The God of Wealth starts with doing whatever you want

It's cold in Beijing when it snows.

But the chill in the entertainment industry is already bone-chilling.

In the WeChat Moments and WeChat groups of people in the industry, messages came raining down like hail, making people feel uneasy.

"Have you heard? Lin Haoxuan is finished."

"The stock price of Brilliant Media has been halved, and Chairman Zhao's pledged shares are about to be liquidated."

"The tax bureau and the China Securities Regulatory Commission came to our door at the same time. This is quite a show of force... I haven't seen anything like it in years."

"Lin Haoxuan terminated all three of his international endorsements yesterday, and the penalty for breach of contract is said to be tens of millions."

"The Legend of Chusen has also been cancelled. The production company would rather lose money and replace him than use him again."

"It's not just 'The Legend of Chusen,' all the projects he was involved in have been halted."

"This is a complete disaster."

It's completely cold.

"Who told him to mess with the wrong person?"

That last sentence was like a key that opened Pandora's box.

Everyone is asking: Who exactly did Lin Haoxuan offend?

The answer quickly spread within a small circle.

One name, three characters.

Young Master Xu.

No one knew who this Young Master Xu was; they only knew a few fragmented pieces of information.

Lin Shao, one of the Four Young Masters of Beijing, personally made arrangements.

Private equity mogul Jian Shiwei has threatened to ban him.

The Zhong family mentioned it during an internal meeting.

At the same time, Fu Baoying, a tycoon of investments worth hundreds of billions, acquired Huayi Brothers in Hong Kong to deal with the Xiang family.

Every piece of information is enough to terrify even the most seasoned agents in the industry.

When this information is pieced together, a vague yet terrifying outline emerges.

That's a level that their circle can't even touch.

"Overnight..."

The owner of a film company was in a private club, shaking his head and sighing as he held a wine glass.

"How popular was Lin Haoxuan before? He had 50 million Weibo followers, endorsements were pouring in, scripts were readily available, and variety shows were scrambling to hire him."

And now? All gone overnight.

Sitting across from him was a veteran producer.

"That's not surprising."

The producer exhaled a smoke ring and slowly said, "This industry looks glamorous, but it's actually very fragile."

You may be standing on the mountaintop today, but you could fall to the bottom of the valley tomorrow.

The only difference is whose hand pushed you down.

"But wasn't Lin Haoxuan too ruthless this time?"

"ruthless?"

The producer laughed, but there was a hint of sarcasm in his smile.

"When he hired online trolls to smear Michelle, didn't he seem ruthless?"

When he had his bodyguards drive away customers in the mall, didn't he seem ruthless?

When he acted like a diva and bullied new actors on set because he had powerful connections, didn't you feel any resentment?

The boss fell silent.

"It's long overdue for someone to set some rules in this industry."

The producer stubbed out his cigarette, stood up, and said, "Some people have been arrogant for too long, so long that they've forgotten their own limitations."

Now, someone's here to teach them a lesson.

He walked to the window and looked out at the bustling Chang'an Avenue.

"I just never expected that the person who taught them how to be good people would be such a big shot."

The Chairman's Office at the headquarters of Brilliant Media.

Chairman Zhao hasn't slept for three days.

The ashtray in front of him was piled high with cigarette butts, and his desk was scattered with various documents, reports, and lawyer's letters.

On the computer screen, the stock price chart of Brilliant Media plummeted straight down like a steep cliff.

The stock price fell from 28.7 yuan per share to 10.3 yuan, a drop of more than 64%.

The shares he pledged to the bank had long since fallen below the margin call level.

The bank contacted us three times, each time with an increasingly harsh tone.

"Chairman Zhao, if the margin cannot be replenished before the market closes tomorrow, we will have no choice but to liquidate the positions."

Forced liquidation.

These four words were like four knives, piercing his heart.

If forced liquidation occurs, he will lose not only his shares, but also control of the company.

Even more alarming, the tax bureau's audit report was delivered to his desk this morning.

Over the past three years, Brilliant Media has evaded taxes through various means, totaling as much as 3.7 million yuan.

This does not include other issues that may be involved in "dual contracts," "false reimbursements," and "related-party transactions."

"Chairman Zhao, the China Securities Regulatory Commission has also sent a letter, asking us to explain several issues related to information disclosure..."

The CFO stood in front of his desk, his voice trembling.

"Furthermore, several film and television projects we previously invested in have had their investors withdraw their funding, citing 'uncontrollable project risks'..."

"roll!"

Chairman Zhao suddenly grabbed the folder on the table and slammed it to the ground.

"Get out of here, all of you!"

The people in the office felt as if they had been granted a pardon and quickly left.

After the door closed, Chairman Zhao slumped into his chair, covering his face with his hands.

It’s over.

It's all over.

He spent twenty years building Brilliant Media from a small studio into a listed company with a market value of nearly 10 billion yuan.

He has made over a dozen stars famous, controls the top-tier resource network in the entertainment industry, and has connections in the capital, political, and business circles.

But now, all of that has crumbled within three days.

And all of this stems from just one person.

Xu Yun.

"Xu Yun...Xu Yun..."

Chairman Zhao murmured the name, his eyes bloodshot.

For the past three days, he has used every connection he could and contacted everyone he could find.

From leaders in the cultural sector to friends in the propaganda system, from bigwigs in the Beijing entertainment circle to capital brokers in the Yangtze River Delta.

Everyone reacted remarkably in unison when they heard the name "Xu Yun".

First came silence.

Then came the polite refusal.

"Old Zhao, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that... I really can't get involved in this."

"Chairman Zhao, you should think of another way. Let alone this man, we can't afford to offend any of his friends."

"I advise you to admit your mistake; there might still be a chance for things to turn around."

Bowing down and admitting fault?

Chairman Zhao gave a wry smile.

He can't even see Xu Yun, how can he admit his mistake?

In the past three days, he made no less than fifty phone calls, sent more than twenty text messages, and asked seven or eight intermediaries to arrange a meeting with Xu Yun.

Even if it's just ten minutes, or five minutes.

But all efforts were in vain.

Xu Yun gave him absolutely no chance.

"Chairman."

The secretary cautiously pushed open the door and entered, holding a document in her hand.

"These are... Lin Haoxuan and Wang Qiang's resignation letters."

Chairman Zhao suddenly raised his head, a flash of fury in his eyes.

Where are they?

"Outside...outside".

"Let them in!"

The door opened again, and Lin Haoxuan and Wang Qiang walked in.

In just three days, the two looked ten years older.

Lin Haoxuan's face was deathly pale, his eyes were sunken, and his hair was disheveled; he was completely devoid of his usual radiance.

Wang Qiang wasn't in much better shape; his suit was wrinkled, his tie was crooked, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Chairman Zhao..."

As soon as Wang Qiang opened his mouth, Chairman Zhao grabbed the ashtray on the table and smashed it hard.

The ashtray grazed Wang Qiang's ear, hit the wall, and shattered into pieces.

"Useless! You two are useless!"

Chairman Zhao stood up, pointed at them, his fingers trembling.

"How much money did I spend promoting you? Huh? Lin Haoxuan! Two years! Two hundred million! I gave you the best resources in the company! And this is how you repay me?!"

Lin Haoxuan lowered his head, not daring to speak.

"And you! Wang Qiang! Did I ask you to mentor him so you could lead him into trouble?! Getting into conflicts in the mall? Hiring online trolls to smear competitors? Are your brains filled with shit?!"

"Chairman Zhao, we really didn't know..."

Wang Qiang tried to explain.

"Don't know?! Does not knowing mean you can do whatever you want?! Does not knowing mean you can offend people at will?!"

Chairman Zhao grabbed the teacup on the table and smashed it again.

This time, the tea hit Wang Qiang's shoulder, splashing him all over.

"Now it's all over! The company is going to collapse! I'm going bankrupt! Are you satisfied now?!"

The office was deathly silent.

Only Chairman Zhao's heavy breathing could be heard.

After a long while, Lin Haoxuan raised his head, his eyes filled with pleading.

"Chairman Zhao, please give us another chance... We'll go apologize to Xu Yun, we'll beg him... We'll pay whatever it takes..."

"apologize?"

Chairman Zhao sneered.

"You don't even know where they live, how can you apologize?"

"We can go find Michelle!"

Lin Haoxuan grasped at this straw like a lifeline.

"She definitely knows where Xu Yun is! Let's go to Hong Kong to find her! Let's beg her! Just say a word for us..."

Chairman Zhao looked at him with icy eyes.

After a long while, he slowly spoke.

"Last chance."

He walked to his desk, took a card from the drawer, and tossed it to Wang Qiang.

"There are five million here, which is the company's last remaining working capital."

Go to Hong Kong now, find Michelle, and by any means necessary, ask her to help you contact Xu Yun.

If we fail again this time…

He didn't continue.

But Lin Haoxuan and Wang Qiang both understood.

If they fail again this time, they will have to bear all the consequences.

"Thank you, Chairman Zhao! Thank you, Chairman Zhao!"

Wang Qiang picked up the card and bowed repeatedly.

"We will definitely do it! We definitely will!"

That afternoon, Lin Haoxuan and Wang Qiang boarded a flight to Hong Kong.

In first class, the two remained silent.

Lin Haoxuan was wearing a mask and sunglasses, covering himself up completely, but the occasional flight attendant still recognized him, her eyes filled with surprise and sympathy.

Wang Qiang kept staring out the window, clutching the bank card tightly in his hand.

five million.

This might be their last chance.

The plane landed at Hong Kong International Airport at 8 p.m.

The two had no luggage and took a taxi directly to the hotel that Fu Baoying had arranged for Michelle.

It was a five-star hotel located in Central, with tight security, and ordinary tourists couldn't get in at all.

"We are Miss Michelle's friends, and we need to see her urgently."

Wang Qiang said to the receptionist.

The receptionist smiled politely.

Do you have an appointment?

"No, but it's really urgent..."

"I'm sorry, we can't let you up without an appointment."

Wang Qiang gritted his teeth and took out the bank card from his pocket.

“There are five million here. If you let us up, I’ll give you 10.”

The receptionist's expression changed.

"Sir, please have some self-respect."

"50 million!"

Lin Haoxuan suddenly spoke and took off his sunglasses.

"I'll give you 50! Just tell us which room Michelle is in!"

The receptionist recognized him, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her professional indifference.

"Mr. Lin, I'm sorry, we cannot disclose guest information."

If you have a real emergency, you can call Ms. Mi.

Call up?
If they had Michelle's phone number, would they need to come here?
"I beg you……"

Lin Haoxuan's voice was trembling with sobs.

"I really have an emergency... it concerns my life..."

The receptionist looked at him, a hint of pity flashing in her eyes, but ultimately shook her head.

"Sorry, that's the rule."

Regulation.

These two words were like two knives stuck in Lin Haoxuan's heart.

He used to be someone who could disregard the rules. But now, he can't even persuade a hotel receptionist.

"How to do?"

Wang Qiang pulled him aside and asked in a low voice.

"Wait."

Lin Haoxuan gritted his teeth.

"We'll wait in the lobby; she'll come out eventually."

The two sat down on a sofa in the corner of the lobby, their eyes fixed on the elevator entrance.

Time passed by, second by second.

10 PM, 11 PM, 12 AM...

Michelle did not appear.

At one o'clock in the morning, a burly man in a black suit walked over.

"Gentlemen, the hotel is being cleared out. Please leave."

"We're waiting for someone..."

"Waiting for whom?"

"Miss Michelle."

The man laughed, a laugh tinged with mockery.

"Miss Mi is already resting and will not see you. Please leave."

"We'll just sit here and not disturb anyone..."

Lin Haoxuan tried to argue, but the man had already reached out and grabbed his arm.

Those hands were like iron clamps, incredibly strong.

"Sir, please don't make things difficult for us."

Wang Qiang quickly stood up, trying to smooth things over.

"Sir, we really have an urgent matter, please make an exception..."

"Make an exception?"

The man glanced at him.

"President Fu instructed that no one is allowed to disturb Miss Mi's rest. If you two don't leave soon, I will have to call security."

Mr. Fu.

Fu Baoying.

Lin Haoxuan and Wang Qiang exchanged a glance, both seeing despair in each other's eyes.

It turns out that Fu Baoying had already made arrangements.

They couldn't even see Michelle.

"Let's go."

Lin Haoxuan stood up, his voice hoarse.

The two walked out of the hotel and stood on the streets of Hong Kong late at night.

The evening breeze was chilly, making them shiver.

"What do we do now?"

Wang Qiang asked.

Lin Haoxuan remained silent.

He looked at the bustling Central district before him, with its towering buildings and dazzling lights.

This was once the place of his dreams.

He once dreamed that one day he could stand here and become an international superstar in the spotlight.

But now, standing here, he looks like a stray dog.

They couldn't even get into a hotel.

"Go through the back door."

He said suddenly.

"what?"

"The hotel must have a back door, an employee entrance. Let's go there and wait."

Wang Qiang was stunned.

"Haoxuan, you..."

"This is the last chance."

Lin Haoxuan looked at him, his eyes bloodshot.

"If we fail again this time, we're really finished."

Wang Qiang fell silent.

After a long silence, he nodded.

The two went around to the back of the hotel and found an inconspicuous side door.

That's the staff entrance; occasionally, uniformed servers come and go.

They hid in the shadows across the street, their eyes fixed on the door.

Two in the morning, three in the morning, four in the morning...

The nights in Hong Kong have never been so long.

At five o'clock in the morning, the sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn.

The side door suddenly opened.

A woman dressed in sportswear, wearing a baseball cap and a mask came out.

Although it was well covered up, Lin Haoxuan still recognized it at a glance.

It's Michelle.

She goes for a run every morning; it's her habit.

"Miss Mi!"

Lin Haoxuan rushed over.

Michelle paused for a moment, then her eyes turned cold when she saw who it was.

"Mr. Lin, is there something you need?"

"Miss Mi, please, please help us..."

Lin Haoxuan knelt down with a thud.

Wang Qiang also knelt down.

"We know we were wrong, we really know we were wrong... Please, please help us contact Mr. Xu so we can apologize to him in person..."

Michelle took a step back, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

She looked at the two people kneeling in front of her.

One of them was a popular celebrity who was surrounded by fans and acted arrogantly in the mall just three days ago.

One is an arrogant and domineering agent who doesn't respect anyone.

Now, they're kneeling here, like two dogs.

"I can't help you."

Michelle's voice was cold.

"No one can change Mr. Xu's decision."

"Miss Mi! Please!"

Lin Haoxuan grabbed her trouser leg, tears streaming down his face.

"I'll do anything for you! I'll give you money! I'll kneel down for you! I'll kowtow to you!"

As he spoke, he actually began to kowtow.

His forehead slammed against the cold cement floor with a dull thud.

One, two, three...

Wang Qiang also kowtowed.

Two grown men were kneeling in the alley behind the hotel, kowtowing to a woman.

If this scene were captured by paparazzi, it would definitely be tomorrow's headline.

But Michelle just watched quietly.

There was no sympathy, no pity.

"Mr. Lin, if you had known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place?"

She said softly.

"When you hired online trolls to smear me, did you ever think this day would come?"
When you had bodyguards pushing people around in the mall, did you ever think this day would come?
When you took advantage of your fame to bully this person and that person, did you ever think about this day coming to pass?

Lin Haoxuan stopped what he was doing.

He looked up and saw that his forehead was scraped and bleeding.

"I was wrong... I was really wrong..."

"If you make a mistake, you have to pay the price."

Michelle turned around, ready to leave.

"Miss Mi!"

Lin Haoxuan crawled over and hugged her legs.

"Give us one more chance! The last chance!"

Michelle frowned.

"Let go."

"We won't let you go! Unless you agree to help us!"

"you……"

Just as Michelle was about to say something, footsteps suddenly came from the alley entrance.

Two men in black suits walked over quickly.

It was Fu Baoying who arranged the bodyguard for her.

"Miss Mi, are you alright?"

"fine."

Michelle broke free from Lin Haoxuan's hand.

"Take them away."

"Yes."

Two bodyguards stepped forward and grabbed Lin Haoxuan and Wang Qiang from the left and right.

"Miss Mi! Please! Please!"

Lin Haoxuan was still struggling and pleading.

But the bodyguard was too strong, and he couldn't break free at all.

The two were dragged out of the alley and thrown onto the street.

At 5 a.m., there were already early risers on the streets of Hong Kong.

They watched as the two men were thrown out, pointing and whispering amongst themselves.

Lin Haoxuan lay motionless on the ground.

Wang Qiang sat up, staring blankly in the direction of the hotel.

It’s over.

This time, it's really over.

Meanwhile, in Jiangcheng.

Xu Yun and Jiang Peiyao had just gotten off the plane.

The temperature in Jiangcheng is much higher than in Beijing, and the autumn sun is warm and comfortable on the skin.

"I'm going to the Red Cross first; I have a meeting this afternoon."

Jiang Peiyao said.

"it is good."

Xu Yun nodded.

"Shall we have dinner together tonight?"

"Not necessarily, it might be later."

"Then I'll wait for you."

Xu Yun kissed her on the forehead.

"Take care and get some rest, don't overwork yourself."

"Know it."

Jiang Peiyao smiled, waved, and got into the car.

Xu Yun watched her leave before turning around and getting into another car.

"Mr. Xu, where are you going?"

"I asked the driver."

"Let's go to Miss Zhong's place first."

"Yes."

The car drove smoothly out of the airport.

Xu Yun leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest.

My phone vibrated.

It was a message from Fu Baoying.

"Lin Haoxuan and Wang Qiang came to Hong Kong and knelt down at the hotel entrance begging Michelle, but were thrown out by the bodyguards."

Xu Yun glanced at it but did not reply.

After a while, Lin Zhengyu suddenly sent another message.

"Chairman Zhao asked one last person, a retired senior leader from Beijing, to invite you to dinner."

Xu Yun replied with a single word.

"not see."

"clear."

The phone hangs up.

Xu Yun opened her eyes and looked at the familiar street scene of Jiangcheng outside the window.

He knew that at this moment in Beijing, in Hong Kong, and in the hearts of many people, this winter was very cold.

But what does this have to do with him?

He was just an ordinary customer.

An ordinary customer in a shopping mall who refuses to give way.

That's it.

The car turned onto a quiet street and stopped in front of a manor.

Zhong Yanyan was already standing at the door waiting for him.

In the sunlight, her smile was as warm as the winter sun.

Xu Yun got out of the car and walked towards her.

In the world behind him, all the noise, all the collapse, all the pleas and despair were irrelevant to him.

He just wanted to see the people he wanted to see.

That's all. (End of Chapter)