Chapter 145 She Flies Higher and Higher, Goes Further and Further

The lights on the set were bright. Bai Lu was standing behind the monitor, her brows slightly furrowed, her eyes focused on the screen. She was wearing a simple black suit, with her long hair tied casually behind her head, which was completely different from her usual gentle image.

"Do it again." Her voice was calm and firm, without the slightest hesitation. "The heroine needs to be more restrained in her emotions. The conflict here is suppressed, not explosive."

The clapperboard sounded again, and the actors adjusted their state and got back into the performance.

Jiang Tingwan leaned back on a chair in the corner of the studio, watching the scene with great interest. This was a movie she had invested in, and Bai Lu was the director.

After the filming was over, she walked up to him and said with a smile, "Director Bai's work is really impressive."

Bai Lu turned around and saw that it was her. Her eyebrows softened instantly and she returned to her gentle and gentle look: "I can't let you lose money, can I?"

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Although Bai Lu is the eldest daughter of the Bai family, there is not much room for female directors in the film industry. Many investors prefer to choose "safe" male directors, or are only willing to invest in commercial blockbusters, and often take a wait-and-see attitude towards works like Bai Lu's that pursue artistic expression.

But Bai Lu was unwilling to use family funds - she didn't want the film to be labeled as a "rich girl's hobby".

So, when Jiang Tingwan's Tingyue Investment contacted her, Bai Lu accepted the support almost without hesitation.

"How is it? Is the filming going well?" Jiang Tingwan asked.

"Better than expected." Bai Lu breathed a sigh of relief, with satisfaction in her eyes. "Although there were some minor setbacks, the team was very professional and the actors were very dedicated."

Jiang Tingwan nodded, glanced at the busy staff on the set, and then returned to Bai Lu: "Just tell me what you need, Tingyue will fully support you."

Bai Lu looked at her and suddenly said seriously: "Ting Wan, thank you."

Jiang Tingwan raised her eyebrows: "Thank me for what?"

"Thank you for trusting a new director, and thank you..." She paused and smiled more deeply, "for giving us a chance."

Jiang Tingwan chuckled and patted her on the shoulder: "Don't be hypocritical, just shoot it well. A big box office success will be the best way to thank me."

Bai Lu also smiled, her eyes firm: "Definitely."

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President Tingyue’s office at noon.

"Did you miss me?" Zhou Luoyao pushed open Jiang Tingwan's office door and said with a smile, "Ou Ya has managed Hongcheng better than we expected. Lanqi's old customers have now become her fans."

Jiang Tingwan looked up from the computer, her lips slightly raised: "She has this ability."

Although Ou Ya once deliberately caused Lanqi's performance to decline, her business ability should not be underestimated. In addition, Tingyue's development environment in Hong Kong City has been booming, so she is naturally not surprised by this result.

This is also one of the reasons why she can develop in Kyoto with peace of mind.

"The flight tickets have been booked," Zhou Luoyao put the folder on the table, "The contact person in New York has been arranged for the flight next Monday."

That's right.

She specifically asked Zhou Luoyao to come from Gangcheng to help, not only because Ou Ya managed Tingyue in Gangcheng in an orderly manner, but also because after this period of development, Tingyue has been on the right track, and Jiang Tingwan wants Tingyue to move to a higher level.

Tomorrow, she wants to go abroad to learn management experience there. She will probably stay there for one or two months, so during this time, Tingyue will have to be left to Zhou Luoyao.

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At the same time, on the top floor of Jiang’s headquarters.

The assistant was reporting Jiang Tingwan's schedule: "Ms. Jiang will fly to New York next Wednesday and is expected to stay for a month."

Jiang Shixu's hand paused as he signed, leaving a small dot of ink on the document.

He closed the pen and looked out the window, where he could just see the logo of Tingyue Building, sparkling in the sun.

After the assistant reported Tingyue's movements, he added: "Master Xie and Master Lu have been going to the Huo family's old house frequently recently to drink tea with Mr. Huo."

Jiang Shixu stood in front of the panoramic window. The light was against him, so his facial expression could not be seen clearly. He used the pen in his hand to write a neat signature on the document: "Let them go."

His voice was calm without a single ripple, as if it was just an insignificant matter. Only the half second when the pen tip paused on the paper revealed a little of his emotions.

Xie Duo and Lu Zhaoye went to have tea with the old man. Of course he knew what they were thinking, but he had no reason to stop them.

After the assistant left, silence returned to the office.

Jiang Shixu loosened his tie and his eyes fell on the photo frame on the corner of the table - this was a photo of Jiang Tingwan cutting the ribbon at the opening of Tingyue Kyoto. She was wearing a smart white suit and had a bright and charming smile that came from the heart.

In his drawer were photos of her college graduation, as well as photos of her when Tingyue opened in Hong Kong City.

These are the testimonies of her step-by-step development.

She flew higher and higher, and went further and further away.

This was the situation he had created. He gave her the confidence to move around in the circle, gave her the most free space to grow, and even supported her to venture into Hong Kong alone...

But when the plane was really about to take off, the empty feeling in my chest came unexpectedly.

Jiang Shixu opened the drawer and took out a dusty file. Inside were photos of Jiang Tingwan when she was studying in the UK, including her silhouette staying up late in the library and the embarrassing moment when she fell while skiing. The dates of these photos were taken when he "happened" to be on a business trip to the UK.

This hopeless watch began very early.

Dusk is falling outside the window and the city lights are lighting up one after another.

She always said he was a workaholic, but if he didn't work, he couldn't be sure that he could control his emotions.

Whatever.

There are some boundaries he will never cross, but at least, he can silently protect her under the same sky.

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After landing in New York, Jiang Tingwan dealt with the relevant matters and left.

There was drizzling rain on the streets of New York in the evening. She was walking aimlessly with a black umbrella.

Before she knew it, she came to the old photo studio again.

Yellowed old photos are still displayed in the window, and wind chimes are swaying gently at the door, making crisp sounds.

She finally walked into the store.

The page in the album was the one she and Ruan Yue had seen together that year - the old photo of Su Qingzhou and Huo Yunshu. Thinking about it carefully, Ruan Yue's momentary hesitation at that time might not be because of Huo Yunshu, but because of Su Qingzhou.

But now all this is in the past, and there is no need to delve into the past.

Jiang Tingwan's gaze lingered on another photo for a long time: Ruan Yue was leaning on her shoulder, and the two of them were smiling brightly in front of the camera.

It was taken before they accompanied Lu Yiqiao to the concert. At that time, she had no idea what would happen next.

The wind chimes at the door rang.

"Talia, you're here."

The enthusiastic voice of the shop owner interrupted her thoughts.

This name sounded familiar. Jiang Tingwan looked up and saw a familiar figure standing at the door.

Jiang Wanzhou, or Talia, still looked cold and aloof, with her long black hair draped behind her, but her eyes were colder than before.

When he saw Jiang Tingwan, Jiang Wanzhou's eyes became deeper and his expression became much colder.

Their eyes met, and Jiang Wanzhou immediately looked away, as if he didn't want to pay attention to Jiang Tingwan's appearance.

"Let's talk." After thinking for a moment, Jiang Tingwan took the initiative to speak.

"I have nothing to talk to you about." Jiang Wanzhou raised his eyes and said coldly.

"You don't have to hate me all the time," Jiang Tingwan said calmly, "I went there to save you."

"I don't need your help. They won't hurt me at all." Jiang Wanzhou said with a frown.

Then her eyes fell on the photo in Jiang Tingwan's hand. After a moment of silence, she finally said, "Okay, let's talk about it."

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In the cafe, raindrops slid down the glass windows.

Jiang Wanzhou recounted how Su Qingzhou raised her and treated her like his own daughter.

"She was very good to me and there was no way she could hurt me." Her voice was very soft, but it was filled with deep hatred: "You ruined everything."

After hearing this, Jiang Tingwan was not too surprised. Someone who was once so close to Huo Yunshu couldn't have a bad heart, so it was normal for him to be nice to Jiang Wanzhou.

"It's not us who destroyed these things, it's her who can't let go." She stirred the coffee in the cup and said lightly: "Some things don't need to be divided into right and wrong."

"You're just here to speak for Huo Yunshu." Jiang Wanzhou looked over coldly.

"There's no question of whether to replace or not," Jiang Tingwan raised an eyebrow, "It's just a matter of fact."

"Do you think Huo Yunshu treats you well?" Jiang Wanzhou suddenly smiled, his eyes sharp, "The first time I saw you, I felt that your eyebrows and eyes were very similar to my mother's. Tell me, why did she adopt you?"

Jiang Tingwan's hand paused slightly.

She had always thought that Huo Yunshu adopted her because she was well-behaved and sensible when he saw her in the orphanage. Now it seems that it was because of her eyebrows and eyes that were similar to Su Qingzhou's?

However, what difference does the two make to her? These things do not cause any waves in her heart.

"Oh, that's why." Her tone remained calm.

Jiang Wanzhou narrowed her eyes, somewhat surprised. She was being treated like a substitute, yet she didn't care?

Jiang Wanzhou said coldly: "It seems that you don't have any feelings for the Jiang family."

"You don't have to show all your feelings," Jiang Tingwan looked up at her, "but you need to cherish them. You've already lost Su Qingzhou, but Huo Yunshu is still here, so there's no need for you to hate her."

In the past six months, she knew the reason why Huo Yunshu stayed in the United States - the lady who was always elegant and calm often went to the cemetery alone and stayed there for most of the day. Jiang Wanzhou would also go there, but when he saw Huo Yunshu, he would always turn around and leave.

Jiang Wanzhou was aware of the relationship between them, so even though he hated Huo Yunshu, he did not stop her from going to the cemetery.

Why should this stalemate continue?

"Their entanglement is over," Jiang Tingwan picked up the umbrella and stood up to leave, "You don't have to continue this hatred. That's all I have to say."

The rain is still falling.

Jiang Tingwan walked out of the coffee shop without looking back.

Some knots in the heart need to be untied by the parties themselves.

She had no intention of interfering too much in their affairs, but over the past year, whether it was Ruan Yue, Zhou Luoyao, or Ou Ya, they all gave a lot for her.

When it comes to things like love, it might be wrong to always have only one view.

Love and hate are always two sides of the same coin.

All she could do was give both sides a way out.

As for whether they can let it go, it ultimately depends on themselves.

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Jiang Wanzhou sat alone in the coffee shop, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the rim of the cup. She thought of Huo Yunshu's back standing in front of the tomb, so lonely and so fragile. If her mother were still alive, would she hope that they would reconcile?

They were supposed to be the closest people.

Before that day, Jiang Wanzhou didn't even know that Baron and Su Qingzhou had gangster businesses.

But overnight, everything changed.

Jiang Wanzhou clenched the pendant on her chest - it was the last gift Su Qingzhou left for her.

In the past six months, she had seen Huo Yunshu in the cemetery countless times. The woman always stood quietly in front of Su Qingzhou's tombstone, her back so thin that it seemed as if a gust of wind could blow her away.

Sometimes, Huo Yunshu would whisper something and then raise his hand to wipe the corners of his eyes.

Jiang Wanzhou watched from a distance and did not approach.

She also knew that Huo Yunshu lived next door to the villa where Su Qingzhou once lived, but she had never been inside.

Hate it?

Of course I hate it.

But it is more of an indescribable emotion.