Chapter 59

At seven fifteen in the evening, Mai Xiaoyu drove to the Yanjing Film Academy's nearby Yan Ying residential area to drop Liu Tao off. The teacher that Xiao Xing had hired lived here.

The agreed-upon class time was from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM. To show sincerity, the four-thousand-yuan class fee had already been paid in advance as requested.

The two chatted for five minutes downstairs. Liu Tao picked up her bag and prepared to get out of the car: "Mr. Mai, I'm going up."

"Go ahead, I'll be waiting downstairs. I'll come up as soon as my phone rings."

"Okay." Liu Tao smiled sweetly and took out a novel and a magazine from her bag, "I have two books here. You can read them if you get bored."

Liu Tao was very considerate, worried that Mai Xiaoyu would be bored waiting downstairs for two hours, so she found a way to help him pass the time. Thinking that Mai Xiaoyu often practiced kickboxing, she went to a bookstore in the afternoon and picked out a popular martial arts novel. When paying, she heard that a certain comic magazine was very popular recently, so she bought the latest issue to help Mai Xiaoyu pass the time.

Mai Xiaoyu wasn't particularly interested in martial arts novels. If he wanted to read, he had countless different types of long novels in his dreams to recall.

As for the comic magazine... *Feiyang: Youth*.

"The bookstore clerk told me that the serialized *Hana Yori Dango* in this magazine is very popular recently. Many people buy it specifically for that."

*Hana Yori Dango*...

Mai Xiaoyu was speechless, feeling a mix of amusement and frustration.

"Don't worry about me, go up quickly. Don't be late for your first class."

Liu Tao's warmth and consideration touched Mai Xiaoyu, but he wouldn't be bored. He turned on the car's reading light, took out paper and a pen from his briefcase, adjusted his comfortable sitting position, and selected a scene from his mind, preparing to activate the human photocopier.

His peripheral vision inadvertently caught sight of *Feiyang: Youth* next to him. Mai Xiaoyu thought for a moment and called Yang Linfei.

"Mr. Yang, has there been any movement from Ai Man Culture these past two days?"

There had been!

This morning, Yang Linfei received news that the editor-in-chief of *Mangan Ai* magazine had been replaced.

The specific reason was unknown, but industry insiders speculated it was related to the recent Mai Zǐ incident.

In the afternoon, the general manager of Ai Man Culture, Pei Pengbing, called him and provided the details.

The former editor-in-chief of *Mangan Ai*, Li Gang, was taken away by the police on suspicion of embezzlement. Due to the large amount embezzled, according to Chinese law, if the charges were confirmed, he would face a prison sentence of more than five years.

This was what Pei Pengbing told him and asked him to convey to Mai Xiaoyu.

Ai Man Culture had actually backed down!

This news shocked Yang Linfei and made him very anxious.

The night before, under pressure, he had relayed Ai Man Culture's message of reconciliation. Yesterday afternoon, when Yang Mi visited the publishing house and learned about this, she scolded him severely.

Ai Man Culture was clearly in the wrong first, why were you afraid of them?

Why did you relay their message?

What was your stance in this matter?

Why didn't you fully support Mai Zǐ?

This is called betrayal, do you know that!

Betrayal is shameful, and Mai Zǐ is facing Ai Man Culture alone, which is very pitiful!

...

Yang Mi scolded him endlessly, very "disrespectfully"; but Yang Linfei, being scolded by his daughter, had no temper at all.

He realized his actions were inappropriate.

Back then, Mai Xiaoyu had rejected the high manuscript fee from Shūeiwa and chose to serialize *Hana Yori Dango* in *Feiyang: Youth* for just five hundred yuan, showing great trust in him. But what did he do when Mai Zǐ needed support the most?

His attitude wavered...

His daughter's scolding woke him up, and he deeply regretted it. He wanted to contact Mai Xiaoyu to apologize but didn't know how to start.

When Ai Man Culture contacted him again in the afternoon to relay a message, he was very conflicted, unsure whether he should tell Mai Xiaoyu.

He also knew his indecisive character, and in handling certain matters, he was not as decisive as his daughter. But asking his daughter for advice was something he, as a father, couldn't bring himself to do.

Until Mai Xiaoyu called him, he found an outlet and poured out everything.

That little fox, so young but so shrewd.

Thinking of Yang Mi, Mai Xiaoyu couldn't help but smile. He was very magnanimous in forgiving Yang Linfei.

Actually, he had never blamed Yang Linfei.

In today's society, win-win is the mainstream. The process of win-win often involves continuous compromise.

From the personal level to the company level, and even to the national level... so-called win-win cooperation means holding your own bottom line in cooperation, negotiating and compromising with each other to find a mutually satisfactory balance point.

Not everyone in this world is like him, never accustomed to compromise.

"It's okay, Mr. Yang, I'm not that petty. But your daughter is very cute, it seems I made the right choice in choosing your publishing house."

"Then how should I respond to Ai Man Culture?"

"Say nothing, just tell them I know."

"No problem. By the way, Mr. Mai, when are you free? I'd like to treat you to a meal. The sales of the recent issues of *Feiyang: Youth* have been very high, thanks to you."

"No need, I'm very busy recently and don't have time."

"You still need to eat even if you're busy. And Mi Mi, she has always wanted to meet you..."

She has already met me, she just doesn't know it.

Smiling, he hung up the phone, feeling much better. However, this good mood was overshadowed by a faint cloud of worry.

Li Gang being dealt with was what he wanted to see, but a prison sentence of more than five years was truly unexpected.

Ai Man Culture was a ruthless player, and their ruthless actions suggested that this storm might not be over after all.

If it doesn't end, so be it. Am I afraid?

If you dare to provoke me again, you will pay a heavier price!

We'll see who becomes the next Li Gang!

Moreover, the justice I seek goes beyond this.

...

At 9:30 PM, Liu Tao's class ended.

Five minutes later, she walked out of the building.

Mai Xiaoyu approached her: "How was the class?"

"Mr. Huang is a very nice person, humorous and well-spoken. He's a graduate of Yanjing Film Academy, has released albums, acted in TV series and movies, and has rich theoretical knowledge and practical experience. To avoid making me feel awkward, his girlfriend was always there." Liu Tao had a good impression of Mr. Huang.

Is that so? Could I be overthinking it?

No way!

Such a capable teacher, only charging two hundred yuan per hour?

Mai Xiaoyu's suspicion grew: "What did he teach you tonight?"

It was the first class, and Mr. Huang didn't teach Liu Tao much. They first chatted to get to know each other better, then discussed Liu Tao's personal goals. Through some simple role-playing exercises, they improved communication and identified her strengths and weaknesses.

The basic process, very normal.

But Mai Xiaoyu's professional instincts felt something was off. According to Liu Tao's description, there was nothing unusual, except... the low fee.

Puzzling!

---

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