Chapter 414: This Is My Turf

Hanging up the phone, Ma Dabin said to Yao Shufen, “Get this straight. This is the Jiangcheng Newspaper Office, my territory. You want to get out of here alive? Not a chance.”

Two trusted henchmen quickly arrived and began dragging Yao Shufen out. Yao Shufen struggled in terror. “Dabin, you can’t do this to me! You can’t let me die here!”

Ma Dabin didn’t give her a second glance, saying coldly, “You want to live? Then you’d better pray you can stay obedient.”

Yao Shufen was dragged to the basement. It was dark and damp, the air thick with a nauseating, musty smell. The two men locked her in a small room and posted guards at the door.

From then on, Yao Shufen was completely deprived of her freedom. Food and water were delivered on a schedule, and her every move was under strict surveillance. She thought about escaping, but with guards at the door and the windows sealed shut, there was no way out. She began to regret what she had done to Ma Dabin.

Even after the dust had settled on Yao Shufen’s situation, Chen Qingdi, the chairman of Mingyue Group, felt no sense of relief. His wife, Shen Mingyue, kept pressing him about what to do with Yao Shufen, but Chen Qingdi couldn’t give her a clear answer. After all, Yao Shufen was Shen Mingyue’s mother, a relationship that kept Chen Qingdi from making any rash decisions.

“Qingdi, what are you going to do about my mom?” Shen Mingyue asked, sitting in Chen Qingdi’s office with a hint of anxiety in her eyes.

Chen Qingdi let out a helpless sigh. “Mingyue, I know you’re worried about your mother, but this situation… it’s complicated.”

Shen Mingyue frowned. “I know you’re doing this for our family, but… she’s still my mother. I don’t want to see her get hurt.”

Chen Qingdi was silent for a moment before looking up at Shen Mingyue. “Actually, I’ve already arranged for her to take a trip to the Outer Island.”

Shen Mingyue was taken aback. “A trip? With who?”

“With Ma Dabin,” Chen Qingdi answered.

“Ma Dabin?” Shen Mingyue said, surprised. “How did the two of them end up together?”

Chen Qingdi smiled. “They’ve actually had feelings for each other for a long time, they just never had the chance to be together. Now that they have this opportunity, I hope they can be happy.”

Shen Mingyue looked at Chen Qingdi. “I know you’re doing this for the good of everyone, but I’m still a little worried about my mom.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll have people look after them,” Chen Qingdi reassured her.

Shen Mingyue nodded. “That’s good. I hope she can find her own happiness.”

Watching Shen Mingyue’s retreating figure, Chen Qingdi couldn’t help but feel a swell of emotion. He knew that while the matter was settled for now, the relationship between him and Shen Mingyue had become even more delicate as a result. He didn’t know if he’d made the right decision, but he hoped it would bring more peace and happiness to their family.

In the top-floor office of the Mingyue Group, Chen Qingdi and a few of his trusted aides were gathered around a wide mahogany table. Outside, the city’s neon lights fell like a fine drizzle, lending the late night a unique hue. Chen Qingdi held a financial report, its black-and-white figures a testament to their recent, brilliant achievements.

He scanned the faces of those present, his gaze first landing on Chen Yuan, as if to say, ‘Your persistence back then was the right call.’ Chen Yuan nodded slightly, his eyes glinting with pride.

He then turned his gaze to Qian Laoliu, a man who always wore a smile, but whose thoughts ran deep. The corners of Qian Laoliu’s mouth quirked up, as if he had foreseen all of this long ago.

“Mingyue Group’s performance has skyrocketed recently, and none of it would have been possible without all of you here.” Chen Qingdi’s voice was deep and powerful. “Therefore, I’ve decided to give you all a reward.” He paused, as if to build the suspense. “Everyone who met their performance targets will receive a bonus of five hundred thousand US Dollars.”

A murmur of excitement went through the room. Five hundred thousand US Dollars was no small sum. Chen Yuan, Qian Laoliu, and the others all voiced their gratitude, their eyes filled with respect for Chen Qingdi.

“So, what’s our next step for developing the business?” Chen Qingdi’s question was like a stone tossed into a calm lake, sending ripples through the room.

The men began to voice their opinions. Some argued for expanding production, while others suggested entering new market sectors. Qian Laoliu, however, listened in silence. Only when everyone else had spoken did he slowly open his mouth. “I believe we should move into the entertainment industry.”

His words sparked another wave of discussion. Chen Qingdi raised an eyebrow at Qian Laoliu, waiting for an explanation.

“The entertainment industry has been growing explosively in recent years, and the profit margins are enormous,” Qian Laoliu explained, his analysis sharp and logical. “More importantly, Mingyue Group’s influence hasn’t yet fully penetrated this sector. If we can seize this opportunity, it will open up huge new avenues for the company’s growth.”

Chen Qingdi mulled it over for a moment, then nodded. “That’s a very insightful idea. So, how would we go about it?”

“First, we need to establish an entertainment subsidiary,” Qian Laoliu replied. “But more importantly, we need to find the right talent—actors and project managers.”

“If we offer enough money, finding talent won’t be a problem,” Chen Yuan cut in.

“That may be true, but you can’t attract real talent with money alone,” Chen Qingdi reminded him. “We need to create an environment that inspires their creativity.”

“I understand,” Qian Laoliu said, a flash of insight in his eyes. “We need to create a system for attracting and cultivating talent.”

After a thorough discussion, they reached a consensus. They decided to put the entertainment industry project on the agenda and begin preparations for establishing a subsidiary. Though the road ahead was filled with challenges, they were confident that if they remained united and worked together, Mingyue Group could undoubtedly carve out a new niche for itself in the entertainment world.

As the night deepened, the lights in the office grew soft.

In the Mingyue Group office, Chen Qingdi and Qian Laoliu sat facing each other. The atmosphere was somewhat tense.

“Qian Laoliu, do you know why I’ve called for you?” Chen Qingdi began, his voice deep.

“I do not, Chairman. Please enlighten me.” Qian Laoliu’s heart was pounding, but he did his best to keep his expression calm.

“I have a task for you,” Chen Qingdi said, his gaze sharp. “I was originally going to have Chen Yuan set up this entertainment subsidiary. However, things are busy over on Medical God Island, and Lone Wolf can’t handle it all by himself. So, I need you to get the license for the Mingyue Entertainment Company registered as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Chairman, I understand.” Qian Laoliu’s heart clenched, but he responded swiftly.

“First, go to the bureau of industry and commerce and get the relevant documents processed,” Chen Qingdi continued. “After that, we can officially hang our sign and open for business.”