Chapter 63: Let’s Break Up
Ji Mian stared at the photos on the table for a long time, his expression calm. He didn’t
have the habit of taking photos, so in these past few years, his phone has only had a few
single photos of Lin Leyang saved, but not any group photos. These photos obviously did
not come from his phone.
“Call in Leyang and Chen Pengxin.” He instructed lightly.
“Are you okay?” Fang Kun glanced at him worriedly.
“I’m fine.” Ji Mian’s expression didn’t change.
After confirming this, Fang Kun called in Lin Leyang and Chen Pengxin.
“Do you have these photos?” Ji Mian pushed the photos in front of Lin Leyang. The two
people in the photos didn’t do anything too outrageous. They simply hooked their
shoulders, which was common among men. But in one of the photos, they were wearing
matching couple shirts with slightly ambiguous expressions. If this were to flow into the
outside world, it would still be a cause for concern.
Lin Leyang didn’t know why he was being asked this, but he still carefully looked for a
moment and nodded, “I took these photos. Ji-ge, why did you print them out? Wait that’s not
right, I didn’t send these to you. Where did you get them from?”
“You’ll know in a moment.” Ji Mian raised his chin towards Fang Kun, “Bring me a
Fang Kun lit a cigarette and handed it to him. He then turned around and lit one for himself.
If one must know, he had successfully quit smoking for five years.
Lin Leyang became nervous. He had spent so much time with Ji Mian, how could he not
feel the low pressure he was exuding? His expression was gentle and his movements were
calm, but his pupils were pitch black, without the slightest bit of light.
“Why have you brought me to Royal Crown Studios’ building? Are you going to give me
money or not?” A familiar voice came from outside the door. After a moment, Chen Pengyu
was brought into the office by two strong men while wearing a very worried expression.
Seeing Lin Leyang and Chen Pengxin, she was taken aback for a moment. But when she
saw Ji Mian and the photos in front of him, her face instantly paled.
“B-big brother, you all- do you know everything?” She stopped struggling, but
subconsciously hid behind Lin Leyang. She knew that her brother could not protect herself,
only Lin Leyang could dispel Ji Mian’s anger.
Know what? Lin Leyang and Chen Pengxin both looked at each other with faces full of
Ji Mian asked slowly, “Has she been by your side these past few days?”
“Yes ah, Xiao Yu had said staying home was boring, so I brought her out to play. She isn’t
taking a salary.” Lin Leyang pinched the corners of his clothes tightly, feeling a strong sense
of anxiety in his heart.
“She stole these photos from your phone as well as a few chat records. Then sold them to a
marketing account under my banner for a price of 5 million. If she had chosen another
marketing account, maybe the news would’ve already broken out, or the other party may
have come to me so I could buy them back for 10 million or more. Leyang, how would you
deal with this matter?” Ji Mian’s tone was very calm, as if he were speaking of someone
Lin Leyang’s brain was buzzing and he instantly lost the ability to think. Rather, it was Chen
Pengxin that gritted his teeth and roared, “You stole Leyang’s photos and chat records?
Why did you do this? Are you so short on money?”
Chen Pengyu started crying as she explained. It turns out that she had come to know a few
extras in the cast of “The Apostle.” The private lives of these people were messy and their
morals were lacking. They spent their days thinking about how to play, how to make trouble,
and how to squander. However much money they had on hand was however much they’d
spend, with no regards for the future. Chen Pengyu had a superficial and ignorant
temperament. So she was quickly influenced by these people and started to lead a ‘today I
have wine, therefore today I am drunk’ type of life. She began to cheat money from Chen
Pengxin and when she could no longer cheat any, she listened to the words of an extra from
the crew and borrowed money from the internet. At the same time, she applied for more
than a dozen credit cards. Continuing like this, she eventually found that she was more than
one million in debt.
The online money lending platform continuously called or sent messages to her, even
threatening to send out the nude photos she took of herself when she first borrowed the
money. She was desperate, so that’s why she stole the photos and chat records.
She hugged Lin Leyang’s legs and shook her head while pleading. Her face was covered
with tears and snot, appearing very pitiful.
Lin Leyang’s heart was a mess. How could he know how to deal with this? He looked down
at the crying Chen Pengyu, then looked up at the pleading Chen Pengxin. Finally, he gritted
his teeth and said, “Ji-ge, please let them go this time. In the end, the photos were received
by our company and didn’t cause an irreparable loss. I will send Xiao Yu to a boarding
school so she can study hard. Pengxin will also keep an eye on her. She’s still young, and it
is inevitable that she will make mistakes. We shouldn’t be too harsh on her!” [1]
“She betrayed you, yet you can forgive her?” Ji Mian looked over through the thick smoke.
Lin Leyang didn’t dare to look directly at him. He lowered his head and said, “She’s not
sensible.” Pengxin was his brother and he couldn’t fall out with him because of this. After
all, no one suffered too many losses, the past was the past. In the future, Xiao Yu will be
strictly disciplined. No matter how angry he is, what could he do?
“What about the money she owes?”
“I’ll help her pay it back.” Lin Leyang was now able to make money easily and he spoke
with confidence. He immediately scolded, “Xiao Yu, are you still not apologizing to Ji-ge!”
Chen Pengyu and Chen Pengxin hurriedly apologized. They believed that Lin Leyang was
their guarantee, and that Ji Mian would not care about them.
Ji Mian put out his cigarette and said without hesitation, “I’ll describe my handling method:
first, send Chen Pengyu back to your hometown; second, dismiss Chen Pengxin; third, the
company can help them pay off their debts, but they must write an IOU of 20 million. So that
if they were to turn back in the future, the company can file a case in court to recover the
balance. This is so we can both rest assured. Of course, the company will not give this
money in vain. It will be deducted from Lin Leyang’s income. Are there any problems?”
“Ji-ge!” Lin Leyang wore an expression of disbelief while Chen Pengyu and Chen Pengxin
were so scared that their legs went weak. They had just gotten rid of a debt of one million
but in the blink of an eye, they owed another 20 million. This was simply forcing someone to
death! What if Ji Mian’s words were false and he brought the IOU to court and sued them
without reason? What could they use to compensate?
Fang Kun was a little surprised. He had thought that Ji Mian wouldn’t make a big deal out
of this and didn’t expect that Ji Mian would be so unkind. Similar things have happened
before. At that time, Ji Mian had asked that person to write an IOU and used the other
party’s ID card to apply for a bank card. The transfer was of 10 million, but the money was
taken away under various legal means. From beginning to end, the other party did not know
of the bank card’s existence, even losing 10 million yuan. Since then, that person has
disappeared from China.
Ji Mian had a good temper, but if you provoked him, one wouldn’t even know the cause of
their death. He looked towards Lin Leyang and his tone was flat, “This IOU is null as long as
they don’t act on any untoward thoughts. Leyang, do you agree with this method?”
I don’t agree! Ji-ge, by doing this you’re pushing people on the road to a dead end. Lin
Leyang shouted this in his heart, but he dared not speak aloud. In reality, he actually knew
that Ji-ge was just taking preventative measures. With 20 million over their heads, Xiao Yu
and Pengxin wouldn’t dare act no matter how much black material they had.
“Can Pengxin continue to be my agent? It wasn’t easy for him to get where he is. With a few
light words from you, his future will be ruined. He still has elderly parents to support in his
hometown and Xiao Yu is at the age where she only knows how to spend money. Ji-ge, can
you give him another chance? If he loses his job, his whole family will have to go on the
streets to beg for food. His parents just bought a house in their hometown, and their
mortgage is 4000 to 5000 yuan a month.” Lin Leyang said after taking a deep breath.
“Alright.” Ji Mian’s answer surprised everyone. He was so tough just now, why did he
“Write the IOUs. 10 million per person. Then leave a copy of your ID card.” Ji Mian tapped
on a pile of A4 paper on the table.
Chen Pengxin had no choice. He could only write the IOU, press his finger print, and leave
a copy of his ID card. Chen Pengyu sobbingly did the same, then went limp on the ground.
She didn’t think that Ji Mian would turn out to be this kind of person. His methods were one
hundred times more ruthless than the online money lending company! Everyone says that
there are many gangsters in the entertainment circle, Ji Mian shouldn’t also be one, right? If
she had known earlier, she would have confessed long ago. Leyang-ge was so
softhearted, he would’ve definitely helped her pay off her debt.
“Handle this according to the old rules.” Ji Mian pushed the IOUs and the ID cards to Fang
Kun. Fang Kun nodded and left.
“If you two behave honestly, I won’t do anything to you. This matter will be turned over.” He
waved his hand towards the Chen siblings, “You two can go now, let Leyang stay.”
Chen Pengxin and Chen Pengyu hurriedly left. As they were leaving, they were sweating
and their legs felt weak, appearing very embarrassed.
Lin Leyang felt unresigned, but he didn’t dare to say anything. So he could only bury his
head and delete the photos and chat records. When Ji-ge’s anger subsides, I’ll think of a
way to ask for the IOUs back. Ji-ge is very easy to talk to in bed, I’ll have to coax him well.
Thinking like this, he felt relieved, and didn’t worry as much.
Ji Mian’s action of lighting another cigarette paused slightly. When he raised his head
again, his eyes became cold. He said straightforwardly, “Leyang, let’s break up.”
“Ah?” Lin Leyang froze.
“I’ve learned that we have fundamental differences that can’t be reconciled, so let’s break
up ba.” Ji Mian repeated.
“What differences? I thought we were doing well, why break up? Is it because of Xiao Yu’s
matter? Or we can come out. I’m not afraid of anything! Ji-ge, don’t be angry with me.
Didn’t you say that this matter will be turned over?” Lin Leyang was anxious enough to cry.
He had originally thought that he could spend the rest of his life with Ji-ge.
“You’re not afraid of coming out? Alright, I’ll ask the public relations department to send out
the news right now.” Ji Mian looked at him closely.
Lin Leyang’s chaotic thoughts and rushing blood were both frozen by these words. If it were
before, he would’ve definitely been willing to come out of the closet, but right now was
different. His newly taken-off career would definitely be ruined. And it was very likely that he
would be expelled from the entertainment circle, without any chance of filming again.
Ji-ge’s fans would boycott him, directors and actors would boycott him, and the public
would also boycott him. Only someone with enough strength like Ji-ge could do such a
thing, but he himself hasn’t cultivated to such an indestructible level. The reason why he
offered to come out was just to let Ji-ge understand his determination to love him, but he
didn’t expect Ji-ge to agree.
In the face of reality, he became scared and started to back away. For a while, he dared not
“Let’s break up, it’s better for both of us. It doesn’t have anything to do with coming out. It’s
because our temperaments are not compatible. Don’t worry, I will not suppress you. You will
still receive the resources you should be given and everything will be in accordance with
your contract. You’ve signed an A Level contract so your degree of freedom is very high.
From now on, work well in the future.” Ji Mian stood up and patted Lin Leyang’s shoulders,
then took the lead in walking out of the cigarette smoke filled office.