Chapter 43 Not Answering Calls

Chapter 43: Unanswered Call

The assistant, startled and shaken, gulped down most of a glass of water before he could steady his breathing.

"I went to find Mr. Zhu as Mr. Tan instructed," he reported. "But his phone was unreachable, and he wasn't at his usual apartment. So I went to his villa in the suburbs, but he wasn't there either."

He took a breath, holding up a phone. "But I found his phone. It was ringing non-stop, so I answered it."

"Who was it?" Tan Cong asked.

"She said she was Mr. Zhu's girlfriend and wanted answers."

"What nonsense," Tan Cong frowned. "Isn't he a man?!"

The assistant was momentarily stunned, almost speechless.

"No, no," he waved his hands frantically. "The caller was a woman, not the same person. She was accusing Mr. Zhu of cheating!"

A hush fell over the room.

Guo Shengyao's jaw dropped.

Lin Yunshu slowly lowered the hand covering his waist. In his shock, his waist no longer hurt, his stomach no longer ached, and now he was probably in for a headache.

"Wh-what in the world?" Tan Cong snatched the phone.

He suspected the world was playing tricks on him.

"What is this junk?" he slapped the phone. "What's the password?"

"Let me, let me," the manager squeezed forward. "2222, that's always been his password."

Tan Cong tried it, and it actually unlocked.

He blinked in astonishment. "It's that simple?"

The manager offered a bitter smile. "That's why I always thought he was an incredibly straightforward person."

He started to cry as he spoke, banging his head on the table.

Tan Cong rubbed his face and wearily called the assistant over. "Contact this woman and arrange hush money."

The assistant quickly accepted the task and hurried off.

Just then, the door pushed open again. This time, Guo Shengyao pulled Lin Yunshu back, keeping a safe distance.

"Boss Tan!" Assistant No. 2 burst in urgently. "We found out! Zhu Mo didn't want to get married because he has other girlfriends!"

He spoke with conviction, his personal indignation clearly condemning such behavior.

Tan Cong slumped in his chair, his tie askew, and snapped irritably. "Any slower? The person already showed up herself before you found out! What a Monday morning quarterback!"

No. 2 was scolded into a daze, scratching his head and glancing around. "You already knew?"

He had thought he was bringing groundbreaking news.

A bit awkward.

Tan Cong, in a foul mood, snapped, "Show me the documents!"

No. 2 hurriedly handed over the folder.

Tan Cong flipped through a few pages, then suddenly stopped. The next second, he started flipping back, then opened Zhu Mo's phone again, his eyes darting between the two.

Lin Yunshu watched his face cycle through a myriad of expressions.

"Ah!"

Tan Cong let out a distressed cry.

The pathetic tone startled Lin Yunshu greatly.

"What's wrong?" Lin Yunshu quickly stood up.

"Yun Shu, Yun Shu, Yun Shu!" Tan Cong frantically gestured for him to come, as if seeking a savior.

He pulled Lin Yunshu closer and pointed at the desk. "Look, help me look. Are these two the same person? I think I might be face-blind or suddenly gone blind. Tell me they're the same person!"

Lin Yunshu knew immediately this was bad.

Looking closely, they were clearly two entirely different people!

If anything, only their gender was the same.

Even someone as calm as Lin Yunshu couldn't help but cover his mouth.

The manager summoned his strength to lean in and look.

"Ahh!"

He let out a pitiful wail and slumped to the floor.

Tan Cong closed his eyes in despair, gritting his teeth. "How many more are there?!"

***

Half an hour later, Tan Cong's subordinates found five cell phones from Zhu Mo's four properties in the city.

They were laid out in a row on the table.

Lin Yunshu gently rubbed his stomach, watching as Tan Cong's eyes lost their light, staring blankly at the table.

Five phones, same brand, same model, same color, same password, even the same screen saver.

The only variable: each phone had a different partner, one per phone, never exceeding.

You could almost call this a form of 1v1?

The manager sat beside Tan Cong, looking as if he had aged ten years in an instant. "No wonder I always thought he only had one phone," he said.

Tan Cong said incredulously, "He never got them mixed up."

As evening approached, everyone became more awake. The whole room was filled with gossip, their appetite for drama satisfied.

"I bet there are more than just these."

"Yeah, look at those people—men and women, Alphas, Betas, Omegas. Who knows, maybe Zhu Mo was collecting them by zodiac sign!"

"Or maybe by the twenty-four solar terms."

"Get more people on it," Tan Cong shook his head in despair, sending more people. "Bring them all in! No matter what it takes, make sure they don’t say a single word about this!"

It had been a full day since the story broke, but so far, only the initial dating scandal was circulating online.

Zhu Mo had maintained an excellent reputation in the entertainment industry over the years. As soon as the relationship news surfaced, countless industry insiders came to his defense.

Although the company had paid many people to do so, some still volunteered to speak up for him.

Many were former colleagues he had worked with, often overlooked crew members from film sets, who came forward one after another to share how Zhu Mo had helped them and treated them equally, unlike other celebrities who looked down on them.

His fans were also very loyal. After a brief period of shock, most accepted that it was fine for an actor to be in a relationship.

Public interest slowly died down as they moved on to other matters, and the hot searches were gradually taken over by other celebrities.

For Tan Cong, this was a good sign.

Zhu Mo was the most nationally recognized and award-winning actor under his management, the pillar of Starlight Entertainment, and the one who brought in the most money for the company.

Although the situation was already a total disaster, at least the public remained unaware. Tan Cong had to suppress the scandal—not to protect Zhu Mo, but to safeguard his company.

Zhu Mo had signed numerous endorsement deals and several film contracts, all major productions. If mishandled, the compensation costs would be astronomical.

Tan Cong had just returned to the country to compete with his siblings for the family inheritance. If he couldn’t even manage an entertainment company properly, his father would surely look down on him.

The agent had been staring blankly at the phones on the table when, as if struck by a thought, he suddenly straightened up.

"What’s wrong?" Tan Cong asked. He couldn’t handle any more setbacks.

The agent didn’t respond but took out his own phone and dialed a number.

Both Tan Cong and Lin Yunshu could see the contact name: "Zhu Mo."

The call went through, but no one answered. It rang for a full minute before disconnecting automatically.

The terrifying part was that none of the five phones on the table rang.

These were all just backup phones!

The agent’s face turned ashen.

Tan Cong slapped a hand over his eyes, unable to contain his fury any longer.

"Where is he?! We’ve been searching all afternoon! How can a living person just vanish into thin air?!"

"President Tan!"

Someone in the corner suddenly exclaimed.

It was an employee who had been quietly monitoring public opinion. He pointed at the projection screen, where the previously stable traffic was now fluctuating wildly.

"Someone’s live-streaming!" the employee shouted.

"Live-streaming what? Weren’t those people under control? Weren’t we negotiating hush money?!" Tan Cong tensed up.

"It’s... it’s another one..." the employee stammered, barely able to breathe.

Tan Cong: "???"

He took a closer look and confirmed it was yet another unfamiliar face.

There really were more!

The employee reported nervously, "She seems to be confronting that omega."

"The omega doesn’t know he has other partners, and they’re comparing timelines to see who came first."

"Oh no, it looks like another one has been exposed."

"Damn, a child’s involved now."

...

"Crap, these two are in the same city and are about to confront each other in person!"

Things spiraled out of control.

The public opinion, which had been barely contained for a full day, completely collapsed, erupting uncontrollably.

Aside from the five on the phones, other "sisters" emerged one after another, with astonishing speed and numbers.

The company couldn’t investigate or negotiate fast enough, and by this point, the situation had completely unraveled.

The online storm exploded. Some took advantage of the chaos, while others presented undeniable evidence like bed photos and kissing pictures. Trending searches exploded one after another, and Tan Cong couldn’t suppress them fast enough, ultimately achieving a full sweep of the hot search rankings.

The scene turned into a complete mess, completely unmanageable.

Tan Cong’s phone had been ringing non-stop since morning, and now it was even more incessant, with brand endorsements terminating their contracts one after another.

The pressure on Lin Yunshu’s side also intensified.

Cassi’s brand philosophy had always been unwavering loyalty in love. Now, with its spokesperson embroiled in such a scandal, with every accusation backed by solid evidence and no room for defense, the impact on the brand was immense.

As the public opinion gradually spread, shareholders from the group began calling incessantly, and brand managers pressured Lin Yunshu to make a decision quickly.

He frowned silently, glancing at Tan Cong.

This scandal wasn’t just about a celebrity’s downfall.

Tan Cong’s family situation was complicated. Compared to someone like Zhou Yu, who had been the sole heir from birth without even a single illegitimate sibling to compete with, Tan Cong had it much tougher.

With five older siblings above him, and his father still alive and firmly holding onto the core power, watching his children fight among themselves, the stakes were high.

Starlight Entertainment was one of the better-performing subsidiaries, generating significant revenue. Being connected to the entertainment industry, its head could also build a public persona.

Tan Cong had fought hard to wrestle it from his siblings, only to find such a disaster waiting for him.

"Fine, so this is how it’s going to be."

Tan Cong hung his head low, clenching his fists tightly.

"Everyone’s coming after me, huh!"

He was furious beyond words.

Losing one celebrity was insignificant, and the loss of an entertainment company was merely a drop in the bucket for the Tan Cong family.

But this was so embarrassing.

He lost utterly in his first confrontation with his siblings, made a complete fool of himself—no telling how disappointed the old man would be.

Lin Yunshu had actually instructed Guo Shengyao early on to contact legal affairs to prepare for contract termination. The brand's press release had also been ready for a while, but out of respect for Tan Cong, he'd held off on releasing it immediately.

He had consciously been giving Tan Cong time and opportunity. If a solution could be found, he wouldn’t push things to the extreme and might even offer some help.

But now, it seemed too late to save.

Tan Cong’s siblings wouldn’t give him a chance to recover, either.

"Secretary Lin," the brand manager nudged his arm and gave him a meaningful look.

Lin Yunshu sighed, straightened up, and looked at Tan Cong. "Brother Cong."

Tan Cong lifted his head, somewhat calmer now, though a trace of unwillingness still lingered in his eyes.

He wasn’t someone who didn't know what was good for him. CASSI was the client—he couldn’t rely on personal connections to leech off them. He wouldn’t do something like that.

"I understand," he said.

He closed his eyes briefly. "Call legal affairs to start the termination process. Release your announcement quickly too. Yours is the only endorsement he has left—don’t drag it out and make the impact worse."

Lin Yunshu also felt somewhat helpless. "My apologies, Brother Cong."

Tan Cong waved his hand. "I brought this on myself. I accept it."

He turned to instruct his assistant: "Track down Zhu Mo ASAP. Have legal draft the termination contract."

He had completely given up on this actor.

Lin Yunshu patted him on the shoulder and called for Guo Shengyao.

Handling the aftermath no longer required his direct involvement.

***

By the time he left the company, it was already 11 p.m. Exhausted, Lin Yunshu collapsed into the car.

He hadn’t eaten dinner. Earlier, his stomach had been killing him, but now it seemed to have passed the worst of it and just felt numb.

His fingers resting lightly on his upper abdomen, Lin Yunshu closed his eyes and slumped weakly in his seat.

The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror.

Even in the dim light of the back seat, it was clear that Lin Yunshu looked terrible—his fingers, pressed against his chest, were thin and pale.

"Are you feeling unwell?" the driver asked with concern.

Lin Yunshu’s eyebrows twitched. Without opening his eyes, his shoulders and neck stiffened unnaturally for a couple of seconds before slowly relaxing.

"It’s nothing," he said softly, clearing his throat. "Just a bit tired."

"I’ll drive more steadily then. You can rest for a bit."

The drive from the company to Lin Yunshu’s home was only ten minutes—not enough time to really sleep, but the kind words were comforting nonetheless.

Lin Yunshu smiled faintly. "Thank you."

The driver shook his head repeatedly. "No, no, it’s no trouble at all."

***

Once home, Lin Yunshu headed straight to the bathroom for a shower.

Only after washing away the stifling atmosphere of the conference room did he feel slightly better.

His stomach still felt hollow and sore.

Lin Yunshu toasted two slices of bread, hoping to settle his stomach, but after just a couple of bites, the stomach pain suddenly intensified, acidic, nearly making him vomit.

A cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He leaned over the table, not daring to move, and it took several minutes before he barely managed to pull through.

He pushed the plate away, his appetite completely gone. He took two painkillers and swallowed them, praying this wave of pain would pass quickly.

Buzz! Buzz!

His phone rang a few times. Lin Yunshu glanced at it—it was Chen Shuyang.

Not surprised, he answered, put it on speaker, and set it on the table.

"Damn!"

Chen Shuyang got straight to the point, one word summing up his mood.

Lin Yunshu chuckled softly. "Saw it?"

"Hard to miss when it’s blown up like this," Chen Shuyang said. "My social media feeds are full of Zhu Mo and relationship timelines. Everyone’s putting more effort into figuring out the order of his boyfriends and girlfriends than they did for the college entrance exam!"

"Weibo’s crashed too. All his endorsements are gone. It’s terrifying. He was really well-liked on set, but now no one dares mention him."

"That’s normal," Lin Yunshu said. "Everyone’s distancing themselves as much as they can."

Chen Shuyang suddenly felt a sense of "there but for the grace of God go I." "Brother, do you think I’m going to lose my job?"

"Why would you?" Lin Yunshu reassured him. "Even if the filming falls through, didn’t you get that offer from Cainiao Station?"

There was a two-second silence on the other end. Chen Shuyang seemed to brighten up:

"That’s true!"

"..." Lin Yunshu couldn’t help laughing. "You actually believed that?"

He pushed himself up from the table, leaning back in his chair, his wrist pressed gently against his upper abdomen as he massaged it. "Don’t worry, it won’t affect you guys."

"But I still haven’t received the call sheet for tomorrow. Everyone’s saying the shoot can’t go on." Chen Shuyang sighed. "Is my path to superstardom really going to be cut short halfway?"

Lin Yunshu laughed so hard his shoulders shook, tugging at his stomach. He let out a soft hiss.

"What’s wrong?" Chen Shuyang sharply caught that faint sound.

Lin Yunshu turned off speakerphone, pressed a hand to his stomach to steady himself, then picked up the phone. "It’s nothing."

"Are you okay? I thought I heard—"

"It won't fall through," Lin Yunshu interrupted. "It’s a key Q4 project, a platform-invested S+ mega-series. With that much money involved, they can’t just scrap it. They’ll recast. They’ve only just started filming—it’s less loss to reshoot the early parts with a new actor than to cancel the whole project."

"So my path to superstardom is still intact?" Chen Shuyang relaxed but wasn’t distracted. "So where does it hurt? Do you need me to—"

"I'm tired and sleepy. That's it for now."

Lin Yunshu hung up the phone.

"Hey? Brother? Lin Yunshu—!"

The echo of the other person's yell lingered from the phone. Lin Yunshu frowned, feeling that this guy was becoming more and more talkative, like a mother hen.

He had no idea who had made him this way.

He shook his head, stood up, and walked slowly into the bedroom, slowly getting into bed.

The painkillers had taken some effect—the stomachache had receded to a tolerable level but hadn't completely vanished, gnawing at his nerves bit by bit.

Lin Yunshu was indeed tired, his body exhausted, but the prolonged pain made it hard for him to fall asleep.

He opened his eyes and stared at the pitch-black ceiling, suddenly wanting to call Zhou Yu. No sooner had the thought occurred than he picked up his phone.

As he made the call, Lin Yunshu's heartbeat suddenly quickened.

He hadn't actually thought about what to say to Zhou Yu, nor did he understand why he was making this call.

The wait felt excruciatingly long and torturous.

This was the first time Lin Yunshu had called Zhou Yu on his own without any specific reason.

His palms were a little sweaty, his heart pounding hard in his chest. Whether it was due to emotional stress or not, his stomach seemed to ache even more intensely.

He curled up involuntarily, gripping the phone tightly, his mind racing, trying to figure out his first words.

"Beep… beep…"

"Sorry, the number you have dialed is temporarily unanswered. Please try again later…"

Lin Yunshu froze, his mind blank for a moment.

It suddenly dawned on him that he had imagined every possible scenario—except for Zhou Yu not answering his call.

This was the first time he had taken the initiative to call Zhou Yu.

But Zhou Yu didn't answer.

***

Author's Note: I thought this chapter would finally get to the part where the old gong (a slang term for the 'top' in a relationship) returns and the sweet couple gets intimate, but it still hasn't happened—so annoying! [angry] (frantically knocking on my brain and hands). Next chapter for sure! I can't wait any longer!