Jiang Nan Chen emerged from the conference room to find Quan Jiu packing up.
"Are you going to the dinner tonight?" he asked, stepping forward.
"No, I can't. It's just the two kids at home, and I'm worried about them," Quan Jiu smiled. "Since the script is finalized, I won't be coming in tomorrow. If there are any details or lines to revise later, you can contact me by phone."
Jiang Nan Chen felt a pang of disappointment, though he smiled. "You've already nitpicked every possible word."
"Then I'll be going now."
Quan Jiu slung her bag over her shoulder and found Wang Feifei to say goodbye.
Wang Feifei pulled Quan Jiu to a secluded corner and urged, "Why don't you show your face? It's good to meet people. Aren't you planning to open a talent agency? Xing Di doesn't have an agency yet. Since you think highly of him, why not take this opportunity to sign him? He's a member of the Xing family, after all."
Quan Jiu understood Wang Feifei's intention. To gain the ability to contend with the Chu family, her own network and influence had to be stronger.
Quan Jiu shook her head. "I'm not supporting him just to sign him. Although Xing Di appears to be rebellious, he's actually quite opinionated and has his own ideas. He hasn't signed with an agency in three years not because no one wanted him, but because he didn't want to."
Wang Feifei said regretfully, "It's still good to get acquainted. You've just returned to the country, you should be socializing more."
"Mimi and Tutu are waiting for me," Quan Jiu smiled. "You all have a good time tonight."
Wang Feifei could only relent and sighed, "You're doing everything alone, work and kids. You'll wear yourself out eventually. Take my advice, if you meet someone suitable, try to connect with them."
"Okay," Quan Jiu replied perfunctorily and bid farewell to Wang Feifei.
Xing Di's gaze followed the retreating figure until he didn't hear what Old Master Xing was saying on the phone. It wasn't until Old Master Xing shouted that he snapped back to attention, then said speechlessly,
"Grandpa, aren't you selling your grandson? Wouldn't it be better if you invested discreetly? Now the entire internet knows I'm a Xing family member. Even people with no connection are asking about me, and it's draining my phone battery."
Old Master Xing chuckled sheepishly. "I just didn't want them to look down on my grandson. How can someone like Xiao Qi compare to my grandson?"
Seeing that Quan Jiu had disappeared, Xing Di hastily said, "Grandpa, I have to go."
After hanging up, he chased after her.
As Quan Jiu was about to open her car door, she heard someone call out "Nine God" from behind. She turned to see Xing Di, looking somewhat surprised. "What is it?"
The moment Xing Di saw her face clearly, he was also taken aback, but he quickly regained his composure and approached Quan Jiu, joking, "Are you the elusive screenwriter Nine?"
Quan Jiu joked back, "I like to play mysterious."
"May I ask why you chose me?"
Quan Jiu smiled slightly and countered, "And do you think my choice of you is correct?"
Xing Di nodded unassumedly. "Very correct. I've always believed I was the most suitable candidate for this male lead."
"I think so too," Quan Jiu said with a smile. She got into her car and drove away.
Xing Di felt a slight stir in his heart. He watched Quan Jiu's car disappear before turning back.
Liao Wei was searching for people everywhere in the film crew's hall. Seeing Xing Di suddenly return from outside, he quickly went up to ask, "Little Ancestor, where did you disappear to?"
"I didn't expect her to be such a beauty," Xing Di said out of the blue.
Liao Wei didn't understand. "What?"
"I'm considering whether to sign with a talent agency, after all, I can latch onto a big leg." This way, he wouldn't have to worry about good scripts in the future.
Liao Wei only understood the first half. "You're signing with an agency? Why so suddenly? I need to choose carefully."
"No rush. The company hasn't opened yet."
"Hasn't opened yet?" Liao Wei chuckled, thinking he was talking nonsense again, and decided to pretend he hadn't heard.
...
Jiang Mengran returned to work after two weeks of recuperation at home. Having not seen Chu Rong for two weeks, she found an excuse to send her assistant Xiao Zhang away and went to the CEO's office alone.
"...Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find that person for me. Besides the film crew, Lijing Yuncheng also needs to be searched house by house."
Jiang Mengran heard Chu Rong's voice on the phone and instinctively hid.
"Also, keep a close eye on Guan Shi. Since she's back, Guan Shi will definitely look for her."
Look for her? Who was back?
Jiang Mengran froze for a moment, and a figure she hated to the bone immediately appeared in her mind. Besides that woman, who else would make Chu Rong search?
Could it be that the woman wasn't missing or dead, but had actually returned?
Jiang Mengran couldn't believe it, nor did she want to. After five years, she still hadn't gotten what she deserved. Why should that bitch come back?
With this thought, Jiang Mengran quickly exited the CEO's office, took leave citing indisposition, and hurried home. She then took out the old mobile phone from the drawer again.
"Hello, keep an eye on Chu Rong for me. I want to know all his whereabouts, who he met, and what he said," Jiang Mengran commanded.
The voice on the other end of the phone was still lazy and casual, with a tone of disdain. "Jiang Mengran, my tolerance for you is limited. Don't get carried away."
Jiang Mengran was not intimidated and instead sneered, "I have evidence of what happened back then. If we go down, we go down together. You figure it out."
The voice on the other end chuckled lightly. "Heh, go down together? You love worldly vanity and prosperity so much, are you willing to go down with me?"
Jiang Mengran gritted her teeth and said hatefully, "Anyway, I haven't gotten what I wanted, so what am I afraid of? On the other hand, you've worked hard to build your influence. You certainly wouldn't want to return to those days of being worse than pigs and dogs."
The voice on the other end pondered for a long time before replying with a hint of ruthlessness in its laziness, "This is your last warning. Don't push your luck."
"Then do my business properly," Jiang Mengran said fiercely, hanging up the phone.
...
After Quan Jiu picked up Mimi and Tutu and brought them home, the three of them had dinner. Quan Jiu then went into her study to work alone. As soon as she sat down, her phone rang.
Quan Jiu glanced at it and answered, "Hello, Xiao Cheng? What's up?"
Xiao Cheng chuckled. "Big Sister, Great God, are you really not planning to show your face? Many celebrities from all walks of life have come to this art exhibition. The organizers have repeatedly expressed their desire for you to give a speech. Most of those people are here for you. It's a bit unreasonable for the person involved not to show up."
"I haven't shown my face for years, so why is it unreasonable?" Quan Jiu said calmly.
Xiao Cheng continued to persuade, "But this time, it's a special invitation from your staunch loyal fan, 'Lin Zhong Ren'."
Lin Zhong Ren. Quan Jiu finally showed a hint of hesitation, not for any other reason, but because for every painting she created, that Lin Zhong Ren could discern the true meaning she intended to convey. Although she had never met Lin Zhong Ren, nor exchanged a single word, she considered Lin Zhong Ren her confidante who understood her.
This was the first invitation from Lin Zhong Ren. In the past, Lin Zhong Ren had always expressed her appreciation for Quan Jiu's paintings via email.
After much deliberation, Quan Jiu agreed to Xiao Cheng's request, thinking that a true confidante was hard to find.