My Boss is doing Shady Business!

"I've thought about it, Mari, that guy must be a closet gay!"

After chatting with that new boss of hers, Jie Jie dialed Mari's number and reported all of what happened. The two were quite bewildered that someone would spend such an amount of money on an online novel such as "The President and I".

"To tell the truth, Jie Jie, your writing is intriguing, but your plot is quite generic, and your fanservice is nil. There is no romance yet, and the main CP hasn't even met yet. For the life of mine, I can't get it why someone is willing to spend so much money on you."

After being quiet for some time, because Jie Jie couldn't refute her friend's words, Mari whispered: "Or could it be, that the guy knows who you are?"

"What nonsense are you talking? Where would I know such a rich boss? Where would he know me from?" Jie Jie immediately denied, displeasure all over her face. There must be another reason! So she concluded after some wild thoughts that he must have some personal ties to her story. And the most prominent feature of her story, which was generic otherwise, was the fact that it revolved around a same-sex pair.

"So you are saying that he might be some rich president who is a closet gay?"

"Yes, and somehow he is in a similar situation, and he happened to stumble upon my story that reflected his life and thus became interested in it!"

Call me detective Shin Jie Jie!

"Well, he has to be at least some kind of big shot to be able to throw money into the gutter this easily...." Mari wasn't convinced just yet, but she couldn't come up with a better theory.

"Hey, I've been trying to ignore it, but you've been insulting me all along, haven't you?"

"Hehe, so you noticed," Mari answered drily.

Since the two of them were each a creator in their own field, they came up with various theories, one wilder than the previous since the only asset they never lacked was imagination - it was their trade of work.

In the end, Mari asked in a pensive voice: "So you will sign it?"

After everything was said and done, she was still worried about her friend. At first, she would scold her for refusing the money, but now that the situation has changed, she was actually worried about taking the money. Who knew who that man was? What if he had ulterior motives? Was it normal to be this obstinate when he was the one losing money? There were thousands of stories out there; not all were as good written as Jie Jie's, but was it worth the money? Shady! Absolutely shady!

If it were one of Jie Jie's books, Mari wouldn't be this worried. If that person did this because of Jie Jie, then this would be a-whole-nother level.

"Don't you worry. What if the guy knows who I am? Who am I even? We've all grown up, haven't we?" Jie Jie appeased her friend in a warm tone. The greatest blessing is to have someone who worries about you. To her, Mari was more than family. If the two of them doesn't care for each other, then who will?

"Just be careful." Mari was unusually severe this time. She was reminded of unpleasant memories but didn't dare contemplate any longer on this or else she will drag Jie Jie down as well over those nasty matters. Her best friend has always put on a strong facade, but she knew that deep down Jie Jie has never gotten over the past.

"When I get the money, let's get out and enjoy a luxury dinner at Rémy's! It'll be on me!"

Mari giggled, "Then we have to make reservations now, or we won't have the opportunity in half a year!"

While they were jokingly making plans for the future, Jie Jie whipped out her pen and signed the freshly printed contract that Yang Yun had sent over.

---

Meanwhile, President Yang was in a meeting back at YNG's headquarters. Around him, executive officers from various departments were present. Secretary Ming, who seemed slightly off, sat to his left and took notes.

"So, how are the negotiations going?" President Yang's calm voice started the last topic of the day without lifting his head from the staple of papers in front of him. A hardcover book laid to his right, marked with many colourful notes. He tapped on the cover unconsciously.

"They're going well. The publishing company is more than happy to cooperate with us. Since the author is new, there was not much interest from competitors. We are the only big scaled company that took an interest early."

"There will probably be some hyenas once they find out that we've set our eyes on it, though."

"Well, our offer is more than generous. I doubt that they will turn their backs on us."

Michael Yang was silent throughout; he just listened to the others and added questions when necessary.

"What about the author?" A quiet voice asked. It was Min Lee from the writers' department. He was particularly interested in this topic because his department will end up working closely with the author, who was still a mystery to them. Working with an unknown author, wasn't that risky and too laborious?

"The author wants to stay anonym. They do not want to reveal their identity but agreed to join the screenwriter team once we have signed a confidentiality agreement. The fact that it's the author should be known by as few as possible. They will join the team as an expert from the publishing company." An executive summed up.

"This person is so strange. Normally one wants as much exposure as possible and gain fame." Someone lamented. Any exposure of the book would also benefit them and the movie.

"Maybe it's someone already well-known in the literature world and wants to start a new pen name? Maybe an infamous one. Wouldn't be the first who tries to make a new identity."

"No, I've confirmed that this is the first bestseller of this author. They have other works published under the same penname, but those are little to unknown. It's a new author."

Yang Yun listened to the debate and was reminded of the other author he just contracted privately who also wanted to stay incognito.

"Maybe it's a new trend amongst authors now." He murmured and received clueless looks from the others.

"I don't care, but I hope that person cooperates well with us. Our goal is to keep it as close to the book as possible this time. Thus we need the author."

Min Lee shrugged his shoulders. He seemed uninterested in the identity of the author. His sole attention lies on the script. Pressing the contents of a book into a movie was never an easy task. Fans are always outraged at the strangest things, leaving out just a small detail could sometimes be fatal. What happened to the third male lead, they don't care, as long as there is a heaven shaking romance between the main couple, but suddenly they lose their mind when you leave out a scene with a dog. People are so exhausting sometimes. As a scriptwriter, Min Lee is always on pins and needles. Working with an author - who wouldn't be careful about this in his field of work? Having an author on the set could be either a blessing or a curse. As a scriptwriter he must optimise it for the screen, carefully considering what is best to keep and if necessary, making concessions and adapt, sometimes changing the storyline - but an author usually does not care about these things. They had only their story in mind and lacked the neutrality of an observer.

"The novel is gaining popularity as of right now. I want to start pre-production as soon as possible and use the book's success to promote the movie. I want the negotiations to be done with by the end of this week. Prepare the contract for director Ye Hao and tell him of our current status. Set a date for the auditions and send out invitations, but prioritise our in house actors first. Also, prepare a proposal for the investors. After we've received an okay from the publishing company, sent them out. We need a fixed budget before we can start setting up a team." Michael Yang concluded matter-of-factly. The other's just nodded in agreement. There was no need to assign a task to a person since they did this day in day out already; everyone knew well what to do.

They soon started to discuss the details and pulled out their phones and notes, while relegating the work to their subordinates or arguing with each other.

Yang Yun knocked rhythmically on the book, that was the reason for their meeting.

The title of the book was "When the Thread came Undone".

"Authors these days are so willful..." He murmured in contemplation.

As soon as they stepped out and arrived at Yang Yun's private office, secretary Ming, who had been nervous since afternoon, finally found that it was time to lay the cards open.

He said: "President Yang! I've thought about your question!"

Michael Yang, with a questioning gaze, turned around to face his secretary who kept on talking as if once stopped, he would lose his courage.

"About this afternoon... I believe that you, President, have always acted in the best interest of the company and whatever you feel the need to do is necessary. And what can't be avoided must be done!"

Yang Yun's confusion grew larger with every word secretary Ming sounded. He tried to remember what kind of talk they had this afternoon since he could make out neither head nor tail of this.

"Secretary Ming, you..."

Before Yang Yun could put in another word, secretary Ming had already continued.

"So, President Yang, you don't need to worry! This is not a question about money! You can trust me with any mission without worry! E... even if it is something dangerous, I will do my best to help you out! You have my absolute loyalty!"

Yang Yun: "..."

He couldn't overlook the strange determination in his secretary's eyes. It dawned upon him that he indeed had asked Ming Xiao Kai a casual question this afternoon but has the other person misunderstood him and mulled over it all this time?

Yang Yun suddenly felt his chest become stuffy, and his left eye twitching uncontrollably. He was at a loss for words.

Help! My secretary thinks I am doing shady business! What to do? Urgent! Waiting online!