Chapter 142 Falling Out [VIP]

Chapter Summary: Do whatever you want, I'll be there for you.

Looking at the shameless way the original owner's parents were making excessive demands on their daughter, Mu Zhi sneered: "You're not just treating me like an ATM, you're treating me like a bank vault, aren't you?"

"60 million? Do you think I have that much money on hand?"

“Niece, everything that happened in the past was a misunderstanding. It’s okay if you don’t acknowledge me as your uncle. But your parents raised you with great difficulty, and blood is thicker than water.”

Without them, you wouldn't be the big star you are today, right?

The original owner's uncle pushed up his glasses. He cursed his brother in his heart for being an idiot who spoke too directly and made it easy for others to use him against him.

Fortunately, on the way here by car, since entering the private room...

He had been observing Mu Zhi and the supposedly ruthless agent, and noticed that the two women were not making any underhanded moves, were not exchanging glances, and showed no signs of cheating.

Indeed, their arrival in Beicheng and their appearance in the parking lot of the awards ceremony venue all happened so suddenly that they had no time to prepare.

Seeing that both of them were easily agitated when their emotions were stirred up, he felt relieved.

Since Stupid Bro has already stated his purpose clearly, let's just lay it all out here.

A glint of light flashed in his eyes as he looked at Mu Zhi and said with a light smile, "We specifically inquired before coming to Beicheng. You've filmed few movies in the past two years, your pay isn't high, and you don't appear on variety shows to make money like other celebrities."

But you have many advertising endorsements with high fees, and you've been busy filming on set. You don't have the bad habit of extravagant spending or crazy shopping, so you must have saved all your money. 60 million should be no problem for you.

Mu Zhi glanced at the four people and saw that they had the look in their eyes that said, "We all know you can come up with this money, don't pretend with us."

They even estimated her sources of income over the past few years and her approximate income levels.

This is not something that outsiders can easily find out.

Furthermore, the Beicheng Art Center Grand Theater is hosting the Golden Crane Award ceremony tonight. You need an admission ticket to enter the parking lot. Not only did the original owner's parents and others sneak in, but they also accurately located their car and waited for them to arrive.

The timing of her arrival in Beicheng coincided with her winning the "Best Actress" award.

One can't help but wonder if the original owner's parents had secretly gotten involved with someone.

After listening to the original owner's uncle's words, Ji Binghe took a deep breath and suppressed her anger.

Looking at Mu Zhi's parents: "Fine, you think you know everything, let me do the math for you! When you were doing your calculations, did you forget that Mu Zhi also has to pay taxes, charitable donations totaling nearly 10 million, and various expenses for the team? Some of the advertising endorsements were signed for 23 years, and the final payment hasn't been received..."

"Also, you've taken quite a bit of money from Mu Zhi these past two years, at least 20 million RMB in total."

Pointing his finger at them, he yelled, "Every time you contact Mu Zhi, all you talk about is money, money, money. You treat her like an ATM. Do you even remember that Mu Zhi is your daughter?"

They were questioned about Mu Zhi's injuries: her foot injury during a competition, being evicted by her landlord two days before the Lunar New Year, being hospitalized with altitude sickness and pulmonary edema while filming in Tibet, being soaked in sub-zero river water for over half an hour during filming in winter resulting in a high fever for several days, and the injuries she sustained while filming action scenes in Hengdian that still leave her with bruises...

"Have you ever expressed any concern for Mu Zhi? No."

Mu Zhi looked at the original owner's parents, her tone calm and without a ripple: "I transferred 10 million to you at the end of August, and you promised that it would be the last time."

I have already repaid you a hundredfold, a thousandfold, ten thousandfold for the kindness you have shown me, and I will no longer be blackmailed or morally coerced by you.

Listen up, from today onwards, I will not give you a single penny.

The original owner's parents lowered their heads guiltily under Mu Zhi's gaze.

The original owner's cousin, who had been sitting silently, listening to their conversation while playing on his phone, chuckled when he heard this.

He slammed his phone on the table three times to draw everyone's attention to him, with an air of "it's my turn to shine."

He was still resentful about what happened in Beicheng last time, feeling that he had been tricked by Mu Zhi.

Mu Zhi had no intention of helping him enter the entertainment industry. She deliberately found a high-standard agency and had him go there to be picked over and humiliated.

He will always remember this grudge.

"My superstar cousin, you won Best Actress tonight! Your name is all over Weibo's trending topics. You haven't had time to check your phone yet, have you?"

He sat diagonally opposite Mu Zhi, wanting to show her the trending topics list on his phone, but the distance was a bit far.

I just read out the topics that were trending on the hot search list.

#Muzhi Golden Crane Award Best Actress# is the number 1 trending topic.

#Muzhi Sky Heart# is the 2nd most searched topic.

#MuzhiRedCarpetShot# is ranked 9th on the trending searches.

#Mu Zhi delivers acceptance speech and is moved to tears# #1 on the entertainment list#

......

"Look, your name is all over the trending topics. I think everyone is very interested in your upbringing before you became famous. You don't want to fall out with your aunt and uncle over child support and end up trending, with the whole internet criticizing you for being unfilial, do you?"

He twirled his phone in his hand, trying to persuade Mu Zhi: "You won Best Actress tonight, your career will take off. You'll earn 60 million in 12 years."

If you don't have enough money right now, you can ask the company for an advance, or borrow from other artist friends. You can definitely borrow it if you ask..."

As soon as she finished speaking, her father, who was sitting next to her, kicked her under the table and gave her a warning look, telling her not to say too much.

The original owner's cousin, however, showed no sign of shutting up, asking, "Dad, why did you kick me?"

He continued speaking in a rather irritable tone, warning Mu Zhi: "To tell you the truth, several media outlets have already contacted Uncle and Aunt, wanting to interview them."

You haven't been home once since you became famous. Your uncle and aunt have tried to contact you many times, but you don't answer their calls. You haven't given them a chance to care about you.

It is said that Mu Zhi, as a popular celebrity, has never had any negative news. If she were to have a public argument with her parents and it were to become a trending topic, it would definitely create a bad impression.

Let Mu Zhi not let a mere tens of millions affect her career.

The original owner's uncle then took out a document from his bag, stood up, and placed it in front of Mu Zhi.

“Niece, as long as you sign this support agreement, as long as you agree to give it this time, I think your elder brother and sister-in-law will never bother you again.”

If you can't come up with 60 million all at once, you can pay in three installments.

The original owner's parents nodded vigorously, indicating that this was their intention.

Mu Zhi picked up the agreement in front of her, and Ji Binghe, who was next to her, also came over to look at it together.

In short, the contract states that Mu Zhi voluntarily agrees to pay her parents' alimony of 60 million yuan in one lump sum, or to pay it in three installments over three months, in which case she will have to pay a certain amount of interest.

After reading it, Mu Zhi tore up the agreement without saying a word.

“I told you, I will not pay you a single penny more.”

Having run out of patience, Mu Zhi stood up and said to the original owner's parents one last time, "Do whatever interviews you want, whatever you want to do, I'll accompany you to the end."

After saying that, she picked up her bag and walked towards the door.

Ji Binghe also stood up and warned Mu Zhi's parents before leaving:

"You've already squeezed more money out of Mu Zhi than you could ever earn in your entire life, enough to live a very comfortable life. Regardless of who instigated or directed you, here's a piece of advice: greed knows no bounds. Don't play with fire and get burned."

He couldn't stay in that private room for even a second longer, and followed Mu Zhi out.

The original owner's parents realized what was happening and quickly stood up, calling out:

"Don't forget you need to settle the bill."

The father and son present were speechless: "..." Pathetic.

After Mu Zhi and Ji Binghe left.

The elderly couple hesitated, "She won't give us the money. Should we just let it go?"

After their daughter came to Beicheng, they had long since lost control of her.

Besides the monthly payments, they have been able to successfully collect money from their accounts multiple times over the past two years. Every day, looking at the long string of numbers on their cards, they feel as if God has opened his eyes.

Put 90% of your money in the bank and earn interest; then you won't need to work.

When my son grows up, I'll buy him a nice car, and then I won't have to worry about him getting married.

Although the two were greedy, they had never seen much of the world, so their ambitions couldn't be that great.

The original owner's uncle and son exchanged a glance, then instigated, "Hey, Uncle and Aunt, have you forgotten? Little Tree is pointing to his sister as a big star, saying he can be a rich second-generation."

With the money you have, pshaw, you wouldn't even rank in the top 30 of the city's rich list. Do you think that's enough?

The original parents fell silent at the thought of their son.

Of course, that's not enough.

From childhood to adulthood, they have always tried their best to fulfill their son's wishes.

Now the son thinks his sister has become successful, a big star who earns a lot of money, and that all that money will be his in the future.

The original owner's uncle noticed that his brother and sister-in-law's expressions were softening, and realized there was hope.

"While Mu Zhi is currently very popular, you should plan for your own future and for Xiao Shu's better future. If you make a scene, Mu Zhi will definitely have to pay you out of the pressure of public opinion."

In the past two years, the original owner's uncle's company has been struggling financially. He accompanied his brother and sister-in-law to Beicheng hoping to get some money so that his older brother could invest and save his company.

So no matter what, now that we've come to Beicheng, we definitely can't leave empty-handed this time...

After leaving the restaurant, Mu Zhi and Ji Binghe did not immediately drive away.

We arrived at a coffee shop across from the restaurant.

Apart from one employee, there was only one table of customers in the shop, consisting of two elderly ladies.

Mu Zhi and Ji Binghe chose a corner by the window to sit down.

Before getting down to business, let's order something to eat first.

"Zhizhi, I noticed you haven't eaten anything in the private room. Hurry up and order something to eat."

In the private room of the restaurant, Ji Binghe asked the waiter to bring two bowls of soup. Mu Zhi only drank two sips of soup before starting to talk to the four people and then stopped drinking soup or eating anything else.

I also have no appetite.

Ji Binghe only drank a few sips of soup and ate two pieces of meat before she was so angry that she felt full.

Mu Zhi thought she might have been too hungry, because she no longer felt hungry.

The chef at this cafe has already gone off duty, so there's only coffee and some ready-made desserts available; you can't order anything else.

Mu Zhi said she wasn't hungry and only asked for a glass of warm water.

Ji Binghe ordered herself a cup of coffee and two desserts, thinking she would persuade Mu Zhi to eat some later.

The items were delivered quickly.

Ji Binghe took a sip of coffee, which tasted like a certain brand of instant coffee, and then put down her spoon after taking a bite of tiramisu.

No wonder this coffee shop isn't doing much business.

He then began to discuss serious matters with Mu Zhi.

The 10 million that Mu Zhi gave to the original owner's parents at the end of August was the last time.

But she knew that for her original parents, there would be a next time.

Therefore, Mu Zhi and Ji Binghe had long anticipated this situation and were prepared to break ties and fall out with the original owner's parents.

Mu Zhi took out a voice recorder from her bag and handed it to Ji Binghe, saying, "I've recorded everything."

“At the dinner table, I noticed that the uncle’s expression was a bit off, especially when he took the agreement out of his bag. He took it very slowly and carefully. I suspect that he was recording it as well.”

Ji Binghe nodded thoughtfully and put Mu Zhi's recording pen into her bag: "They should have also compiled some things, such as screenshots as evidence that you didn't answer the phone before, the so-called refusal to communicate with your parents..."

I recorded an audio tonight; I guess I'm planning to edit the audio to distort the truth.

"However, based on the information you provided me before and the evidence of each payment, coupled with their shameless behavior of demanding money this time, we are on the moral high ground."

If they're really going to fight to the death, we'll definitely win.

Don't worry, Mu Zhi.

Even if it really comes to the point of being exposed online, there are no real winners, and Mu Zhi will inevitably be affected to some extent.

Mu Zhi noticed the agent's hesitation: "Director Ji, don't have any hope for them. They are incapable of being enlightened. In their eyes, only sons are the most important. They want their sons to carry on the family line, while daughters are like water spilled out."

They'll go all out for any chance to get that 60 million yuan. So, there's no need to worry about anything when this gets leaked online.

The original owner had severed ties with her parents during the three years she cut off all contact with them.

She would show no pity whatsoever for her original parents.

"I suspect they'll take advantage of the fact that we're both in Beicheng to get this sorted out as quickly as possible; there'll probably be some news tomorrow..."

Then, Mu Zhi and her agent talked for about 10 minutes about how to handle the public relations situation.

The talks are almost over.

Ji Binghe glanced at her phone; it was already 11 p.m.

For Mu Zhi, what happened tonight, whether it was the joy of winning the award or the unhappiness brought by her parents, will take some time to process. Tomorrow, there is a high possibility that there will be another mentally taxing crisis to deal with.

Knowing that Mu Zhi wasn't in the mood to celebrate with her team right now.

Ji Binghe originally intended to drive Mu Zhi back to Donghua Mansion and return the necklace to the shopkeeper while she was there.

Because they were sitting by the window, they could see the restaurant's main entrance.

Keeping an eye on the people coming in and out of the door, Ji Binghe noticed that Mu Zhi's parents and others had not yet come out. She decided to stay and see if there would be any "surprising" discovery.

Neither of them went to the restaurant that had been booked for the party.

Ji Binghe sent a message to He Zhiyue to inquire:

When are you going back?

Have you been drinking?

Could you please come and pick up Muzhi so we can return to Donghua Mansion together?

I thought the boss would gladly come.

The boss replied instantly, saying that Mu Zhi had won the Best Actress award and that paparazzi were probably watching her.

He drove to pick up Mu Zhi, worried that it wouldn't be good to have rumors spread.

Ji Binghe was taken aback: The boss is quite thoughtful? There's just something strange about it, like the boss seems to want to keep his distance from Mu Zhi and avoid suspicion?

The next second, He Zhiyue sent another message asking:

[Was Teacher Mu's meeting with her parents tonight unpleasant?]

Ji Binghe replied: Yes.

Send me the address of the coffee shop, I'll be right there.

Ji Binghe: ? The boss is really weird.

10 minutes later.

He Zhiyue arrived by car.

Ji Binghe quickly took out the necklace [Heart of the Sky] that was locked in the car and handed it back to He Zhiyue.

He then let out a long sigh of relief.

He Zhiyue: "......"

Mu Zhi knew that her agent would stay and wait for a while. She was worried that her agent would take a taxi and didn't make a fuss. So she opened the passenger door and got in the car.

He Zhiyue turned to look at Mu Zhi and noticed that Mu Zhi was in a bad mood and had no intention of speaking.

Without saying a word, he started the car.

On the way back to the neighborhood, while waiting at a long red light.

He Zhiyue turned to look at Mu Zhi beside her, who was looking out the car window with her body slightly turned to the side.

However, outside the car window was an empty square, with nothing there.

He instantly realized that Mu Zhi wasn't looking at anything.

I sensed the loneliness in Mu Zhi's heart.

This loneliness was like the day his mother left, when he felt like he was all alone in the world.

The car pulled up to the entrance of the residential area.

He Zhiyue slowly brought the car to a stop. Mu Zhi assumed that He Zhiyue had something to do tonight and wouldn't be staying at the Donghua Mansion residential complex, so she didn't plan to drive the car into the parking lot.

He said "thank you" and was about to unbuckle his seatbelt.

He Zhiyue asked, "Teacher Mu, shall we go stargazing together?"