NWWNL – Chapter 20

Chapter 20.

Xu Xinyi helped Old Master Yi into the study with tearful eyes, the whole time crying and advising: “Grandpa, it’s so late, it’s better for me to just help you go back to rest.” Through her tears she glanced over at Yi Yang but then quickly lowered her head timidly. “It’s nothing for me to suffer this minor grievance.”

Old Master Yi took one hand off his cane and used it to pat Xinyi’s hand. “Now that grandpa knows about this, he will certainly settle things for you!”

He looked over at Yi Yang. “Yi Yang, what’s going on? Why are you bullying Xinyi again?”

Yi Yang got up from behind his desk and helped the Old Master sit on the sofa. “Grandfather, why are you still up so late?”

Mr. Yi glanced at the clock. “It’s not even nine o’clock yet. It’s not too late. Tell me what happened first. Xinyi is your wife. How can you be so indifferent when she is being bullied like this? “

“Grandfather, I…”

Xu Xinyi suddenly burst into a fresh round of tears and interrupted Yi Yang’s words, she spoke while sounding as if she were bearing a terrible grievance. “Grandpa, it doesn’t matter. I can handle this by myself. Since the company refuses to terminate the contract with me, then I will just sue the company. My lawyer told me that if I win, I can terminate the contract smoothly. If I lose, I can still terminate the contract, just with a little compensation.”

She raised her hand and wiped some tears away. “It’s just I’m a little sad. I’ve been with the company for so many years but the company suddenly broke contract and gave my script to another actress. They even said they would ban me and bury me.”

Yi Yang: “…”

Old Master Yi looked at Xinyi with love in his eyes. “You, child, you have suffered so many grievances from your company, why didn’t you tell your grandpa earlier? And you, Yi Yang, what’s the matter with you? Why didn’t you, her husband, help when this happened to Xinyi?”

Yi Yang spoke heavily. “Grandfather, Xinyi said herself that she could solve this alone. It’s not hard for her to find a lawyer and have them stand up for her.”

“He’s right, grandpa,” Xu Xinyi gave a forced smile, like she was enduring humiliation. “I can solve it by myself.”

Old Master Yi disagreed. “You want to let this poor girl contact a lawyer and negotiate with her crafty company alone? She will be facing off with a pack of calculating old foxes. If you don’t help, what if she suffers?”

Suffers?

Yi Yang sneered, with Xu Xinyi’s temperament would she let herself suffer even a small loss? It would already be a blessing if she didn’t cause trouble for others, much less worrying about her ‘suffering’.

“I won’t stick my hands in this matter. You must take care of it for Xinyi.” Old Master Yi commanded.

–“Didn’t you say you won’t help? Weren’t you very firm? I’ll see what you say now.”

“Alright grandfather, I’ll keep an eye on this matter for Xinyi. Xinyi, give me your lawyer’s number and I’ll let my company’s legal team take over your case. They are all experienced lawyers and will certainly be able to handle this for you within three months.”

Yi Yang emphasized the words ‘within three months’.

Xu Xinyi ground her teeth with anger.

–“The crew will have long started production in three months. What else can I do here?”

“No husband, you really don’t need to interfere. Lawyer He is an experienced lawyer. With his help, I am sure I can win the case, but it’s a pity that I have been preparing for a month already with this new script. I’ve already been memorizing the lines and learning the scenes for a month. I’ve put in so much hard work, so I’m a little reluctant to give it all up.”

“What are you talking about? What script? Tell grandpa.”

Hearing Old Master Yi ask that question, Xinyi smiled, “Well, the company wants to give my role to another actress. But I went to the director, and the director still felt I was the best fit for the role, he said that as long as I could resolve the dispute with my company before production began, he would help me talk to the investors and fight for me for the role. However, Yi Yang said that even with his team it would take three months to settle the lawsuit. In three months, production will have already started.”

“So that’s how it is.” Old Master Yi said thoughtfully.

“Grandpa, these are all small things. It’s really not worth worrying about me here. It doesn’t matter. It seems I won’t be able to keep this role but I can always find another role.”

“You, ah, even if you have a big heart, you can’t just swallow it all down when you are bullied like this. Yi Yang, you handle this matter with the script, do you hear me?”

–“Did you hear that? Grandpa asked you to take care of it for me! Let’s see if you have the ability to refuse. If you dare to not settle this for me, I will complain again! “

Yi Yang looked at her coldly.

Xu Xinyi put on a show of being understanding for their eyes and asked hypocritically, “Yi Yang, if you think this will be too troublesome, just don’t bother, it doesn’t matter to me.”

But Old Master Yi said, “It’s no big deal. Don’t worry. I’m sure he can help you get it done. It will be no trouble.”

“Really?” Xu Xinyi sounded extremely grateful and spoke with surprise and delight. “Thank you so much husband.”

“Don’t mention it.” Yi Yang said stiffly.

“By the way, husband, earlier you said you wanted to give me one of your cards. Could I have it now?”

Yi Yang squeezed the word out of his throat, “Here!”

Old Master Yi nodded happily.

—–

In the end, it really was quite easy for Yi Yang to handle this matter. Xu Xinyi did not know what kind of move he had made but after only three days she received a call from the boss of Tianyu.

This person who usually smiled and ignored her politely suddenly invited her to come to the company to discuss the termination of her contract.

Xu Xinyi took Lawyer He and Anya  and went to the company that afternoon.

When she entered the boss’s office she saw that Director Zhao was also there.

The boss, surnamed Gao, was a middle-aged man in his fifties. He wore gold-rimmed glasses and gave off an aura that seemed to be one part the shrewdness of a businessman and one part the scheming of an old fox.

Xu Xinyi threw herself down on the sofa impolitely and looked at Director Zhao. She said with a smile, “What a coincidence to see Director Zhao here. I wonder if I could trouble Director Zhao to pour me a glass of water.”

She was very arrogant.

“Of course.” Director Zhao made tea for the several gathered people and then sat down across Xu Xinyi next to his boss.

“Xu Xinyi, it’s like this. CEO Yi talked to me two days ago, and he said…”

“I’m not interested in what he said. You said on the phone that you wanted to talk to me about my contract. This is my lawyer. His surname is He. He will take full charge of this matter. Does that work for you? Are you ready to terminate my contract? “

Lawyer He nodded to the two men.

CEO Gao adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose and said with a smile, “Wait, I told you that this was a misunderstanding. What termination? This is all a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding?” Xu Xinyi looked at Director Zhao laughingly and spoke in a strange tone, “Didn’t Director Zhao say that if I wasn’t willing to switch to variety shows, he would bury me? I’m just a small star. How could I dare compete with a big company like Tianyu?”

Director Zhao smiled and apologized, “Miss Xu, I’m sorry, I got carried away back then. Also I had misunderstand what the boss meant. The boss didn’t want for you to switch to variety shows. That was actually meant for a different star in the company. Also, ‘The Way of the Phoenix’ is still yours, no one intends to rob it from you.”

“No one intends to rob it? Then why did I hear that the company stuffed that Li Hanxing into the crew?”

“Yes, she was put in the crew but she will not be the female lead but rather the third female lead.”

Xu Xinyi spoke as if with sudden realization, “So it was all a misunderstanding from beginning to end?”

“Of course it’s a misunderstanding. You were personally groomed by the company. How could we ban you?”

“So, the termination of your contract, let’s not mention it again. We can all just take this misunderstanding as water under the bridge, can’t we?”

“Water under the bridge?” Xu Xinyi smiled coldly. “When you eat something, you can spit it back out but when you say something to my ears, you can’t just pour it back out. Alright, everybody stop talking nonsense. I know what you’re trying to do but don’t bother, just take out the termination contract. We’ll sign it and everyone will move on with their lives.”

CEO Gao maintained his smile and said in a low voice, “Xinyi the company needs artists like you. It would be a huge loss for the company if you were to leave. We have already arranged a lot of large-scale scripts for you to sign in the future. If what happened yesterday offended you, Director Zhao can make amends for you, and we can all just let this go, okay?”

If she were so easy to settle, how could she be a renowned vicious woman?

She looked at Anya and said helplessly, “It seems that CEO Gao didn’t come to talk to me about the termination of the contract today. That being the case, I have something to do, so I’ll leave first.” Xu Xinyi got up and made as if to leave.

“Wait a minute,” Since the soft words failed to change Xu Xinyi’s mind, CEO Gao sighed, “Alright, since you insist on terminating your contract let’s head over to a conference room.”

Satisfied, Xu Xinyi sidled out of the way and said, “Then, CEO Gao, after you.”

———-

Three hours later, Xu Xinyi and several others came out of the conference room.

“CEO Gao, thank you for your care over the past few years. Goodbye.”

Boss Gao smiled and shook her hand. “Miss Xu is so polite. I wish you a bright future. Maybe I’ll invite you to dinner sometime when you have an opportunity. Goodbye.”

Xu Xinyi was not to be denied. She left flamboyantly with her lawyer and Anya in tow.

Xu Xinyi’s departure stunned the staff at Tianyu.

Over the past year, the company had terminated many stars one after another, and every time they either quarreled loudly or met in court. This was the first time that they saw the two sides shake hands and part with an appearance of reconciliation.

Director Zhao who had been suppressing his anger all day spoke up, “CEO Gao, this Xu Xinyi…”

CEO Gao glared at him coldly. “You don’t have to worry about Xu Xinyi anymore. There will be a new director in two days. You just wait to be transferred to another department.”

Director Zhao was shocked, “CEO Gao, I …”

But CEO Gao didn’t bother giving him a chance to speak. He just turned around and left.

——–

On the way back, Xu Xinyi thought about how CEO Gao had backed off continuously today – giving ground step by step, and she was puzzled.

“It’s strange. Although Yi Yang is rich and powerful but CEO Gao is the boss of Tianyu at least. Why was he so weak today?”

Anya asked her, “You really don’t know?”

Xu Xinyi asked, “Don’t know what?”

“Tianyu has suffered heavy losses recently in the domestic market so they are investing in Latin America.”

“So, what is the relationship between investment and Yi Yang…?” Before she finished, Xu Xinyi had a flash of understanding, “Investment? He was holding the investments hostage? “

“Otherwise how could things have gone so smoothly?”

“How do you know that?”

Anya smiled, “If I said I have a mole in the company, would you believe it?”

“I believe!”

If that was how it was, it seemed Yi Yang’s methods were vicious. Not leaving his opponents any room to retreat.

She really underestimated him.

Xu Xinyi thought about it, “Then I should really thank him. Also, I should thank you. For this long period of hard work, let’s go shopping. I will pay the bill tonight.”

Anya raised her eyebrows, “So generous?”

Xu Xinyi took out the card that Yi Yang gave her and waved it around. “I have money.”

Even during ordinary times Anya was afraid to go shopping with her. When it came to shopping this woman had no sense at all.

And it seemed that Xu Xinyi was even crazier than usual tonight.

“Let’s see, this one, this one, this one, and this one. I don’t want any of those things I picked just now. Everything else, bring them according to my size and wrap them up.”

The clerk smiled hugely and said, “Yes, Miss Xu, just a moment, please.”

Anya pulled her, “What are you doing? Why are you buying so much?”

“I’m happy.” Xu Xinyi handed Yi Yang’s card to the shop assistant. “By the way, once these are all packed, help me have them delivered to Lanting.”

“Yes, Miss Xu!”

After two miserable years as Yi Yang’s wife she never got anything. Now she finally got a card from Yi Yang. So, of course, she had to swipe it well so that Yi Yang could see her amazing spending ability.

Later, Xu Xinyi returned to the Yi estate with a full load. She didn’t bring many of her own things in the car, instead it was filled with things for Mrs. Yi and the Old Master.

“Mom, I bought you some presents. I hope you’ll like it.”

“I don’t lack anything. Why would you buy all these?” Although Mrs. Yi said no, her wide smile showed that she was in a good mood.

“And these are for grandpa.”

The Old Master asked with surprise: “I also get some of it?”

“Of course! Take a look and see if you like it.”

“Yes, grandpa likes whatever you buy.”

“I’m glad you like it. By the way, grandpa, is Yi Yang back yet? “

“He came back early. Should be upstairs.”

Xu Xinyi held a package in her arms and said, “Then I’ll go up first.”

The Old Master waved her off, “Go ahead.”

Xu Xinyi slipped up to the door of Yi Yang’s study and knocked once before walking in. She held the package in front of Yi Yang’s desk, smiled and thanked him: “Husband, today I went to the company to terminate the contract and everything went smoothly. Thank you for helping me.”

Yi Yang glanced at her and said, “You’re welcome.”

“I still wanted to thank you. So I bought you a new belt with my own money. Take it as a token of my appreciation.” She took out the box containing the belt and handed it to Yi Yang.

The logo on the box was a brand that Yi Yang didn’t recognize.

Yi Yang accepted it graciously and asked, “Your own money?”

“Yes, this belt is very valuable, around 100,000 yuan.” She deliberately emphasized the price.

Yi Yang’s clothes were mostly arranged by Mrs. Yi but he knew a little about the price of clothing. A belt costing 100,000 yuan is not too unusual, but why hasn’t he seen this brand?

He opened the box and found a plain belt, which was not much different from any ordinary belt.

“Thank you.” This was the first time he had received a gift from Xu Xinyi.

“You’re welcome,” said Xu Xinyi, then, taking the opportunity she said. “By the way, I used your card to buy some things and spent some money today. Do you mind?”

Yi Yang knew that there had been a text message from his bank today but he was busy all day and had no time to read it.

He asked casually, “How much did it cost?”

“Not much, just a little more than ten thousand.”

Ten thousand yuan was nothing to Yi Yang. “I know now. You just keep the card and use it to buy what you need.”

“Thank you, husband. Then I’ll go and take a shower first. You should also go to bed early.”

“Mhm.” Yi Yang hummed noncommittally.

Then there was another text message from the cell phone.

Yi Yang grabbed his cell phone to have a look.

— [xx Bank of China] Your account ending in xxxx… 2411 was used at 20:42 on October 20th. The total transaction value was RMB 1,010,702.00

Yi Yang: “?”

He read the message back and forth several times and counted the digits clearly to make sure he didn’t read it wrong. “Xu Xinyi!” He finally called in a loud voice.

Xu Xinyi, who was almost at the door, stopped.

“How much money did you spend today?”

Xu Xinyi gave an innocent look and said, “More than ten thousand.”

“More than ten thousand? Then why does the text message from my bank… more than ten thousand?” Yi Yang seemed to realize something and changed the question, “How much more than ten thousand?”

Xu Xinyi thought for a moment, “I don’t remember much, I only remember that it was more than ten thousand. Honey, you’re not that stingy, are you? It’s just a little money. If you don’t want me to spend it. I’ll give the card back to you. “

“…” Yi Yang covered his forehead. “Forget it, you go and have a rest.”

Xu Xinyi smiled and said, “Then I’ll go ahead.”

Yi Yang glanced at the belt on the table. “Wait a minute,” he looked suspiciously at Xu Xinyi. “How much was this belt you bought for me?”

“About one hundred thousand yuan.”

Yi Yang asked word by word, “How much difference?”

“Less than 100,000 by about…” Xu Xinyi dragged her tone and slipped out of the door. “99,700!”

She was long gone after she called the number back over her shoulder.

“…Xu Xinyi!”

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TL: I really enjoyed this chapter. It actually made me laugh out loud while translating. Xu Xinyi is so sly haha. Also I’m starting a side project. Should have the first few chapters up sometime later today (EDIT: First 3 chapters now up) so check that out if you feel like it.