Chapter 63 World 2 [33]
Shao Qing didn't say anything, just kept smiling and watched the female artist leave, then looked at Jing Ke.
"She told me that someone guessed that you were going to leave Zongheng Entertainment, and it seems that the top management will test your willingness to stay today." Jing Ke, who had a big mouth, immediately told what had just happened.
Not only the content of the conversation with the female artist, but also Xiaoxuan, who Shao Qing did not see, was recounted in detail the conversation between the two, leaving no possibility of misunderstanding.
"Hmm, it seems our Jing is always very popular here. Many people want to get close to you." Shao Qing said with a smile, with a slightly complicated emotion in his eyes.
"Jing Ke, you don't have to stay by my side all the time. Do you want to try making friends?" Shao Qing's tone was no different from usual. This was the step she had always wanted Jing Ke to take.
But after seeing that Jing Ke did not give a negative answer as firmly as before, Shao Qing couldn't help but feel nervous again.
"Do you want me to make more friends?" Jing Ke asked back, while also re-examining the relationship between herself and Shao Qing.
Having the same origin does not mean they are the same person. I should not transfer my feelings for Shang Siyu to Shao Qing so rudely, otherwise it would be disrespectful to both of them.
"Yes, I also have quite a few friends. Now you are the boss of an entertainment company. Of course you have to make more friends and build some connections." Shao Qing smiled and unconsciously tightened his arm around Jing Ke's.
"Then I'll give it a try?" Jing Ke was a little unsure. If this was what Shao Qing wanted to see, she was willing to give it a try.
"Give it a try. There are many people who want your contact information." Shao Qing said, trying to maintain a normal tone.
Jing Ke has given me a lot. There is no need for her to revolve around me all the time. She should also have her own life and social circle.
Yes, that's it.
After thinking about this, Shao Qing calmly let go of Jing Ke's hand and said encouragingly, "Go and give it a try. Make some useful connections."
"Okay." Jing Ke responded very straightforwardly this time.
Shao Qing's sense of loss and regret continued to grow, but her reason made her hold back and not say anything.
Before Shao Qing realized his true emotions, Jing Ke held his slightly clenched fist. His originally cold fingertips were wrapped in the warm palm.
"Let's go. You know more people than I do. When the time comes, help me judge who is worth making friends with and who is not worth wasting my time on." Jing Ke said, and she naturally held Shao Qing's hand.
If he wanted to make connections in the circle, he would need Shao Qing to help him make decisions. Otherwise, if he became friends with someone who had shown malice towards Shao Qing, wouldn't it be a joke?
Shao Qing blinked as she was being pulled hand forward, and then a more obvious smile appeared on her face.
"Of course you can, but I don't know many people there, so you can just refer to the suggestions I give." Shao Qing said, following Jing Ke's pace.
-
The female artist was not talking nonsense. The senior management of Zongheng Entertainment did realize that Shao Qing might not renew his contract with the company, and they split into three factions and gave different opinions.
One party believes that Zongheng Entertainment is Shao Qing's old employer, and they can play the sentimental card and offer a better contract renewal to retain the other party, appearing sincere.
The other party felt that Shao Qing's departure was irreversible, so they wanted to maximize Shao Qing's value in the last six months and let her distribute her traffic and popularity to the company's newcomers, so as to minimize the losses caused by Shao Qing's departure.
As for the last party, they felt that Zongheng Entertainment could completely part ways with Shao Qing amicably. This was because the top executives of Zongheng Entertainment were well aware that Shao Qing now had a backer and was no longer someone they could manipulate at will.
There is no need to say much about who this backer is. Just looking at his investment in the entertainment industry, you can indirectly see his strength.
The last party felt that there was no need to make things difficult for Shao Qing. If the contract was terminated peacefully, Shao Qing would definitely remember the kindness of her old employer. She might even act as a middleman to connect the company with her backers, achieving a perfect win-win situation.
The number of senior executives holding different opinions is almost the same. Everyone has their own ideas and no one can convince anyone else.
So after Jing Ke took Shao Qing to meet two new directors, Shao Qing was called to a corner by Sister Ke, who tactfully expressed that the vice president wanted to chat with her.
"Does Mr. Liu want to meet with me alone, or does he want me and Jing Ke to meet him together?" Shao Qing asked.
"Of course you're the only one here, and we're probably discussing whether you want to renew your contract. If you haven't thought it through, don't be too sure and leave yourself some room." Sister Ke advised.
Selfishly, Sister Ke hoped Shao Qing would stay at Zongheng Entertainment. Only if she stayed at the company could she continue to be her manager. With any luck, she might even witness her progress onto the world stage.
However, Sister Ke, who has worked with Shao Qing for almost seven years, also knows that joining Xinsheng Entertainment is also a good choice.
Not to mention the absolute tilt of resources, the boss is also Shao Qing's good friend. Maybe he can transform from an employee into a company partner, and the degree of freedom is definitely high.
"I understand. I'll go say hello to Jing Ke." Shao Qing understood what Sister Ke meant. She had already been prepared, so she wasn't too surprised.
-
Since you are talking to the leader, you naturally cannot say it directly in the banquet hall where people are coming and going.
After simply saying a few words to Jing Ke, Shao Qing followed Sister Ke, turning left and right, and finally came to a small room similar to a conference room. After pushing open the door, he saw Mr. Liu making tea inside.
"Shao Qing is here, please sit down. I just brewed this pot of tea for you, come and taste it." Mr. Liu said with a smile, sitting on a chair and greeting Shao Qing.
"Mr. Liu." Shao Qing greeted him briefly, pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Try the tea. The tea in here is my collection." Mr. Liu said, talking about family matters as if he was chatting.
Only after Shao Qing drank half a cup of tea did Mr. Liu tentatively mention Shao Qing's work arrangements.
"I asked Sister Ke, you're going to start filming 'River and Lake Road' after the Chinese New Year, right? I heard it's going to be filming from February to May. Do you have any other ideas after filming is finished?"
Mr. Liu smiled and said, "Do you want to film some movies, or participate in some variety shows to adjust your form and promote your new drama? If you decide in advance, we can also make arrangements in advance."
"Mr. Liu, I haven't actually thought about things that are so far away. Instead of continuing filming and participating in variety shows, I might take a break for a while after the filming is finished." Shao Qing also had a smile on his face.
Shao Qing still felt grateful to Zongheng Entertainment for not giving up on her when her popularity was declining. So she wanted to part ways with Zongheng Entertainment on good terms, rather than leaving with both sides suffering.
"Want a break? That's understandable. Four months of filming was truly grueling." Boss Liu paused. "Shao Qing, if you finish filming in May, you'll be able to catch up on the company's benefits in June. You might even get a chance to visit and exchange ideas with film and television studios abroad."
Not getting the desired result from the test, Mr. Liu had to start extending an olive branch and trying to win over Shao Qing.
"If you're lucky enough to be noticed by a director there, you might have the opportunity to appear in some international films, which can greatly increase your popularity abroad and facilitate your move to a bigger stage."
The first olive branch Mr. Liu extended was very attractive. It was an opportunity to study abroad. Even if I couldn't get a role, I could still show my face in front of those internationally renowned directors.
However, this was not so tempting in Shao Qing's eyes. After thinking about Jing Ke's overseas assets, Shao Qing's psychological endurance and expectations were raised a lot.
"What Mr. Liu said is indeed very good, but I still want to have a good rest for a while. Let's give this benefit to other hard-working people. They also need such an opportunity." Shao Qingqian said with a smile.
"Mr. Liu, Shao Qing means that she wants to be down-to-earth, first gain a firm foothold in China, and then slowly expand overseas." Sister Ke, who was also present, immediately added, trying to make the atmosphere of the conversation relaxed and pleasant.
"That's right, pragmatic young people are also very good." Mr. Liu said with a smile, but the smile did not reach his eyes.
"By the way, Shao Qing, the contract you signed with the company will expire in early June. Do you want to renew it in advance?" After the olive branch he had extended was tactfully returned, Mr. Liu had to make certain things clear.
"We have already discussed this internally. If you are willing to renew your contract, we will increase your salary to the level of the first contract. In addition, we will give you 3% of the company's shares," said Mr. Liu.
"I appreciate Mr. Liu's kindness, but I still want to take a break for a while and seriously think about my future development direction." Shao Qing declined again.
"Shao Qing has been in the circle for several years. Her status no longer needs to be maintained by frequent exposure. It is also a good choice for her to take a good rest and settle down for a while." Sister Ke continued to smooth things over.
The person in front of her was considered to be the company's management, so she knew that Mr. Liu himself did not agree with the peaceful termination of the contract with Shao Qing, but was jumping back and forth between the other two ways of handling it.
"Shao Qing, I won't beat around the bush. Zongheng needs you to stay. You've spent several years here, and our company has always had a good reputation in the industry. Most importantly, Zongheng Entertainment's development is very stable, and its personnel structure is very complete. Ordinary minor storms will not have much impact on Zongheng."
"As for the personal connections and team, there's no need for me to say more, right? If you need it, we can customize a script for you." Mr. Liu also revealed his last trump card.
"Since Mr. Liu won't beat around the bush, I'll just be frank." Shao Qing put down the teacup in his hand. "Jing Ke is a very good friend of mine. She has helped me a lot recently. I can get out of my previous predicament entirely thanks to her help."
"So I'm sorry, if I have to choose between Mr. Liu and Jing Ke, my choice would be the latter." Shao Qing paused, "But I think choosing one of the two is the worst outcome. Even if my contract with Zongheng Entertainment expires, it will not affect our future cooperation."
Shao Qing: "Mr. Liu, I have actually been quite satisfied with my time at Zongheng Entertainment over the past few years. Even if I leave Zongheng Entertainment, I will never forget the seven years I spent here."
Mr. Liu made his attitude clear, and Shao Qing also expressed his thoughts very clearly.
As the vice president, Mr. Liu couldn't make the decision directly, so after hearing Shao Qing's words, he just smiled and quickly changed the subject, playing Tai Chi.
-
The annual meeting started at five o'clock, and the red carpet walk took a total of two hours. When Shao Qing and Sister Ke came out of the conference room together, it was already nine o'clock.
When Shao Qing returned to the banquet hall, he saw Jing Ke surrounded by people.
Jing Ke, wearing a silver-gray suit, was particularly conspicuous even among a group of celebrity artists. Shao Qing could lock onto his position with just one glance.
When Shao Qing looked at her, Jing Ke also turned back as if she had sensed something. After their eyes met in the air, Jing Ke, who had originally had a blank expression on his face, immediately raised the corners of his mouth and showed her a very obvious smile.
After seeing Shao Qing, Jing Ke no longer had any thoughts of chatting with others. He quickly ended the conversation, manually separated the crowd, and walked straight towards Shao Qing.
"After the chat, what is the other party's attitude?" Jing Ke asked with concern.
"Zongheng wants me to stay, but they're concerned about your presence, so their attitude is rather ambiguous." Shao Qing concluded, "If nothing unexpected happens, they should talk to me again in a few days to discuss some resource swaps."
Jing Ke nodded, "Will I go with you next time?"
"Okay." Shao Qing did not refuse.
Sister Ke stood at the back and didn't comment, but her eyes couldn't help but fall on the hands of the two people who had been holding each other at some point.
They're holding hands, is there something going on or not? Are they just friends?
-
Zongheng Entertainment’s annual meeting was not held in vain. That night, the red carpet photos of the relevant artists became a hot topic, and some marketing accounts even organized a vote on appearance.
Among them, Shao Qing took the well-deserved first place on the list. Because Jing Ke was not an artist, no solo photos of her were dug out, only some long-range photos taken by the media.
Who was walking the red carpet with Shao Qing? Was it some newly debuted artist? He looked so handsome and beautiful, and he was no less impressive than Shao Qing.
[I know the answer to this question. This is Shao Qing's friend. There was a photo of the two of them together on her social media feed. However, Shao Qing said her friend doesn't seem to be debuting, so she must have just come to accompany a friend. She didn't even release a retouched solo photo.]
[One in a dress, the other in a suit. Am I the only one who thinks they look so good together?]
[Rumor has it, Jing Ke seems to be the boss of Xinsheng Entertainment. You can check the relevant website. She holds 90% of the shares, making her a big boss for sure.]
【Ah, who is Jing Ke? 】
[Stupid, that's the guy standing next to my wife. But isn't it a little strange that the bosses of other entertainment companies are coming to Zongheng Entertainment for the annual meeting?]
[What do you mean your wife? That's my Qingqing wife. Don't fight with me for my wife!]
[What? You're all trying to snatch up Shao Qing, so can I secretly take Jing Ke away? I think she looks just like my sexual preference. I just like cool and handsome girls like this!]
As the red carpet photos became more and more popular, Jing Ke also came into the sight of more people, and her Weibo fans increased to more than 200,000 in just one night.
After Shao Qing's reminder, Jing Ke also saw the extra fans on his Weibo platform.
"You only have a few updates now. Do you want me to take another photo for you and post it?" After successfully returning to the villa from the car, Shao Qing immediately turned on the central air conditioning and asked while breathing out air.
"Okay, but how about we take a group photo?" Jing Ke said, and quickly added, "It can also pave the way for our future cooperation. This way, the fans will be more accepting of it."
"Okay, anyway, I haven't changed my clothes and taken off my makeup yet." Shao Qing certainly wouldn't refuse such a reasonable reason.
However, Shao Qing obviously forgot one thing, that is, taking a photo at this time is tantamount to making it clear that the two are living together.
Adhering to the principle of innocence, Shao Qing didn't say much after he realized what was happening. He simply added a filter to the photo and sent it to Jing Ke.
[Beauty attack, I'll bite! 】
Our country practices monogamy. It's not too much for me to have one wife and one husband, right? [Dog head holding a rose]
[Ah, isn't this Qingqing's home in the background? Their clothes are the same as in the red carpet photos. It's already 11 o'clock, and they're still together?]
[What, they are going to sleep together at night? ]
The fans of the newly born "Jingqing" CP came over after smelling the scent. While skillfully saving the pictures, they started to spread rumors and started to eat up the not-so-much sugar.
Jing Ke didn’t pay much attention to the subsequent fans and comments, because after posting the update, she went back to her room to take a shower.
Just when Jing Ke came out of the shower with wet hair, she saw Shao Qing standing in front of the door with an embarrassed look on his face.
"What's wrong?" Jing Ke walked towards Shao Qing while wiping her hair with a dry towel.
"It seems that because I didn't close the window properly when I went out, a bug ran from outside to my bed." Shao Qing raised his eyebrows and said, "The guest room downstairs is reserved for the assistant, so..."
Shao Qing didn't finish the rest of his words, but that didn't affect Jing Ke's understanding at all.
"Then we'll sleep together tonight. Do you want to take a shower here?" Jing Ke asked.
Shao Qing nodded. "The bathroom door wasn't closed either. I was worried that bugs might get in."
Shao Qing: "I'll hire a nanny to clean the place thoroughly tomorrow, and then I'll move in."
"Okay, then I'll go outside to blow-dry my hair, you can use the bathroom." Jing Ke cooperated and took out the hair dryer so that Shao Qing could move freely.
When the time on the mobile phone jumped from the 23rd to the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, Shao Qing dried his hair and stood by the bed in his furry pajamas.
From the placement of his belongings, it was clear that Jing Ke liked to sleep on his right side, so Shao Qing naturally lifted the quilt on his left side and got into the warm bed.
"Ha~ I'm so sleepy. Shall we turn off the lights and go to bed?" Shao Qing couldn't help but yawn.
"Okay." Jing Ke reached out and turned off all the lights in the room, then got into bed.
Jing Ke didn't have the habit of leaving a night light on, so after the main light was turned off, the room fell into darkness.
"Good night." Shao Qing took the initiative to say.
"Good night." Jing Ke lay flat on the bed, and some memories of the past couldn't help but emerge in his mind.
It’s a very familiar good night, but the person lying next to me is not someone I can ask for a good night kiss.
Jing Ke sighed softly in his heart, trying to clear his mind and fall asleep as quickly as possible.
"Jing Ke, can you read me a French poem?" Shao Qing suddenly spoke, breaking the silence in the room.
"Okay, but I only remember the part I read before. Do you mind if I read it to you again?" Jing Ke did not refuse.
"Okay." After getting the answer, Shao Qing slowly closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind like Jing Ke.
The temperature outside is several degrees below zero. In such a climate, how many insects can maintain their tenacious vitality and fly to the second floor of the villa?
After hearing the familiar voice lingering in his ears, Shao Qing couldn't help but feel ashamed of his behavior.
What was I doing? Why was I running into Jing Ke's room and sharing a bed with her instead of sleeping in the master bedroom?
Was it because Jing Ke was so popular that night? Or was it because Jing Ke didn't refuse his proposal and started to expand his social circle?
Shao Qing felt that he was now a hypocritical villain to the extreme.
It was obviously me who asked Jing Ke to make friends, but after Jing Ke really took that step, it was still me who was possessive.
Really, if you can’t be so generous, then don’t say those high-sounding words!
Shao Qing cursed himself in his heart, and couldn't help but move his body to the middle, closer to the source of heat.
Jing Ke, who was concentrating on reciting French poetry, noticed Shao Qing's little movement, but she didn't think much about it. Instead, she habitually pulled up the quilt, wanting to reach out and hold the person in her arms.
Fortunately, Jing Ke reacted quickly enough and came to his senses before touching Shao Qing's body.
The person lying next to her now is not Shang Siyu, but Shao Qing, who is still just a friend to her.
Having the same origin does not mean that they are the same person. Shao Qing and I are just friends now.
Jing Ke warned himself in his heart and silently retracted his hand.
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