Her friends insisted on helping, and Wen Ying found it hard to refuse.
The two even offered to do it without payment.
When Yuan Fenghui found out, she immediately approved a sum of “public relations expenses” for Wen Ying. They might not take payment, but people coming to the crew to work still needed to be fed and entertained, did they not?
“Treat them well. Friends like these are worth making more of!”
“Yuan lao shi, bestselling authors of Shui Mingyue and Mu Fan’s calibre are rare in the whole country…”
Bestselling authors were not cabbages growing in fields that you could just pick whenever you wanted. It was not something anyone could claim for themselves. It had to be tested and proven by the reader market.
Wen Ying had met several other bestselling authors, but overall, only Shui Mingyue and Mu Fan truly suited her temperament.
Yuan Fenghui sounded rather regretful. “You are right. Since new friends are hard to find, we should treat the ones we have with even greater care.”
Yuan Fenghui raised the public relations budget she had approved for Wen Ying a little more.
The day Wen Ying invited Shui Mingyue and Mu Fan to dinner, she asked Xie Qian if he wanted to join. Xie Qian declined. “You will probably talk about writing. If I go, I might hold you back. How about this? I will skip the meal, but when you are finished, I will come and pick you up.”
After their first kiss, the two had grown more intimate in private.
Wen Ying wanted to focus on her career but also nurture their relationship, so she did not object to Xie Qian’s offers of lifts.
If a boyfriend was willing to invest time and effort in maintaining the relationship, yet the girlfriend felt everything could be handled alone and the boyfriend’s efforts were unnecessary, how could the boyfriend feel involved?
That was Xie Qian’s theory.
Wen Ying had not been used to it at first. After being brainwashed by Xie Qian every day, she was starting to accept it.
Xie Qian, of course, had his own little calculations.
Going to Wen Ying’s dinner with Mu Fan to stake his claim would be too childish.
Waiting outside the restaurant until the meal ended and then collecting Wen Ying allowed him to declare his territory subtly without annoying her. It was the perfect solution.
Wen Ying did not think that far ahead. She happily went to dinner with Shui Mingyue and Mu Fan.
Mu Fan had truly been busy lately, flying all over the country. He looked noticeably thinner.
Shui Mingyue, on the other hand, had put on a little weight. Her complexion was rosy, and she seemed even more approachable.
Mu Fan had slimmed from exhaustion. Shui Mingyue had regained her equilibrium and completely emerged from the shadow of the drugging incident.
Thinking back to the ambiguous feelings she once had for Luo Hao, Shui Mingyue wanted to slap herself.
“Xiaoyu, I have caused you trouble…”
Wen Ying waved her hands repeatedly. “It has nothing to do with you. I do not take someone like Luo Hao seriously. He is just a newcomer in the entertainment circle with no power to cause me problems. This time it is mainly competition with Huanyu. The trouble is not something you brought me. It is a conflict of interests between the two sides.”
If anyone was truly to blame, it was the unwanted attention Xie Qian had attracted.
But Wen Ying could not blame Xie Qian for that.
After all, he could not choose which lunatics might develop a crush on him.
Wen Ying had brought the script for Divine Capital: Youth to the dinner. Mu Fan joked, “Should we sign a confidentiality agreement before reading?”
Wen Ying laughed. “If you really want one, I can draft it right now.”
The great lawyer Wen had become the great screenwriter Wen, but her basic legal skills remained sharp. If Mu Fan truly wanted a confidentiality agreement, Wen Ying could produce one on the spot.
Mu Fan was clearly joking.
Shui Mingyue finished reading the script first.
“The whole story is grand and majestic. When it comes to screenwriting, I am no match for Xiaoyu.”
Shui Mingyue was straightforward. Wen Ying replied modestly, “We each have our strengths. I am used to writing large-scale plots, but I always lack delicacy in emotional scenes. In that area, you are the real expert.”
Shui Mingyue might not know how to fall in love herself, but she wrote romance brilliantly. The title “Little Queen of Romance” was well earned.
Mu Fan excelled at fantastical concepts. Divine Capital: Youth featured demons and monsters in its setting. He had no suggestions for the plot, but he had plenty of ideas about the demon and monster designs.
Both were eager to join the filming team and help Wen Ying polish the first film script of her career.
The higher the quality of Divine Capital: Youth, the heavier the blow to Huanyu.
Shui Mingyue and Mu Fan understood industry competition. What they could not tolerate was Huanyu throwing its weight around and constantly paying for negative articles about Wen Ying.
As Wen Ying’s friends, they simply could not stand it.
“You are both so loyal. I do not know what to say. I must toast you. Bottoms up!”
The three of them had a fulfilling meal. They read the script, shared their thoughts, and arranged to visit the set with Wen Ying. Some ideas would need discussion with the director to see if they could be implemented. Of course, any changes would ultimately require President Zhang’s approval.
“President Zhang is actually quite reasonable. The industry calls him stingy, but I think he respects creative content. Mingyue does not need to meet him, but Mu Fan, you really should.”
Shui Mingyue had already sold all her adaptation rights, so meeting President Zhang was irrelevant.
Mu Fan still held the film and television rights to several of his novels. Knowing President Zhang would open another door for him.
Mu Fan hated others butchering his work. President Zhang respected original content. The two would suit each other well if they collaborated.
Most importantly, although Liansheng was not as large as Huanyu, it had significant advantages over many other companies. President Zhang could fund major productions.
Mu Fan paused. “I came to help you, and now it feels like you are helping me?”
Wen Ying grew serious. “Why count favours between friends? This is mutual support. Creative people can never outsmart businesspeople on our own. If we do not band together, will we not be devoured by capital in the end?”
Mu Fan stopped being polite and raised his glass.
“You are a friend I will keep for life!”
Wen Ying happily clinked glasses with Mu Fan. By the end of the meal, all three were slightly tipsy.
Wen Ying paid and stepped out of the restaurant. Xie Qian’s car had been waiting for some time.
Seeing her happy made Xie Qian happy too.
“Thank you both for helping her.”
Shui Mingyue hiccupped. “No need to thank us. Xiaoyu said it herself. This is mutual support.”
Shui Mingyue was a poor drinker and was already unsteady on her feet.
Mu Fan supported her. “You take Xiaoyu home. I will see Mingyue back.”
Xie Qian nodded.
Wen Ying leaned out of the car window to call after them. “Send me a message when you get her home safely!”
Xie Qian gently pushed her head back inside.
“Do not shout into the wind. You will catch a chill and get stomach ache.”
The two were naturally affectionate. Mu Fan’s eyes darkened.
When Xie Qian had been absent, Mu Fan had chosen to prioritise his writing. Now that Xie Qian was back at Wen Ying’s side, Mu Fan had time but had lost his chance.
As Xie Qian drove away with Wen Ying, Shui Mingyue tried to stand straighter. “Regretting it now?”
Mu Fan smiled and shook his head. “Even if I had acted, Xiaoyu would probably not have chosen me. Things are good as they are. Xiaoyu has a boyfriend, and I will always be her friend.”
Never having pierced that layer of paper meant everyone could remain friends without awkwardness.
