A week later, Zhou Man flew to LA. She walked the Oscar red carpet carrying everyone's hopes.
When Zhou Man, not failing expectations, won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, all domestic and international media vied to interview Zhou Man's film team.
She successfully transitioned from a renowned actress to the coveted female director, conquering everyone with her talent.
While the domestic scene was buzzing, someone re-released the interview Zhou Man gave after presenting an award to Luo Yu.
-- Interview Content --
Reporter: "Ms. Zhou Man, do you have anything to say about this year's awards ceremony?"
Zhou Man: "It was very good."
Reporter: "Ms. Zhou Man, there have always been rumors that you and Luo Yu are not on good terms. This time you personally presented her with an award, what are you trying to convey?"
Zhou Man: "There is no discord."
Reporter: "Then what do you want to say about Luo Yu winning the Best Actress award?"
Zhou Man: "She is a very special actress, very unique. After all, I couldn't achieve what she has at her age."
The reporter wanted to ask more, but was stopped by Zhou Man's assistant, and the interview was hastily concluded.
-- End of Interview Content --
This very interview content pushed Luo Yu and Zhou Man back into the spotlight.
Some even speculated that Zhou Man's cold attitude towards Luo Yu was because Luo Yu had achieved a grand slam, and Luo Yu's background had infringed upon the interests of the formerly reigning film queen who was vying for fame and fortune.
Luo Yu's side continuously hired internet trolls to suppress such news, but she didn't realize she was already at the center of the storm.
The ones stirring up the trouble were not aiming for another argument between the two women, but for one of them to be completely ruined.
Some news could be successfully suppressed, but some news was like a contagious disease, spreading rapidly once released and becoming a hot topic.
Perhaps with Ou Yunchen as her backer, Fan Zhijie became bolder.
Paparazzi, who had always dared not publish anything related to Yan Shizong, could now take advantage of the situation and release a few sensational news items about Yan Shizong.
This was also his specialty, a mandatory skill for any paparazzo; no female celebrity's gossip or scandals could escape Fan Zhijie's paparazzi.
They quickly released the news that Luo Yu was being kept by Yan Shizong, and the entire internet exploded.
Luo Yu, having just achieved a grand slam, was already a hot topic in recent entertainment headlines. Yan Shizong had even bought multiple entertainment pages to lavish praise on Luo Yu's acting skills and her rare professionalism.
Even if some smaller media outlets reported on Luo Yu's romantic life, they absolutely followed the rules and would never mention Yan Shizong's name, at most hinting that it was the company boss showing consideration for his subordinate.
But Fan Zhijie wasn't afraid. He released one photo after another of the two embracing, kissing, and cuddling.
Lovers? Couple? It didn't matter anymore. What mattered was that there was undeniable proof of their relationship!
As if afraid that the two would turn their rumored romance into true love, before they could even coordinate their stories and devise a strategy, another bombshell was dropped, nailing Luo Yu to the pillory of the entertainment industry.
Bribing movie judges?
Was Best Actress bought?
And it wasn't over yet!
Following closely was the exposure of Luo Yu's exorbitant film fees, with dual contracts becoming crucial evidence.
The entertainment industry began to descend into chaos. Luo Yu was not the only one suffering; those who were once timid now seized the opportunity to stir the pot. All sorts of celebrities, fearing repercussions, rushed to deregister their studios and entertainment companies.
But the first bird gets shot. Luo Yu couldn't escape.
However, the people at Kexi Ou couldn't celebrate too soon. They were all on edge, not out of fear that this fire would spread to them, but out of concern that Yan Shizong would retaliate against Zhou Man and Ou Yunchen.
Liu Jinhua: "It's been a week, and there's been no movement from Yan Shizong's side."
Liu Jinhua: "Did you miss any calls? Have you checked your emails? The quieter he is, the more nervous I feel."
Liu Jinhua: "Have you sent people to inquire about the situation at Juying?"
After waiting a few more days, there was still no counterattack.
Liu Jinhua: "Did we win? Has Juying collapsed?"
Public Relations Team: "It's out! Luo Yu's studio has responded!!!"
Everyone, who had been anxiously waiting for so many days, couldn't sleep soundly, always ready to jump up and fight at the sound of a phone call.
But what they received was Luo Yu's public apology, admitting all charges and cooperating with the investigation.
Public Relations Team: "What does this mean?"
At this moment, Ou Yunchen called Liu Jinhua.
-- Liu Jinhua on the phone --
Liu Jinhua: "Boss, did you see? Luo Yu apologized and is cooperating with the investigation."
Ou Yunchen: "I saw it. Tell everyone to rest. You've all worked hard these past few days."
Liu Jinhua: "Boss, that's it? Is Yan Shizong no longer protecting Luo Yu?"
Ou Yunchen: "This is the best outcome for them. It's not that Yan Shizong isn't protecting Luo Yu; it's that he sacrificed Luo Yu to save Juying Culture."
Liu Jinhua: "But I still feel Yan Shizong will retaliate against us. He might still have dirt on Zhou Man. We destroyed his cash cow, and he'll definitely destroy Zhou Man to end this battle."
Ou Yunchen: "He won't. They've already reached a settlement."
Liu Jinhua: "What do you mean, boss? I don't understand this operation at all."
Ou Yunchen: "Prepare for Zhou Man to retire from the industry."
Liu Jinhua: "What?"
-- End of Call --
Ou Yunchen was also watching this battle unfold, but the superficial calm hid a huge conspiracy.
Yan Shizong abandoned Luo Yu as a pawn because he was influenced by Zhou Man.
Or rather, Zhou Man sacrificed herself to ensure the safety of the two men who were important in her life.
The day Zhou Man left the rooftop, she foresaw that if she confronted Yan Shizong directly, she would be implicated.
This was because Yan Shizong held all of Zhou Man's unsavory past, and all the private videos they had taken would become a ticking time bomb.
Yan Shizong had said that if he couldn't have Zhou Man, he would destroy her!
Fleeing into Ou Yunchen's protection, Zhou Man felt grateful. A moment of peace allowed her to see herself as adrift.
So she voluntarily approached Yan Shizong and told him everything that Xi'ou was about to expose.
It was because of Zhou Man's sincerity that Yan Shizong, who only knew hatred, decided to spare Zhou Man. But he didn't do so without conditions.
Mutual destruction shouldn't involve Xi'ou and Juying, so it could only be their respective most successful works that they poured all their efforts into.
Zhou Man ended the battle with her retirement. As Yan Shizong's final act of grace, he destroyed Luo Yu in return to preserve himself.
This led to Luo Yu becoming a disgraced artist, her works all removed, suffering a ban, but without dragging Juying and Yan Shizong down with her.
***
At their usual meeting spot, after waiting for a while, Fan Zhijie arrived as promised.
Fan Zhijie: "Mr. Ou, I personally followed this lead this time."
Another sealed envelope appeared, containing materials related to Shen Yuxuan's murder of Tian Yu.
Fan Zhijie: "I heard from people inside that the case has been slow to progress because Shen Yuxuan is not confessing."
Ou Yunchen: "Shen Yuxuan is a nurse?"
Fan Zhijie: "Oh, right. She's a nursing student who took a two-year break. I guess she couldn't afford tuition. Her family doesn't have much. I heard from people around that Shen Yuxuan's father is an old gambler."
Ou Yunchen: "Is this her father?"
Fan Zhijie: "Yes, yes, yes."
Ou Yunchen: "I've seen him. He's Xu Shuming's driver!"
Fan Zhijie: "Impossible, such a coincidence?"
Ou Yunchen: "Continue investigating Shen Yuxuan's case. I need to go to the Su family."
Suddenly, the clues in his mind felt clearer, heading in a more precise direction.
As expected, when Ou Yunchen showed the photo to the Su family's butler, he recognized the man.
Butler: "It's him, Old Shen."
Ou Yunchen: "Do you know about his daughter?"
The butler sighed.
Butler: "It's all over the news, how could I not know..."
Ou Yunchen: "What about Old Shen? Is he still driving for Xu Shuming?"
Butler: "He resigned."
A warning bell went off in Ou Yunchen's mind. A bad premonition couldn't be suppressed.
Butler: "His daughter is still in the detention center. But not long after his daughter's incident, Old Shen resigned. It's understandable, how could he still be in the mood to work."
Ou Yunchen: "Do you have his contact information?"
Butler: "I do. We originally planned to visit him, but his phone number is disconnected. We can't reach him."
Ou Yunchen: "Disconnected?"
Butler: "Old Shen probably felt ashamed. Plus, his daughter's situation hit him hard. Online posts and doxing also found him. It's better for him to disappear and find some peace."
But before the butler could finish speaking, Ou Yunchen immediately returned to his car and, with a sharp turn, left the Su family.
Butler: "Hey? Mr. Ou, aren't you going upstairs to see Miss?"