Chapter 38: Secret Photos

He Yu couldn’t see his expression, so naturally he didn’t know about his strange little thoughts. 

Seeing that Xie Xiaobao refused to give it, he had no choice but to speak honestly:  

[*Give me a photo, at least let me show off my great chef on WeChat Moments.*]  

“Why are you suddenly talking so cheesy…”  

Xie Xiaobao rolled over with his phone, hugging the Cat Plush tightly, then browsed through his photo album and sent a picture of himself.  

He Yu looked at the photo Xie Xiaobao had sent.

Xiaobao was half-leaning on the table, flashing a peace sign, with the birthday cake he had given him placed in front.

The background showed a lake dyed orange — it was probably taken while he was waiting for him.  

He Yu’s fingers swiped over the screen a few times, saving the photo to his album.  

When posting on WeChat Moments, he didn’t use the photo Xiaobao sent but instead chose a picture of the cake and paired it with a photo of Xiaobao’s back.  

Xie Xiaobao was scrolling through WeChat Moments when he saw He Yu’s new post.  

He Yu: [Celebrated my birthday with friends today, had a great time, thank you.]  

Xie Xiaobao first liked the post, then realized the photo wasn’t the one he sent at all.  

He Yu was lying to him just now!  

Fuming, Xie Xiaobao sent a message to He Yu, questioning him:  [*When did you secretly take a photo of me!*]  

He Yu leaned against the headboard, almost able to imagine his eyes glaring and cheeks puffed up in anger.

He chuckled softly and deliberately replied:  [Took it while you were eating.]  

Xie Xiaobao, originally furious and ready to ask why he took photos secretly, suddenly remembered that he had also secretly taken photos.

He immediately softened.  

Since they were both secretly taking pictures, it was even.  

Xie Xiaobao deflated and said, fine, then we’re even.  

[*Yeah, even.*]  

He Yu found it amusing but didn’t remind Xiaobao about the confusing count.

Instead, he shifted the conversation to other topics.  

***

After the birthday, He Yu stayed in Jade Garden for a day before returning to his place near the company.  

He Father and He Mother were probably shocked by what he said yesterday.

They didn’t leave the house all Saturday, taking turns to ask him questions, even during meals, silently watching him with hesitant eyes.  

But now was not the time for a complete showdown.

The two elders at home probably couldn’t settle their minds to consider the matter properly, so He Yu simply returned to the company early.  

His attention these days was focused on Xie Xiaobao, but some other people also needed to be dealt with.  

Since Old Wang extracted the whistleblower’s identity from Chen Gou, He Yu had kept this matter under wraps without taking action.  

Old Wang had come to probe again when he saw He Yu hadn’t handled it, but later perhaps sensing something, he obediently stopped intervening.  

In reality, He Yu had his own considerations.  

On the surface, Zong Wei’s actions looked like a revenge born of jealousy, but He Yu had Fang Huaiyue investigate the people Zong Wei had recently contacted and his recent financial flows.

All signs indicated that someone else was pulling the strings behind Zong Wei.  

Otherwise, with Zong Wei’s opportunistic nature, he wouldn’t have dared to drag He Yu into the mess just to deal with Xie Xiaobao.  

After Chen Gou was arrested, with both testimonial and physical evidence present and the amount involved huge, the charge of extortion quickly stuck.

According to the latest news, the minimum sentence would be five years, possibly up to eight.  

This case had caused an uproar online, with speculation that Chen Gou’s misfortune was because he angered the CEO of He’s Entertainment.

No doubt Zong Wei was aware of these rumors.  

He Yu was deliberately waiting without making a move, expecting Zong Wei to reach out to the people behind the scenes himself.  

Zong Wei was not a bold man.

After the news of Chen Gou’s arrest broke, he felt an ominous premonition.  

Later, with all the online speculation that Chen Gou landed in jail because he angered the CEO, Zong Wei grew even more anxious.  

Originally, he had acted out of momentary anger and was lured by the money, enough to live comfortably for life, to take the risk once.  

But now that things had gone wrong, it didn’t stop him from living in constant fear, feeling like walking on thin ice at work every day.  

Before He Yu’s sudden appointment as CEO of He’s Entertainment, Zong Wei ruled the online arts training department with an iron fist.

Every small streamer under him flattered him; even Wang Si was ranked below him.  

But once He Yu arrived, everything changed.

Wang Si was favored, his most promising streamers were suppressed, and he had to kowtow and beg Wang Si not to hold grudges.

How could he not hate that?  

Just then, He Xing’s secretary approached him, and that’s when he plotted the whole thing.  

Yes, he could also turn to He Xing.  

Zong Wei hurriedly called He Xing’s secretary; they would always have a way.  

The former CEO of He’s Entertainment, He Xing, had already been removed from his position.

He was a man in his fifties but looked like he was in his forties thanks to years of womanizing and good maintenance.  

He Xing and He Father were of the same generation.

His father was the younger brother of He Zhiguo, so He Xing’s generation was actually senior to He Yu’s.

He Yu had to address him as uncle.  

Because of this connection, before He Yu’s sudden arrival at He’s Entertainment, He Xing had been the king of He’s Entertainment.

No star refused his advances.  

Of course, he knew his limits.

He never allowed family business to spill out beyond his territory.

Under his control, He’s Entertainment didn’t make giant strides forward but remained a stable giant in the industry.  

He Zhiguo was too old to manage well and had always turned a blind eye to him.

But just as He Zhiguo stepped down, He Xing was taken down by two juniors teaming up.  

Where could he put his pride?

He could never swallow that humiliation.  

He Yi was He Zhiguo’s biological son and had deeper roots; He Xing dared not move against him.

But the relatively new returnee, He Yu, this impudent kid, he had to teach a lesson.  

“What’s there to fear? Even if he traced it back to me, does he dare to do anything to me?”  

He Xing lay on the lap of a young woman, a cigar dangling from his lips unlit.

His expression was lazy, as if He Yu was not worth his attention at all.  

“But what about Zong Wei…”  

His secretary hesitated.

He Xing had been arrogant for years at He’s Entertainment, but he clearly saw that the new President He was definitely not a pushover.  

“Just shut him up. He Yu can’t trace anything back to me. I’m enjoying my vacation out here. They can’t just throw every dirty accusation at me. They owe me from before. If they dare throw dirt again, I might as well go cry in front of my ancestors.”  

The secretary felt uneasy. Previously, because they had underestimated He Yu, their tails hadn’t been cleaned up thoroughly. If He Yu really investigated, he would find out.  

But he knew He Xing’s character too well; once he said something, it was final.

He could only leave reluctantly.  

The secretary left the private room but still called Zong Wei just to be safe.

Zong Wei had contacted him recently, so he wanted to reassure him.  

Zong Wei clutched his phone, waiting anxiously for the secretary’s reply.

His mind ran through several scenarios before nervously answering the call.  

“Secretary Li, what did President He say?”  

The secretary frowned, “The President is on vacation. This small matter doesn’t warrant waking him.”  

Zong Wei grew anxious, “But on my side…”  

“What do you have to worry about?” Secretary Li cut him off.

“Putting aside whether He Yu can trace you, even if he does, you were just teaching a disobedient little streamer a lesson. You didn’t do anything too outrageous. At worst, you get fired. Isn’t the money President He gave you enough for a lifetime of comfort?”  

“That’s true, but…” Zong Wei was about to say more, but Secretary Li didn’t want to waste his time.

“Think carefully about what you can say and what you can’t. President He’s money isn’t given away lightly.”  

The call ended.

Zong Wei stared at the screen and murmured, “That’s true. At worst, I quit.”  

Reassured, he pondered in his office for a while before deciding to hand in his resignation.

He had enough money from He Xing.

It was better to live freely outside than walk on eggshells at He’s Entertainment.