"But what if!" Jiang Tu didn't want to hear the rest. "Stop dawdling! Speak quickly!"
His anger surged, and he no longer cared about seniority. His tone was extremely blunt.
Although Mo Yichen disliked Jiang Tu's imperious manner, considering the prosperity of his family, he softened his tone and said gently, "Do you remember Shang Ziqian?"
"That scoundrel?" Jiang Tu had a strong impression of him, but not a good one. He disliked rowdy troublemakers. Shang Ziqian looked like someone not to be trifled with. He wondered how Yu Wenli had gotten entangled with that lunatic.
Mo Yichen hummed in affirmation and said, "Yu Wenli has had many fights with Shang Ziqian. It's not hard to find material."
Making his point succinctly, Mo Yichen quickly hung up. His expression was somber.
On the way back, someone asked, "Is Teacher Mo not feeling well?"
Mo Yichen quickly composed himself. "No, I'm just a bit tired from the call." He smiled and rubbed his temples, looking exasperated.
"Ah? Could it be that Teacher Jiang was throwing a tantrum at you again?" Mo Yichen's assistant chimed in, looking annoyed.
Mo Yichen quickly rebuked, "What are you saying!"
"Ah, it was Teacher Jiang's call." The questioner suddenly understood. "To put it bluntly, Teacher Jiang is never happy. It's a good thing Teacher Mo has such a good temper."
Those who had worked with Jiang Tu knew his unpredictable, spoiled young master personality. However, besides being a celebrity, he was also the darling of the Jiang family, so the staff usually kept their complaints to themselves. When the show's recording was about to start and they received the news that Jiang Tu wouldn't be coming, they had practically wanted to throw a banquet to celebrate.
Mo Yichen smiled understandingly. "He's just under a lot of pressure." *He earns a daily salary of 208w, what pressure does he have? We workers are the ones truly under pressure!* The staff in the lounge all pouted but said nothing.
"Of course, you all work harder," Mo Yichen said. "Assistant, go buy everyone some coffee and snacks. Then you can go rest too. I'll eat at the program team for lunch, and you can pick me up tonight."
"Yes," the assistant replied quickly and left, leaving a room full of flattering compliments for Mo Yichen.
-
Xie Jinyi's studio.
Wen Tingxue arrived right on time. The receptionist immediately led her towards the reception area, her attitude exceptionally good. "Ms. Xie is in a meeting. Please wait here for a moment. What would you like to drink?"
Wen Tingxue glanced at the conference room diagonally opposite. With glass walls, the situation inside was completely visible. Xie Jinyi, wearing a white women's suit, sat at the head of the table. Her dark hair was pulled up, completely devoid of the seductive allure from last night, exuding an unspeakable intellectual beauty. When she spoke with a poker face, she looked exactly like a powerful female CEO from a TV drama. Not a trace of her former self could be seen.
Wen Tingxue withdrew her gaze and said, "Plain water is fine. Thank you."
"Of course." The receptionist smiled and left. On her way, she met other visitors, maintaining the same excellent attitude. However, due to insufficient preparation, the studio wasn't large, and there weren't many staff, so the receptionist had to multitask. Despite this, the attitude of the receptionist and other employees remained consistently good. Setting aside empty talk of passion and reverence, Wen Tingxue believed Xie Jinyi was adept at winning people over, and her salary was likely not low. She certainly had her father's business acumen.
...
Ten minutes later, Xie Jinyi saw off her guest and approached Wen Tingxue. "I know you don't want to see me. Once this contract is signed, we won't have to meet again, but..." She pushed the contract towards Wen Tingxue and looked up, speaking word by word, "It wasn't easy for me to get to this point. I hope you won't say anything rash."
"This is the main reason you set up this meeting, isn't it?" Wen Tingxue smiled, her eyes showing little emotion.
Xie Jinyi pulled back and shrugged indifferently. "Think whatever you want. I've said what I needed to say. If you are unkind, I can only be ruthless." As if she were the one who had been wronged, Wen Tingxue couldn't be bothered to argue with her. She knew she couldn't win the argument anyway.
"If you hate me so much, why did you help me?" After the contract exchange was complete, Wen Tingxue suddenly asked, her gaze piercing, as if trying to see into Xie Jinyi's depths.
Xie Jinyi paused for only a moment. "Oh, you mean that? It was fun. So many people helped you back then, I just wanted to join the fun. Of course, you don't need to take it to heart. I didn't help much anyway, and I won't use it to demand anything from you."
After speaking, Xie Jinyi stood up, signaling her reluctance to chat further.
Wen Tingxue looked down at the documents, her voice soft. "No matter what, if you need my help in the future, you can call me. I'll do my best." She tapped the table, indicating the number was left behind.
After Wen Tingxue left, Xie Jinyi turned back to retrieve it. The numbers and handwriting were all too familiar.
-
Wen Tingxue knew Xie Jinyi had her number but didn't want to acknowledge it. It was troublesome, and unnecessary. Just as Jiao Yutong had said, "Regardless of the reason behind it, the harm is a done deal. I have no reason to forgive him from the past after so many years. I can only learn to let go, to forgive myself, and to forgive him."
Admittedly, Tang Mobai had good intentions, but it was also unavoidable. He didn't show up until ten minutes before the deadline.
"Just received the news that the brand ambassador for G company's ready-to-wear line is changing. The previous proposal needs to be revised, but the shooting date remains the same, one week from now, so..." The big boss looked at Qiu Rui and gave an irrefutable command, "By the end of the day tomorrow, I want to see the updated proposal. Understood?"
Qiu Rui nodded. "No problem." The team members sighed silently. Another day of grueling work.
"Oh, right!" The big boss, who was about to leave, suddenly turned back and reminded them, "The new ambassador G company has chosen is not from the entertainment industry and is not currently in the country. So their contact information might be a bit..." The implication was that they couldn't find the person. But they still had to finalize the proposal by the end of tomorrow. Was this a joke? The team members exchanged looks of despair.
G company was a major client of the firm, always focusing on high-end luxury. They had never been careless about their endorsers. They were always top-tier celebrities. Not coordinating in advance would be asking for trouble! Even the usually calm Qiu Rui was silent for a few seconds.
"When will he be reachable?" Qiu Rui asked.
The big boss thought for a moment. "I'll try my best to get in touch before the end of the day tomorrow."
"Okay," Qiu Rui nodded. After the big boss left, she clapped her hands and said, "You can order whatever you want for dinner, but the task must be completed flawlessly. I know everyone has been working hard all week and is tired. I guarantee that once this order is secured, everyone will receive a five-figure bonus!"
"Cleo is awesome!" Motivating them with money naturally yielded results. The team members instantly perked up.
Qiu Rui raised an eyebrow. "Let's eat first." She handed over her phone for everyone to order food, then took a document into her office to study.
Wen Tingxue wasn't particularly hungry. Seeing how hard Qiu Rui was working, she didn't feel she could slack off. Before the phone was handed to her, she decided to do some research. When she flipped to the first page, she was stunned. This photo... wasn't it? Wen Tingxue lowered her head and examined it carefully, finally confirming it was Chi Zerui! She then looked at the title next to it – "The New Racing God of the Sports World." Below it was a personal resume.
Won the national karting youth championship at age 12.
Won the popping category of a street dance competition in the same year.
Entered the international arena at 17, participating in high-level international races like A1gp, wRC, and F1.
Became the youngest champion in Carrera Cup history at 18.
Won the F1 championship at 20.
"Staring at the handsome guy so intently?" a colleague teased. "Hurry up and order!"
Wen Tingxue smiled and took the phone. "You've already ordered so much?" As she looked up, someone noticed the open photo and exclaimed, "Holy crap! This guy is so~ handsome!! No wonder G company is changing brand ambassadors! He's so much more handsome than Mo Yichen!"
"And his resume is incredible too!" Just a glance showed heights they could never reach.
"To be honest, Mo Yichen is nothing compared to this guy. Do you know why?" A male colleague who was always interested in racing looked at everyone smugly, enjoying their confused expressions.
"Why? Tell us quickly! You're killing us with suspense!" everyone urged.
The male colleague smiled mysteriously. "Because in this year's F1 race, Chi Shen is likely to win the championship again. This is a god-like honor! How can Mo Yichen compare?"
"Wow!" everyone exclaimed. Although they didn't fully understand, it sounded incredibly impressive.
Wen Tingxue finished ordering and realized she was the last one. She took her phone and went into the office to find Qiu Rui.
"Finished ordering?" Qiu Rui asked without looking up when she heard movement.
Wen Tingxue glanced at the browser on Qiu Rui's desk. It was almost all searches for Chi Zerui, but the information was scarce.
"Mhm," Wen Tingxue responded, a beat behind. Qiu Rui didn't pay much attention, gave a cursory glance, and paid. She then said, "Next Friday, go with me to 'Chasing Dreams Youth'."
"Ah?" Wen Tingxue's face lit up. "Really?"
Qiu Rui raised her hand and pointed to the contract Wen Tingxue had placed on the desk. "You've secured it, how can I go back on my word?"
"Okay!" It was like a dream come true. Her joy was too obvious, and Qiu Rui couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Are you that happy? Could it be that your boyfriend is participating?" She hadn't been this happy when they talked about bonuses.
Wen Tingxue stammered and quickly tried to deflect. "Oh, no, I just wanted to see the handsome guy. Isn't that person very popular right now?"
"Yu Wenli?" Qiu Rui's first thought was of him. "He is quite popular. Many brands are optimistic about him." The topic was successfully diverted, and Wen Tingxue felt a bit happy, and a bit sad. *Why doesn't anyone think they are a couple?* Sigh. If they become famous later, no one will believe it.
"Do you know this person?" Qiu Rui wasn't very old, but she had been engrossed in work for years, so she really didn't know much about these handsome young men. Other than those in the industry, she would intentionally learn about them; otherwise, she had no interest. Chi Zerui, who was in the sports circle and often abroad, was someone she had never heard of. The information available online was also very limited.
"Um..." Wen Tingxue hesitated. "He's my high school classmate."
Qiu Rui: "?"
Qiu Rui: "Your high school classmate? Are you close?"
Wen Tingxue hesitated for a few more seconds. "Not very close, but okay." She really couldn't describe her relationship with Chi Zerui as simply 'close' or 'not close.' It was a state of not quite close, but still okay.
Qiu Rui propped her chin on her hand and pondered for a moment. "Do you have his contact information?"
"Yes."
"Alright, you'll be responsible for communicating with him about this matter," Qiu Rui commanded.
"..." Fine.
-
At 10:30 PM, just as the new proposal was nearing completion, the male colleague who had been responsible for it timidly raised his hand. "Um... the filming location, I, didn't manage to reserve it..." By the end, his voice had completely faded.
Qiu Rui slammed her pen on the desk. "Didn't I tell you? this scene needs to be reserved a week in advance?! And now you're telling me you couldn't reserve it? Hmm? Is this loss going to be on your head or mine?" Qiu Rui was furious. Others were terrified into silence.
The male colleague lowered his head sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Sister Rui. I didn't do it on purpose. I really forgot. There's just been too much going on lately."
Seeing the look of aversion on her face, Qiu Rui frowned. "Don't always rely on others. Go find it quickly!"
"No, why wouldn't you use your connections if you have them, are you stupid?" The person twirled his pen and retorted unhappily. It was something that could be solved with a single phone call; why did they have to stay up all night! So selfish! Others thought the same, looking at Wen Tingxue with obvious pressure.
Wen Tingxue was so amused she laughed. She pushed her phone forward. "Here, you make the call. I'll give you the number."
"I'm not familiar with Second Master Fu," the person quickly backed away. *Are you kidding? That's the all-powerful Fu Yuchuan. I wouldn't dare provoke him.*
"Hmph," Wen Tingxue sarcastically exposed him. "You don't want to offend him, so you want me to offend him, right? To make things convenient for you, I should be the cannon fodder? Why should I?"
"Because you and..." the person retorted.
"I'm not familiar with Fu Yuchuan at all!" Wen Tingxue cut in, her mood very bad. "On the contrary, I have a grudge against him. I'm the goddaughter of the Han family, and the Han family and the Fu family have always been outwardly harmonious but inwardly discordant. You can't not know that!"
"..." The person fell silent. Seeing that the situation was getting out of hand, many people tried to smooth things over, and some colleagues who got along well with Wen Tingxue started speaking up for her. The person, feeling embarrassed, directly threw down his pen and left, acting very arrogant.
"What kind of attitude is that?"
"He didn't say anything, he's just being sensitive!"
"Alright," Qiu Rui controlled the situation. "Everyone must be hungry after staying up so late. I'll treat everyone to a late-night snack. Amber, you're in charge of ordering, and I'll pay." After speaking, she took her phone and went out to make a call. Wen Tingxue used this opportunity to mend relations with her colleagues. Although true friendship was rare in the workplace, there was no need to harbor animosity.
-
The filming location was eventually handled by Song You. Their company had booked it in advance, but the order was snatched by someone else at the last minute. Just as they were about to cancel, Wen Tingxue messaged asking, and he gave the venue to them. Thus, the proposal didn't need to be revised again, only the details needed refinement.
Just before midnight, when the final proposal was finalized, Qiu Rui let everyone go home to rest. Wen Tingxue lingered behind, listening to the tired complaints of her colleagues. She felt a pang of regret. Because of the late overtime, she hadn't spoken to Yu Wenli on the phone today... Just as she was thinking this, a WeChat video call popped up.
When she opened it, she couldn't walk!
"Why are you still awake so late today?" the young girl asked in surprise, looking at the person on the screen.
"Waiting for you. I was afraid you'd be scared going home alone this late," Yu Wenli said, squatting on the moonlit balcony. His expression was a little blurry, but his eyes were bright, filled with tenderness.
Wen Tingxue's cheeks flushed. "Oh, I'm not a child anymore. You should go to sleep. You have a show to record tomorrow."
"No rush. I'll sleep after you get home." It seemed there were mosquitoes over there, as he lowered his head while speaking, and then there was a 'pop'. Wen Tingxue imagined the scene and couldn't help but laugh. "It's really okay. Go inside. It's hot outside, and there are mosquitoes that bite."
"What are these compared to your safety?"
"..." Ten days apart, these words sounded quite flirtatious.
"Ahem," Wen Tingxue raised her hand to cover her smiling face. "In that case, you can accompany me home."
Yu Wenli hummed. "I can even sleep with you."
"Ahem!" Wen Tingxue felt like she was choking.
"I meant video call. What are you thinking, my girlfriend?" Yu Wenli teased her intentionally.
Wen Tingxue glared at him with her red-rimmed eyes. "You're doing it on purpose..."
"What are you doing? Let's go, it's so late..." A colleague came back to call her. As their gaze swept over Yu Wenli's face, they paused. "Isn't this the recently explosive Yu Wenli?! You two know each other?!"
Wen Tingxue: "..."
Yu Wenli: "..."
After the colleague finished speaking, they noticed the contact name: "Kissing Boyfriend."
"Oh, boyfriend." The colleague suddenly understood, then their eyes widened in disbelief. "Boyfriend? Yu Wenli is your boyfriend?!?!"
"No," Wen Tingxue quickly covered her phone with her chest. "No, you misunderstood..."
"What the heck?"
"Who is Amber's boyfriend?"
"My idol?!" The colleague shouted so loudly that several colleagues preparing to take the elevator also turned back.
Wen Tingxue: "..."
Yu Wenli: "..."
The colleagues, having discovered new territory, hurriedly shared, "Yu Wenli! Holy crap! He's really damn handsome!"