Divorced at fifty, I embarked on my path to success.

Bai Ruoxi heard from other sources that investing in a short drama doesn't require as much as two million. The production cycle for a short drama is about one or two weeks, and an investment of five or six hundred thousand is enough.

She panicked and hurriedly called Zhao Lei: "I want to withdraw my investment. I don't want the profit anymore. Just give me back the principal."

"What's wrong? Oh dear, isn't it too late for you to say this now?" Zhao Lei was surprised. "The contract is signed, and the money is all invested. How can I withdraw it for you? Do you think it's like stocks, where you can just sell it for cash? Besides, stocks go up and down. No one can guarantee that you'll break even if you suddenly withdraw your investment."

"What do you mean?" Bai Ruoxi asked anxiously. "We're old classmates, don't lie to me! I heard that the production cycle for a short drama is only one or two weeks, and you should be able to recoup your investment with interest by then. Besides, a short drama only costs a few hundred thousand to make. How come you asked me for two million? Is that even making a short drama?"

"Who told you that!" Zhao Lei was a little angry. "Isn't making a short drama similar to making a movie? Making a movie takes two or three years at a time, and a short drama takes at least half a year. Do you know that the investment for a movie is at least several hundred million! A short drama costs hundreds of millions? Haha, you really dare to say that! A short drama costs at least tens of millions. Don't listen to laymen talking nonsense!"

"Besides, a short drama needs to be filmed and released, and it needs an audience to make money. Do you think you can calculate profits as soon as it's finished filming? Do you even know what box office revenue means?" Zhao Lei mocked. "I'm trying to help you make money. Others want this opportunity but don't even have the connections. And you, after listening to a few words from an outsider, come to withdraw your investment. So much money has already been invested, what am I supposed to do?"

Bai Ruoxi was momentarily confused, unable to tell who was right.

"I don't understand either, but I'm not investing anymore. Just withdraw your investment now!" Bai Ruoxi was uncertain and regretted making this investment on a whim. She just wanted to get her principal back as soon as possible, even if she didn't make any money.

"Bai Ruoxi, if you didn't trust me, you shouldn't have let me invest for you in the first place. Since you did invest, you should trust me to the end!"

Zhao Lei hung up the phone. Bai Ruoxi's mind was in turmoil. One moment she felt she should trust him, and the next she felt he had lied to her.

She was restless, so she found a name in her contacts and dialed it.

That was a classmate from Beijing. We hadn't been in touch for years, but we were still in the same group chat. It was from her that I heard about investing in short dramas.

"Are you familiar with short dramas? I'd like to ask, how much does it actually cost to film a short drama?" After exchanging pleasantries, Bai Ruoxi asked anxiously.

"What, you want to invest? I advise you to forget it," the classmate advised. "I know a director who makes short dramas. According to him, most short dramas are losing money, and the investments they bring in are basically going down the drain."

"Huh? How could that be? Isn't the short drama market very hot right now?" Bai Ruoxi's heart sank.

"Tch, that's just a rumor. Of course, some become wildly popular, but most of the ones trying to get investment are unreliable. I've already said in the group that producing a short drama costs around 500,000 to 600,000 yuan, the cost is low, and the production cycle is only one or two weeks. Anyone who tells you anything else is a scammer!"

Bai Ruoxi was on the verge of tears. She realized that she had most likely been deceived. She had been persuaded by Zhao Lei with the promise of a profit margin as high as 30%.

"Bai Ruoxi, why are you suddenly so interested in short dramas? Who tricked you into believing this? Don't fall for it!"

She didn't want to tell her classmates that she had already invested all her savings for her funeral.

Bai Ruoxi called Zhao Lei again, but the call wouldn't go through. She felt as if she had been doused with ice water, chilled to the bone.

How to do?

She held her phone and dialed repeatedly, only to hear the mechanical voice saying "No one is answering at the moment."

Upon reflection, she realized that all she knew was Zhao Lei's phone number; she didn't even know where he lived.

Bai Ruoxi slumped onto the bed, regretting her actions and pounding her head in frustration.

She was just too eager to make money. After being released from prison, she was blacklisted by the fashion industry. Looking at the not-so-small but not-so-large savings in her bank account, she was unwilling to sit around and live off her savings.

Zhao Lei probably took advantage of this psychology of hers and easily took two million from her.

Bai Ruoxi wasn't the type to just cry when things went wrong. After a brief moment of panic, she decisively went out and drove to a relatively large law firm.

Consult a professional lawyer about your situation and seek help.

"Can we sue him for fraud?" Bai Ruoxi handed the signed contract to the lawyer. "Is it possible to get the money back?"

The lawyer examined the contract and looked troubled: "We can file a case to trace where the money went. If he is suspected of embezzlement or fraud, he can be arrested."

"However, you transferred the money to him voluntarily under the guise of investment, and you even signed a contract. The contract clearly states that the investment period is at least six months, and it has only just begun. If you withdraw your investment, it would constitute a breach of contract, and you would have to pay a penalty of 300,000 yuan. And look!"

The lawyer pointed to a line of text above and said, "If his investment fails due to uncontrollable factors, he will not be liable for compensation based on the premise of mutual consent."

“But what he told me about filming the short drama was all exaggerated and fake. Isn’t that deception?” Bai Ruoxi asked unwillingly.

"Do you have evidence? A recording of the conversation will suffice."

Bai Ruoxi swayed, looking dejected.

"Am I just going to let him swindle two million for nothing?!" Bai Ruoxi slammed her fist on the table, her face turning ashen.

The lawyer shook his head helplessly: "Even with the most trusted friends, or even relatives, when it comes to such a large sum of money, you must make inquiries from multiple sources and verify the authenticity of the information. You can't just listen to their side of the story."

Bai Ruoxi's eyes were blank; she didn't know why she had been so foolish as to easily believe him.

She left the law firm dejectedly and sent Zhao Lei a text message: "If you don't answer my calls, I'm going to sue you!"

It must have been that text message that worked. Less than five minutes later, he called back: "Bai Ruoxi, I was busy and didn't get a chance to answer. Why are you in such a hurry? Let me show you the investment contract. I didn't take a single penny of your money, and I invested mine as well."

Bai Ruoxi quickly received a photo. Before she could even look at it closely, she said, "Anyway, I want to withdraw my investment. You have to get it back for me, or we'll see each other in court!"

"Hey! Can't you be reasonable?" Zhao Lei was getting impatient. "Even if you sue me, my investment path is clear and straightforward. Even if I was scammed, I'm a victim, but I absolutely did not scam you! It's clearly stated in the contract we signed. The investment has just started, and we don't even know if we'll lose money. Even if you sue me, what grounds will you have?"

"You yourself aren't sure, so why did you drag me into this?" Bai Ruoxi felt a tightness in her chest and really wanted to cry.

"Of course I'm sure, you won't be shortchanged. Don't worry, when you get a 30% profit, you'll be laughing in your sleep! I guarantee it!"

Bai Ruoxi dared not take it seriously anymore. After much deliberation, she realized that the only way to get her money back was to go to Qin Chu.

After hesitating for a moment, she dialed the number she knew by heart.

Hearing Qin Chu's magnetic and steady voice, Bai Ruoxi's eyes welled up with tears. He hadn't blocked her, which meant he hadn't completely severed ties with her.

"Qin Chu, I..." Her voice choked with emotion, "I'm in trouble, please help me!"

Qin Chu was taken aback.