After realizing who Li Mubai really was, Jiang Chenghua wasn't just feeling uneasy, his head hurt even more than before.
He had kept his dark gray cap on the entire time, even after Lu Chen and the others arrived. It wasn't because he lacked manners or was trying to be disrespectful. The cap was hiding the bandages wrapped around his head.
Jiang Tai had thrown that ashtray with frightening force. It hadn't just split Jiang Chenghua's scalp open, it had left him with a slight skull fracture and a concussion. If not for today's apology banquet, he would probably still be in the hospital.
Which meant Jiang Chenghua knew exactly how furious his father had been. And the real reason for that fury was most likely the smiling, carefree young man sitting right across from him.
Now that he knew Li Mubai's identity, Jiang Chenghua became even more polite and cautious.
Suppressing his bitterness, he stood up, picked up the teapot, and slowly poured a cup of hot tea. Then, the normally proud young master of the Jiang family held the cup with both hands and respectfully offered it to Lu Chen.
"Young Master Lu, I failed to recognize who I was dealing with and offended you. Please accept my sincerest apology."
This cup of tea carried immense significance. It represented Jiang Chenghua's most formal apology, placing his pride on the line for Lu Chen to judge.
If Lu Chen refused to accept it, it would be the equivalent of stomping on Jiang Chenghua's dignity. At that point, there would be no possibility of reconciliation.
Of course, that assumed Jiang Chenghua actually had the strength to continue fighting. Otherwise, he would simply become the laughingstock of the entire underworld.
Lu Chen paused for a moment.
Honghua had caused him endless trouble. Production had even been forced to halt because of their interference. If he forgave Jiang Chenghua that easily, it would only diminish his own standing.
Li Mubai suddenly snorted. Tapping the table with a finger, he said in a mocking tone,
"So one cup of tea settles everything? That's a pretty cheap deal. Next time, maybe I'll toss a couple of dead dogs into the Fuyuan and Pengfei factories, then pour a cup of tea and call it even."
Jiang Chenghua's heart skipped a beat.
That confirmed it.
Fuyuan and Pengfei were the Jiang Group's two major factories on the Mainland. Both were currently under investigation by tax authorities and environmental regulators, giving Jiang Tai endless headaches.
For Li Mubai to mention them so casually... there could no longer be any doubt about who he was.
Jiang Chenghua hurriedly offered a smile. "Young Master Li, you're exaggerating. I've also prepared a gift as part of my apology."
He gave a subtle signal. The assistant standing behind him immediately stepped forward and presented Lu Chen with a thin envelope.
Jiang Chenghua added, "It's only a small token of my sincerity. I hope you'll accept it."
Lu Chen glanced at Li Mubai, who gave a slight nod. Only then did Lu Chen open the envelope.
Inside was a cashier's check from the Bank of China for 'ten million yuan'.
Jiang Chenghua clearly knew that Lu Chen had donated five million yuan to the Small Pet Protection Association during his battle against Honghua. Now he was offering twice that amount as compensation.
His sincerity was obvious.
At that moment, Liu Zhenghao finally spoke up. "Young Master Lu, Xiao Jiang was certainly in the wrong this time. But he was misled and manipulated by someone else. Let's value harmony and make peace."
Lu Chen's eyes flickered. He put the check back into the envelope and handed it to Zhang Xiaofang for safekeeping.
Then he smiled faintly. "Since Fifth Master has spoken, I naturally have to give him face. Let's consider this matter settled."
As he spoke, he accepted the tea from Jiang Chenghua.
The instant Lu Chen took the cup, the atmosphere inside Crane Hall visibly relaxed. Liu Zhenghao, Zhou Yi, and everyone else smiled.
As Liu Zhenghao had said, harmony created prosperity. The era of solving everything with fists and knives had ended decades ago.
Lu Chen drained the tea in one gulp and gently set the cup back on the table. "However..."
However?
Jiang Chenghua's expression stiffened. What he feared most was Lu Chen refusing to let things end there and demanding even more.
Lu Chen looked him straight in the eye. "There's one thing I'm curious about. Who exactly was the one who misled you into targeting me?"
Jiang Chenghua let out a long breath instead. With a bitter smile, he said, "It's embarrassing to admit, but since you want to know, I'll tell you everything."
In truth, even if Lu Chen hadn't asked, he had intended to reveal it himself.
Born into one of Hong Kong's wealthiest families, Jiang Chenghua had enjoyed every privilege since childhood. Even after starting his own business, he had rarely suffered any major setbacks. This defeat, however, had been devastating.
Because of that, the person he hated most wasn't Lu Chen, it was the man who had talked him into making Lu Chen his enemy.
That man was none other than Cui Xingxian, the head of Huaguan Film.
Huaguan Film was one of the top ten film companies in the country and a subsidiary of Huaguan Entertainment Group. Its general manager, Cui Xingxian, was only in his early thirties and one of the rising stars in the Mainland film industry.
Like many ambitious young executives, Cui Xingxian was never content to stay still. When the Hong Kong government and the Mainland jointly introduced the new film support policy, he immediately recognized the opportunity.
As soon as news of the policy spread, Huaguan Film established a branch in Hong Kong. Cui Xingxian personally took charge there, and their new film was already deep into production.
Jiang Chenghua explained, "I met Cui Xingxian at a banquet. I wanted to cooperate with him, and he proposed dealing with you first. He promised that once it was done, he'd invest in my film company."
Lu Chen frowned. "Do you know why he wanted to target us?"
He had certainly heard of Huaguan Film, but he had never met Cui Xingxian. There had never been any grudge between them.
Jiang Chenghua held nothing back. "First, your films are competing against each other. Your movie is 'A Chinese Ghost Story'. His is 'Painted Skin'."
'Painted Skin.'
Understanding dawned on Lu Chen immediately.
'Painted Skin' was also adapted from 'Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio'. That meant the two films belonged to the same genre. When the government selected projects for the new film support program, they would inevitably become direct competitors.
The first round of the Hong Kong support policy offered only twenty slots, so competition was already fierce. Two films based on the same source material would naturally be competing for the exact same opportunities.
Huaguan Film had every reason to sabotage 'A Chinese Ghost Story' before it even reached the selection process.
Lu Chen let out a cold laugh. "They sure think highly of me."
Whether in terms of size or industry influence, Lu Chen Studio was nowhere near Huaguan Film's level. Yet Cui Xingxian had still considered him enough of a threat to interfere. It was almost flattering.
Jiang Chenghua hesitated before adding, "There's another reason. I heard Cui Xingxian once pursued Chen Fei'er."
Lu Chen was rendered speechless.
So that was it. The man had failed to win Chen Fei'er's heart... and ended up taking his resentment out on him.
At last, the whole truth had come to light.
(End Of This Chapter)
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