Top Dupe CH 044 To Clarity And Decisiveness Part 2

He had studied abroad in his early years, handling exams, passports, and school on his own without bothering Jiang Hui at all. Since childhood, he'd been strong in problem-solving and self-care.

"Alright then, Jiang Yinchuan, are you okay with spicy? I go all out with the spicy hot pot base, or should I tone it down a bit?" Luo Yu inquired.

"Two-thirds spicy," Jiang Yinchuan suggested.

Jiang Yinchuan didn't feel offended hearing his name directly; he actually felt comfortable. Compared to the industry people's sarcastic “Vice President Jiang", Luo Yu made him feel at ease.

As the hot pot heated up, Luo Yu handed Jiang Yinchuan two cans of beer. "This is all the ingredients I have. I don't think either of us are big eaters... If it's not enough, we can get more."

Jiang Yinchuan glanced at Luo Yu. His demeanor was natural, showing no overt deference. Instead, he treated him like an ordinary person dining together.

"Hurry up, fish out the beef before it gets overcooked. I want to put in all the pork blood," Luo Yu ordered unabashedly.

"Oh, let me help," Jiang Yinchuan offered.

"These stuffed fish balls are delicious. Once they float up, you can try them," Luo Yu remarked.

"Haha, I used to love these when I was in school," Jiang Yinchuan recalled.

Suddenly, Jiang Yinchuan felt like he'd returned to his student days, sitting across from a classmate. There was no exchange of interests or deceitful scheming; instead, there was simple companionship.

"Why are you so daring? Daring enough to oppose Jiang Yunxie. I saw you switch that glass of wine; weren't you afraid I'd expose you on the spot?" Jiang Yinchuan asked.

"Because when I warned you about the tampering with the Longjing tea, you knew Jiang Yunxie's real target wasn't me but you," Luo Yu replied.

"What if I told the police that you and Hu Wei conspired against Jiang Yunxie to protect Honghe Film and Television?" Jiang Yinchuan inquired.

"You wouldn't," Luo Yu said confidently.

"Why wouldn't I?" Jiang Yinchuan pressed.

"Because you understand Jiang Yunxie's style—anyone  attractive, and he'll put a notch on his bedpost. I suppose I'm somewhat attractive, right?" Luo Yu touched his face.

Jiang Yinchuan chuckled at his narcissistic gesture.

Luo Yu continued, "You and Jiang Yunxie are known not to get along in the industry. But when you attended this dinner, didn't you have a thought to warn me? From the moment you sat down, you didn't want me to drink that glass of wine because you were also afraid it might be tainted. And now that he's targeting you this time, if you don't resist, there won't be another chance this good—'Man proposes, God disposes.'"

Jiang Yinchuan looked down and smiled. He'd wanted to find someone to confide in about his mother's situation, how his father had legitimized his mistress, and how he'd fought alone in Honghe Film and Television to his current position. He wanted... to gain his father's recognition a thousandfold or more compared to Jiang Yunxie. But the more outstanding he became, the more distant his father grew.

However, when Luo Yu calmly discussed Jiang Yunxie's twisted intentions, Jiang Yinchuan suddenly realized that Luo Yu's past five years hadn't been easy either—smeared by public opinion, suppressed by capital, yet he hadn't left the entertainment circle and was even improving his situation. It was quite a feat.

He couldn't compare his own hardships to Luo Yu's... At least in front of outsiders, he was still quite the illustrious Vice President Jiang.

"Luo Yu, I'm a bit tired. I don't want to keep helping that mentally challenged father-son duo through thick and thin. Even if I sacrifice myself, they would even find it troublesome."

Jiang Yinchuan took a deep breath, just opening a bottle of beer when Luo Yu clinked glass with him.

Deep in his mind, that tightly wound string reverbated along with the sound.

"Have you seen a play where Mr. Yang Chen played the emperor, called..."

Jiang Yinchuan paused, "‘The Reversal’?"

"Yes, exactly, ‘The Reversal’," nodded Luo Yu.

"It's my favorite play. Later, when Mr. Yang Chen's health declined, he stopped playing the emperor, and it lost some of its flavor."

Jiang Yinchuan had always loved stage dramas, often buying tickets to watch. He never expected Luo Yu had also seen “The Reversal”.

Luo Yu smiled. In his previous life, he played the lead in “The Reversal”, and Jiang Yinchuan was a frequent guest.

"There's a prince in it, very talented and beloved by the people. But his foolish father insists on passing the throne to his youngest son. With the mad favoritism of his father, the younger son eagerly schemed against his elder brother."

"I remember," Jiang Yinchuan said.

"Then let me give you my favorite line from it."

Leaning on his chin, Luo Yu had a slightly tipsy and lazy expression. Despite seeming like he might slump over at any moment, his eyes held an indescribable power, suddenly firming Jiang Yinchuan's wavering heart.

"If you feel you were meant to be the price over son of heaven, then ride out boldly, conquer mountains and seas, and aim your sword at the nation!"

Jiang Yinchuan's heart warmed faintly, as if he had something to look forward to again.

This was a line spoken by the prince's tutor in the play, pulling him to the highest tower of the palace to gaze beyond the walls at distant mountains.

It was also Jiang Yinchuan's favorite line.

With his hand on the beer bottle, Luo Yu lifted it and pointed at him.

"Who else in this world, besides yourself, would willingly sacrifice heart and soul to sketch out the grand landscape for you?"

Jiang Yinchuan thought of his father and all the efforts he had made over the years, all the passion misplaced.

"If someone wants to be your deity, show them your abilities that far surpass the plaster statues worshiped as reality and illusion. This temple, you can protect for them, or tear down to create something new!"

Jiang Yinchuan's hesitation and confusion were swept away.

Yes, the wealth and status of the Jiang family, he could maintain it for Jiang Hui, or dismantle it and forge his own path, live his life the way he wanted!

Luo Yu stood up with his beer. "Here's to clarity and decisiveness!"

"Here's to... rebirth!"

At that moment, Jiang Yinchuan realized how absurd it was that he cared so much about Jiang Hui's opinion. The Jiang family was not some noble dynasty; why did he feel obligated to stay?

Those who had schemed against him, exploited his efforts, those vermin and petty individuals, he would send them packing. He would sharply expose their hypocrisy. This time, he would be true to himself and let those who thought they could control him through blood relationship suffer a crushing defeat.

Their beer bottles clinked together, and only when they tilted their heads back did they realize both bottles were already empty.

That kindred spirit, that tacit understanding, Jiang Yinchuan hadn't felt it in a long time.

"Hahaha..."

"Is there more beer?"

"No more. Jiang Yinchuan, you've had two bottles already... if you drink more, you'll develop a beer belly!"

Luoyp Yu hiccupped, half-sleeping on the table.

This guy really couldn't hold his alcohol.

"Hey hey hey!" Jiang Yinchuan knocked on the table. "If you can't handle alcohol that well, how did you manage to drink a large glass of wine that night and still act?"

"I... I poured some out..." Luo Yu reached out and waved. "I poured some into my sweater..."

Only then did Jiang Yinchuan remember that night Luo Yu wore a dark sweater with long sleeves that partly covered his hands.

This guy didn't seem clueless about handling social situations. Quite cunning, huh?

"Hey, Dijun Media wanted to sign you. I understand why you refused them. But what about Xinghan Pictures? And Yuanjing Films? They're all good opportunities, yet you haven't signed with any. Are you waiting to hike up your price after 'Counterattack'?"

Jiang Yinchuan lightly tapped Luo Yu's head with the beer bottle.

"I'm waiting for you..."

"Waiting for me?" Jiang Yinchuan was puzzled.

But Honghe Film and Television did offer Luo Yu a contract, and he wasn't interested, right?

Wait... He wasn't waiting for Honghe Film and Television!

At that moment, Jiang Yinchuan felt ecstatic, as if he had returned to the summers of his youth, ready to break free from all constraints. What was a small Jiang family in this industry? He would leave his mark as Jiang Yinchuan.

"Up you go—" Jiang Yinchuan lifted the sleeping Luo Yu and carried him into the room, covering him with a blanket.

Closing the bedroom door, Jiang Yinchuan pointed at the sleeping Luo Yu and said with some exasperation, "Don't you know you're quite attractive? Do you know you're some bad men's favorite dish? We've only met a few times! You brought me home! Got drunk with me! Be more careful, Luo Yu!"

After saying that, the sleeping person didn't even furrow his brows, his words clearly a waste of breath.

Jiang Yinchuan cleaned up the hot pot stand and left after closing the door.

When the cold wind blew, it felt like there was a layer of ice on his face but warmth remained in his body.

It seemed that there was a brother-in-arms beside him, and he was no longer fighting alone.

Taking advantage of that slight tipsiness, he took a taxi to a villa. Looking up, the study on the second floor of the villa was still lit.

The housekeeper led him upstairs, where an elderly man in a cotton and linen Chinese-style tunic was admiring calligraphy and paintings—he was Jiang Yinchuan's grandfather, Jiang Zhentao.

Although the old man had already retired and delegated power to Jiang Hui, he still held significant authority within the board of directors.

Standing at the study's entrance, his heart and mind churned, unsure how to express his thoughts for a moment.

"I was still thinking, at what stage you would come to find me," Old Mr. Jiang spoke up.

Jiang Yinchuan's face showed no indignation, after all, he had no expectations left for this family.

"Because Grandpa always wants me to see the bigger picture, to think of calming things down and maintaining family harmony. Nothing should override the interests of the Jiang family."

Old Mr. Jiang nodded slowly and put away the painting. "I know you've been wronged, and I also know that Jiang Yunxie is far from your equal. If you come to tell me what he has done to you, since it touches the bottom line of the Jiang family, even if your father can't bear to raise a hand against him, I will still drive him out of the game. But what you did this time was extreme, and it ruined his future. After all, he is surnamed Jiang."

"Grandpa, are you addled?" Jiang Yinchuan opened the recording on his phone and played all the words Jiang Yunxie said that night.

There was no expression on old Mr. Jiang's face, but he smiled slightly, as if watching a child's temper tantrum.

"Are you threatening me by playing this recording?"

"I'm not threatening you, I'm helping you see the bigger picture. Others... Jiang Hui, Jiang Hui's wife, Jiang Hui's beloved son keep messing up the big picture, but they expect me alone to dedicate myself to it. Are you dissatisfied that the Jiang family isn't falling fast enough?"

"What do you want?" Grandpa Jiang frowned. It was the first time he had heard "the Jiang family isn't falling fast enough" from this grandson's mouth.