Chapter 20: Kneel and Apologize to Su Zhiyu

Chapter 20: On His Knees, Apologizing to Su Zhiyu

"Young master."

The man in the suit turned to Qin Yan, his tone and demeanor softening considerably: "Do you have any other requests?"

Qin Yan brushed the melon seed shells off his clothes and looked up. All eyes were on him.

The manager who'd rushed over gave him a good-natured smile. Director Liu, who'd been strutting around moments ago, now looked like a deflated rooster, his face scrunched up like a bitter melon.

As for Cheng Xiang...

Qin Yan curled his lips in a nasty smirk and pointed: "I want him on his knees apologizing to Su Zhiyu."

Wait, what?

Su Zhiyu shot Qin Yan a surprised look, but Qin Yan wasn't looking back at him.

Something felt like it was slowly taking root in his chest.

"Qin Yan!" Cheng Xiang immediately exploded. "Don't push it! I didn't do anything, and you already beat me up. Why the hell should I—"

Before he could finish, Director Liu kicked him hard right in the back of the knee: "If you're told to kneel, then kneel."

Cheng Xiang gritted his teeth, looking wronged: "Uncle, he—"

"If you don't kneel, don't call me uncle! You've ruined me. I'd be better off without a nephew like you!"

Director Liu's chest was heaving with rage.

He was, after all, a bit of a veteran in the entertainment industry. He wasn't exactly famous, but he'd been in the biz for years, so people usually cut him some slack.

Who knew Qin Yan had such a heavyweight behind him?

This wasn't even a big deal—in this industry, it's dog-eat-dog, and people with connections act like they own the place. But who would've guessed Qin Yan had serious pull too?

Now he was kicking himself, wishing he could land a few more kicks on his troublemaking nephew.

Cheng Xiang's face went white, then whiter.

He'd gotten into the industry through his uncle, and all his gigs depended on him. If he pissed off his uncle, his career was done.

Qin Yan watched the two of them put on their little show, amused, a smirk curling his lips: "So? You gonna kneel or what?"

"We'll kneel, we'll kneel."

Director Liu kicked Cheng Xiang again, glaring at him with his teeth clenched.

Cheng Xiang's fists cracked as he clenched them, especially at Qin Yan's smug face. He was fuming, but he had no choice.

"Fine. I'll kneel."

Cheng Xiang dropped to his knees with a thud in front of Qin Yan, back ramrod straight, practically radiating defiance.

Qin Yan said slowly, "Turn around."

His voice dropped, suddenly cold and chilling: "Kowtow to Su Zhiyu and apologize."

"You—"

Cheng Xiang met Qin Yan's icy stare and felt a chill run down his spine. Scared of pissing off his uncle, he turned to Su Zhiyu and muttered, "Sorry."

"Kowtow. And mean it."

"..." Cheng Xiang gritted his teeth, bent over, and slammed his forehead into the floor with a loud thud. "I'm sorry! I messed up. Please forgive me."

"Not good enough."

Cheng Xiang took a deep breath and banged his head a few more times: "I was wrong. I'm worse than an animal. I shouldn't have tried to mark you. I shouldn't have set Qin Yan up. I'm sorry. I'm a piece of shit. I was wrong. Please forgive me."

Su Zhiyu quietly stepped back and murmured to Qin Yan, "That's enough."

Qin Yan glanced at the phone recording the video and gave a small smile. "Alright."

Cheng Xiang breathed a sigh of relief.

Then Qin Yan's voice rang out above him, like something straight out of a nightmare: "Now it's my turn. I've been through a lot of crap. It's only fair I get some compensation for emotional damages, right? I won't ask for much—a million will do.

And like you said yourself, post a public apology online and drop out of the show."

Cheng Xiang's head snapped up. Seeing the phone aimed at him, he lunged to grab it. "Delete that!"

Qin Yan was quick—he tucked the phone behind his back, and Su Zhiyu did the same with his.

Cheng Xiang's eyes blazed with fury. "You played me!"

"What're you talking about?" Qin Yan pressed a hand down on his head, the pheromone pressure of an S-class Alpha crushing down on him, his strength insane.

"It's either going in to sew zippers, or doing what I said. You've got half an hour. Got it?"

"You—"

Qin Yan smiled easily, patted his face, and straightened up, holding out a hand to Su Zhiyu.

Su Zhiyu handed him the phone.

Qin Yan's fingers flew across the screen, then he turned to the two guys: "I'm sending you a copy of the video for backup. If I don't see the money and the statement in half an hour, you file a lawsuit and post the video online too."

"Yes, boss."

"No!" Cheng Xiang stumbled, trying to grab Qin Yan, but the director yanked him back the second he got up.

It was Director Liu who stepped up and said they'd do it.

Qin Yan flashed a sweet, innocent smile and said lightly, "Hurry it up—I don't have much patience."

"Okay, okay, we will."

"Let's go."

Qin Yan crooked a finger at Su Zhiyu, and they all headed out. Just as everyone in the office was scowling, he turned back: "Oh, Director, sorry about earlier. We're still recording the show as usual, by the way."

Director: ...What the hell does that have to do with me?

What a mess. He'd been dragged into this and almost got caught up in it.

The office door closed.

The manager swept a cold look over the uncle and nephew, sneering: "You two, pay the contract penalty and get out. We're all in the same industry—no need to make this uglier than it already is."

Cheng Xiang tried to push back, but before he could speak, Director Liu pulled him behind.

Anyone Boss Wang showed that much respect to was someone they couldn't afford to mess with.

...

"Master, are we really letting these two go? Keeping people like them around is just asking for trouble."

The people around Qin Mo were all ruthless in their methods, never leaving any loose ends—even small ones.

Qin Yan's eyes narrowed: "Of course not. But we can't act now—it would be too obvious."

"With President Qin backing you, Master, what's there to worry about?"

"..."

A lot, actually.

The Qin family was bound to fall eventually, and if word got out now that he was the Second Young Master of the Qin family, riding on that family name, he'd make enemies left and right.

Qin Yan frowned: "I don't want too many people knowing I lean on my brother for everything. I'm on a show right now—it'd hurt my image. Once the heat dies down, find the right moment to stir the pot and get him locked up."

Cheng Xiang hadn't just evaded taxes—he was also implicated in sexually assaulting a minor. Throw a little more on top, and he'd rot in prison for good.

The two exchanged a look and nodded: "Got it."

"Alright, you two must be busy. Head back to the company. If my brother asks, just tell him everything's fine—I don't want him worrying."

"Got it."

Qin Yan gave them a polite wave. Whether Qin Mo actually worried or not, he couldn't care less.

Qin Yan went back to the lobby. Most people had already gone off for hair and makeup, leaving Su Zhiyu sitting there by himself, looking out of place.

"Su Zhiyu."

Qin Yan called out to him. Su Zhiyu's head shot up, and he saw Qin Yan walking toward him with a beaming smile, like he was carrying a patch of sunlight with him.

He suddenly remembered the moment on the drive over, when the two of them had been sitting so close in the car.

Even... even their breathing had mingled.

Qin Yan walked over without hesitation, sat backward on the seat in front of him, and rested his chin on one hand to look at him: "What are you spacing out about?"

"!"

Lost in thought, a face suddenly loomed right in front of him. Su Zhiyu flinched and instinctively leaned back, about to hit the chair's backrest.