Brother Dao Took the Entertainment Industry by Storm, Fans Beg Me Not to Kill Anymore

Chapter 737: Old Acquaintances from the Past, Not Quite Honest—

Director Qiu really was avoiding people, but not Liu Rulan and her group—he was dodging the folks from Jingyou Entertainment. More precisely, he was evading the people Yun Ziqi had stirred up.

Before the matter was exposed online, everything on the set of "Imperial Enterprise" was running smoothly. Even if compensation issues had dragged a few people into it, this project had some official backing. Qiu Zhenlong himself was a director with a special status, not a pure businessman within the industry circle. He had returned to the entertainment world just to complete his own mission.

So no matter how intense the trouble at the art center got, Director Qiu wouldn't care, wouldn't back down, and wouldn't compromise.

But unfortunately, Yun Ziqi still wanted to seize this chance to wage a public opinion war. Using their Yun Family's righteous position this time, he put pressure on the "Imperial Enterprise" production team. The people caught up inside the crew started getting other ideas, gradually developing thoughts about swapping roles.

For those people, rather than being hit with demands for compensation and trouble from the Yun Family, it was naturally better to do the Yun Family a favor and swap the protagonist back. That way, maybe this disaster wouldn't burn them.

So someone started suggesting to Director Qiu, politely hinting that he should change the cast.

But what kind of person was Director Qiu?

Any role he had settled on, he absolutely refused to change. Plus, with the official backing behind him and the production team having government support, these people couldn't go over the director's head to swap roles directly. So the first producer who came to test the waters was bluntly cursed out by Qiu Zhenlong without any courtesy.

Even Screenwriter Qin, who knew about this, immediately rushed to Jingyou Entertainment's headquarters in Beijing and laid into the person in charge there.

Then he just sprawled himself at the company, saying that anyone who tried to mess with the production team would have to deal with him making a scene.

But now, it wouldn't hold. He couldn't suppress it anymore.

The public opinion had been set ablaze with a single spark. Netizens were furious, filming was suspended, and those people got even more agitated, brazenly coming to find Qiu Zhenlong to demand a role swap.

So Qiu Zhenlong decided to take the bull by the horns and just ran away. He wouldn't see anyone, went back to his home in Beijing to lie low, and also let those people cool their heels. He wanted them to stop dreaming and causing trouble inside the crew while everything was in chaos.

He just hadn't expected that Xiao He's side wouldn't be slow to react either.

This family residential area of his, which needed special access, had that agent following right behind him.

She was really anxious—

Qiu Zhenlong couldn't help shaking his head and made his promise again: "Alright, you really don't need to worry about the production team. Just wait for the police investigation results to come out, and everything will naturally return to normal."

Liu Rulan gave Director Qiu a deep look, her words carrying a hint of probing: "It seems Director Qiu not only has very sharp information but also trusts the police's investigation results a lot."

Qiu Zhenlong just smiled faintly: "Since it's come to this, we can only wait for the results, right?"

Liu Rulan pressed her lips together, then gave a charming smile: "Right. You're absolutely right, Director Qiu."

Finally, she stood up and thanked Qiu Zhenlong: "In that case, we're relieved. We won't disturb your rest any longer."

"Mm."

Qiu Zhenlong nodded slightly.

-

Once she left the residential area, Liu Rulan's smile faded slightly. She looked back in the direction they had come from and couldn't help muttering, "That sly old fox."

He had mastered the art of playing dumb to perfection.

But since Director Qiu had stated his position and guaranteed Xiao He's role wouldn't be an issue, Liu Rulan's heart was finally somewhat settled.

Just a few steps later, her phone rang again.

As she got into the car, Liu Rulan pulled out her phone and glanced at it, then raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Hello? It's rare for you to call me."

The woman gestured for the driver to start the car, her tone carrying a hint of surprise.

On the other end of the line, Tong Junhui's voice remained very calm: "Someone just came to me asking for damaging information on you. Looks like you've been targeted. Keep an eye on the online situation."

"Targeted me?"

Liu Rulan found this somewhat amusing. She crossed her legs, rested her elbow on the car window's edge, propped her head up with her hand, and spoke casually: "Got it. Thanks."

Tong Junhui was silent for a moment, then continued, "How are things on your end? I'm really sorry we couldn't help much this time."

Tong Junhui and Zhou Junhao were still stuck investigating a previous case, so they couldn't spare the time to help Liu Rulan.

"Heh, what's there to help with? You're not even in the industry circle anymore. Wading into this murky water now wouldn't do you any good."

Liu Rulan said decisively.

"But the other side does have some skills, managing to track me down."

Tong Junhui's tone carried a bit of surprise as he said this. "I haven't contacted anyone in the industry circle for a long time."

Ever since he retired from the circle, Tong Junhui had completely cut ties with everything from the past. Even Liu Rulan was someone he had reconnected with only later on.

He hadn't expected someone to track him down and demand damaging information on Liu Rulan.

The conditions they offered were truly lacking in sincerity—promising to help him return to the entertainment industry.

Hehe, Tong Junhui himself wanted to laugh.

Laughing at that guy for thinking so shallowly of him, and also laughing at himself for no longer having any desire for the entertainment industry.

So after politely declining, Tong Junhui decisively came to tip off Liu Rulan.

"Stay safe, you two."

He said finally.

"Got it."

Liu Rulan hung up the phone and gazed out the window, her thoughts beginning to wander.

A few minutes later, Liu Rulan called her former employer, Jiaxing Entertainment.

-

Shanghai, Jiaxing Entertainment.

Song Yuanqi, the CEO of Jiaxing Entertainment, saw Liu Rulan's name on his phone and showed no surprise at all on his face.

He waved a hand at the person beside him, then answered the call.

"Oh, isn't this the call from Agent Liu? It's been so long since we've seen each other! I heard Xiao He's been doing great—he's even taken a trip abroad? Ah, makes a man envious..."

Liu Rulan ignored Song Yuanqi's words, which were laced with sourness and a sarcastic, insinuating tone, and cut straight to the point: "What's Su Shengxi been up to lately?"

Song Yuanqi paused, glanced at the person beside him, and feigned confusion: "Su Shengxi? Why are you asking about him?"

Su Shengxi was the last artist Liu Rulan had handled before taking over Xiao He, and he had originally been an artist under Jiaxing Entertainment.

That guy had been quite the big shot back in the day, but he had dug his own grave, stirring up a series of scandals, and ultimately ended up being dealt with by Xiao He and forced to retire from the circle.

At the time, to ensure the smooth broadcast of the drama "Starry Radiance" and its subsequent awards, everyone had left him a sliver of dignity for his exit. They let him retire and return to normal life without completely demolishing his reputation into rubble.

Su Shengxi had been sensible enough. With all the money he had earned over the years, he had plenty to live on for the rest of his life. So after retiring, he hadn't tried to pivot into being an internet celebrity or anything like that. Aside from occasionally posting some travel photos on his "public side account" that fans knew about, he lived quite a carefree life.

And Liu Rulan, out of respect for her former employer and past ties, hadn't pursued the matter further, letting Su Shengxi live his own life.

But...

"He's been acting a bit restless lately... Do you know about this, President Song?"

If someone wanted to court death, she wouldn't mind bringing up the old scores from back then and settling them properly.