Chapter 28: Not Buddy, The Real Emperor?!
“I said early on, that was all the director, screenwriter, and production team shirking responsibility to me.”
Chi Ye said “righteously”: “Feudal superstition is unacceptable. How can there be ghost gods in the world?”
Keke listened and nodded repeatedly, signaling Chi Ye not to lose it.
“Mm…”
Chi Ye sat on the chair and thought for a moment, then said: “Do you think he’ll see me tomorrow?”
Keke shook her head: “No, if he sees you, won’t it be settled?”
Chi Ye nodded.
《Circulation》 The director was dragging his feet and didn’t dare to see him, largely because once they really met face-to-face, it would probably have to be settled.
Otherwise, how could the “Yue Na Crown Prince” be so easy to offend?
“Alright then, let’s wait for the news.”
Chi Ye had an idea in mind. Keke was stunned and asked curiously: “Chi Ge, what do you plan to do?”
“What do you mean ‘do’?” Chi Ye stood up and straightened his collar: “I’m going to the president’s office at Han Xing Entertainment!”
“What for?”
“I’m going to ‘imperial’ them!”
“Give them a little shock of Yue Na privilege!”
Keke: “……”
She had no doubt that with Chi Ge’s current mental state, he would do something like this.
But like this…
“Is this okay?”
“Is their ‘personal insult’ to me okay?”
Chi Ye said indignantly: “I’m a professional actor, I can’t stand this kind of ‘insult’ to my professional integrity!”
Keke: “……Alright then.”
She thought about it. Sometimes, you really have to be like Chi Ge to avoid getting the short end of the stick.
The two chatted briefly about the lawyer’s situation, then walked out of the bedroom.
“Hey.”
Chi Ye was stunned to find that the recording in the living room had paused, and the PD teacher was sitting dejectedly in the corner.
“Why stop recording?” Chi Ye asked strangely. “Not continuing to show the audience my ‘mansion’?”
PD: “……”
“Teacher Chi, we just received a notice saying… your management team hopes we don’t interfere too much with your privacy.”
Chi Ye was stunned, then suddenly understood.
So it was Ge Shuang, that bridleless one, afraid that his “being too poor” would generate popularity and cause more trouble?
Heh, the more you oppose something, the more I’ll do it.
“No problem, I’m here in person, record freely.” Chi Ye waved his hand and lectured: “This little Ge too, the emperor isn’t anxious but the eunuch is. I haven’t said anything, who is she to butt in?”
“Really?” The PD’s eyes lit up.
“Record freely. If not, I can get the property deed for you… oh, sorry, forgot, this house is rented, I don’t have the deed.”
PD: “？!”
Chi Ye was no longer paying attention to the PD.
Tomorrow’s “work” wasn’t convenient for the PD to film anyway, so just leave him nearby at home to record some footage.
Thinking this way, he began cooperating with the PD, introducing his “home.”
But soon after, the phone rang.
“Hello?”
“What are you trying to do again?!”
On the other end, Ge Shuang covered the phone mouthpiece and lowered her voice: “What do you mean letting the program team record your home?!”
“I’m cooperating with the program team’s work.”
Chi Ye: “Also, who are you talking to?!”
Ge Shuang: “???”
“Don’t I know about privacy? Since I joined their program and signed the contract, I have to fulfill the contract obligations.”
Chi Ye crossed his legs: “You’re being too unprofessional. If you make this kind of low-level mistake again, don’t blame me for firing you.”
Ge Shuang: “……You think just because you’re live streaming now, I won’t dare speak loudly?”
Chi Ye: “Right, you don’t dare.”
Ge Shuang: “？!”
She paused, calmed down, and lowered her voice even more, like a mosquito: “What exactly are you trying to do? It’s only been a few days? Do you want to ‘breach the contract’? Didn’t we agree that if I give you resources, you’d settle down?”
Chi Ye: “Did you leave your vocal cords at home?”
Ge Shuang: “!!”
Her voice became gentle and cautious: “Dear daddy, come inside and we’ll talk properly. First, get the program team to turn off the live broadcast.”
Chi Ye dug in his ear: “Quit the act, don’t bother.”
Ge Shuang: ……
I’ll personally “shark you” sooner or later!
Here, Chi Ye heard the heavy breathing on the phone, felt he’d “knocked” enough, then sauntered back to the room and directly asked: “Rise combined to black me, why didn’t you handle it?”
Ge Shuang: “……”
“You said you’d give me resources, where are the resources? 《Circulation》 hasn’t been settled yet, and you have the face to say that?”
Ge Shuang: “……”
“Listen to me…”
“I won’t listen, I won’t listen, little ears, not listening!”
“……”
Ge Shuang: I really will thank you.
Chi Ye finally added: “You broke the promise first. Tomorrow I want the male lead settled. If you can’t do it, then we’ll part ways.”
Ge Shuang frowned: “Chi Ye, Han Xing is different from other companies. I need time…”
Beep beep beep.
The phone call interface disappeared, followed by a dial tone.
“Fuck!”
Ge Shuang was so angry she went mad, nearly getting dementia on the spot.
Chi Ye! This beast can’t be kept, she was absolutely certain of that.
……
Over the course of the night, the 《Jian Ni》 program team’s PD basically didn’t leave Chi Ye’s house and stayed there to rest that night.
The next day, Chi Ye said the work was confidential, so the PD continued staying at Chi Ye’s house, tearless.
Chi Ye and Keke then drove to the building under Han Xing Entertainment company.
But before they could go up, the director’s phone “coincidentally” came in.
“Hello?”
“Teacher Chi, sorry sorry, I just got off the airplane.”
《Circulation》 Director Zhang’s voice was polite: “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Chi Ye: “Indeed, a long wait.”
Director Zhang: “……”
Has Chi Ye always spoken so bluntly?
He paused, adjusted his tone to sound aggrieved but with a valid reason, then said: “I originally planned to see you right after getting off the plane today, but… time is really too tight today. How about we meet another day?”
Chi Ye raised an eyebrow: “Too tight? Where are you going?”
“Cough cough… I have to attend Screaming Night. The red carpet here is about to start, and after the award ceremony, there’s an investor’s gala, so…”
Director Zhang said embarrassedly.
Chi Ye listened stunned, catching the key point: “Investor? Isn’t this a project invested by your own company?”
“Oh, Kiwifruit thinks 《Circulation》 notebook is good and is interested in getting involved.”
Director Zhang said reasonably: “Otherwise, I’d definitely come see you right away.”
He thought about it and suggested: “How about we meet at Screaming Night? Then you can also meet the new investor.”
Damn it, seeing Yue Na’s tough stance, they don’t even need Yue Na’s channels anymore?
Chi Ye cursed Director Zhang inwardly for being so sly, but kept a straight face: “I’m not going to Screaming Night this time.”
“Oh no, you’re not going?!”
Director Zhang sounded “surprised” and shook his head: “Then what to do… You’re not going, so… how about you wait for me, I’ll contact you after the gala?”
Wait for you to finish the gala and run off?
Chi Ye said calmly: “No problem, no need to wait. I can go now.”
“Go now?” Director Zhang was dumbfounded: “Go where?”
“Screaming Night.”
Chi Ye said expressionlessly: “I can just go find you.”
“？!”
Director Zhang was dumbfounded: “No… Teacher Chi, didn’t you not receive an invitation announcement? What are you coming for?”
Chi Ye thought, not even rubbing salt in the wound, and nodded on the surface: “Indeed didn’t receive one, so I’ll wait for you at the doorway!”
“……” Director Zhang’s scalp exploded.
Make this “Imperial Clan” wait for him at the doorway?
Wouldn’t that leave no room for maneuver and completely offend him to death?
After a long silence, he seemed to understand Chi Ye’s determination, sighed, and said: “Bro, Chi Ge, like this, don’t wait for me at the doorway. I’ll think of a way to get you in, and we can talk properly.”
Hearing this, Chi Ye roughly guessed the other party’s thoughts and didn’t make it harder for him: “Alright, you arrange it. Best to settle it today.”
“Mm… okay, wait for my call.”
The two hung up.
Chi Ye directly said to Keke: “Go to Screaming Night.”
Keke had heard the whole process just now and, without nonsense, started the car and headed to the venue of this Kiwifruit Screaming Night — Cadillac Center Building.
“Chi Ge, we’re going to Screaming Night, should we tell Teacher Jin Xia?”
On the road, Keke asked casually.
Chi Ye thought about it: “Say hi to her after seeing the director, but I guess she won’t have time tonight.”
“Okay… but… Director Zhang is a newcomer director, can he arrange it clearly? The red carpet is about to start.”
Chi Ye thought of the background he’d looked up: “Director Zhang is a newcomer, but he should have some background. Since he said so, it should be fine.”
“Mm, that makes sense.”
Keke thought it made sense too, stopped talking, and focused on driving.
……
Meanwhile.
Director Zhang, whom Chi Ye said “could handle it,” was now drenched in sweat.
He had suggested Chi Ye come to Screaming Night on the phone thinking that for one event, with his connections, getting a second-tier star like Chi Ye in would be no problem.
But after asking around, he found out things were far from as simple as he thought.
First, for large galas like Screaming Night or Weibo Night, sneaking in is easy before they start, but once they begin, the lists are fixed — how could they casually change them?
Especially the seating rankings for the main venue gala; in the entertainment industry, seat arrangements are like one radish one pit, with every team’s eyes and everyone in and out of the industry watching — impossible to add someone last-minute.
Of course, that could be handled with connections, but the next point was the most fatal —
That was… Chi Ye is Yue Na Imperial Clan, but Kiwifruit doesn’t belong to Yue Na System, and Sheng Ning is Kiwifruit System’s “top sister + shareholder,” and Chi Ye had prior “three consecutive flops” grudge with Kiwifruit.
This time Kiwifruit not inviting Chi Ye was absolutely not just looking down on him, but blatant targeting.
So when he tried to use his connections to get Chi Ye a gala spot last-minute, he mostly got cold shoulders.
Finally, he could only settle for the next best thing, trying to get Chi Ye a gala quota.
The gala wasn’t open to the public, with looser conditions.
Things were almost set, but somehow some big shot heard and shot it down.
Director Zhang: “……”
Done for, now he was screwed on both sides!
“What to do? If Chi Ye comes later and can’t even get in the door, then… we’ll completely offend Yue Na to death.”
The assistant beside him was also pale-faced.
Today at Screaming Night, there were crowds outside.
Major media platforms, fans, audience, even some local official media were all there.
Once Chi Ye got out of the car but couldn’t get in, not only would he be mocked across the net, but they as the “instigators” would be finished too.
“……If it really doesn’t work, we can only go out proactively and meet him somewhere else.”
Director Zhang thought of this too, feeling miserable.
“Then the investor ghosts? Kiwifruit seems quite interested in our project. If we make this fuss, what if they ignore us?”
“I don’t know either, don’t ask me.”
Director Zhang irritably waved his hand: “First, communicate with Chi Ye, ask if he can not come yet.”
“Unlikely, he doesn’t trust you anymore…”
Director Zhang: “……”
Thinking this, he had already dialed Chi Ye’s number and changed his tone: “Hello? Teacher Chi? Uh… it’s me.”
“That… something came up on my end… No, no, listen to me first…”
Director Zhang, sweating profusely, explained the causes and effects, then after thinking, hinted obliquely: “Someone from Kiwifruit doesn’t want you to come… Normally squeezing in a person would be fine… This is my fault, Teacher Chi…”
“Oh, like that.”
Chi Ye on the other end had understood the situation, looked at the roadside, and saw long guns and cannons plus crowds of audience fans ahead.
“That serious?”
He was surprised, not expecting so many things involved.
“Ah?” Director Zhang misunderstood and panicked: “No, Teacher Chi, why won’t you believe me? I definitely won’t lie to you. I’ll come find you after the gala!”
Chi Ye: “……Do you think any of your previous operations make me able to trust you?”
Director Zhang was embarrassed.
“Alright, I’ll handle it myself.”
“What are you going to do? You’re not going to force your way in, right?” Director Zhang was shocked.
“You’re such a little clever one.”
As Chi Ye spoke, he took out his phone: “Wait, I’ll take a back door, imperial a bit… mm… hearing how serious it is from you, not sure if it’ll work.”
“You, a Yue Na… fine, you try.”
Director Zhang originally wanted to say, you a Yue Na System crown prince, with Kiwifruit as the biggest competitor, how do you imperial Kiwifruit System?
But he didn’t say it out loud.
Chi Ye understood his meaning anyway.
Didn’t refute.
Because he wasn’t sure now either if the Empress Dowager was bragging.
From what Director Zhang said, “she” had completely offended Sheng Ning, and Kiwifruit had bias against him.
After hanging up, Chi Ye found the Empress Dowager’s WeChat and tentatively called.
Beep beep beep…
The call connected quickly, and a familiar pleasant coquettish voice came: “Hello? Teacher Chi? What’s up, need something?”
She was probably doing red carpet makeup and styling, super busy with staff voices all around.
“Wait a sec.”
Then Jin Xia seemed to say something to the people on her end, and it immediately quieted. After a moment, her voice came again: “Hello? Teacher Chi, what’s wrong? Tell me.”
Chi Ye, needing help, had to explain the stakes clearly, organized his words, and said: “I have something to go to Screaming Night… it’s Sheng Ning and Kiwifruit side…”
“What?!”
The Empress Dowager was overjoyed, not waiting for him to finish: “You’re coming? Sure, sure! Where are you now?”
Chi Ye was surprised: “This works?”
“Ah, or what?” Jin Xia was stunned, blinking her peach blossom eyes: “You want front row? Sure, I’ll get it for you. Just come over, tell me when you’re here.”
Chi Ye: “……”
Why did it feel a bit unreliable.
Of course, he trusted the Empress Dowager more. Don’t look at her usually dazed, but having been in the industry so long, how could she really know nothing?
He glanced at the roadside: “Then I’m almost there now.”
“No, no!”
The Empress Dowager panicked: “First bring me a few packs of spicy strips before coming. People around me all the time, inconvenient to go out!”
Chi Ye: “……”
He agreed readily: “Okay, I’ll bring you ten packs of big spicy strips, the kind loaded with additives.”
“Good good good, I knew Teacher Chi you could do it!”
The Empress Dowager beamed with joy and decided to “return the favor”: “Do you lack clothes? Red carpet needs clothes. If not enough time, I’ll contact some for you!”
“No need, I’m coming to see a few people, not walking the red carpet.”
“Okay then, come on. Remember, bring Weilong Spicy Strips, spicy strips. I only eat Weilong!”
Jin Xia coquettishly emphasized: “If not Weilong, I won’t eat!”
