Entertainment: 1990

Chapter 173 The Sound of Waves Remains the Same
[Requesting monthly votes at the beginning of the month—Also, there's an entry to the new Group 4 at the end of the chapter]

Ten minutes later.

Zhang Yan sat alone below the stage, legs crossed, in the middle of the first row of seats, exuding a cold and unapproachable aura.

"boss Zhang."

The head of the security section leading the team approached and said, "Mao Ning is already undergoing a doctor's examination—the others have been asked to go to the changing rooms for questioning, as you have instructed."

Then, he lowered his voice and said, "These people in Guangzhou are too arrogant. Should we take some measures against the ringleaders...?"

"Need not!"

Zhang Yan quickly interrupted him, saying that these days, the measures are something that those who know, know.

Then Zhang Yanxian said loudly, "Everything must be reasonable, legal and compliant, and the law enforcement methods must be more humane, to show the image of our Tianjin TV—also, leave the locker room doors open, anyone who wants to listen in or watch is welcome, as long as it doesn't affect the investigation!"

Then he quietly instructed, "The key is to ask them about the content of their phone calls afterward. If even one word doesn't match, get to the bottom of it!"

Based on information obtained from Wang Zhongqi, this incident should be considered an unexpected event and is unlikely to be a self-directed and self-acted event by the new era.

However, the subsequent attempts by New Era to escalate the situation were clearly premeditated and intentional.

They certainly wouldn't tell the police the details of their plans to cause trouble, which would lead to inconsistencies in their testimonies.

Of course, if someone has the foresight to rehearse their lines in advance, then Zhang Yan can only accept his fate.

Fortunately, this did not happen.

Under police questioning and with colleagues watching, the testimonies of the New Era team regarding the phone call to Manager Li did indeed not match; some stammered, while others remained silent.

In such situations, even if Zhang Yan did not confess beforehand, the police would definitely intensify their interrogation, which would then lead to more contradictory statements.

Although the public security organs, procuratorates, and courts cannot therefore impose any judgments on people in the new era.

But what Zhang Yan wanted was not a verdict, but to expose everything to all the singers, entertainment moguls, and management companies, so that Yuanmeng could gain the upper hand in public opinion.

People in this new era can't even clearly explain or dare to talk on the phone; anyone can tell they're hiding something.

In addition, Zhang Yan immediately pointed out two key points: the people from New Era were targeting him in the morning; and the two singers who fought in the evening were both from Guangzhou.

Everyone has their own scale in their heart, and they will judge right and wrong.

With these witnesses and testimonies, the new era will no longer be able to distort the truth.

At this moment, Zhang Yan received another call from Chen Hong, who said that after dinner, Mei Yanfang wanted to come and see the rehearsal site. Zhang Yan tried to dissuade her, but to no avail, and was worried that Mei Yanfang would overthink things...

"Then let her come over; it'll be a good opportunity to wrap things up."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Yan waited a while longer, figuring that Mei Yanfang would be arriving soon, and then had someone invite Manager Li from the New Era Group over separately.

Manager Li had already sensed something was wrong by this time.

He originally thought that Mao Ning was a victim after all, and as long as he kept pressing Yuan Meng to stop him from going to the hospital for a medical examination, he would basically be in an invincible position.

Who would have thought that a simple follow-up phone call would lead to me being asked the same questions repeatedly for half an hour?

If even he, the one in charge, was so evasive and vague, one can only imagine the situation of the others.

"boss Zhang!"

Upon seeing Zhang Yan, he gritted his teeth and questioned him with a fierce but weak tone: "Aren't you afraid of being accused of abusing your public power by doing this?!"

“You Guangzhou locals always have such a smooth way of speaking.” Zhang Yan smiled and gestured for him to sit down next to him. Seeing that he was standing and wouldn’t move, he shrugged and said, “It was your choice to call the police, and the interrogation was conducted openly and aboveboard—have you ever seen a more civilized and transparent way of law enforcement in Guangzhou?”

Manager Li remained silent.

If Zhang Yan had allowed the police to arrest the person or interrogate them behind closed doors, the new era might have been able to make a fuss about it. However, the law enforcement attitude shown by the Tianjin police is basically impeccable these days.

Moreover, with so many big names watching, even if the new era uses euphemisms, it will only end up embarrassing itself.

Just then, Zhang Yan suddenly turned his head to look at the entrance, and didn't turn his head back for a long time.

Manager Li found it strange, so he also looked towards the entrance, but after staring at it for a while, he still couldn't find anything wrong.

Just as he was about to question Zhang Yan about what he was up to, he suddenly saw a familiar figure walk into the rehearsal venue.

Anita Mui?
By the way, she was indeed invited to this concert—but since she hadn't come before, Manager Li thought Anita Mui had declined.

"Manager Li."

Zhang Yan then turned back, smiling, and said, "Weren't you planning to leak this to the Hong Kong media? Now your chance has come—Anita Mui just arrived on the mainland, and that very night, two mainland stars got into a fight backstage. I think the Hong Kong media will definitely be interested in this news." Damn it!

Manager Li was extremely frustrated if he hadn't tried to get involved in Yuan Meng's affair; if he hadn't exposed obvious problems during the statement taking.

Getting Hong Kong Island reporters involved was supposed to be one of New World's trump cards in deterring local forces.

But now...

The paparazzi attracted by Anita Mui's fame may not necessarily act in accordance with the wishes of the new era.

Seeing Mei Yanfang getting closer and closer, Manager Li gritted his teeth, bowed slightly and said, "President Zhang, I admit defeat. Why don't you draw up a line and see how this matter should be resolved?"

Although the decision to escalate the situation was approved by senior management beforehand, there was no written agreement to prove it. If anything went wrong, Manager Li would definitely be the person primarily responsible.

So now he can only try to end things as quickly as possible.

"I'm not a gangster, why would I draw a line?"

Zhang Yan shook his head and said, "What I want are just four words: seek truth from facts. You, the new era, should stand up and explain the cause and effect of this matter clearly, and then clear our name in front of everyone. That shouldn't be difficult to do, right?"

Manager Li's expression shifted several times, then he finally nodded and said, "Okay, I will have Mao Ning publicly clarify this matter and apologize to Yuanmeng!"

"Right now."

"can!"

So when Mei Yanfang got closer, she only saw Manager Li's back as he turned and left.

She asked curiously, "I heard there was a fight backstage?"

Zhang Yan smiled and invited her to sit down, explaining casually, "It was a personal feud caused by a dispute over a song, but it's been resolved now."

Chen Hong then brought over a stool, spread the food she had packed from the hotel on it, and said, "Honey, you haven't eaten much. Don't go hungry."

Zhang Yan took the chopsticks, apologized to Mei Yanfang, and then began to eat with his head down.

Not long after, the people from the Economic Development Zone withdrew from the backstage area. The head of the security department who was leading the team came over and said, "Mr. Zhang, the people from New Era have decided to settle temporarily. We will take the statements back and seal them as files."

"Okay, thank you for your help."

"This is also serving the people."

Seeing this display of power, Mei Gu became even more convinced that Zhang Yan had a powerful background.

About ten minutes later...

Just as Zhang Yan was getting full and impatient, Mao Ning, with a livid face and bandages wrapped around her ears, finally appeared on the stage.

He glanced around at the growing crowd of onlookers, gritted his teeth, picked up the microphone, and said, "I want to sincerely apologize to Yuanmeng Company. My conflict with Zhang Mi is entirely a personal matter, and it all started with the song 'Blue Sky, Blue Dream'..."

However, due to my lack of composure after the injury, I vented my anger on the staff at the Dream Fulfillment Center, for which I am extremely sorry!

As he spoke, he bowed deeply to Zhang Yan below the stage.

Just as Mao Ning was about to stand up straight after finishing, Manager Li, who was right behind her, grabbed the back of her head.

"boss Zhang."

Manager Li forced a smile and said to the audience, "Are you satisfied with this apology?"

Zhang Yan stood up, took the tissue Chen Hong handed him, and said while wiping his hands, "Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, let's just go back to normal."

Manager Li breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and was about to take the gritting-teeth Mao Ning backstage when Zhang Yan stopped him again.

"Wait a moment."

Zhang Yan looked at the two people on the stage and said, "Finish the song before you leave."

Mao Ning was still a little confused, but Manager Li had already reacted. He pushed him to the microphone stand and reminded him, "Sing! Your best song, 'The Sound of the Waves Remains the Same'!"

Mao Ning almost ground his teeth to powder. He hadn't originally intended to target Yuan Meng; it was all Manager Li and his agent who instigated it.

Now, they've swiftly seized the evidence against him, and Manager Li is cowering in the back, while he, the victim, is forced to stand up and embarrass himself...

But Mao Ning simply didn't have the guts or the resources to challenge the company. In the end, urged on by Manager Li, he could only pick up the microphone and sing the most emotional, and also the most awful, rendition of "The Sound of the Waves Remains the Same" in his life:
"I take away a fishing light, to warm my eyes; I leave behind a piece of true affection, to let it linger by Maple Bridge—I am helpless..."

(End of this chapter)