mistakenly thought to be harmonious brothers, engaged in a casual confrontation, "Are you trying to scheme against your biological father, or the mastermind who sent Jiang Shangyun to you?"

Ye Mingzhao was not surprised and slightly curved his lips, "You know quite a lot."

"My private investigator is quite efficient," Chu Hengyi glanced at the distressed Lady Ye and said, "Employing the same tactics repeatedly, aren't you fatigued by it?"

Chu Hengyi, as an observer, felt exhausted for Ye Mingzhao, who always pretended to be pitiful and wronged.

"Why would you think that?" Ye Mingzhao widened his eyes in disbelief and looked at Chu Hengyi, "It's others who are deliberately bullying me. I'm just a passive victim, yet you still mock me. Do you have that much prejudice against me?"

As Ye Mingzhao spoke, his bright eyes misted over as if covered by a thin layer of fog.

Chu Hengyi: "..."

Chu Qingyi laughed in exasperation, "You're in a good mood!" to have the leisure to play tricks on him.

Ye Mingzhao, seemingly oblivious to Chu Hengyi's implication, turned to look at Liang Huiwei.

Liang Huiwei, who had just hung up the phone, immediately noticed Ye Mingzhao's action. She quickened her pace, and the sound of her high heels clicking on the marble floor echoed in the corridor.

"What's wrong?" Liang Huiwei's gaze shifted between Ye Mingzhao and Chu Hengyi, finally resting on Ye Mingzhao's face.

"Nothing," Ye Mingzhao said with a bright smile, "Were you just talking to Dad on the phone?"

"Yes," Liang Huiwei said with a smile, "The temporary shareholders' meeting went smoothly. We re-elected the board members, and Zhou Heting, Zhou Yueze, along with several directors exposed in the scandal at Zhou's film company, have all been removed from the board. To uphold the corporate image, the shareholders voted to withdraw investments from Zhou's film company."

It can be said that the Ye family has successfully achieved several goals.

"But the Zhou family is still the second-largest shareholder in the Zhou family business," Chu Hengyi said, deliberately glancing at Ye Mingzhao before adding with a smile, "How can you allow others to snore next to you when there's a tiger by your bed?"

Upon hearing Chu Hengyi's words, Liang Huiwei's face darkened slightly. She looked at Ye Mingzhao solemnly and said, "I suspect someone was pulling the strings behind Jiang Shangyun's stirring up trouble at the premiere."

A look of slight surprise appeared on Ye Mingzhao's face as he hesitated for a moment before asking, "Are you implying that..."

"You helped the Ye family successfully acquire the Zhou family business. Do you think Zhou Heting would just let it slide? He secretly manipulated Jiang Shangyun and his mother to ruin your reputation, exploiting Ruan Cuimei's lawsuit to create tension within our family. Their endgame is to push you out of the Ye family."

Liang Huiwei gently patted Ye Mingzhao's hand, offering reassurance. "Don't worry, we won't let you be treated unfairly."