The CEO's Substitute Ex-Wife-Chapter 156: The Cutthroat Holiday Box Office

December’s holiday film season had already begun its fierce competition. On December 3rd, a rather cringe-worthy comedy was released, funded and filmed by one of the country’s most famous veteran actors. The film suffered from illogical plot points, cringeworthy dialogue, and a truly convoluted storyline.

However, its box office performance was quite impressive, breaking ten million on its opening day with formidable momentum. It featured an array of big-name stars, delivering many laughs and just as many head-scratching moments. It was simply a film to be enjoyed for a quick laugh, and despite a flood of online criticism, its box office numbers remained considerable.

On the 6th, Huayun’s film was also released, boasting strong commercial appeal. Experts predicted it would likely be the biggest dark horse of this year’s holiday season.

Wen Nuan had been participating in the film’s promotions these past few days, posting her photos and pictures from fan meet-and-greets on Weibo. After an earlier period of being attacked and verbally abused online, things had significantly improved. Although some still criticized her looks, her demeanor, and everything else, coupled with her recent scandals, many people still had a poor impression of her.

But this period was much better than the last.

On Tianya and Mop, large numbers of trolls were still unleashing vitriol. The competition in the holiday film market was simply too intense, especially with the remarkably strong lineup of holiday films this year.

During the promotional period, Wen Nuan began shooting a commercial for the 5203 series jewelry. The director of the jewelry department was a very peculiar and strict individual. Wen Nuan was put through a grueling week of training by him before finally completing the five-minute narrative-style commercial.

It was truly an ordeal.

Seeing Director Li’s lips curl into a satisfied smile, Wen Nuan wanted to burn incense and pray. It was finally over! Ye Feimo had promised her this endorsement fee, and though they were still quarreling, he was a man of his word.

The contract was clearly written: ten million yuan.

Speaking of Ye Feimo, it had been a while since they last met. Wen Nuan had been to Famous City Apartment several times but lacked the courage to go up. Cai Xiaojing said this was a classic cold war phase.

A cold war it was, then.

What she didn’t expect was that on the day the jewelry commercial shoot wrapped, Ye Feimo arrived at the studio to treat all the staff to a meal, as a gesture of appreciation for their hard work. Director Li looked up at the sky, muttering uncooperatively, "Is the sun setting in the east today?"

Ye Feimo acted as if he hadn’t heard, turning to leave without even glancing at Wen Nuan. The photographer came over and asked, "Director Li, are we really going to have dinner with President Ye?"

"Do you dare not to?"

"No, sir!"

"Then why ask?" Director Li waved his hand. "Listen up, everyone! President Ye is treating us to dinner. You’ve all worked hard for days. Tonight, we’ll make him pay dearly! We don’t want good food; we want the most expensive! Understand?!"

"Understood!"

Wen Nuan: "..."

*Could she not go? Judging by Ye Feimo’s expression, he didn’t seem too keen on seeing her either. Could she really not go?*

*She probably couldn’t, right?*

Cai Xiaojing pulled Wen Nuan aside to lecture her. "President Ye probably wishes everyone *else* wouldn’t go, just you. If you dare to be absent, you’re dead. Can’t you see he has an ulterior motive?"

"What ulterior motive? He was just in the newspaper with Han Bi a few days ago, dating and shopping for clothes at Paris Spring, then attending Jessica’s new collection launch together. How could he be in the mood to provoke me?" Wen Nuan said sourly.

Cai Xiaojing raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so you’re following his scandals? I thought you didn’t care."

Wen Nuan had looked at the news a few days ago and then moved on to other gossip; Cai Xiaojing couldn’t tell at all that Wen Nuan was very concerned about Ye Feimo’s scandals.

Wen Nuan awkwardly turned her head away.

"I’m telling you two, how long are you going to keep up this cold war? Can’t you just soften up a bit?"

"It’s not my fault."

"Then at least tell him, ’Young Master Ye, if you apologize to me, I won’t be angry anymore.’ My dear girl, that’s not hard to say, is it? You’re not President Ye, so how do you know what to do?"

"Is he a pig? Doesn’t he understand such things? He clearly doesn’t know where he went wrong. If I forgive him like this, he’ll just insult me again next time, and always so harshly. Do I owe him something?"

"Of course! You owe him a lot. Be good, don’t be angry anymore. At least eat this meal properly. I swear, you’re so silly. He’s invited you to dinner out of the blue; isn’t that a veiled apology? What else could it be? You’re so stubborn; you haven’t figured this out yet. Does he have to say ’I’m sorry’ for it to count as an apology?" Cai Xiaojing couldn’t help but offer guidance, though she, too, couldn’t quite fathom Ye Feimo’s behavior.

But this time, he had stooped to inviting them to dinner. It was undoubtedly a gesture of goodwill.

This was the most he could do—wasn’t it an apology to Wen Nuan?

A while ago, when Wen Nuan was promoting the movie, he even went as far as to appear with Han Bi, feigning accidental encounters. *Damn it, he clearly wanted to see Wen Nuan, and Wen Nuan avoided him, so besides ’accidental encounters,’ he really couldn’t find a reason to see her.*

But Young Master Ye, if you’re going to have an ’accidental encounter,’ why couldn’t you have a different female companion? Why bring Han Bi along? Isn’t that counterproductive?

*Hopefully, Han Bi isn’t at dinner tonight, or Wen Nuan will react badly.*

"But don’t drag me into it. He’s treating the staff to dinner, and I’m just one of them."

"I’ve been at Anning for so long, and I’ve never seen President Ye treat employees to a meal or anything like that. That’s a pipe dream."

Wen Nuan pursed her lips, not replying.

Director Li certainly stuck to his principle of not wanting the best-tasting food, just the most expensive. Ye Feimo invited all fifteen or sixteen staff members to eat seafood at Ye Jiang. Everyone, adhering to Director Li’s instructions, specifically chose the most expensive items, and they ordered a huge table full.

This was a private room in a five-star hotel. A table of seafood cost tens of thousands. Ye Feimo sat expressionlessly, watching them order without even blinking. Those who hadn’t worked with Ye Feimo before would surely think he was furious at their brazen ordering, which was why he sat there like an ice sculpture, staring straight ahead.

But those who had worked with Ye Feimo knew that President Ye wore that expression all year round; he always looked like an ice sculpture anyway. So, it didn’t matter how much they indulged; getting to eat at such a table was rare.

President Ye treating them to dinner was a first!

How extraordinary! Today must be a truly magical day. freёnovelkiss.com

Perhaps the end of the world was truly coming, otherwise, why would President Ye invite them to dinner?

*Hohoho!*

Wen Nuan looked speechlessly at the massive table of seafood. Ye Feimo truly was a fat sheep; caught, he was being butchered so mercilessly. They were too ruthless. Luckily, he had plenty of money.

Ye Feimo sat at the head of the table. Cai Xiaojing initially pushed Wen Nuan to sit next to him, but Wen Nuan deftly maneuvered the photographer into the seat beside Ye Feimo instead, choosing a seat two spots away from him.

Cai Xiaojing’s eye twitched. Ye Feimo’s gaze, dark and cold, fixed on Wen Nuan, making her feel cold from head to toe.

*Does he have to be so terrifying?*

Everyone ate happily, ordering the most expensive seafood and the most expensive wine. There were more men, so they began playing drinking games. The women gathered together, gossiping about the industry.

Wen Nuan listened to the makeup artist, giving faint responses. Ye Feimo didn’t speak throughout the meal, his face dark. He didn’t eat much but drank a lot, finishing an entire bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label.

Director Li couldn’t help but ask, "President Ye, are you treating us to a funeral feast?"

Everyone was used to working together, and the advertising planner laughed. "Since it’s a funeral feast, everyone should enjoy it even more. Eat to your heart’s content!"

"Cheers!" Men and women alike cheered.

Wen Nuan’s heart pounded with alarm, her face turning pale. *What was Ye Feimo doing? Didn’t he know his health wasn’t good? After a day of work, he hadn’t eaten much but started downing alcohol. Did he want to die?*

Watching Ye Feimo drink so relentlessly, Wen Nuan lost her appetite, even though she was hungry. She couldn’t focus on eating; all her attention was on him. But Ye Feimo seemed oblivious, drinking fiercely.

Wen Nuan’s heart ached with sharp pangs. Ye Feimo beckoned a waiter and opened another bottle of fortified white wine. Wen Nuan couldn’t take it anymore. She stood up, walked over, and snatched the wine. Everyone else was either drinking or chatting, and only Cai Xiaojing and the photographer next to Ye Feimo noticed Wen Nuan’s actions. Cai Xiaojing nudged the photographer, telling him to move, and he hurriedly scurried aside.

"No more drinking!" Wen Nuan snatched the wine. Just as she was about to return to her seat, she found it occupied. Cai Xiaojing had moved her plate and everything over.

She was mortified!

*Sister Xiaojing, do you have to be so quick?*

Wen Nuan had no choice but to sit next to Ye Feimo.

"Give me the wine!" Ye Feimo’s voice was ice-cold, completely devoid of emotion. Wen Nuan, unwilling, refused to give it to him. He frowned, a cold smile on his lips. "You’re trying to control me spending my own money on alcohol?"

"You’ve had enough. A bottle is already empty. How much more do you want to drink?" Wen Nuan was slightly annoyed. She hated people who didn’t cherish their health. Everything else could be joked about, but health absolutely could not.

*Didn’t he know how dangerous his own health was? Yet he still dared to drink so heavily.*

Ye Feimo frowned. "You’re not my wife, nor my mother. You have no right to control me. Hand it over!"

"Dream on!" Wen Nuan glared at him, handing the wine to Cai Xiaojing and telling her to give it to the men. She took Ye Feimo’s bowl and served him a bowl of seafood. "You’re not allowed to drink anything. Eat this!"

Wen Nuan roughly pushed the bowl in front of him, giving him a fierce glare.

Ye Feimo looked deeply at her. Wen Nuan turned away, her face cold. *Oh my god, what was she foolishly doing? What was her relationship with him anyway? Why should she care if he lived or died?*

Wen Nuan was extremely vexed.

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