Chapter 111: Unmasked

Early in the morning, before Yusheng had even gotten out of bed, he overheard a conversation in the living room between Tang Xin and Tian Yun.

Tian Yun asked, “Why is Tang Xin in such a hurry? Isn’t today Saturday? Shouldn’t she be resting? She should eat something before going out.”

Tang Xin replied, “No, I might have to take a new role. I have to seize this opportunity.”

Tian Yun said, “Big stars really are different, always so busy every day.”

After that, Tang Xin’s voice was no longer heard, and Yusheng knew she had already left.

Yusheng got up and walked out of his room.

“Tian Yun, why are you on the second floor?” Tian Yun looked at Yusheng coming out from the second-floor room. Seeing Yusheng silent, she asked again, “Did you have a fight with Tang Xin?”

At that moment, Ren Xiadong came out holding his phone, walked over to Tian Yun, and handed it to her. After Tian Yun read the news on the phone, she pondered what to say, then glanced at the screen again and finally said, “There are so many rumors in the entertainment industry; this must be false.”

“I think it’s definitely false,” Xiaoya, descending slowly from the third floor, chimed in.

Seeing Xiaoya coming downstairs, Tian Yun, considering Xiaoya was pregnant, hurried upstairs to help her down the stairs slowly.

Xiaoya first thanked Tian Yun, then said to Yusheng, “I just saw it on my phone too, but I really don’t think it’s true. Tang Xin is a good girl.”

Yusheng smiled faintly. Though he knew the truth in his heart, he said, “I think so too.” Then he turned to Xiaoya and said, “Stay here a few more days. With us around, you won’t be bored.”

“No, please take me home. I have customers coming to pick up flowers at my shop today,” Xiaoya declined.

Suddenly, Yusheng’s phone rang. He took it out and saw it was Yang Yu. He answered.

“Did you find something?”

“Yes, Director Liu Haiyang is indeed one of our company’s directors. He has produced many excellent works for us and is indispensable.”

“Thank you for staying up so late last night to help.”

“Brother, no need for formalities. Why are you checking on Liu Haiyang?”

“Nothing much. Help me find out where he is now; I have some business with him. Also, send me your father’s phone number.”

Yang Yu sensed Yusheng didn’t want to say more and didn’t ask further. After hanging up, he sent his father’s number and began using all his connections to track Liu Haiyang’s whereabouts.

Yusheng then called President Yang.

“Hello, who is this?”

“Yusheng.”

“President Liu, what can I do for you on such short notice?”

“Liu Haiyang — I want you to fire him immediately. I will also announce that no company in Chong City, big or small, can hire him again.”

“President Liu, did Liu Haiyang offend you? If so, leave it to me. I’ll make sure you get a satisfactory explanation. Please have mercy. If he leaves, it would be a huge loss for our company.”

“I’m saying it again: fire him!” This time, Yusheng’s voice was filled with anger.

President Yang dared not argue further. Losing Liu Haiyang was a loss, but offending Yusheng could mean the company’s collapse.

“Understood. I’ll have someone handle it right away.”

“Good. I’m not unreasonable. You helped me; I’ll help you. Your company can use our directors anytime for filming.”

“Thank you! That’s wonderful. Thank you so much, President Liu.”

No matter how capable Liu Haiyang was, he couldn’t compare to the directors at Liu Yao World Film and Television Company. Yang Yu felt he had found a treasure. He no longer worried about the loss of Liu Haiyang; he believed having directors from Yusheng’s company would only push their company further ahead.

After Yusheng hung up, Tian Yun looked at him in surprise and slowly said, “Yusheng, what exactly is your position? With just one phone call, you can ruin a director’s career.”

Beside her, Xiaoya was equally incredulous. She knew Yusheng was wealthy, owned a company, and was talented, but she hadn’t expected him to wield such power over others’ futures. She said, “You’re becoming more and more unfamiliar to me. I never really understood you before, and now I’m even more confused. What else are you hiding from me?”

“Enough. I’ll take you home,” Yusheng didn’t answer Xiaoya’s question.

Tian Yun then said, “Xiadong, let’s go together. It’s Saturday; no classes and nothing to do at home anyway.”

Thus, the four of them set off in Yusheng’s car toward Xiaoya’s flower shop.

On the way, Yusheng couldn’t help but say to Xiaoya, “The main reason we parted ways back then was because we both hid too much from each other. If I had told you I had enough money to support you, maybe you wouldn’t have worked so hard. If I had known the environment you worked in, I definitely wouldn’t have let you stay there, and none of this would have happened.”

“No, even if I had known you were wealthy, I still would have worked. But I wouldn’t have worked in that place because I needed money badly back then. If you had been honest with me, maybe I wouldn’t have pushed myself so hard. I blame myself too for hiding everything from you and never telling you anything,” Xiaoya said, leaning back in her seat with her eyes closed.

“You two are really a pity,” Tian Yun remarked.

Ren Xiadong added, “Well, since you’ve both talked, I’ll sum up as an onlooker. Yusheng likes to keep a low profile, and Xiaoya didn’t want Yusheng to know about her troubles. If Yusheng had known, Xiaoya would have felt unworthy of him. That’s why you two never got together.”

The four fell silent afterward. The past was the past, and they could never go back. People had to look forward, not dwell on what was gone.

Around eleven, they arrived at Xiaoya’s flower shop. Xiaoya immediately began working, with Tian Yun helping. While Yusheng and Ren Xiadong weren’t sure what to do, Yusheng’s phone rang again.

“Brother, I found him. Liu Haiyang is at the Perfect Passion Hotel. And... there’s more…”

Hearing Yang Yu’s hesitant tone, Yusheng interrupted, “More? Tang Xin?”

“You already know? Well, yes, Liu Haiyang and Tang Xin are together at the Perfect Passion Hotel.”

Yusheng said nothing further, hung up, and anxiously told the three, “I have to go! This can’t wait!” His voice carried anger.

Without waiting for a reply, Yusheng rushed out. Ren Xiadong wanted to follow but hesitated with Tian Yun still there.

“Go ahead. If you’re busy, come back for me tomorrow. I’ll be safe with Xiaoya,” Tian Yun said, sensing Ren Xiadong’s anxiety.

Ren Xiadong handed all the money in his wallet to Tian Yun but still worried.

Xiaoya added, “Go quickly. I’ll stay with Tian Yun tonight in the same room, so don’t worry.”

She then said to Tian Yun, “I’ll take you home tonight to meet my eldest daughter. She’s really adorable.”

“Great! Haha!” Tian Yun happily agreed upon hearing about the child.

“Alright, I’m leaving first. Tian Yun, please take good care of Xiaoya—she’s pregnant,” Ren Xiadong said before rushing out after Yusheng.

“Looks like Xiadong really cares about you,” Xiaoya smiled happily at Tian Yun, feeling that Xiadong had truly found love this time.

“Tian Yun, have you known Xiadong for a long time?” Tian Yun wanted to learn more about Ren Xiadong’s past, so she asked Xiaoya.

“Yes, the first time I met Xiadong was at my house. He fell asleep on my sofa,” Xiaoya said, making Tian Yun curious but slightly uneasy. Xiaoya noticed and laughed, adding, “And Yusheng was there too; he fell asleep on my lap that day.”

Tian Yun brightened up after Xiaoya’s explanation and said, “No need for so much detail. I believe in Xiadong—and in you, Xiaoya.”

Xiaoya then shared stories about Ren Xiadong and Yusheng, and Tian Yun listened attentively, hoping to hear about Xiadong’s ex-girlfriends.

Meanwhile, Yusheng had just started the car when Ren Xiadong opened the passenger door and got in.

“I’m coming with you. You can’t go to a fight without me,” Ren Xiadong said, fastening his seatbelt.

Yusheng looked at him and asked, “What fight?”

“Isn’t it a fight?” Ren Xiadong replied.

Yusheng floored the accelerator and growled through clenched teeth, “Catching a cheater!”

On the way, Yusheng drove as if starring in a fast-paced action film, frightening Ren Xiadong in the passenger seat, who kept his eyes shut tight and body tense, not daring to relax even a little.

At one in the afternoon, Yusheng’s car stopped in front of the Perfect Passion Hotel in Chong City. Before the car was properly parked, Yusheng handed the keys to the valet and rushed into the hotel.

Inside, he saw Yang Yu standing in the lobby. Seeing Yusheng, Yang Yu hurried over.

“I’ve been waiting for you. This hotel belongs to my family. I came especially to see if I could help.”

“Which room?” Yusheng asked sharply.

Walking toward the elevator, Yang Yu said, “16th floor, 1606. What’s the plan?”

Yusheng said nothing in the elevator, breathing heavily with anger. His fists clenched tightly, teeth grinding so hard they bled.

At the door of room 1606, harsh sounds could be heard inside—Tang Xin’s voice and a man’s, who was growling and uttering provocative words.

Yusheng stepped back two paces, then kicked the door open with a fierce kick and stormed inside. Yang Yu, standing by the door, said to Ren Xiadong, “I got the key card but didn’t have time to take it out.”

“Looks like your efforts were unnecessary. We’ll wait outside to avoid seeing anything Yusheng wouldn’t want us to see,” Ren Xiadong said.

Inside, Yusheng saw Liu Haiyang grabbing Tang Xin by the hair, pressing himself against her. Hearing the door kicked in, Liu Haiyang quickly dove under the blanket, pointing at Yusheng, shouting, “Who the hell are you? Get out!”

Tang Xin looked worried at first but soon calmed, adopting a resigned attitude as if to say, “You know everything now, so I won’t explain. Do whatever you want.”

Yusheng threw the clothes on the floor at Tang Xin. After she dressed, he called Ren Xiadong in, and the two of them dragged the naked Liu Haiyang out.

“You know who I am? I could crush you little bastards with money!” Liu Haiyang shouted but was dragged out to the street, where Yang Yu stood.

“President Yang, help me!” he yelled.

Yang Yu just shook his head, indicating he was powerless.

Yusheng told Yang Yu, “Take Tang Xin back to my house. I’ll talk to her later.”

Yusheng and Ren Xiadong dragged Liu Haiyang onto the street. Naked and exposed, Liu Haiyang became the center of attention as passersby took photos and videos with their phones.

“What do you want? You’re shameless! I’ll kill you!” Liu Haiyang yelled.

“Tang Xin is my girlfriend. Do you think I can let this slide?” Yusheng said.

“We didn’t do anything! We were just discussing the script!” Liu Haiyang protested.

Yusheng dialed President Yang’s number and put the call on speaker for Liu Haiyang to hear.

“Liu Haiyang! You’re in deep trouble! You’re fired. The rest is up to you!”