123: A slap in the face that's neither here nor there - 4 (Bonus Chapter)

As the heavy private room door isolated the inside from the outside, the room instantly fell silent.

An Zhengyao, who had just been exuding dominance as if he controlled everything, saw his aura instantly dissipate, reverting back to that roguish, profligate young master.

He shoved An Zhengjun onto a nearby chair, then turned to look at a bewildered Jiang Ye and shouted in an exaggerated tone:

"Damn! Brother! You come and be the judge! This grandson of a brother of mine is a total piece of work! Mom is in the hospital, and he actually has the heart to be here eating with people?! I caught him red-handed!"

"An Zhengyao! Weren't you the one who invited me here?!" An Zhengjun roared in anger.

"What are you shouting for? I'm asking you, did you come or not?! Mom is in the hospital!!!"

"Mom is on a trip!"

"She's in the hospital!"

"..."

"..."

Jiang Ye: "Uh..."

Meanwhile, outside the private room.

Liu Fangli leaned against the cold wall, gasping for breath, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

He pulled out his phone, opened the WeChat chat box labeled "Board of Directors - President Li," and began typing a report of the situation, repeatedly emphasizing that his offense was unintentional.

Wang Jincheng and Zhao Qian approached fearfully. Once Liu Fangli finished sending the message, they asked cautiously:

"Manager... Manager Liu, that person in the room... exactly who is...?"

The phone vibrated slightly, and the screen lit up with just four short words: [Act as if you never saw him.]

Liu Fangli let out a long sigh of relief, glanced at the tightly closed door, and then looked at the girls gathered nearby, their faces full of questions.

He hesitated, feeling that if he didn't reveal just a little bit, he would seem too cowardly and pathetic, and it might lead Wang Jincheng and the others to misjudge the situation.

So, he extended his right index finger and slowly, with great significance, pointed upward toward the ceiling, his expression incredibly grave.

This gesture was vague in meaning, yet full of room for imagination.

Wang Jincheng and Zhao Qian were stunned at first, then seemed to think of some terrifying possibility, and their faces instantly turned deathly pale.

Seeing that they understood, Liu Fangli quickly retracted his finger and held it firmly against his lips in a "hush" gesture, his tone extremely serious:

"Act as if you saw nothing and nothing happened! Otherwise..."

He didn't state the consequences, but it was enough to make Wang Jincheng and Zhao Qian shudder; they both nodded frantically.

Liu Fangli took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart, and turned his gaze again to Ye Cheng, who was standing with her arms crossed, looking annoyed at being locked out.

Recalling Young Master An's instruction to Jiang Ye to "stay put," and the fact that Young Master An had burst into the room because of Ye Cheng's greeting... a thought that made his scalp tingle surged uncontrollably into his mind.

As an executive of Tianying Entertainment, he had already come into contact with some truly top-tier circles that ordinary people could hardly imagine.

In that circle, wealth, power, and status—those secular labels of success—sometimes became the least valuable things.

Young Master An's words earlier weren't a joke or just putting on airs.

Tianying's big boss, Li Jia, might indeed not even have the right to sit at the table and accompany them for drinks in that circle.

In that circle, only one thing served as a pass—identity.

An insurmountable barrier of identity determined by bloodline and family branding from the moment of birth.

Then... that Jiang Ye in the room, Young Master An's "brother," Young Master An's brother's "friend," and specifically told to "stay"... Liu Fangli suddenly recalled that meaningful "Heh" and the smirk from a few minutes ago... At the time, he thought it was just the impotent rage of a youth, but thinking about it now... how the hell was that impotent rage?

That was clearly the disdain and mockery of a giant dragon looking down on an ant, not even bothered to hide it!

He had actually been death-defyingly talking about some "300,000 base salary" and "career prospects"... It was like trying to show off sword skills in front of the God of War—no, it was like bragging about being able to fly in front of the Jade Emperor!

Liu Fangli suppressed his extreme internal panic, forced a smile that looked worse than crying, rubbed his hands together, and cautiously moved toward Ye Cheng's side. He bowed and asked stutteringly:

"Heh... Heheh... Miss... Miss Ye... forgive my... forgive my lack of insight... I don't know... I don't know your boyfriend... he... he and Young Master An...?"

Ye Cheng was already frustrated, and hearing this, she directly rolled her eyes.

This question is certainly original! You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?!

I was supposed to stay inside and watch the live broadcast, but you people forced me out! I want to know what's going on in there more than you do!

She glanced at the groveling Liu Fangli, who looked so scared he might wet his pants, her mind full of questions:

What happened while I was in the bathroom?

Where are the people that guy called? Why haven't they arrived yet?

The two brothers, Officer An, came over because they saw me; they definitely weren't called by him. So where are the people he called?

Young Master An...?

Are they talking about Officer An? Why did he kick everyone out?

Eh?

Did Jiang Ye do some "reverse stalking" again and is now giving a statement inside, so it's not convenient for everyone to watch?

Also... what is this old guy doing hunched over here?

Well... given the current situation, that guy probably can't manage to act cool and slap faces, so I have to rely on myself!

Ye Cheng's eyes darted around. Thinking of the small gestures Liu Fangli and the other two men had made—exchanging glances and pointing fingers—she followed suit. She also raised her index finger, pointed it casually upward, and let out a contemptuous snort from her nose:

"Hmph."

Whatever!

Even if you lose the battle, don't lose your poise. If you point, I'll point too. Either way, I can't lose on momentum!

After that, Ye Cheng crossed her arms and turned her head to look at the decorative paintings on the hallway wall, not bothering to waste any more words with him, and also to avoid him asking what she was pointing at... However, it was this simple action and that one cold snort.

In the other's eyes, it was like a thunderclap exploding.

"As expected!!!"

Liu Fangli's legs went weak, and he slumped directly onto the floor, his face instantly turning as pale as paper.

Trembling, he pulled out his phone again and opened the WeChat dialogue with "Board of Directors - President Li" for the second time, beginning to type an incoherent report of this "earth-shattering" discovery.