PCMWF Chapter 147

No one helped him up. The brand had sent a legal notice. The videos were real. The persona Du Ze had carefully crafted had been destroyed. The agent and the company could still cultivate other artists, reallocating Du Ze’s resources. But the studio staff were in a different position. They depended on Du Ze for their livelihood. If he were forced to retire, they might not be able to find work again. Everyone looked at Du Ze with resentment.

“What do we do now?” Their voices were shaky.

The agent snorted: “What else? Apologize and pay up. If the brand escalates this, it won’t be just money.”

Du Ze didn’t say a word. He picked up his phone, repeatedly refreshing his chat with Wang Shilan. He couldn’t believe she was being so heartless. How could she just divorce him? What would he do now?

“…I can’t record an apology video looking like this,” Du Ze said, his face swollen.

The agent was already setting up the camera, shoving a pre-written apology letter at Du Ze. “Memorize this quickly. Do I need to teach you how to apologize? You’re good at acting, aren’t you? To salvage your reputation, you need to act pitiful and sincere.”

Du Ze stood in front of the camera, humiliated, silently memorizing the lines. The agent didn’t care if the video worked. He was going to drop Du Ze anyway.

“Now, pay the compensation to the brand. Three hundred and fifty thousand yuan.”

Du Ze bit his lip until it bled. He pulled out his phone and transferred the money, which was exactly the amount Wang Shilan had paid to the brand as the penalty. The apology video was posted on all platforms. Most people were just there for the drama; the more chaos, the better. Du Ze couldn’t look at his phone. He kept messaging Wang Shilan. Little did he know, Wang Shilan was in a meeting room nearby. She was still sick, but she looked well, with a satisfied smile on her lips. Du Ze had posted his apology. The comments were full of mockery. Some even said he’d swollen his face with makeup to fake sympathy.

[What were you doing before? Why wait until now? You’re only apologizing because you couldn’t handle the pressure.]

[I’m not saying anything else. I just feel sorry for Niu Niu. She’s so young. She was so happy as a flower girl. In the video, she looked so wronged by Du Ze.]

[Boycott gold-diggers! Ladies, don’t marry down. This is a prime example.]

[An hour ago, I thought the video was too absurd to be true. Now I’m furious. I can’t look at Du Ze the same way.]

[……]

After the apology video and letter were posted, the agent left without looking back.

Du Ze tried to stop him. “Brother Tian, you… you won’t abandon me, will you?”

Tian sneered, shaking off his hand. “Du Ze, you’re an adult. You need to take responsibility for your actions. Isn’t that what you told a rookie before? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten.”

Tian had always known Du Ze wasn’t a good person. One of his rookies had been targeted by Du Ze in the past, almost driven to quit by a flood of negative articles. The reason was that the director had given the rookie an extra scene, and Du Ze felt shown up. After Tian left, the studio staff followed. No one stayed.

Two minutes later, Wang Shilan and her team passed by the office. Du Ze was still standing there, staring after Tian and the others. It was only then that he understood that Wang Shilan was more than just a tool for advancement. Without her, no one would take him seriously. One wrong step without her protection and he’d be ruined. He hated the people who had edited the videos. The online comments were unbearable.

He racked his brain, trying to figure out who was behind this. He thought of male actors he’d competed with for roles, everyone he’d ever argued with backstage. He even thought of Mi Huan and Shen Yan, but he never suspected the one who had orchestrated his downfall: Wang Shilan. Footsteps approached. Du Ze stepped aside, looking up to see the short-haired woman surrounded by her team.

“Honey—”

Du Ze rushed forward, but Wang Shilan’s assistant pushed him away. Wang Shilan looked at him silently. Du Ze’s face was red and swollen, his steps unsteady, like a zombie. Everyone stepped back, waiting for Wang Shilan’s next move. Honestly, Wang Shilan was mortified. She was ashamed for having liked such a man.

Du Ze straightened up, wiped his face, and stepped closer, looking pitiful. “Honey.”

“You have to help me. They’re all bullying me.”

He didn’t care who was watching. He knew Wang Shilan had a soft spot for him when he played weak.

Wang Shilan smiled faintly. “Come here.”

Du Ze leaned in, ears perked.

“You haven’t gotten the news yet, have you? I consulted a friend. What you did to Niu Niu was illegal. I’ve had the complaint and evidence prepared. I can file a lawsuit at any time.”

Du Ze’s head spun, as if split open by an axe. He knew Wang Shilan well enough to know she had no tolerance for this. He finally accepted that there was no going back.

Wang Shilan was pleased with his reaction. “However, since we were married, I’ll give you another option.”

Du Ze looked up.

“Pay Niu Niu a sum for emotional damages. Sign the divorce papers tomorrow. I won’t sue you.”

“You know, a tainted male actor who’s offended me has no future in this industry.”

Du Ze weighed his options. He’d spent Wang Shilan’s money on everything for the last two years, and she’d never questioned his income. Even if he left the industry, he’d have enough to live comfortably on. But if he faced a lawsuit, he’d be humiliated, and the media would have a field day. Everyone would watch him slink out of the industry like a stray dog. He couldn’t bear the shame. It was better to pay up, cut all ties with Wang Shilan and Niu Niu, and claim it was an amicable split.

“Fine. How much?”

Wang Shilan had calculated his income over the past two years. She smiled and said, “Thirty million.”

(AN: In this fictional setting, there is no cooling-off period for divorce. The financial figures are made up.)

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