PMWAIAAPM Chapter 48

Chapter 48: What Exactly Are You Afraid Of?

The online topic is gradually gaining momentum.

Tan Zhiyu has never had any scandals in his years since debuting, and just this buzz is enough to attract countless media outlets.

Xing Yang had a scandal with Jiang Cheng before; he is now a hot investor in the capital. Many want to curry favor with him, and once the photos are released, the speculation that Tan Zhiyu is possibly accompanying the big boss for resources only escalates.

Li Yue is anxious, running in circles. The management is conducting emergency public relations, preparing to publicly claim that it’s just a collaborative relationship, but Tan Zhiyu shakes his head, “Why can’t we just admit it directly?”

“You still want to admit it?!” Li Yue gasps in disbelief, “With the Three Gold Awards coming up, this kind of news could ruin you! All those years of reputation—are you willing to toss it away?”

Tan Zhiyu has won many awards before, and once he gets entangled with an investor, the authenticity of his past honors will come into question. Wouldn’t everyone suspect he slept his way to the top? Can he still survive in this entertainment industry?

Admitting it may sound easy, but how many top-tier products does he endorse? How many projects remain unbroadcasted? All would be affected. Many contracts explicitly require him to be single, and now acknowledging his marriage could result in astronomical penalties. What will they do in the future?

[I’ve felt something off about Xing Yang for a long time…. He was seen entering and exiting hotels with Jiang Cheng, and now he’s targeting Tan Zhiyu. The capital’s true colors are revolting——]

[Dammit, the movie Tan Zhiyu is currently shooting is funded by him. I heard wealthy people play quite flashy games; I think he’s just ugly and trying to play around.]

[Help, Tan Zhiyu has never had any scandals; how could this happen? Is it that actors who want to genuinely act without pleasing investors have no way out in this world? Our Zhiyu is about to win the Three Golds!!]

[I can’t even imagine; if some omega I don’t like tries to force me to mark him with money, it would torment me so much… ]

[The Yuanyin Real Estate? I’ve heard of so many incidents from that company! Previously, the chairman of Huatian Enterprises jumped off a building because he was driven to desperation after being monopolized by them, right? How could a person be so ruthless?]

[Just because a real estate developer wants to switch careers, but the stock market for Yuanyin is plummeting—that’s karma!!]

The online criticisms of Xing Yang are overwhelming, accusing him of using his wealth to coerce Tan Zhiyu, forcing a relationship; the words spoken could not be more vicious, and the Weibo comments section of Yuanyin Real Estate has been closed.

Outside the set, reporters swarm, holding microphones and flashing cameras, desperately trying to push in for an interview.

“Tan Zhiyu, rumors online say you’re being forced to maintain a close relationship with the chairman of Yuanyin Real Estate? Is this true?”

“Is it true that you’ve never had any scandals before due to having a long-term partner? Do you think this scandal needs clarification?”

“It’s said that you two aren’t getting along on set; is that act?”

“Please step out of the car to answer a few questions; it would only take a few minutes and won’t waste your time.”

With such a topic and hype, whoever can ride the wave can make money.

Li Yue pokes her head out, smiling, telling the reporters to clear the way: “We will issue a specific clarification shortly on Weibo; just stay tuned.”

“Why can’t you answer now?”

“Is that question hard to answer? Can you clarify if Tan Zhiyu is willing? If yes, then did his previous good resources come willingly? If not, then with his current stardom, he could easily refuse, so is it just to keep his career going?”

The entertainment industry updates at such a rapid pace, and substitutes are everywhere. Stars like Tan Zhiyu, who maintain their popularity, are truly rare.

“You’re all talking nonsense!” Tan Zhiyu tightens his grip on the phone, and upon hearing this, the veins on the back of his hand bulge as he nearly storms out of the car.

Li Yue holds him back, shaking her head, indicating for him to stay quiet.

The reporters outside keep snapping photos, their questions becoming a continuous cacophony.

“Beep, beep, beep—The number you have dialed is busy——”

Xing Yang’s phone is not being answered at all; Li Yue tells the driver to change routes and switch to another hotel. The reporters that are already tailing the film crew would likely increase.

Tan Zhiyu, in a fluster, feels his palms sweaty; just as the doctor finished wrapping them, his phone buzzes. He quickly picks it up, but it’s not Xing Yang.

“Dad?”

Tan Yushen’s voice is cold, asking where he is, “Don’t go out next. There’s no need for the management to clarify anything; I’ve already spoken with them.”

“What?” Tan Zhiyu is taken aback.

Tan Yushen seems to have known about his relationship with Xing Yang all along and has already made arrangements: “You don’t need to pay penalties for those brands you endorse. Wait for the matter to grow; you only need to say that Xing Yang traded resources with you, and when this month is over, you will divorce him.”

“There is a foster son in the Huo family; although a bit young, you can get to know him. His status in the capital is much higher than that of Xing Yang, this insignificant businessman.”

“Dad… what are you talking about?”

Tan Zhiyu’s mind suddenly goes blank as he struggles to believe everything he hears: “How would you know about me and his situation…?”

He has never mentioned anything to Tan Yushen; Tan Yushen clearly does not care about him!

Xing Yang, as a real estate developer, is clearly moving in a new direction. The development of the internet economy has reached its peak, with people pursuing joyful experiences and relaxation; the Star Sea Amusement Park project is not only aimed at the nation but will also team up with celebrity influencers to create a buzz post-opening, resulting in long-term promotion value, far more profitable than simple real estate projects, as well as reducing preliminary investments compared to internet development projects.

“This project of his is good. This time, the bet is that he defaulted first, and I will become the controlling shareholder of Yuanyin Real Estate and kick him out.”

A buzzing sound fills Tan Zhiyu’s mind: “In this project, hasn’t he given you forty percent of the profit…?”

Tan Yushen’s aloof voice carries a contemptuous chuckle over the phone: “Forty? Do you know how much I could get him to take from a dinner meeting I arranged for him?”

Tan Yushen has been a businessman for many years; how could he be unaware of Xing Yang’s nature?

Xing Yang invited him to invest from within the country, actively offering him forty percent profit, and something felt off. A deeper investigation confirmed the marriage situation with Tan Zhiyu and their betting agreement. As long as Xing Yang’s group assets stabilize, Tan Yushen would pay him hundreds of billions according to the terms to help launch Star Sea Amusement Park globally.

Conversely, if Yuanyin Real Estate’s stocks nosedive and total assets drastically drop, then Xing Yang would need to cede his actual shares to Tan Yushen to cover the debt.

Originally, if Tan Yushen continued to invest normally, Xing Yang was willing to share forty percent of the total profits from Star Sea Amusement Park with him!

That’s projected to be profits in the hundreds of billions.

Greed knows no bounds. Tan Yushen wants to eliminate Xing Yang; he doesn’t want forty percent but rather a hundred percent.

“Did you hire someone to take photos of us?” Tan Zhiyu’s voice trembles: “Exposing his private life, using public opinion to lower his company’s stock value?”

“Son, a person like him isn’t worthy of you. In the future, I’ll find someone better for you. Hollywood’s Jason is looking for a leading man; once this matter ends, I’ll invite him for dinner. For now, just go back to the hotel and get some rest until this ends.”

“Ends?”

Wait for it to end?

Wait for Xing Yang to be driven to financial ruin by him?

“You knew about me and Xing Yang all along; you want to create scandals, slander him, using public opinion to diminish his company’s stock value.”

This is so typical of Tan Yushen; he’s so much a businessman.

There’s no integrity in business.

“Son, Dad is doing this for your own good.” In Tan Yushen’s eyes, he is always a good child, forever obedient, achieving top grades without needing a reminder.

He can become a star, drawing attention everywhere he goes.

Xing Yang’s company is something he built up gradually from the age of eighteen, and Tan Yushen can easily kick him out with a snap of his fingers. Even his own son could be a tool to bring down Xing Yang in his eyes.

Xing Yang is too powerful; at that dinner, he had already turned Tan Yushen’s friend against him to invest. He cannot allow a young man to attempt to take his cake, in the end, offering up forty percent as some generous donation.

“There’s plenty of omegas like him everywhere; find a better one later.”

Tan Zhiyu lets out a light laugh, his tongue against the inside of his cheek, the rage erupting from his chest nearly compels him to tear Tan Yushen apart.

What does his father really see him as?

A tool to boast about making money? A mere plaything?

He can accept that Tan Yushen would forget his birthday, that he plays the strict father in his new family, that he is indifferent to him.

But he cannot accept that after scheming against him, Tan Yushen lightly states he would find him a new omega and encourage him to go to Hollywood to shoot films once this is all over.

Tan Yushen never understands that he never enjoyed acting—

“Someone better…”

“Right, don’t worry, whatever you do in the future, I will agree.” As long as his good son continues to be obedient and helps him bring down Xing Yang.

“Tan Yushen! Have you lost your mind!” Tan Zhiyu almost grits his teeth to shout this out! “You scheme even against your own son; are you even human?!”

On the other end of the phone, Tan Yushen seems surprised by his emotional outburst.

He’s taken aback by his son’s rebuttal, feeling some anger: “Is this how you speak to your father?”

“Attitude? Tan Yushen, I want you to fix those ridiculous thoughts of yours within half an hour! Otherwise, I’ll show you what it means to be financially ruined!”

“Who told you Xing Yang isn’t worthy of me? With what you’ve seen, you believe we don’t love each other? You’re blind for money! Put away your pitiful pretensions of comparison; you’re just jealous, jealous that Xing Yang is young and about to surpass you, which is why you can’t wait to destroy him. Tan Yushen, let me tell you! You will not—”

“Tan Zhiyu! Are you crazy?! I am your father! Do you know—”

Without waiting for him to finish, Tan Zhiyu directly rolls down the window and throws the phone out.

The phone crashes loudly on the roadside, shattering into pieces…

Silence falls in the car, and Tan Zhiyu’s hands tremble uncontrollably.

Internet tsunami, stock market crash, and Xing Yang still hasn’t answered his calls; he’s even turned his phone off.

“Where to?” Tan Zhiyu asks.

The car drives out of the city, and it feels as if even a falling needle has become strikingly clear.

Li Yue: “We found a new hotel; let’s first…”

“Go to the airport.”

“Now? But there are definitely reporters waiting at the airport, and even if you see Xing…”

“I said go to the airport!” Tan Zhiyu’s anger clenches his fists, his gaze terrifying enough to seem murderous.

Li Yue, frightened by his demeanor, instructs the driver to change routes to the airport, buying tickets to Switzerland.

This feeling is truly terrifying. Tan Zhiyu wipes his face, unsure if the moisture near his eyes is sweat or something else, and finds it somewhat damp.

What exactly… is he afraid of?