"What are you doing here?" Wang Hui's eyes, unable to hide his disgust, fell upon the man with the bulging belly. "Who let you in?"
Wang Zhou, acting as if he hadn't seen Wang Hui's revulsion and hatred, said, "You don't seem to welcome me at all. You're really hurting my feelings. After all, we're old friends."
"Isn't it normal that I don't welcome you?" Wang Hui took a step back, watching Wang Zhou warily. "If I were to greet you with a smile, you'd be the one to be scared then."
"No, no, no." Wang Zhou chuckled and shook his head, then unceremoniously sat down in Wang Hui's chair. "Wang Hui, you must remember, even though we share the same surname, in my eyes, you are nothing, and you never will be."
Wang Hui frowned slightly. "What exactly do you want?"
"It's very simple, I need your help."
Wang Hui almost laughed at Wang Zhou's shamelessness. "Wang Zhou, how can you be so shameless? If I were you, I wouldn't even dare to show my face in public."
"So, you lost. You, a talented director, were forced to deliver food, while I remain the most renowned director in the film industry, commanding respect from everyone I meet."
"Is that so?" Wang Hui scoffed as if hearing the biggest joke. "Everyone gives you respect, Wang Zhou, you've got some nerve. Do you really think I haven't paid attention to you while I was delivering food? Do you think I don't know you've run out of ideas?"
"Wang Zhou, when do you think I'll be able to step all over you?" Wang Hui leaned on the chair with his hands, his gaze fixed coldly on Wang Zhou. "At that time, you'll probably be living a more miserable life than me. After all, you're already so old. It's easier to go from frugality to extravagance than the other way around. Can you truly handle a life where you don't know where your next meal is coming from?"
"Shut up." Wang Zhou forcefully pushed Wang Hui away and then stood up, pointing at Wang Hui's nose furiously. "Damn it, you think you can push me around? Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. Do you think you can be arrogant in front of me just because you made some crappy short film? Let me tell you, that's impossible."
"You're just relying on Fang Miaomiao and Cui Mantong behind you. Let me tell you the truth, I've already reached an agreement with Fang Miaomiao. Two commercial films and a young actress's future, in exchange for your 'Snow Burial'."
Wang Zhou became more and more agitated, eventually erupting into laughter. "Wang Hui, you think you can fight me? It's impossible. As long as I'm alive, you will be forever blacklisted."
"Impossible." Wang Hui's body trembled slightly at these words. "Madam Wen is backed by Master Wen. You can't threaten her, you can't."
"Impossible?" Wang Zhou, seeing Wang Hui's dejected expression, strode forward and slapped Wang Hui across the face several times with his thick palm. "You, a lowly commoner, finding a woman and thinking you can bring me down? Dream on."
"How could this happen..."
Wang Hui knelt on the ground, his head hanging low, the picture of despair.
Wang Zhou stepped forward, grabbed Wang Hui's head, and slapped it repeatedly. "Wang Hui, I told you, you can't beat me. You, a powerless commoner, forget about giving you five years to develop; even ten years, and you won't reach my position."
"However, I dislike people getting ahead of me, especially talented ones like you. So, what can I do? Naturally, I'll stomp on you the moment you poke your head out, so you can't even crawl back up."
"Hahaha, you're truly hilarious."
Wang Zhou paused his hand. He looked at Wang Hui suspiciously. "What are you laughing at?"
"I'm laughing at your naivety, your foolishness, your belief that a small scheme can ensnare everyone." Wang Hui stood up from the ground, smiling.
Even Wang Zhou, as foolish as he might be, realized something was wrong. "You're trying to scheme against me? How is that possible? I had a signal jammer on when I came in, and your phone is on set. How could you possibly scheme against me?"
Wang Hui let out a light chuckle. "Yes, you are very capable, even bribing my assistant. But have you forgotten that if someone can be bought once, they can be bought a second time? It's all about who offers the higher price, right?"
"Where did you get so much money?" Wang Zhou blurted out, then suddenly realized something. His face turned as dark as ink. "You and Fang Miaomiao were playing me?"
"Yes. We were playing you, Director Wang. How do you feel about that?"
A clear, mocking voice came from behind.
Wang Zhou turned and saw Fang Miaomiao and Cui Mantong holding their phones, smiling at him. "Director Wang, since you're playing us, why can't we play you?"
[Help, Miaomiao daughter, doesn't that sound a bit strange?]
Fang Miaomiao glanced at the livestream. "Shouldn't our focus be on Wang Zhou?"
"Fang Miaomiao, you're livestreaming?" Wang Zhou spat out each word through gritted teeth.
"That's right. My fans felt I hadn't been active for too long, so they asked me to do a livestream. I didn't expect to hear you say these things. Director Wang, I'm so sorry."
[Damn, I used to like Director Wang because of the movie 'Looking Back'. I never knew Director Wang was like this. It's unbelievable. If I had known he was so disgusting, I wouldn't have spent money supporting all his movies.]
[Honestly, Wang Zhou's reputation has been declining year after year. Looking at the films he's made in recent years, it seems like no one was ghostwriting for him, so he had to direct these disgusting films himself, right? Wang Zhou, give us our money back.]
[Wang Zhou, give us our money back.]
"Ahem, is it possible that while you're all making a fuss," Fang Miaomiao's eyes glinted with a hint of a smile, "our Director Wang can't see you at all?"
"Fang Miaomiao, you're truly insidious." Wang Zhou took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "As expected of a woman who can stay by Wen Zhiyan's side for so long. I concede defeat."
He knew very well that he had to accept this fall today. His reputation in the film industry would also be greatly diminished. His best course of action now would be to return to the company and write a statement of retirement.
After all, he had already accumulated quite a bit of money. He could take the money and live lavishly abroad, and who could do anything to him?
Fang Miaomiao feigned surprise and asked, "Oh, Director Wang is going to let our young actress go and not blacklist her in the film industry anymore?"
"Scram."
Wang Zhou, suppressing his anger, said, "I never want to see you again."
Fang Miaomiao clicked her tongue and shook her head. Then, she turned to the people in the livestream. "Alright, my dears, our livestream ends here for today. Miaomiao has very important matters to attend to now. Once we've sorted things out, we'll livestream again."
After saying goodbye to the livestream audience, Fang Miaomiao put down her phone and faced the pleading gaze.
"I thought you were really going to choose Wang Zhou and abandon me."