Lu Man truly didn't expect that a normal Weibo post, just because she switched to a new phone, would get such malicious misinterpretation.

This was infuriating her so much with those online marketing accounts!

While holding her phone and fiercely typing, trying to clarify, she murmured to herself, "First, I'll curse you out, then wait for Chen Yan to completely ban you!"

"See if you dare to spout nonsense again!"

"I'm so angry!"

After mumbling to herself, Lu Man's Weibo post was ready.

Her hand hovered over the 'send' button for the clarifying post.

But after thinking about it, she felt that just a text explanation about changing her phone seemed a bit weak.

She pondered whether she should take a few photos of her new phone.

But, those marketing accounts would probably spin it, saying it was her staff who took the photos.

Then, should she just shoot a video of herself stating the time?

As soon as this idea came to her, Lu Man thought that it seemed too humiliating.

What was the difference between this and having to cut open her own stomach to prove how many bowls of noodles she had eaten?

She, a top female celebrity, was brought to such a state by marketing accounts; it was just too embarrassing.

And...

She was angry just now, but after calming down, Lu Man also worried there might be other tricks waiting for her.

After all, she didn't understand professional branding or public sentiment.

What if, like that photo from yesterday, her good intentions turned into a disaster? What should she do then?

If this issue only impacted her, Lu Man didn't care.

She just worried that if someone maliciously analyzed it and used it to slander Chen Yan.

She guessed she would really die of anger.

After a lot of thought, Lu Man still didn't dare to post the Weibo update.

So, she slid her hand and closed the Weibo app in the background.

Sitting quietly by the window for a while, Lu Man slapped her forehead in annoyance and said, "Lu Man, oh Lu Man. Why do you always worry about that scumbag?"

"Have you forgotten how he got cozy with Qiao Qiao behind your back, how he flirted with He Mengxue behind your back, and his ambiguous relationship with Yang Rou behind your back?"

"Now you're worrying about him. Will he even know?"

"Pah! Who's worried about him! And why should I let him know!"

"It's clear he was in the wrong. He's the one who should be worried!"

Saying this, Lu Man slowly sorted out her thoughts.

She leaned back on her bed, muttering, "Just take it as his retribution."

"Let him be such a scumbag. Humph."

Half an hour...

Lu Man picked up her phone and dialed Chen Yan's number.

'Forget it, forget it. Even though he's a bit of a scumbag, who made me such a nice person. I should still ask.'

'Um... it's not that I care about him. I care about the company.'

'Right. I'm worried about the company....'

A moment later.

"I'm sorry. The number you have dialed is currently busy. Please try again later..."

"Fuck!"

"Slam!"

Lu Man furiously threw her phone onto the floor!

What's the most infuriating thing?

It's when the other person is clearly in the wrong, clearly you're the one who's angry, but you still have to be the one to reach out.

And what's even more infuriating?

It's when you finally make contact, only to find out that the other party didn't take your call...

"He must be on the phone with some little fairy!"

"Chen Yan, you jerk, you stink! Ahh, I want to bite you to death!"

......

Meanwhile, on Qin Island.

In the general manager's office of Chenyu Game Company.

Dressed immaculately in a suit and leather shoes, Chen Yan held a phone and stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking towards the Twin Towers Hotel, and sneezed several times while shouting, "Achoo, achoo!"

From the other end of the phone came the voice of Xu Zhaorong, "The weather has turned chilly. Director Chen, you should keep warm."

Chen Yan was a bit suspicious and rubbed his nose with some hesitation.

According to logic, for someone with a constitution of +9 like him, such minor changes in weather shouldn't affect him at all.

Weird. Why would he sneeze?

But since Xu Zhaorong had mentioned it, he just played along and said, "Haha. Thanks. I will. You should also watch out for the weather, Director Xu."

Xu Zhaorong hummed in response, then continued the topic they had been discussing.

He spoke, "Director Chen. Just now, you asked me if I was the one who orchestrated those Weibo attacks against Chenlu Film Company."

"That, I need to clarify. Yes... and no."

Chen Yan's train of thought wasn't disrupted by his sneezing. He 'Oh?'ed, asking, "What do you mean by yes and no?"

Xu Zhaorong explained, "The incident happened because of me. But it wasn't arranged by me."

He said, "Actually, Director Zhang was behind it."

"His new movie is about to be released, around the same time as your 'Wandering Planet'."

"Although he actually looks down on your movie."

"He doesn't doubt your abilities and judgment at all."

"He's also very worried that this clash will end in his failure."

"That's why he planned this move."

"And I... I gave him some advice and references. And supported him."

Hearing Xu Zhaorong's candid acknowledgment of the situation, Chen Yan's gaze grew heavier. He said, "I need an explanation."

Xu Zhaorong let out a chuckle and said,

"Don't worry, Director Chen."

"I actually have my own plans."

"We're both in the film industry. We all know about the three-act structure of a movie."

Chen Yan hummed in agreement.

The three-act structure is a common and effective narrative technique in movies.

It essentially involves dividing the story into three parts: the beginning, the middle, and the end.

Typically, it starts with the beginning of a story followed by a minor climax that engages the audience and makes them happy because of the protagonist's improved circumstances.

Then, in the middle, there's a major crisis that plunges the protagonist to rock bottom.

Finally, after a series of hardships and dangers, the protagonist successfully overcomes the crisis and achieves success, leading to the climax of the movie.

And with that, the movie ends.

This structure has wide application, not just in movies, but also in TV series, plays, novels, etc.

So when Xu Zhaorong mentioned it, Chen Yan understood immediately.

Xu Zhaorong continued, "Initially, Director Zhang didn't want a direct conflict with you guys."

"After all, your track record over the past few years has been too impressive. There aren't many in the film circle who dare to compete with you."

"But then, I thought about it. I mean, even if 'Wandering Planet' is a massive hit, far surpassing Director Zhang's movie, what's the point?"

"After all, movies are high investment, high-risk products."

"One movie underperforming or being surpassed isn't really a problem."

"Director Chen, you still can't damage Director Zhang's credibility and status in the circle."

Hearing Xu Zhaorong's words, Chen Yan suddenly understood his intent.

"So, you deliberately encouraged Director Zhang, giving him strategic advice, pushing him to be our enemy, to oppose us?"

Xu Zhaorong said with a smile, "No."

"I only gave him... confidence."

"He believed that this time, you would likely face defeat, that he himself would succeed."

"Add to that the previous friction between you, doesn't it all just naturally lead to this?"

Upon hearing Xu Zhaorong's words, Chen Yan's gaze flickered.

After a while, he said, "Understood."

Over the phone, Xu Zhaorong chuckled again.

Then, the two discussed their "plan" for a few more sentences before hanging up.

After the call, Chen Yan didn't return to his desk. Holding his phone, he looked out at the Twin Towers and was lost in thought.

It had to be said, Xu Zhaorong's strategy was exceedingly clever.

Just as he had mentioned, if Director Zhang didn't put up a fight from the start and avoid a head-on clash with Chen Yan.

Then, the situation would end up being similar to the previous few films and dramas: no matter how strong Chen Yan was, if the opponent refused to engage, it always felt like punching the air.

Although he would still greatly increase his influence, it never felt completely satisfying.

Therefore, if they could prompt Director Zhang to step up and enter the ring with Chen Yan.

Then Crushing Director Zhang would really be an opportunity to hit his status and influence within the circle.

However...

Chen Yan only half-believed what Xu Zhaorong said.

After all, according to Xu Zhaorong's explanation, this plan was entirely for Chen Yan's benefit. But wasn't the plan equally beneficial for Director Zhang?

If "Wandering Planet" flopped and Director Zhang's film became a blockbuster.

Then Chenlu Film and the Sunrise project would lose face and become stepping stones.

Chenlu Film and Sunrise had been unrivaled for a time within the circle, and if Director Zhang could defeat them fair and square, he would almost certainly become the top director in the circle.

"So... this is actually just a plan betting on both sides."

"It's merely about which side is stronger and who benefits in the end."

Having seen through the essence of the plan, Chen Yan shook his head.

No wonder Xu Zhaorong claimed to have only given Director Zhang "confidence."

He hadn't lied.

But, Xu Zhaorong deserved his reputation as an old fox—a danger acknowledged by both Zhao Xuan and Yang Rou. In such a time, he could still come up with such a plan that looked like a "win for all parties" on the surface.

But then again... who wasn't playing the game?

Chen Yan too had discussed at great lengths with Yang Rou in recent days, before deciding to "collaborate" with Xu Zhaorong.

To let Xu Zhaorong personally lay the Xu brothers to rest.

Afterward, they'd simply go with the flow, hastening the collapse of the enterprise.

As for whether Xu Zhaorong would get crushed in the collapse of this building.

That was no longer Chen Yan's or Yang Rou's concern...

The business world was all about outmaneuvering each other...

Thinking this, Chen Yan admired the Twin Towers outside for a moment longer, then returned to his desk and resumed work.

While working, Chen Yan couldn't help but think of Lu Man, who managed to complicate matters further.

This little fairy, even on vacation, couldn't stop causing him trouble.

He really wanted to bring her back and give her a good spanking.

Thinking thus, Chen Yan glanced at the date.

Counting the days, the little fairy had been away for over half a month now; she should be getting homesick, right?....

....

In the evening, just as he was managing to eat a few bites of dinner, Chen Yan's phone rang.

Picking it up, he saw an unfamiliar number.

His first instinct was to hang up.

But considering very few people had his number, and even spam calls were blocked, it had to be the wrong number or possibly some important person had obtained his number through someone else.

So, after a moment's thought, Chen Yan answered and said, "Hello, who are you looking for?"

Meanwhile, in Hai Bei, Lu Man stood in front of her hotel room's floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the sunset-streaked twilight sky, and said softly, "It's me. Lu Man."

The days in Hai Bei, situated on the equator, were still long compared to the ever-shortening days back on Qin Island.

It was already 8 PM, and yet it was just the beginning of the evening.

This daylight duration was something Lu Man, new to Hai Bei, found somewhat hard to adapt to.

But aside from the length of daylight, what made it difficult for her was the worry for Chen Yan.

Although she was extremely upset about not getting through to him this morning.

But... in spending the day out, Lu Man hesitated, over and over, and still couldn't let it go.

So, back at the hotel, taking advantage of Xiao Tao being in the shower, she impulsively used her newly bought phone to call Chen Yan.

Of course, as soon as she made the call, Lu Man started to regret it.

Unfortunately... it connected....

....

On hearing Lu Man's voice, Chen Yan was taken aback for a moment, then he slowly set down his chopsticks, and with a smile on his face, gently said, "Man Man, how's your vacation? Are you having fun?"

Hearing Chen Yan's gentle voice, for some reason, Lu Man felt a surge of grievance welling up inside her.

She wanted to say something, but at the same time, didn't want to say anything.

She thought about hanging up, but couldn't bring herself to do it.

So, in the end, after a long pause, she responded coldly with a "Hmm."

Chen Yan didn't take it to heart. After all, he was in the wrong, and it was only natural for Lu Man to be angry.

He now needed to melt the ice in Lu Man's heart with his tenderness.

He said quietly, "What made you think of calling? Are you in trouble somewhere? Do you need my help?"

Lu Man replied indifferently, "No need."

The phone line went silent for a moment.

A few moments later, Lu Man, with her gaze lowered, asked, "Are you having difficulties over there?"

Chen Yan inquired, "Are you referring to the Weibo incident?"

Lu Man gave a hum.

Clearly not wanting to talk much.

Chen Yan laughed, "It's nothing serious."

Hearing Chen Yan's words, for some reason, Lu Man felt a great relief.

Chen Yan seemed to possess a miraculous confidence: one that made those around him infinitely trust him.

Yesterday Yang Rou said there was no problem, and Lu Man didn't believe it.

But today, Chen Yan said it, and Lu Man believed.

Feeling relieved, Lu Man thought there wasn't much left to talk about with Chen Yan.

She could continue her vacation without worries.

So she said, "Okay, then I'll hang up now."

Chen Yan on the other end of the line seemed to have his mood dampened by Lu Man's low spirits.

He just gave a "Hmm" without further words.

Lu Man's mood worsened.

She pursed her lips, then after a moment's silence, she started to put the phone down, ready to hang up.

Just then, Chen Yan's voice came again from the receiver, "Man Man."

It was just a name, yet it made Lu Man stop her motion.

She hesitated, then expressionless, placed the phone back to her ear.

Then she heard Chen Yan say softly, "Man Man. I miss you."

A simple statement, hardly a love confession, yet it made tears stream down Lu Man's face...

...

Recommended book: "I Have a Demon Subduing Scroll"

Synopsis: A painted skin demoness lights a lamp at night; a thousand-year-old corpse knocks on the door.

Frightened by the snake on the roof, the demon under the bed dares not make a sound.

With the Demon Subduing Scroll in hand from the start, those on top are often closer than they appear.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.