Is This The Right Way To Repay A Favor? Chapter 90

Celebration

The finale of Dream Weaver of Peach Blossom Land arrived.

While the buzz hadn’t faded, Languang Media’s legal team publicly announced their arbitration application against former star agent Zhou Jing.

Attached to the application were irrefutable pieces of evidence, including the Ye Group’s offer of an astronomical salary far exceeding industry standards, records of Zhou Jing’s abnormal access to core confidential documents during his tenure, and the fact that he quickly poached several Languang artists after his resignation.

The compensation amount Languang demanded was astronomical, instantly shaking the entire industry.

Almost simultaneously, several sharp, data-backed analytical articles were quietly published in authoritative financial media and leading industry accounts.

The article, “Ye Entertainment Burns 500 Million in Six Months—What Did It Gain? Only Enemies and Losses,” meticulously analyzed the financial status of its entertainment division, pointing out that the massive investment failed to secure corresponding market share or quality content. Instead, malicious poaching and project competition led to abnormally high costs, severely eroding the group’s overall profit.

Another piece, “Rule Breakers: Unmasking the Industry Ecosystem Crisis Under Ye’s ‘Money Power’,” condemned this reckless, destructive competitive behavior from a higher dimension, warning that it would severely damage the healthy content creation ecosystem, ultimately affecting all market participants.

This article cleverly framed Languang as a tragic hero, “adhering to content-first principles but suffering capital bullying,” successfully galvanizing a sense of shared outrage among many companies in the industry.

Concurrently, news began circulating in entertainment circles that “artists poached by the Ye Group are suspected of facing internal suppression and broken resource promises,” and implicitly mentioned that “a certain top male star surnamed S, who refused the astronomical poaching offer and insisted on weathering the storm with his old company, faced organized public smear campaigns.”

Although the exposé did not name names, the target was clear. Combined with the recent news of Shen Zhiyu being universally smeared online, it instantly garnered immense public sympathy and support for Shen Zhiyu and Languang.

The effect of this move was immediate. The next day, the Ye Group’s stock price plummeted, with its entertainment subsidiary suffering the steepest decline. Ye Jiaming faced unprecedented internal pressure, with continuous accountability calls from the board of directors.

Ye Jiaming had previously managed the Ye Group ten years ago, but his limited ability led to the group losing nearly ten billion in just one year, resulting in him being exiled overseas by Old Master Ye.

This year, he attempted to return to the center of power by leveraging Old Master Ye’s desire to reclaim Ye Mo.

Crushing Languang and forcing Shen Zhiyu to hand over Ye Mo was key for Ye Jiaming to prove his capability to Old Master Ye.

He acted swiftly, initially intending to defeat Languang as quickly as possible. He never expected the opponent not only failed to collapse but also used the pressure against him, escalating a suppression campaign against Languang and Shen Zhiyu into a public opinion and legal war that shook the group’s foundation, completely disrupting his plans.

Just as Jiang Zhou arrived at his doorstep, he received a call from Ye Qin.

“The first step was effective,” her voice on the other end was calm with a hint of appreciation. “Ye Jiaming is panicking. Next, we observe and see if he makes more foolish moves. We proceed according to the original plan.”

“Understood,” Jiang Zhou replied briefly and hung up.

Pushing open the door, he saw Shen Zhiyu was still awake, curled up on the living room sofa reading. The warm floor lamp outlined his quiet profile.

“Not asleep yet?” Jiang Zhou shed his winter coat, which carried the outdoor chill, his voice tinged with fatigue.

“Waiting for you.” Shen Zhiyu put down his book, stood up, and naturally took his coat to hang it up. “You’ve been working non-stop lately. Is everything going smoothly?”

Jiang Zhou pinched the bridge of his nose and briefly explained the current situation, his tone cautious. “It’s within expectations for now, but the Ye Group has deep roots, and I’m unsure of Old Master Ye’s stance. Variables still exist.”

Shen Zhiyu silently walked behind him, his warm fingers pressing perfectly onto his temples, gently easing his exhaustion. “You’ve worked hard, Ah Zhou.”

Jiang Zhou relaxed and closed his eyes, savoring the moment of peace.

After a while of massaging, Jiang Zhou suddenly gripped Shen Zhiyu’s wrist, gently pulled him forward, and looked up at him, his eyes glistening.

Shen Zhiyu leaned down, kissing his eyelids. “I know you’re tired, I won’t bother you. Go wash up and rest early.”

The two hadn’t been intimate for some time. Jiang Zhou wanted to say he was fine, but before he could speak, Shen Zhiyu had already withdrawn, sat back down, and picked up his book again.

To ask for it now would make him seem overly eager. Jiang Zhou bit his lip, eventually stood up, and headed toward the bathroom.

—

During this period, relying on internal intelligence provided by Ye Qin, Jiang Zhou quickly identified several projects that had been poached by the Ye Group at high prices but were now stalled due to chaotic management.

He arranged for Wei Yan to secretly contact the core creative personnel of these projects, including a director who was strongly dissatisfied with the Ye Group’s interference and a star screenwriter who was disappointed by the drastic script revisions.

The communication strategy was simple and direct. Wei Yan brought them Languang’s sincerity in restarting the projects and a more reasonable budget plan, while emphasizing the promise of full autonomy for the creative team.

After several frank discussions, an influential director was finally persuaded and agreed to lead the team reorganization to cooperate with Languang. This breakthrough opened up the situation for subsequent project negotiations.

Things were gradually shifting toward a positive direction.

—

In late December, Jiang Zhou met with Ye Qin in a private room at an extremely discreet club.

He handed a carefully prepared report to Ye Qin. It detailed various data from Ye Jiaming’s tenure managing the entertainment division: comparison of losses with industry averages, additional costs and profit impact caused by malicious poaching, and legal and reputational risks potentially triggered by improper competition, etc.

Every item contradicted the commercial strategy the Ye Group publicly claimed.

“This information should be enough to make the directors and investors re-evaluate his capabilities,” Jiang Zhou said calmly.

Ye Qin quickly flipped through the pages, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes. “Mr. Jiang is more capable than I imagined. It is my honor to cooperate with you this time.”

That evening, the report was anonymously delivered to several group elders and important investors who had long been dissatisfied with Ye Jiaming.

In the blink of an eye, it was the Ye Group’s shareholders’ meeting. At the meeting, Ye Jiaming was still discussing the grand blueprint for the entertainment division, but several investor representatives sharply questioned the division’s actual return rate, the unknown whereabouts of the massive expenditure, and the recent stock price drop and legal risks caused by malicious competition.

Ye Jiaming was caught off guard, stammering in his responses, only able to use empty words like “long-term strategy” to deflect.

At this moment, Ye Qin displayed clear data and charts, visually comparing the significant gaps between Ye Entertainment and its peers in efficiency, success rate, and return cycle.

“Are we investing capital for long-term returns, or to satisfy personal spite?” Her voice was clear and firm. “The current state of the entertainment division has severely deviated from the group’s interests. The massive investment has not only failed to enhance competitiveness but has created numerous enemies, accumulated huge legal and reputational risks, and even dragged down the main business’s stock price.”

She paused at the right moment, then proposed: “I suggest immediately forming an independent investigation committee to fully assess the entertainment division’s strategy and financial status. During the assessment period, the current head’s major decision-making authority should be suspended, and the committee should supervise operations until the situation is clarified and a rectification plan is proposed.”

This well-reasoned speech won the support of the majority of the previously neutral directors present.

Ye Jiaming’s face turned pale. He tried to refute but couldn’t produce any favorable data, ultimately resorting to weakly accusing Ye Qin of having “ulterior motives.”

The voting result was predictable. Ye Qin’s proposal passed with a high majority, and Ye Jiaming was immediately sidelined.

After the meeting, the Ye Group quickly issued an announcement, accepting the proposal and appointing Ye Qin as the head of the investigation committee, temporarily taking over management authority for the entertainment division.

Upon taking office, Ye Qin immediately reached out to Languang, signaling a desire for reconciliation, and gradually withdrew the previous suppression measures.

Languang’s stock price rebounded strongly as a result.

Concurrently, the post-production special effects for Deep Space Echoes were fully completed and formally submitted for review after rigorous inspection. The project had finally passed its most difficult phase.

With everything settled, Jiang Zhou’s nerves, which had been tightly strung for days, finally found a rare moment of relief.

Returning home after work that evening, he opened the door to a warm aroma of food.

Shen Zhiyu was placing the last dish on the table and looked up when he heard the sound. Warm light flowed over him, creating an aura of gentle affection.

“A celebration?” His lips curved slightly, his eyes holding a light smile, clearly having already learned everything.

Jiang Zhou took off his coat, his gaze lingering on Shen Zhiyu for a moment. Shen Zhiyu was only wearing a black knit shirt, the collar slightly open, outlining his slender collarbone and shoulder line, exuding a sense of casual languor under the light.

Since teaming up with Ye Qin to deal with the Ye Group, Jiang Zhou had been frantically busy. The two hadn’t sat down for a proper meal in a long time, let alone anything else.

The atmosphere during dinner was relaxed. When discussing the turmoil at the shareholders’ meeting that day, Jiang Zhou noticed Shen Zhiyu was listening somewhat distractedly, his gaze occasionally falling on him, a hidden warmth in his eyes.

“Things should be easier now?” Shen Zhiyu swirled his wine glass, his tone casual.

“At least I can get a full night’s sleep,” Jiang Zhou smiled, noticing the other man’s eyes deepen slightly.

“Just sleeping?” Shen Zhiyu lowered his voice, mixing in a clear hint of suggestion.

Jiang Zhou’s knuckles tightened silently around his glass, a subtle flush rising to his cheeks.

Shen Zhiyu reached out his hand toward him, his voice low and seductive: “Come here.”

Jiang Zhou obeyed and walked closer, immediately being pulled into a warm embrace. Body heat clearly transmitted through the thin fabric, the distance so close their breaths nearly mingled.

Cool fingertips stroked his temples, massaging away the tension with appropriate force, then slowly moving down, tracing his neck, and pressing onto his fatigued shoulders.

Jiang Zhou closed his eyes, allowing him to relieve the accumulated exhaustion of the past few days, while also clearly feeling a long-dormant desire quietly awakening within his body.

Shen Zhiyu’s fingertips hooked his tie, playing with it, a light laugh in his voice. “Mr. Jiang has been running around tirelessly these past few weeks, all for me. Shouldn’t I repay Mr. Jiang properly?” He leaned in closer, transmitting his desire unmistakably.

“How do you plan to repay me?” Jiang Zhou deliberately countered, but his fingers had already reached the back of Shen Zhiyu’s neck, gently stroking that sensitive skin.

Shen Zhiyu tilted his head back, a kiss landing on his jawline, his voice husky. “Just like you ‘repaid’ me before, Mr. Jiang. What do you think?”

The fervent kiss lingered at the corner of his mouth. Shen Zhiyu whispered between their intertwined breaths, “Do you want to shower?” His voice was completely tinged with the rasp of arousal.

Jiang Zhou shook his head, pulling him tighter into his embrace, his fingers slipping under the hem of the shirt, stroking the warm skin of his waist.

“I can’t wait.”