Chapter 72

Chapter 72

Xinhai City, Zhou Family

Zhou Yueze, looking haggard and with a face ashen with anger, sat on the sofa. He had been taken away by government investigators for questioning regarding Zhou's film company. After his release, he discovered that Chu Qingyi, seeking revenge against the Zhou family, had stolen his account book and planned to hand it over to Ye Mingzhao.

"He wants me dead!" Zhou Yueze said through clenched teeth.

"How have I wronged him? If it weren't for promoting him, why would I have offended Ye Mingzhao and the Ye family? I became like this all for him. I trusted him so much, yet he stole my account book to grovel before Ye Mingzhao! That bastard!"

Zhou Yueze punched the coffee table, his eyes red with hatred.

People outside were mocking Zhou Yueze for being obsessed with a mere actor to the point of losing the Zhou family's fortune. Gossip spread like wildfire, and over time, even Zhou Yueze himself began to think this way. He even blamed his misfortunes on Chu Qingyi, completely forgetting that he and his father had initially set up Chu Qingyi as a target to deal with Ye Mingzhao.

Mrs. Zhou was equally indignant, clutching her temples and saying, "Luckily, your father was vigilant and had people keep an eye on Chu Qingyi. That's how we discovered something was off with that kid."

Fortunately, Chu Qingyi was too greedy and couldn't reach an agreement with Ye Mingzhao and Chu Hengyi. Zhou Heting seized the chance to approach Chu Qingyi, offering him a hefty sum in return for the account book.

Chu Qingyi agreed.

Zhou Yueze's expression darkened: "How much did we give?"

Mrs. Zhou hesitated before finally saying, "It was still that ten million."

The Zhou family had originally intended to use the ten million to reconcile with Chu Qingyi, but he initially hadn't agreed. With Chu Hengyi interfering, Zhou Heting didn't push further.

Despite all the twists and turns, the ten million was still lost in the end.

Zhou Yueze's eyes grew even more filled with malice: "He dares to scheme against me like this. I won't let him off."

"Don't act rashly!" Zhou Heting, who had been silent until now, spoke gravely. "The Ye family now sees us as a target they’re itching to eliminate, eager to destroy the Zhou family. If you act recklessly, wouldn't you be handing them the evidence on a silver platter?"

"So we just endure this?" Zhou Yueze roared, unable to contain his anger. "Ye Mingzhao and Chu Hengyi schemed against me, and I had no choice but to accept it. Now even a worthless actor dares to scheme against me. If I don't vent this anger, how can I continue to have any face in Xinhai City?"

Even now, Zhou Yueze felt too ashamed to go out.

Since the Zhou family's company changed hands, most of the sycophants who used to follow him around had disappeared, and his drinking buddies had cut ties. Many in social circles mocked him for being foolish, saying he had offended Ye Mingzhao and the Ye family for a little liar. Now, that little liar, in an act of revenge against the Zhou family, dared to steal his account book and offer it to Ye Mingzhao.

If this got out, how could he ever hold his head high in Xinhai's upper-class society again?

As Zhou Yueze pondered how to save face, Zhou Heting spoke gravely: "Mark Brown has come to Xinhai."

Zhou Yueze instantly tensed up: "Why is he here? Did Hua Rui send him?"

"Can't be sure," Zhou Heting said. "But he arrived on the same flight as Ye Mingzhao. I heard that in Beijing, he was the one who approached Ye Mingzhao first. They met at the Golden Phoenix Awards celebration banquet and reportedly hit it off immediately."

As for Mark Brown's purpose in coming to Xinhai, on the surface, it was to collaborate with Starjoy Media on the Westward Journey movie.

Hearing about the Westward Journey movie, Zhou Yueze's expression twisted again. He had personally overseen this project from its early planning stages to its official approval. Zhou Yueze had poured countless hours and energy into this project. Yet, he never expected that Zhou's film company would go bankrupt at such a critical moment, and the project would be snatched up by Starjoy Media. Even worse, Ye Mingzhao used it to reward Liu Rumei, the very actress who had caused Zhou's film company to go bankrupt.

The entire ordeal felt like a series of slaps to his pride. He didn't know how many people were laughing at him!

Zhou Yueze was so overwhelmed by the bankruptcy of Zhou's film company that he had no time or energy to retaliate against Ye Mingzhao and Starjoy Media. But now, Mark Brown, who was supposed to be on the same side, was actively courting Ye Mingzhao under the guise of collaborating with Starjoy Media on the Westward Journey movie. This was a blatant disregard for the Zhou family.

"What is that scheming woman Hua Rui trying to do?" Zhou Yueze frowned, unable to help but ask.

Over the years, the Zhou family and Hua Rui had maintained covert contact, each holding evidence against the other. If Hua Rui wanted to use the Zhou family to gain Ye Mingzhao's trust, then she shouldn't blame them for striking first.

"Let's not rush," Zhou Heting said slowly. Although he couldn't quite figure out Hua Rui's intentions, he was familiar with the Ye family and Ye Mingzhao's way of doing things.

Especially Ye Mingzhao, this young fox, though youthful, is ruthless, calculating, and vengeful. If Mark Brown's approach to Ye Mingzhao is indeed directed by Hua Rui...

Thinking of this, Zhou Heting suddenly smiled: "A young fox and a poisonous spider, who do you think will come out on top?"

Zhou Yueze blinked thoughtfully and also smiled: "Who cares who wins or loses. We just need to watch the fight from the sidelines."

*

The welcoming banquet prepared by Ye Mingzhao for Mark Brown was scheduled for the third evening after their return to Xinhai City. The venue was chosen by Chu Hengyi, reportedly a very famous Sichuan hotpot restaurant in Xinhai.

When ordering, Chu Hengyi even chose the devilishly spicy broth.

Mark Brown, smelling the pungent spicy aroma, almost teared up. Fortunately, being somewhat familiar with Chinese culture, he immediately suggested: "Shall we order a dual-flavor pot?" He really couldn't handle the spiciness.

"How could that be!" Chu Hengyi put on a fake smile at Mark Brown, politely saying: "A mild dual-flavor pot can't possibly reflect my warm hospitality as the host. It must be the devilishly spicy one!"

Mark Brown wanted to say more but was cut off by Chu Hengyi: "Mr. Brown, since you are so fond of Chinese culture, you must have heard of the saying 'the guest follows the host's convenience,' right?"

Mark Brown clearly understood that this was Chu Hengyi's way of showing who's boss. He replied bitterly: "Of course! Of course!"

Chu Hengyi snorted lightly and continued: "The spicy beef is a specialty here. For the three of us, let's start with six plates."

"Tripe and duck blood, shall we have them?"

"Drinks, how about iced cola?"

The more Mark Brown listened, the more his stomach ached, and he could only look pitifully at Ye Mingzhao.

Receiving Mark Brown's pleading look, the true host sighed and turned to the one taking charge: "Get him a bowl of ice jelly."

Hearing Ye Mingzhao's minimally helpful suggestion, Mark Brown frowned, his expression even more bitter.

Chu Hengyi obediently complied, also ordering a few of the restaurant's signature dishes that appeal to both northern and southern tastes for Ye Mingzhao, then started cooking the first batch of food in the boiling red broth.

Worried that Ye Mingzhao might get a stomachache from eating too spicy, Chu Hengyi personally prepared his special dipping sauce and ordered a cup of soy milk for him.

Mark Brown also wished for such treatment, but unfortunately, Chu Hengyi didn't like him. Since it was deliberately making things tough, why would he let this foreigner off easy.

"You must have called Hua Rui, right? What instructions did she give you?"

Mark Brown smiled bitterly and directly asked: "Is this intended to be an interrogation under duress?"

"Using hotpot as interrogation under duress?" Chu Hengyi sneered: "Do you have some misunderstanding about our millennia-old Chinese culinary culture?"

Mark Brown sighed and remained silent.

Ye Mingzhao gently explained: "Mr. Brown might not be very familiar with our Chinese culinary culture. Unlike most formal meals, hotpot is a form of dining that only very close friends would sit together to eat."

This piqued Mark Brown's curiosity: "Oh?"

Ye Mingzhao smiled and explained: "Because when eating hotpot, the steam is intense, and everyone's chopsticks are stirring in the same pot, greatly reducing the social distance between people. So only true friends would sit together to eat hotpot. After eating hotpot, the relationship between everyone becomes closer."

"That's a very interesting dining culture," Mark Brown smiled and curiously asked: "So by inviting me to eat hotpot, are you planning to befriend me?"

"That depends on your choice," Chu Hengyi interjected: "My sincerity is already on the table, now it's up to you."

Mark Brown glanced at the lava-like boiling broth, not at all sensing Chu Hengyi's sincerity.

"You at least felt my warm hospitality," Chu Hengyi smiled slightly: "Or should I replace the iced cola with Maotai?"

"That's not necessary," Mark Brown quickly changed the subject: "What do you want me to do?"

"It should be what Hua Rui wants you to do," Chu Hengyi corrected. "The person you're looking for is Ye Mingzhao. I'm just a poor soul who accidentally got caught up in your business. Believe me, I'm here to join you."

Mark Brown: "..."

Mark Brown felt he couldn't keep up with Chu Hengyi, so he turned to Ye Mingzhao, who was already casually eating.

Catching Mark Brown's cue, Ye Mingzhao took a sip of soy milk and said gently, "This hot pot tastes really good. You're already here, so why not try it?"

Mark Brown wasn't sure if Ye Mingzhao meant the hot pot or something else. Hearing this, he had no choice but to brace himself and scoop out a piece of beef from the fiery red pot, carefully putting it into his mouth—

Ugh!

At that moment, Mark Brown felt a surge of spiciness rush up, making his head buzz. Tears poured down his face.

Ye Mingzhao quickly slid the bowl of ice jelly over to him. Mark Brown picked up the spoon and wolfed it down. It wasn't until he'd eaten most of the ice jelly that Mark Brown felt alive again.

"It's really spicy!" Mark Brown said, his lips swollen.

He couldn't understand why anyone in the world would enjoy such self-inflicted pain.

"It's said that spiciness isn't a taste but a pain sensation," Chu Hengyi said, looking at Mark Brown, who was wiping his nose and tears, and smiled. "How do you feel now?"

Mark Brown stuck out his tongue, about to speak, when Chu Hengyi continued, "Remember this feeling. When you go back, tell your Hua Rui that among the five flavors of life, she gave me bitterness. For the rest of my life, I will repay her with spiciness."

"I hope she's a hardcore spice fan!"