Chapter 48

Chapter 48

The next day, Su He switched to a new phone. After transferring all the data, he left the old one with Sheng Jinyu’s technician for further investigation. A few days later, they finally uncovered some clues.

After leaving the Su family, Lin Jing had gone to a company called Chuangxiang, which was owned by Sheng Zhilin’s father. With this revelation, Lin Jing’s actions and motives became clear as day. Fortunately, Su He’s caution had prevented them from being caught off guard.

That day, Su He received an unexpected call—from Xiao Qingzhuo.

Since their last meeting on the film set, Su He had kept in touch with the celebrated screenwriter. Despite the significant age gap, Xiao Qingzhuo never acted superior and hit it off with Su He.

Xiao Qingzhuo had always wanted to bring Su He into the industry, and Su He had been considering it as well. After all, he couldn’t stay by Sheng Jinyu’s side as an assistant forever—he would have to leave eventually.

However, he had never found the time to prepare. This time, thanks to Xiao Qingzhuo’s connections, his recently completed script was passed around industry circles and coincidentally caught the eye of a director.

In just a month, the project went from conception to casting, smoothly assembling a strong team. Xiao Qingzhuo called to inform him that the production team and creative leads would be meeting with investors over dinner that weekend. As the original author, Su He was naturally invited.

That afternoon, while out with Sheng Jinyu, they passed by a shopping mall. Su He wanted to pick out a congratulatory gift for Xiao Qingzhuo, who had done him a great favor by spotting his potential.

After browsing for a while, Su He finally settled on a premium Hui ink stick from a vintage store, perfect for Xiao Qingzhuo’s calligraphy practice.

Sheng Jinyu kept glancing at him from the side, seemingly burning with curiosity about who the gift was for, yet stubbornly refusing to ask. He was practically bursting to ask.

Su He found it amusing. Lately, Sheng Jinyu seemed addicted to acting the part of a "boyfriend," often mentioning the term with an air of seriousness, perfectly mimicking the pouty, jealous act of a partner.

At first, Su He wasn’t used to it, but eventually, he played along, occasionally even putting on the act of a "boyfriend" himself.

Feeling extremely grateful to Sheng Jinyu for all his help and kindness, Su He wondered how he could ever repay him. Just then, his gaze landed on a shimmering gold lapel pin displayed in a glass cabinet.

Though the metal edges and chain had oxidized slightly, the embedded gemstones and diamonds gleamed brightly under the light. The design was a vivid goldfish, its red hue resembling a ripe pomegranate.

It stood apart from the other accessories, instantly capturing attention—just like the first time Su He had laid eyes on Sheng Jinyu.

He turned to the nearby shop assistant and asked, "Excuse me, could you take this out for me to see?"

As the gloved attendant opened the cabinet, the store owner approached with a smile and spun some tall tale about the pin—claiming it was a vintage piece from the last century, crafted by a royal artisan for some noble count to gift his beloved wife, and so on.

Su He wasn’t particularly interested in the history; he simply thought it looked beautiful and would complement Sheng Jinyu’s suits perfectly.

Then, a grumpy voice came from behind him: "Is this for *that* person too?"

Su He turned to see Sheng Jinyu standing there with his arms crossed, brows deeply furrowed, and mouth set in a pout—as if making sure everyone knew he was unhappy.

Su He decided to string him along and shook his head. "No, it’s for someone else."

"How many people are you buying gifts for?" Sheng Jinyu’s eyes widened in disbelief. After staring him down for a long moment, he finally muttered, "Don’t I get one?"

His voice was so low and hesitant that Su He barely caught it. "What?"

"Nothing." Sheng Jinyu looked away sulkily.

Unsure whether Sheng Jinyu would actually like the gift, Su He decided to keep it a secret for now and probed instead, "Do you think it looks nice? If I gave it to someone, would they like it?"

Sheng Jinyu’s expression fell immediately. He sneered at the pin and said, "Ugly. Absolutely hideous."

Su He hesitated, worried that Sheng Jinyu genuinely disliked it. He held the pin against Sheng Jinyu’s lapel and murmured while looking in the mirror, "But I think it looks really nice..."

Sheng Jinyu crossed his arms and seethed quietly. He had followed Su He through several stores, watching him carefully select gifts for someone else—a treatment *he* had never received!

Who was this person? What made them so special?!

His gaze swept across the display case before landing on a hideously ugly peacock brooch—a design so garish it resembled a tacky rag.

Without even looking, he pointed at it and announced flatly, "Get that one. *That’s* the good one."

Su He followed his finger, then looked back at Sheng Jinyu, then at the brooch again, as if questioning when Sheng Jinyu’s taste had gotten so terrible.

He asked uncertainly, "You... really prefer that one?"

Sheng Jinyu gave a stiff nod and grunted in agreement.

Seeing his insistence, Su He hesitated for a long moment before finally asking the salesperson to wrap the peacock brooch.

---

By late autumn, the intense Guangzhou heat had eased, replaced by an early chill sweeping down from the north, bringing temperatures to a comfortable range.

That weekend, Su He arrived as promised and met several key members of the production team with Xiao Qingzhuo.

The director, a Hong Kong native, always wore a friendly smile. He mentioned that he had several promising scripts on hand, but it was Xiao Qingzhuo’s strong recommendation that had got Su He’s script noticed—and it had turned out to be surprisingly good.

"Old Xiao, you’re not even that old, and you’re already grooming a successor to inherit your legacy as a top screenwriter?" the director joked, patting his friend’s shoulder.

Xiao Qingzhuo, his semi-long hair tied back, looked at Su He with open admiration. "A talent like this—if I don’t mentor him now, someone else will snatch him up. Better to make the offer early."

To Su He, Xiao Qingzhuo was both mentor and friend, and he was deeply thankful.

It was ironic—what he hadn’t achieved in his previous life, he had now accomplished in this one, under someone else’s identity.

Su He took the chance and boldly addressed him, "Teacher, I’m the one benefiting from your guidance."

Xiao Qingzhuo set down his wine glass and leaned in to whisper, "My assistant just told me someone sent over a gift bag with an inkstick inside. That was you, wasn’t it?"

There was no point denying it. Su He nodded. "As long as you like it, Teacher."

"‘Teacher’ this, ‘Teacher’ that—you’re such a sweet talker," Xiao Qingzhuo chuckled, lightly tapping Su He’s head. "Of course I like it. I just ran out of ink the other day."

Su He smiled bashfully. Xiao Qingzhuo found the young man so sincere and naive that he couldn’t help but dote on him.

"Later, I’ll introduce you to the producer. He’s... difficult, but his resources are top-notch. Just follow my lead and don’t say much," Xiao Qingzhuo advised.

Su He nodded solemnly. "Understood."

The two left the bustling main room and headed toward a private room. Along the way, Xiao Qingzhuo remarked casually, "I’d hoped to introduce you to the investor, but that young master’s schedule is hard to nail down. Director Fan just mentioned he’s already left."

"We’ll meet him at the premiere banquet. No rush."

As they turned onto the second floor, Su He heard a heated argument—or rather, a one-sided tirade—coming from a nearby room.

Xiao Qingzhuo paused, sighed, and crossed his arms. "Who pissed off the big boss this time...?"

From his reaction, Su He guessed the person inside was the notoriously difficult producer.

Suddenly, the door slammed open, and a lanky young man stumbled out, barely catching himself before bracing for more yelling.

"You threw away a golden opportunity just like that?! I told you to keep him happy! You think you can just quit? Who’s gonna cover the missing millions—your paycheck?!"

The young man lowered his head and defended himself, "It was CEO Sheng who kicked me out. He doesn’t like this sort of thing. You shouldn't bother trying again."

"Bullshit!"

The person inside roared, then seemed to realize the open door might let others overhear and lowered his voice. "Get inside. Since when do you believe a man when he says he doesn’t like something? Didn’t I send over wine? Did he drink it?"

"He did, but..." The young man was about to cry.

"'But' nothing! No excuses! Get back in there right now, and don’t come back unless you fix this!"

The young man was shoved out again, and the door slammed shut in his face. Su He found the face vaguely familiar and, upon closer look, realized it was indeed someone he knew.

That boy who had been caught with Sheng Zhilin—turned out he was a B-list actor.

Seeing him unharmed and still standing here, Su He felt like Sheng Jinyu had tricked him again.

Someone tugged at his sleeve. Su He turned to see Xiao Qingzhuo saying quietly, "That’s the male lead #2 for the film, Song Xiao. A recent grad from acting school. We can’t interfere in this kind of thing. Let’s go."

Su He wasn’t always one to get involved in things beyond his control, but he had caught a certain title in the argument, which unsettled him.

"Teacher, you go ahead. I’ll catch up after a quick bathroom break," Su He said obediently.

Xiao Qingzhuo hesitated, eyeing him with concern. "Don’t get involved. This isn’t something we can interfere with."

Only after Su He repeatedly assured him did Xiao Qingzhuo reluctantly head downstairs, glancing back every few steps. Once he was gone, Su He turned and followed.

Song Xiao was sniffling, stopped dead in the stairwell, his expression torn—clearly afraid of offending either side and utterly desperate.

Su He approached. "Song Xiao?"

Song Xiao jerked his head up, eyeing him warily before recognition dawned, his eyes lighting up. "Brother!"

Clutching Su He’s wrist like a lifeline, he babbled frantically, "Brother, aren’t you close with Third Young Master Sheng? The producer wants me to ‘serve’ Young Master Sheng, but I know he’d never accept it! Please help me explain!"

How could it really be Sheng Jinyu?!

Su He felt his chest tighten, his voice turning cold. "Where is he?"

"Upstairs in the hotel! I’ll take you!" Song Xiao grabbed Su He’s arm, as if afraid he’d bolt, and dragged him toward the elevator.

"They must’ve slipped something in the wine. Young Master Sheng thought I did it and threw me out. I’m innocent, brother!" Song Xiao looked ready to cry, pleading pitifully.

Su He’s face stayed expressionless. He was usually laid-back, rarely truly angry, but the thought of someone scheming against Sheng Jinyu set off his anger he couldn’t suppress.

When they reached the door, Song Xiao cowered to the side, too afraid to knock. Su He didn’t expect anything from him and rapped on the door himself, then pulled out his phone to call Sheng Jinyu.

"You don’t have to stay. Go," Su He told Song Xiao, throwing him a quick look.

The latter looked like he'd been pardoned, nearly smearing his snot and tears on Su He in gratitude before scurrying away.

The call didn’t go through, and no one answered the door. Su He grew more frustrated—his knocking turned to pounding—but he wasn’t even sure if Sheng Jinyu was inside.

He tried Executive Assistant Fang next, but the line was busy.

Su He kept knocking relentlessly for three minutes before a faint sound came from inside, followed by an enraged roar: "Go away!"

"It’s me!" Su He pressed against the door and shouted. "It’s me, Sheng Jinyu. No one else. Open the door."