Mrs Wang at this level is social brilliance syndrome, while Mrs Peng is truly a social terrorist. The person hasn’t even arrived in Rongcheng yet, but she’s already blown in a hurricane, leaving everyone here in a state of panic.
Peng Guoqing cannot return to the capital, yet Xie Qian suddenly decides to go back, taking the business card given by Mrs Peng.
“Our company’s new drama has wrapped up, so I’ll take advantage of the winter holiday to look for new projects too.”
The new drama Xie Qian mentions is the one with Zhang Guangzhen as the screenwriter and Xu Mei starring in it. Dongfang TV is very optimistic about this drama, and Jiaxin doesn’t need to worry about selling the copyright at all, as Producer Xu from Dongfang TV has been closely following Jiaxin’s progress.
With the copyright sales secure and the broadcast slot not an issue, Xie Qian’s first project after taking over Jiaxin can be considered a great success. If the drama achieves good ratings after airing, that would be the icing on the cake.
Wen Ying is genuinely happy for Xie Qian. “For the new project, do you need any help from me?”
Xie Qian feels a momentary temptation, but ultimately shakes his head. “No need. The new project might not be a TV drama; it could be an attempt at a low-budget film. This trip back to the capital is perfect for meeting the heads of cinema chains.”
TV dramas are produced to be sold to television stations, while films are shown in cinemas, with box office revenue split between the producers and the cinema chains. These are two completely different systems.
Tianjiao has always focused on TV dramas because their series have a strong reputation in the industry, and there’s no worry about failing to sell the copyright after completion. Even someone as powerful as Yuan Fenghui wouldn’t rashly venture into film production nowadays. Films require huge investment, and without a television station to back them up, it’s easy to lose everything.
Jiaxin might not immediately invest in a film, but since Mrs Peng has recommended connections for Xie Qian to meet, he can’t bear to let such a good opportunity slip away.
If not now, then later.
The Jiuding series is so grand; it can’t be confined to the small screen. By the time they want to adapt it, it would be too late to start building relationships then. Better to nurture some contacts now.
The reason for not letting Wen Ying help is simple: only one semester remains in the third year of senior high, and Xie Qian doesn’t want Wen Ying to be distracted.
“Be careful when you go back to the capital.”
Wen Ying reminds him, and Xie Qian nods. Wen Ying is telling him to be wary of Xie Jinghu.
The day after bidding farewell to Wen Ying, Xie Qian leaves. On this trip back to the capital, he also gives Aunt Liu, the housekeeper, a holiday. Aunt Liu hasn’t visited her family in a long time, so this winter break is a good chance for her to rest.
However, before leaving, Xie Qian hands the house keys to Wen Ying.
During the winter holiday, not only Wang Shuang returns, but Qin Jiao and others will gradually come back to Rongcheng too. Friends who haven’t seen each other in ages always want to gather, and having adults around would make it awkward. Xie Qian offers his home as the venue for everyone’s gatherings.
When not gathering, Wen Ying and Li Mengjiao can also go to Xie Qian’s house to study. It’s easy to slack off alone, but two people can supervise each other.
As for a temporary tutor, Xie Qian has already found one for them. Among his circle of friends, the person Xie Qian trusts most besides himself is Qin Jiao.
He hopes Qin Jiao hasn’t returned all her high school knowledge to the teachers.
“Everything is at home.”
The fridge is neatly stocked with things prepared by Aunt Liu, categorised by sections. Fruits and drinks are plentiful, and there are many semi-prepared items that just need a bit of processing to be edible.
For every food item, Aunt Liu has stuck a small note on the outside of the container with instructions. Even someone hopeless in the kitchen can follow her guidance and cook it properly.
There are even two sandwiches made by Aunt Liu in the fridge.
Though Xie Qian complains about Wang Shuang on the surface, he remembers that Wang Shuang loves Aunt Liu’s sandwiches.
Wen Ying’s heart pounds when she takes the keys. This isn’t just a set of keys; it’s clearly Xie Qian’s trust, and it also means Wen Ying has to shoulder responsibility.
“I’ll keep an eye on everyone and not let them go to the second floor.”
The second floor has Xie Qian and Zou Weijun’s bedrooms, filled with a lot of personal items. Wen Ying has to protect their privacy.
Xie Qian doesn’t mind. “Important things are locked in the safe. It’s fine if you go to the second floor.”
Even though Xie Qian doesn’t care, Wen Ying draws a line in her mind: not even she herself can casually go up to the second floor.
After Xie Qian leaves, Wen Ying specially goes over alone once.
Sure enough, Xie Qian hasn’t locked the second-floor room doors at all. Wen Ying not only locks the two bedroom doors but also locks Zou Weijun’s walk-in wardrobe. Zou Weijun doesn’t seem to care much about these things; when she returned to the capital, she only took a little luggage, leaving quite a few bags and accessories here in Rongcheng.
Other senior high girls might not be as perceptive as Wen Ying. With just a quick glance, Wen Ying can tell some of the bags are very expensive, and the jewellery is worth a fortune too.
These things seem unimportant in Xie Qian’s eyes. So what is locked in that safe?
It can only be the share transfer documents.
Compared to bags and jewellery, the shares in “Jinhu” are clearly worth far more. No matter how expensive a designer bag is, it’s just a dead object, while shares can generate a continuous flow of living money.
The Tianjiao shares that Wen Ying bought for ten million are about to pay dividends too. Yuan Fenghui has already notified Wen Ying that there will be a dividend distribution to Tianjiao shareholders before the end of the year.
Profits from TV drama production, money earned by the three artists for the company, sales from the “Starry River and You” album and ringtone revenue, and even the royalties settled by Rongcheng Publishing House to Tianjiao, all these profits will be distributed to the shareholders.
No wonder people always say accumulating the first pot of gold is the hardest, because it really is.
In her previous life, Wen Ying earned money with her brain and did it quite quickly, yet it wasn’t until she was 31 that she saved up over four million for the down payment on a flat in Shanghai.
In this life, Wen Ying also earns with her brain, then uses the money to invest. This is money making money.
After carefully locking the second-floor room doors for Xie Qian, as Wen Ying leaves his house, she is still thinking that it’s no wonder Lady Dai looked down on her in the previous life. She honestly earned money through professional skills, and saving over four million for a down payment by 31 was indeed impressive. But in Lady Dai’s eyes, four million might just be the He family’s annual living expenses. The He family has its own business, generating profits every year, plus early investments in property that appreciate annually. How could one person’s efforts catch up with others’ years of accumulation? With such a huge gap, it’s natural that Lady Dai felt uneasy.
Thinking all the way about Tianjiao’s upcoming dividends, Wen Ying returns home.
Chen Ru is not at home, but Wen Dongrong is.
Previously, after the plastic father-daughter relationship broke down, Wen Ying said she would no longer sponsor Old Wen’s private stash and would bypass him to directly fund poor students herself. Old Wen reacted strongly at the time.
Later, when the family stopped quarrelling, Wen Ying thought about giving Old Wen a way to save face and continue sponsoring his student aid efforts. Who knew Old Wen would suddenly become principled and refuse Wen Ying’s money.
Wen Dongrong tells Wen Ying to give the money directly to Deng Shangwei. Deng Shangwei has contact details for all the previously sponsored students, and Wen Dongrong is very firm: if he says he doesn’t want Wen Ying’s money, he really doesn’t.
Has Old Wen really given up on student aid?
No, he hasn’t.
Every time Deng Shangwei goes to the countryside, Old Wen still tags along as usual.
Wen Ying is puzzled, and Deng Shangwei secretly tells her that Old Wen seems to have found a new source of income.
What is Old Wen’s new income source?
Every day after work, Wen Dongrong shuts himself in the study tinkering. Wen Ying thinks Old Wen’s secret is hidden in his QQ chats.
In the study.
Wen Dongrong pretends to be calm as he opens his email inbox.
There are several new emails in the inbox.
Wen Dongrong clicks on one: it’s a rejection.
The second one is still a rejection.
The third… Seeing the opening words “Thank you for your submission,” Wen Dongrong’s eyes hurt.
There are two left. Wen Dongrong has no expectations, but unexpectedly, it’s an acceptance.
“…My manuscript got accepted?!”
