Chapter Thirty-Four: Why Don’t You Respond at All?

“See me off?”
Chen Yaojie acted as if he’d just heard something utterly ridiculous.
“I’ve been sitting here all night at this gathering. I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
“Not to mention—are you aware that I have a brother-in-law in the police department?”
Chen Yaojie collected himself, set aside his panic, and calmly downed his glass of red wine.
Qin Mu glanced at Chen Yaojie and took a file from Wu Mu’s hands.
“Since the shooting of your very first film, you’ve used the excuse of ‘fitting costumes’ to take advantage of a newcomer, then forced her company to blacklist her.
“In the sixteen years since, you’ve illegally assaulted forty-three female artists under various pretexts—casting decisions, lead roles, pay raises, threatening blacklists…”
Chen Yaojie listened, but instead of feeling ashamed, he seemed almost proud. He laughed and squeezed the arm of the woman next to him with force.
“Hah, what can I say? My charisma is irresistible—they all want to sleep with me. It’s entirely consensual, so who cares?”
“Don’t rush—I’m not finished yet.”
Qin Mu flipped another page, deliberately letting Chen Yaojie see.
“I also have their previous police statements here, as well as a joint testimony, all accusing you of illegal assault. That alone is enough to keep you behind bars for good.”
At these words, Chen Yaojie’s eyes widened. He snatched the file from Qin Mu’s hands.
“That’s impossible!”
He’d already “handled” those actresses, paid them enough hush money. A few had been drugged, and after waking, insisted on reporting him to the police.
But his brother-in-law had buried those statements—muddying the waters, letting it all slide.
Where had this guy gotten the evidence?
“I admit you’re clever, but so what?
“All the people here—stars, directors—they’re all willing to do me a favor. Add up all their influence, and if this gets out, you’ll be drowned in public opinion alone!”
Chen Yaojie raised his glass high.
At his words, the crowd rose in his defense.
“That’s right! Director Chen has a sterling reputation in the industry! Who knows where you got that ‘evidence’—stop trying to scare us.” a starlet who’d slept her way up quickly chimed in.
“Who does this brat think he is? Trying to use these methods to break into our circle? Childish!”
“And that Luoshui—just like Director Chen said, her sudden fame these years? She’s been crawling into directors’ and celebrities’ beds left and right, what a tramp!”
“Exactly! Young man, it’s only Luoshui. There are plenty more where she came from in River City.”

Someone even stepped forward to try to mediate with Qin Mu.
For a moment, insults flew, curses rained down on both Qin Mu and Luoshui.
“Anyone else want to grandstand on his behalf?”
Wu Mu casually drew a pistol from his waistband and tossed it onto the table.
In an instant,
the entire hall fell silent.
Every eye was fixed on the gun, throats dry, no one dared speak.
Chen Yaojie’s legs nearly gave out.
He knew full well—even his brother-in-law didn’t carry a weapon.
Qin Mu watched Chen Yaojie’s reaction, then took a pen from his pocket and pressed a button. A coarse recording played abruptly:
“Hahaha! With these photos, Director Chen’s money is as good as ours!”
“What a shame—a beauty like her, if only she’d just stripped and spent the night quietly instead of crossing a director with powerful friends…”
The moment these voices sounded, Chen Yaojie completely lost his composure, glancing around in desperation.
“I have some matters to attend to. I won’t stay to play along with you!”
He spun around and tried to flee through the crowd.
This man was out of his depth!
Just when he thought he’d escaped, Qin Mu picked up the gun, spun around, and fired.
Bang!
Qin Mu shot out Chen Yaojie’s heel.
Chen Yaojie crashed to the ground, face-first, howling in agony like a beaten dog.
“Attempting to flee to avoid punishment—another charge to add to your crimes.”
“Break his hands and feet, then hand him over to Zhang Feng,” Qin Mu ordered with a wave.
A piece of garbage like this wasn’t even worth dirtying his own hands over.
Though many were still stunned by the gunshot, they caught the name Qin Mu uttered—
Zhang Feng!
The veteran detective of River City!

“Oh, and earlier, didn’t you have some choice words?”
Qin Mu rose and addressed those who’d spoken up for Chen Yaojie.
“No, no—you must have misheard! I was cursing Chen Yaojie, the bastard—serves him right!”
“Luoshui is elegant and pure—everyone in the industry knows it. So many stars have tried to pursue her, but she’s always gently refused.”
Immediately, the group changed their tune, denying everything they’d just said.
Compared to just two minutes before, the scene was almost laughable.
Qin Mu shook his head with a smile, no longer interested in staying, and walked out.
Wu Mu then called Zhang Feng to come and seal off the news from the scene.
Qin Mu’s intention was never to drag Luoshui into this. Otherwise, he could have stormed in and killed Chen Yaojie outright, without all this fuss.
…
With Chen Yaojie taken care of, Qin Mu hurried back to the hospital.
Outside the ward, a crowd had already gathered.
“Who are you? There’s a contract termination being discussed inside. Please leave.” A manager at the door confronted Qin Mu.
But before he could finish, Wu Mu grabbed him and shoved him aside.
Ignoring these trivialities, Qin Mu pushed straight into the ward.
Inside, a mature-looking man was forcefully pressing Luoshui’s hand onto a red ink pad, a termination contract beside them.
At the sight of Qin Mu, they all guiltily released her and stood up.
“Who are you? Don’t you see that Glorious Film Arts is handling internal matters? Get out!” a man barked.
Qin Mu replied coldly, “The patient needs rest. Whatever it is, wait until she’s recovered.”
“Director Wu, you should go. I’ll personally come to the company tomorrow to terminate my contract,” Luoshui’s frail voice sounded.
Director Wu glanced at Qin Mu. He’d spent so much effort trying to persuade Luoshui, all to no avail, yet with this man’s appearance, she immediately agreed to terminate and wanted him gone?
“You’re no longer a priority for the company. Take care of yourself.”
With that, Director Wu left with his entourage. As he departed, he tried to threaten Qin Mu, but the young man ignored him completely, stepping past him and heading straight to Luoshui.