“At last, it’s finished!”
Wen Ying’s body was utterly exhausted, but her spirit was exhilarated.
She had spent an entire day writing the ending of “Exploring Thorns”.
After organising the document on her computer, Wen Ying sent the first draft of “Exploring Thorns” to Ding Chao, the editor-in-chief at Modu Literary Society. On second thought, she also sent a copy to Old Fu.
Old Fu had mentioned several times that he wanted to read Wen Ying’s new book.
In June, during the training at the literature academy, Wen Ying had seen that Old Fu was still in good spirits. But in October, she heard he had fallen ill. After recovering and being discharged, Old Fu had once again urged Wen Ying for the new book. Thinking of Old Fu’s age, Wen Ying sighed softly, hoping he would remain healthy.
Finishing the first draft of “Exploring Thorns” lifted a weight from Wen Ying’s mind.
The next morning, before heading out, Wen Ying spotted the velvet gift box in the storage cabinet and deliberately took out the brooch.
This time, she disassembled the brooch, turning it into cherry blossom earrings.
As Wen Ying was about to leave, Sun Mingfei returned from buying breakfast at the cafeteria.
“Heading out for a date so early?”
If Wen Ying were going to the study room, she would have brought her laptop. But now she was empty-handed.
Not only empty-handed, but she had even applied light makeup!
Sun Mingfei’s expression was full of gossip. Wen Ying laughed heartily, “It’s not a date. I’m going to earn money for dates!”
Earn money for dates?
Sun Mingfei was shocked, “Even you are short on date money? Don’t tell me you two usually date on Mars…”
Wen Ying waved her hand, “Life isn’t easy. Time to make some extra cash!”
The hardworking side-hustler bid farewell to her roommate, took a taxi to Tianjiao, and arrived ten minutes earlier than the appointed time.
While Ran Keqing and Director Zhang hadn’t arrived yet, Wen Ying went over the pricing script once more with Yuan Fenghui.
At 9 o’clock, Ran Keqing still hadn’t shown up.
Wen Ying chuckled, “Miss Ran’s tolerance isn’t very broad, is it?”
Ran Keqing had waited for Wen Ying yesterday. Today, she wanted Wen Ying to wait in return. Her tolerance was indeed limited.
Yuan Fenghui was unconcerned, “Your surname is Wen, not Ran. The Ran family isn’t worried about raising their daughter to be petty. Why are you in a rush?”
Tolerance had nothing to do with cooperation. The size of the wallet was what mattered.
No matter how many flaws Miss Ran had, the cash flow in Huanyu’s accounts could make up for it all.
Yuan Fenghui leaned in for a closer look at Wen Ying’s pink diamond earrings, clicking her tongue in admiration, “What a fine piece. I get your meaning, but it’s still not enough… Kiki, come over. Redo her makeup!”
Kiki hurried over with her makeup case.
“Director Yuan, what kind of look should I do for Little Director Wen?”
Yuan Fenghui crossed her arms, “A look that would drive a rival insane with jealousy, wishing she could devour her in one bite.”
Kiki’s expression turned unusually serious, “That calls for a top-tier look. I’ll give it my all!”
Wen Ying glanced at her watch, “Sister Kiki, time is a bit tight. Don’t make it too elaborate.”
Yuan Fenghui was confident there was plenty of time and allocated Kiki a full hour.
An hour later, Wen Ying’s makeup was complete. Ran Keqing still hadn’t arrived.
Yuan Fenghui comforted Wen Ying, “Don’t get angry. For every extra hour we wait, add another million!”
For the sake of that million, Wen Ying nodded with a smile, “I’m the most patient person there is.”
At half past ten in the morning, Miss Ran finally appeared alongside Director Zhang, a full hour and a half late.
“Sorry, traffic jam on the way.”
What traffic jam could last that long?
Ran Keqing was doing it on purpose.
But Wen Ying wasn’t angry at all. She turned to Yuan Fenghui, who silently mouthed: Add 1.5 million!
“I understand. I get stuck in traffic often too.”
Wen Ying was very polite, inviting Ran Keqing and Director Zhang to take their seats.
Director Zhang had been worried the whole way that Wen Ying might throw a tantrum and declare she didn’t want this money. He hadn’t expected her to be completely unfazed, which in turn made Ran Keqing seem particularly petty.
A straight man like Director Zhang wouldn’t pay much attention to Wen Ying’s makeup, but Ran Keqing noticed immediately how much effort Wen Ying had put in today.
Wen Ying looked especially beautiful today.
Not only had she carefully applied makeup, but her hair had been treated as well.
Ran Keqing’s gaze fell on Wen Ying’s ears, recognising that the earrings were the brooch disassembled and worn differently.
Such design sense!
Ran Keqing recalled how last night she had frantically inquired with familiar jewellery brands, asking around the industry about the origins of the pink diamond brooch. As a VIP client of several brands, naturally some flattered her with information.
The high-end jewellery consumption circle wasn’t large. When a piece was sold and by which brand could be traced.
Someone told Ran Keqing that the cherry blossom brooch had been personally designed by the client!
Because none of the brand’s provided designs satisfied the client.
The client’s requirements were extremely strict, from design to material selection, all the way to the finished product.
The value of this jewellery wasn’t in how much money was spent. At this level, no client lacked that kind of money. It was in the thoughtfulness!
Wealthy and still willing to put in such effort.
How happy must the recipient be?
The speaker meant no harm, but the listener took it to heart.
Ran Keqing thought of how her several advances towards Xie Qian had gone unanswered. Unbeknownst to her, Xie Qian had put so much thought into this for Wen Ying… A surge of resentment stuck in Miss Ran’s throat, impossible to swallow.
This was the real reason Ran Keqing was a full hour and a half late today.
If Director Zhang hadn’t urged her repeatedly, Ran Keqing could have made Wen Ying wait three hours or more!
Seeing Wen Ying wearing the brooch as earrings today, Ran Keqing’s blood boiled, yet she maintained a warm smile on her face, “I want to commission Teacher Xiaoyu for a custom script, co-produced by Huanyu and Liansheng. We aim to release it during next year’s Spring Festival slot, so Teacher Xiaoyu has only one month to write the script… Teacher Xiaoyu, can you do it?”
You had better not say you can’t!
Wen Ying caught the subtext in Ran Keqing’s words.
Wen Ying pondered, “A custom script, with only one month?”
Ran Keqing put on a worried expression, turning to Director Zhang with a sigh, “Uncle Zhang, I told you one month is too rushed. It’s too difficult for Teacher Xiaoyu.”
Director Zhang: …
If it were up to him, two or three months would be fine too.
Filming a movie didn’t need to be that hurried!
Some films took years to shoot, and people still waited.
Of course, Director Zhang didn’t advocate for films taking years. The longer it dragged, the more capital tied up.
Director Zhang felt one to one and a half years was ideal. If they missed next year’s Spring Festival, they could still catch the summer slot. What was the rush?
But Director Zhang didn’t have the final say.
Ran Keqing was narrow-minded, and Director Zhang didn’t want to offend the Ran family. He could only nod in agreement, “Indeed, the timeline is tight. We wonder if Teacher Xiaoyu is willing to take the challenge.”
Wen Ying exchanged a glance with Yuan Fenghui. Yuan Fenghui smiled and said she would go make tea, leaving Wen Ying alone to face Ran Keqing and Director Zhang.
This Yuan woman was quite tactful!
Ran Keqing pressured Wen Ying, “If Teacher Xiaoyu can’t take it, we’ll have to find another screenwriter.”
Wen Ying hesitated, “It’s not that I can’t accept it, it’s just…”
“Just what?”
Ran Keqing pressed step by step, wanting both to force Wen Ying to admit her limitations and to make her accept the commission only to fall into a bigger pit.
No matter which option Wen Ying chose, Ran Keqing would be pleased.
Unexpectedly, Wen Ying looked up with a smile, revealing pearly white teeth, “For a custom script on such a tight schedule, the quote is different!”
