"If it were acting, would you like it?" Quan Jiu asked with a smile.
Ding Wei nodded vigorously, "I'd love it, I'd love to act in anything. Even supporting roles are fine, actually, many supporting roles are truly very moving, but they don't let me play them."
Bolin burst into laughter, "Everyone else is eager to play the male lead, and you're the oddball who's not happy to play the male lead."
"Oh, the script quality is so inconsistent these days. To be honest, the dramas I've acted in have had high traffic, but I'm not satisfied. I don't get to act with satisfaction."
Ding Wei clicked his tongue with a hint of disdain, then his eyes lit up as he looked at Quan Jiu, "Boss, do you have any scripts on hand? Can I try out? Actually, I'm your fan."
Quan Jiu smiled and shook her head, "Not at the moment."
Ding Wei's face instantly fell, and he stared at Han Zhao with a resentful look, his face clearly showing jealousy.
Han Zhao, finding it both amusing and exasperating, moved to sit beside Lu Lian, letting Lu Lian shield him.
Quan Jiu changed the subject, "But you should like the program 'The Actor'."
Ding Wei's eyes suddenly brightened, and he nodded repeatedly, "I like it, I like it. I watch every episode. If it's 'The Actor', then I'm willing to participate."
Bolin also understood and reminded Ding Wei, "You can't be invited to 'The Actor' without some real skill. I can't guarantee that unless your ability is solid."
Ding Wei said helplessly and wronged, "It's all thanks to Hei Li. He arranged such unstable roles for me, they couldn't showcase my exquisite acting at all."
"Alright, I'll contact them for you today." To let him be humble? He was overthinking it. Bolin shook his head.
Lu Lian hadn't said much, but now the topic should turn to him. He joked, "Then this would be considered my comeback plan, right?" After all, he had been out of the public eye for over a year.
"If you're making a comeback, it has to be a high-profile one," Quan Jiu said.
Bolin agreed, "Lu Lian, I've already thought about it. This month there's the Lake Fashion Show, the most globally watched fashion show. Lu Lian will be their invited guest."
Quan Jiu nodded with satisfaction. Besides his acting, Lu Lian's most talked-about attribute was his fashion sense. His perfect body proportions, broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, and swan neck were comparable to a model's physique. He was practically a darling of the fashion industry.
"If all goes smoothly, we might even sign him as a brand ambassador for Lake. They actually expressed interest in collaborating with Lu Lian when he debuted," Bolin added.
"I'll have public relations cooperate with you," Quan Jiu nodded in understanding. Just attending wasn't enough; there needed to be hype, promotion, and support. Every effort had to be made to make it a high-profile comeback.
They chatted for a while longer and prepared to leave.
As they were leaving, Han Zhao said to Quan Jiu, "Boss, Xiang Fei..."
Before he could finish, Quan Jiu interrupted him, "I know. Tell him not to worry. I've already made plans, but it will take a little longer. Tell him not to rush."
Han Zhao smiled and said thank you, then went out with Ding Wei.
After the two left, Bolin pulled Lu Lian to Quan Jiu and said, "Regarding Lu Lian's matter, I still have a concern. Duan Jinglun was determined to ruin Lu Lian's acting career back then. I'm afraid if he finds out Lu Lian is making a comeback, he'll put pressure on the company again."
Lu Lian's brow furrowed involuntarily. Although the contract termination was successful, he hadn't completely relaxed. After all, Duan Jinglun had almost made him quit acting. He was actually afraid that Duan Jinglun wouldn't give up.
Quan Jiu smiled reassuringly, "It's alright. We'll deal with things as they come. If he really wants to cause trouble, I won't just sit idly by."
Hearing this, Lu Lian's tightly furrowed brow immediately relaxed. The woman before him, though appearing delicate and beautiful like an orchid, upon closer inspection, was as unyielding as an iron tree. This must be what they meant by a blend of strength and gentleness.
A head poked in through the doorway, and a cheerful voice asked, "Are you guys done talking?"
"Done, done. Come in quickly." Bolin smiled and walked out with Lu Lian, while Xing Di and Liao Wei came in.
The conference room door closed again.
Xing Di plopped down on a chair, his eyes full of smiles, "Boss, you've become even more beautiful after a few days."
Quan Jiu had already figured out Xing Di's personality. He was genuine, cheerful, possessed a manly spirit, and had a boyish playfulness. He was the kind of person that girls would find very attractive.
"You've gotten handsomer too," Quan Jiu joked, then got down to business. "The script I'm currently working on has the male lead based on you. Although you've acted in a few critically acclaimed dramas before, they were too niche and didn't attract much attention, which is why you've been stuck in the eighteenth tier."
Xing Di covered his eyes with his hand, a mixture of laughter and exasperation on his face, "Boss, you're truly beautiful and kind-hearted."
Liao Wei chuckled inwardly. This little ancestor was actually being put on the spot and couldn't retort.
Quan Jiu also chuckled, "Your heart is bigger than the universe. Would you care about just being in the eighteenth tier?"
Xing Di lowered his hand and smiled, shaking his head, "I don't care."
"Even if you don't care, I can't stand to see good actors buried," Quan Jiu said. "This script will be a bit clever in its creation. The male lead's persona is the 'beautiful, strong, and miserable' type that the public loves the most. He's an assassin, cold, ruthless, and domineering. If acted well, it will definitely be a hit drama."
"However, it won't be easy to act well. So, for the time being, you should really ponder that essence and don't end up acting like a blank slate."
"Assassin." Xing Di's face lit up with interest. "That's interesting. Nowadays, everyone is preaching great love and righteousness for the world. Honestly, I'm getting tired of it. The character archetypes are too rigid, not vibrant."
"I'm glad you like it. There's nothing else for now," Quan Jiu said finally.
Xing Di and Liao Wei said their goodbyes and left.
Outside the conference room, Xing Di became even more excited, "How about that? Didn't I say it was right to come here and latch onto a powerful figure? Nine personally created the script, and I'm already the pre-selected male lead. Look at that, signing with a company means having a dedicated screenwriter. How fortunate."
On this point, Liao Wei had nothing to say. "Yes, yes, you have good judgment."
Quan Jiu glanced at the time during a break. It was already five o'clock, but the one-on-one meetings weren't over yet.
She sighed with a hint of helplessness. Being alone, she was always stretched thin. Fortunately, both children were smart and sensible, so she didn't have to worry too much.
[Mimi, tell your brother that Mommy can't pick you up today. Can you go home by yourselves? Mommy will be home around seven. There's food in the kitchen. If you're hungry, eat some fruit and bread to tide you over.]
Soon, Mimi replied: [Okay, Mommy. Don't worry about us. You also don't overwork yourself.]
Looking at her daughter's thoughtfulness, Quan Jiu felt a pang of sadness. Her children, who should be in an age of carefree joy, were already helping her share her burdens. If she could, she would rather her children not be so sensible; it was too heartbreaking.
While she was feeling melancholic, she suddenly received another text message notification.
Quan Jiu opened it and was a little stunned.
[I've picked up the children. You don't need to worry. Also, what would you like for dinner?]
Her heart felt as if it were being warmed by a stove, feeling very warm and secure.
Never before had Quan Jiu so strongly desired to have a complete family. If she had a complete family, perhaps such simple, ordinary, yet deeply heartwarming scenes would play out often.
After a moment of hesitation, she replied: [Thank you, Grandpa. I'll eat whatever you make, hehe~]