Chapter 46 Unexpected Misfortune
The assistant was busy with work, running around with the artist almost every day. Mo Ningzhi rarely returned to the studio and only met Qin Shenyue once on the day she joined the company. So, apart from personnel appointments and dismissals, Mo Ningzhi couldn't think of anything else that would make this shrewd and capable HR person personally go to the airport.
Upon entering the waiting room, Mo Ningzhi saw a beautiful woman sitting next to Zhan Linzhou. Seeing Zhan Linzhou, Mo Ningzhi instinctively felt guilty. He glanced at Qin Weijin and carefully created some distance between them.
"Ouch!" Xiao Guo suddenly stumbled as he entered the room.
Qin Weijin turned around and naturally grabbed Mo Ningzhi back, saying, "Why are you hiding so far away? You're blocking the way."
Xiao Guo quickly waved his hand: "It was my own carelessness."
Mo Ningzhi looked up and found Zhan Linzhou's eyes fixed on Qin Weijin's hand that was holding him. "..."
Perhaps feeling guilty because of the change in his relationship with Qin Weijin, Mo Ningzhi always felt that Zhan Linzhou's gaze was somewhat meaningful.
Fortunately, Qin Shenyue diverted the attention by saying, "Ning Zhi is here. She has something to discuss with you. Shall we go over there and talk?"
Mo Ningzhi withdrew her hand: "Okay."
Mo Ningzhi and Qin Shenyue changed places. Qin Weijin strode over to Zhan Linzhou and sat down next to him, taking off his sunglasses and relaxing his body.
Zhan Linzhou frowned slightly, his gaze lingering on Mo Ningzhi's back for a few seconds before turning to Qin Weijin. He noticed that Qin Weijin was also looking into the distance, and his heart skipped a beat.
After those photos were taken, Mo Ningzhi realized something was wrong. Zhan Linzhou had been in the entertainment industry longer than Qin Weijin and prided himself on his good eye for talent. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to sign several promising artists for his studio over the years. In his work, he had the foresight to turn crises into opportunities several times. In his personal life, he was meticulous and knew his artists inside and out. In the end, he became a well-known top agent in the industry.
It can be said that he grew up in the entertainment industry and can always quickly analyze the truth behind a covert operation from the smallest details.
Now, Zhan Linzhou seems to have seen Qin Weijin and Mo Ningzhi in that "dark warehouse".
He blinked slowly, turned his head and said, "After Vespera's photos came out, Mo Ning's popularity exploded. Qin Shenyue and I discussed it and decided to transfer him to a different position."
Qin Weijin realized, "Photographer?"
“Not entirely,” Zhan Linzhou said. “I talked to him about a job transfer, but he refused. He will still be an assistant. But I can’t ignore his abilities. There will be many opportunities for him to take photos. If I give him a double job, his salary and benefits will definitely be among the best in the industry.”
Qin Weijin had no objection: "Alright."
A job change means signing new supplementary clauses. The entertainment industry is picky about hiring, and confidentiality agreements are a primary concern, with many restrictions. Mo Ningzhi hasn't decided on his future yet. Once he makes a decision, Qin Weijin can privately sign a contract with him to lift the restrictions, so that it won't affect whether he leaves to go home or reopens his studio.
"Oh, right." Zhan Linzhou remembered something and said, "I've found a few places for the new house, and the security is all good. It's not convenient for you to stay at Mo Ningzhi's house. You're going on a business trip to the Northwest for a while, so I'll help you move."
Qin Weijin shook his head: "No need."
"Why?"
"I think living under someone else's roof is quite nice."
"..."
Zhan Linzhou stared at the smile on Qin Weijin's lips and thought to himself, "It's not just good, it's clearly something he's enjoying immensely."
Although Zhan Linzhou noticed something amiss, he didn't intervene. He had seen too many relationships end prematurely. There were many temptations in the industry, with opportunities and risks coexisting. Qin Weijin and Mo Ningzhi had only known each other for a few months, and it was too early for them to fall deeply in love. Perhaps the novelty would wear off after a while, and then he could transfer them away. There was no need to pour cold water on a hot pot, and he didn't necessarily have to be the one to break up the couple.
“Okay, we’ll do it your way. We can move later if we want.” Zhan Linzhou glanced at the flight information and stood up. “Then I’ll go first. I’m flying to Beicheng this afternoon. The girl we just signed with has a web series to film there. She’s been nervous for half a month and developed a high fever yesterday.”
Qin Weijin nodded, looked up, and saw Mo Ningzhi walking back with two contracts. He put down his phone and said, "The new contract is signed."
"Dr. Zhan told you?" Mo Ningzhi wasn't too surprised. When he was talking to Qin Shenyue, Zhan Linzhou had been sitting next to Qin Weijin. He put down the contract and smiled, "I think I got promoted."
Calling it a promotion isn't quite accurate; he's still an assistant, but he's now given the additional title of part-time dedicated photographer, responsible for some of Qin Weijin's important photography work, yet his salary has increased several dozen times.
Mo Ningzhi asked casually, "Is this your idea?"
"No." Qin Weijin waved the photos on his phone. "These photos of yours are so good that you're gradually gaining fame. Zhan Linzhou is afraid you'll leave, so he wants to keep you here first."
Mo Ningzhi's gaze followed Qin Weijin's movements for a moment, then settled on the screen that hadn't yet dimmed. She hesitated for a moment, then said, "Could we change it?"
Qin Weijin gave a soft, deep "Hmm?" and looked at the screen: "Isn't this one good?"
Mo Ningzhi lowered her voice and said frankly, "The others are better."
“But I like this one better,” Qin Weijin said. “I remember I was looking at you then, and we made eye contact, right?”
"..."
Mo Ningzhi immediately felt that this photo would probably become the biggest Waterloo of his career.
After resting in the lounge for a while, it was soon time to board the plane. But as soon as she stepped onto the plane, Mo Ningzhi saw Zhou Yaozheng.
This flight was four hours long, and Qin Weijin bought first-class tickets for all his assistants. It was not a coincidence that their flight clashed with Zhou Yaozheng's, and their seats were not far apart.
Zhou Yaozheng put down the magazine he was reading to pass the time and smiled. "Ning Zhi, what a coincidence, you're going to the Northwest too?"
Mo Ningzhi didn't speak, but glanced down at the boarding pass in her hand. The seat number was connected to Zhou Yaozheng's.
This can no longer be described as a coincidence. Mo Ningzhi felt like he had been hit with the worst luck. He pursed his lips, glanced at Qin Weijin's seat, and turned to discuss changing seats with Xiao Guo.
But perhaps it was because they bought their tickets at such a coincidence that their seat numbers were so close. Even after switching seats with Xiao Guo, Zhou Yaozheng was still very close to Mo Ningzhi, separated only by an aisle, and they could see each other just by turning their heads.
But this is already the minimum social distance that Morning can accept.
“If you don’t like this seat, we can change it,” said Qin Weijin, who was sitting on the other side of Mo Ningzhi.
"No need." Mo Ningzhi did not want Qin Weijin and Zhou Yaozheng to have any contact. Although they had temporarily put aside their grudges, Mo Ningzhi was still subconsciously on guard.
Zhou Yaozheng is too cunning and adept at using everyone and everything around him to achieve his goals. Mo Ningzhi doesn't want him to discover her relationship with Qin Weijin, so that it can become a bargaining chip for Zhou Yaozheng to threaten her in the future.
Seeing that he ignored him, Zhou Yaozheng didn't press the matter and went back to reading his geography magazine.
Xiao Guo leaned out from the back seat and handed a small bag to Mo Ningzhi. Inside were the equipment Qin Weijin would use on the plane: a U-shaped pillow, an eye mask, earplugs, and a water bottle.
Mo Ningzhi reached out and took it.
Qin Weijin also turned his head to look, took out a pillow and handed it to Mo Ningzhi, along with earplugs, "Want some?"
"No need." Mo Ningzhi used to fly frequently and had been exposed to all kinds of aircraft. He had good stress resistance and was used to it. He didn't really need these auxiliary items. "I didn't use these before either."
“It has nothing to do with habit.” Qin Weijin turned slightly to the side, gesturing for Mo Ningzhi to lower his head a little, and then wrapped the pillow around his neck. The U-shaped pillow was a standard size available on the market, but Mo Ningzhi was very thin, so it was a bit big on him, making his neck appear long and slender.
Qin Weijin's gaze lingered on the skin on the side of his neck for a moment, then casually looked away. "A brace can provide support for the head and prevent the cervical spine from being unsupported and strained. Sitting for four hours can easily lead to cervical spondylosis. Didn't you notice that Xiao Guo and Yu Yu are both wearing them?"
Mo Ningzhi hadn't noticed this. He moved his neck and felt that he was stuck, unable to lower his head. His voice became muffled as he said, "You gave me yours, so what will you use?"
Qin Weijin said calmly, "I have a spare one in my bag."
Mo Ningzhi stopped asking.
It's no longer a question to think too much about why Qin Weijin would bring spare items; Xiao Guo and Zhang Yuyu would bring their own, and the bodyguards had gone to the Northwest a day in advance, so these things must have been prepared for him.
Mo Ningzhi's heart softened, feeling exceptionally comforted. Her phone rang twice, and Mo Ningzhi picked it up. "Teacher Xu said she needs my help taking photos."
"Hmm?" Qin Weijin reacted for a moment, "Xu Mingtiao?"
Mo Ningzhi nodded, then realized she was stuck and changed her mind to speak, "She wants to shoot Western cowboy and exotic ethnic styles."
Too many requests to relay one by one, Mo Ningzhi turned her phone to Qin Weijin.
After Qin Weijin finished looking at the photos, he wasn't surprised at all about the photoshoot. He knew that Mo Ningzhi's photos were particularly attractive to girls, and it was perfectly normal for Xu Mingtiao to like them too. "But it seems you didn't bring your camera."
"I brought it."
"when?"
Mo Ningzhi said, "I packed it in my suitcase when I left home."
As a photographer, a camera is an essential tool when he goes out, and he also wants to take more photos of Qin Weijin in private.
Qin nodded to Jin.
Mo Ningzhi enjoyed chatting with Qin Weijin; it made him feel close to him. The plane took off quickly amidst their conversation. After the brief feeling of weightlessness subsided, Mo Ningzhi stretched his neck, straightened his headrest, and turned his head, only to unexpectedly meet Zhou Yaozheng's somewhat strange gaze.
Seeing him turn his head, Zhou Yaozheng smiled gently.
Mo Ningzhi didn't laugh back. Instead, she chatted with Qin Weijin for a while before falling into a deep sleep amidst the slight swaying, only waking up after landing.
After getting off the plane, they and Zhou Yaozheng exited the airport one after the other. It was already six o'clock in the afternoon, but it was still bright daylight in Wucheng. Mo Ningzhi found the hotel where the film crew was staying on her phone and turned on the navigation.
Before the car arranged by the studio arrived, Zhou Yaozheng walked up to Mo Ningzhi with his assistant. "Wei Jin, isn't the car here yet? Do you want me to give you a ride?"
Mo Ningzhi raised her head and narrowed her eyes slightly.
Qin Weijin looked somewhat surprised, as if he hadn't expected Zhou Yaozheng to speak to him. "Mr. Zhou, you're too kind. My car will be here soon, no need to trouble yourself."
Zhou Yaozheng smiled lightly and didn't insist: "Then forget it."
After saying that, he turned to Mo Ningzhi and said in a very affectionate manner, "Zhizhi, I'll be leaving now. I'll stay in Wucheng for a couple more days on this business trip. Call me if anything comes up."
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