Chapter 1244: Sitting on the Sidelines

Capital has no distinction between justice and evil, but sometimes it does have a distinction between good and bad.

The general manager of Future Film and Television was Ye Jing, one of the big shots in the Beijing circle. But the media knew well that the reason Future Film and Television could have its current confidence was ultimately because it was backed by Future Group.

To be precise, it was because behind it stood the man named Zhao Fusheng.

The most formidable aspect of Future Group was not that the entire company was involved in comprehensive fields like the internet, advertising, film and television, and investment, but that the whole company belonged to Zhao Fusheng alone.

Apart from the equity incentives he gave to some partners, in such a large-scale group, now valued by outsiders at over four hundred million US dollars, the vast majority of shares were actually owned solely by Zhao Fusheng.

In other words, this young man under thirty was worth more than 2.5 billion RMB.

It would not be an exaggeration to say he was the richest man in the country under thirty.

Not only that, but compared to other wealthy individuals, this young tycoon who achieved fame early was terrifyingly low-key. He never accepted media interviews. Whether financial media or entertainment media, it was simply impossible to report on Zhao Fusheng.

Furthermore, the public relations department of Future Group had specifically contacted the media, clearly informing reporters from all outlets that they could have information about the boss, and the company could even cooperate. However, if they wanted to publish a photo, they had to be prepared for a lawsuit.

Of course, when making this request, they also gave out considerable travel expenses. The thickness of those red envelopes was a hundred times better than what those stingy Hong Kong folks offered.

In short, after Wang Jing said those words, the media reporters present quickly associated it with the personal friendship between Yu Feihong and Zhao Fusheng.

Everyone knew that Zhao Fusheng and Yu Feihong had a very good relationship. They had collaborated on several films together, and it was even said that when Zhao Fusheng needed money to invest in Shengda Technology's agency for the game *Legend*, Yu Feihong almost sold her house to help him.

Not only Yu Feihong, but it was also said that Zhao Fusheng's first house in the capital was bought for him by Jiang Wen.

In short, people in the entertainment industry knew that although Ye Jing was the general manager of Future Film and Television, Zhao Fusheng's trust in Yu Feihong and Jiang Wen was greater than anyone else's.

So, the moment Wang Jing backed down, the reporters realized that it seemed Zhao Fusheng had stepped in.

The press conference ended in this way.

The reporters understood that today's wave was just the production team making a move. The coming storm would be even more astonishing, and they believed Wang Bochao's side would certainly respond.

……

……

In this world, some things are actually very important.

Loss of territory, dynastic changes—at certain points in time, these historical events determined the fate of many people for a lifetime, even decided the future of a country or a nation, leaving an unforgettable mark in the annals of history.

For example, the boat on South Lake in Jiaxing, the shot fired over Nanchang city, the night of the Zunyi Conference.

But in many subtle places, some things cannot be known by people, because no matter what happens, even if the world is about to be destroyed, in the moments before that, people still have to eat and drink, sleep and work.

It is said that singing girls know not the grief of a lost kingdom, still singing 'Backyard Flowers' across the river.

In fact, this poem truly wrongs the singing girls. They are just a group of weak women, forced by life; what they sing is not something they can decide themselves.

Even those in power cannot protect the country; why should a group of ordinary people be forced to be heroes?

By the same token, a group of journalists, in order to survive, naturally have to report the news. As for whether they have any sense of justice, that depends on each person's bottom line and principles.

Good people and bad people are sometimes hard to distinguish.

Duan Qirui was a warlord who once provoked civil war, but when faced with the temptation of the Japanese, he righteously refused their recruitment and refused to be a traitor. Even that Young Marshal—do you really think he was patriotic? In the end, it was only because his actions promoted the nationwide resistance against Japan.

As for the film and entertainment industry, needless to say, people and their works really should be viewed separately.

As for Wang Bochao, although a few years later he would be sued by his own elderly father over alimony, it must be said that in this matter, he was relatively the victim.

After the reporters brought Wang Jing's words from the press conference to the hospital, Wang Bochao angrily began to refute them point by point.

According to Wang Bochao's own account, the cause might have been related to a dispute the day before filming.

He recalled the quarrel: "A few days ago during filming, a chandelier was being repaired. I was waiting nearby and saw a chair, so I wanted to sit down. But someone said the chair couldn't be used—it belonged to the Hong Kong makeup artist. I said, 'Why can't I sit on it?' In the argument, because the chair was plastic, I accidentally broke it. That led to a fight. Later, the Hong Kong makeup artist came and wanted to throw a punch, but others pulled us apart."

A reporter asked Wang Bochao if he was beaten because he often harassed female staff, and Zhang Weijian couldn't stand it and hit him. Wang Bochao firmly denied this when asked, claiming that even if he said things with innuendo to female staff on set, it was just banter, and he didn't believe Zhang Weijian would resort to violence over that.

"I don't believe it either."

In the office of the general manager of Future Film and Television, Ye Jing looked calmly at Zhao Baogang in front of him and said flatly, "Whether it's Zhang Weijian or Xie Tingfeng, I don't know them. I don't even know Wang Bochao. But that doesn't mean I don't understand what's going on."

Zhao Baogang frowned. He had originally thought that since Yu Feihong was also injured in the incident, Future Film and Television would take a firm stance. But now it seemed that he and some others had been mistaken.

Clearly, neither Ye Jing nor Yu Feihong, whose attitude he had sounded out earlier, intended to get involved in this matter.

"Old Ye, won't you think it over?" Zhao Baogang looked at Ye Jing earnestly. "I think you should step up on this."

Ye Jing smiled slightly and shook his head. "No need to think it over. Fusheng and I have discussed it. Although Feihong was injured, the other side has already apologized. As for what happens next, it's a contest between Yinghuang Group and Future Group. As the boss, he will handle it personally. As for the suggestion you just made, frankly, it doesn't mean much to us. We are investors, not actors. So I'm sorry, Baogang, I can't agree to this."

With that, he gave Zhao Baogang a meaningful look and said slowly, "Lately, all the news online has been cursing Zhang Weijian and Xie Tingfeng. Do you think Fusheng or I can't see the problem?"

Zhao Baogang remained silent.

Some things, because they were acquaintances, didn't need to be spelled out.

Both Ye Jing and Zhao Baogang knew that this incident was less an internal conflict of "The Legendary Siblings" and more a long-standing game between the Hong Kong production team and the mainland entertainment circle.

Zhao Baogang's visit to Future Film and Television today was, in essence, to find an ally.

And clearly, Ye Jing had no intention of being his ally.

Even though they were both part of the Beijing circle, Zhao Baogang's Xinbaoyuan was different from Future Film and Television. Xinbaoyuan rarely ventured into films, focusing most of its energy on TV series production, and had more acute conflicts with those from Hong Kong. To put it bluntly, Future Film and Television might just want to vent their anger, but for Zhao Baogang, it was definitely not just about saving face.

Ye Jing's attitude was also clear: out of friendship, he wouldn't cause trouble for Zhao Baogang, but likewise, Zhao Baogang shouldn't expect him to be a pawn.

In fact, Ye Jing even directly hinted to Zhao Baogang that Zhao Fusheng had already seen through the situation.

Zhao Baogang could ignore Ye Jing's attitude, but he couldn't disregard Zhao Fusheng's, because behind Zhao Fusheng was the Future Group, whose advertising alliance, formed by its subsidiary Future Advertising, now held a considerable share of the domestic advertising market. As the owner of an entertainment company, Zhao Baogang couldn't afford to gamble.

That was Zhao Fusheng's real leverage.

Resources might not matter much to capital, but they were crucial to artists.

And Zhao Fusheng happened to have resources.