Top Dupe CH 045 Senior Brother, You're Drunk Part 1

Jiang Yinchuan was sharp in his words, but never exaggerated.

"I don't want anything. I just want to take back my mother's shares and start my own company."

Old Mr. Jiang sighed deeply and said in a low voice, "It's not necessary. Your brother is no longer capable of rejoining the company's management. In the future..."

"In the future, every penny I earn still has to support him? Yet he will still think I ruined him and will do everything to drag me down. This is the big picture you want. Also, I suggest you thoroughly investigate the company's internal accounts. If I separate and start my own company, at least I still bear the Jiang name. With my ability, without these backstabbers dragging me down, I can still manage to hold on to half of the Jiang family's assets. If I wait any longer, I might end up bankrupt myself. I can't single-handedly carry a collapsing building while surrounded by people trying to destroy me."

Just as old Mr. Jiang was about to say something, Jiang Yinchuan turned and left without hesitation.

"Grandpa, I still bear the Jiang name and call you grandpa. If you still want to maintain that shattered big picture, I can find another way. With my ability, I can at least become a legitimate CEO at Dijun Media without the 'vice' title, right?"

Old Mr. Jiang frowned and sat back in his seat, his face cold and stern.

A minute later, he turned to make a phone call, "Old friend, I'm afraid I'm both deaf and blind now. I need you to send someone over to conduct an internal audit and make things clear for me."

A week later, Jiang Hui came to visit his father, intending to ask for his help to resolve Jiang Yunxie's current situation. But as soon as he entered old Mr. Jiang's office, he felt a heavy atmosphere.

Old Mr. Jiang was seated at his desk, his expression so cold it made Jiang Hui shudder.

Several senior members of the company's board were also present, all with very grim expressions.

"Dad... why are Uncle Chen and Uncle Zhang here..."

Jiang Hui was about to greet them when old Mr. Jiang slammed an audit report, thicker than a brick, onto Jiang Hui's forehead.

"Jiang Hui! You're really something! Do you think you're King You of Zhou playing with beacon towers? Using our Honghe Film and Television's resources to please your wife and your precious son! Do you know how much Jiang Yunxie has squandered on projects in just three years? Does he come here to indulge in luxury and be pampered? In these three short years, twelve senior agents under him have left! All of them were initially trained and promoted by you! Didn't you feel any pain when they left? And all these messy projects, a TV drama with an investment of five billion that barely recovers half of its cost! The online reviews are terrible! If it weren't for Yin Chuan's quality projects upholding our reputation... Honghe Film and Television would be a laughing stock!"

Old Mr. Jiang was trembling with anger.

Jiang Hui stepped forward, trying to support his father, but was pushed away.

"Three years! The only actors from Honghe Film and Television worth mentioning are the new generation starlet Xie Chang and the award-winning actress Xia Yun, both of whom were signed by Yin Chuan. It’s his meticulous resource management that prevented them from appearing in those reputation-damaging bad dramas! And what about Jiang Yunxie? He even wants to interfere with our only two assets! Who does he think he is?"

Jiang Hui initially thought the board members would help calm things down, but they all remained silent. Jiang Hui suddenly realized these board members had long been dissatisfied with him.

"When you told me Gu Xiaowei refused Honghe Film and Television’s conditions and chose Xinghan Pictures, I finally saw that contract today! Who were you trying to fool with that contract? When I handed over the power to you, what did you promise me? To select the best talents and ensure our actors remained in the top tier! Now, looking again, the top-tier talents have all gone to Xinghan Pictures! Honghe Film and Television is turning into a resource pool for your son's love life!"

Hearing this, Jiang Hui was stunned and instinctively defended, "I have educated Yun Xie and scolded him... but he needs time to learn and improve..."

"His improvement should not be at the expense of Honghe Film and Television's collapse! It should not be built on shareholders' losses! I've discussed this with my old friends, and we all support Yin Chuan! Honghe Film and Television, with its chronic illnesses, is a burden for him! I would rather let him fly freely! He will get his mother's shares back! If he fails, I, as his grandfather, will support him! If he succeeds, it will carve out a path for our Jiang family!"

"Dad... what do you mean?"

"With the stock price plummeting, do you think it's only Jiang Yunxie's fault? You should take responsibility and step down from the board. Among your uncles and brothers, there are plenty who can take this position!"

Jiang Hui staggered back, his heart icy cold, feeling like his world had been emptied.

Half a month later, the changes in Honghe Film and Television shareholders shocked the industry.

Jiang Hui resigned as chairman due to the stock price drop and three consecutive years of underperformance. He was replaced by Mr. Jiang Hong.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yinchuan, the vice president of Honghe Film and Television, started his own company, Yinchuan Film and Culture Co., Ltd.

Public records showed that two senior board members from Honghe Film and Television, who supported his mother, were also part of this new company. Jiang Yinchuan personally held over 50% of the shares, making it independent from Honghe Film and Television, with its own management and decision-making.

Luo Yu looked at the related information and stretched lazily towards the sunlight outside the window.

Today was the wrap-up day for "Counterattack," with the official announcement scheduled for the afternoon. However, Gu Xiaowei had already posted on his social media in the morning.

Xiao Qin mentioned that her Brother Gu had posted on social media as much in the past few days as he had in the past three years combined.

Ah Yan wondered who Gu Xiaowei’s posts were meant for.

Lin Yue commented that it was the first time he had seen Gu Xiaowei so eager to wrap up, practically rushing home.

Luo Yu put on his coat, hat, mask, and scarf, wrapping himself tightly, and headed to the underground parking garage.

He had finally bought a car, though despite driving long distances in his previous life, this was his first time driving in this life. But... for some unknown reason, the car stalled midway. Luo Yu struggled for a while but couldn't get it started again.

Luo Yu put up a sign, leaned against the car door, and posted a selfie with the caption: [Stuck on the road, anyone coming to rescue me?]

Soon, Cheng Fei replied: [At least say which road you’re stuck on! Did you call a tow truck? I'll send someone to pick you up!]

Luo Yu replied with a smile: [Called the tow truck already. I'll enjoy the scenery for a while longer, bro, you go back to filming!]

Next, Xie Chang, Brother Long, and Fang Qin all messaged him, asking where he was stuck. Luo Yu had to reassure them one by one, saying help was on the way.

Luo Yu hadn't expected so many friends to care about him.

Finally, he received a message from that person, a short voice message. When Luo Yu played it, the voice felt like it was brushing his ear: [Send me your location.]

At that moment, Gu Xiaowei had already wrapped up filming, Xiao Qin was holding the flowers given by the crew, and the behind-the-scenes team was frantically taking his wrap-up photos.

Several actors were still finishing their scenes. Despite these being minor wrap-up details, Lin Yue was personally overseeing them.

Gu Xiaowei approached Director Lin Yue and whispered, "Luo Yu is here, I'll go pick him up."

Lin Yue's spirits lifted, and he whispered back, "Go ahead. Ask him if he brought a change of clothes? We need to have a good chat tonight; he probably won’t be able to go back."

Gu Xiaowei smiled faintly, "Even if he didn’t, it's not a problem."

Luo Yu was taking numerous scenic photos by the roadside, preparing to make a short video, when a black Mercedes stopped opposite him, and the horn sounded.

Luo Yu turned his head and saw Gu Xiaowei stepping out of the car with his long legs.

The two looked at each other across the road, just like in "Counterattack," where Yan Ye stood at the convenience store entrance and looked at Bai Ying across the street.

"Gu Xiaowei—long time no see!" Luo Yu smiled and waved at him.

Gu Xiaowei walked over, and Luo Yu thought he would shake hands with him, but instead, Gu Xiaowei hugged him tightly. "Luo Yu, long time no see."

At that moment, Luo Yu felt relieved. He was sure that Gu Xiaowei, who usually struggled to get out of his roles, had managed to step out of his role this time.

"Here you go." Gu Xiaowei took a small tin box from his pocket and handed it to Luo Yu.

“Cough drops? For me?" Luo Yu was about to say his throat was fine, but when he opened the lid, he found it was filled with milk candies, the kind he loved as a kid. "Where did you find these?"

"At a small supermarket near the film studio," Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu unwrapped one and put it in his mouth. The rich milk flavor was just as sweet but not overpowering. "Hmm! It still tastes like childhood! How did you know I like these?"

"I didn't actually know if you liked them. I just saw them and thought you might want to try them," Gu Xiaowei replied.

In the drama, Yan Ye couldn't find the chocolate Bai Ying mentioned in the convenience store. But now, without Luo Yu saying anything, Gu Xiaowei had found the taste he had been craving.

The towing company finally arrived and towed Luo Yu's car away.

Luo Yu got into Gu Xiaowei's car, propping his head up and looking at Gu Xiaowei's profile.

"Senior Brother, staring at me like that can easily cause a traffic accident," Gu Xiaowei said.

"You're really funny. It's not like I have laser eyes that can shoot through your head," Luo Yu said, simulating laser beams with his fingers and playfully poking at Gu Xiaowei.

Gu Xiaowei skillfully turned the steering wheel, and the car merged onto a side road, then spiraled downward.

"Being stared at by you makes my heart flutter."

Luo Yu almost choked on his next breath, leaning closer to Gu Xiaowei in surprise. "Why would your heart flutter?"

"I start to wonder if my hairstyle is neat enough, whether the makeup still on my face looks heavy to you, and if this coat, which I wore the night I visited you, seems unoriginal to you."

Luo Yu's emotions were stirred, feeling as if he had taken a sip of aged wine despite knowing he couldn't hold his liquor well. He knew his quickening heartbeat and warming blood were due to that small sip, yet he couldn't help wanting to prove something deep down.

Gu Xiaowei's profile was still sharp and handsome, giving no hint of what he felt when he said those words.

"I also wonder if saying that makes you overthink. How was my acting?"

Gu Xiaowei glanced at Luo Yu, a slight smile of triumph on his lips from successfully teasing him.

Oh, Gu Xiaowei wouldn't easily move on from their acting duel until he got a definitive answer.

Reciprocity was a principle Luo Yu lived by.

"How could that be? You're Gu Xiaowei, existing above the mundane aesthetics of the world," Luo Yu said softly, his expression casual and voice languid.

Gu Xiaowei's fingers slightly twitched on the steering wheel. He glanced at Luo Yu through the right side mirror, taking the opportunity to observe him.

The wind blew through Luo Yu's hair as he slightly closed his eyes and lifted his chin, his features exuding a clear elegance and unyielding resilience. He possessed a reserved pride that easily stirred worldly thoughts.