Forty-eight hundred million?
No wonder. No company would ever pay such a ridiculous amount of penalty for an actor.
No wonder Yu Shiqing never ended his contract.
Tan Yanfei shrugged. “When Qingyuan heard that number, they gave up right away. I don’t know the details of the contract, but just from this one clause, it’s clear how harsh Huaze’s terms are. That’s why I’m really curious—what method did Huaze use to make Yu Shiqing sign something like that?”
Jiang Yu ignored his detached curiosity and only asked, “Huaze barely brought any benefit to Yu Shiqing. Is 4.8 billion penalty even legal?”
“Legal?”
Tan Yanfei couldn’t help but laugh. “Jiang Yu, are you joking? It’s Huaze. Even if it’s not legal, Huaze’s attitude is clear—he doesn’t want to let him go. Taking this kind of case to court? The time, the energy—you have no idea how much it would cost. And even after the lawsuit, the penalty might not be reduced to something affordable.”
Jiang Yu looked away, eyes growing cold.
“I remember it was only after Yu Shiqing started doing stage plays that the companies found out. In other words, he’d already been out of the public eye for more than a year. Add in the time it takes to go through a lawsuit—at least two years. By then, his popularity would be gone.
And saving him from this hell takes more effort than promoting a new, obedient celebrity. On top of that, you’d offend Huaze. The cost and return just don’t match.”
Seeing Jiang Yu so interested in the topic, Tan Yanfei carefully thought back and explained.
No company wanted to offend Huaze.
Yu Shiqing could only rely on himself.
But Huaze held the contract, so he had no business deals at all.
Suing would drain his energy and effort. On top of that, with no income, he simply couldn’t afford it. Even paying a lawyer was a problem, let alone the penalty. Wanting to terminate the contract was basically a dream.
No wonder Yu Shiqing gave up on filming.
No wonder he hadn’t planned to return to the entertainment industry.
The entertainment industry was just a place that broke his heart.
So what was his mindset when he accepted the role in Doomsday Rescue?
Every time Jiang Yu thought about it—every time he remembered what Yu Shiqing had said—he couldn’t stop the wave of frustration building in his chest.
After a long silence, he asked in a low voice,
“If he did go to court, how much would the penalty likely be?”
“I’m not sure about that. No one’s ever calculated it. But it definitely wouldn’t be a small amount. Why are you asking this?”
Right after saying that, Tan Yanfei saw Jiang Yu’s expression and suddenly realized something. His eyes widened.
“Wait—Jiang Yu, don’t tell me…
Are you thinking of helping Yu Shiqing get out of the contract?”
—
When Jiang Yu returned to his room, the living room was empty.
From the kitchen, he heard faint voices.
“Big bro, if you don’t know how to cook, then stop messing things up, okay!”
Ren Bai was holding the lid of a pot, nearly in tears.
“You added so much water! When is it ever going to boil??”
Yu Shiqing glanced into the pot. “Is it really that much?”
“Yes!! Way too much!!”
Jiang Yu walked into the kitchen and saw Yu Shiqing scooping water out of the pot with a ladle.
When Yu Shiqing saw him, he didn’t stop. “You’re back.”
Jiang Yu leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “Didn’t you guys eat downstairs?”
Ren Bai immediately groaned. “I must’ve been possessed! I reminded him there were dumplings in the fridge we hadn’t eaten yet.”
Yu Shiqing acted like he didn’t hear that and turned to Jiang Yu.
“Have you eaten?”
Jiang Yu noticed the two boxes of dumplings on the table, thawing. He answered honestly, “No.”
“Then go wash your hands,” Yu Shiqing said.
Jiang Yu stood up straight. “Already cooked?”
“In your dreams.”
Yu Shiqing gave him a look. “Only working people get to eat. Wash your hands and help me chop garlic.”
Jiang Yu: “…”
He resigned himself and walked to the cutting board.
He saw the garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil already laid out.
“You prepared all this?” he asked.
Ren Bai looked proud. “Of course. Don’t you know who you’re talking to?”
Yu Shiqing only asked, “Did I leave enough water?”
Jiang Yu, now standing beside him, said, “Almost.”
Yu Shiqing looked at him. “You know how to cook?”
Jiang Yu smiled faintly. “Just a little.”
Yu Shiqing put down the ladle, closed the pot lid, and turned to see Jiang Yu still looking at him. He casually said, “Impressive.”
Then he turned away to grab the dumplings.
Jiang Yu: “…”
That obviously half-hearted tone made him grip the knife tighter.
Ren Bai, feeling the tension, quickly changed the subject.
“Jiang Yu, about what you asked me to look into—it’s done. Tonight I got the results.”
That was the reason he came over—to report in person.
Jiang Yu was a little surprised. “That fast?”
Ren Bai grinned. “It’s the information age. Stuff like this is easy.”
Jiang Yu looked deeply at Yu Shiqing. “Not always. Some things just can’t be found.”
Yu Shiqing didn’t turn around. “Then don’t bother looking.”
Ren Bai was stunned for a second, then quickly realized what they were talking about. His expression grew complicated.
Jiang Yu caught it in the corner of his eye. He remembered their opposite reactions back at the restaurant when he offered help.
He lowered his gaze briefly, then looked at Ren Bai.
“What really happened when Yu Shiqing signed with Huaze? What are you hiding?”
Ren Bai looked at Yu Shiqing, still hesitant.
Jiang Yu said, “The more I know, the better chance I have at finding a solution. Don’t you want Yu Shiqing out of that contract?”
That one line broke down Ren Bai’s mental defense.
“Of course I want that—”
“Ren Bai,” Yu Shiqing finally turned around and interrupted.
He looked directly at Jiang Yu.
“So, you already looked into the contract. Do you still think it’s worth investigating further?”
Jiang Yu met his gaze. “I do. Huaze’s terms aren’t reasonable. There has to be room to work around them.”
Yu Shiqing smiled.
“Jiang Yu, I really appreciate your kindness. But your kindness—I can’t repay it.”
Even if there’s room to negotiate, it would take time and effort.
That’s exactly what Huaze wanted. Anyone who tried to help him would get dragged in too.
Jiang Yu understood that Yu Shiqing wouldn’t change his mind, so he changed his approach.
“Then let me satisfy my curiosity. I really want to know—why would you sign such an unfair contract with Huaze?”
Hearing this, Yu Shiqing frowned slightly.
