Return to 88: Starting from Marrying My Sister-in-law

Shanghai, the president's office of Pearl Media.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the Huangpu River flows, and the neon lights at dusk outline the bustling silhouette of this city that never sleeps.

However, the air inside the office was frozen solid.

Yin Mingzhu stood with her back to the door, her fingertips gripping a fax document. Her knuckles turned white from the force, and the pale blue veins on the back of her hand bulged slightly.

That document was a formal yet chilling notice from Zhejiang TV announcing the cancellation of the cooperation.

"What?" She turned around abruptly, her voice like a blade chilled to ice, piercing the female assistant who stood at her sides in front of the desk, not daring to breathe.

"Cancel the cooperation? Why?!"

The female assistant, startled by the raging storm in her eyes, took a step back and stammered, "The station...the station said...that there have been...new adjustments to the program filing process, which doesn't align with their latest strategic plan..."

"Bullshit!" Yin Mingzhu interrupted sharply, slamming the fax onto the smooth mahogany table with a loud "smack".

"Strategic planning? Last week they were confidently saying it was the focus of this quarter! The filing was all done, just waiting for the final stamp and signature! Now they're telling me the process has been adjusted? Do you think you can fool a three-year-old with this kind of nonsense?"

Anger raged within her. The gloom from her unpleasant conversation with her sister, Yin Mingyue, at the Hangzhou hotel a few days earlier, and the final question, "He has another woman," hadn't yet dissipated when this unexpected attack from her "ally" came!

The program she meticulously planned and invested huge resources in was about to be launched, but it was abruptly canceled at the last minute!

She grabbed the landline on the table and dialed the dedicated line for Director Zhao of Zhejiang TV, relying on her memory.

The phone rang several times before being answered, and Director Zhao's usual smooth, bureaucratic voice came through: "Hello? Who is this?"

"Director Zhao, it's me, Yin Mingzhu!" Yin Mingzhu's voice was trying her best to suppress her anger, but it still revealed an aggressive chill.

"I would like to ask, our Mingzhu Media has been preparing for 'Super Boy' for more than half a year. The filing is complete, the initial communication is smooth, and we are about to sign the contract. Why did the station suddenly unilaterally cancel it? I need a reasonable explanation!"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a long, feigned sigh from Director Zhao: "Oh, Mr. Yin, please calm down. You know how TV stations are—big companies with lots of rules and regulations. Canceling the cooperation isn't something I can decide on my own; it's a carefully considered decision made by the station's senior management after much deliberation and numerous meetings. There's absolutely no intention to target you personally, Mr. Yin! Really! If the cooperation doesn't work out this time, there's always next time. There's plenty of time..."

"Next time?" Yin Mingzhu let out a sharp, cold laugh, as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world. The laugh was full of sarcasm and distrust.

"Director Zhao, the program has already reached the final stage of registration, and you can go back on your word like this? You have absolutely no sense of contractual responsibility or business integrity! Do you think I, Yin Mingzhu, will still believe your so-called 'next time'? Is the credibility of your Zhejiang TV station only worth these few flimsy words?"

Her chest heaved violently with anger, and a fierce aura rose in her carefully drawn eyebrows and eyes.

This is not just about losing a project; it is a denial of her abilities, a blow to her company's reputation, and an insult to Yin Mingzhu herself!

Especially at this crucial moment when she was putting all her effort into competing with her good friend Xu Siqi's Sifei Media and the Fruit TV station, which was closely tied to Sifei Media!

The program she tailored for Zhejiang TV was a bombshell aimed at competing with Hunan TV's hit shows!

"Since that's how you interpret it, Mr. Yin, there's nothing I can do about it."

Director Zhao's voice also turned cold, carrying a hint of anger and impatience at being exposed as a pretense, completely adopting a rogue-like attitude.

"I can only express my regret. This is the station's decision, and it cannot be changed. Mr. Yin, let's part ways amicably."

He didn't even bother with any further futile explanations.

"Fine! Director Zhao, what a fine 'parting on good terms'!" Yin Mingzhu's voice was like a poisoned icicle, each word striking the microphone.

"I hope you won't regret it! I, Yin Mingzhu, am watching! I want to see what trump card your Zhejiang TV will use this year to compete with Hunan TV's 'Super Girl' without my Mingzhu Media's 'Happy Boys'? What will you use to compete for ratings? Rely on your old, mediocre programs that copy others' ideas?!"

The local TV stations have been fiercely competing over the past year.

Hubei Provincial Fruit TV, relying on the planning of Xu Shisi's Shifei Media and the influence of her mother within the station, has achieved unparalleled success with phenomenal variety shows such as "Happy Camp," "Day Day Up," and "Super Girl."

As a pursuer, Zhejiang TV has always regarded Yin Mingzhu's Mingzhu Media as an important external ally. The two sides jointly launched several programs that imitated Hunan TV. Although they failed to surpass Hunan TV, they were able to stabilize their position and form a counterbalance.

Yin Mingzhu poured a lot of effort into creating "Super Boy," which was her carefully designed and prepared trump card to challenge Hunan TV's dominance in the weekend prime time slot!

Now that Zhejiang TV has unilaterally broken the contract, it's as if she has directly rendered her most powerful weapon useless.

"Then there's no need for you to trouble yourself, Mr. Yin!" Director Zhao replied curtly, clearly offended.

"Lantai has its own arrangements! Mr. Yin, you should worry more about your own company! Goodbye!"

After saying that, before Yin Mingzhu could speak again, the phone was hung up with a "click," leaving only the busy tone ringing in Yin Mingzhu's ears.

"Damn it!" Yin Mingzhu slammed the microphone back onto the landline, the loud noise startling her assistant outside the door.

She leaned on the table, breathing heavily, the anger in her chest almost burning her up.

The sudden change of heart by Lantai was no accident! Director Zhao's evasive and evasive attitude, and that phrase "targeting individuals"... a vague thought slithered into her mind like a venomous snake.

Guangzhou! Victory celebration banquet! That man—Lu Yang!
She clearly remembered that after she left the coffee shop that day, filled with resentment and that thunderous question, Director Zhao seemed to be holding a wine glass, fawningly approaching Lu Yang, who was surrounded by a crowd...

It's him! It must be him again! Lu Yang!
Even though he said nothing and did nothing!

But as long as their well-known "old grudge" exists, as long as Yin Mingyue is still Lu Yang's wife, and Yin Mingzhu is that "unpopular" sister-in-law... her identity itself is enough to become a perfect reason for some people to curry favor with Lu Yang and stab her in the back!
The cancellation of cooperation with Zhejiang TV is hardly some kind of strategic adjustment; it's clearly a "politically correct" choice made by Director Zhao, a treacherous opportunist, to curry favor with that guy or avoid offending him!

“Lu Yang… Yin Mingyue…” Yin Mingzhu gritted her teeth as she uttered these two names, the hatred and humiliation in her eyes almost tangible.

The failures of her two previous ventures were more or less influenced by Lu Yang.

She thought that by starting anew in Shanghai and getting away from their sphere of influence, she could carve out her own path. However, she never expected that the invisible shadow would still follow her like a shadow!
They didn't even need to lift a finger; their "relationship" alone was enough to make it impossible for her to move an inch!
. . .

In the afternoon, still in Shanghai, at a high-end apartment near Mingzhu Media.

This is Ma Xiulan's residence.

The living room was filled with the cheerful laughter of children.

Lu Xin'er and Lu Fan, the two little ones, were like two frolicking deer, circling around their grandmother.

Ma Xiulan wore a bright, modernized cheongsam, her hair was perfectly permed, and her face was beaming with joy. She would pick up her grandson and kiss him, and then hug her granddaughter and call her her darling.

The coffee table was piled high with imported snacks and toys she had specially bought for the children. "Grandma, Grandma, look at the castle I built!" Lu Fan exclaimed excitedly, holding up a crooked "building" made of blocks.

"Oh my, my little darling is so amazing! This castle is even more magnificent than the stage my grandma used to perform on in the performing arts troupe!" Ma Xiulan praised him generously, and then stuffed a piece of chocolate into Lu Fan's mouth.

Yin Mingyue sat on the sofa to the side, watching the happy scene of her mother and child. A gentle smile appeared on her face, and the gloom brought on by her sister's questioning in recent days seemed to have dissipated a lot.

I was able to bring the children to see my mother this time thanks to Lu Yang's thoughtful arrangements.

She was just about to have a private chat with her mother when she heard the sound of a key turning in the lock from the entryway.

The door opened, and Yin Mingzhu appeared in the doorway.

Seeing the lively scene in the living room, especially the gentle, smiling figure on the sofa, she was first stunned. Then, the anger from her encounter at the company today and when she questioned her sister at the hotel in Hangzhou suddenly flared up like dry tinder doused with oil!

Her movements as she changed her shoes were ruthless, and her gaze shot towards Yin Mingyue like a sharp arrow.

"Ha, what a rare guest. Why is Mrs. Lu not in Hangzhou enjoying your victory celebration, but instead bringing her precious daughter to my humble abode?" Yin Mingzhu's voice was icy, filled with undisguised sarcasm.

She walked straight to the center of the living room and looked down at her younger sister.

Yin Mingyue's smile froze, and she stood up somewhat helplessly: "Sister... I brought the children to see Mom..."

"Looking at Mom?" Yin Mingzhu's gaze swept over Ma Xiulan, who was holding Lu Fan and whose smile had faded, before finally fixing on Yin Mingyue's face. A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips. "I think you're here to laugh at me, or to confirm whether the stab you gave me in the back has completely killed me?"

"Sister! What are you saying?" Yin Mingyue's face turned pale, completely bewildered by her sister's sudden and overwhelming anger.

"What did I say?" Yin Mingzhu took a step forward, closing in on Yin Mingyue, her voice suddenly rising, filled with the anger and accusation of betrayal. "I'm asking you! Was it you two? Was it you two who were pulling the strings behind the scenes again?! Did you ruin the cooperation with Lantai?! Just because I said a few words to you in Hangzhou that day?! Is your bastard so eager to kill me off?!"

"Lantai? Cooperation?" Yin Mingyue was completely dumbfounded and quickly shook her head. "Sister, you've misunderstood! What Lantai cooperation? We don't know anything about it! Brother Lu Yang, he..."

"Shut up!" Yin Mingzhu interrupted sharply, and hearing the address "Brother Lu Yang" only added fuel to the fire.

"Don't mention him in front of me! Just hearing his name from your mouth makes me feel disgusted!"
You don't know?
Ha, you're really good at pretending!
"I saw Director Zhao of Zhejiang TV bowing and scraping to Lu Yang at your celebration banquet, and then he turned around and tore up my contract! Is there really such a coincidence? You dare say it has nothing to do with you?!"

Her gaze shifted to Ma Xiulan, filled with a fierce urge for confirmation and accusation: "Mom! Listen to this! You be the judge! Ask your good daughter if it really was them! Is it them who are sabotaging me again, cutting off my path! If so, Mom, I beg you, please beg them for me! Can you please let me go?! I've already paid so much for my choice! Isn't that enough? What more do they want?! Do they want to drive me to my death?!"

As she finished speaking, her voice trembled slightly and choked with despair.

Looking at her eldest daughter's excited expression and then at her youngest daughter's pale and panicked face, Ma Xiulan felt both heartache and helplessness.

She put Lu Fan down from her arms, stood up and tried to comfort him: "Mingzhu, don't panic, don't scare the child... Mingyue, tell Mom the truth."

She looked at Yin Mingyue, her tone heavy and pleading.

"Did you... or Xiao Lu's side... put in a good word for her? If so... Mom... Mom is begging you, please, have mercy on your sister this time! This startup has been so difficult for her... she really can't afford any more trouble..."

"Mom!" Yin Mingyue's eyes welled up with tears as she shook her head repeatedly. "We really didn't! Brother Lu Yang had no idea about Sister's collaboration with Lantai! He only met Director Zhao at the banquet, and they're not close at all. How could he possibly go and ruin Sister's plans? It's really just a misunderstanding!"

"A misunderstanding?" Yin Mingzhu seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. She pointed at Yin Mingyue and sneered at Ma Xiulan, "Mom, do you believe that? If it really is a misunderstanding, if they really weren't targeting me, if they really 'forgave' me and 'it's all in the past' as she said..."

She deliberately emphasized those two words, her tone dripping with sarcasm, "Fine! Prove it to me then!"

She stared intently at Yin Mingyue: "When you get back, just mention it to your all-powerful brother Lu Yang! Tell him that your sister was badly screwed over by Lantai's breach of contract, and ask him to help out by talking to that Director Zhao and getting the cooperation restored! For him now, it's just a matter of talking! If he's willing to do this small favor, I'll believe you're truly innocent and genuinely want to 'reconcile'! Are you willing? Do you dare?"

Yin Mingyue was cornered against the wall.

Looking at her sister's aggressive gaze and then at her mother's expectant and pleading eyes, she opened her mouth, but felt as if something was blocking her throat.

She knew how deep Lu Yang's feelings were for his sister, so why did she ask him to take the initiative to help her?
This is almost impossible.

Moreover, she was even more unwilling to force Lu Yang on this matter and disrupt the tacit understanding that the couple had always had, but denying her sister's request at this moment would undoubtedly confirm her sister's suspicions...

“But…” she began with difficulty, her voice weak.

“Brother Lu Yang… he really isn’t familiar with that leader, so he might… he might not be able to speak to him… and besides, it’s not convenient for him to handle these kinds of business matters…”

"Hmph!" Yin Mingzhu's cold laugh interrupted her explanation, filled with mockery of "I knew it" and utter disappointment.

“Mom, did you see that? This is her attitude! This is what she calls ‘no’ and ‘misunderstanding’! She’s not even willing to do this little thing, so what’s the point of talking about reconciliation? Forget it! I don’t care! I don’t need their hypocritical help! I have my own hands and feet, and I have my own brain. Mingzhu Media won’t fall! I, Yin Mingzhu, can live just as well without them!”

After she finished speaking, she didn't even look at her mother and sister, turned around and went back to her room, her back view resolute and aloof.

“Mingzhu! You…” Ma Xiulan looked at her eldest daughter’s angry departure and then at her younger daughter’s tearful and conflicted appearance. She sighed heavily, her face full of exhaustion and deep helplessness.

The joyful atmosphere in the living room vanished, leaving only a suffocating silence and two frightened, bewildered children.

The faint hope that her sisters could use this opportunity to mend their relationship was completely extinguished by her eldest daughter's fierce resistance and her youngest daughter's subtle rejection.

the truth?

It seems that it no longer matters at this moment.

Ma Xiulan thought sadly, if her daughter and son-in-law had truly put aside their past grievances and were truly willing to accept this older sister, then helping to resolve the problem at Lantai, which was crucial to her eldest daughter's career, would be the most logical and sincere thing to do.
Only then might the deep rift between the sisters be healed.

But now... looking at her youngest daughter's aggrieved and tearful face, and thinking of her eldest daughter's stubborn yet wounded back, Ma Xiulan felt only exhaustion.

She bent down and picked up the bewildered Lu Fan, gently patting his back, and said wearily to Yin Mingyue, "Mingyue...why don't you...go back early? The child is tired too...your sister...sigh...you're all angry, it's good for you to calm down..."

Her original plan to have her youngest daughter and grandchildren stay for a few more days had to be prematurely terminated due to the almost irreconcilable conflict between the sisters.

Looking at the disappointment and helplessness in her mother's eyes, Yin Mingyue felt a sharp pain in her heart, as if she were being pricked by needles.

She opened her mouth, wanting to explain, wanting to comfort, but in the end she couldn't say anything.

Outside the window, the night in Shanghai remained dazzling, but inside, the cracks in family ties were silently torn open once again, clearer and colder than ever before.

Yin Mingyue came with the idea of ​​repairing the relationship between the sisters and the hope of reconciling with her mother. She hoped that the two children, Lu Xin'er and Lu Fan, could happily spend a few days with their grandmother, but now this incident has happened.
She was preoccupied with her own thoughts, and despite arriving with high hopes, she left disappointed with Lu Xin'er and Lu Fan. (End of Chapter)