A single day was clearly not enough for Wang Shuang to figure things out.
Wen Ying had no time to babysit him. A woman who had already lived two lives was about to attend her very first awards ceremony, and the novelty and excitement of it all made her heart race.
This year, Tianjiao hadn’t submitted anything for the Magnolia Awards. Wen Ying had secured her ticket through Xie Qian. Out of everyone at Tianjiao, only one other person had a ticket: Zhang Guangzhen!
Wen Ying was riding on Jiaxin’s coattails. Zhang Guangzhen, on the other hand, had earned his own way. Thanks to *Alleyway Family*, he had scored a Best Screenwriter nomination and was a hot favourite to win. Of course he had to be there in person!
Yuan Fenghui had specially instructed Wen Ying to take good care of Zhang Guangzhen. “Don’t let his age fool you. All those extra years were wasted. Apart from writing scripts, the man can’t do a single thing~”
Can’t do anything except write scripts? Wen Ying couldn’t help feeling Yuan Fenghui was actually praising him to the skies.
Wen Ying, who currently had no nominated works, asked with a touch of sourness, “Teacher Yuan, have you ever considered that I might need looking after too?”
Her question earned a scoff from Yuan Fenghui. “Who would dare look after you? The last person who overestimated himself and tried to ‘take care’ of you, Chief Editor Bao, has a headache the size of a planet right now!”
Uh.
Wen Ying really couldn’t handle Bao Lixin’s brand of “care”.
She didn’t think Bao was suffering that badly yet. After all, only one Blue Whale signing event had been cancelled so far. She hadn’t even sued them for plagiarism.
According to insider gossip from Director Fan, filming for *Crown of Thorns* was already halfway done. In another month or so, it would probably wrap. That would be the perfect time to file the lawsuit.
“In another month, Chief Editor Bao will finally understand what a real headache feels like.”
Wen Ying spoke lightly, but Yuan Fenghui burst out laughing. “See? You’ve got everything planned. No one knows the game better than you!”
Age really proved nothing. Zhang Guangzhen was a lovable scatterbrain. If Wen Ying didn’t keep an eye on him, one awards ceremony and he’d be sweet-talked into writing ten scripts for free!
After Yuan Fenghui’s glowing endorsement, Wen Ying genuinely felt responsible for looking after him.
Zhang Guangzhen was Tianjiao’s screenwriter. Wen Ying was Tianjiao’s shareholder. Anyone taking advantage of him was stealing from her assets.
“I’ll definitely take good care of Teacher Zhang!”
Wen Ying thumped her chest and made a solemn promise.
Zhang Guangzhen flew in from Chengdu. Xie Qian was coming from Beijing. Their flights were only half an hour apart.
Everything had been perfectly planned. Wen Ying would pick up Zhang Guangzhen at the airport, but then Jiang Youjia called to say Xie Qian’s flight was delayed.
“Summer weather is unpredictable. His plane still hasn’t taken off. Xie Qian said not to wait.”
Jiang Youjia would first drive Wen Ying and Zhang Guangzhen to the venue. Whether Xie Qian made it to the ceremony depended on the mercy of the heavens.
“Delayed?”
Wen Ying’s mood instantly soured.
From the day Xie Qian went back to Beijing for the gaokao until now, she hadn’t seen him in days.
They had agreed to attend the ceremony together, but now his flight was delayed because of weather. The heavens really weren’t cooperating!
There was nothing Wen Ying could do about the weather. She followed Jiang Youjia’s arrangement and headed to the venue with Zhang Guangzhen first.
This year’s Magnolia Awards venue was decorated with exceptional grandeur. Starting this year, the awards officially separated domestic and overseas dramas, with the categories and weight clearly favouring home-grown television. The change had made domestic production companies far more eager to submit, and the stars everyone recognised from their screens were much more willing to attend.
More stars meant more media.
As a bestselling author riding a wave of popularity these past two years, Wen Ying drew plenty of attention the moment she appeared, even without full red-carpet glamour.
When asked why she was there, she smiled and said she was tagging along with an industry senior to see the world.
“I’m here to bask in Teacher Zhang’s good luck.”
Only then did the reporters notice Zhang Guangzhen and immediately swarmed him with questions about his confidence in winning tonight.
Far from feeling sidelined, Zhang Guangzhen enthusiastically boosted Wen Ying. “This year you’re coming in with me to get the lay of the land. Next year it might be your turn to be nominated!”
The two hyped each other up, and the reporters smiled knowingly.
“You two really have a deep bond!”
Wen Ying admitted readily, “Of course. I wouldn’t be a screenwriter today without Teacher Zhang showing me the way!”
Most veteran screenwriters would never let a newcomer touch their scripts. Not only did Zhang Guangzhen allow Wen Ying to rewrite plot points in *The Princess’s New Clothes*, after she finished he patiently taught her how to write properly.
Without Zhang Guangzhen, Wen Ying would still be a bestselling author, but she would never have become a hot screenwriter so quickly, nor would she have had the chance to independently create *Starry River With You*.
Likewise, without Wen Ying’s revisions to *The Princess’s New Clothes*, Zhang Guangzhen would probably still be churning out second-tier idol dramas.
It was precisely because of that successful collaboration that he gained the confidence to tackle serious drama.
Right in front of the reporters, Zhang Guangzhen tried to open up about his journey and thank Wen Ying for her help, but the moment he started speaking he choked up, tears welling as he looked at her.
Wen Ying’s eye twitched.
Yuan Fenghui had been absolutely right. In a setting like this, Teacher Zhang really did need looking after.
“Teacher Zhang is just too emotional. That’s why his scripts are so delicately nuanced.”
Wen Ying smoothly covered for him, posed for a couple more photos, then gracefully handed the red-carpet microphone to the next person.
She tugged Zhang Guangzhen forward a few steps. Only then did he finally catch his breath. “Little Wen, don’t pull me. I need to properly tell those reporters, you say I showed you the way, but actually you’re the one who made the current me possible…”
“No rush, no rush. Save it for your acceptance speech when you go up on stage, okay?”
Wen Ying coaxed him like a child.
The venue staff leading them to their seats couldn’t help chuckling as they walked.
Zhang Guangzhen felt no embarrassment at all and actually started mentally drafting his acceptance speech.
Inside the hall, Wen Ying spotted countless familiar faces. Basically every currently popular TV star was there.
She also saw Xu Mei.
Xu Mei was nominated for Best Supporting Actress this year.
She hadn’t chased headlines in ages. For tonight’s red carpet, she had gone all out. From gown to makeup, she had levelled up several notches.
Xu Mei wasn’t seated with Wen Ying. Like the other big TV stars, she was in the front row. That was the organisers’ arrangement, proof that *Alleyway Family* had truly made her famous!
Zhang Guangzhen was placed in the third row.
Wen Ying, the freeloader with a borrowed ticket, was two rows behind him, even further back.
The ceremony was about to begin. The lights dimmed. A spotlight hit the stage, and every gaze followed it.
While everyone focused on the awards, a figure quietly slipped into the seat beside Wen Ying.
She turned her head and came face to face with him.
Even in the low light, nothing could hide how striking he looked. Wen Ying was so surprised and delighted she nearly jumped.
“You—”
“Shh.”
Xie Qian covered her mouth with his hand. “Quiet. Don’t disturb the others.”
