51. Clear

"Mom, you're back!" Gu Sinan shouted as she rushed over to Ye Zhenzhen, who was pushing a suitcase.

Ye Zhenzhen was talking to Zhao Nanqiao when she heard the sound and looked over. She excitedly opened her arms and caught the little child who flew towards her like a cannonball.

"Oh, baby, I miss you too!"

Ye Zhenzhen ruffled his hair, then looked up to see Gu Tingshen walking over and taking the suitcase from her hands.

"Did you have fun?" The man naturally took her hand and walked towards the airport exit. "Didn't Nan Qiao come back with you?"

"It's quite fun," Ye Zhenzhen's hand trembled slightly, feeling as if it was being gripped even tighter.

The man's hand enveloped her completely, the warmth of his palm making her ears burn and her heart skip a beat.

Ye Zhenzhen subconsciously looked around. The airport was bustling with people, and no one seemed to notice them. She answered somewhat awkwardly, "Nan Qiao's work in Suzhou is not finished yet, so she didn't come back today."

"Mom, I got first place in the running event in PE class today!" Gu Sinan shared her good news as she walked.

"Really?! That's amazing! Long-distance running or sprinting?" Ye Zhenzhen's attention was diverted, and she focused on discussing fun things at school with the other children. "I was really good at running when I was little!"

Gu Sinan described his observations of the new school very clearly. He had a strong learning ability since he was a child, and he spoke very logically when he was 3 or 4 years old, always like a little adult.

But his cheerful and lively demeanor, waving his arms and legs like this, is completely different from before.

Gu Tingshen gently kneaded Ye Zhenzhen's slender and soft hand, and amidst their cheerful laughter, drove back to Mantingfang.

After taking a bath, Ye Zhenzhen lay in bed with the child and read Romance of the Three Kingdoms for a while until he fell into a deep sleep. Then she kissed his forehead and tiptoed out of the children's room.

Lying in bed, listening to the sound of water coming from the bathroom, she belatedly realized that she was nervous.

I want to fall asleep early so I don't have to face men.

But when she closed her eyes, all she could see were Gu Tingshen's handsome features, which seemed to grow ever larger. The more she thought about it, the more agitated she became, and the less she could sleep.

After tossing and turning for a long time, I suddenly heard a "click".

She froze instantly, closed her eyes, and pretended to be asleep.

Gu Tingshen dried his hair and walked out of the bathroom. He saw a little peach blossom lying in a straight line under the thin quilt, her hands clasped together on her abdomen, her sleeping posture so standard it was abnormal.

He found it amusing, but pretended not to know.

After getting into bed, I leaned against the headboard and looked at the picture of the peach blossom pretending to be asleep until I was satisfied. I noticed that her eyelashes were trembling more and more frequently, so I suddenly moved closer to her.

When you close your eyes, your other senses become more acute.

The rustling of fabric, the clinking of a phone on the bedside table; the sudden rush of cold air when the blanket was pulled back made her hair stand on end, followed by a long silence, with only the man's soft breathing remaining in the bedroom.

Just as she thought the man might have fallen asleep and was about to open her eyes, she suddenly felt him getting closer.

She unconsciously held her breath, her eyelashes trembling uncontrollably, unsure whether she was anticipating or avoiding the situation.

A soft breath lingered near her ear, and even a strand of hair brushed against her cheek, a subtle yet distinct tickle.

Then she heard a soft sound beside her, and something was placed on her bedside table.

She opened her eyes, still dazed, and saw the man just withdrawing his arm from her side, sitting up straight.

He had leaned over and placed her phone on the bedside table.

She breathed a sigh of relief, but for some reason felt a little frustrated.

The man saw her reaction, his eyes filled with smiles, and his sharp aura softened considerably. He chuckled and pulled her into his arms, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Ye Zhenzhen's wide eyes clearly reflected the man's handsome features.

In the shadow beneath the man's brow bone, a pair of dark eyes seemed to hold a deep, affectionate sea, almost drowning one in its depths.

Gu Tingshen pulled her into his arms, a possessive embrace. Looking at her wide, bright eyes, he smiled and lowered his head, making a gesture as if to kiss her.

Ye Zhenzhen blushed and turned her head away. Only when she heard the man's deep laughter did she realize that she had been amused.

She was both embarrassed and angry, and turned to punch the man's chest. "What are you doing?! Laughing at me again!"

This amount of force felt to Gu Tingshen like being lightly patted by a kitten's paw pads—not painful, but it tickled his heart.

His large, tanned hand covered her delicate, white hands, pressing them against his chest. He leaned closer to examine her flushed ears. "Why did you pull away?"

"I," Ye Zhenzhen bit her lip, looking directly into the man's eyes, "if I hadn't been the one who married you, would you have treated her the same way?"

Gu Tingshen's smile faded slightly, and he said solemnly, "My feelings are not so cheap."

But Ye Zhenzhen, like a stubborn child, insisted on getting a definite answer, "But why, we've only known each other for a few months..."

"I like you," the man's voice was husky as he gazed intently at the person in his arms, his eyes shining brightly. "I only like you."

Ye Zhenzhen's eyes widened suddenly, and color gradually returned to her face. She stammered, "I, I..."

She wanted to say that she had actually been planning to get a divorce, that forced marriages are never happy, and that she knew the man married her out of a sense of duty, and that she wouldn't be so presumptuous as to assume he was doing her a favor...

But he caught them off guard with a straight shot.

She wanted to say that it was too fast, that they had only known each other for a few months, and that it might just be a momentary impulse.

But those words stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single one.

In the end, he could only manage to utter one sentence: "Will you change your mind in the future? I can't accept my partner's infidelity."

"It seems we share the same views on choosing a partner," the man's voice, tinged with amusement and overflowing with affection, said. "Have you ever liked anyone?"

"No..." Ye Zhenzhen murmured, her gaze captivated by the man.

"It seems this is our first time dating." Gu Tingshen's smile deepened as he pulled her into his arms.

The warm scent of flowers and fruits wafts to the nose, mingling with the aroma of cedar, creating a tender and lingering fragrance within this small space.

"I'm so glad I made that choice back then, that I didn't miss out on you. It gave us a lifetime to get to know each other and love each other."

The deep male voice and the ancient drum resonated in her ears, creating a deafening echo in her heart.

--

When she was woken up by the alarm clock, Ye Zhenzhen sat up and stared blankly for a long time, unable to remember how she had fallen asleep the night before.

She could only vaguely recall the man's presence enveloping her, his deep voice murmuring something.

"What's wrong?" A man in sportswear leaned against the door frame, one hand casually in his pocket, watching with amusement as the person on the bed rubbed their head.

Ye Zhenzhen paused, pretending to tidy her messy hair. Seeing the teasing smile on Gu Tingshen's face, she gave up and lowered her hand, clearing her throat. "It's nothing, you're going to exercise?"

"Okay, I'll go right away." Gu Tingshen said, walking to the bedside, naturally lowering his head to kiss her cheek. "Get up, we'll go to the company together later."

After saying that, she turned around and went downstairs. Her sportswear accentuated her broad shoulders and narrow waist as she walked.

Ye Zhenzhen was left standing there, dazed, touching her flushed face.

--

After reporting on her recent work and the agenda for the upcoming meeting, Song Chengcheng stood still, waiting for her boss's instructions.

Ye Zhenzhen stared at the document in her hand, remaining silent for a long time.

He was clearly distracted.

She waited a while longer, then raised her voice, "Mr. Ye, we're going to Country Y to film 'Let's Travel Together' the day after tomorrow. Would you like an assistant to accompany us?"

"Ah? Oh, no need, I'll have Zhao Lu and the others go with them."

"According to Director Jiang, this trip was at the invitation of the Swire family, and there will be an ancient-themed banquet, ball, and other activities."

"Hmm? What kind of dance will we be doing? A waltz?"

"They only said that the filming would take place in an old castle, but the specific schedule has not yet been determined."

Ye Zhenzhen seemed to be deep in thought. Wasn't the Swire family the same family as Ye Qinglan and Anna? She had never heard them mention it before.

She attended some dances while studying abroad, and she knows how to waltz.

I wonder how Gu Tingshen is doing.

However, I heard that he entered Eton College when he was a teenager, so these social dances must be no problem for him.

Suddenly, an image flashed in my mind: him dressed in a tuxedo, inviting me to dance...

Ye Zhenzhen slumped into the back of the chair behind her, covering her face and spitting out her own shame.

The land of gentle pleasures is indeed a graveyard for heroes.

She was incredibly focused when she was working before, but today she just couldn't concentrate on the script. This won't do!

Cheer up, Ye Zhenzhen!!

Even if I want to date Gu Tingshen, I can't neglect my career!!!

--

Li Yu is a newcomer to directing, having studied law at a prestigious 985 university. However, driven by her passion for film, she entered the film and television industry after graduation. Initially, she helped out on film sets, but later independently directed music videos, commercials, and short films, gradually building her own team.

He currently has a script that, in his opinion, has great market value, but he has been unable to attract investment.

After hearing about the "Tree Benefit Project," he signed up with great anticipation and successfully passed the preliminary selection. During the interview, he showed all his sincerity, laying out his thoughts and ideas, and then began a long and anxious wait.

As he left another drinking party disappointed, his stomach full of cold liquor, he and his friend supported each other as they waited for a car by the roadside, when he suddenly received a call from an unknown number.

"Hello, is this Director Li Yu?" A somewhat cool female voice sounded in his ear. "This is Taoyao Film and Television. Your script, which you submitted for the Tree Harmony Project, has been reviewed. Please go to the 8th floor of Fengming Building at 10:00 AM tomorrow to sign the contract..."

"What's wrong? Who called? Hiccup..." His friend and business partner, Hua Sheng, hiccuped, wondering why he had suddenly stopped moving.

“It’s Tao Yao…” Li Yu’s voice was ethereal, as if she were sleepwalking, “saying that our film has been approved.”

"It's approved? It's approved?!?!" Hua Sheng's voice suddenly rose, gripping his shoulders and shaking him in disbelief. "Really?! They agreed to invest?!"

"Really!! We'll sign the contract before 10 a.m. tomorrow!" Li Yu felt like throwing up from his shaking, but finally came to her senses.

The two embraced on the side of the road, laughing and crying, ignoring the surprised looks of passersby, and venting their intense emotions.

A year has passed, and this day has finally come!! All the suffering before has vanished!!

When Li Yu and Hua Sheng walked out of Fengming Building, they sat in their secondhand Jetta and felt that the seats were so soft and unreal.

Six million in investment, just like that?!

"Did you read the contract just now? Were there any traps?" Hua Sheng pushed up his glasses and asked cautiously, somewhat nervously.

"No! It's exceptionally clean, with absolutely no traps. And the profit sharing in the later stages is very generous!" Li Yu was also incredulous.

He studied law as an undergraduate, and due to financial constraints over the years, he has personally reviewed all contracts. He can confidently guarantee that there are absolutely no problems with these contracts.

The issues they had previously worried about, such as the distribution of profits and ownership of copyrights, were all unfounded.

Ms. Ye is serious!! She's really paying! And she really won't interfere with the filming!!

What kind of angel investor is this?!

When the two returned to the studio, they were surrounded by a group of people who started asking them all sorts of questions.

"Director Li, is it really settled?"

"How much investment?! Eight million?!"

"Wow, Tao Yao is so kind-hearted? I hope she won't interfere with our filming later, like stuffing extra people in or changing the script."

It's no wonder everyone is hesitant; we've been terrified of all sorts of unexpected problems since entering this industry.

"No, everyone, don't worry. Actors from the Peach Blossom faction who want to participate will also audition. The final decision is in our hands," Hua Sheng quickly assured him, as he had specifically discussed this beforehand.

"Wow, Mr. Ye is really efficient!"

“However, President Ye has one requirement,” Li Yu said, and everyone looked at him nervously, “It’s about quality! If it’s good, Taoyao can even increase its investment, but if it’s bad, the investment will be reduced accordingly.”

"Our professional skills are beyond question!" the chubby member of the photography team patted his chest. "We've polished the script for over a year, and we haven't had any amateurs giving us bad advice. We're going all out to make this a huge hit!!"

The announcement of the first three films to receive investment immediately caused a sensation in the film and television rights industry—that's real money!

Although the big-name directors didn't care about the millions of dollars in investment, the aspiring directors who were begging for money everywhere were extremely envious when they heard about it.

Countless aspiring directors watched the three lucky winners with gritted teeth.

Li Yu, Wang Cheng, and Cheng Linlin are all unknown talents. Let's see what kind of films you can produce!