Ghost Exorciser: Is Loved By All
Chapter 593: New Plan

Chapter 593: Chapter 593: New Plan

She folded the letter and slipped it into her bag, her movements slow and deliberate.

Aunt Mila’s eyes narrowed.

She could see there was no further action to be taken here—not without risking an even bigger scene, one that could ruin her reputation beyond repair.

With a final glare, she turned to Vivian, grabbing her arm.

"Let’s go."

Vivian glanced back at Yu Holea one last time, her face contorted with anger and frustration, but she knew better than to argue.

Together, they left, their footsteps echoing in the now-empty room.

Yu Holea watched them go.

A smile appeared on her face.

Slowly the crowd started to regain their rationality and stared at each other in confusion.

"What... just happened?" murmured a woman nearby, rubbing her temples as though trying to clear a fog from her mind.

"Wasn’t I just... doing something important?" another person muttered, looking down at his hands as though expecting to find some clue there.

Director Ou, who had been standing off to the side, suddenly clutched his head, squinting at the set.

"Everyone, what’s going on here?" he demanded, his voice tinged with irritation and bewilderment.

"Why are you all just standing around?"

One of the cameramen looked up, eyes wide.

"I... I don’t know, Director Ou. It’s like I just... forgot something."

Yu Holea let her eyes drift over the scene with carefully placed curiosity.

She feigned a frown, glancing around at the puzzled faces around her.

"Director Ou?" she asked innocently, her voice soft.

"Is something wrong? I think we were about to start filming, right?"

Director Ou sighed, clearly frustrated. He rubbed his temples before throwing his hands up in exasperation.

"Yes, yes, I suppose we should get on with it. Everyone, reset! Let’s get back on track."

The shooting started and Vivian took a leave.

The rumors about Yu Holea sleeping with Director Gong spread in the entertainment industry.

It was as if someone was deliberately spreading the news.

Yu Holea knew that this wasn’t Yu Mei’s work. Yu Mei wasn’t dumb enough to spread these types of rumors when Yu Holea still had the evidence to proof herself innocent.

This could only mean that it was done by Ai Han.

"Yu Mei...Yu Mei, you are truly dumb. Are you angry for selecting a dumb teammate? Let’s see whether you are angry or not."

Saying so Yu Holea tapped on her phone and a scene of Yu Mei’s living room appeared in front of her.

After Yu Mei’s last attack, Yu Holea used a few tricks to install a camera in Yu Mei’s room without her knowing.

Yu Mei lounged on her velvet chaise in her lavishly decorated villa, the soft hues of evening light filtering through the sheer curtains.

Just then, her assistant entered the room, her face alight with excitement.

"Miss Yu Mei," she said, barely concealing a delighted smile.

"There’s news circulating in the entertainment industry. They’re saying... they’re saying that Yu Holea has been sleeping with Director Gong."

Yu Mei’s gaze shifted sharply to the assistant.

The assistant, mistaking the sudden intensity in Yu Mei’s eyes for satisfaction, continued eagerly.

"It’s spreading fast! You won’t have to lift a finger. This could ruin her reputation overnight!"

She let out a small chuckle, clearly expecting Yu Mei to share her delight.

But Yu Mei’s expression remained cold, the excitement in her eyes dimming. Her assistant’s face faltered, confused by the lack of reaction.

A long silence stretched between them before Yu Mei spoke, her tone low and tinged with annoyance.

"Who spread this rumor?" she asked icily.

The assistant’s smile slipped, replaced with surprise.

"I... I’m not certain, Miss Yu Mei," she stammered, caught off guard.

"But isn’t this good news? Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?"

Yu Mei clenched her jaw, her knuckles white against the dark velvet of the chaise.

"Good news?" she muttered under her breath. "It’s too soon. Ai Han moved without thinking."

Seeing the assistant’s blank, slightly alarmed expression, she shook her head.

"Leave me. And remember this: I don’t pay you to question my decisions."

The assistant straightened, her face showing a hint of hurt as she composed herself.

"Of course, Miss Yu Mei. I’ll... I’ll take my leave now. Call me if you need anything."

As the assistant closed the door behind her, Yu Mei barely spared her a glance.

Instead, she picked up her phone and dialed Ai Han’s number, her mind simmering with frustration.

It barely rang once before Ai Han’s voice answered, light and unconcerned,

"Have you heard? The rumors are spreading like wildfire! The industry’s talking, and by tomorrow, Yu Holea’s reputation will be in shreds."

Yu Mei’s eyes flashed with anger, her grip tightening on the phone.

"You fool!" she hissed, cutting off Ai Han’s cheerful tone.

"Do you have any idea what you’ve done?"

There was a pause on the other end as Ai Han’s amusement wavered.

"What are you talking about? We planned this. I just moved things forward a little. The result’s the same."

"The result is not the same," Yu Mei snapped, her voice vibrating with fury.

"You’ve put everything at risk. I still haven’t gotten my hands on Zhang Meilin’s recording—the one that clearly shows you with Director Gong. Now that the rumor’s out, what do you think Yu Holea will do?"

There was a nervous laugh from Ai Han’s end.

"But... but how could that video possibly surface? Didn’t you say Zhang Meilin will be handled by you."

"That is the f*cking problem. I still haven’t dealt with Zhang Meilin yet!" Yu Mei shouted.

Ai Han’s breath caught on the other end of the line, and for a moment, her confident facade shattered.

The gravity of her mistake hit her like a physical blow, and her voice shook with desperation.

"Please... I’m so sorry," Ai Han stammered, her voice a sharp contrast to the careless tone she’d used earlier.

"I didn’t think this through, I admit it. I just thought... well, if we struck while everyone was already gossiping, it’d be over faster, you know?"

Yu Mei’s patience was already threadbare, her jaw clenched so tightly that her temples ached.

She pinched the bridge of her nose, breathing deeply to keep her fury in check.

"Over faster?" she spat, her tone dripping with disdain.

"Do you think any of this is about speed, Ai Han? It’s about control. Control over the narrative, over the evidence—every single move had to be measured."

"B-but," Ai Han’s voice quivered, desperate now.

"Please, you can’t leave me hanging. You know the industry better than anyone! If that video surfaces, I’ll be ruined."

"Yes," Yu Mei said coldly.

"You will be."

She allowed the words to linger, savoring the power she held over Ai Han, who had unwittingly placed herself in this vulnerable position.

A certain satisfaction bloomed in her, though she remained outwardly composed.

"Please, Yu Mei!" Ai Han’s voice was a high-pitched whine now.

"I’m begging you. I don’t know how to fix this. You’re the only one who can help."

Yu Mei sighed heavily, feigning exasperation.

"Fine," she replied slowly, as if reluctant.

"But you’d better listen carefully to every single word I say from now on, and I mean every word. If you make another mistake, don’t think I’ll go out of my way to save you again."

"I swear," Ai Han breathed, her relief palpable. "Thank you, Yu Mei. I owe you everything."

"Remember that," Yu Mei murmured, her mind already calculating the next steps.

She straightened, her gaze hardening as she assessed the situation.

The video was a ticking time bomb, and though she hadn’t managed to retrieve it, she had options.

Her original plan had involved taking a calculated approach, buying Zhang Meilin’s cooperation with cash or coercion.

But Zhang Meilin was too smart and refused to meet.

"Here’s what you’re going to do," she instructed, her voice steady and precise.

"You’re going to meet with Zhang Meilin in person and make her a final offer. Offer her twice the amount we discussed before.

If that doesn’t work, threaten her. Tell her you’ll ruin her career, that you’ll make sure she never works in this town again. Make her understand she has no options."

Maybe Ai Han could meet Zhang Meilin.

Ai Han nodded furiously on the other end.

"Yes, yes, I can do that. I’ll make her see reason."

Yu Mei’s lips curled into a faint, humorless smile.

"Good. But we need more than just threats.

If she refuses the money, we’ll have to shift the narrative—make it look like Yu Holea has been plotting all along to ruin Director Gong’s reputation, fabricating this whole affair to cover her own failings."

"How do we do that?" Ai Han asked, a flicker of hope returning to her voice.

Yu Mei’s mind raced.

"I have connections with a few gossip reporters who owe me favors.

If it comes to it, we’ll make sure it’s leaked that Yu Holea has been editing videos and manipulating people to get ahead.