Chapter 163: Retired Third Line

Fang Li was surprised: "The two dramas she participated in producing in the past two years were both hits, and she actually took a fancy to our script?!"

Zhou Yufan put his hands on his hips and said, "I just think it's good. It hasn't been finalized yet, so don't get too excited."

"I know!" Fang Li was a little excited as she held the manuscript. "The interest is also a kind of affirmation of us. To get the affirmation of Producer Xin means that our, no, your hard work during this period has not been in vain. How can I not be happy!"

Zhou Yufan chuckled helplessly: "Don't be so happy. Look, including the time spent on the road, you still have less than half an hour."

Fang Li: "Then why are you still reading? Let's go! I'll read the manuscript in the car!"

Just like that, Fang Li, who had just arrived at the studio and hadn't even sat down on a chair, set off again.

Yu Tian was still driving, a white Audi.

Zhou Yufan and Fang Li sat in the back seat. Fang Li read the manuscript while Zhou Yufan discussed with her from time to time.

Half an hour later, the car arrived at the agreed place and slowly stopped.

Yu Tian went to park the car, Fang Li and Zhou Yufan got out of the car one on the left and one on the right, and entered the revolving door in front.

"I heard that Producer Xin is very picky about her work. Our script is a bit rushed. Will she be satisfied?"

"We're already here, so why worry? We'll know everything once we get inside."

The place we met at was a newly opened Hong Kong-style tea restaurant. It was very large, a three-story, modern restaurant with a single floor area of ​​over 2,000 square meters.

As soon as the two of them entered, a young girl in fashionable and bright Hong Kong style clothes came to greet them.

Zhou Yufan: "Ms. Xin."

The waiter understood and immediately took the two of them upstairs.

Upstairs at that time.

"Aunt Lai, please give me some face. Remember not to be too harsh when you meet people later."

In the huge private room, a short-haired woman in her forties sat at the main seat. She glanced at the man beside her with a reproachful look and said, "You kid, I've told you so many times that you're the apple of my eye. How could Aunt Lai be embarrassed?"

"Aunt Lai, when did I say it was my heart..."

In the private room, before the man could finish his words, there was a gentle knock on the door.

Xin Qilai glanced at the man next to her.

The man immediately got up and went into the bathroom next door.

Xin Qilai shook her head speechlessly, then said lightly: "Come in."

As soon as the words fell, the wide gilded door was pushed open.

"Producer Xin?"

Zhou Yufan walked in first, extending his hand to the middle-aged woman who had stood up. "Hello, I'm Zhou Yufan, the editor-in-chief of Liyun Studio."

Xin Qilai is 49 years old this year. Her appearance is basically consistent with her age. She is not outstanding in looks and her clothes are very conventional. She really looks like a low-key behind-the-scenes worker.

She had a pair of very narrow and long phoenix eyes, which looked a little cold when she was not smiling. But when she smiled, her eyes narrowed into a slit, making her look a little more friendly.

"Are you Xiao Zhou?"

Xin Qilai shook hands with Zhou Yufan and smiled faintly, "I've heard for a while that Hangzhou Dianzi University has a top-tier screenwriter. He's one of the few Chinese talents making a name for himself in the international film and television industry. I've been wanting to meet him for a while now, and now that I've met him, I'm sure he's got a dignified demeanor."

"Boss Xin, you're really embarrassing me by saying that. I'm still a newbie in front of you, so please don't say that."

Xin Qilai laughed, "You're considered a newcomer, so how are those real newcomers supposed to deal with it? You, don't be so modest."

Zhou Yufan smiled self-deprecatingly. "I'm not being modest. You know there's a big difference between film and television production methods abroad and back home. Although I've spent a few years at Lionsgate, now that I'm back in China, I have to start all over again. And so, I found you right after my studio started operating."

"You little brat." Xin Qilai patted Zhou Yufan. "Alright, let's stop with the compliments. I don't have much time. Come on, take a seat and let's eat and talk."

"Mr. Xin, wait a moment." Zhou Yufan suddenly stepped aside, revealing Fang Li behind him. "There's someone else I need to introduce you to."

"Oh? Who is it?" Xin Qilai looked over with surprise.

Fang Li was wearing a goose yellow suit today. The material was soft and drapey. Although she was wearing a pair of khaki flat lambskin shoes, because of her height, she did not look sloppy at all. Instead, her figure looked slender and graceful.

Meeting Xin Qilai's gaze, Fang Li curled her lips and smiled slightly: "Hello, I'm Xu Fangli from Liyun Studio."

Xin Qilai's eyes had a more ambiguous look. "You're the retired third-tier celebrity who caused quite a stir online."

Retired from the circle and became a third-tier player.

Fang Li couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed. She moved her lips to say something but found that what others said was also correct.

In the end, he just smiled politely.

Zhou Yufan, unable to bear her embarrassment, intervened, saying, "Boss Xin, this is the founder of our Liyun Studio and my boss. I specially invited her here this time. You can see how sincere we are."

This was the first time Fang Li witnessed Zhou Yufan's popularity in the industry.

He said just two simple words, and Xin Qilai instantly understood the deep meaning behind them.

He smiled and immediately looked away from Fang Li.

"You haven't changed at all in all these years. Please sit down."

After arguing for a long time, they finally sat down.

Soon, the waiter started serving the dishes.

Xin Qilai took a sip of the tea at hand and looked sideways at Fang Li across from her: "I heard that Miss Xu is not from Beijing?"

Fang Li: "Yes, I'm from Haicheng."

Xin Qilai: "Then why did you choose to open a studio in Beijing?"

The man in the bathroom leaned against the door, quietly listening to the clear female voice coming from outside.

"Haicheng is so familiar." Fang Li thought for a moment and said, "It feels like home to me. No matter what I do, there's no challenge. The business environment in Beijing and Haicheng is very similar, but it's also a completely new place. I can only say that this is the most suitable place."

"Just suitable?"

Fang Li looked at Xin Qilai, her expression paused, and she curled her lips slightly before asking, "What answer does President Xin want to hear?"

Xin Qilai's smile froze for a second, then broke into another gentle laugh. "This is our first meeting, and Miss Xu might not know me very well. Before I look for a partner, I tend to try to understand their work philosophies first. If our philosophies don't align, I don't think our subsequent collaboration will be harmonious. Mr. Zhou, you should be familiar with my habits. Do you think what I'm saying makes sense?"

Fang Li: “…”

The smile on Zhou Yufan's lips faded slightly, he curled his lips and said nothing.

The atmosphere in the private room suddenly became cold again.

Fang Li took a sip of water and secretly glanced at Xin Qilai who was looking at her phone.

To be honest, she felt that Xin Qilai looked at her strangely from the moment they met today.

Not to mention the overt scrutiny, she inexplicably felt as if there was a hint of hostility in the secret scrutiny in his eyes.

"Mr. Xin, I think that compared to the work philosophy, what we value more in our industry is the quality of the book itself."