After the True Heiress Travels Back
Chapter 736: Directing and Acting in a Play Yourself?

Chapter 736: Chapter 736: Directing and Acting in a Play Yourself?

Cheng Linye was worn down by the little rascal and had no choice but to agree.

However...

For him right now, ten million was a huge sum.

After agreeing, he looked toward Shi Yaoguang.

Shi Yaoguang, however, wore a look of misunderstanding his intentions.

She wasn’t planning on engaging in conversation.

It was only after he explicitly requested that Shi Yaoguang gave him a sidelong glance.

"You pay for the money Bai Tangyuan is asking for," he demanded.

Shi Yaoguang’s face soured, "Why should I pay?"

She apparently said in pique, "I’m already putting up with them, mother and son, living in my villa and with my man, and now you still want me to give them money? Cheng Linye, you wouldn’t take me for a fool, would you?"

Cheng Linye: "..."

"I didn’t mean that." Even if in his heart he did indeed see Shi Yaoguang as a love-struck fool, he couldn’t admit that out loud.

What would happen if he admitted it?

God knows what sort of scene she would make then.

So he immediately tried to coax her gently, "Listen to me, I’m doing this for your own good. Only by thoroughly dealing with them will your position be secure, don’t you think?"

"This is just a bad idea," Shi Yaoguang still looked disdainful.

At this, Cheng Linye grew impatient, "I’m willing to help you now, but if you keep nitpicking, I’ll stop caring about you."

"You say you’re helping me, but I’d like to know how exactly you’re helping me," Shi Yaoguang still wouldn’t give in.

Cheng Linye had no choice but to pay the ten million himself.

After giving the money, he still comforted himself inwardly.

One cannot catch a wolf without baiting it.

What’s ten million?

Once he successfully brainwashed Shi Yaoguang into standing on his side, not only ten million, but the whole country would be his.

Shi Yaoguang probably guessed what he was thinking.

At such a time, one couldn’t help but feel fate was at play.

Cheng Linye’s train of thought, and Zhao Muze’s, were strikingly similar in a way.

Their audacity was simply astonishing.

However, his character was exactly what allowed her plan to unfold.

So, she no longer found him distasteful.

Cheng Linye had no idea that this was the image he held in Shi Yaoguang’s mind.

He was still dealing with viewers in the live stream.

Ever since Bai Tangyuan demanded that ten million, there hadn’t been any comments in the barrage accusing him of being so young yet knowing murder wasn’t wrong.

After all...

It was all scripted.

Those who were genuinely concerned and comforting Bai Tangyuan before, while somewhat resentful of Bai Tangyuan, were more annoyed with Cheng Linye.

Bai Tangyuan certainly did wrong.

But he’s just a child.

What does a child understand?

Of course, there were still those who were bitter.

After all, Bai Tangyuan, such a little kid, just by playing a role in a scene, got himself ten million.

Naturally, that left some green with envy.

The little guy certainly didn’t care about these things; his recent speech was just a way to distance himself.

Otherwise...

He would have become the target of everyone’s criticism.

That wouldn’t have been good for him or his mom.

Now it was just right, all the firepower was concentrated on Cheng Linye.

Even if Cheng Linye could handle them, he must have felt exhausted.

My, oh my.

A few words and ten million was in hand, embarrassingly easy.

Bai Tangyuan sneaked a glance at Shi Yaoguang, thinking to herself that she could split it with Auntie afterward.

Half each, fair.

And as for Uncle Quan?

Forget him, even if it’s finder’s keepers, he’s not included.

Quan Jinbei, however, had no idea about Bai Tangyuan’s thoughts; he too had guessed Cheng Linye’s intentions at this moment.

He certainly wasn’t prepared to just stand by and watch.

As Cheng Linye was earnestly explaining to the barrage of comments that everything prior was a play of his own direction, Quan Jinbei spoke up.

"Mr. Cheng, even if you want to be a director, there was no need to intentionally involve me and Tangyuan’s names, right?"

Hearing Quan Jinbei’s voice, Cheng Linye felt a jolt in his heart.

He’d forgotten about Quan Jinbei.

He mustered up his spirits to deal with him, "Mr. Quan, it was improper of me to deliberately use your name, indeed I was wrong, but it was a move made out of desperation."

As he said it, his tone was that of someone who was disgruntled with his lot, "I didn’t want to involve innocent people, but... I have no other hobbies, only this dream of being a director."

"I prepared my work diligently, but it didn’t make the slightest splash. Surely many people can empathize with this kind of situation."

"I just couldn’t stand this sense of injustice, which is why I resorted to taking risks, exploiting the suspected illegitimate relationship between Mr. Quan and Bai Tangyuan to create a story..."

Cheng Linye said this, his tone betraying his guilt, "Mr. Quan, please forgive me this once, seeing as I’ve realized my mistake!"

Quan Jinbei snorted coldly, "You say forgive you, and I should forgive you?"

"I know I was wrong, I’ve now realized my mistake, and I’ve recognized my error."

Quan Jinbei scoffed, "Well then, do tell, what exactly did you do wrong?"

"I..." He glanced at Shi Yaoguang, and gritting his teeth, said, "I shouldn’t have deliberately spread rumors that you had an illegitimate child."

At these words, the barrage of comments went into a frenzy.

"What does he mean he shouldn’t have spread rumors that Third Master has an illegitimate child?"

"What’s going on here? The marketing accounts from before, could they have been hired by him?"

"It’s possible."

"If that’s really the case, it’s chilling to consider."

While everyone was speculating wildly, Cheng Linye admitted it.

"The paternity test from before, I arranged that, I wasn’t deliberately spreading rumors that Bai Tangyuan was your illegitimate child, it’s just that you two look so much alike."

As he spoke, his tone was repentant, "At that time, I just thought, leveraging your appearances, I could surely make a sensational news story. Now, I’ve realized that I was wrong."

Quan Jinbei clicked his tongue, "You say you now realize what you did was wrong? I’m curious to know why you never thought it was wrong before and what made you suddenly see the light?"

"This..." Cheng Linye was a bit embarrassed.

He couldn’t very well admit that he voluntarily confessed his errors to make use of Shi Yaoguang, could he?

Wouldn’t that be too shameless?

Furthermore, Shi Yaoguang wasn’t a fool.

If she knew his intent, she would certainly disdain to even deal with him.

He clearly couldn’t admit that.

Hesitating, he blurted out in resignation, "Just think of it as a sudden attack of conscience."

"Besides... I now feel that being a famous director isn’t all that great."

"If becoming a renowned director requires such scheming, I’d rather start from scratch and remain low-key."

His attitude of knowing his wrongdoing and being willing to repent actually earned him a wave of sympathy.

Nevertheless, some were still resisting him.

Then he said to the live audience, "The live stream ends here. I won’t take advantage of this controversy to promote myself. I will definitely work hard to fulfill my dream. Regarding the previous hype, I will have the marketing accounts issue a public apology."