"He's who?" Zhong Bai glanced at Lin Mo, frowning with displeasure.
Zhong Junxian spoke helplessly, "He's a friend of Miss He, claiming to know Qiao Meng and wanted to go inside to see an old friend."
Zhong Bai sized him up and, seeing that he didn't carry himself with the air of nobility and was dressed quite ordinarily, his brows knit together even tighter.
"Dad, this guy is just trying to boast, don't pay any attention to him," Zhong Junxian huffed lightly.
He Wuxue was at a loss too, she hadn't expected the seemingly honest Lin Mo to be vain.
As everyone's thoughts diverged, another man, about thirty years old, emerged from inside. He wore a green suit, chin lifted slightly, his face full of arrogance.
"Mr. Zhong, think about the contract we discussed earlier. If you aren't willing to agree, there are plenty of other companies that would love to work with us," the man said imperiously as he approached.
Zhong Junxian's face turned slightly upon seeing him.
This was Yan Kai, the nephew in charge of overseeing the movie and also a key person at Royal Entertainment.
"Director Yan, let me take it back and think it over. The quote you've given us is just too low; we're virtually making no profit," said Zhong Bai with a troubled look on his face.
"Offering you this chance is a blessing; you're still considering it? Who do you think you are?" Yan Kai's expression darkened as he scoffed coldly.
The expressions on both Zhong Bai and Zhong Junxian's faces changed subtly.
After Yan Kai finished speaking, his gaze swept over and landed on Han Qingzi and He Wuxue, his eyes lecherously fixed on the two: "What are you all doing here?"
Suddenly, Lin Mo walked forward with his hands clasped behind his back, "Is Qiao Meng inside?"
Zhong Bai, Zhong Junxian, Han Qingzi, and He Wuxue all showed expressions of surprise.
"This guy just keeps going?" Zhong Junxian tightened his brows.
"Who the hell are you, and what gives you the right to address Miss Zhong so casually?" Yan Kai cursed fiercely.
No sooner had he spoken when Lin Mo's foot kicked into his stomach, sending Yan Kai flying backward, crashing to the ground. He curled up like a shrimp in pain, clutching his belly, sweat pouring down his brow.
"You... you little bastard dare to hit me, grab him..." Yan Kai, face twisted in pain, bellowed despite the agony.
The bodyguards nearby snapped to attention, their gaze fiercely fixed on Lin Mo.
"This is bad, this guy's really stirred up a hornet's nest," Zhong Junxian wanted nothing more than to kick Lin Mo himself, thinking you can't just show off like this; offending the Mo Family meant there would be consequences.
And since he had brought this person, it was bound to affect the Zhong Family sooner or later.
Han Qingzi and He Wuxue both hadn't expected Lin Mo to have such a volatile temper.
"You say he beat up Wei Ya and I wouldn't have believed it, but now, I finally do," Han Qingzi shrank his neck.
He Wuxue's brows furrowed as she sighed, Wei Ya's matter wasn't settled yet, and now another fight, it seemed she had to ask her grandfather to help out again.
Just as the bodyguards were about to swarm in, another person suddenly walked out, frowning and chiding, "What's all this? Disturbing Miss Zhong's rest, can you afford the consequences?"
The person who came out was wearing a duckbill hat and sunglasses, holding a script in hand—it was Director Fu, Fu Kai.
As soon as Fu Kai saw Lin Mo standing in the crowd, he rubbed his eyes and immediately went pale, running over to bend at a ninety-degree angle, his attitude more reverent than an eunuch before the Emperor: "Lin... Mr. Lin, what brings you here."
Upon seeing this scene, Yan Kai lying on the ground was stunned.
Zhong Junxian, Zhong Bai, and Han Qingzi all gaped in shock.
He Wuxue's pretty face revealed a trace of astonishment. Could it be that Lin Mo really knew Qiao Meng?
"Director Fu, he hit me, hurry up and call someone to arrest him." Yan Kai was still in the throes of anger. He, the close nephew of Director Yan, had always had smooth sailing. Who dared to hit him?
Director Fu turned his head to glance at him with a look of pity in his eyes, then said, "Mr. Lin, I will immediately notify Young Master Hua and Director Yan of your arrival."
Lin Mo ignored both him and Yan Kai, striding towards the inside.
Zhong Junxian, Zhong Bai, and others looked on in bewilderment, while He Wuxue and Han Qingzi followed behind Lin Mo with skeptical expressions.
They made their way inside, and soon a middle-aged man in a suit and a handsome young man came out to meet them.
"Young Master Hua, Director Yan." Zhong Bai greeted the two men respectfully.
"Mr. Lin."
"Mr. Lin, how come you are here?"
These two men were indeed Director Yan of the Imperial Entertainment Company and the young man named Mo Hua. Previously in Imperial City, Lin Mo had someone fire the scriptwriter who wanted to impose unspoken rules on Qiao Meng and another director. Ever since then, these people had some understanding of Lin Mo's background and identity, and thus, they showed Lin Mo great respect.
The two men were bowing with obsequious expressions, not daring to utter a word before Lin Mo spoke.
"Where is Qiao Meng?" Lin Mo asked.
Mo Hua quickly replied, "Mr. Lin, Miss Zhong is resting on the second floor."
Lin Mo nodded and proceeded up the stairs.
The others were stunned. Zhong Junxian, in particular, turned pale and red by turns. Who exactly was Lin Mo, to the extent that even the Crown Prince of Imperial Entertainment showed him such respect? It was not just respect; it was fear.
He Wuxue and Han Qingzi were even more confused.
"Uncle, who is that guy?" Yan Kai, trailing behind, couldn't help but show his doubt upon seeing the reverence Mo Hua and Director Yan showed toward Lin Mo.
Director Yan glanced at him with a solemn look in his eyes and said, "He is a big shot. What happened to you, exactly?"
At that moment, Fu Kai recounted what he had seen earlier, causing Director Yan's face to go pale.
Mo Hua's expression changed dramatically as well. He glanced at Director Yan and said, "Director Yan, you can pack your things and leave. And your nephew too—amputate both his hands as an apology to Mr. Lin."
Zhong Junxian, Han Qingzi, and He Wuxue hadn't walked far when they heard Mo Hua's words, and expressions of shock crossed their faces once again.
Just for talking back to Lin Mo, someone needed to have their hands cut off?
Zhong Bai was terrified even further. Mo Hua was the biological son of Mo Kaicheng and almost represented his father's will. Even he showed such awe towards Lin Mo—who was Lin Mo, exactly?
Upon seeing Lin Mo head upstairs, Mo Hua wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He had just been dealing with secretarial matters in his office, and now he had lost all interest in it.
Who was Lin Mo, the one who swept through Shu Province and overshadowed Imperial City.
"Issue the order, filming work is to be suspended indefinitely until Mr. Lin has had his fill of fun." After Mo Hua finished speaking, he murmured to himself, "No, I have to call my father and uncle from the office."
Director Yan sighed deeply, not daring to utter a word of rebuttal.
Yan Kai was utterly astonished and shook his head, saying, "Uncle, Young Master Hua is joking with me, right? He hit me, and now I have to have my hands chopped off?"
"Who's joking with you, you fool. If it weren't for your arrogant and overbearing nature, how would you have offended the God?" Director Yan reproached him, as if hating that iron could not become steel.