Chapter 45: Investigating the Enemy’s Situation

"Ye Linyun, you mean the leading lady of Bermuda Films, the one who's all the rage right now?" Lin Zhiwei twirled her pen, wrote down the name, and circled it.

"That's right, it's her," Zhao Lei confirmed with a nod.

Lin Zhiwei pondered. Ye Linyun’s name did indeed carry weight in the Chinese entertainment industry—she had won Best Actress at the Golden Horse Awards, maintained a strong public persona, and was known for her charitable work, a paragon of beauty and kindness. Her usual style was bold, sexy, and alluring, with mesmerizing eyes that had enchanted countless fans, her figure statuesque and perfectly proportioned, earning her the nickname "the goddess of legs." Truly a stunner, yet Ling Ziheng seemed utterly unmoved by her advances? Such a beauty throwing herself at him and he felt nothing?

"Tell me about her," Lin Zhiwei said seriously. If Ye Linyun truly lived up to her public image, the three of them wouldn’t be making such disgusted faces.

"Her? She's just a phony woman who’s all about appearances," Mei Ning said indignantly. "She messes with minor celebrities all the time, but whenever she gets the chance, she clings to Brother Ling. Just look at last time, at the Golden Horse Awards—she went all out just to walk the red carpet at the same time as him, and stuck to him like glue."

Mei Ning’s heart ached just thinking about her painstakingly tailored suit being touched by someone like that.

"Exactly! I saw it—she nearly pressed her chest right up against him..." Xiaoyu chimed in, remembering the scene as a live seduction more blatant than any broadcast. She actually pitied Brother Ling—he couldn’t lose his temper on the spot and had to maintain his gentlemanly composure, or who knew what the media would write.

"It’s really tricky. Her family has some influence and excellent media connections, which has solidified her reputation as Bermuda’s top star. During the Golden Horse red carpet interview, she bribed a few reporters to press Brother Ling with sharp questions about his feelings for her, his impressions, and so on. The next day, the headlines were all about the two of them, with huge, suggestive photos," Zhao Lei said, folding his arms, looking helpless.

He’d run himself ragged back then, pulling every string he had to suppress those headlines and keep the situation from spiraling.

"Understood. In your opinion—does she really like Ruoyu, or is it all for publicity?" Lin Zhiwei cut to the heart of the matter. Such manufactured rumors were hardly rare in the industry. Female celebrities, especially, often needed publicity to create buzz. If they could link themselves to a male star with a perfect image, whether to praise or smear, it always brought attention.

"I think... it’s all for show," Xiaoyu was the first to raise her hand.

"Me too," Mei Ning agreed. "She’s notorious for her flings—a whole string of young men. She can’t possibly be serious."

Lin Zhiwei turned her gaze to Zhao Lei, who had more experience in these matters.

Zhao Lei spoke slowly, "Actually, I have a different perspective."

Oh? Interesting. Lin Zhiwei’s eyes sparkled—Brother Lei’s insight was always razor-sharp.

"Everyone in showbiz knows about her predatory ways. People always want what they can’t have," Zhao Lei said meaningfully, glancing at Lin Zhiwei, sure she’d catch his drift.

Lin Zhiwei instantly understood. With that one line, Brother Lei had cleared the haze—goddesses atop their pedestals enjoy being adored, but when they meet a quality man who’s immune to their charms and can stand as their equal, they can’t bear it.

"Good. Got it," Lin Zhiwei said, doodling absentmindedly.

A den of dragons and tigers, indeed—ravenous wolves ahead, relentless pursuers behind; the long road ahead was fraught with peril.

After an afternoon discussion about the new variety show, Lin Zhiwei stayed behind in the conference room, still lost in her sketches and notes even after the others had gone home. She was compiling trends in the entertainment industry that Zhao Lei had collected—the three main companies were locked in fierce competition, and the situation was particularly tricky since Ye Linyun and Chu Chuo were in the same company. Rumor had it they disliked each other, but as part of the same core interest group, outward harmony was carefully maintained.

Bermuda, though, was a force to be reckoned with—strong background, ample resources, and had snatched quite a few of Ling Ziheng’s roles.

Ling Ziheng only found out from Pei Xi that Lin Zhiwei had been at the office all evening, working through dinner. He immediately called the driver to turn around and headed back to the studio—just how obsessed was this girl with making money?

He pushed open the door to find her curled up on the conference room sofa, surrounded by her scattered sketches. Her dark hair was tucked neatly behind her ear as she chewed on her pen, confusion written all over her face.

"If you keep this up every day, I’ll have to take you to the hospital in a week," Ling Ziheng leaned against the doorframe, his usually gentle eyes now tinged with reproach.

Startled by his voice, Lin Zhiwei looked up in a daze, cursing inwardly—did he always have to appear so suddenly?

"I have a touch of OCD," she explained seriously. "When I’m investigating the competition, I have to give it my all. There are all these events coming up, and I’ll have to fight my battles head-on. As the rookie here, boss, I really do need to study up."

"Competition?" Ling Ziheng stepped into the room, eyeing her scribbles in confusion.

"Ye Linyun is our number one headache," Lin Zhiwei scowled. "I had Brother Lei dig around—she’s definitely planning to join Masked King of All Talents, and she’ll be all over you when she does." Her tone was full of grievance—bad luck incarnate.

"All over me?" Ling Ziheng’s eyes gleamed with mischief as he poured himself a drink and sat beside her. "She certainly does try."

Lin Zhiwei snapped her head up, fuming. "See? I knew it! Look at this news story from three months ago—look at how close she gets in these photos! Anyone would think the two of you were intimate… and this one—it’s indecent!"

"Heh," Ling Ziheng chuckled softly, swirling his glass, his eyes dropping, a smile as warm as spring.

Lin Zhiwei froze. Here she was, indignant on his behalf, and he could still laugh?

"Zhiwei," Ling Ziheng leaned in, voice low, "are you jealous?"

His lips parted in a smile, mellow as aged wine on a winter’s day, intoxicating and impossible to resist.

Lin Zhiwei blinked rapidly, crying out inwardly for someone to save her from this heartthrob—how could he joke at a time like this? Boss, are you sure you weren’t sent here to make trouble?

She cleared her throat and sighed. "Enough playing around. I’m being serious."

Seeing her displeased, Ling Ziheng quickly changed his tone. "Well, now I have you. I trust Director Lin can handle anything."

Bang—Lin Zhiwei felt like a condemned prisoner handed the weapon by her own comrade.

She forced a smile, "Thank you for your confidence, boss..."