"Younian, Yinran Entertainment is the result of not just your efforts, but also your sister’s and Yinchao’s. You must want the kingdom your sister built to thrive after her passing, right?"
This seemingly well-measured statement, laced with endless implied meanings, truly was an eye-opener.
Qi Younian didn’t speak, waiting for Fu Bairan to continue.
He was curious to see if this silver-tongued speaker could bring the dead back to life.
Seeing that Qi Younian remained silent, Fu Bairan thought her words had gotten through to him, so she continued, her voice tinged with a touch of sorrow and regret, "Younian, the effort your sister put into ’Empress of a Generation’ is something you might not be aware of, having left Yinran Entertainment."
Qi Younian smiled, his words saturated with an irony that was neither mocking nor praising, "The press conference was quite informative, I’ve heard a thing or two."
Fu Bairan’s smile abruptly stiffened on her face, but she quickly recovered, "Younian, do you think the press conference was just us putting on an act?"
After speaking, she suddenly looked aggrieved, her countenance one of barely contained tears, incredibly fragile as tears slid down her cheeks, "Younian, how can you think like that? I’m Yuran’s sister. How could I wish for Yuran’s death?"
Yinchao, watching Fu Bairan cry, had long since grown impatient with Qi Younian. Stepping forward, he took Fu Bairan in his arms, "Younian, you’ve gone too far."
"I’ve gone too far?" Qi Younian felt genuinely wronged, "Let’s not mention the fact that I’ve hardly said anything, and yet Fu Bairan is crying so sadly.
To put it another way, what’s with the two of you hugging and embracing? Yinchao, I’d forgotten to ask; how did you, who cried like a dog at Fu Yuran’s funeral, suddenly become capable of comforting her sister ?
What? You want to enjoy the company of both? Playing ’Empress E Huang,’ are you?"
Yinchao, ridiculed by Qi Younian, found himself at a loss for words. Seeing Fu Bairan’s tears, he had felt only pity and had wanted to comfort her, completely forgetting the persona he had crafted for himself, and the things he had said in front of the media.
So far, apart from a few people under his command, no one else knew he was with Fu Bairan.
Now that Qi Younian had bluntly pointed it out, Yinchao could no longer maintain his composure.
Fu Bairan’s complexion also changed slightly, pushing Yinchao away as tears filled her eyes, looking at Qi Younian, "Younian, I am heartbroken by my sister’s death. Yinchao has no other intentions; he’s only looking after me because my sister asked him to."
"Looking after you?" Qi Younian laughed again, "Where? In bed?"
Both Yinchao and Fu Bairan had difficulty maintaining their composure, Yinchao becoming angrily embarrassed, "Younian, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?"
"Enough, Yinchao. I don’t want to argue with you here. Eighty million, not a cent less. If you disagree, we’ll proceed with legal action. Then we’ll see if ’Empress of a Generation’ can continue to be filmed. I can’t say for sure;
I heard that you’ve already started shooting part of it, and now you’re in a state of halting production. You calculate how much each day’s delay costs. Anyway, it won’t be my loss.
I’ll give you three hours to think it over. Give me your answer by five in the afternoon. I, Qi Younian, am a man of my word."
Yinchao clenched his teeth, "Younian, are you really not giving any face, not even considering Yuran’s affection?"
Qi Younian, moving to leave, halted, and with a half-turn smiled at Yinchao, "Considering her affection? If it weren’t for her affection, do you think I’d be standing here wasting my time with you?"