Wen Ying felt not the least bit tired.
What sort of tiredness was this?
In her previous life as a lawyer, when several cases piled up at once, that was true non-stop grinding. Compared to then, the energy spent today was mere child’s play. Yet Yuan Fenghui refused to listen. She insisted Wen Ying was “tired” and needed rest right away.
In front of Gong Sheng, Wen Ying could not vigorously argue with Yuan Fenghui. She had to go along and admit she was indeed a little tired.
Teacher Yuan helped without expecting reward. Wen Ying felt she could not deprive her of that sense of fulfilment.
Before leaving, the forcibly wearied Wen Ying thanked Gong Sheng and Yuan Fenghui once more for their efforts.
Gong Sheng was politely courteous, and Yuan Fenghui smiled warmly. Both said it was no trouble.
As soon as Wen Ying stepped out the door, the smile on Yuan Fenghui’s face vanished in a flash.
“Mr Gong, you need to level with me on this. How far can you take it, and how far are you willing to take it? I think Jiaxin signing Pei Yiyi would not be a loss, but if you truly do not want to sign her, I respect your view. Now Wen Ying is not here, you can speak plainly.”
Pei Yiyi had already suffered enough bad luck.
If signing her, there must be a development plan.
Yuan Fenghui did not sign her herself because Tianjiao’s resources were currently concentrated on the trio around Li Mengjiao. Whatever reached Pei Yiyi would inevitably be scant.
Jiaxin was different. Jiaxin had only Xu Mei.
Xu Mei took all of Jiaxin’s resources!
This was good for Xu Mei, but not necessarily for Jiaxin.
Tianjiao was a company set up specifically for Li Mengjiao. Signing Yun Chen and Zhang Yangning was mere fortunate coincidence. Jiaxin, however, was not created solely for Xu Mei. Any company relying on just one pillar was risky. If one day they fell out with that pillar, there would not even be a backup to rise!
Moreover, Gong Sheng had exerted such great effort for this. No, it was Xie Qian who had exerted great effort. Signing Pei Yiyi now could at least recoup some costs later.
If the favours expended could not be returned, at least make some money.
The logic Yuan Fenghui grasped, Gong Sheng was no fool. He understood it too.
“We are certainly willing to sign. It happens that Jiaxin has bought the adaptation rights for eleven of Shui Mingyue’s novels. Pei Yiyi is quite suited to idol dramas, and her path does not clash with Xu Mei’s. As for how far we can support her, Yuan, honestly I am not certain myself. I am just a salaried worker. I must follow the boss’s instructions…”
Gong Sheng sounded fairly sincere in the first part, but grew evasive in the latter.
Yuan Fenghui sensed something off.
Xie Qian was absent, so Gong Sheng was his domestic proxy.
Xie Qian should have briefed Gong Sheng on the extent of help.
Unless…
Yuan Fenghui raised an eyebrow. “Xie Qian is returning?”
Gong Sheng denied it flatly. “I never said that!”
Hmph, you have basically admitted everything.
Yuan Fenghui’s mind raced. “Wen Ying does not know yet, does she?”
Gong Sheng clamped his mouth shut. “Yuan, what matter? I do not understand.”
You drama king!
Yuan Fenghui had thought Xie Qian would stay abroad indefinitely.
Peng Guoqing suspected Xie Qian was extracting oil abroad. Yuan Fenghui had caught some whispers, nothing to do with oil extraction.
When the industry bigwig’s daughter Miss Ran fancied Xie Qian, Xu Mei had tipped off Yuan Fenghui. She knew Miss Ran wanted to poach Wen Ying’s talent.
Lately, Miss Ran had not visited Jiaxin again.
Yuan Fenghui reckoned the rumour of Xie Qian’s severe injury must be true. Miss Ran’s fondness for him was superficial, untested by time. Learning he might have a lifelong disability, she swiftly retreated.
Miss Ran’s fondness failed the test, but Wen Ying’s affection for Xie Qian surely could endure. Wen Ying never mentioned his injury, cheerful every day.
So, Xie Qian planned a surprise for Wen Ying?
Yuan Fenghui instantly relaxed. “Such a complex matter does indeed need to proceed step by step.”
…
Wen Ying shared a suite with Pei Yiyi and Shui Mingyue.
That night, Pei Yiyi and Shui Mingyue woke startled several times. Wen Ying patiently soothed them, leaving both rather embarrassed.
“Sleep. I understand. Some things take time to fade.”
Pei Yiyi whispered to Shui Mingyue, “Teacher Xiaoyu is clearly younger than us, yet I always feel she is like a big sister. Wherever she is, it feels safe.”
Shui Mingyue felt the same, though too shy to say.
Wen Ying was only a university freshman. She looked tender and youthful, truly young, yet indeed like a big sister.
In their friend circle, Wen Ying was unquestionably the core.
People like Peng Guoqing and Wang Shuang all had excellent family backgrounds. Normally, such a group could easily lead to mutual defiance, yet they all deferred to Wen Ying.
Shui Mingyue thought carefully and told Pei Yiyi, “Because Xiaoyu is a very strong person. I do not mean strong in background. I mean her inner strength. We all face troubles. We panic. We fear… Xiaoyu is braver than us all. In friends’ hearts, she is the most reliable backing. As long as you are not doing wrong, any difficulty or worry can be brought to Xiaoyu.”
Strong heart, sharp mind, and kindness willing to help others.
No wonder Mu Fan liked Xiaoyu. Shui Mingyue thought if she were male, she would like Xiaoyu too!
Pei Yiyi agreed with Shui Mingyue.
Thinking thus, it seemed less scary after all. Teacher Xiaoyu was staying with them.
The two girls chatted about Wen Ying. After that, they no longer woke startled and slept soundly till dawn.
At dawn, Shui Mingyue’s parents arrived.
Pei Yiyi’s parents did not. They opposed her entertainment career from the start. Learning of this incident would surely force her to quit.
Shui Mingyue’s parents thanked Wen Ying profusely.
Wen Ying felt awkward under their gratitude and excused herself to fetch breakfast downstairs.
Escaping Shui Mingyue’s parents, Wen Ying then spotted her own father in the hotel lobby. Yes, the one who always tucked his shirt into trousers, belt worn high, half-worn leather shoes, domestic mechanical watch. That style was unmistakably her dad’s.
But why was Old Wen here?
Wen Dongrong shared the doubt.
Bumping into Black-hearted Cotton early morning in a hotel lobby. Hallucination from overwork?
Father and daughter both held breakfast.
Both wanted to rub eyes.
“What are you doing here?”
“Dad, why are you here?”
Little Wen and Old Wen spoke together.
Old Wen instinctively peered behind Little Wen. University girls could date. Old Wen was prepared.
But a freshman absolutely could not hotel with a boyfriend!
Old Wen knew not whom he hoped to see.
Seeing no one, Old Wen truly sighed relief. Good. Black-hearted Cotton’s leg-breaking crisis by the home tigress was temporarily averted!
“Of course I am here for work, accompanying our leader on inspection. You? Playing with classmates? Here, why no call to me?”
Leg-breaking crisis merely delayed. Old Wen persisted probing.
Wen Ying stalled.
Why no call to Old Wen?
First, she had not adjusted to Old Wen now working in this province. Unexpected he leapt from small county home to Rongcheng, then followed leader to Jinling… Wen Ying had not adapted to Old Wen’s greater success this life!
Second, she was used to solving issues herself. Help from anyone was her own network. No habit seeking parents, especially Old Wen!
Tell Old Wen or not?
Wen Ying wavered seconds.
Wen Dongrong glanced behind her repeatedly.
“What, inconvenient?”
Xie Qian that young man back?
Or another boy.
Wen Dongrong’s heart swung. Wen Ying resolved. “A bit inconvenient, but I can tell you.”
Father and daughter huddled in lobby corner. Wen Ying summarised events. Wen Dongrong frowned deeply. “I have heard of him. Major local taxpayer.”
“Then what?”
Little Wen gazed expectantly at Old Wen.
Old Wen straightened. “Do what must be done. Taxation is civic duty. Fulfilling it by income deserves praise, but does not permit breaking law!”
Wen Ying long used to Old Wen’s officialese.
She had heard it many times, never so pleasing.
“You mean you will handle…”
Wen Dongrong glared at Black-hearted Cotton. “What do you mean? Think I would stay indifferent knowing?”
Wen Dongrong huffed heavily.
“Wait and see!”
Wen Dongrong ignored Wen Ying further, took breakfast upstairs.
At noon, Pei Yiyi’s assistant phoned. Police again at hospital for statement.
Already done, why again?
Assistant claimed headache, nausea, dizziness rising, recounted yesterday again.
Pei Yiyi worried change. Only Wen Ying knew: Old Wen had truly acted!
