WBSGVS Chapter 234 V1

Chapter 234

After seeing Ye Qiong off, it was already late.

Qingli was about to wash up and go to bed when she got another call—this time from an unfamiliar number.

She had two phone numbers. One was for personal use—friends and family. The other was for work—business contacts and partners. She usually carried both phones with her.

This time, it was the personal phone that suddenly rang.

She answered, and Su Zhen’s voice came through the line. “Qingli, you’re still up?”

A call from the Su family?

And using a different number, completely ignoring the fact that she had blocked them before, speaking so gently?

Qingli raised an eyebrow, didn’t hang up immediately, and instead lazily sat down. “Of course I’m awake. Otherwise, how would I have answered your call? What’s going on, big brother? What made you suddenly call?”

“Ahem,” Su Zhen coughed awkwardly. “Just wanted to discuss something with you. I heard you’re preparing to shoot a new movie?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“We’ve seen people online doubting whether you can handle directing a film, saying it’s too big of a leap,” Su Zhen said, still keeping his tone warm. “But don’t worry, we’re family—we support you. Especially Su Yan. He called us to tell us about it. He wants to make things right with you. If you’re looking for investment, I may not have much money, but if my little sister asks, of course I’ll help.”

Qingli shook her head. “No need. I’ve already got investors.”

“Oh, I see…” Su Zhen’s tone relaxed a bit, and he chuckled. “Su Yan regrets leaving your production for Zhao Muyun. They’ve broken up now, and he wants to apologize. How about this—he’s willing to play your male lead for free. What do you say?”

Qingli was stunned. “Big brother, did you hit your head? Or did someone swap you out for a different person?”

Su Zhen’s voice turned irritated. “Su Qingli! Watch your mouth!”

Qingli laughed. “Aren’t I just surprised? Back when he wanted to be in Phoenix Slays, you said that since we’re family, he should be paid more. But now he’s offering to work for free?”

“Well…” Su Zhen was at a loss for words. He was never the eloquent type, just like the original Qingli, not good with sharp talk.

Sensing things were going south, Su Yan’s mother Xu Fang grabbed the phone and jumped in with a fake laugh. “That was then. This is now. Su Yan made a mistake—he deserves to be taught a lesson. Once he’s in your film, you can make him suffer however you want. He’ll use it as an apology to you, his aunt.”

“No thanks,” Qingli said dryly. “I’m worried he’ll just fall for another actress in my crew and then walk out on me again.”

Xu Fang’s voice turned cold. “We’re family, you know. Isn’t it a bit much for you to be so harsh? Ever since your divorce news went public, our neighbors have been dropping by nonstop, asking questions. Your parents were so angry that they got sick. They even said they didn’t want you to come back! If we hadn’t tried to calm things down, they might have already stormed over to confront you!”

Qingli laughed even harder. “When I gave you money to build a house, you were all full of smiles, saying this would always be my home. But now I’ve just got divorced, and suddenly I’m not welcome? I’m seriously starting to wonder if He Tianzhuo is the one who’s related to you.”

Xu Fang snapped, “That’s different! Your divorce shames the entire Su family! Your parents were furious—they’re already not in great health. And sure, you gave us money to build that house, but it’s under your brother’s name—”

“I don’t care to hear another word,” Qingli cut her off. “I’m not coming back, so rest easy. As far as I’m concerned, for the rest of my life, we’re done. And I hope you all stay far away from me too.”

“Su Qingli!” Xu Fang couldn’t help yelling.

“I’m here~” Qingli said slowly. “Oh, by the way, I recorded this conversation. If I post it online, how badly do you think Su Yan’s reputation will suffer? Want to find out?”

Xu Fang fell silent.

She didn’t dare say another word.

Qingli’s tone turned icy. “With everything you just said, don’t you dare talk about ‘family’ again. I don’t need selfish people like you in my life. As of now, I’m cutting all ties with the Su family. This number is going on my block list. Su Yan, too.”

Then she hung up.

The repeated “beep-beep-beep” of a disconnected call echoed the failed attempt at negotiation.

Once Su Qingli stopped caring about the Su family or what her parents thought, they had no leverage over her.

Xu Fang was flushed red with rage from Qingli’s cold response, humiliated, furious, and powerless. She furiously threw the phone at her husband, her face dark. “What kind of sister is that?! Even to her nephew, she’s that heartless. Divorce is such a disgrace, and she acts like she’s the one who’s been wronged? Cutting us off? She’s not afraid of dying alone, huh?”

Su Zhen didn’t dare talk back. He clumsily caught the phone and hesitated. “So… what about what our son said?”

Xu Fang snapped, “What else can we do? Let it go!”

Just yesterday, Su Yan’s team had called home, asking them to talk to Qingli and convince her to cast Su Yan in her new film. That way, the public backlash he was facing would die down.

Su Yan’s career had taken a nosedive—thanks in large part to Qingli’s devastating public call-out, his reputation had tanked.

And his performance in Imperial Power wasn’t well received either.

In contrast, Phoenix Slays, the project he had walked away from, had soared in popularity. It had even been picked up by a satellite TV network. Every major channel was scrambling to buy the broadcasting rights. Once the full series aired, its buzz blew everything else out of the water. It became the most talked-about show of the summer, even though it had only finished airing at the end of June after a mid-April premiere.

The kicker? The screenwriter and director behind the smash hit Phoenix Slays was the same person—Su Qingli. And it was her very first project as a director. That alone had stunned the industry.

So now, as the nephew who’d been publicly dragged by her, the more successful Qingli became, the more criticism Su Yan faced. If he wanted to repair his image, his best bet was to sincerely apologize, reconcile with his aunt, or be part of a critically acclaimed drama to stage a comeback.

But the second option was a long shot.

That’s why Su Yan’s team had banked on the first—an apology, a show of familial support, reconciliation.