After Bankruptcy, I Became the Film Emperor's First Love Stand-in - Chapter 5

Luo Ying and Xie Yunyu held a video conference, and they had a slight disagreement regarding entering the entertainment industry.

Xie Yunyu believed that the return on investment for films was far lower than that of the international financial market.

To make a good film, one needed to hire capable and well-known directors and actors. However, under these conditions, suitable candidates were hardly lacking in sponsors or investors.

To put it bluntly, they didn’t need their meager contributions.

“What if we sponsor recent graduates from film schools? Isn’t it trendy for college students to start their own businesses now?”

Luo Ying tried to persuade Xie Yunyu to invest.

Xie Yunyu analyzed rationally, “Sponsoring college students is understandable, but how can you guarantee their films will be successfully released and turn a profit? Luo Ying, we are investors, not philanthropists.”

Luo Ying fell silent. Not everyone in the entertainment industry could rise to fame as smoothly as Lu Rang. Even if some newcomers skyrocketed to success, luck, talent, and hard work were all indispensable.

If he wanted to achieve the highest returns with the least investment, he had to gamble on whether the “pieces” he chose would prove themselves.

“What if we cut all costs, using only new directors and actors, and organize a competition to support newcomers? We could gather and select outstanding works, with the winner’s prize being our investment to produce their film. What do you think?”

Xie Yunyu remained silent for a long time, somewhat swayed.

“How much are you planning to invest?”

Luo Ying gestured a number: “Eighty million.”

He currently had one hundred million, with the remaining twenty million reserved for emergencies.

“That might not be enough,” Xie Yunyu said sympathetically. “I’ll add two hundred million, following the company’s standard investment procedures.”

The company’s profits had always been split fifty-fifty between him and Xie Yunyu. Going through the company would benefit him more.

This was also Xie Yunyu’s way of helping him indirectly.

Luo Ying pursed his lips and finally said, “Alright, let’s do it that way.”

After resolving the new project issue, Luo Ying cautiously glanced at the closed door and lowered his voice. “Yunyu, I need you to help me look into something.”

Xie Yunyu replied, “Go ahead.”

“Help me investigate the cooperative projects of my father’s company over the past two years. The news says it was a broken capital chain, but I feel it’s not that simple.”

His father had earned enough money to last several lifetimes.

What kind of project could be so large as to break the capital chain?

There must be something wrong here.

Xie Yunyu said, “It might be a bit difficult since these are commercial secrets, but my friend might have a way. I’ll ask him for help.”

Favors owed favors, and Luo Ying felt a mix of emotions.

All his thoughts condensed into a single sentence: “Thanks.”

After hanging up the video call, Luo Ying leaned back on the sofa.

He was exhausted—mentally and physically.

The feeling of having no money was truly unpleasant.

His father’s situation seemed too bizarre, as if it had happened out of nowhere.

Just two months ago, Luo Xiaohe had talked about buying an island abroad for Luo Ying to vacation on whenever he had time. How did it turn into an early donation and escape online?

Moreover, the bank’s seizure process was too swift. Was someone deliberately setting this up?

Once he returned to Haidu, he needed to visit his father’s company to see the situation for himself.

The warmth in the dressing room made him feel hot. Luo Ying took off his jacket and curled up on the sofa.

Bored, he could only play with his phone.

Xia Xi returned once in the middle, bringing him a cup of coffee before rushing off again.

Pei Mingyang, upset about Lu Rang hanging up on him, bombarded him with nearly a hundred messages.

Luo Ying only skimmed for useful information. The gist was that Pei Mingyang was planning to return to the country and wanted Luo Ying to welcome him back.

He had specifically noted not to bring Lu Rang along.

Exiting the chat with Pei Mingyang, Luo Ying’s usually overflowing message list now showed only a few news notifications.

Xie Yunyu’s investigation speed was unexpectedly fast. In less than an hour, he had sent over the files.

Two years, over twenty collaborative projects, nearly sixty contracts, many of which involved overseas companies.

This was going to be a hassle to sort through.

Luo Ying spent the afternoon skimming through them, only picking out a few particularly odd projects.

Among them was a land reclamation and island-linking project with the largest contract amount.

This island was the very one his father had mentioned wanting to buy.

And this project had been contracted to a relatively unknown engineering company based in Jiangdu.

Luo Ying searched for the company online. All the information he could find indicated it was nothing more than a shell company with no real substance.

How could his father, someone so shrewd and cautious, place such a massive project under the name of a shell company?!

Digging deeper, the legal representative of the shell company was named Wen Qian. Under Wen Qian’s name, there were several associated smaller companies.

Frowning, Luo Ying continued tracing the connections and suddenly stopped at a legal representative named Wen Silan.

Wen Silan held the largest share in a newly emerging construction engineering enterprise in Haidu. Its predecessor seemed to have started in Jiangdu and only relocated to Haidu in the past two years.

Luo Ying had actually met this Wen Silan at a banquet before. He was modest and outgoing, and they had gotten along quite well, even exchanging contact information after the event.

Perhaps approaching Wen Silan could help uncover more about this land reclamation and island-linking project.

Luo Ying scrolled through his contacts and dialed Wen Silan’s number.

The other party answered quickly. “Luo Ying?”

He sounded quite surprised to receive a call from Luo Ying.

Having been immersed in business dealings since childhood, Luo Ying didn’t mention Wen Qian at all. Instead, he casually suggested meeting for a drink sometime.

Wen Silan, unsuspecting, replied, “Tonight works. It’s rare for President Luo to invite me—no matter how busy I am, I’ll make time.”

“Tonight… President Wen, to be honest, I’m still at the suburban film studio today. How about tomorrow?”

“What a coincidence! I’m actually at the film studio too, checking on a project. Which area are you in? I can come pick you up.”

Talk about perfect timing.

Luo Ying checked the time. He could probably still arrange dinner with Wen Silan and discuss the matter leisurely.

He gave the area code, grabbed his coat, and strode out.

Passing by the filming area, Luo Ying caught sight of Lu Rang surrounded by extras.

Dressed in a dark blue costume robe and riding a horse, Lu Rang’s gaze was sharp, his expression solemn, like a triumphant general returning from battle.

On his way out, Luo Ying ran into Xia Xi and hurriedly explained he had something to attend to, asking him to pass the message along to Lu Rang.

As he reached the exit of the filming area, Wen Silan’s car pulled up right on time.

A brand-new Porsche, bright red, came to a smooth stop in front of Luo Ying.

The window slowly rolled down, revealing Wen Silan in the driver’s seat wearing sunglasses. He gave a slight nod, his handsome jawline softened by the light.

Wen Silan removed his sunglasses, his charming eyes meeting Luo Ying’s. “Long time no see, President Luo.”

Wen Silan had chosen a restaurant near the film studio, known for its excellent privacy—a favorite among filming celebrities.

Designed in a French style, it had no private rooms. A large agave plant stood in the center of the main hall, with a simple yet elegant color scheme and warm, bright lighting.

By the window, Wen Silan poured Luo Ying a glass of red wine.

“President Luo, has your company started venturing into the entertainment industry? What brings you to the film studio today?”

Luo Ying gently swirled the wine glass in his hand. “A friend of mine is filming here, and I was curious, so I came along to take a look.”

Wen Silan’s eyes carried a constant smile, his gaze gentle and approachable, his demeanor elegant. Luo Ying always felt he had the air of a friendly older brother from the neighborhood.

During the meal, Wen Silan chatted with him about the recent stock market and funds. The two discussed everything from the real economy to the internet industry and current investment trends. From their conversation, Luo Ying gathered that Wen Silan had recently been heavily investing in the entertainment industry. He had even founded an entertainment company and, by chance, had helped a few young actors gain popularity.

After the meal, Wen Silan invited Luo Ying to a bar for a few drinks.

Luo Ying had always had a good tolerance for alcohol. Taking advantage of the drinking opportunity, he might be able to extract quite a bit of information about Wen Qian.

The bar was near the restaurant, so Luo Ying and Wen Silan walked there.

Whether it was because Wen Silan couldn’t hold his liquor or had drunk too much red wine, he kept leaning against Luo Ying intentionally or unintentionally as they walked.

They went to a gay bar at the end of the street. The facade was large, the interior dimly lit, and the background music played European classical tunes. It was said that the owner of this bar was also someone from the entertainment industry, with deep connections, and no one dared to gossip about who it was.

The seemingly proper and respectable Wen Silan turned out to be gay as well.

While Luo Ying was still in shock, Wen Silan had already skillfully ordered him a signature rum.

As the night wore on, Luo Ying patiently danced around the topic with Wen Silan. The other man was clever too, guessing what Luo Ying wanted to discuss and naturally giving him an opening.

“President Wen, I heard your company has a department specializing in overseas cooperation projects. My company is interested in investing in this area. I wonder if you could point me in the right direction?”

Wen Silan was clearly a bit drunk. He leaned in close to Luo Ying, the faint scent of his perfume mixed with tobacco wafting over.

“That department in our company was shut down a long time ago. Whatever was left was contracted out to my cousin, but it’s not part of our company—he runs it independently. If you need it, I can give you his contact. His name is Wen Qian.”

Luo Ying was taken aback. This connection was easier to make than he had imagined.

He smiled faintly. “Alright, thank you in advance, President Wen.”

“No need to be so polite. We’re friends.” Wen Silan naturally patted Luo Ying’s head, leaning in closer. He affectionately nuzzled his forehead against Luo Ying’s shoulder and raised his glass for a toast. “Come on, let’s drink.”

“Luo Ying.”

A deep, magnetic voice suddenly came from above, tinged with a sour, angry tone.

Lu Rang wrapped an arm around Luo Ying’s shoulder, causing Wen Silan’s hand to slip away.

“And who is this?” Wen Silan noticed the warning look in the newcomer’s eyes. Shaking his head to see clearly who it was, he smiled and said, “Oh, it’s Lu Rang. You two… know each other?”

That was a question Luo Ying wanted to ask as well.

Lu Rang lowered his gaze, ignoring Wen Silan.

Luo Ying looked up and saw the coldness in Lu Rang’s deep eyes, beneath which lay a simmering anger. But what Luo Ying felt more strongly was the man’s intense possessiveness after getting jealous.

“I was here for something… I was planning to finish this drink and head back.”

Luo Ying instinctively explained himself to Lu Rang, clutching the hem of his clothes with both hands, his eyes innocent and pitiful.

Lu Rang patted the spot where Wen Silan had been leaning and said softly, lowering his head, “Xia Xi said she saw you leaving with a man. I thought you weren’t coming back.” His tone carried a hint of helplessness.

Wen Silan was someone he had taken the initiative to invite, but it was unfortunate that Lu Rang had come looking for him and stumbled upon the scene. Luo Ying now found himself in an awkward position.

He felt a nervous tension, as if caught in an affair, and guiltily explained again, “President Wen happened to be nearby, so we just met up for a meal and a drink.”

The chill around Lu Rang quickly dissipated. He tightened his embrace around Luo Ying and said, “It’s getting late. I’ll take you back.”

“Luo Ying, so the friend you mentioned who was filming is Lu Rang.”

Wen Silan quickly noticed the unusual dynamic between them. Staring at Luo Ying’s face, as if realizing something, he remarked with an ambiguous tone, “Oh? Lu Rang, after all these years, your taste hasn’t changed at all.”

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