Chapter 163: Chapter 163 Strength!

Combined with the official Weibo release of "Ren Pingsheng" and the current momentum driven by Xiao Yi along with the director, screenwriter, and others on Weibo, netizens have concluded:

[Ye Zhenzhen’s schedule really isn’t suitable, after all, one role is the second female lead in a TV drama and the other is the main female lead in a movie. Most importantly, the movie features a collaboration with Xiao Yi, and the two are also friends. Naturally, when faced with a choice, one would opt for the better opportunity!]

Following that, some netizens came to the realization that Han Jiangxue might have picked up the leftovers that Ye Zhenzhen discarded, as Ye Zhenzhen decided not to take on the second female lead, leading the production team to get Han Jiangxue.

Of course, Han Jiangxue’s fans were not pleased with this interpretation, and they fought back in the comments section, asserting that their idol secured the role through talent alone.

It’s just because some people are playing the diva and trying to climb the social ladder.

As people chatted, suddenly someone leaked that Han Jiangxue joined the cast with financial backing...

Soon after, netizens began discussing the husbands of the two women.

Gradually, the comments online started to become more and more outlandish:

[I heard Han Jiangxue brought in funding to join the cast, just to snatch the second female lead role that belonged to Ye Zhenzhen.]

[Can that be true? Don’t spread rumors without confirmation.]

[I have a classmate working at Lemon Channel. We chatted at lunch and according to some insiders, Han Jiangxue’s husband invested a sum of money for her to join the cast with financial backing.]

[Wasn’t it said that Ye Zhenzhen’s husband is also wealthy? Why doesn’t he give her a sum of money to join a cast with funding?]

[Speaking of which, I feel a bit sad for Ye Zhenzhen, married to a terrible old man, having to bear his children without saying and not receiving any financial support.]

[There was talk that Ye Zhenzhen was after money but now it seems, Ye Zhenzhen is so foolish. What’s she getting out of marrying an old man, sigh~]

Ye Zhenzhen was sitting in the car, skimmed through what had happened on Weibo. Aside from Han Jiangxue’s financial backing to join the cast and the topic about husbands’ capabilities, most other comments were more or less favorable towards her.

She didn’t respond at all, not even a Weibo repost.

Liu Rui asked her, "Aren’t you going to repost?"

"Let’s wait until the contract is signed," she said.

She had been disadvantaged once today, this time she must be more cautious.

...

Country Y.

Due to the time difference with the mainland, it was midnight in Country Y. After finishing his work in the hotel study, Song Jinze was visited by Secretary Zhang, who entered with a tablet in hand, "President, there’s been some incident concerning Mrs. Song today."

As a 5G surfing enthusiast and the President’s right hand, Secretary Zhang always kept up to date with the news about his own Mrs. Song.

So that he could instantly supply answers whenever the President might suddenly inquire.

After finishing his work today, Secretary Zhang had seen various news push notifications about ’Ye Zhenzhen’ flooding Weibo.

After digesting the information, Secretary Zhang hesitated for a few minutes before going in to report to his boss.

Song Jinze leaned back in his chair, "Let me have a look?"

Having sat on a nearly 30-hour flight, with only a few hours of sleep after landing, before starting his busy schedule without having adjusted to the jet lag, he looked fatigued, his handsome face showing signs of weariness.

Recalling the last time President Song had asked him to take care of that hot search about the ’terrible old man’ and with the internet buzzing with similar talk now, Secretary Zhang worried the President might think he wasn’t handling things properly. He decided to say, "President, perhaps I should just report to you directly."

"Go ahead," the President said.

With reverence, Secretary Zhang recounted to Song Jinze all the events that had transpired with Ye Zhenzhen back in the mainland today, specifically leaving out that the new movie involved working with Xiao Yi and the affair of the terrible old man.

Song Jinze’s lips curled into a disdainful sneer, "Financial backing to join the cast? You mean, Ye Zhenzhen let an actor who joined with financial backing steal the role?"

Secretary Zhang: "Mrs. Song has also signed with a new production team. It is said that the producer personally sought her out, and both the director and the screenwriter are well-known figures in the industry."

After a pause, Secretary Zhang added, "This also shows that Mrs. Song is very capable."

Pushed aside, she was immediately able to sign a contract with an even more formidable crew.

"Which company signed her? And who’s the one providing funding to join the crew?"

"The company that signed Mrs. Song is Baisheng Media, owned by Young Master Tang’s family, and the actor who brought in the investment, I checked—her husband is President Shen of Shen’s Electronics."

"Tsk," Song Jinze chuckled lightly, his narrow, ink-dark eyes glinting with a cold harshness, "Is Bohai the bank that Shen’s struggled so hard to secure a loan from recently?

Go and send word, say that Shen’s doesn’t lack money lately. And send a message in my name to the other banks as well."

Secretary Zhang nodded, "Understood, President."

So, President Shen’s wife tries to squeeze Mrs. Song with money, and President Song directly cuts off Shen’s financial lifeline.

This move is truly satisfying!

After Secretary Zhang left the study, Song Jinze picked up his phone and called Ye Zhenzhen.

Ye Zhenzhen had just arrived at Baisheng Media’s parking lot when she received the call, and Liu Rui had just gotten out of the car.

She pressed the answer button. On the other end the man lifted his hand and pulled at his tie, undoing the top two buttons of his collar, his voice somewhat hoarse, "Did you get the wound on your hand checked out today?"

Ye Zhenzhen pressed her lips together, "Mhm, I did. The stitches have been removed. The doctor said it’s healing very well."

Song Jinze, detecting nothing unusual in the woman’s voice, then asked, "When are you taking Xiao Chen to the recording of the show?"

"We’ll leave on Friday afternoon."

After the back-and-forth exchange, both persons on the line fell silent.

Liu Rui opened the car door, "Zhenzhen, come on out, let’s go sign the contract."

Liu Rui had just finished speaking when she noticed that Ye Zhenzhen was on the phone. A fleeting embarrassment crossed her face as she quickly stepped back out of the car and closed the door properly.

Her anxiety was indeed not without reason—Liu Rui really didn’t want Ye Zhenzhen to miss such an opportunity again.

"Signing what contract?" the man seized the chance to ask.

Ye Zhenzhen let out a slight sigh, "I just discussed a new film and now I’m going to sign the contract."

After she finished speaking, Ye Zhenzhen glanced at the time on her phone, her tone becoming softer, "It must be early morning for you there, get some rest.

Xiao Chen is very well-behaved, don’t worry about us. If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up."

"Ye Zhenzhen, if you need my help, just ask."

Ye Zhenzhen’s gaze froze for a moment. She remembered that the man had said the same thing a few days ago, but hearing it now, she suddenly thought of the comments on Weibo saying she had married a dreadful old man who wouldn’t give her money, so she didn’t have the capital to fund her entry into the crew.

At that thought, Ye Zhenzhen couldn’t help but laugh softly, "I’m quite capable on my own, I don’t need my husband’s help for the time being."

The word "husband," she used it fluently, in line with the topic discussed by netizens on Weibo, but those two words reached the man’s heart directly through the phone waves.

Because she said it smoothly, combined with the light laughter in her voice, for a moment he thought she was calling to him;

Husband.

Song Jinze couldn’t help but curl his lips into a faint smile, "Alright then, the very capable Mrs. Song, you carry on. Remember to come to me if you need anything."

"Mhm, thank you for your concern, President Song."

After the call ended, Song Jinze’s brows furrowed, puzzled—why had she reverted to calling him President Song again?

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