Chapter 1276: Powerful

"Director Cao, what are you doing here?"

Zhao Fusheng heard someone calling him, stopped, turned around, and saw Cao Jianguo standing there with a stranger, his face very red, apparently having been drinking.

"This is my old comrade-in-arms, Tian Ye. You can call him Brother Tian," Cao Jianguo said, perhaps because of the alcohol, quite relaxed, introducing his companion to Zhao Fusheng. Then he said to Tian Ye, "This is Zhao Fusheng, a young friend, a very good person who has helped me a lot. The matter I mentioned to you last time was thanks to him."

It was clear that Tian Ye was a very serious person. At first, his expression didn't change, but after Cao Jianguo finished his last sentence, his expression shifted slightly. He then showed a smile to Zhao Fusheng, extended his hand, and said, "I know. Old Cao told me you're good, you've got guts!"

Then, he said earnestly to Zhao Fusheng, "Thank you."

Obviously, he probably knew something.

Zhao Fusheng frowned slightly and looked at Cao Jianguo. To be honest, he didn't want what he had done to be known to everyone. Leaving aside the matter in Xichuan, if the previous matter with Li Ruhai were exposed, Zhao Fusheng was a hundred percent sure he would bring deadly trouble upon himself.

Seeing Zhao Fusheng's expression, Cao Jianguo understood what he meant. He hesitated for a moment, lowered his voice, and said, "It's okay, Old Tian is one of us. He and A-Jie studied under the same master."

Zhao Fusheng was startled. He had heard Chen Shijie mention once that the reason he was determined to wipe out Li Ruhai's group was that the master who taught him how to go undercover had died at Li Ruhai's hands.

Incidentally, Chen Shijie's master was also an undercover agent. And he was an undercover who had lived incognito for many years. After Chen Shijie was sent into Li Ruhai's organization, his master became his contact handler. It was under his guidance that Chen Shijie learned how to be an undercover agent, but he was brutally murdered.

Fortunately, Chen Shijie had little interaction with him; their daily dealings were very secretive, so Chen Shijie was not exposed.

"My master was a good man. Back then, to go undercover, he didn't even dare to acknowledge his own daughter and entrusted her to a comrade-in-arms to raise. In the end..." Zhao Fusheng remembered the pained expression on Chen Shijie's face when he talked about his master.

He hadn't expected to run into Chen Shijie's senior fellow apprentice here.

"Since we're all on the same side, no need for formalities. Why not join us for a few more drinks?" Tian Ye said to Zhao Fusheng.

"Ah?"

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, then shook his head: "No, no. I'm having a gathering with some friends today. Another day, I'll treat you both."

Although Cao Jianguo and Tian Ye were good people, they were officials. For Zhao Fusheng, frankly speaking, he didn't really like dealing with officials.

No matter what kind of people they were, in Zhao Fusheng's worldview, those who follow different paths cannot work together. As a businessman, getting too close to officials was not a good thing.

Tian Ye and Cao Jianguo didn't mind. They had already had quite a bit to drink, and there were many people around. After exchanging a few more words with Zhao Fusheng, they left with their companions.

Watching their backs, the others said nothing, but Sun Beihe's face turned pale.

The reason was simple: he knew Tian Ye.

Or more precisely, he knew who Tian Ye was.

"Chairman Zhao, I'm really sorry about today. My mistake. This meal is on me," Sun Beihe said without hesitation, immediately backing down to Zhao Fusheng.

He didn't even bother with polite remarks.

Zhao Baogang was startled, quite surprised. He had thought Sun Beihe would make a scene, but instead, he instantly caved. What was going on?

Zhao Fusheng, however, couldn't be bothered with these matters. Holding Fan Beibei's hand, he walked inside.

As for Jiang Wen and the others, they also said nothing and followed Zhao Fusheng back to the private room.

Soon, only Li Xiaoran, Sun Beihe, and Zhao Baogang remained at the entrance.

Glaring fiercely at Li Xiaoran, the troublemaker, Zhao Baogang looked at Sun Beihe: "President Sun, I hope you can understand this matter."

Sun Beihe smiled bitterly: "President Zhao, if you had told me earlier that he knew Director Tian, how would I have dared to speak recklessly?"

"Director Tian?"

Zhao Baogang was completely confused, obviously not understanding what Sun Beihe meant.

Sun Beihe nodded: "Director Tian, the top official of the Shannan Provincial Public Security Department, also Deputy Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee."

Then, wiping his forehead, he said, "Good thing I didn't say anything out of line, or I'd be in trouble."

He meant it. Although Tian Ye seemed amiable, Sun Beihe knew very well that this man was known as the 'Yama King' in Shannan. No matter who it was, if they broke the law and fell into his hands, they would be lucky to escape with their skin intact.

Moreover, with his strong background, he was definitely not someone Sun Beihe could provoke.

And a man like that was on brotherly terms with Chairman Zhao. Sun Beihe felt that his best choice was to obediently comply and temporarily withdraw from the film and television circle in the capital.

The power of authority, in this little piece of China, was most fully manifested.

Sun Beihe could ignore Zhao Fusheng and Jiang Wen because he knew that even if he left the film and television circle, they couldn't do much to him.

But Tian Ye's identity made Sun Beihe dare not take it lightly.

The reason was simple: he couldn't bear the other party's wrath.

Zhao Baogang was dumbfounded. Hearing Sun Beihe's words, he suddenly felt he understood Zhao Fusheng less and less. When had he developed such deep connections in official circles?

Clearly, that Director Tian just now was even more intimate with Zhao Fusheng's friend, even seeming to defer to him. If so, who was that person?

Zhao Baogang shook his head, about to speak, but Sun Beihe had already shaken his head, turned, and walked away without even a word.

Meanwhile, Li Xiaoran stood pale, not knowing what to do.

Zhao Baogang stared at her for a long time, then finally snorted coldly: "Look at the trouble you've caused!"

With that, he ignored the woman and went straight back to the private room.

Watching the backs of the two men, one left and one right, Li Xiaoran was panicked. She didn't understand what had happened. She had just casually pinched a child, and now everything had turned into this situation.

"What to do? It seems I can't stay in the mainland anymore." Li Xiaoran stood there thinking for a long time. She was tempted to follow Zhao Baogang into the private room to beg Zhao Fusheng for forgiveness, but on second thought, she knew it was impossible. Many people had just come out, and she had seen clearly that almost all the big shots of the Beijing circle were there. If she went in now, nothing she said would probably help.

"Or..."

Biting her lip, her eyes flickering, Li Xiaoran made a decision.

For an actress, what she could offer was actually very simple and clear.

...

...

Zhao Fusheng didn't know that because of him, some people's fates had changed. Even if he did, he wouldn't care.

Li Xiaoran was not a good person, and neither was Sun Beihe. So how their fates changed had little to do with him.

After this incident, the atmosphere at the dinner became somewhat awkward.

Zhao Baogang pulled Zhao Fusheng aside and explained at length that he had nothing to do with the matter. Zhao Fusheng didn't mind and comforted him with a smile.

He wasn't stupid; Zhao Baogang certainly didn't want to lose Future Films as a partner.

As for others, whether Sun Beihe or Li Xiaoran, Zhao Fusheng didn't think they could harm him. After all, the gap in their levels was now too great.

After the meal, Zhao Fusheng took his leave. He didn't plan to join the next round; wherever these people went next had nothing to do with him.

Old Jiang, because he had to go home to his wife and child, naturally left with Zhao Fusheng.

Before parting, Zhao Fusheng thanked Zuo Xiaoqing for defending Fan Beibei earlier, gave her a business card, and told her to call him if she ever needed anything.

Zuo Xiaoqing was a bit at a loss, but at Chen Dao's signal, she still accepted it.

Zhao Fusheng didn't say anything more. Taking Fan Beibei, he got into Jiang Wen's car and drove off.

"What, find it strange?"

Watching Zhao Fusheng's car disappear, Chen Dao smiled and asked Zuo Xiaoqing.

Zuo Xiaoqing nodded, somewhat puzzled: "Just a business card. Although he..."

She didn't finish, but the meaning was clear. Zuo Xiaoqing thought that even if Zhao Fusheng gave her a business card, it was probably just to build a good relationship. Such courtesies were common in the entertainment industry. Was it worth taking so seriously?

Chen Dao shook his head: "Zhao Fusheng may seem amiable, but in reality, he's very cold. Believe it or not, among the dozens of people in that room just now, fewer than ten have his private number."

Zuo Xiaoqing was startled, looking at Chen Dao in surprise: "Really?"

She really hadn't expected that. Just now, Zhao Fusheng's demeanor was far from aloof. Even to her, a first-time acquaintance, he had accompanied her with a drink. If she had to describe his manner in four words, it would be 'like a spring breeze.'

And now, Chen Dao said that Zhao Fusheng was always cold. This left Zuo Xiaoqing puzzled.

Chen Dao smiled: "Of course it's true. This man is very proud at heart, and he has the capital to be proud. Starting from scratch, worth billions before thirty. Do you think he would care about a bunch of actors? In the end, you helped his sister today, which to him is more important than anything else. So this business card is his way of telling you that he owes you a favor."

Zuo Xiaoqing was half-understanding. Her woman's intuition told her that her unconscious action today seemed to have brought her tremendous benefits.