Free Web NovelChapter 517: Chapter 447: Competent Assistant
Now, Yang Xiao didn’t know how to explain himself; he obviously couldn’t tell the truth, admitting he had brought Yellow Hair and the others for a walk in the Ghost World. He had no choice but to brush it off with a smile, "Zhao, as long as you’re happy, that’s good."
"What kind of talk is that? The script’s a hit; we should all be happy!" Zhao extinguished the cigarette in his hand, his eyes full of satisfaction as he looked at Yang Xiao. "Little Yang, I’ve thought it over. On top of our original agreement, I’ll give you an extra 20% of the net profits. And it’s not just for the Fenmen Ghost Shadow script, it applies to any script you write in the future."
"This... how could that be?" Yang Xiao was pleasantly shocked.
Waving his hand, Zhao cut off Yang Xiao’s response and signaled for him to let him finish. "Little Yang, you’re a talent. Consider it as if you’ve invested in us. More work, more gain, and that way, you’ll put even more heart into writing scripts."
"Thank you, Zhao."
"It’s not you who should thank me; it’s I who should thank you. Little Yang, I believe that with your talent, one day you’ll write the best scripts and carve out a path of your own." Zhao’s confidence in Yang Xiao was as strong as ever, and it greatly encouraged Yang Xiao.
Yang Xiao had underestimated the popularity of the Fenmen Ghost Shadow script. Not long after his conversation with Zhao, someone from a TV station actually came rushing over. Yang Xiao couldn’t show his face, so Zhao took over the interview.
Having battled his way through society for many years, Zhao’s words were watertight. He first denied the rumors that someone had died in the Script Club, but soon brought the conversation back around, subtly hinting that some strange incidents had occurred during the author’s writing process. But when the reporters grew interested and pressed for details, Zhao clammed up, mentioning only that the author had adapted some of these strange incidents into the script.
The implicit message was simple: you’ll know if you try it; if you don’t, you won’t—anyway, I can’t tell you for free.
Then the reporters asked about some topics that the audience was most interested in, and Zhao answered them all, likewise leaving many questions hanging, such as hinting at inexplicable weird incidents that had happened during the renovation of the script’s room. freewēbnoveℓ.com
But Zhao handled the issue of "boundaries" just right, piquing everyone’s curiosity without letting them think he was fabricating mysteries.
"Boss Zhao, I have one last question. What kind of person is the scriptwriter who goes by the pseudonym Gentle Persuader?" asked a young and trendy female reporter.
Zhao offered a slight smile. "He is the most talented, the most charming, and the most mysterious of all scriptwriters I know."
"You didn’t say hardworking. Is it because he isn’t hardworking enough?" The female reporter tried to dig for new explosive material and to create conflict.
"1 part effort, 8 parts talent."
"And... the final part?" the female reporter curiously pressed on.
"I think it must be his handsome face and that damnably bewitching charm." Zhao gave the reporter a mysterious smile, wrapping up the interview perfectly.
At this moment, Yang Xiao knew nothing of what had happened here; he had quietly left the Script Club early and returned to his apartment. He was planning to go to Xiang Ma Town tonight for a transaction at the Peace Hotel. freeweɓnøvel.com
He had prepared the bargaining chips for the trade: an entire Black Dog Skin, which he had obtained while solving the Ghost Biting Incident in the South City Scientists’ Garden. Worried that it wouldn’t be enough, he also brought a suitcase filled with gold bars.
Afterward, he sent a message to his runner in Xiang Ma Town, Ling Yanyu, to meet him at the edge of the town at the appointed time. However, it wasn’t until an hour later that he received a reply. Yanyu politely declined, saying he was busy and asking Yang Xiao to come another time. The excuses were flimsy, and Yang Xiao immediately realized he was being lied to.
The kid dared to lie to him, something Yang Xiao hadn’t expected. He pretended to agree, intending to investigate secretly at night.
After dark, Yang Xiao changed his clothes and quietly left his apartment using the power of the Soul-Capturing Mirror. He hailed an unlicensed taxi, reached a price agreement and headed straight for Xiang Ma Town.
The journey went incredibly smoothly. When he arrived at the town, it wasn’t even 10 o’clock. He didn’t contact Ling Yanyu but instead walked the empty streets alone with his cap pulled down. Soon, he found the Nie Family Teahouse, which Yanyu ran.
To be on the safe side, Yang Xiao used the Soul-Capturing Mirror again to secretly slip into the teahouse, but to his surprise, it was bustling inside with over a dozen burly men covered in dragon and tiger tattoos drinking. Among them, Yanyu was nowhere to be seen.
The same old van that had once dropped off Yang Xiao was still parked in the garage; he remembered Yanyu mentioning it was an unlicensed vehicle.
After leaving the Nie Family Teahouse, Yang Xiao found a deserted spot and called Yanyu, telling him he had arrived in Xiang Ma Town and was on his way to the teahouse.
Upon hearing this, Yanyu’s voice from the other end of the phone became noticeably nervous. He told Yang Xiao he wasn’t at the Nie Family Teahouse and asked him to come to the Shatong Inn instead. After getting the location, Yang Xiao made his way alone to the Shatong Inn and soon saw Ling Yanyu in a small room there.
The room was remote and dilapidated, without even a private bathroom, and discarded bread wrappers were visible in a filthy trash can, showcasing clear impoverishment.
Upon seeing that Yanyu had a scarf wrapped around his neck, covering half his face, Yang Xiao immediately understood everything but still feigned ignorance and asked, "Why are you staying here now?"
"Recently... I’ve been negotiating a deal, and living here is more convenient." Yanyu warmly greeted Yang Xiao. "Jiang, take a seat; I’ll brew you some tea."
