Wen Ying admitted in the recording studio that she was a shareholder in a medical aesthetics company.
Wen Kai was doing his utmost in front of the Gan and Cold family elders to demonstrate his reliability and sense of responsibility.
The brother and sister each spent most of the day presenting their best selves. One felt utterly exhausted upon leaving the studio, while the other let out a huge sigh of relief upon exiting the villa compound of Cold Jun’s home.
At last, they had temporarily passed the test!
Outside the television station, Wen Ying complained, “Teacher Yuan, it is normal for the two of us to team up and spring surprises to keep others in suspense. How could you spring a surprise on me as well?”
The recording process, which lasted several hours, featured several reversals. Everyone on the production team was stunned.
Later, even Wen Ying became stunned.
Because at the very end of the recording, Yuan Fenghui gave Wen Ying some “good news” that pushed the entire interview atmosphere to a climax.
Yuan Fenghui received the phone call right there on set. The content of the call happened to be overheard by the producer, who quickly interrupted the recording and had the host announce this good news.
Wen Ying knew Yuan Fenghui too well. Even without Yuan Fenghui’s “advance notice”, Wen Ying did not believe in such a coincidence!
Yuan Fenghui snorted with laughter. “Without a surprise, how could we capture your genuine reaction? You wanted programme impact, so I created the best possible impact for you. What are you dissatisfied with!”
Wen Ying thought about it and realised it was indeed true.
After all, Wen Ying was not a professional actor. Some reactions could not be faked. The most natural responses were the most authentic and believable. Precisely because of that final stroke of genius “surprise”, the credibility of the entire interview increased!
“Finally figured it out, have you?”
Yuan Fenghui teased.
Wen Ying shamelessly linked arms with Yuan Fenghui. “I was wrong. I will treat you to dinner!”
Yuan Fenghui kept a straight face. “You treating me to dinner is only right. This is my travel allowance.”
“Yes, yes, yes, it is only right.”
Wen Ying rarely acted coquettish. Once she did, Yuan Fenghui could not maintain her stern expression for long.
Soon, a smile reappeared on Yuan Fenghui’s face.
A car pulled up. The window rolled down, revealing Deng Juan’s lightly made-up face.
“Little Ying, Teacher Yuan!”
Deng Juan’s joy was practically overflowing. “Qin Jiao has something to do, so she asked me to come pick you up first and take you to the restaurant.”
Wen Ying had set up her main base in Shanghai and did not come to Beijing often. Meanwhile, Deng Juan’s work was mainly here. The two usually only kept in touch by phone calls and text messages. Deng Juan had missed Wen Ying terribly!
Yuan Fenghui laughed. “Looks like someone won’t need to treat us today after all.”
Wen Ying accepted it calmly. “My fault. Blame it on me having too many friends.”
Deng Juan did not know what joke Wen Ying and Yuan Fenghui were sharing, but seeing them in the mood to joke, she could guess that the recording had gone quite smoothly. That was why Wen Ying was so happy.
Wen Ying’s happiness made Deng Juan happy too. “I am treating today!”
Her salary was getting higher, she did not need to send money home, her accommodation and meals were covered by the company, and the house she bought in Rong City was rented out to others. The rent covered a large part of the mortgage. Deng Juan did not have many expenses normally.
Being able to treat Wen Ying to a meal with money she had earned herself made Deng Juan very proud.
Without Wen Ying’s encouragement, there would have been no transformative change in Deng Juan. Treating Wen Ying to a few meals was nothing!
Wen Ying and Yuan Fenghui chatted and laughed as they got into Deng Juan’s car.
…
Across the road, a car with tinted windows had been parked for a long time. Seeing Wen Ying and Yuan Fenghui leave, the person’s gaze locked firmly on the direction they departed in. His eyes held undisguised hatred.
Two meddlesome bitches!
Only when the car carrying the two women was completely out of sight did the person dial the phone in his hand. “Sister Keqing, they have finished recording the programme. I did not see them dining with anyone from the production team. Yes, they have already left… Alright, I understand. I won’t act impulsively.”
The person had a young and handsome face. It was none other than Luo Hao, who had nearly become Shui Mingyue’s boyfriend!
After signing with Huanyu, Luo Hao was immediately placed by Ran Keqing into her first film as executive producer. Ran Keqing arranged a fairly likeable supporting male role for him.
No matter how likeable the role, a supporting character was still supporting. His screen time could not exceed the male lead’s.
Ran Keqing did want to add more scenes for Luo Hao and boost this new male artist signed by her company, but her debut film had a generous budget and a very luxurious cast. These established actors all had their own backers. Why would they give up their own scenes for Luo Hao?
Ran Keqing’s actions angered the emperor-level male lead. He nearly walked off the set. It was only after Chairman Ran stepped in promptly, inviting the actor to dinner and having Ran Keqing apologise at the table, that the actor’s anger subsided and he agreed to continue.
Chairman Ran had always spoiled his daughter, but this was the only time he scolded Ran Keqing.
Huanyu was indeed the leading entertainment company in the mainland. Ordinary minor celebrities would jump at the chance to carry Ran Keqing’s bag if she was in the mood. But once an artist reached emperor or empress level, even Ran Keqing, as the Huanyu heiress, could not easily offend them.
If emperors and empresses had to suffer grievances in front of Ran Keqing, no celebrities would want to work with Huanyu in the future. Moreover, artists of that level had floated up and down in the industry for years. Which one did not have intricate networks of connections? Huanyu could choose not to curry favour, but there was no need to make enemies!
Chairman Ran pressed his daughter’s head to apologise to the actor. Ran Keqing’s promise to add scenes for Luo Hao became void.
Luo Hao was very understanding. In front of Ran Keqing, he repeatedly said he did not mind, that he was still young and, with Sister Keqing’s care, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.
In reality, Luo Hao minded terribly!
Although Huanyu was the largest company in domestic entertainment, and Ran Keqing was its sole heiress, she was too young to have absolute authority in the company. There was still Chairman Ran above her!
No matter how many promises Ran Keqing made, they were worthless against one veto from Chairman Ran.
Ran Keqing could not even secure extra scenes for a supporting role for Luo Hao!
This left Luo Hao deeply disappointed.
Miss Ran was merely an intimidating title. When it came to tangible benefits, she was not as good as the investor Luo Hao had been close to before. That man, though a lecherous devil who loved industry unspoken rules, was very generous with benefits. If he said Luo Hao would be the male lead, he would not be relegated to supporting.
What a pity. Such a powerful backer had suddenly fallen.
Thinking of this deepened the resentment in Luo Hao’s heart.
When Shui Mingyue and Pei Yiyi had their incident, Wen Ying immediately rushed over with Yuan Fenghui.
At the time, Luo Hao did not know how Wen Ying had such great influence. Not only did she let Shui Mingyue and Pei Yiyi escape unscathed, but the backer behind Luo Hao was arrested and soon sentenced.
Pei Yiyi transferred to Jiaxin. The drama was also taken over by Jiaxin for production. Pei Yiyi’s career was completely unaffected. Shui Mingyue also returned to a normal life rhythm.
The two of them had moved on from the incident, but Luo Hao lived like a frightened bird for a long time.
The person who handled the matter at the time was Yuan Fenghui.
Yuan Fenghui was famously profit-driven. Since Pei Yiyi signed with Jiaxin instead of Tianjiao, Luo Hao guessed that Wen Ying was the one helping Shui Mingyue and Pei Yiyi!
The adaptation rights to Shui Mingyue’s novels were also sold in a package to Jiaxin… What was Wen Ying’s relationship with Jiaxin? And why could Jiaxin pull off something like that? Luo Hao was completely clueless.
Unable to see through Wen Ying’s background, not knowing how she might deal with him, people always feared the unknown!
Until Luo Hao managed to connect with Ran Keqing.
From Ran Keqing, Luo Hao finally learned Wen Ying’s backing!
Wen Ying’s boyfriend was the boss of Jiaxin.
This young boss was from the Xie family in Beijing.
These privileged sons, relying on their good reincarnation, acted recklessly, disregarding others’ efforts and casually manipulating ordinary people’s fates. It was truly disgusting!
Luo Hao suppressed his emotions and followed Wen Ying and Yuan Fenghui for a whole day. He discovered they simply ate and drank with two people outside the industry, then returned to the hotel after the meal and did not come out again.
They really did not socialise with anyone from the production team.
It was, after all, a CCTV interview programme. As her agent, Yuan Fenghui did not personally network a bit?
Or perhaps, because of the Xie family connection in Beijing, Wen Ying did not need to network for this programme at all? Thinking deeper, the sudden invitation from this CCTV interview programme might have been orchestrated by the Xie family behind the scenes!
Wen Ying was just a writer, yet relying on Xie family resources, she obtained treatment no less than a celebrity’s.
She traded romance for career advancement, paving her own path smoothly, yet forbade Luo Hao from doing the same. This was classic double standards!
Since the two had no prior grudge, Wen Ying’s behaviour seemed particularly hypocritical in Luo Hao’s eyes.
What a little bitch!
Luo Hao drove to Ran Keqing’s apartment. It was already past one in the morning, yet the apartment where Ran Keqing lived alone was still lively. When he knocked, deafening music poured out.
Miss Ran was having another party.
“Luo Hao is here.”
“Haohao, come over here and have a drink.”
“What one drink? Latecomers have to down three!”
“Keqing has a new favourite. You come to big sister instead?”
Luo Hao was forced to drink several cups before squeezing through to Ran Keqing’s side. Next to Ran Keqing was a young man, a “model” she had recently discovered and everyone’s so-called “new favourite”.
Ran Keqing’s friends all thought Luo Hao and Ran Keqing had something going on, but they did not. Luo Hao certainly wanted to. He kept subtly flirting with Ran Keqing, but she was not the naive Shui Mingyue and did not fall for it. Once, she even told Luo Hao directly that she did not like his type.
So what type did Ran Keqing like?
Exactly the kind beside her now.
Cool and aloof in temperament, appearing very abstinent… Ran Keqing had been very attentive to this new artist lately!
Once at a party, Ran Keqing got drunk and shouted “Xie Qian” at the new artist. Only then did Luo Hao realise: this new artist somewhat resembled the boss of Jiaxin.
Ran Keqing could not have the real Xie Qian, so she settled for a substitute to satisfy her craving.
The overt advances right in front of her, she did not appreciate. She only liked the unattainable ones.
Another little bitch!
Luo Hao cursed inwardly, but his face wore an extremely sweet smile. “Sister Keqing, shall we step out to talk?”
The living room was far too noisy for any serious conversation.
Ran Keqing reluctantly left her new favourite and took Luo Hao to the study.
“You followed her all day. Did you discover anything?”
Luo Hao reported what he had seen and heard. Ran Keqing sneered. “I thought she was so impressive. Turns out she is just that!”
Ran Keqing had obtained Wen Ying’s flight departure time from Beijing through irregular means.
Wen Ying arrived in Beijing on Friday afternoon and left at nine on Sunday morning.
She did not visit the Xie family on Friday, nor the whole of Saturday, and clearly had no time on Sunday morning.
As Xie Qian’s girlfriend, Wen Ying coming to Beijing without visiting the Xie family left only two possibilities: either Wen Ying was particularly rude and completely clueless about social etiquette, or she simply had not received recognition from the Xie family!
Given Wen Ying’s family background, Ran Keqing did not rule out the first possibility, but the second seemed far more likely!
