Chapter 1884 - 1791: Overnight Interrogation_4
"Officer, Song Xiaodong is the one calling the shots from behind the scenes. You should be investigating him. What's the point of asking about me and Director Zhang?" Zhu Wenhua, still with an air of righteousness, tries to guide Qiao Yutong.
"Am I the police or are you the police? Do I need you to teach me how to investigate?" Qiao Yutong is about to get angry.
"Ouch, lady officer, don't be so heated." Zhu Wenhua immediately softens upon seeing Qiao Yutong's anger.
"I'll tell you everything, as long as it brings Song Xiaodong to justice. I'll share everything I know." Zhu Wenhua said.
"We'll handle it appropriately." Qiao Yutong regains a serious demeanor.
"I don't have any special relationship with Director Zhang. Our Qin Huai has collaborated with Director Zhang on a few dramas, so we know each other and get along well, but it's just professional exchanges, nothing more."
Zhu Wenhua's tone is steady, and his expression is natural, showing no hint of lying.
"Is that so? Why does Director Zhang favor Qin Huai so much? I heard he's chosen Qin Huai as the leading man for several dramas." Qiao Yutong hints at something.
"Oh, Qin Huai is exceptionally hardworking, has a great instinct for acting, and is a good person. Director Zhang admires him, so he cast him as the leading man in several very popular dramas." Zhu Wenhua replies confidently.
"A good person?" At these words, Qiao Yutong can't help but recall a previous interrogation where Qin Huai mentioned eating garlic before a kissing scene. Looking at the lying-through-his-teeth Zhu Wenhua before her, she grows increasingly disgusted.
"I see. The entertainment industry is tough, isn't it? Many actresses give up everything for a role, and with Director Zhang's dramas being so popular recently, your Qin Huai taking the lead multiple times is quite impressive." Qiao Yutong continues probing.
"Officer, our Qin Huai is very upright. He wouldn't do such things as selling his body or soul." Zhu Wenhua confidently assures Qiao Yutong.
"Upright? An upright person eats garlic before a kissing scene?" Qiao Yutong's tone grows harsher, her hands pressing down on the table, as her presence intensifies.
"Uh..." Zhu Wenhua is somewhat at a loss for words.
"Speak up."
"Well, officer, to be honest, Qin Huai's public image is handsome and upright, but privately he's not like that. As his agent, I have to maintain his image; that's my job." Zhu Wenhua pretends to sigh deeply, bowing his head as if he can't bring himself to speak.
Qiao Yutong seems to know what Zhu Wenhua is about to say.
"Officer, Qin Huai became the leading man not because Director Zhang admired him." Zhu Wenhua musters courage, raises his head, looking into Qiao Yutong's eyes, as if he's made a significant decision.
"Then on what basis?" Qiao Yutong asks.
"Director Zhang Gangyi's dramas have high demands for leading and supporting actresses; they have to use their own bodies to fight for it." Zhu Wenhua sells out Zhang Gangyi.
"And then?" Qiao Yutong asks.
"Director Zhang Gangyi is very famous, and if the unspoken rules regarding actresses come out, it would damage his reputation. So this matter has always been kept private. It's Qin Huai who arranged places for Director Zhang, and sometimes even helped these actresses with the mental preparation. Qin Huai is basically Zhang Gangyi's pimp." Zhu Wenhua sells out Qin Huai.
Qiao Yutong lowers her head, a smirk appearing on her lips, her face tense.
What Zhu Wenhua said was exactly what Qiao Yutong had suspected.
Qin Huai and Zhu Wenhua betray each other.
Qiao Yutong looks at Zhu Wenhua, her expression complex.
"So the unspoken rules involving actors at Jinhui Film and Television City were arranged by Qin Huai?" Qiao Yutong asks.
"Yes, I'm aware of Qin Huai's dealings. I even went that day, but ultimately, Qin Huai did it for his career, and I was working for him, so I could only turn a blind eye." Zhu Wenhua washes his hands of the matter.
"Alright, go now." Qiao Yutong's temple blood vessels throb, her hands and feet turn cold, her breathing difficult, as she lowers her head, weakly waving to signal Zhu Wenhua's removal.
"Zhang Gangyi!"
"The last one." Qiao Yutong sighs, lowering her head, her hand supporting her forehead.
Zhang Gangyi remains calm, despite having been beaten badly.
"Why did Song Xiaodong hit you?" Qiao Yutong, having interrogated all day, has no patience left for beating around the bush.
"Just some disagreements between us, and Mr. Song has a fiery temper." Zhang Gangyi's attitude is very poor.
"What kind of disagreements? Did it lead to a fight?" Qiao Yutong asks impatiently.
"It was about the new drama's casting. We had differing opinions, and Mr. Song lost his temper."
Zhang Gangyi, the oldest one here, realizes from the day's events that Mr. Song is indeed formidable, and he doesn't want to offend Song Xiaodong any further.
"Explain in detail." Qiao Yutong asks again.
"Mr. Song wanted me to change the leading man, but I disagreed." Zhang Gangyi answers honestly.
"Why did Song Xiaodong want to replace the leading man?" Qiao Yutong continues questioning.
"Because Qin Huai offended him. Qin Huai underestimated Mr. Song, thinking he was just Xiao Yingying's assistant, and looked down on him." Zhang Gangyi explains.
"And?" Qiao Yutong, out of patience, glares at Zhang Gangyi.
"Zhu Wenhua and Qin Huai arranged a place for me to meet with actresses from Song Xiaodong's company." Zhang Gangyi continues, noting Qiao Yutong's bad attitude, he gets a little emotional too.
"Meet for what?" Qiao Yutong asks, frowning, glaring at Zhang Gangyi.
"For transactions. Getting a role in my drama isn't that simple, right? They have to work hard, pay some price." Zhang Gangyi really dislikes Qiao Yutong, leaning back on the chair, arms crossed, head tilted, looking at her as he speaks.