Chapter 097: Negotiation

Drive-in theater.

Jiang Yao lay back on the soft cushions inside the car, staring blankly at the movie playing on the huge screen.

A love story.

Beside her, He Yunqing turned his head and caught the expression on Jiang Yao’s face, smiling faintly. “Looks like tonight’s film isn’t very captivating.”

Jiang Yao yawned. “Yeah, I’m not much for romance movies. I like something more exciting, like horror films.”

He Yunqing turned onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow as he looked at her. “Yao, you’ve got something on your mind today.”

Jiang Yao sank back with a sigh, and Ye Yiyi’s face surfaced in her mind again.

“Tell me, if someone who was once very close to you suddenly changed so completely that they seemed like a different person, how would that happen?” she murmured.

“I have experience with that.”

“Hm?” Interest lit Jiang Yao’s eyes. She turned toward him as well, facing him directly. “Experience? Tell me.”

“I once acted in a television series. It hasn’t aired yet. It was about exactly that kind of drastic change in temperament, a person becoming unrecognizable.”

“Why would that happen?” Jiang Yao asked seriously.

“Because another person crossed over into her body,” He Yunqing replied at an unhurried pace.

Jiang Yao immediately shot him a glare and punched him lightly in the chest. “He Yunqing, I’m being serious.”

“So am I,” He Yunqing went on. “The person you’re talking about is Miss Ye, isn’t she? No one suddenly becomes another person. Maybe she changed a long time ago, and you just didn’t notice. Or maybe she never changed at all.”

“You mean...” Jiang Yao sat bolt upright all at once, as if she had just seen the light. “Ye Yiyi has her reasons?!”

“Yao, what are you doing? Yao...”

Seeing Jiang Yao spring into action, He Yunqing could only say helplessly, “You’re going where now?”

“I...” She faltered.

“And even if you found her, do you think she’d be willing to see you?”

“I...” Jiang Yao had nothing left to say. He Yunqing wasn’t wrong. “Then what am I supposed to do?”

He Yunqing reached out and tapped her lightly on the head. “Finish the movie first. As for Miss Ye, I’ll keep an eye out for you.”

Jiang Yao collapsed back again like a deflated ball. “Fine. But next time, can we choose a horror movie?”

He Yunqing nodded. “All right.”

Jiang Yao truly had no interest in this kind of film. Sometimes she even wondered if she was simply the sort of person who was allergic to romance.

Before long, she had drifted off to sleep.

He Yunqing looked at her peaceful sleeping face, and a faint smile curved his lips.

He lowered his head and brushed a gentle kiss against Jiang Yao’s forehead.

His phone in his pocket suddenly began to vibrate.

Perhaps the sound disturbed her; the sleeping Jiang Yao frowned faintly.

He Yunqing hurried aside and answered the call.

“Yunqing, have you received all the scripts?” Sister Cai’s voice came through. “Have you looked at them? I think that youth idol romance drama is pretty good. Why don’t you take that one?”

“No.” He Yunqing refused softly.

“You’re not taking it? Then which one do you want?” Sister Cai sounded surprised.

He Yunqing’s gaze swept lightly over Jiang Yao, still asleep beside him. “I’ll take the horror suspense drama.”

“Huh?” Sister Cai considered it for a moment. “The script does look decent, but the director is a newcomer, and it can’t really be called a major production. It’s not as good as the romance drama. That one would mean working with a top director...”

“I’m taking the horror suspense drama,” He Yunqing said with absolute certainty.

Sister Cai let out a quiet sigh. Very few people could ever outstubborn He Yunqing.

“All right. There’s one more thing. We’re meeting that reporter tomorrow night, so don’t forget.”

“Mm.”

The next evening, Jiang Yao went to work at Spring Breeze Ten Miles as usual.

According to plan, He Yunqing met the so-called reporter together with Sister Cai.

In a secluded private room, one exquisite dish after another was brought to the table.

The “reporter” was a narrow-faced, gaunt man in a plain black T-shirt, eating heartily from the dishes laid out before him.

Sister Cai and He Yunqing exchanged a glance, then Sister Cai spoke first. “Sir, were the photos you showed us taken by you?”

The narrow-faced man didn’t lift his head and kept eating. “Yeah, of course. Don’t they look like it?”

Sister Cai cleared her throat, her face wearing a standard smile. “Since both sides are already sitting here, there’s no need to beat around the bush. I’ll be frank. That photo is of no use to you. Even if it were exposed, it wouldn’t bring you much benefit. You might as well give it to us.”

The narrow-faced man took a sip of wine and finally looked up. “Straightforward. To be honest, we’re all just trying to survive out here, and none of us has it easy. I never planned to make things difficult for you. This price.”

As he spoke, he held up two fingers toward He Yunqing and Sister Cai.

“Two million?” Sister Cai let out a breath of relief. “That’s fine.”

The narrow-faced man shook his head. “Twenty million.”

“This...”

Sister Cai looked a little troubled as she turned to He Yunqing. After thinking for a moment, she added, “Sir, your price is really rather high. Could we discuss it a little more?”

“This isn’t a market stall,” the narrow-faced man said as if he feared nothing at all. “Everyone knows what effect this photo will have on Mr. He if it gets out. Twenty million really isn’t much. Mr. He can just act in a few more productions and earn it back. If you hesitate any longer, I’ll make it thirty million.”

Sister Cai frowned. “Could you perhaps—”

“Forty million.” The narrow-faced man held up four fingers and clicked his tongue twice. “The wine in this upscale restaurant really is good.”

“If you like it, I’ll make sure you drink your fill tonight,” came He Yunqing’s calm reply at last. He had been silent until now.

The narrow-faced man smiled. “So Mr. He means you agree?”

“I’m only worried that once you’re locked up, you won’t be able to drink anything like this for a very long time,” He Yunqing said placidly.

“What do you mean by that?!” the narrow-faced man snapped.

Sister Cai hurried to smooth things over. “Sir, Yunqing didn’t mean it that way.”

“I meant exactly that,” He Yunqing said coldly. “Extorting money from people like this—your nerve is impressive.”

The narrow-faced man’s expression shifted. “Fine. Go ahead and call the police. Let’s see how long you can stay smug once this photo is made public.”

He Yunqing thought for a moment. “That photo only shows me having dinner with someone. It’s not enough to ruin me, is it?”