After a few more pleasantries, Wei Ling left Xia Qing Tian’s room.
Ever since Wei Ling left, Xia Qing Tian’s mood hadn’t improved, a shadow of melancholy clouding her expression.
Wen Ning didn’t quite know how to console Xia Qing Tian. This industry was like this; thousands of such incidents happened daily. It was numbing.
Accelerating her work, Wen Ning finished tidying up Xia Qing Tian’s belongings and then got up to leave.
“Sister Ning,” Xia Qing Tian called out, hesitantly asking, “I feel Teacher Wu is a really good person. His past films and TV shows were very popular, and he’s won many awards, but… but perhaps as you said, he’s just unlucky and lacks a bit of luck. The roles for the martial arts director and the male protagonist’s master in ‘Hua Yue Zui Xi Chun’ haven’t been finalized, you know. Could you possibly…”
“I know what you want to say,” Wen Ning said, looking at Xia Qing Tian. “But Gu Corporation Entertainment has always been very strict. This circle is very strict, and the elimination rate is extremely high. You can’t help everyone, and Gu Corporation Entertainment is responsible for so many employees and artists.”
Now, the era belonging to Wu Hailong had passed. He had been eliminated.
It was as simple as that.
Hearing Wen Ning’s words, Xia Qing Tian’s gaze dimmed. After a long pause, she sighed softly, “I’m sorry, Sister Ning. I was being willful.”
Wen Ning shook her head without saying anything. She knew in her heart that it wasn’t Xia Qing Tian being willful, but rather a basic display of her humanity.
And in this circle, everyone had seen too much of it, and that already meager humanity had gradually faded.
However, that same evening, while drying her hair after a bath, Wen Ning found herself recalling Xia Qing Tian’s expression with a sense of unease.
As if guided by an impulse, Wen Ning dialed Mr. Gu’s number, informing him about Wei Ling and Wu Hailong.
“Are you the one recommending him?” Mr. Gu asked, somewhat surprised to receive Wen Ning’s call.
In his impression, Wen Ning was not someone who meddled in others’ affairs, nor would she rashly make such a suggestion.
“No, it was Xia Qing Tian, but…” Wen Ning paused, unable to understand her own impulsiveness. After a brief hesitation, Wen Ning continued, “It’s okay if you don’t agree.”
“Xia Qing Tian brought it up?” Mr. Gu raised an eyebrow slightly, diverting his gaze from the screen in front of him.
“Yes,” Wen Ning replied.
“Then let’s give it a try,” Mr. Gu stated. “An E-class contract for two years to start. Additionally, for the roles of martial arts director and the male protagonist’s master in ‘Hua Yue Zui Xi Chun,’ let him give it a shot.”
“Understood, Mr. Gu.” Upon hearing Mr. Gu’s reply, Wen Ning’s eyes brightened, and she gained a new perspective on Xia Qing Tian’s influence with Mr. Gu.
After hanging up, Mr. Gu folded his arms and leaned back into the comfortable chair.
Originally, both the third female lead and the martial arts director for ‘Hua Yue Zui Xi Chun’ had been lacking something. Now, the third female lead was given to Xia Qing Tian, and the martial arts director was replaced by someone Xia Qing Tian recommended.
He was curious to see if Xia Qing Tian could bring him even greater surprises.
Just as he was thinking this, Mr. Gu’s phone on the desk chimed.
Initially intending to ignore it, upon seeing who had sent the message, Mr. Gu picked up his phone to take a look.
[Mobius! Are you resting~ I’ve finished filming my variety show and will be back tomorrow~ Want to grab a meal together? My treat!] Attached was a GIF of a little panda happily munching on bamboo.
A smile deepened at the corner of his lips, and Mr. Gu tapped the screen, [Sure.] Attached was an emoji of an anime character holding a giant spoon, with the accompanying text: Can I freeload at your place? Just a bite!
The two happily arranged to have dinner, and Xia Qing Tian put away her phone with satisfaction.
When it came to such valuable talent, it was important to maintain contact, making it easier to poach them later.
Although she felt sad about Wu Hailong and his wife’s situation, Xia Qing Tian also knew it wasn’t something she could decide.
After a period of regret, she didn’t expect Wen Ning to bring good news the next day.
“Can they sign?” Xia Qing Tian’s eyes lit up as she asked.
“Yes, but it’s only an E-class contract, for both of them. If the collaboration goes smoothly, it can be upgraded later,” Wen Ning replied.
“Then let’s go ask them,” Xia Qing Tian said excitedly.
“Then what are you waiting for?” Wen Ning asked, seeing Xia Qing Tian just pacing back and forth without any intention of leaving.
“Huh? I’m waiting for Sister Ning to go ask…” Xia Qing Tian said, blinking her eyes.
“You’re not going?” Wen Ning was a little surprised.
Having more friends meant more connections. Moreover, even though Wu Hailong wasn’t popular anymore, his network was still intact, and utilizing it well would bring many benefits later.
“I don’t understand contract matters, so it’s useless if I go,” Xia Qing Tian said with a dry laugh. “Besides, I haven’t finished packing my things, and the car is almost here…”
Wen Ning’s gaze swept past Xia Qing Tian’s shoulder into the bedroom, and she felt a surge of blood rush to her head.
Just one night! How had she managed it!
“Hehe…” Xia Qing Tian said with a sheepish grin, “I’ll finish packing very quickly.”
Suppressing the urge to scold her, Wen Ning huffed and turned to go to Wu Hailong and his wife.
When Wen Ning proposed that Gu Corporation Entertainment was interested in signing them as a couple and that their first collaboration might be with ‘Hua Yue Zui Xi Chun,’ both were stunned.
“Please consider it carefully. If it’s agreeable, let’s meet at Gu Corporation Entertainment the day after tomorrow,” Wen Ning said before walking out.
“Wait a moment.” Wei Ling called out to Wen Ning. “Why… I mean…”
She was somewhat confused. Even though the entertainment company they had cooperated with for so many years had decided not to renew their contract, why would Gu Corporation Entertainment extend an olive branch to them?
“It was Xia Qing Tian’s suggestion. We relayed it upstairs, and Mr. Gu felt it was worth a try,” Wen Ning said with a faint smile. “Although it’s only the most basic E-class contract, but… since it’s come to this point, what’s wrong with taking another gamble?”
Wen Ning didn’t need to say more; Wei Ling understood everything.
After Wen Ning left, Wu Hailong looked at his wife, “What do you think?”
He was always straightforward and relied on his wife for decisions, and he was happy with that.
“Husband, I think we owe Qing Tian a huge favor,” Wei Ling’s eyes glistened with tears. “Let’s give it another shot. We have nothing left to lose anyway.”
“Okay,” Wu Hailong nodded heavily at her words.
As long as it was Wei Ling’s decision, he would do it without hesitation.
It had always been like this between them.
Meanwhile, as Xia Qing Tian returned to her humble abode, she caught the rich aroma of cooking food and exclaimed with bright eyes, “Xiao Xiao, is that you! I missed you so much!”
At that moment, Xia Qing Yu, wearing an apron and with a dark expression, emerged from the kitchen, holding a half-chopped vegetable knife. “Say that again! Who do you miss so much?”
Xia Qing Tian: Wanted to shout, but dared not.