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Chapter 22.2
Editor: Jodi
Mu Nan had two more scenes opposite Su Ling in the afternoon, however strangely enough, Qiu Yun was nowhere to be found.
And with the normally overbearing screenwriter gone, the director, who usually acted invisible, started speaking up. He even gave Mu Nan some scene direction, and the set actually started feeling like any regular filming set.
During a break, a production assistant came over to Mu Nan. “Teacher Mu, someone’s here to visit you.”
“A visitor? That shouldn’t be happening, right?” Mu Nan had signed a non-disclosure agreement for this filming, so even his closest fan club had no clue he was here. Hence it seemed impossible that anyone would know to come.
“Who is it?” He asked.
“It’s a certain gentleman surnamed Bai.”
Mu Nan’s entire body suddenly tensed up, an imperceptibly faint look of disgust crossing his face. “Bai Wenyan actually tracked me down here?”
“Alright then.” Mu Nan, still in his battle-ready mindset from this morning, replied, “Let’s see what he’s up to.”
*
Bai Wenyan arrived as polished as the last time they’d met, hair combed neatly, and tie in place perfectly. He’d driven a Mercedes—not really a flashy car by the standards of the film industry—however with his neat, waiting posture, he still managed to catch plenty of attention.
“Xiao Nan.” He greeted Mu Nan from afar as he walked over.
“Wenyan Ge, how did you know I was filming here?” Mu Nan asked.
Bai Wenyan had brought afternoon tea for the crew and had the production assistant help distribute it. Mu Nan stood aside with his arms crossed, watching, however he felt a growing impatience.
What exactly did Bai Wenyan want this time? Mu Nan had no clue what new scheme he had in mind this time.
Once all the tea was handed out, Bai Wenyan finally turned to him and said, “It was Cheng Han who told me.”
“Impossible.” Mu Nan shot back immediately without even thinking about it.
Bai Wenyan smiled at him, however there was something strangely unsettling in that smile.
“You’re right, it’s impossible.” Bai Wenyan agreed with a smile that suddenly made Mu Nan feel an uneasy premonition. “Because Cheng Han now already has more than he can handle on his plate.”
“What do you mean?” Mu Nan’s expression darkened.
Bai Wenyan stepped closer, still wearing that smile that made Mu Nan feel disgusted, and for the first time, Mu Nan had the sense that this brother he’d known since high school was actually turning into someone like Shi Lai.
“I’m trying to help you.” Bai Wenyan took another step closer, and Mu Nan, no longer even bothering to hide his disgust, took a large step back, which instantly created a distance between them again.
Then with a cold expression, he told him, “I don’t need it. Whatever you’re doing, I don’t need your help.”
Bai Wenyan, however, continued as if he hadn’t heard him, “I know, Cheng Han won’t divorce you, right? I’m only trying to help you get rid of him.”
“What did you do?” Mu Nan’s voice was starting to show anger.
“All I did was create a little trouble for him, but, it’s all under my control. The moment he agrees to divorce you, all his issues will be resolved immediately.”
At this, Mu Nan closed his eyes tightly for a moment. When he opened them again, he looked at Bai Wenyan as if he were looking at an enemy.
“I asked you.” Mu Nan said, enunciating every word, “what exactly did you do?”
“Alright, alright.” Bai Wenyan said, spreading his hands. “I’ll tell you. I just set a few obstacles in the way of their next round of financing, that’s all.”
“Their next round of financing?” Mu Nan asked with a frown.
This time, it was Bai Wenyan who looked surprised. “You don’t know? Cheng Han’s studio made a deal with investors that if they can’t go public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange next year, they’ll have to pay back the funds at a 10% interest rate.”
“So, you blocked their financing?”
Bai Wenyan answered with a matter-of-fact expression. “Cheng Han is ambitious— he insists on getting out through a VIE structure. He’s gone to great lengths to set it up, and the deadline is close. Which means that he absolutely has to find a cornerstone investor this year. And a cornerstone investor is the most critical part of a Hong Kong IPO. If he can’t secure one, his three years of blood, sweat, and tears will all be for nothing.”
There were a lot of terms in Bai Wenyan’s explanation that Mu Nan didn’t understand fully.
However he still understood why Cheng Han had been working himself to the bone lately, pushing himself even at the cost of his health, and why Bai Wenyan would choose this tactic to go after him.
—Because Bai Wenyan had indeed hit Cheng Han’s weakest point.
He glared at Bai Wenyan, the disgust in his eyes growing thicker the more he looked at him.
He told him: “You are the most despicable person I’ve ever met.”
However Bai Wenyan only smiled. “Despicable or not, as long as it works. Soon enough, Cheng Han will be the one coming to you to ask for a divorce.”