Chapter 150: Imagination Entertainment’s Ruthlessness

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Xi Yuanyuan fell silent.

They were all the same age!

Why could other people make so much money simply by producing a script, while she was still just a lowly manager...?

The world was truly unfair!

Seeing her expression, Chen Fang teased with a laugh, “What? Feeling discouraged?”

“A little.”

“You and Le Mi make me feel that the difference between people can really be greater than the difference between people and pigs,” Xi Yuanyuan sighed.

Chen Fang opened his arms. “Come into your big brother’s arms. I’ll comfort you.”

“Get lost!”

Xi Yuanyuan’s face instantly turned scarlet.

The company employees passing nearby began whispering and snickering among themselves.

What a shameless man!

If you had said that somewhere without anyone else around, I might actually have agreed.

Chen Fang slipped his hands back into his pockets and offered her some rare, earnest consolation. “There’s no need to feel dejected. When I was singing on the streets, I never felt as discouraged as you do now. People should compare themselves with who they were, not with other people.”

How unusual!

She had actually managed to hear a serious remark from Chen Fang.

Still, Xi Yuanyuan’s mood did improve somewhat.

“What are your plans for next?”

“Do you need me to find you some advertising endorsements?” Xi Yuanyuan asked.

Chen Fang had recently taken part in two variety shows—*Let’s Fall in Love Together* and *Road to Stardom*—so there was no need for him to join any more programs for the time being. Promoting and building anticipation for some songs, along with securing a few suitable endorsements, would be enough.

Chen Fang thought about it. He definitely needed some advertising endorsements.

After all, they were the fastest way to make money.

All he had to do was endorse a brand, shoot a short video, and say a few lines to get paid. There was no reason to turn down easy money.

Besides, with Chen Fang’s current number of followers and level of popularity, he could ignore ordinary brands and aim directly for advertisements from mid- to high-end companies.

“As for the endorsements, just arrange them however you see fit.”

“I trust you to handle things.”

“But don’t take on too many. I may have to make a trip to Hengdian soon.”

He wondered how things were going with Xi Dong.

There should be a result soon.

Xi Yuanyuan seemed to know what was happening with Xi Dong as well. “My dad wants you to play the male lead in *Three Lives, Three Worlds*, right? That’s wonderful news. If you won’t have enough time, I’ll push the endorsement work back.”

“It isn’t certain yet.” Chen Fang was not as optimistic as Xi Yuanyuan. After all, the investor was Imagination Entertainment, and Chen Fang knew all too well what kind of company it was.

Back in the office, Chen Fang seemed to have nothing to do again.

He was getting a little bored.

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Unfortunately, Ji Mei had gone to Hengdian, and there was no one at the villa.

Chen Fang leaned against the sofa in Xi Yuanyuan’s office, staring blankly at the ceiling. A thought suddenly crossed his mind: Should I go to Hengdian for a look too?

He would have to go there sooner or later to film.

It would be good to scout the place in advance.

Just then, Chen Fang’s phone rang.

He took it out and saw that Xi Dong was calling. His expression brightened.

At last!

“Uncle Xi,” Chen Fang greeted him.

Xi Yuanyuan, who was still handling work, raised her head at those three words and looked toward Chen Fang.

“Have you made up your mind, boy?” Xi Dong’s voice sounded somewhat weary, but the anger he had displayed earlier was gone.

Clearly, the matter had been resolved.

“I have no problem with it,” Chen Fang agreed.

From Xi Dong’s tone, Chen Fang could more or less infer how the situation had been handled: Xi Dong had agreed to replace the male and female leads. However, he was surely under tremendous pressure himself, and Imagination Entertainment might even withdraw its investment.

At his reply, a trace of delight finally entered Xi Dong’s voice. “Then come to Hengdian tomorrow. I’ll pick you up.”

Chen Fang agreed at once.

In any case, there was nothing for him to do in the city.

Since Ji Mei had also gone to Hengdian, he was even more eager to take a look around.

After hanging up, Chen Fang told Xi Yuanyuan what had happened over the phone. Since he was leaving for Hengdian the next day, his upcoming schedule would naturally have to be postponed.

“Dad’s all right, isn’t he?” Xi Yuanyuan asked worriedly.

Chen Fang felt a little admiration for Xi Dong. He was already a renowned director in the country, yet he was still willing to take on such a thankless and exhausting task. That showed how deeply he truly loved film and television.

“Your dad’s fine. He’s just a little worn out from dealing with the production. Now that everything has been settled, he only needs to wait for filming to begin.”

Xi Yuanyuan let out a sigh of relief.

Chen Fang did not stay long. Since he was leaving for Hengdian the next day, he naturally had to hurry home and pack some clothes.

When he returned home, Pang Tong still had not come back.

Chen Fang packed a change of clothes.

With nothing else to do, he took the opportunity to look over the online war of public opinion.

“This is really exciting!”

Chen Fang watched with great interest.

By now,

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public opinion online was extremely hostile toward Imagination Entertainment, and the company’s stock price had plunged several points as a result.

No matter where he looked, there were vicious comments attacking the company.

“I actually see the shadow of Future Stardom in Imagination Entertainment. All I can say is, the entertainment industry really is a circle.”

“My favorite star has fallen from grace, and every one of you is responsible!”

“It’s so easy for celebrities to make money. Once some dirt gets exposed, they can casually earn hundreds of thousands from a single meal.”

“Brothers, does anyone have the resources for Li Shi’s scandal?”

“Looking for them too! High definition, preferably!”

“Fake fans are still asking for the resources. Real fans finished watching them ages ago. Li Shi looks so pure normally, but in bed she’s really wild—one woman against three men. Absolutely incredible!”

“Leaving everything else aside, her figure is really good. She’s just a little too hairy.”

“Brother, elaborate. Where exactly is she hairy?”

“...”

There was never any shortage of spectators eager to feast on gossip online.

Especially when the gossip involved something salacious, the level of attention was terrifying.

Aside from Li Shi, the internet was also filled with scandals and exposés concerning artists under Imagination Entertainment. Every single one was packed with sensational details. Years’ worth of juicy gossip, impossible to come across under normal circumstances, had all erupted at once.

Of course, the most important issue was still tax evasion.

The authorities had already begun an investigation into Imagination Entertainment’s tax payments.

And they really did uncover a problem.

However, it was not a problem with the company itself.

Rather, one of the company’s young pop kings had used the company’s name to evade taxes, involving an enormous sum of money.

Chen Fang could not help but sneer.

As expected of the industry giant!

They were ruthless when it came to handling matters.

That young pop king had obviously been pushed forward to take the blame. It was no longer fashionable to sacrifice an accountant as a scapegoat. Major companies, in particular, rarely did so anymore. The tactic had been used too often; not only would the public refuse to accept it, but the authorities would also grow suspicious.

For Imagination Entertainment, the best option was to have someone with a certain degree of fame come forward and take the fall.

That was precisely why this young pop king had become the scapegoat.

And Chen Fang happened to know him.

It was Zheng Wenyen, who had been paired with Qiao Yuezhu on *Road to Stardom*.

Now, it seemed that Imagination Entertainment had abandoned him completely.

It was understandable when one thought about it.

Zheng Wenyen was already middle-aged, and his career in show business had nearly reached its limit. His chances of rising to the rank of a pop king were extremely slim. On top of that, he had recently been exposed for cheating with Qiao Yuezhu after booking a hotel room with her, causing his carefully cultivated image to collapse overnight. Naturally, Imagination Entertainment had no intention of protecting him.

Zheng Wenyen had now been arrested, while his wife was already proceeding with a divorce.

These days, Zheng Wenyen was in an even worse state than Wang Jiawei.

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