Chapter 1: Bai Chen Zhu Part 2

Bai Chen Zhu casually flipped through the printed materials nearby. “The company assessed the adaptation value. Conclusion: your novel isn’t suited for film or TV. First, your superpowers—live actors can’t replicate the skills in the book, not even with stunt coordinators. That alone requires major changes. Second, special effects. Most of your apocalypse isn’t ‘zombies’—you can’t just hire extras for that…”

This wasn’t the fierce debate Cheng Chong had imagined. If Bai Chen Zhu had just vaguely criticized, Cheng Chong had endless excuses.

But he methodically listed the pros and cons, speaking eloquently, a barrage of points that left Cheng Chong speechless. Cheng Chong froze, unsure where to counter first, seething with impotent rage and twisted jealousy. His face reddened more with each word, lips twitching, body leaning forward—yet speechless.

“Though not suited for film or TV, it’s perfect for other adaptation channels. I sincerely suggest you pivot and contact relevant companies.” Bai Chen Zhu concluded.

Then, ignoring the silent Cheng Chong, he turned to Director Li. “The ‘Dawn Project’ is already set. Director Li, joining midway brings more trouble. Why not consider leading your own team? The next project approval round is soon. I suggest checking that other book you have—it’s one the company values highly…”

Director Li, who had started so firmly on Cheng Chong’s side, abandoned him and unconsciously began chatting other projects with Bai Chen Zhu.

The dinner lasted two or three hours. Cheng Chong tried interjecting multiple times, only to be shut down by Bai Chen Zhu. Finally, humiliated, he shut up, staring at his phone screen like he was on pins and needles, his gaze toward Bai Chen Zhu growing ever more hateful.

At the end, Director Li took a call and left first.

Only the two remained in the private room. Bai Chen Zhu dropped the work smile, his cold, distant expression fully revealed. He nodded curtly at Cheng Chong, grabbed his bag expressionlessly, and headed out.

Cheng Chong wouldn’t give up. Thick-skinned, he chased after, pleading, “Manager, my novel really fits! I can change any skills or plot! As long as the company invests, I’ll do anything. The adaptation fee is negotiable…”

He prattled on after Bai Chen Zhu, who quickened his pace, visibly annoyed.

The elevator was just ahead when Cheng Chong’s phone buzzed frantically in his pocket, like an urgent death knell, lifting his heart into his throat.

He could almost see the cleaver swinging at him.

He couldn’t let him leave! Cheng Chong took a deep breath, rushed forward, and grabbed Bai Chen Zhu’s hand with forceful movements but a humble tone. “Manager Bai! I beg you, I really need this money! You’re magnanimous, please reconsider!”

As he spoke, his knees bent, and he was about to kneel down.

“I’m just an employee talking business; I don’t have that much say.” Bai Chen Zhu tried to pull Cheng Chong off him.

“How could that be! You can even arrange work for Director Li!” Cheng Chong’s face twisted as he growled lowly, “I’ve collaborated with your company once before! How is my novel any worse than those five pieces of trash?!”

After he finished speaking, he suddenly realized his attitude was wrong and instantly became humble again. “Of course, they must have deceived you. You surely wouldn’t fall for it, right?”

“Guilt-tripping me now? If you’re so capable, why not buy a rope and hang yourself in front of the chairman?” Bai Chen Zhu stepped aside, frowned, and said coldly, “You think I’m easy to bully?”

“No! Absolutely not!” Cheng Chong clutched him excitedly and knelt on the ground, refusing to get up no matter what. “I beg you! I beg you! Give me a chance; I can change it to whatever you want…”

Seeing that he couldn’t pull Cheng Chong up and more onlookers were gathering, Bai Chen Zhu simply took a step back, picked up his briefcase, and prepared to leave.

How could Cheng Chong allow that? He clung tightly, preventing him from entering the elevator. While dragging him, he kept begging loudly, creating such a commotion that passersby stopped to watch the spectacle. A server even called for someone to come stop it.

The gathered crowd pressed closer, shrinking the encirclement further. In the chaos, someone stepped on a foot, leading to loud cursing. It turned into a complete mess.

Curses, pleas for mercy, the narrow circle of onlookers treating it like a circus show… Bai Chen Zhu felt extremely irritated.

In the midst of their struggle, Cheng Chong suddenly knelt and hugged his left leg. Bai Chen Zhu, having exhausted his patience, impatiently tried to shake him off. Unexpectedly, Cheng Chong let go at that exact moment to kowtow to him.

With this kick and release, Bai Chen Zhu, who had missed his step, fell backward. His waist slammed hard against the antique-style low railing and flipped over it.

Before he could recover, he heard the sound of wood cracking and the screams of the people around him. The force behind him suddenly vanished, and he plummeted from the third floor. A sense of weightlessness enveloped his entire body, squeezing his breath.

The wind whipped at his clothes. In the midst of the surrounding screams, the last thing Bai Chen Zhu remembered was Cheng Chong’s twisted expression with a hint of a smile.

The world went still.

There was a muffled ‘Bang!‘ as his back landed on a soft carpet.

He finally broke free from the fall. His pitch-black pupils contracted sharply. Bai Chen Zhu clutched his collar tightly, gasping for air in big gulps. Cold sweat poured down, his chest heaved rapidly, and his heavy breathing sounded like drumming in his ears.

The imagined splatter of blood and flesh didn’t happen. Where was the restaurant in front of him now?

The air was thick with the smell of smoke and alcohol. In the dim room lit by colorful lights, a group of people looked down at him with expressions of contempt, mockery, or schadenfreude.

Bai Chen Zhu’s arms instinctively pushed backward, and his palms pressed against the dark red carpet.

Due to his extreme shock, he ended up choking from holding his breath. He turned his face to the side and coughed nonstop, a faint flush of color rising on his pale face.

Only then did he realize he was sitting on the carpet, dressed in a white shirt, black pants, and vest—the typical waiter’s uniform. There was a large footprint on his chest, and it burned with pain.

There was no doubt: someone had kicked him, knocking him to the ground.

Amid his intermittent coughing, Bai Chen Zhu surveyed the people around him.

Where was this? Was he dreaming?

But the pain in his body was real. Bai Chen Zhu checked his intact limbs with lingering fear, relieved he hadn’t been turned into mincemeat.

Where was he? He clutched his forehead, stood up unsteadily, and headed for the door to escape this uncomfortable environment and find a quiet corner to sort out his thoughts.

Unexpectedly, as he turned and took just two steps, he was surrounded by people.

Caught off guard by their aggression, Bai Chen Zhu was shoved hard to the ground. His elbow knocked against the floor, making him draw in a sharp breath of cold air. His mind cleared a bit.

“Running away?” An malicious voice came from the crowd. “You won’t leave today without making amends.”

The room was packed with people, divided into two groups.

One group consisted of the nightclub’s patrons, either standing or sitting on the sofas, gathered around a man in the center who sat with an arrogant and wild posture.

The man wore an eyesore of a floral shirt and domineeringly held the waist of the girl sitting on his lap.

Judging by her clothes and demeanor, the girl was the epitome of a delicate little white flower type. She looked at Bai Chen Zhu with worry, then anxiously turned to tug at the man’s clothes. Mustering her courage, she said, “Jiang Ye, don’t make things hard for him. If you have the guts, come at me!”

Though it sounded like a tough warning, her position and tone made it seem like coquetry.

The man named Jiang Ye sneered, brushed off his clothes, and his gloomy brows screamed “don’t mess with me.” He pointed vaguely in Bai Chen Zhu’s direction. “Make things hard? My hand is worth its weight in gold. He spilled wine on it, and it’s kindness that I’m not chopping off his hand.”

“If you’re a man, get up. For Xin Xin’s sake in pleading for you, drink all this wine, and I’ll consider letting you off.” Jiang Ye said arrogantly, as if granting a favor.

The other group was the nightclub’s staff, dressed in the same waiter uniforms as Bai Chen Zhu, huddling awkwardly to the side, unsure what to do.

One man in a suit wiped his sweat and helped the pale-faced Bai Chen Zhu up from the ground. “Little Bai, go apologize properly to Young Master Jiang, alright?” he emphasized.

Bai Chen Zhu rubbed his nose bridge. Amid Xin Xin’s worried expression, Jiang Ye’s contempt, and the crowd’s eager stares, he stood up again and staggered forward a step.

He raised his head and scanned everyone in the room one by one. His lowered long lashes trembled like a fan, half-veiling his eyes as they fixed on the row of colorful drinks on the table, their liquids shimmering.

Jiang Ye? Xin Xin? They sounded somewhat familiar…

Wait, Jiang Ye! Bai Chen Zhu’s expression suddenly darkened. He stared intently at the man on the sofa, sizing him up from head to toe.

This outfit, this appearance, and that girl… Bai Chen Zhu realized it.

Jiang Ye, the male protagonist of Creation Martial God.

Was he inside this novel? But he had clearly fallen from the building. Bai Chen Zhu pinched his own forearm hard, until blood and flesh blurred, the sharp pain shooting up his arm to his brain, telling him this wasn’t a dream.

The thought flashed by, and memories of the office gossip surfaced in Bai Chen Zhu’s mind.

—It’s such a shame that book didn’t pass the meeting vote.

—Why?

—Because there’s a pitiful little side character in it with the same name as our manager. Thinking of the workaholic getting screwed over is fun… What kind of look is that? Eye cramp? Ow, fuck! Manager, sorry, I was talking nonsense!

Bai Chen Zhu’s gaze shifted slightly. When he looked at Jiang Ye again, resentment from being pushed off the third floor in Creation Martial God blazed fiercely in his heart.

He ground his back teeth, laughed out of anger, and let go of his bleeding arm.