Chapter 45: The Princess Returning Pearl Auditions Are Mine, Ma Xun's!

Director Ouyang, we won't disturb you any further then.

Alright, Mr. Ping, take care.

Mr. Ping, a middle-aged man, saw that Director Ouyang had a new visitor.

So he proactively brought the meeting to a close.

Of course, they had pretty much finished discussing everything anyway.

Moreover, Mr. Ping had not come alone; he was accompanied by his right-hand men.

The master and disciple duo, Liu Lili and Shen Yi.

That is correct, he was the eldest son of the Ping family.

In the past, virtually all television dramas produced by Chiung Yao featured his father's name.

Chiung Yao was his stepmother.

However, this man was indeed the eldest son.

He frequently brought up a certain topic when he was out and about:

It troubles me greatly that people always mistake me for Aunt Chiung Yao's biological son.

Such a remark clearly revealed his attitude.

At present, this eldest son was feeling exceedingly pleased with himself.

Ho Hsiu-chiung had put forward a proposal for a talent search show.

How wonderful that was!

The eldest son of the Ping family had made his move first.

By beating Ho Hsiu-chiung to the punch, it was tantamount to snatching the project right out of her hands!

Oh, Ho Hsiu-chiung, Ho Hsiu-chiung, you might as well just content yourself with being a dutiful daughter-in-law.

A woman has no business showing her face out in public anyway.

Thinking along these lines, the eldest son of the Ping family wore a smile that grew increasingly smug.

...

In a certain hotel in Changsha.

What? He got to him first... Oh, well, alright then, Director Ouyang, let's find some time to have a meal together... Right... Let's leave it at that for now.

What's wrong?

Ho Hsiu-chiung had only just settled in before she placed a call to Director Ouyang.

Never did she expect that her rivals would seize the opportunity ahead of her!

Well, to her, the eldest son of the Ping family was nothing less than a rival.

Their conflict used to be fought in the shadows, but now it had come out into the open!

Naturally, Yeh Chuan-chen, who was standing nearby, picked up on this immediately.

Could it be that...

Exactly, that fellow beat us to it.

That can't be right!

Someone must have leaked the information!

Who could it be?

How am I supposed to know.

What should we do now? Everything is already settled on my end!

I can only say I'm sorry.

Are you going to admit defeat just like that?

What else can I do?

Ho Hsiu-chiung was no weakling, but given the current state of affairs, she was truly at her wits' end.

She understood all too well that if she allowed the eldest son of the Ping family and Liu Lili to take over this talent search program,

it would mean her efforts regarding the operation of Princess Pearl had completely failed.

She would be unable to purge the old guard.

Her mother-in-law would remain at the mercy of others.

And her husband would never be able to fully inherit his mother's most valuable legacy.

Yet this matter...

Yeh Chuan-chen simply refused to accept it!

She immediately declared, I'll go find him. He should have a way out of this!

...

Strolling through the chilly early spring, watching the Xiang River flow northward.

Ma Xun and Yeh Chuan-chen were both clad in long coats.

Neither of them spoke.

After walking a short distance, Yeh Chuan-chen could no longer hold it in.

If you want to blame me, just say it straight.

Upon hearing this, Ma Xun smiled. Why would I blame you?

Because I messed things up.

Who said you were the one who messed things up?

But... Yeh Chuan-chen felt deeply moved inside, yet the current situation was utterly grim. Even though it's not Ah-xue's fault, the job simply wasn't done properly. If you were Prince Liu...

Before she could finish her sentence, a sudden gust of river wind swept past.

Yeh Chuan-chen had clearly underestimated the chill of the southern spring.

Ma Xun pulled open his coat, gesturing for her to hide inside.

Embraced, warmed, and protected in such a manner...

The usually aloof and cold beauty Yeh Chuan-chen felt as though she were about to melt right then and there.

Ma Xun was tall and broad-shouldered. Looking down at her, he still smiled as he asked, If I were Prince Liu, shouldn't I punish you?

Yeh Chuan-chen nodded shyly.

Immediately afterward, she felt her hip being cupped by a large hand...

Hmm~

Even Prince Liu must be strict and fair with rewards and punishments. You certainly didn't finish the job well, but the fault doesn't lie with you.

Having just given it a gentle squeeze, the texture felt rather pleasant.

Yeh Chuan-chen's heart was now racing. Your Highness, do you have a way to turn this around?

Ma Xun smiled upon hearing this. Of course I have a way to turn the tables, but you need to do one thing.

I will definitely get it done this time.

You must ensure that Ho Hsiu-chiung does not concede defeat easily.

This...

Ho Hsiu-chiung's attitude stems from a specific reason, but if we want to turn things around, she at least cannot give up just like that.

A reason?

Hehe, Ah-xue, let me ask you a question.

Alright, Your Highness, please go ahead.

Who on earth leaked the information?

Yeh Chuan-chen had already pondered this question earlier.

There was only one reason the Ping family managed to gain the upper hand.

They must have learned about this talent search project in advance.

From Director Ouyang's perspective,

it made no difference to their television station whether they partnered with the eldest son of the Ping family or Ho Hsiu-chiung!

Conversely, whoever initiated talks first would seize the initiative.

Or perhaps they could secure the project outright.

Therefore, the most critical factor naturally boiled down to the leak of information!

Yeh Chuan-chen had only been courting Ho Hsiu-chiung and had not mentioned this talent search project to anyone else.

As for the eldest son of the Ping family, they were complete strangers.

Could Ho Hsiu-chiung be a blabbermouth?

She had no reason to be.

Then who could it be?

Yeh Chuan-chen looked at Ma Xun with a practically pleading gaze.

Her eyes conveyed: Your Highness~ just tell me.

Ma Xun naturally understood instantly, but he first whispered, This leaker is extremely crucial, and it also has a huge bearing on Ho Hsiu-chiung's attitude. That person is none other than...

He leaned in close and whispered something into Yeh Chuan-chen's ear.

Upon hearing this, Yeh Chuan-chen's eyes widened in sheer disbelief.

...

A few days later.

At the entrance of the television station.

The eldest son of the Ping family appeared there once again, flanked by his right-hand men.

As luck would have it,

two women arrived from the opposite direction.

They were none other than Ho Hsiu-chiung and Yeh Chuan-chen.

The eldest son of the Ping family smiled and said, Sister-in-law, why bother to keep fighting this?

Ho Hsiu-chiung retorted, I am not fighting; I am simply doing what I ought to do.

The two of them exchanged verbal barbs, each refusing to give ground.

This was only natural, given that the eldest son of the Ping family believed victory was already in his bag.

Little did he expect that Director Ouyang would call him later,

stating that regarding this talent search project, Ho Hsiu-chiung claimed they had initiated it first.

Consequently, the project still needed to be renegotiated.

And here they were now.

Naturally, the eldest son of the Ping family was somewhat incensed.

He walked straight into the television station.

Ho Hsiu-chiung and her companion naturally followed right behind him.

Before long, they found themselves gathered inside a conference room.

Director Ouyang and another middle-aged man were already waiting there.

The group immediately exchanged handshakes and pleasantries.

However, the eldest son of the Ping family noticed that this middle-aged man looked remarkably like the 'new visitor' from the other day.

Still, that was of no consequence.

Director Ouyang. The eldest son of the Ping family seized the initiative once more. I believe we can sign the contract for this talent search collaboration now.

From the very beginning until now, the eldest son of the Ping family had maintained an arrogant and haughty posture throughout.

It was as if he were proclaiming to the entire world:

This talent search project belongs to me!

In truth, he had every reason to adopt such an attitude.

The eldest son of the Ping family was well aware that for Director Ouyang and his television station,

partnering with anyone yielded the same result!

Whether it was someone from the Ping family like himself or Ho Hsiu-chiung, the wife of Chiung Yao's biological son.

From the station's perspective, there was zero difference.

Therefore, as long as he, the eldest son of the Ping family, proposed the cooperation first,

Director Ouyang had no grounds whatsoever for refusal.

Moreover, Director Ouyang could hardly insist on partnering exclusively with Ho Hsiu-chiung.

Doing so would undoubtedly offend the Ping family.

Yet this time, things had changed!

Mr. Ping, may I ask if you have any concrete plans for this talent search?

Plans?

How could there be any!

They had simply come to snatch it, intending to secure it first and figure things out later.

As the eldest son of the Ping family stood there stunned, Liu Lili chimed in from the side.

We have the most extensive experience with Teacher Chiung Yao's works, and naturally, we are capable of finding the most suitable actors.

That statement... amounted to saying nothing at all.

They simply had no plan.

At that moment, the middle-aged man spoke up.

I know a few people who possess a wealth of experience. May I introduce Mr. Ma, Mr. Sun, and Mr. Bai.

No sooner had his voice trailed off than the door to the conference room swung open.

Ma Xun, Sun Donghai, and Bai Daqing walked straight inside.

What was the meaning of this?

The eldest son of the Ping family was completely dumbfounded.

Meanwhile, smiles blossomed across the faces of Ho Hsiu-chiung and Yeh Chuan-chen.

Director Ouyang, this is the proposal for our talent search project.

Ma Xun handed over a document directly.

It contained detailed plans regarding open auditions and operational procedures.

Something the eldest son of the Ping family certainly didn't have!

And immediately following that,

We will invest six million in the preliminary stages of this project!

Ma Xun pulled out a check and laid it right on the table.

That was a devastating move.

Director Ouyang broke into a broad smile on the spot.

My goodness, Mr. Ma is remarkably decisive in his actions!

Naturally, those six million belonged to Bai Daqing, but there was nothing amiss about Ma Xun using them here.

Yet at this juncture, the eldest son of the Ping family could no longer contain himself.

Who on earth are you people?!

Sun Donghai bluntly replied, What business is it of yours who we are! The real question is whether you, young man, can cough up six million right now!

His phrasing was somewhat crude, but the effect was undeniably potent.

Six million converted to New Taiwan Dollars amounted to thirty million!

While the eldest son of the Ping family was adept at bragging, he certainly couldn't produce that kind of money.

Furthermore, it wasn't over yet.

That 'new visitor' spoke up once more.

This project is not merely a talent search for the drama Princess Pearl; there is an additional component, which is to search for 'Xiang River Girls'.

What was this about?

The eldest son of the Ping family was utterly bewildered.

Ma Xun smiled at him and said, Mr. Ping, allow me to introduce you. This is Mr. Kang Jianmin, a former colleague of Director Ouyang. Mr. Kang intends to direct a film titled Not One Less.

I have already agreed to invest one million as start-up capital.

Do you understand now?

Holy crap!

Both Sun Donghai and Bai Daqing swallowed hard to suppress a burst of profanity in their minds.

Ma Xun's move was merciless!

He was telling this young master right to his face:

This is precisely how I am seizing this talent search project!

If you've got what it takes, go ahead and invest in a movie that has absolutely nothing to do with Princess Pearl!

Can you do that?!

The eldest son of the Ping family felt as though his face had been repeatedly slapped over and over again.

With a cold huff, he turned and stormed out.

Naturally, the master and disciple Liu Lili followed closely behind him.

Director Ouyang had no other alternatives left either, except...

Mr. Ma, regarding this time... um...

Rest assured, it won't delay the filming of Princess Pearl. Ms. Ho Hsiu-chiung is, after all, Aunt Chiung Yao's daughter-in-law.

Ma Xun emphasized this point, and Director Ouyang naturally caught the underlying meaning.

Which meant they wouldn't end up offending Aunt Chiung Yao.

Ho Hsiu-chiung was overjoyed as well, quickly stepping forward to engage in pleasant conversation with everyone.

Yet as Yeh Chuan-chen watched this scene unfold, she could not help but recall the name of that 'leaker' in her mind.

The very person Ma Xun had mentioned to her earlier:

Chiung Yao.