158: Chapter 158 The Three Elders Left Out of the Light

Wang Jiawei and Qin Wenwen were dissatisfied with Chen Shaoping's attitude, but they still stopped in their tracks.

They wanted to hear what else Chen Shaoping had to say.

"You two, regarding the theme songs you just mentioned, would you like to hear my honest opinion?"

Chen Shaoping dropped his previous overbearing manner, and his expression became serious.

Qin Wenwen knew that getting the theme songs was definitely impossible now, but she still wanted to know why Chen Shaoping held such hostility toward the two of them.

This seemed to be the first time they had ever met him.

Chen Shaoping's line, 'What if I have evidence?' kept circling in her mind, making her scalp tingle with tension.

For a moment, she truly believed that Chen Shaoping had evidence.

Only that could explain his hostility from start to finish.

"Chen Shaoping, speak then. We're listening."

"I can write the theme songs for you, even for free," Chen Shaoping said.

His words fell upon the ears of the other three like a clap of thunder.

Qin Wenwen hadn't expected such a reversal and couldn't understand what Chen Shaoping was trying to do for a moment.

Wang Jiawei's eyes widened behind his sunglasses, finally showing some emotional change.

However, that broad, deadpan face remained otherwise unchanged, as if he were wearing a hypocritical mask.

Li Qian watched this, understanding dawned in her heart.

Chen Shaoping's act of being solemn and throwing out bait was exactly the same as when he had warned her to be wary of Fan Yao—he was clearly digging a pit and waiting for these two to jump in.

He was up to no good!

"Oh? Then I wonder what we need to give in return?"

Qin Wenwen didn't truly believe that Chen Shaoping would write them for free.

"Screenwriter Qin, do you think these two dramas of yours can be broadcast smoothly?"

Chen Shaoping asked in return.

"If things go smoothly, one will be on TV in half a month, and the other in a month for sure."

Qin Wenwen didn't know why Chen Shaoping was asking this, so she left some leeway in the timing when she spoke.

"Good."

"Screenwriter Qin, Director Wang, how about we make a bet?"

"Let's bet on whether these two TV series can be broadcast on domestic TV stations within a month and a half."

"If they are broadcast as scheduled, I will authorize the theme songs for free and pay you each an additional one hundred million yuan."

"If they can't be broadcast, then the theme songs won't matter anyway. You two just each have to lose one hundred million to me. How about it?"

Chen Shaoping spoke with great confidence because he 'knew' those two dramas would never see the light of day.

After speaking, he looked at Wang Jiawei and Qin Wenwen with 'anticipation'—that look was more like a predator watching two prey about to fall into a trap.

With a cold face, Qin Wenwen didn't answer Chen Shaoping but looked at Wang Jiawei instead.

Wang Jiawei looked at Chen Shaoping; this young fellow actually dared to act pretentious in front of him.

This made him even angrier than when Chen Shaoping asked about his sunglasses.

He clenched his fists, feeling a strong urge to punch Chen Shaoping.

In his view, insulting him or even hitting him was fine, but one could not act pretentious in front of him.

Wang Jiawei felt he was the originator of acting pretentious; no one should dare to do so in his presence.

However, this was Chen Shaoping's home turf. If he actually started a fight, he would be the one at a disadvantage.

"Chen Shaoping," Wang Jiawei's voice was icy as he suppressed his rage, "stop embarrassing yourself with these clumsy tropes from third-rate scripts."

"We let our work speak for us; we won't play this gambler's game with you."

"Let's go, Wenwen."

The two quickly walked out without any further hesitation.

Chen Shaoping's voice drifted out from the office, reaching their ears with total clarity.

"Director Wang, you don't even dare to accept? Then don't act like a big shot in front of me anymore. Next time we meet, please take off your sunglasses first."

"Otherwise, I'll feel sick just looking at you."

Wang Jiawei stumbled and nearly fell. He said with immense fury, "Mobilize all our connections! I'm going to fight Tongxing Entertainment to the bitter end!"

Back in the office.

"Was what you said about her using a ghostwriter true?" Li Qian asked specifically to confirm.

"Yeah. They're two people who are glamorous on the outside but filthy within, completely hypocritical," Chen Shaoping replied.

Meanwhile.

At Xishan No. 1 Courtyard in Kyoto.

Inside a large single-floor apartment exceeding 500 square meters.

The Chinese-style interior decoration was extremely luxurious.

He Qixiang, Cai Guoqiang, and Zhao Meng had already been waiting here anxiously for a long time.

They had drunk several pots of tea, to the point where the liquid was sloshing around in their stomachs.

Ms. Liang had a gentle smile, constantly refilling their tea.

"Ms. Liang, I wonder when Mr. Xu will be back?"

"Could you please urge him again? We really have urgent business with him."

Zhao Meng didn't care about politeness anymore; he had asked several times already.

He desperately wanted to see the mei bottle immediately to confirm it once more.

Liang Hong was annoyed by these three in her heart. If she hadn't been concerned about saving face, she would have kicked them out long ago.

The three had come to her home early in the morning, saying they wanted to see the 'meiping vase with underglaze blue figures, chenghua reign mark' again.

This had terrified her.

They had even chased them to their home just to get her husband to donate the mei bottle.

And they came as a group.

If it were only worth two or three million, she would have donated it; the family donated more than that every year.

But that was worth over a hundred million, maybe even several hundred million. She couldn't bear to let it go.

She intended for this mei bottle to be a family heirloom passed down through generations.

Therefore, she hadn't told her husband at all that people had come to the house.

She originally thought these people would leave after sitting for a while and not seeing anyone.

Now six hours had passed, and they still showed no intention of leaving.

Furthermore, all three of them were quite prominent, especially the one named He Qixiang.

He was actually the Director of the Palace Museum.

And this expert named Zhao Meng kept asking questions incessantly without getting tired of it.

From the determined looks in their eyes, she could see that if they didn't see her husband today, they certainly wouldn't leave.

"Sigh!"

Liang Hong cursed them in her heart for being so tactless, but she had to maintain her poise on the surface.

She sighed and stood up as if having made a great decision. "You three, please wait a moment. I'll go urge him again."

A moment later, she returned to the living room, carrying two plates of fruit.

"Everyone, my husband is on his way back and will be here soon."

"There were quite a few things at the company today. He's rushing back as soon as he finished handling them."

"I'm truly sorry."

Liang Hong wasn't lying to Zhao Meng and the others this time; she really had called her husband.

Her husband, Xu Ting, heard that three experts in cultural relic appraisal were waiting at home.

He was wild with joy.

He immediately rushed back from the company.

He had always wanted to find professional authorities to look at his collection, but he usually lacked the right connections.

Today, three of them had come at once.

Xu Ting didn't want to miss such an opportunity. As for what his wife said about handing over a national treasure to the Museum...

As long as he didn't agree, could they possibly just snatch it?

After hearing Liang Hong's words, the three finally breathed a sigh of relief and began munching on the apples on the table.

They were quite hungry; drinking tea continuously only made them hungrier.

Before long, Xu Ting's voice arrived before he did, his hearty laughter full of warmth.

"Experts, I'm sorry, so sorry for keeping you waiting!"

"Honey, have the kitchen prepare some food and wine. I'm going to have a few drinks with the experts."