Xu Mei left Hunan without a shred of attachment.
She had spent two years of her youth there, taking only a few boxes of clothes and a seasoned assistant when she left.
On the day of her departure, Cao Bo actually followed her to the airport.
But he didn’t go inside, just sat in his car and smoked two cigarettes.
What would he say if he went in?
Cao Bo hadn’t expected Xu Mei to be so decisive, terminating her contract and already securing a new agency.
Before leaving, Xu Mei had tipped off familiar reporters about the “broken engagement,” not pinning blame on Cao Bo, but stating that their career paths had irreconcilable differences, and they parted amicably after discussion.
Once Xu Mei left, entertainment reporters swarmed Cao Bo, pressing for the reason behind the breakup.
Cao Bo thought for a moment and backed her story, “Our career paths diverged, and I never do long-distance relationships.”
What else could he say? He couldn’t admit to reporters that the engagement was fake from the start, and now that Xu Mei had a new agency, she didn’t even want the fake engagement anymore. That would be too humiliating.
Word was that Xu Mei personally haggled with Manager Guan, slashing the contract termination fee in half. Manager Guan was so furious he replaced all the ornaments in his office.
With Xu Mei gone, the remaining artists at Manager Guan’s company were on edge.
Zhang Yangning had terminated her contract and left, Xu Mei had done the same, and sooner or later, it would be the turn of the artists who rose through talent shows.
So why did Manager Guan let Xu Mei go?
Cao Bo couldn’t figure it out.
Perhaps Xu Mei had some leverage over Manager Guan. That was the only explanation.
Xu Mei had walked away cleanly, but Cao Bo still had to stay in Hunan to make a living.
The cancellation of *Love Cruise* had damaged Cao Bo’s reputation. When he called coal magnate Boss Jin to pitch a new project for investment, Jin rejected him.
Money wasn’t the issue; coal bosses cared about face. *Love Cruise* had made Boss Jin lose face.
Not only did it fail to win ratings, but it was outright cancelled.
The person Boss Jin wanted to promote didn’t shine, and the male lead, Yu Tianlin, went from idol star to universally despised scumbag. The show flopped, the actor flopped, and Boss Jin, the investor, was mocked by his peers. Coal bosses, often superstitious, felt Cao Bo’s crew was bad luck, and Jin didn’t want to be dragged down with them.
Of course, Jin wasn’t giving up on film and TV investments, but Cao Bo’s crew wasn’t the only option.
Jin wanted to connect with Tianjiao’s people. Tianjiao had been riding a wave of success these past two years. Investing in their projects meant both profit and prestige. Saying he backed a hit drama would earn Jin praise for his vision.
Cao Bo caught Jin’s drift and nearly spat blood.
He wanted to hang up, but the words changed at his lips, “Tianjiao doesn’t need money. If you want to invest in film projects, I can recommend a place. Shanghai Jiaxin Film Company. Have someone look into it.”
Cao Bo wanted to slap himself.
Xu Mei, that heartless woman, and he was still paving the way for her. How pathetic!
Shanghai Jiaxin Film Company?
The name sounded familiar to Boss Jin.
Upon inquiry, it turned out the company belonged to Jinhu Group.
Or rather, it used to. It had now been spun off as an independent entity.
“Jinhu withdrew its shares?”
“No, it was a share transfer. Jiaxin’s new boss is also surnamed Xie.”
A Xie in charge meant it was still a Xie family operation.
Jin asked for more details, and his people dug up some insider info, saying Boss Xie had handed Jiaxin to his son to practice with.
“Boss, Xie’s son is too young. Jiaxin’s probably doomed!”
Jin glared.
“You’re the one who’s doomed!”
Handed to his son to practice? Which father doesn’t help out behind the scenes?
With that, Jin recalled meeting Xie Jinghu’s son once, vaguely remembering his name as Xie Qian.
Xie Qian looked like a carbon copy of Xie Jinghu, leaving a strong impression on Jin.
And Xie Qian was with Tianjiao’s people at the time. Jin touched his gold watch, what a coincidence!
Jin decided to trust Cao Bo one more time and inquire if Jiaxin needed funds.
…
Xu Mei had been in Shanghai for two days and still hadn’t met the big boss, only Gong Sheng.
Gong Sheng had poached Xu Mei to Jiaxin.
Xu Mei wasn’t on the level of top stars like Li Mengjiao or Yun Chen, but she had media buzz, was highly professional, and was set to star in a new drama by a Taiwanese romance queen, showing strong potential to become a top-tier actress.
Why would such an artist join Jiaxin?
Jiaxin was coasting on its past glory, scraping by with some profit but clearly on the decline. Talented staff had long jumped ship, and those who stayed were just going through the motions.
A stagnant company got a new boss.
It would either be jolted into change or hasten its demise.
Jiaxin’s staff expected the latter, but now it seemed it might be the former?
“I heard Boss Gong is talking with Eastern TV. Our company’s working on a project with them?”
“Seems like it. Boss Gong took all the company’s script reserves and hired a screenwriter to revise them. Looks like they’re serious about filming.”
“Eastern TV premiered *The Galaxy and You* this year and held the Good Men talent show. Plenty of film companies want to collaborate with them. Boss Gong’s got some skills!”
“And now they’ve poached Xu Mei…”
Some employees were used to coasting, but others wanted change. Gong Sheng’s actions gave them hope.
Xu Mei had joined Jiaxin with high spirits, but upon arriving, she sensed something was off.
Manager Guan’s company was chaotic, but Jiaxin lacked vitality.
Had she jumped from a tiger’s den into a wolf’s lair?
Xu Mei refused to believe she was that unlucky!
Gong Sheng was upfront, “The company’s in ruins, waiting for talents like Miss Xu to join. You’re the first artist I’ve poached, and I won’t bring in others of your type. You’ll have unique treatment here.”
Unique treatment, a confidante.
Gong Sheng soothed Xu Mei’s concerns.
Xu Mei had brought a performance contract with her. Gong Sheng said Jiaxin was preparing a drama, guaranteed to air on Eastern TV, with a script revised by Zhang Guangzhen. There was a role suited for Xu Mei, provided her acting was up to par.
Eastern TV, Zhang Guangzhen.
These keywords reassured Xu Mei.
It made sense. Jiaxin had paid to free her from her contract; they wouldn’t mess with her. The company needed to make money.
Xu Mei smiled, “Boss Gong, didn’t you say you’d introduce me to the big boss?”
Gong Sheng laughed heartily, “The big boss is busy lately. You’ll meet him after this period.”
What was Jiaxin’s big boss busy with?
Gong Sheng was too embarrassed to say their big boss, Xie Qian, was just a high schooler who had gone to the airport to pick someone up.
Apparently, his mother was visiting Shanghai on business and checking on him. To spend time with her, Xie Qian had instructed that no one disturb him, leaving Jiaxin’s affairs to Gong Sheng.
If Gong Sheng told Xu Mei the truth, he feared her heart would sink.
No way around it, people judge maturity by age, and Xie Qian was too young for Xu Mei to trust.
But Gong Sheng, with his sharp mind, misjudged this time.
Xie Qian had told Gong Sheng to handle Jiaxin’s affairs, not to avoid disrupting family time, but because Wen Ying was coming to Shanghai for a signing. If he wasn’t careful, his connection to Jiaxin might be exposed!
While waiting outside the airport, Xie Qian specifically warned Peng Guoqing not to let it slip. Peng made a zipping motion over his mouth.
“Even under torture, I won’t talk!”
Though unsure why Xie Qian was hiding it from Wen Ying, Peng followed orders.
Single guys don’t get young couples’ quirks.
Wen Ying’s flight arrived.
She collected her luggage.
She exited the terminal.
Seeing Wen Ying dragging a small suitcase, looking around, Xie Qian couldn’t help but smile. It had been a while since he’d seen his little hamster. At school, they were desk mates, meeting for make-up classes on weekends. They’d never been apart this long.
Wen Ying spotted Xie Qian, dragging her suitcase and jogging over.
“Xie Qian, long time no see!”
Wen Ying was breathless, so excited she forgot Zou Weijun and Xiao Ni were behind her.
Xie Qian naturally took her suitcase, “Twenty-one days.”
What?
It took Wen Ying a moment to realize, oh, it’s been twenty-one days since they last met.
What’s that about?
In her past life before rebirth, Wen Ying hadn’t seen Xie Qian for over a decade, yet she could still recognize him instantly.
The airport was crowded, but Xie Qian stood out as the most striking presence.
Wen Ying’s heart raced.
Xie Qian remembered the time so precisely, did he miss her?
