Chapter 119: Dark Clouds Loom Over the City, Threatening to Crush It

Tang Zhijie sat down in a corner with the bespectacled man, his face dark. "Lan Hai, find someone to investigate that kid. I can’t swallow this insult."

The bespectacled man agreed, then asked, "Brother Jie, what about that woman?"

"Forget about her," Tang Zhijie said, rubbing his temples. "It was your lousy idea to call her over without setting things up first. It turned into such a mess we almost couldn't contain it. Do you want to escalate this further and let the media and fans know about it?"

"Right, right." Lan Hai nodded repeatedly, though he felt a sense of contempt. Who was it that, after a few drinks, tried to pounce on her the moment he saw her?

"Hello, Teacher Tang." A middle-aged man walked over and greeted him respectfully.

"Who are you?" Tang Zhijie asked, puzzled.

"My name is Chen Jian," the middle-aged man introduced himself with a smile. "I noticed what happened earlier and felt indignant about the grievances you suffered. As it happens, I know the other party, so I thought there might be some way I could assist you."

"Ah, President Chen." Tang Zhijie took the business card offered to him, a sudden realization dawning on him. "Whether I was wronged or not is beside the point. Please state your purpose."

"If you wish, I can explain the other party's situation to you first," Chen Jian smiled. "It's always best to know who you're dealing with."

Tang Zhijie’s eyes narrowed. He was no fool and understood that this man wouldn't approach him without a reason. However, his pride was bruised by tonight's events, and the memory of Lin Qihua’s calm, dismissive stance as he stood in his way made his blood boil. "Please, go ahead."

"Very well." Chen Jian nodded. "The young man is named Lin Qihua, a newly signed artist at Galaxy Entertainment. He was previously a discarded pawn of Huayi, kicked out for offending Young Master Guo. Somehow, Galaxy Entertainment took a liking to him and signed him."

"Young Master Guo?" Tang Zhijie’s eyes lit up. "The Young Master Guo from Huayi?"

"Yes, that’s the one." A faint smile touched the corners of Chen Jian’s mouth. "Come to think of it, this Lin Qihua is just a fifth-tier artist, yet he is unexpectedly favored by Galaxy Entertainment, which has concentrated all its resources just to promote him."

"A mere fifth-tier artist, and he dares to talk back to Teacher Tang to his face?" the bespectacled man, Lan Hai, said angrily. "Does he not know how to spell 'death'?"

Tang Zhijie shot him a cold glare that made him shrink back, then turned his gaze back to Chen Jian. "Continue."

"With the full backing of Galaxy Entertainment, Lin Qihua participated in this season's *The Singer* and achieved good results. This has caused his ego to swell, leading him to dare to defy you. He truly has no idea what he’s doing. As for the boss of Galaxy Entertainment, protecting his own like this and showing you no respect—it’s simply intolerable."

"So it was him." Lan Hai had a sudden realization. He whispered in Tang Zhijie’s ear, "The show is currently airing and has a huge impact. Lin Qihua is one of the more popular contestants; his talent seems quite formidable. No wonder I felt the name was familiar."

Tang Zhijie tapped the table, lost in thought, but he wasn't goaded into a blind rage by Chen Jian. "I imagine you didn't come here just to inform me of these things. If you have an agenda, speak plainly."

"Not at all," Chen Jian smiled slightly. "I’m sure you’ve heard that our Star Shine Entertainment and Galaxy Entertainment have had some unpleasantness this year. Seeing them act so arrogant over such minor success is truly grating. We share a common enemy with you, Teacher Tang, and we hope to dampen their arrogance."

"You want to use my hand to do your dirty work?" Tang Zhijie looked up and sneered. "Or perhaps, you want to draw out the people behind me to achieve your own goals?"

"I don't deny having that thought, but it is also because you possess the influence to make it happen. A partnership would be mutually beneficial, wouldn't it?" Chen Jian admitted.

"Heh." Tang Zhijie shook his head and laughed. The image of Lin Qihua’s amused expression crossed his mind, and his resolve hardened. "Tonight, an arrogant fifth-tier artist showed no respect to his senior and resorted to insults."

"Exactly. Everyone in the entertainment industry should despise and boycott such a person and drive him out of the business," Chen Jian added with a smile.

"And there were witnesses who saw him drink and harass a female artist. When a senior intervened to stop him, he even cursed. His moral character is bankrupt."

"Indeed. How can such scum continue to thrive in the industry?" Chen Jian sighed. "We need to obtain video evidence and expose it, letting the public see his track record. Or perhaps the girl herself should step forward and bravely testify against him?"

"Heh." Tang Zhijie looked at Chen Jian, his eyes wary. "Let's do it this way. We need to act quickly."

"With your influence, Teacher Tang, it will naturally be a success. We at Star Shine Entertainment also have friendly connections with the media; they will surely be outraged by such scum and will be eager to act."

"A pleasure doing business with you."

"A pleasure." The two men shook hands firmly.

After Chen Jian left, Tang Zhijie’s face remained grim. He realized he was being led by the nose, caught in a situation that was becoming difficult to exit.

"Brother Jie, what now? Should we start spreading the word immediately?" Lan Hai leaned in.

"No, I have my own plans," Tang Zhijie said in a deep voice. After dismissing him, he opened a contact on his smart device and dialed.

A moment later, a middle-aged woman wearing a silk robe, exuding an infinite allure, appeared in the holographic projection.

"Xiao Jie, what is it?" The woman parted her lips, her voice tinged with the annoyance of being disturbed.

"It’s like this, Sister Chen." Tang Zhijie’s gaze burned with fervor as he looked at her, but he quickly lowered his head. "Something happened tonight, and I wanted to report it to you and ask for your guidance."

"Oh, go on."

"It’s like this." Tang Zhijie gave a rough summary of the events. "Chen Jian, the boss of Star Shine Entertainment, suggested this plan."

"Galaxy Entertainment?" The woman on the other side seemed to recall something from the past. She was silent for a moment before speaking. "What kind of outcome do you want?"

"At the very least, a setback for Lin Qihua’s career, and to make Galaxy Entertainment feel the pain."

"Tsk, fool." Sister Chen’s sultry voice made Tang Zhijie feel a rush of heat. "Actually, Chen Jian already gave you a hint. Young Master Guo, understand?"

"I know, but this still requires your decision. They chose me only because of you, Sister Chen, and because of Brother Hao," Tang Zhijie said in a low voice.

"Fine. You're clever enough this time." Sister Chen remained silent for a while longer. "Since we are going to do it, we must be thorough. Come see me tomorrow, and we’ll discuss it properly. Some things are not suitable for you to handle yourself."

"Understood." Tang Zhijie agreed excitedly.

...

On the other side, back at Galaxy Entertainment, Yu Fengqin, Lin Qihua, and He Li and Lian Yuling, who had rushed over after learning of the situation, all looked grave.

"I'm sorry, I didn't handle this well," Lin Qihua began.

"No, this has nothing to do with you," Yu Fengqin interrupted, waving her hand with a smile. "I've already understood the situation. Tang Zhijie is notorious. Everyone in the industry knows that once he’s had a drink, he goes mad and will do anything—especially bullying female artists. It’s an open secret that no one dares to speak of. How many girls has he ruined over the years? So, this really isn't your fault. In fact, I am very gratified that you stood up for her. You did the right thing. Your attitude and the way you handled it were excellent; not escalating it on the spot and causing him to fly into a rage was the best possible outcome."

"It’s just bad luck to run into a scumbag like Tang Zhijie. Don't take it to heart, Qihua." He Li was fuming. "Why doesn't anyone put this bastard in his place?"

"Heh, people avoid him like the plague; who would dare provoke him?" Lian Yuling said faintly, her expression unreadable.

"He's just a first-tier artist. Even if he has broad connections and deep experience, surely not everyone is afraid of him, right?" Lin Qihua asked, puzzled. It was true that veteran first-tier artists like Lu Zhixuan and Tang Zhijie had deep roots and significant influence in the industry, but was it true that everyone avoided him?

"He may only be first-tier, but from our company's perspective, being first-tier isn't actually that big of a deal," He Li explained. "His true terror lies in the fact that he is merely a lackey—a lackey for someone else who is truly feared."

"Who?" Lin Qihua asked, shocked.

"Who else could it be?" He Li glanced quietly at Lian Yuling, sighed, and pointed upward. "In the entertainment industry, aside from the heads of a few major companies and the leaders of professional associations, there are only a handful of people who possess the power to intimidate everyone."

"A superstar?" Lin Qihua asked in surprise.

"Exactly. You know the distribution of our Huayi entertainment superstars, right?"

"I do. In the music industry, there are the Three Kings and Two Queens, plus another Heavenly King from Singapore, known collectively as the Four Heavenly Kings and Two Queens. In film, there are the Four Kings and Four Queens, each ruling their own sphere," Lin Qihua nodded.

"Yes. Behind Tang Zhijie is one of those people," He Li sighed. "Although that person wouldn't care about such a trivial matter, there is no guarantee that someone won't use his name to stir up trouble. Perhaps he might even tacitly approve of such actions."

Lin Qihua fell silent. He understood the power of a superstar—someone whose every word could trigger an earthquake in the entertainment industry. Their influence was immense, and Galaxy Entertainment might truly struggle to withstand it.

"However, even if they make a move, it shouldn't be direct. After all, they have to follow certain rules. Unless a Heavenly King acts directly, they can only use conventional methods. Their target will likely be you, Qihua," He Li analyzed.

Lin Qihua laughed lightly. "Then let them come. It's fine; I can take it."

"I hope so," Yu Fengqin sighed. The silent demeanor of Lian Yuling beside her gave her a bad premonition. Why did everything have to get tangled up together?