Lin Xingwan gazed into the dark distance, seeing nothing at first.
The lights along the road flickered on one by one, followed by all the lights in a villa in the pitch-black distance illuminating at once.
"This is..." Lin Xingwan looked at the detached sea-view villa before her, not understanding Zhou Jinbai's intention.
"This is the new location for Top Entertainment that I found for you." The man's tone was tinged with indulgence, and seeing her disbelieving joy made him feel quite pleased.
"Top Entertainment's new location? They're using a detached sea-view villa? Heavens! What kind of extravagant behavior is this?" Lin Xingwan's tone was utterly astonished.
She had never imagined that one day she would be able to use such a luxurious mansion as a company.
Just as Zhou Jinbai was about to say something, Lin Xingwan and Liu Mengqin, the two women, were already excitedly running towards the villa's entrance.
They touched here and looked there. Although the combined age of the two women was nearly sixty, time had never managed to strip away their girlish charm.
"This detached sea-view villa is worth hundreds of millions, not including the renovation... Look at that tree, I used to want to buy one for my home, but they asked for thirty thousand. There are more than ten here, and that set of stone tables and chairs also starts at a million. What kind of deity was the owner!"
"Yes, their one house is equivalent to our entire Lin family's assets." Lin Xingwan turned her gaze to Zhou Jinbai, "Jinbai, how did you find this place? The rent must be very expensive, right?"
Zhou Jinbai was stunned for a few seconds by Lin Xingwan's words.
The development and construction of Huanhai Road were largely funded by the Oriental Consortium, which also monopolized ninety percent of the shopping, dining, and entertainment facilities along the road. As for detached villas like this, they were also assets of the Oriental Consortium.
But his wife didn't know this!
"A rich second-generation friend of mine bought it. He had just finished the renovation and then went abroad, so this sea-view villa has been empty. He said the rent is fifty thousand a month."
"Only fifty thousand? That's so low?" Lin Xingwan had always thought that such a villa would cost at least hundreds of thousands in rent per month.
"Yes, he just hopes someone can manage the villa. He's not short of money anyway." To prevent Lin Xingwan from becoming more suspicious, Zhou Jinbai even resorted to a bit of provocation. "If you don't want it, someone else will move in."
As Zhou Jinbai explained, Bai Xiao and Lu Shiyan, who were following behind, could barely suppress their laughter.
Bai Xiao, in particular, leaned into Lu Shiyan's ear and whispered, "I always said that Sister Xingwan, being so well-behaved and honest, how could she fall for Jinbai, who is as cunning as a fox? Just as I expected, this guy is deceiving her."
"See? This is the downside of being in love. The man who once looked down on us is now so humble." Lu Shiyan raised an eyebrow, then raised his voice and said, "Jinbai, why don't you let your rich second-generation friend rent it to our hospital? Our hospital is planning to set up a high-end nursing home, and this place looks quite suitable, luxurious and classy!"
Bai Xiao also teased, "It's not impossible for the police station to move to such a beautiful place to work."
Zhou Jinbai cast a lingering look at Bai Xiao and Lu Shiyan, his tone carrying a heavy threat, "I recall your hospital needs to acquire some new medical equipment, right? And the police station has a fund to be allocated..."
The smug expressions on Bai Xiao and Lu Shiyan's faces immediately turned serious.
Lu Shiyan, in particular, immediately began to persuade Lin Xingwan, "Sister-in-law, Brother Zhou's rich second-generation friend is indeed someone who isn't short of money. If this house remains unoccupied for a long time, it's prone to aging. Such a good opportunity shouldn't be missed."
"Yes, don't miss out. Your company opening here, with beautiful scenery and fresh air, is so good. Sister-in-law, once this opportunity is gone, it's gone. Don't you even believe what Jinbai says?"
"No, I just..." Lin Xingwan felt the rent was too cheap. She was used to taking things one step at a time and didn't feel joy from something that seemed too good to be true; instead, she felt an unreal sense of unease.
"Xingwan, before the owner regrets it, let's quickly sign the contract," Liu Mengqin also urged.
Lin Xingwan looked at everyone persuading her and finally nodded, "Okay."
Thus, for the next few days, Lin Xingwan was busy with company matters.
By the time she could finally catch her breath, a week had passed.
She curled up on the sofa like a lazy cat, playing with her phone.
As the Oriental Consortium's open auditions gradually neared their end, the cast of "Immortal Journey" began to be widely discussed online.
Of course, the most vocal among them was Lin Shirou.
Any phone connected to the internet, when opening entertainment news, would surely have Lin Shirou among the top three.
She was being hyped by various media as the best candidate for the female lead, and videos of her dancing in ancient costumes were edited together.
Lin Shirou's popularity was so high that even first-tier actresses were avoiding her spotlight.
Lin Xingwan would occasionally click in to read the comments during her free time.
Unfortunately, nine out of ten comments were from paid trolls, and the remaining one was a骂 Lin Shirou.
【She danced "Li Ren Xing" so badly it looked like "Train to Busan." If "Immortal Journey" has this troublemaker Lin Shirou, I won't watch it.】
【Upstairs, you can criticize Lin Shirou's terrible acting, but you can't call other actors trash.】
【I'm really impressed by this old trickster. Hasn't anyone told her that she's actually quite ugly?】
...
Lin Xingwan looked at these genuine comments and sometimes admired Lin Shirou's resilience.
"What are you smiling about?" Zhou Jinbai sat beside Lin Xingwan after washing a bunch of grapes.
He naturally pulled the woman beside him into his arms and nuzzled her neck with his nose.
"I'm watching how Gu Shaoting is promoting Lin Shirou." Lin Xingwan casually clicked on a news report. "The netizens' complaints are too funny. Lin Shirou's innocent and pure image is worlds apart from the seductive and fierce aura of the female lead in 'Immortal Journey.' If the Oriental Consortium casts her as the female lead, it would truly be a blind act that damages their own reputation."
In the entertainment industry, those first-tier stars who knew their own limitations didn't even audition because the requirements for the female lead in "Immortal Journey" were too high. If they couldn't perform well, it would affect their reputation, so they remained still.
While the big fish remained inactive, the small fry were making a lot of noise, which was interesting.
"If I remember correctly, the Oriental Consortium will announce the cast lineup tomorrow morning, right?"
As Zhou Jinbai spoke, he lightly kissed Lin Xingwan's slender neck and, as if playing a prank, gently bit her earlobe.
Lin Xingwan dodged, but didn't leave his embrace.
"Yes, we'll know the audition results at midnight tonight, so I specifically finished all my tasks."
Lin Xingwan felt the man's hand venturing under the hem of her clothes, and the slightly calloused touch made her body tremble.
"So sensitive, hmm?" When Zhou Jinbai spoke to Lin Xingwan, his voice automatically changed from his usual tone.
Just hearing his voice was enough to make one fall in love, and on top of that, he was ruggedly handsome.
Lin Xingwan grabbed his hand. "I hate it when people touch me. It tickles."
She leaned her head against Zhou Jinbai's chest, her almond-shaped eyes curved like the crescent moon in the sky.
Just as Lin Xingwan finished speaking, Zhou Jinbai playfully pinched her waist, causing Lin Xingwan to let out a soft cry. The next moment, her other words were swallowed by the man.
The golden sunset shone in through the window, falling on the couple embracing on the sofa. A small section of the woman's fair and slender waist was exposed by the man's mischievous hand.
However, when Lin Xingwan felt the constriction on her chest suddenly loosen, she, immersed in the kiss, abruptly opened her eyes.
"Zhou Jinbai... you... mmm..."
Lin Xingwan couldn't utter a word. As the man's large palm covered her, her mind went blank.
Gently plucking and stroking, it was like being in heaven.
Lin Xingwan felt all her strength drain away, her body limp and unable to exert any force.
Suddenly, her phone, placed on the side, rang.
Lin Xingwan's rationality returned slightly. She pushed Zhou Jinbai away, and the man reluctantly handed her the phone.
It was Zhong Jingjing calling.
Lin Xingwan became even calmer, and even her hazy gaze began to clear.
She answered the call, "Grandma—"
On the other end, Zhong Jingjing's temper was explosive. "You still know you have a grandmother? Lin Xingwan, you are too heartless. Do you know what day it is today? Shirou and Shaoting have been busy since morning, but what about you? You're completely neglecting everything."
Facing Zhong Jingjing's scolding, Lin Xingwan couldn't understand what she had done to displease her.
Ever since she gave the Lin family twenty million last time, she had been busy with Top Entertainment's matters and hadn't even had a chance to provoke them.
Yet, the man beside her, as if venting his dissatisfaction, his hand, which fanned the flames, became even more unrestrained.