Shui Mingyue was very happy, but Luo Hao was a little unhappy.
Luo Hao looked worried. “Mingyue, don’t think of people as too innocent. Mr Jiang manages such a large film and television company. He is purely a businessman. Businessmen pursue maximum profit. You sold all the adaptation rights to him. He might resell the adaptation rights for profit.”
Shui Mingyue felt somewhat displeased.
“Mr Jiang came to buy the adaptation rights because someone recommended them to him. I trust my friends, and I trust my own judgement.”
Shui Mingyue regarded Wen Ying as a friend, so Wen Ying’s friends were naturally her friends too.
Moreover, Jiang Youjia’s offer was slightly above market price. He paid real money for the rights, and she willingly sold them. It was unfair to question it like this.
“Mingyue…”
Luo Hao wanted to say more, but Shui Mingyue did not want to listen.
No matter how good-tempered Shui Mingyue was, she was still a young woman. She had rushed excitedly to share good news with Luo Hao, only to have cold water poured over her. How could she be happy!
With so many people in the crew, even if she did not speak to Luo Hao, Shui Mingyue was not lonely.
Luo Hao stopped discussing the plot with Shui Mingyue, and the female lead immediately filled the gap, brushing her presence in front of Shui Mingyue in various ways.
When Shui Mingyue occasionally met Luo Hao’s gaze, she quickly looked away.
The news that Shui Mingyue had sold the film and television adaptation rights to eleven books in one go spread through the crew. Even the director came to confirm with Shui Mingyue.
“Teacher Mingyue, is this true?”
“It’s true.”
Shui Mingyue quite liked this director. After being with the crew for so long, the director respected Shui Mingyue’s opinions. When unsure about character portrayal, the director would consult her.
So it was not surprising that Shui Mingyue was innocent. She had become famous too early. Apart from encountering moral blackmail from relatives borrowing money, the people around her had all been “good people”.
Everyone treated Shui Mingyue well, so naturally she lacked defences against others.
Shui Mingyue would never think that those who approached under the guise of “borrowing money” or “investment” to cheat her were actually easier to guard against. What was harder to defend against was when they did not mention money at all, only talking about emotions… Once emotions were involved, how could there be no money?
The director was particularly happy. “That’s great! Jiaxin is a strong company. Congratulations, Teacher Mingyue!”
Buying the film and television adaptation rights to eleven of Shui Mingyue’s novels in one go showed Jiaxin’s financial power and genuine high regard for Shui Mingyue, believing her works could become massive hits after adaptation.
The director was thrilled!
Writers want phenomenal works, and directors want the same. Directing a hugely popular drama would greatly elevate a director’s status in the industry.
The director’s attitude was sincere, and smiles appeared in Shui Mingyue’s eyes and brows. “I was worried if I had made the wrong decision. I didn’t expect you to approve of Jiaxin so much. Now I feel much more reassured.”
The director laughed heartily. “A strong company, plainly speaking, means abundant funds and connections. Jiaxin has both. Teacher Mingyue, you made the right decision!”
Abundant funds were not just empty words.
The director shared some gossip he had heard with Shui Mingyue. “Jiaxin has investors who are coal bosses. They’re loaded!”
Netizens disliked coal bosses, but the director quite liked them.
Coal bosses had money and were willing to invest.
Apart from occasionally slipping a mistress into the crew during investment, coal bosses rarely interfered with how the director shot the film.
As for connections, it was said Jiaxin’s big boss was very familiar with major figures in the industry.
The director spared no effort in praising Jiaxin, making Shui Mingyue’s mood even lighter.
With her mood improved, Shui Mingyue became more tolerant towards Luo Hao.
Actually, Luo Hao suspecting that Jiaxin’s Mr Jiang had ulterior motives was not wrong. Luo Hao himself was just a newcomer. How could he understand these things!
After most of the day passed, Luo Hao seemed to have figured it out himself. He specially found a moment alone to apologise to Shui Mingyue. “I was too concerned and lost perspective. Those eleven books are your works. Only you have the right to decide what to do with them. You didn’t speak to me for most of the day. I felt terrible.”
Luo Hao lowered his voice, looking somewhat pitiful.
Shui Mingyue instead felt embarrassed. “I wanted to talk to you too. You kept not looking at me.”
Luo Hao apologised repeatedly, and the two quickly reconciled as before.
Soon, it was Saturday, the day Shui Mingyue had arranged to treat everyone to dinner.
On the way to the restaurant, Wen Ying emphasised to Peng Guoqing many times not to let anything slip.
Peng Guoqing nodded vigorously. “Right, it was my recommendation. I’m a shareholder in Jiaxin, after all.”
Taking the blame like this, Peng Guoqing was very willing.
He was about to receive Shui Mingyue’s gratitude. Hehe, just thinking about it made him happy!
After Jiang Youjia bought Shui Mingyue’s rights, Peng Guoqing forced himself to read her books. The others felt average, but one novel’s setting was an older woman-younger man romance, with the female lead four years older than the male lead… This setting perfectly poked at Peng Guoqing’s heart. He read the novel from start to finish, always identifying with the male lead.
In that novel, the male lead started off a bit wayward. The girl he secretly loved only saw him as a “little brother”, thinking him immature and naive.
Later, through various twists, the male lead grew up, and the female lead acknowledged this growth. The two confessed their feelings and happily ended up together.
The story was not particularly novel, but Shui Mingyue wrote it so well. The younger brother’s secret crush on the older sister was portrayed very touchingly.
This setting was practically tailor-made for Peng Guoqing.
Peng Guoqing decided to exercise his initiative as a shareholder and strongly urged Jiang Youjia to adapt this one first!
While Wen Ying emphasised the blame-taking to Peng Guoqing, he in turn recommended Shui Mingyue’s older woman-younger man novel to Wen Ying.
As long as Wen Ying recommended it to Xie Qian, Jiaxin would definitely adapt this one first!
Wen Ying: “… Peng Guoqing, everyone can see through your little thoughts. I won’t help you persuade Xie Qian. If you really have the ability, find a way to convince Xie Qian and Brother Jiang yourself.”
Everyone could see it?
Peng Guoqing’s heart thumped wildly.
Had Sister Tang seen it too?
For today’s dinner, Wen Ying’s side still had the same people as last time. All who should come were there.
The host, Shui Mingyue, brought one extra person.
“This is Luo Hao. Xiaoyu has met him before. You others haven’t.”
Shui Mingyue introduced Luo Hao’s identity.
Luo Hao looked a bit dazed.
Shui Mingyue had said she was dining with Wen Ying, but only upon arriving did Luo Hao discover that tonight’s dinner actually included Li Mengjiao!
Wen Ying was impressive, but she was not a celebrity.
Wen Ying was also particularly difficult to provoke. She would sue for reputation rights one moment, plagiarism the next, and always won. Ordinary people dared not cause trouble in front of her.
Li Mengjiao was different.
Li Mengjiao was a true favoured daughter of heaven, never facing setbacks. She exploded in popularity upon debut, and Tianjiao seemed eager to push all top resources onto her!
This was beyond Luo Hao’s expectations. He had imagined various figures in Shui Mingyue’s social circle, but he never thought Li Mengjiao would be there. This gave him a huge shock, slowing his reactions!
Luo Hao glanced at Li Mengjiao several times, wanting to strike up conversation, but ultimately held back the impulse.
Wen Ying had been secretly observing Luo Hao.
This guy clearly wanted to meet Li Mengjiao but was very mindful of Shui Mingyue’s feelings.
Either he really liked Shui Mingyue a lot, or he was really good at enduring.
Although Shui Mingyue introduced Luo Hao as a friend, everyone at the table could see their relationship was intimate. Since Shui Mingyue and Luo Hao had not officially confirmed their relationship, everyone played along with Shui Mingyue, pretending not to notice their ambiguity.
Everyone was quite considerate of the new friend.
However, how to describe this table of people? They either had the ability to earn money themselves or were rich second-generation who knew how to be born into wealth. As they chatted, the topics veered a bit.
No one deliberately excluded Luo Hao. It was Luo Hao who found he could not join the conversation.
Luo Hao neither understood copyright operations nor knew about investments.
The life experiences Luo Hao had accumulated struggling in society after dropping out in his teens were not suitable to bring up at tonight’s dinner table.
Here, even Luo Hao’s advantage in looks did not exist.
Was acting as a male lead rare?
Li Mengjiao had never played a supporting role to this day. Those who worked with her were always “male leads”.
Even straight men like Wang Shuang and Peng Guoqing had their aesthetics elevated by Xie Qian. Compared to Xie Qian, Luo Hao’s handsomeness was quite ordinary.
Mu Fan did not value appearance, but he liked people with depth. His first impression of Luo Hao was average.
He did not expect Shui Mingyue to like this type of guy.
However, Mu Fan respected Shui Mingyue’s preferences and would not interfere with a friend’s choices.
Everyone was caring for Luo Hao in their own way, yet he still felt slighted.
Just then, as the dinner was nearing its end, Wen Ying proactively suggested accompanying Shui Mingyue to view properties tomorrow. “What do you think? Is Yao Xiaojia I introduced to you alright? View the properties first. Once Jiaxin transfers the payment, you can buy directly.”
Shui Mingyue nodded lightly. “Yao Xiaojia is very professional. Her analysis of Modu’s property market is spot on. If you have time, you can come with me tomorrow to take a look.”
Luo Hao was surprised. “Mingyue, you’re buying a house?”
“Yes. Jiaxin bought the adaptation rights. Keeping too much money on hand is not very useful. Better to convert it into Modu property.”
Good news like selling the adaptation rights, Shui Mingyue was very willing to share with Luo Hao. She felt Luo Hao could understand her works, and this matter was somewhat related to him, so naturally she mentioned it.
But the fact that the rights sold for 16 million and she planned to convert this sum into Modu property, she had not mentioned to Luo Hao.
Firstly, the two were not yet officially boyfriend and girlfriend. How she spent her money did not require consulting Luo Hao’s opinion. Secondly, Shui Mingyue knew Luo Hao’s family circumstances were average. Mentioning buying a house in front of him might seem like deliberate showing off.
Shui Mingyue was considerate of Luo Hao everywhere, unaware that he had already felt “slighted” tonight. Suddenly hearing about the house purchase, his pride was somewhat hurt. Shui Mingyue not mentioning buying a house in front of him. Was she guarding against him, or did she not trust him?
Shui Mingyue mingled with such a group every day. She must think he lacked experience.
Luo Hao pressed his lips tightly together and said nothing.
Wen Ying seemed oblivious, smiling as she asked, “Helping Mingyue view properties. Luo Hao, do you want to come along?”
Luo Hao’s tone was a bit stiff, losing the high emotional intelligence and smoothness he had in the crew. “No need. You go ahead. I don’t understand these things anyway.”
