The following week was filled with various aftermath matters.
The pirates were, of course, apprehended.
Foxx made significant concessions to them, as it also constituted an oversight on their part.
To have their ship hijacked by pirates!
It nearly resulted in the worst Foxx incident in recent years, almost leading to the death of a top-tier star who was immensely popular worldwide while on the ship.
Foxx's compensation payments were as high as several hundred million per person.
After all, Foxx was a prosperous family, and they could afford to pay this sum.
However—
Ma Yingying and Li Mike would not receive this enormous compensation!
...
Yang Weiyang was sitting in Lin Muci’s villa.
She was drinking tea while complaining to Lin Muci.
“Ma Yingying and Li Mike are truly unlucky… It’s said they were both exploited by the pirates…”
“Earlier, Ma Yingying, in order to show off, leaked the filming location of the variety show on social media and to her fan group… That’s how the pirate organization’s informants targeted them.”
“It’s already generous of Foxx not to hold her responsible.”
“She shouldn’t expect any compensation.”
“After all, Foxx is a top global streaming platform with the most powerful legal team. She and Li Mike are just minor internet celebrities. A twig cannot break a mighty bough.”
Ma Yingying would not receive compensation.
But Yang Weiyang and Lin Muci’s compensation had been securely deposited.
Yang Weiyang and Lin Muci’s compensation quickly arrived in their bank accounts, and Yang Weiyang found it incredible.
Although the process had been incredibly perilous.
With this astronomical compensation, she joked.
“Does this mean I’ve achieved financial freedom?”
“If I retire now, I can be a happy rich woman! Wuwuwu!”
Lin Muci looked at her.
“You don’t want to work anymore?”
Indeed, with a windfall like this.
How to put it, she no longer needed to worry about money.
Yang Weiyang nodded frantically, and then she couldn’t help but sigh.
“Yes… I really don’t want to work anymore. You have no idea how much juniors and aspiring actors have to endure on set. Everyone thinks you’re easy to bully. I have some fame, having debuted as part of a group, but I’m still looked down upon.”
Yang Weiyang could only sigh.
“I’ve also considered retiring. But my fans would be so sad, wouldn’t they?”
Besides.
She looked at Lin Muci.
“Moreover, my team contract isn’t over yet. If I just leave, what about the other three of you? I can’t be that disloyal, can I?”
“If it weren’t for you, Xiao Ci, I’d just be an ordinary girl!”
Yang Weiyang was self-aware.
Her talent wasn’t top-tier. Although she was good-looking enough to be a minor actress in the entertainment industry, she was carried to success by Lin Muci when she debuted.
Furthermore, this time, it was because Lin Muci and Ling Qianhe saved everyone on the ship that she was able to smoothly receive compensation.
Foxx also acknowledged the immense fame of Ling Qianhe and Hanks.
This matter could not be covered up.
Thus, they were willing to compensate them, the guests.
With high compensation payments.
According to their laws, they indeed had to pay such a high price. She had received immense benefits entirely because of Lin Muci.
If she were to pack up and break her contract to retire, would she even be human?
No matter how she thought about it.
She couldn't do that.
Lin Muci glanced at Yang Weiyang and then handed her phone.
“Look at this.”
Yang Weiyang leaned over curiously, and her eyes widened in surprise after just one glance.
“Eh?”
“Global concert tour…?”
“Kill me now, do I have to rehearse new dances, new formations, and the like…”
She was about to cry, looking pitiful.
“Ahhhh… If we have to rehearse new dances… it will definitely be grueling.”
Yang Weiyang fell silent. She paused for a moment, then shook her head with a wry smile.
“Do we have to be this ruthless? We just survived a brush with death…”
She reached for a cigarette.
Meanwhile, Lin Muci showed Yang Weiyang the new dance choreography sent by the dance studio.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. She walked to the door and checked the surveillance feed.
After she was nearly taken hostage on the Destiny,
Madam Lin Cuiping and Uncle Li had increased security. There were surveillance cameras outside, and she saw a gentle and refined man in a white suit standing at the door.
She froze.
Huh?
Yang Weiyang looked up.
“Who is this? He’s quite handsome.”
It was Yang Lanyan.
Lin Muci was hesitating whether to open the door when she saw another person walking step by step towards the door from the surveillance camera’s perspective.
Almost colliding with Yang Lanyan.
It was Feng Yuting!
Good heavens.
It was another meeting of the rogue men, ready to fight!
Lin Muci realized that the person who needed a cigarette wasn’t Yang Weiyang, but herself.
Because she was still deliberating whether to open the door.
The next second.
She saw a young man running over with large strides. He discovered two people already outside and stopped in his tracks.
It was—
Zhou Yuan’an.
He was carrying a thermos.
It was easy to guess that they had heard the news of Lin Muci’s safe return.
Therefore, these men, or rather, Zhou Yuan’an being a youth, these men, had all coincidentally chosen this timing to come find Lin Muci!
Lin Muci managed a wry smile. This was becoming quite a headache.
None of these men were to be trifled with.
She resigned herself and opened the door.
Yang Weiyang exclaimed, “Wow!”
“Xiao Ci… are these… are these all your friends!?”
“Your friends are so handsome!”
“Your friends look so imposing…”
It felt like two were ready to kill, with a simpleton sandwiched in between.
Lin Muci hummed and looked at them.
“Make yourselves comfortable. Would you like some tea?”
The atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward.
Yang Weiyang also felt that being among these men was a bit out of place. She desperately winked at Lin Muci.
“Xiao Ci… how about I leave first?”
Lin Muci’s eyes widened, looking at Yang Weiyang.
Yang Weiyang actually wanted to retreat now?
She had been counting on Yang Weiyang to save her… but Yang Weiyang chuckled awkwardly twice and then fled very unceremoniously!
She almost forgot her phone on the sofa.
Mid-run,
She turned back to grab her phone.
She almost bumped into Feng Yuting, then nearly stepped on Yang Lanyan’s foot, and hurried away without any intention of stopping.
Lin Muci sighed, watching Yang Weiyang dash out of the villa.
Looking at these men,
Standing like door gods in her home,
She couldn’t help but finally speak.
Breaking the deathly silence.
“Um—”
“What did you want to talk to me about?”
She raised her eyes, looking at the men opposite her.
The men opposite her raised their eyebrows and coughed. After a moment, Yang Lanyan spoke first.
“I came to express my concern for you, Xiao Ci. I heard you had an accident while filming the variety show and were almost annihilated.”
“But this was not a natural disaster, but a man-made one. Some people need to be held responsible for this matter.”
Feng Yuting, upon hearing Yang Lanyan speak.
He immediately followed up.
“What are you being so sarcastic about?”
“Are you saying I attacked Xiao Ci? How could I possibly attack Xiao Ci!”
“Don’t talk nonsense. This has nothing to do with me.”
“Those pirates couldn’t possibly have been commanded by me!”
“I suspect you too. Don’t think I don’t know your background. You’ve always been colluding with mysterious overseas forces!”
“The basement of the martial arts school in Chinatown is a place for underground bare-knuckle boxing. Don’t think I don’t know how you made your fortune!”
It was, well, verbal fencing.
Very intense.
Lin Muci was extremely annoyed.
Yang Lanyan hadn’t named anyone specifically, so why did Feng Yuting jump out first!?
She was truly exasperated.
Yang Lanyan then sneered.
“You know best what you’ve done. Are you just a pure and honest businessman who made his fortune?”
“Who supplied arms to South America?”
“And who was seen chatting and laughing with African chieftains?”
“Don’t think you can cleanse yourself by accusing me now. You cannot escape responsibility for what happened to Xiao Ci this time!”
The two of them, despite being people of status and standing,
And capable of becoming terrifying when they turned malevolent,
Were now like two roosters,
Aggressively confronting each other.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan’an, who was out of the loop, picked up the thermos.
He completely ignored what the other two men were arguing about.
He got straight to the point.
“Xiao Ci, would you like some crucian carp soup? The soup is milky white, and I also cooked a poached egg in it. It’s very fragrant!”
He smiled warmly at Lin Muci.
He sighed with emotion.
“Xiao Ci must have been scared this time… But it’s good that you’re back safe. I also bought apples; may you always be safe and sound.”
Feng Yuting and Yang Lanyan were locked in a fierce argument.
They were practically fighting in her home.
She sat at the dining table, drinking the crucian carp soup brought by Zhou Yuan’an, watching the two crazy magnates expose each other’s cards. Zhou Yuan’an naively asked her.
“What underground black market, what chief and arms dealer, are they talking about playing games?”
“Games like Grand Theft Auto? Or movies. They’re talking so seriously and enthusiastically.”
He narrowed his eyes.
Looking at Lin Muci, he smiled.
“I don’t understand those things. I just want Xiao Ci to be happy.”
“If I were present, I would also protect Xiao Ci with all my might.”
It was,
Quietly,
But a big win.
Lin Muci drank the crucian carp soup, savoring it.
When Ling Qianhe called her, she answered the phone, and the background sound was still the argument between Feng Yuting and Yang Lanyan.
She had tried her best to distance herself, but Ling Qianhe caught it in an instant.
“Are there men at your place?”
She sighed helplessly.
“There are always lunatics looking for me, and I can’t help it.”
Ling Qianhe snorted.
“Yang Lanyan, or Feng Yuting?”
These two were the true lunatics.
When Xiao Ci had an accident,
It was natural for them to come and fawn over her.
Lin Muci scratched her head and then earnestly explained.
“Um— it seems to be both?”
“They are both here.”
Ling Qianhe replied decisively and quickly on the phone.
“Then I’ll be right there.”
As if it were a joke.
How could she let Xiao Ci.
Face other rogue men alone?
After hanging up the phone, Lin Muci happily took another sip of the crucian carp soup. The system in her mind jokingly commented.
“Host, I feel like you just want to—eat melons and watch the show?”
“Isn’t that right?”
“Don’t you wish you could immediately eat melons?”
“Better yet, let them fight!”
Lin Muci had to admit.
She did want to see these men fight.