Chapter 54
The next day, Lin Ting resolutely took her resignation letter and went to Zhang Ying's office.
Just then, Yao Yanyan came out of the room with a picture book. She glared at Lin Ting fiercely.
As expected, she took my words to heart and actually created a design proposal, intending to offer it to others.
It seems there are many people lining up to take this job. Indeed, if successful, it would be a significant achievement on one's resume and a crucial step in establishing a name for oneself in the fashion world.
Lin Ting breathed a sigh of relief. She knew it was a bit unfair to resign now, but facing Chen Zhiyi again made her feel even more suffocated.
When Zhang Ying saw the resignation letter Lin Ting handed over, she was neither surprised nor confused, as if she had expected it. She simply took a contract out of her drawer, placed it in front of Lin Ting, and said lightly.
"Turn to the last page and look at the last item in the attachment."
Lin Ting did as she said, flipped to that spot, and her expression immediately changed drastically.
The contract clearly states that if Party A changes the designer without Party B's consent, it constitutes a breach of contract, and Party B has the right to terminate the contract and claim compensation, which is twice the endorsement fee.
Now Lin Ting completely understood that this was a trap set by Chen Zhiyi, a trap she had fallen into from the moment the two reunited on set.
The purpose of this scheme is to make it impossible for him to escape, forcing him to confront him.
Being chosen by him for the anniversary celebration was not a matter of good luck at all, but rather a carefully planned scheme. He wanted to use the excuse that the two of them were destined to be together to have her design his clothes, thereby putting pressure on him under the guise of collaboration and demanding that he see her every day.
"Isn't this an unfair treaty?" Lin Ting asked, trembling.
"Regardless of whether it's a tyrant or not, since both parties have signed the written agreement, it has legal effect. If you withdraw now, the company will not only face huge compensation, but also all the materials that Chen Zhiyi endorsed that were prepared before will be invalidated. You also know very well how well the company is doing this year. If you do that, you will definitely be in a dead end."
“I won’t stop you if you’re determined to leave. After all, you’ve been with the company for five years, and we’ve all seen your hard work. So we won’t blame you this time. But we’ll follow the normal resignation process. You’ll have a one-month handover period, during which you can look for another job. I’ll also arrange for someone to take over your work. As for Chen Zhiyi, we’ll figure something out. If he agrees to change designers, great! If not, we’ll handle it accordingly. We’ll deal with whatever comes our way.” Zhang Ying knew Lin Ting’s personality well, and this tactic of retreating to advance might be the best approach.
Lin Ting didn't speak. She understood the underlying meaning of Zhang Ying's words: she was trying to appeal to people's emotions.
Back when she was struggling to find a job, it was M Group that gave her this opportunity, and it was an exception, because she didn't meet the requirements at the time.
Her hard work over the past five years has paid off. Her monthly salary and bonuses are more than enough to support her and her mother. In other clothing groups, a design assistant would not earn the same salary.
If I leave now, not only will I cause the company to suffer injustice, but I will also be filled with remorse.
She is not a heartless person. From childhood to adulthood, she has always been the kind of person who repays others many times over when they are kind to her.
Zhang Ying understood this point, which is why she used this tactic. Seeing Lin Ting's emotion, she continued, "Your strong work ability and high design talent are your advantages, but you also have a very obvious disadvantage, and this disadvantage is fatal. You know it yourself, because many clothing brand companies can't even meet the entry requirements because of this disadvantage. But if you can stay in M Group, your future and financial prospects are transparently laid out in front of you. Why give it up for a man?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Ting stared blankly at Zhang Ying, her face filled with terror.
Zhang Ying sighed, her tone calm. "I told you last time, I was there for that final, from beginning to end. I searched for a long time these past few days before I found any reports about that final and this photo." She turned the notebook on the table toward Lin Ting. On the webpage was a photo of her and Chen Zhiyi standing on stage, looking at each other.
"Although Chen Zhiyi was wearing a mask and his face wasn't visible at the time, you can recognize him just by looking at his current photos. I was also investigated, and it was found that you were studying at Tianjin University five years ago, and Chen Zhiyi is from Tianjin. I believe there aren't that many coincidences in this world. I was wondering why he chose you, and it seemed like he guessed you would do this when signing the contract, which is why he specifically added this special agreement. But this investigation made it clear. Many university students work part-time as tutors to earn a living, and I believe you did too, which is why you two met. Spending so much time together, in the prime of your youth, it's only natural for feelings to develop. However, this relationship not only didn't receive blessings but also became a stain that others used against you. This was also a major reason why you chose to extend your studies. I can't find any other reason why you would give up the university you studied hard for twelve years to get into and the degree certificate that you should have easily obtained after four years of hard work."
"Five years ago you did something foolish for a man, are you going to do it again five years later?"
“Running away isn’t the solution. A strong woman should be able to face a terrible marriage with composure, let alone just youthful infatuation. Be more open-minded, broaden your horizons, and be an independent and clear-headed woman. She shouldn’t let love hold her back and cause her to give up great career opportunities.” Zhang Ying walked over to Lin Ting and patted her on the shoulder.
This isn't toxic positivity, but rather a piece of advice based on experience. Zhang Ying's current status as a capable and independent woman is a result of her struggles during her failed marriage. Personal independence, inner strength, and emotional stability are all powerful tools for self-protection in difficult situations.
For Lin Ting, it wasn't a terrible marriage or a predicament in their relationship; it was simply that two lovers had wandered around in circles and ended up entangled again.
"I can tell that Chen Zhiyi still has feelings for you, and so do you. Since neither of you has been able to forget the other, perhaps this reunion is an opportunity?"
"Don't resist what I'm saying. Those involved are often blinded, while bystanders see things clearly. Perhaps this is the true voice of your heart." Zhang Ying returned the resignation letter to Lin Ting. "I won't accept the letter for now. Think it over carefully. Who wants to turn down money?"
Lin Ting retrieved her resignation letter and sat down at her workstation.
Not long after she sat down, an unfamiliar number called. Lin Ting hesitated for a moment but answered anyway.
"Hello, who are you?"
A clear voice came through the microphone, "Hello! I'm Zhang Ke, Chen Zhiyi's assistant. We met yesterday."
Lin Ting realized what was happening and exclaimed, "Oh, hello!"
"Here's the thing, Mr. Chen asked me to let you know that once you've revised the design draft, please come to the studio to find him. He'll be filming here for the next few days, and he has a lot of scenes to film back-to-back. He was worried that you might come to the apartment and find it empty, so he wanted to let you know in advance."
"Okay, thank you!"
"You're welcome."
Two days later, Lin Ting arrived at the photography studio with the new design drafts. It was a film and television base located in the suburbs of Shanghai, in a very remote location, requiring several bus transfers to get there.
Lin Ting had initially thought that this film and television base would be too remote to attract many visitors, but as soon as she got off the bus, she saw layers upon layers of fans crowding at the base's entrance, all craning their necks to look inside, hoping to catch a glimpse of their idols.
It turns out that non-staff members are not allowed to enter.
While still wondering how to get in, Lin Ting received a message from Zhang Ke, telling him to go around to the side gate, where she would be waiting for him.
The two met soon after.
Chen Zhiyi's filming location was Building No. 5, a lonely and somewhat dilapidated cement building without any tiles on the outside, which had a ghostly feel to it and was quite suitable for shooting a horror movie.
After Zhang Ke brought Lin Ting to the filming location, he found her a chair and asked her to wait there for a while. Chen Zhiyi was rehearsing with the director behind the curtain, so he couldn't be seen for the time being.
The first thing she noticed was the huge green screen hanging on the wall, which she knew was for creating special effects later. Several large light shields were used to lay out lights on the camera tracks, and multiple cameras were neatly arranged near the tracks, like focused watchmen, ready to capture every wonderful moment.
Dozens of on-site staff were also busy shuttling around every corner of the set. Some were busy setting up props, some were in charge of lighting, and some were adjusting the height of the camera, all preparing for the shoot.
Judging from the setting, with its various broken and aging pipes and equipment, as well as scattered leaves and garbage, it is clearly an abandoned factory.
Lin Ting glanced at the movie title on the clapperboard next to her, "Live Peeling." She remembered the original novel; she had read it before—a suspense thriller. It told the story of a girl who died mysteriously ten years prior, and her boyfriend's revenge ten years later. The story uncovered how the girl was bullied at school and involved in a power-for-sex deal, ultimately leading to her being framed and killed. The story employed an interwoven narrative style, focusing on how the boyfriend, ten years later, meticulously unraveled the mystery to find the murderers behind the events of that year and eliminate them one by one.
The whole story has a depressing and ruthless atmosphere. Just like the name suggests, it's a dog-eat-dog world where if you don't fight back and become stronger, you'll be devoured alive.
This is Chen Zhiyi's preferred film and television style, with little focus on romance and more on exploring human nature.
Looking back at the types of films he has made, apart from his debut film which was a pure love movie, all his other works are completely devoid of romance.
The upright, sunny, and highly intelligent young detective in "Detective Guangzhou";
The sniper in the evacuation commando team in "Operation Black Sea";
"God's Gift" tells the story of Risven, a despicable serial killer who has committed numerous murders.
And the despicable overseas fraud ring leader in "The Italian Job";
...
The character is both righteous and evil, full of tension. It is said that women don't love men who aren't bad. It seems that his villainous roles are more popular. He has a gentle and handsome face, the kind of white moonlight in girls' hearts, but he is ruthless and does all kinds of bad things, which is indeed very contrasting.
While other male actors are vying for attention in the realm of romance, such as "national first love," "stealing someone else's partner," and "stealing another's wife," he has already left everyone else far behind in the "monk" category, delivering a profound and insightful portrayal of human nature with skillful and spirited acting.
He deserves the Best Actor award for his youth.
Lin Ting couldn't help but recall five years ago when she first met him. He was just a kid who wanted to become an actor but had nowhere to put his efforts into it. Now, his dream has come true, and he is a talented actor praised by audiences.
He chose the right path and persisted in it. Thinking about it this way, her painful departure back then was worthwhile.
At this moment, Chen Zhiyi and the director came out from behind the scenes. Their hair was wet, their faces had many small bloodstains, and there was a red and swollen mark on the corner of their mouths from a punch. They were wearing only a white shirt with the collar open, and there was blood on both the front and back.
His makeup was so skillful that it gave him a strong and captivating sense of brokenness.
Lin Ting stepped forward, and just as he took a step, a girl rushed out from the side and immediately hugged Chen Zhiyi's right arm, rubbing her face against his arm affectionately.
It's clear that she really likes Chen Zhiyi, and the two have a close relationship.
Lin Ting overheard the whispers of the staff members nearby.
"Who is this girl? She's so blatantly throwing herself at Chen Zhiyi, isn't she afraid of being photographed by paparazzi?"
"You're new here, right? She's the daughter of the CEO of Jiali Media. Forget about paying her, as long as you get close to her, you'll be a resource star, and you can pick any A-list movie you want. Jiali Media is the top film production company in the industry, and our movie is produced by Jiali."
"I was wondering how Chen Zhiyi, who is so young and inexperienced, could have so many film and television resources. It turns out he got the key person on his side."
"You're wrong about that. It's not that he won her over, it's that she wanted to win him over. She kept a close eye on him and often came to visit the set. Whenever she saw Mr. Chen getting close to any actress, she would interfere."
"However, the two are quite well-matched in appearance, a handsome man and a beautiful woman. I estimate that Chen Zhiyi will win awards left and right and become incredibly famous."
"So, for men, having a wealthy and well-connected female companion is a huge help to their careers."
"That also depends on looks. With Chen Zhiyi's face, countless rich and noble women would flock to him to take advantage of them."
"That's true, perhaps this young lady, Carrie, is just one of them."
Hearing these words, Lin Ting felt a pang of sadness. She recalled Zhang Ying's words, "Perhaps it's an opportunity," which turned out to be a huge joke, a joke only she was laughing at.
The moment the girl turned her head, Lin Ting saw her clearly: thick, long hair like seaweed, slightly curled, bright eyes, and fair skin. When she looked at Chen Zhiyi, her eyes were filled with undisguised admiration and love.
Yes, the two are a perfect match; their family backgrounds and appearances are compatible.
This is the kind of girl who can stand openly beside him and receive everyone's blessings.
She lost the courage to go forward and sat back down in the chair.
The two were a bit far from Lin Ting, and it was unclear what they said, but then the girl walked away with a pout and a sullen face.
When he walked up to Lin Ting, he stopped and looked her up and down with a strange expression.
The two women's eyes met for a fleeting moment, and Lin Ting felt a chill run down her spine under her gaze. Her eyes were filled with a strong sense of vigilance, like a sharp sword. Although it was not yet drawn, its sharp edge could already be felt. She quickly turned away.
Did the girl recognize him? Or was this a woman's intuition, her ability to sense a threatening presence around her?
Lin Ting didn't want to cause trouble, so she turned her back completely.
If you can't afford to offend her, you can at least avoid her, but it seems she was overthinking things, as the girl only stayed for a few seconds before leaving.
Lin Ting let out a long sigh. When he was young, he was not afraid of any doubts or provocations. On the contrary, as he got older, he had more and more things on his mind, and he became less and less confident, and he became hesitant and timid in his actions.
My life is getting worse and worse.
Lin Ting gave a wry smile.
Now that Chen Zhiyi was alone, sitting in a chair flipping through the script, Lin Ting walked over.
As soon as he walked up to Chen Zhiyi, without even looking up, he heard him say, "Finally willing to come forward?"
Lin Ting: "?"
Actually, he saw Lin Ting when he came out from behind the scenes. It seemed that as soon as she appeared, everything around her automatically blurred with an infinite radius, and the only focal point was the figure of the person at the very center.
This was true five years ago, and it will be true five years from now.
He hadn't expected that Jie'er would appear at this moment and stick close to him. He wasn't guilty. From beginning to end, he was very clear that he only regarded Jie'er as a younger sister.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lin Ting in the corner, her head lowered, seemingly lost in thought, her expression growing increasingly cold and beautiful.
But it must be a misunderstanding.
So he immediately broke free from Jie'er's embrace and scolded her to leave, citing the reason that it was delaying his work.
Sure enough, she came over after Jie'er left.
How afraid he was of others seeing the difference in their relationship, how shameful it was that his open, passionate love was.
I'm so angry with her.
Lin Ting handed over the design draft, her voice very soft, "This is a redesigned version of mine."
Chen Zhiyi not only didn't answer, but also said something completely unrelated.
"Her name is Jie'er. We met in college. We were junior classmates in the same acting department. That's all we have. Don't listen to what others are saying."
"Oh!" It wasn't unrelated; he was explaining their relationship to her, his tone so frank it was as if he were introducing someone completely unrelated to him.
But what does this have to do with Lin Ting?
"You don't have to explain to me."
With a "snap," Chen Zhiyi closed the script, looked up and stared directly at Lin Ting. "Yes, there's no need to explain, because you know best who I have in my heart."
Lin Ting looked around, but fortunately everyone was busy with their own things and no one paid attention to the two of them or heard their conversation.
What a dangerous statement! How could he say it so casually? Wasn't he afraid that someone with ulterior motives would overhear it and cause a huge uproar?
Having been in the entertainment industry for so long, don't you know how much a relationship can damage your career?
The disillusionment of fans with their idols is fatal; without attention and traffic, a career stagnates.
After looking around, Lin Ting stared intently at him with her brows furrowed.
But Chen Zhiyi remained calm and unconcerned. "You don't need to look at me like that. I'm never afraid of being overheard, nor do I hide our relationship. These are not problems for me. The biggest problem between us is you."
Your timidity, cowardice, distrust, and overthinking are what I fear most.
Lin Ting fell silent.
Just then, the script supervisor ran over and said, "Mr. Chen, we're ready to start filming."
"good!"
Chen Zhiyi stood up and said to Lin Ting, "I remember the last time you saw me act was at a training institution. This time it's real-life practice. I hope you can watch carefully. Your encouragement and support played a big role in my perseverance and success on the path of acting. I hope I haven't let you down. I will never give up on anything I want, no matter how much time passes or what I go through."
These words were like poison, instantly silencing Lin Ting and freezing her body, yet causing her excruciating pain.
"Alright, we're ready to start filming. All unrelated personnel, please leave the set." The director shouted into the walkie-talkie, and Lin Ting quietly stepped aside.
This scene is an action scene, in which the male lead chases one of the murderers to this abandoned factory.
The two figures, entangled in a fierce physical struggle, created a tense and intense scene. Their breathing was exceptionally clear in the silent, empty, deserted place, each breath seemingly carrying an irresistible force.
Chen Zhiyi moved with agility and grace, like a cheetah darting through the jungle, each leap and roll flowing smoothly. At the height of his attack, his eyes were bloodshot, his hatred for the killer reaching its peak, each move aimed to kill. He launched relentless, fierce attacks, attempting to corner the killer. Their figures clashed repeatedly on camera, each impact producing a dull thud.
His action scenes are not merely a display of physicality, but a manifestation of his inner world. Through every movement and every expression, he vividly portrays the character's inner turmoil. His action scenes are full of emotion and tension, allowing viewers to feel the character's ruthlessness, pain, and despair.
He no longer cared about the principle of "a life for a life," only wanting to avenge his deceased girlfriend with his own life.
Although the entire scene consisted of action and had no dialogue, Lin Ting was completely immersed in it, and even the staff were drawn into it.
It was a one-take success, and the director even stood up to praise it after filming.
The actor who plays the murderer is a highly experienced professional martial arts actor. Even he praised Chen Zhiyi for his skillful and coherent action scenes, as well as his emotional delivery. Many actors can focus on the action but lose on the emotion, and if the emotion is in place, the action will lack power. It is difficult to achieve both, but Chen Zhiyi did a great job. He is a very promising martial arts talent.
Sure enough, he never disappoints. He can do everything he wants to do well. Lin Ting is genuinely happy for him and proud of his achievements.
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