I Became a Heartthrob After Marrying in My Sister's Place - Chapter 30

Chapter 30

“President Sang, there were indeed issues with the scoring for the guest evaluations, but I didn’t hide it on purpose!”

Chen Nan wiped the sweat from his forehead incessantly, glancing guiltily at Lu Zilin. “When the first set of scores came out, Ming Yantang was indeed first. But we integrated various factors considering a star’s public reputation and ultimately made a new decision to have the runner-up, Lu Zilin, serve as the spokesperson. Since this isn’t officially announced until tomorrow, the process was a bit rushed, and we didn’t have time to update the scorecards.”

Hearing this, Lu Zilin let out a secret sigh of relief. Chen Nan truly had a few tricks up his sleeve.

Ming Huaizhi frowned, saying word for word: “I respect using public reputation as a condition for evaluation. But why wasn’t it listed in the scoring sheet beforehand?”

Chen Nan squeezed out a smile for him. “It was indeed our oversight. We only realized it after being reminded by other colleagues once the results were out.”

“I’ll accept your excuse for now.” Sang Yu looked at him nonchalantly and sat up straighter. “Now, please find me the minutes of that meeting, the recordings, and the signed statements from everyone involved. I want to see whose opinion this was.”

Chen Nan gave a forced laugh. “President Sang, we forgot to take notes that day.”

Bang! Sang Yu slammed the table.

“I give you an inch, and you take a yard, don’t you?” Sang Yu’s eyes grew colder. “Tell me, what were you doing at the Skyscraper Hotel at 8:00 PM four days ago?”

At the mention of the Skyscraper Hotel, Lu Zilin stiffened instantly, clutching the tablecloth and staring at Chen Nan in a panic.

Chen Nan forced himself to stay calm. “That day, Zilin and I were discussing the new drama Dr. Song, and we had dinner while we were at it.”

“Pfft.” Gu Ci propped up his chin and smiled, finding this dinner party increasingly interesting.

Lu Zilin glared at him fiercely, his fingers loosening their grip on the tablecloth.

“Very good. Worthy of being the General Manager of Sangli Media.” Sang Yu signaled his assistant, who immediately opened a tablet and played a recording:

At noon three days ago, Manager Chen suddenly said the spokesperson needed to be changed, reasoning that Lu Zilin fit our company’s philosophy better. Several of us in middle management opposed it, but Manager Chen wouldn’t listen and ultimately finalized Lu Zilin as the spokesperson.

Sang Yu smiled faintly at Chen Nan. “How about that?”

“You… you already—” Chen Nan’s face went deathly pale, looking at Sang Yu in disbelief. After going in such a huge circle, it turned out the other party had already secured the evidence and came prepared.

“Now, I suspect you are using your position to engage in power-for-sex trades with a celebrity using company projects as bait. The police are waiting for you at the door. Go cooperate with the investigation.”

Xie Jingsheng glanced toward the door, his opinion of Sang Yu shifting upward several notches.

“President Sang, I was confused for a moment!” Chen Nan dropped to his knees immediately, grabbing Sang Yu’s leg and pointing at Lu Zilin. “It was him! He seduced me, saying that as long as I changed the spokesperson to him, he would sleep with me. I couldn’t resist the temptation, I deserve to die! But can you please, for the sake of the elder President Sang, let me off this once?”

Sang Yu lifted Chen Nan’s hand and shoved it away. “For all these years, you’ve been the one throwing away the respect I gave you.”

Chen Nan panicked, frantically biting back at Lu Zilin: “It really was him who seduced me! He even used photos to blackmail me! If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have made such a huge mistake!”

Lu Zilin clenched his fists, his eyes red with rage. He stood up abruptly and looked at Sang Yu. “President Sang, don’t sit there talking about fairness and justice. Ask yourself—do you really have no relationship with Ming Yantang?”

Ming Huaizhi gripped his water cup and looked at Sang Yu.

Sang Yu’s expression remained unchanged. He arched a thick eyebrow and began to look Lu Zilin up and down with exaggerated gravity.

At this moment, Jing Lan spoke up for Ming Huaizhi: “If Brother Tang really had a ‘relationship’ with President Sang, would you have even been able to falsify the results?”

Gu Ci echoed, “Exactly.”

“I do indeed have a relationship with Ming Yantang.” Sang Yu didn’t deny it, but instead stared at the shivering Chen Nan. “But no one knew about my relationship with Yantang. If Cheng Shian had known, would he have given you the lead in the MV just because of your sweet talk? If Chen Nan had known, would he have dared to treat Ming Yantang like this? If I had truly arranged for people to take care of Ming Yantang, I would have known the moment his scores were falsified three days ago. It wouldn’t be your turn to speak here tonight!”

Lu Zilin was speechless, his mouth hanging open with no way to argue back.

“Manager Chen, don’t keep people waiting too long.” Sang Yu poured himself a glass of wine and raised it toward him. “Go in peace.”

“Sang—”

Chen Nan tried to struggle further, but was immediately hoisted up by two bodyguards and led away.

At the table, only the five celebrity guests and Cheng Shian remained. Cheng Shian was already pale as a ghost, not daring to stay seated.

“President Sang, it was my fault. You can punish me however you want, just please don’t send me to the station.”

Sang Yu slowly swirled his glass, letting the red wine breathe. “Your mistake wasn’t one of principle; for now, we’ll call it a lapse in subjective judgment. Who told you to insist that Lu Zilin was the right fit for the MV lead?”

Cheng Shian was terrified, nearly kneeling. “Thank you, President Sang.”

Sang Yu waved him off, and Cheng Shian immediately grabbed his coat and fled.

Now, only seven people remain in the restaurant.

Sang Yu looked at Lu Zilin. “I was bored in the car earlier and looked into you. Over the years, you’ve targeted Yantang quite a bit.”

Lu Zilin’s fingers under the table trembled slightly. “President Sang must be joking. I’m not your subordinate, and you have no leverage over me. Unless you use illegal means to teach me a lesson, I’m not afraid of you.”

Sang Yu sipped his wine and nodded slightly. “Don’t worry, I’m a law-abiding citizen. I won’t ‘eliminate’ you in the shadows. However, these scandals should be enough to keep you busy.”

The assistant held up a thick stack of photos and documents. Lu Zilin sneered: “If the public believed these rumors, my reputation would have been ruined long ago.”

Sang Yu: “I heard there are over 20 videos where the faces are clearly visible. If you don’t believe me, check the internet a bit.”

At the mention of “videos,” Lu Zilin rushed over. “Where did you get those!”

Sang Yu gave a humble smile. “It wasn’t hard. They’re quite easy to get. How much longer?”

The assistant bowed. “Fifteen minutes.”

Sang Yu gave a meaningful nod. “A kind word of advice: don’t bother asking your company for help. Your CEO, Mr. Xiao, should be on my plane right now, heading to Bali for a vacation.”

Lu Zilin leaned against the table with one hand, looking as though his soul had been sucked out, his back hunched. “President Sang, please, I beg you to spare me.”

Sang Yu slowly adjusted his cufflinks. “I didn’t want to do this, but you’ve been too heartless over the years. I have to be more heartless than you to ensure he isn’t hurt again. Otherwise, how could I do justice to our ‘relationship’?”

Seeing Sang Yu’s sinister expression, Lu Zilin collapsed completely to the floor.

“Since the meal is over, let’s disperse.”

Sang Yu stood up and walked to Ming Huaizhi’s side. “Put on more clothes; it’s cold outside.”

Ming Huaizhi nodded and left the private room with Jing Lan, Xie Jingsheng, and the others.

Before leaving, Gu Ci leaned against the doorframe and smiled at Lu Zilin. “Wickedness brings its own destruction. Don’t think you can mess around just because you have a pretty face.”

Lu Zilin’s lips were pale as he mocked back, “You’re not much better.”

Gu Ci turned off the light in the room and left with a laugh.

At the hotel entrance, Sang Yu stopped. Xie Jingsheng and the others behind him also slowed to a halt.

Sang Yu looked back at them. “About today”

Before he could finish, Gu Ci interrupted: “Don’t worry, President Sang. We won’t say a single word.”

Jing Lan nodded quickly. “Yes!”

Sang Yu looked toward Xie Jingsheng. “And you?”

Xie Jingsheng: “I’ll act as if I was never here.”

Sang Yu nodded thoughtfully, then looked at Ming Huaizhi. “But I have to clarify one thing. Yantang and I are not in a romantic relationship.”

Ming Huaizhi nodded like a chick pecking at grain. “Right, right.”

Gu Ci and Jing Lan’s disbelief was written all over their faces. Xie Jingsheng was actually a bit curious about their real relationship.

“We are relatives.”

“Right, right!”

“I am his brother-in-law.”

“Right—”

Ming Huaizhi was halfway through a nod before he realized what was said. He stared at Sang Yu in a panic.

Sang Yu gave a subtle smile. “Your brother is waiting for me. Let’s go.”

Ming Huaizhi was pulled away like a dazed puppet; even after getting in the car, his arms were still stiff.

“How could you… say that to everyone?”

Sang Yu: “If I don’t say I’m your relative, should I say I’m your husband?”

Ming Huaizhi mumbled, “Cousin would work too.”

Sang Yu: “Don’t you know that kind of relationship can be debunked with a simple check?”

Ming Huaizhi didn’t argue further. He blinked and looked at Sang Yu earnestly. Tonight, Sang Yu was really cool. He secretly let his lips curl up.

“What are you smiling at?”

Ming Huaizhi pinched his own cheek. “Thank you for protecting me and helping me get the endorsement.”

Sang Yu: “Just lip service? I helped you get revenge on Lu Zilin, after all. Is there no other way to repay me?”

Ming Huaizhi: “You name it, as long as I can do it.”

Sang Yu: “Debt repayment via the younger brother.”

Ming Huaizhi grew bolder, mischievously patting the back of Sang Yu’s hand. “You’re always thinking about my ‘brother’.”

Sang Yu: “I’m nearly thirty and I don’t have a wife. Shouldn’t you take pity on me?”

Ming Huaizhi tapped Sang Yu’s hand lightly. “How about I help by telling Grandma about the bad things Sang Lin has done?”

Sang Yu turned serious. “Have you been getting along well with Grandma lately?”

Ming Huaizhi told Sang Yu everything he had learned from Grandma Sang, except for the part about the ports being given to him.

Sang Yu told him: “The Sang family empire was indeed built by my parents, but when the company was founded, the first ‘pot of gold’ was the land bought with my grandmother’s dowry. So, I have no objection to how she distributes her assets; I don’t care who gets more or less. However, those few dozen ports represent the Sang family’s reputation. The reason Sang Lin wants them is that he’s involved in smuggling. I won’t stop him from seeking his own death, but I’m worried he’ll use the family ports for illegal activities.”

Ming Huaizhi’s eyelashes fluttered. He whispered, “Have you told Grandma about this?”

“My dad mentioned it. Grandma asked Sang Lin, but he denied it and even threatened suicide. No one brought it up after that.”

Ming Huaizhi: “Do you have evidence?”

“A portion of it.” Sang Yu sighed helplessly. The issue had remained unresolved mainly due to lack of evidence. “The people he collaborates with are complicated; they aren’t legitimate businessmen. You can imagine what kind of people would smuggle him.”

Ming Huaizhi looked worried. “Then… won’t you be in danger?”

Sang Yu suddenly lost his seriousness. “Are you worried about me?”

Ming Huaizhi spoke sweetly, “Of course. You’re one of my most important people. I’m afraid of something happening to you.”

The gloom in Sang Yu’s eyes vanished instantly, his tone rising slightly. “The list of your ‘most important people’ doesn’t have hundreds of names, does it?”

Ming Huaizhi shook his head. “Not that many. Maybe a few dozen.”

The smile on Sang Yu’s face froze. He let go of Ming Huaizhi’s hand and sat to the side.

At this, Ming Huaizhi’s crescent-moon eyes smiled. “I was joking, couldn’t you tell?”

Sang Yu laughed out of annoyance. “No.”

Ming Huaizhi slowly leaned toward him and explained sluggishly, “My heart has four chambers: my parents, my brother, and you.”

Sang Yu tilted his head. “Really?”

Ming Huaizhi’s gaze was clean. “Mm-hmm. As long as you’re willing to talk to me in the future, I’ll always consider you family.”

A trace of bitterness spread through Sang Yu’s heart. He flicked Ming Huaizhi’s forehead. “I didn’t stand up for you for nothing.”

Ming Huaizhi watched him seriously. “I remember everything you do for me. I won’t forget.”

Sang Yu couldn’t help himself; he reached out again to ruffle Ming Huaizhi’s hair. Ming Huaizhi squinted like a lazy kitten, leaning obediently against his shoulder. “The day after tomorrow, Grandma asked me to have dinner at her place. Do you want to go? You haven’t eaten with her in a long time.”

Sang Yu: “I’ll check my schedule. I think I have a meeting that day, I’ll see if I can push it.”

Ming Huaizhi: “Okay, I’ll wait for your word.”

Half an hour later, they arrived home. After a day of heart-stopping events, Ming Huaizhi was physically and mentally exhausted. He showered and prepared to rest. Just then, Ming Yantang called.

“Brother! You can use your phone now?”

Ming Yantang was lying on his bed. He glanced at Dr. Ye working beside him and casually kicked up his legs. “Are you happy or disappointed?”

Ming Huaizhi said anxiously, “How could I be disappointed?”

Ming Yantang, afraid of making him cry, softened his voice. “I’m just teasing. I finally got an hour on my phone today, so I hurried to call you.”

Ming Huaizhi smiled, his voice soft and sweet. “Brother, I miss you.”

Since it was a rare call, Ming Yantang didn’t want to bring up that annoying fellow Sang Yu and ruin the mood. Anyway, Ye Jinho had just promised him he could return to the country in a month at the earliest.

“I heard from Sister Fu that you’re sending me a gift?”

“That’s right. Has the amount in your bank account increased?”

Ming Yantang rolled over lazily, crossing his legs. His hospital gown was pressed beneath him, revealing a sliver of pale waist. “I’ll count it in a bit.”

Ming Huaizhi: “Good, remember to count.”

“By the way, baby, has it been exhausting helping me with my career? After I get back, do you have any other plans? Are you going back abroad?”

Hearing Ming Yantang’s gentle tone, Ye Jinho slowly looked up and watched him.

Ming Huaizhi: “I’m not leaving. I’ll stay with Mom, Dad, and you. I plan to work at Grandpa’s cultural center helping out, doing some calligraphy.”

Ming Yantang: “Sounds good. I support you.”

They chatted for another half hour before Ming Yantang reluctantly hung up. Turning his gaze forward, he saw Ye Jinho writing in a medical chart at the desk.

He turned sideways, his eyes fixed on Ye Jinho like hooks. “Dr. Ye, are you sure I can go home next month?”

Ye Jinho adjusted his glasses. His straight, broad back was bathed in the setting sun, his white coat giving off a cold, clean aura. “As long as you listen to me and don’t act up.”

Ming Yantang propped up his head. “Okay, deal.”

Ye Jinho closed the medical record and took his phone back. Before leaving, his gaze fell on the hospital gown. “Get dressed properly. Don’t catch a cold.”

Ming Yantang looked down and slowly covered his abdomen. “Mm, I’ll listen to you.”

…

In a flash, it was the night of the dinner. Sang Yu was tied up with work, so Ming Huaizhi went to Grandma Sang’s alone.

As soon as he entered the house, he heard the anxious voice of the old housekeeper, Aunt Yu: “Quick, prepare hot water! The mistress is vomiting again.”

Seeing this, Ming Huaizhi hurried upstairs and found Grandma Sang looking pale as earth, with no energy left.

“Tangtang, you’re here.” Grandma Sang gave an apologetic smile. “I ate too much ice cream yesterday; my stomach is a bit upset.”

Ming Huaizhi’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. “I told you already, don’t overindulge in cold things.”

“Young Master Ming, please talk to the mistress,” Aunt Yu complained. “She doesn’t listen to anyone, only to you and Young Master Lin.”

Ming Huaizhi picked up a warm compress and tucked it into Grandma Sang’s clothes. “You should only eat warm things today, preferably things that are easy to digest.”

Grandma Sang nodded regretfully. “Yes, I just won’t be able to accompany you for a big meal.”

Ming Huaizhi smiled. “There will be plenty of chances in the future. I’ll feed you some porridge first. I’ll stay here with you tonight.”

Just then, the sound of a car engine came from downstairs.

Aunt Yu said, “Young Master Lin is here.”

Grandma Sang asked curiously, “Why did Linlin come so suddenly?”

Aunt Yu: “I called him this morning to tell him about your condition. He probably had things to do, so he only arrived this afternoon.”

Ming Huaizhi watched Aunt Yu for a moment before continuing to feed Grandma Sang her porridge.

While they spoke, Sang Lin had already walked to the bedroom door.

“Grandma, why is your stomach upset?” Sang Lin rushed to the bedside. He glanced at Ming Huaizhi and crouched down anxiously to hold Grandma Sang’s hand. “I was in a meeting out of town, but I came back immediately when I heard something happened.”

Grandma Sang patted Sang Lin’s head affectionately. “Why did Aunt Yu tell you? Making you worry like this—what if something happened on the road?”

Sang Lin’s voice choked with worry. He took the porridge from Ming Huaizhi’s hand to feed her personally. “You’re always hiding things from me. If Aunt Yu hadn’t told me, I’d still be in the dark.”

Grandma Sang patted his hand. “Your health isn’t great; don’t always run around. If you can let your subordinates do the work, let them do it.”

Sang Lin nodded obediently. “Trade has been difficult lately, and policies have tightened. To smooth out the relationships at various ports, I have to handle it personally.”

Grandma Sang sighed and thought for a moment. “When there’s time, I’ll transfer the ports you need to your name first.”

Sang Lin shook his head quickly. “Grandma, that’s not what I meant. The ports belong to the Sang family, after all. If Brother Sang Yu doesn’t agree, doing this will damage your relationship with him.”

Grandma Sang: “I’ve already distributed the assets your grandfather left. These dozens of ports are mine; I still have the right to distribute them.”

Sang Lin glanced at Ming Huaizhi and took Grandma Sang into his arms. “Don’t you worry about me. Just take care of your health.”

Grandma Sang smiled faintly. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly gagged, and the porridge she had just eaten came back up.

Sang Lin stood up abruptly, looking at the mess on his clothes with absolute disgust, wiping it frantically with tissues.

Grandma Sang was clinging to the edge of the bed, still vomiting.

Seeing this, Ming Huaizhi rushed over to rub the old lady’s back. After handing her a glass of warm water, he helped clean the residue from her clothes.

Sang Lin frowned. “Are you okay?”

Grandma Sang sat up and shook her head slightly. “I’m fine.”

“As long as you’re fine. I’m going out to make a call.” Sang Lin gave the cleaning Ming Huaizhi a cold look and turned to leave.

After Ming Huaizhi had finished tidying everything, Grandma Sang looked guilty. “Tangtang, it was so dirty. I’m truly sorry.”

Ming Huaizhi got another clean glass of warm water for her. “It’s okay. Let me help you change into clean clothes.”

Grandma Sang: “Thank you. The clothes are in the usual place.”

Ming Huaizhi worked quickly, soon having her changed and calling a servant in to empty the trash.

Grandma Sang leaned against the bed, holding Ming Huaizhi’s hand. “I wonder if Linlin is eating dinner at home tonight. If he is, I should have Aunt Yu prepare the braised sea cucumber with scallions for him.”

Seeing her looking out the door, Ming Huaizhi stood up. “I’ll go ask Sang Lin and tell Aunt Yu to prepare it.”

Grandma Sang pinched his cheek. “Sweetheart, thank you.”

Ming Huaizhi searched for Sang Lin along the corridor. As he passed another tea room, he heard Aunt Yu’s complaining voice.

“If he were truly filial, he wouldn’t have waited until the afternoon to come. What ‘out of town’? The roses on his sports car are still in the passenger seat. He reeks of alcohol; he had to stand at the door a long time for the smell to dissipate.”

“What can be done? Young Master Lin is the mistress’s darling. If anyone says a word against him, she gets upset.”

“I’m not worried about anything else. I’m just afraid he’ll commit a crime for the sake of the mistress’s property.”

Hearing their conversation, Ming Huaizhi quickened his pace. With every step, his nerves grew tighter.

After finding no sign of Sang Lin on the second floor, he prepared to go to the third. Just as he stood at the third-floor stairs, he heard rustling on the fourth floor.

“Sang Lin?” he called softly. Hearing no response, he walked slowly upstairs.

“Forget it, let’s not talk about those unlucky things. How about I tell you something happy?” Sang Lin was leaning against the fourth-floor corridor, his voice cheerful. “The old woman said she’ll transfer the ports to my name soon. In that case, our business can wait a bit. Once the ports are in hand, what’s there to fear?”

Ming Huaizhi gripped the banister, nearly missing a step. As expected, Sang Lin was not involved in legitimate business.

His heart beat faster and faster. In just two seconds, his hands were covered in cold sweat. He wanted to run, but just as he turned, he thought of something. He stopped and peeked toward the fourth floor; from his angle, he could just see a corner of Sang Lin’s clothes.

Suppressing his trembling right hand, he opened his camera and quietly held it up.

“That batch of goods can wait, but we need to give them something to eat so they don’t lose their ‘freshness’ from hunger; we won’t get a good price otherwise.”

“Once they’re sent to Africa, the profit will be enough for us to sell wine for ten years. When the time comes, I’ll buy a manor in Chen Palace too. Whatever Sang Yu has, I must have.”

“Don’t worry, the old woman adores me right now. She even promised it to me right in front of that little brat.”

“Ugh, she just threw up all over me, it was disgusting. If it weren’t for her agreeing to give me the ports, I wouldn’t even want to be near her. Just the smell makes me want to puke.”

“It’s not the vomit, it’s that ‘old person’ smelling the smell of someone about to enter a coffin, you know?”

“Alright, that’s enough. I’m going to eat…”

Hearing Sang Lin’s footsteps, Ming Huaizhi quickly stuffed his phone into his pocket, crept down the stairs, and hid in the bathroom. Only after Sang Lin had nearly reached the kitchen did he step out. “Are you eating here tonight?”

Sang Lin’s gaze was unkind. “I have business to attend to. I’m not like you, kept by a man.”

Ming Huaizhi nodded and walked calmly into the tea room, sending the video to Sang Yu.

At that moment, his heart was filled with indescribable excitement and unease. He had seemingly helped Sang Yu obtain vital evidence.

Just then, Aunt Yu entered the tea room. “Young Master Ming, what would you like for dinner?”

Ming Huaizhi looked at Aunt Yu, remembering her conversation with the servant earlier. His eyes held a sense of sincerity and earnestness. “Aunt Yu, I have something I want to tell you.”

Aunt Yu smiled. “What is it?”

Ming Huaizhi took out his phone. “There’s a video here. Please take a look.”