Chapter 1161 Times Have Changed

We often condemn others for betrayal, ingratitude, and harm, yet never realize that this is merely our subjective judgment.

In fact, we also betray, disappoint, and harm others by another standard. Most people are unconditionally lenient with themselves but hold others to a strict set of rules. Our selfishness filters out our own mistakes, easily forgives them, and then we believe we have never erred.

So in Zhao Fusheng's view, Wang Jinghua and the Wang brothers were not really right or wrong; it was just a business deal that couldn't be reached.

Of course, Wang Jinghua didn't know what Zhao Fusheng was thinking, so she was still troubled, but Zhao Fusheng didn't care at all.

But even if Zhao Fusheng knew what Wang Jinghua was troubled about, he wouldn't call her out. He was still dissatisfied with her past actions, and now that he had a chance to annoy her, he felt it was his duty.

What came next didn't require much worry from Zhao Fusheng. With Ye Jing as the executive producer, his role was at best a mascot.

Watching Ye Jing delegate tasks to everyone, Zhao Fusheng was quite pleased. For him, how to manage these people was what he needed to consider; as for the specific tasks, wasn't it fine as long as someone did them?

Going home together?

After the preparatory meeting, Zhao Fusheng asked Fan Baobao, who was talking to someone.

In this film, she played the beautiful female thief under Uncle Ge, the role that Li Bingbing had played in the previous life. Although her screen time wasn't much, if she performed well, it would be quite outstanding.

As for the female lead, ever since she heard that Yu Feihong was playing it, Fan Baobao had given up any thought of competing for it.

Are you kidding? She knew she couldn't match her sister's acting skills.

Besides, Fan Baobao also understood that several companies had put a lot of effort into this drama, and she alone probably couldn't carry the entire female lead role.

If one understands life too clearly, there will be fewer surprises and hopes. In one's area of expertise, a little more low-keyness makes one more composed. In areas one is not good at, a little more humility makes one more appropriate.

Making a fortune quietly is the most suitable approach.

"I'm going to have dinner with Sister Feihong. Are you coming?" Fan Baobao rejected Zhao Fusheng's suggestion. She had already arranged to have dinner and go shopping with Yu Feihong, and then visit Zhou Yun's baby. She had no time to deal with Zhao Fusheng.

Blinking his eyes and looking at Sister Feihong who had just walked over, Zhao Fusheng confirmed that he had indeed become the "abandoned" man.

"If I say I'll go too, would you be happy?" Zhao Fusheng looked at Fan Baobao and asked.

Fan Baobao looked at Zhao Fusheng innocently: "You guess?"

Shaking his head helplessly, Zhao Fusheng couldn't be bothered to say anything more. Clearly, it was a gathering of the ladies, and they had no intention of bringing him along.

As for his girlfriend's words just now, they were purely polite.

Watching his sister and Fan Baobao leave, Zhao Fusheng smiled bitterly and prepared to leave as well. Ye Jing, Wang Zhongjun, Zhao Baogang, and others had a gathering, and the crew also had a dinner. He didn't plan to attend, because now that his status was different, he figured many people would feel uncomfortable with him present.

"Let's go, we're heading back." Zhao Fusheng smiled and said to Zhang Qian behind him.

Zhang Qian nodded and followed behind Zhao Fusheng as they walked toward the door together.

Just as they reached the entrance, Zhao Fusheng unexpectedly saw Wang Jinghua standing there.

"Sister Hua, something up?"

Although they were no longer on the same boat, Zhao Fusheng still maintained sufficient politeness.

"A few words?" Wang Jinghua's personality was as straightforward as ever. She glanced at Zhang Qian, who was following Zhao Fusheng, and said to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, then nodded.

The two went to the stairwell. Zhang Qian looked around, confirmed there was no one nearby, then nodded to Zhao Fusheng and went to the other side.

"I didn't expect we'd meet in a place like this," Wang Jinghua said with a wry smile, looking at Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng smiled slightly: "Sister Hua, you're being too formal. We've never been enemies, have we?"

Smiling to your face while cursing in your heart—Zhao Fusheng had seen plenty of that. He didn't think Wang Jinghua had sought him out just to reminisce; their friendship wasn't that close. Even in the past, it was mostly just cooperation.

He had to admit that he had misjudged Wang Jinghua. When he first signed with her, Zhao Fusheng thought she would go all out to promote Fan Baobao. But unexpectedly, as her status changed, Wang Jinghua transformed from an ordinary agent into the top agent in the industry. Without knowing his true identity, she chose to act condescendingly.

Everyone must pay the price for their choices, whether good or bad, and the one who made the choice must bear it.

Since Wang Jinghua had chosen to go against him, she would have to bear the pressure he put on her. Zhao Fusheng never felt he had wronged her in any way.

"I might be leaving Huayi," Wang Jinghua said without beating around the bush.

Zhao Fusheng frowned slightly: "Is that so? Then congratulations, Sister Hua. Wishing you a bright future." He already knew about this. What did Wang Jinghua mean by telling him this?

Looking at Zhao Fusheng, Wang Jinghua said bitterly: "I know President Wang will definitely seek your help. I'm not asking you to help me, but I hope you can understand that I had no choice but to leave."

Zhao Fusheng laughed: "Sister Hua, you might have misunderstood. Although I hold shares in Huayi, I won't interfere with the company's normal operations. Whether you leave or stay, it's your own business, and has nothing to do with me."

Regardless of Wang Jinghua's intentions, the outcome was the same for him. Zhao Fusheng had no interest in having any connection with this woman. No matter how many big-name stars she managed, if he needed someone, Future Film and Television would invite them and pay them as required. Relying on personal feelings with this woman would be the biggest joke.

If there were anyone in the agent circle who could be called a turncoat, Wang Jinghua would definitely count as one.

People like her might be polite to you now, but that's only because his status was so high that she couldn't do anything about him. If he ever fell on hard times, Zhao Fusheng was certain that Wang Jinghua would not hesitate to trample him.

He could even imagine that if he weren't the boss of Future Group, and if Fan Baobao offended her, Wang Jinghua would have ten thousand ways to destroy Fan Baobao.

As a time traveler, Zhao Fusheng knew very well how to completely ruin a person's reputation. In this world, being a good person doesn't guarantee a good reputation. Reputation is fragile and often affected by trivial incidents. The most ridiculous thing is that when most people say you're a good person, you are one—even if you've committed murder, arson, rape, and every evil deed imaginable.

As long as you lick the bloodstains from the corners of your mouth in public, it's fine.

Just like the pitiful Chen Shimei and Pan Mei—clearly good men, but some literati wrote them into plays, turning them into infamous villains for millennia.

And Emperor Zhengde of the Ming Dynasty, who was merely a playful youth, was portrayed by literati as a debauched and dissolute tyrant simply because he sought power.

The Confucian scholars were accustomed to being strict with others and lenient with themselves.

Although such people are rare now, Zhao Fusheng knew that netizens are not much better than those Confucian scholars. Everyone likes to stand on the moral high ground and accuse others, but when it comes to their own interests, they haggle over every penny.

Exclusivity and self-interest—in Zhao Fusheng's view, these are problems everyone has, unavoidable. That's why we worship selfless heroes.

For Zhao Fusheng himself, whatever Wang Jinghua was plotting didn't really matter, because in this matter, he was an outsider and a bystander.

Upon hearing Zhao Fusheng's words, Wang Jinghua was first stunned, then gave a bitter smile, her heart filled with bitterness.

She didn't think Zhao Fusheng was lying to her—there was no need for that—but honestly, the feeling of being ignored was not pleasant.