Chapter Thirty: Knowing the Tiger Dwells in the Mountain

“I think I vaguely remember.” Murong Xiaofeng pondered for a moment before recalling that he had once seen Liu Yiran at a banquet. He only remembered her because her figure and appearance had caught his eye for a moment more than usual.

Born into the Murong family, he had long become immune to the parade of beauties that surrounded him. A scion of such a family would not covet every pretty face that appeared before him; if that were the case, the Murong family could hardly have endured for centuries.

“Tsk, tsk, I heard just a few days ago that Zhang Jun from the Zhang family had tried to pursue Liu Yiran, failed, and was now scheming to get back at her. Looks like Zhang Jun has met his match, and Old Zhang will have a hard time as well.” Young Master Liu observed Liu Yiran with great interest. “I’m just curious how these two women became so close.”

Liu Wenhong cast a cool glance at his son, unimpressed by the display. This fellow was still showing off in front of Murong Di. Compared to the composed and self-assured Murong Xiaofeng, his own son fell far short. Flaunting such trivial gossip at this moment was embarrassing, and doing so in front of women only made one look foolish.

Unlike Young Master Liu’s lack of self-awareness, Zhao Lei was much shrewder. He had already instructed the front desk to discreetly take photos of the superstar Zhao Ying and the other guests. Though these couldn’t be used openly for publicity, showing them privately to clients would suffice. As long as prospective clients saw a big star like Zhao Ying present, what hesitation could remain? In this moment, it was as if he could already see endless streams of cash fluttering before his eyes.

“Boss Zhao, about this…” Duan Jijin faltered, unsure how to proceed, glancing back at Du Xi and Shen Jing. Those people were glaring at him in frustration, clearly expecting him—the instigator—to resolve the mess.

Du Xi and the others were beside themselves with regret. Who could have imagined that a simple job to earn some travel expenses would land them in trouble with such powerful figures?

The illustrious director, Spielberg.

They could barely catch a glimpse of his taillights, yet here they stood on the outskirts, their boss nothing more than another’s lackey.

What did that make them?

They had dreamed day and night of walking the red carpet at Yunlaiwood, of basking in its glory and using it as a springboard for fame back home, only to have their dreams capsized in such an unremarkable place.

How could they not resent Duan Jijin?

Especially Jiaqi, whose gaze at Ye Qiu now brimmed with such intensity, it was as if she could swallow him whole.

They desperately needed Duan Jijin to resolve this debacle.

“Old Duan,” Zhao Lei said, his tone carrying the weight of both sides, “physicians are supposed to have the hearts of parents. In our profession, we follow the money, but we still wear white coats. It’s one thing to worship the foreign, but to collude with Korean doctors to suppress our own? That’s a bit much, don’t you think?” His voice suddenly shifted. “But now that you’ve made such a mess, it’s not my place to decide what happens next. It all depends on whether Ye Qiu… Mr. Ye, is willing to forgive you.”

Duan Jijin looked toward Ye Qiu.

At that moment, Ye Qiu was being scolded by Liu Yiran for his cold attitude toward Mary, reduced to a picture of meekness.

He’s just a young man; surely he can’t be that terrifying?

Duan Jijin took a deep breath and approached Ye Qiu. “Mr. Ye, I admit my old eyes were blind and failed to recognize greatness. I beg you, for the sake of the care I’ve shown Doctor Xiao in the past, please let bygones be bygones.”

He would have been better off not mentioning it. The moment Ye Qiu heard him bring up his second sister, his anger flared. “You old fool, you want to start fights and then make peace at your convenience? In this world, nothing comes so cheaply. Donate the money, and if a single cent is missing, you know the consequences.”

Duan Jijin’s expression at that moment was so vivid, not even superstar Zhao Ying could have performed with such nuance.

“And as for that Korean—didn’t he say he’d put up thirty million? Tell him that if he doesn’t donate, he shouldn’t dream of making it back to Korea alive.”

Duan Jijin was overwhelmed by the murderous intent Ye Qiu exuded, nodding in terror.

He had no doubt that if Park In-yong dared to try slipping away, he would never make it back to Korea.

“Don’t be afraid of him. I don’t believe he actually dares do anything to me.” Park In-yong had now thrown caution to the wind; after all, thirty million in Chinese currency was no small sum. “I’m from Korea. I don’t believe you’d dare lay a finger on me. I’ll report you! Everyone knows you people only know how to condemn—”

Boom.

Park In-yong was sent flying by a slap from Ye Qiu.

“Do you believe me now?” Ye Qiu brushed his hands off disdainfully. “Even to file a complaint, you need to be at the right door.”

The entire hall was stunned. People stared in disbelief as a living man was struck and sent flying with a single slap.

He seemed as flimsy as paper.

Lee Tae-jae hurried to help the now-swollen-faced Park In-yong to his feet. As a Korean himself, and now in a foreign land, Lee Tae-jae could only stand firmly by Park In-yong, shouting angrily at Ye Qiu, “We are citizens of Korea! How dare you lay hands on us? I will report you—this is a serious international incident!”

Murong Xiaofeng, Liu Wenhong, and the others merely looked at Lee Tae-jae with contempt, but to some of the other ordinary guests, the situation was less clear. After all, foreigners could stir up trouble over the smallest things; who knew what they might do?

“So noisy.”

Before Ye Qiu could speak, George had already grabbed Lee Tae-jae by the collar and dragged him out.

“Spielberg, notify all our film companies and theaters: as of today, no one is to work with Lee Tae-jae. His films will not be allowed in any of our theaters, and any film company that works with him will also be banned from our screens.”

“Yes, boss.”

Others were content to watch the spectacle, but Zhao Ying was frozen in shock.

The George family was one of the three largest distributors in the United States, controlling fifty percent of the nation’s cinema chains. With this blacklist, Lee Tae-jae’s career in the US was finished, and even in Korea, no one would dare employ him.

Just moments ago, Du Xi and his group had been cozying up to Lee Tae-jae; now, they scurried far away, terrified of being implicated.

Only now did everyone realize that, aside from Mary, this George was a scion of the family that controlled half the entertainment industry’s connections in the United States.

And George had stood respectfully at Ye Qiu’s side from start to finish.

“Just who is this Ye Qiu?”

Murong Xiaofeng raised his eyebrows slightly. For someone with such extraordinary influence to have escaped his notice, it meant either Ye Qiu was utterly unknown, or his power exceeded even that of the Murong family.

This realization made Murong Xiaofeng’s brow furrow deeply.

Just then, his phone rang.

On the other end, a few brief words were spoken. Murong Xiaofeng frowned slightly, then resolutely walked toward Ye Qiu.