Facing President Ran’s half-joking accusation, Xie Qian calmly raised his glass. “It was my mistake. I feared that if you knew my real age, you would treat me as an immature child, so I never told you the truth.”
By taking the initiative to admit fault, Xie Qian left President Ran no room to pursue the matter.
His concern had been perfectly valid. No matter who had introduced him, President Ran would never have wasted time on an ordinary high-school student.
Now that Xie Qian had already produced results with Jiaxin, revealing he was still in high school became much easier for President Ran to accept.
He did feel rather sorry for his daughter, though; this had turned into a complete misunderstanding. President Ran raised his own glass. “Today I finally understand what it means for heroes to emerge young! Come, everyone, let us toast our most capable high-school student!”
With that drink, the matter of Xie Qian concealing his age was considered settled.
After all, the concealment had caused President Ran no harm.
Moreover, for a high-school student to be running a film and television company, his family background must be extraordinary.
President Ran mentally ran through all the Xie families in Beijing and quickly settled on one that fit perfectly. His attitude towards Xie Qian instantly grew even warmer.
As the saying goes, when the girl is three years older, she brings a brick of gold. Four or five years’ difference is nothing!
Zhang Zhijun was more than happy to invest in Xie Qian’s company. He asked about Jiaxin’s upcoming projects, and Xie Qian answered honestly. “We haven’t decided on the next one yet. Lane Family took home so many awards; the second project has to be chosen even more carefully.”
Zhang Zhijun nodded. “That makes sense. When you have nothing, you have nothing to fear. Once you have achievements, you start worrying. I’m looking forward to Jiaxin producing another masterpiece.”
President Ran chimed in, “Why doesn’t Uncle here invest a little, and I’ll team up with Little Xie to make a movie!”
There is a food chain in the industry. Television circles are looked down upon compared to film. Top directors only shoot movies, and A-list actors mostly appear on the big screen.
Film comes before television in the very phrase “film and television”. President Ran believed Xie Qian was ambitious and would not be content to keep Jiaxin confined to the small screen forever.
To his surprise, Xie Qian refused outright. “I made a bet with an elder in my family that I would build Jiaxin’s success with my own ability. Accepting investment from Uncle Zhijun would feel like cheating.”
President Ran was taken aback, but Zhang Zhijun instantly understood who the “elder” was.
A flash of anger crossed Zhang Zhijun’s face, but he quickly turned to President Ran with a smile. “Young people should fight their own battles. I won’t interfere. You and Xie Qian can cooperate however you like; my dealings with you will stay separate.”
President Ran thought for a moment, then suddenly turned to his daughter. “I actually quite agree with Little Xie’s elder. Sooner or later I’ll hand the company to you. Working at your own family firm means everyone flatters you. Why not step outside and try building something yourself?”
Ran Keqing glanced at Xie Qian, slightly hesitant. “You mean—”
Xie Qian’s brow twitched.
Peng Guoqing panicked, gulped down a mouthful of water, and immediately launched into a dramatic coughing fit that shook the heavens.
“Cough, cough… sorry…”
It didn’t matter that the trick was old; it worked.
Peng Guoqing’s commotion interrupted President Ran. Xie Qian seized the chance to suggest, “Why not provide some capital for Miss Ran to set up a brand-new company? It doesn’t have to be big. Starting from zero is the real way to train someone.”
As long as the topic wasn’t “come work at Jiaxin”, Xie Qian genuinely didn’t care how Ran Keqing honed her skills.
If President Ran had actually said it aloud, Xie Qian would have found it hard to refuse politely.
But he hadn’t said it yet, had he?
Xie Qian offered his own experience as advice, and suggested President Ran fund a new company for his daughter. With others present, President Ran naturally couldn’t insist on shoving his daughter into Jiaxin. The subject was dropped just like that.
Zhang Zhijun suddenly asked about Xie Qian’s university plans. “You’ll be able to check your scores in a couple of days, right? Where are you planning to apply?”
Xie Qian didn’t bat an eyelid. “I want to stay in Beijing. I’ll apply to Huaqing University.”
Zhang Zhijun glanced at Peng Guoqing. “I seem to recall Guoqing bragging ages ago that he was going to apply to a 211 university in Shanghai?”
Peng Guoqing, who had only just recovered from his coughing fit, wished he could start coughing again.
Faced with Zhang Zhijun’s puzzled look, Peng Guoqing deployed the acting skills he usually reserved for scrounging pocket money and grinned. “Uncle Zhijun, Xie Qian is the top student. He can go wherever he wants. I’m different; I’m just a slacker. I’ll go wherever I get in. I can’t expect Xie Qian to accommodate me, right?”
Zhang Zhijun thought that made perfect sense, and the topic passed smoothly.
On the surface, the dinner ended in perfect harmony, but Xie Qian’s nerves had been stretched tight the entire time.
The private room was air-conditioned, yet Xie Qian’s shirt was soaked with sweat.
As the meal finally drew to a close, Xie Qian sent Peng Guoqing a text message.
Peng Guoqing read it and was completely baffled.
He had no idea what Xie Qian was planning, but he carried out the instructions anyway.
When the dinner ended and President Ran ushered everyone towards the door, Peng Guoqing suddenly clutched his stomach. “Sorry, you all go ahead. I need to stay behind a moment.”
He couldn’t even wait a minute and dashed straight into the private bathroom attached to the room.
Ran Keqing frowned slightly, thinking Peng Guoqing rather crude and not at all like a young man from a good family.
Zhang Zhijun covered for him. “Guoqing isn’t like Xie Qian; he’s still a bit childish. But boys grow up overnight. In a couple of years he’ll be mature. Like father, like son!”
Exactly. Xie Qian had just taken the gaokao, and so had Peng Guoqing.
Peng Guoqing wasn’t as steady as Xie Qian, yet he was a Jiaxin shareholder.
President Ran searched his memory again, a little uncertain. “Now that you mention it, Little Peng does look familiar. Isn’t he Peng Ningkang’s son?”
Zhang Zhijun smiled without confirming, and President Ran knew he had guessed correctly.
Peng Ningkang’s son was basically Xie Qian’s lackey?
This only confirmed President Ran’s earlier suspicion that Xie Qian came from serious backing. He laughed heartily. “Let’s go. We’ll wait for Little Peng at the entrance.”
Xie Qian followed the three of them out. Once the room was quiet, Peng Guoqing poked his head out of the bathroom and muttered, “I’m just too damn loyal. I’ll throw away this kind of face for Xie Qian!”
Grumbling under his breath, he moved quickly. In two or three strides he reached the table and grabbed the glass Zhang Zhijun had used.
Why did Xie Qian want Zhang Zhijun’s glass?
Peng Guoqing had no clue.
But he was Xie Qian’s brother, so of course he would do as asked. Xie Qian was trustworthy; he wouldn’t harm Zhang Zhijun for no reason.
Peng Guoqing was wearing a suit jacket today. He wrapped the glass carefully in it, then remembered Xie Qian’s warning in the text that no one must see. Deliberately, he knocked over the leftover food and drink across the entire table.
Plates and bowls shattered on the floor, mixing with the remaining food and wine. It was now impossible to tell which glass had belonged to whom.
The waiter was stunned.
This table had already paid the bill.
And everything was expensive tableware!
Peng Guoqing was extremely generous. “Don’t worry, I’ll pay for everything that’s broken. Do you take card?”
The bewildered waiter bowed deeply. “Thank you, sir. Please follow me.”
