Slightly vinegary
In the conference room, Gu Zian slammed the table at Lin Jingming: "Is your ex-wife sick?"
Lin Jingming flipped through Su Wen's essay with a gloomy expression. He had never expected Su Wen to specifically accuse Xia Zhitang of two-timing, flirting with both him and Gu Zian. The hype surrounding Xia Zhitang and Gu Zian's alleged younger-than-her-years romance had just begun to subside, but this wave of smear campaign fueled it even more.
At this moment, he regretted that he lost his temper and exposed Xia Zhitang in front of Su Wen when he was in Tibet.
"Let's figure out how to deal with this first. The heat is just getting intense." Cheng Shubai flipped through the data on his phone. "Are you protecting him?" Gu Zian pointed his finger at Cheng Shubai.
Xia Zhitang held Gu Zian's wrist and said, "'The Echo of the Blue Luan' is about to start filming. The starring actor, director, and producer are caught up in a three-way scandal, which will affect investment and subsequent reputation."
"You three have pulled off a truly epic drama that everyone loves to watch," Cheng Shubai shouted in agony. "Fathers, could you please just be quiet?"
"Who's talking nonsense to him?"
"I have nothing to do with him!"
Gu Zian and Lin Jingming looked at each other and cursed at the same time, then turned their faces away in disgust.
"What do you think is more eye-catching about the emotional entanglements of an unknown small-time producer?" Xia Zhitang twirled his pen with a blank look in his eyes. "Is it a talented director being oppressed by his powerful ex-wife? Or an unknown producer fighting for fairness and justice? Or perhaps it's the toxic family of the entertainment industry?"
While Gu Zian was still looking at Xia Zhitang with a puzzled expression, Lin Jingming responded with his eyes lighting up.
"Shift the focus of the conflict to the Su family? Make us look like the pitiful ones oppressed by the capitalists?" He clapped his hands excitedly. "And by the way, form a victims' alliance to build momentum for the new film!"
"And the information has to be leaked by paparazzi or celebrities we've worked with." Cheng Shubai smiled and snapped his fingers, "To create a comeback plot where the underdog defeats the stronger."
Lin Jingming wiped his face and looked at Cheng Shubai with determination: "Let the paparazzi release some footage of a talented director being publicly checked by his wife, given laxatives, and beaten. I'll send you the pictures."
"There's no need to be so specific." Xia Zhitang looked at Lin Jingming disapprovingly, "Just shift your focus to the Su family's immoral deeds."
"What else? Let you continue to be scolded?" Lin Jingming slapped his face. "What is face? I've been asking for it for so many years, and what have I gained?"
Cheng Shubai grabbed Lin Jingming's hand and said, "Okay, don't get excited."
Lin Jingming shook off Cheng Shubai's hand and said, "I'm just the right person to be the boss. My work behind the scenes is well-known enough to attract the public's interest."
He looked at Gu Zian coldly: "This happened because of me, I take full responsibility."
"Alright, there's no need to get so excited. Let's release the news first and test the reaction." Xia Zhitang stood up and shook the bewildered Gu Zian's hand. "This matter is not anyone's responsibility. Stop arguing and just handle it step by step."
Lin Jingming narrowed his eyes as he stared at Xia Zhitang holding Gu Zian's hand, and said slowly, "Old Cheng, do you still have the photos of the three of us working all night last year to process someone cutting in line on the set?"
Cheng Shubai was stunned for a moment before realizing that he was referring to the all-night meeting before Gu Zian joined the team: "Yes."
"Send it out, so that people won't accuse me of having affairs with my subordinates." Lin Jingming deliberately emphasized the word "subordinates".
"Let's leave it at that for now. Let's go back." Xia Zhitang nodded to Cheng Shubai and pulled Gu Zian out of the meeting room.
The sound of the door closing was heard. Cheng Shubai glanced at Lin Jingming who was staring at the door with a sour look on his face, stood up, patted his shoulder, and turned away.
On the weekend, Xia Zhitang arrived at Gu's house as scheduled. As soon as she drove into the Gu family's private parking lot, Gu Zian stuck his head out at the entrance and waved to her.
As soon as Xia Zhitang got out of the car, Gu Zian pounced on him against the door.
Xia Zhitang pushed away Gu Zian's face and said, "Let's finish the meal first."
Gu Zian bit Xia Zhitang's fingers in dissatisfaction before reluctantly letting her go. "I cooked your favorite sweet and sour pork ribs, and honey-glazed chicken wings. Today's choy sum is grown by Wang Ma's family and is pollution-free. It's guaranteed to be delicious."
The two of them walked hand in hand through the Gu family's small garden while talking.
After the meal, Father Gu invited them to the study to drink tea and relieve their boredom.
After three cups of tea, Father Gu stood up and walked to the bookshelf, pulling out "Strategies of the Warring States." He said, "Shang Yang's move of trees to establish trust is somewhat similar to your war of public opinion."
"Dad, just say what you want to say. Don't beat around the bush." Gu Zian complained with a gloomy face.
"Shut up, I didn't ask you."
Xia Zhitang met Gu's father's hopeful gaze, lowered his eyes in thought for a moment, then raised his eyes to carefully answer: "Shang Jun's goal is to ensure that legislation is enforceable. What we are betting on is the audience's pursuit of fairness and justice."
"What else?" Father Gu's eyes lit up, as if he had found a confidant. "What conclusion do we have to draw from this matter?"
"Dad, if you want to chat, go find Uncle Chen and the others to have tea. Don't make things difficult for Tangtang." Gu Zian was so anxious that he jumped up and down.
"Go make some tea and don't be an eyesore here." Father Gu looked at his son's irritable look and waved his hand impatiently to send him away.
Xia Zhitang nodded slightly to Gu Zian in a soothing manner, and Gu Zian reluctantly moved to make tea.
"It's not that our methods are particularly brilliant." Xia Zhitang recalled the scenes of listening to his father tell historical stories, "It's that the Su family is very much like King Huai of Chu, coveting the land of Shangyu."
Father Gu rolled up the Bodhi beads in his hand with satisfaction and nodded for Xia Zhitang to continue.
"They disregard the public interest for their own selfish gains and fail to discern what the audience wants," Xia Zhitang said fluently. "Decision-making is never something that can be done by one person alone. Any decision must be based on long-term considerations."
Father Gu suddenly clapped his hands and laughed: "No wonder this silly boy Zi'an can't stop trending!"
He suddenly pulled out "Records of the Grand Historian" and threw it at his silly son: "Start tomorrow, read an article tomorrow, make a video and send it to me!"
Gu Zian frantically caught the book and said in confusion, "Dad, I graduated from university, and it's a 985 university!"
"You're so impatient! Read more. Don't think being an actor doesn't require knowledge!" Gu's father pointed at Gu Zi'an with disapproval. "Reading history can improve your mind, help you understand people, and broaden your horizons. I see you've become so arrogant after filming a few movies!"
"Okay, I'll read it!" Gu Zian pulled Xia Zhitang out of the study, "You take your time drinking tea, I'll ask Tangtang to teach me to read."
"If you don't study hard, I'll suspend your card!" Gu's father's voice came from inside the door.
"I have my pay!" Gu Zian pulled Xia Zhitang into the room and shut his father's nagging outside the door with a bang.
Xia Zhitang tapped Gu Zian's nose in a mixture of anger and amusement: "Naughty."
"Ignore my dad, that nagging old man." Gu Zian held Xia Zhitang's face, "Look more at your handsome boyfriend."
Xia Zhitang couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Narcissism."
"My photos are verified by netizens!" Gu Zian carried her back to the bed, "She also has sexy eight-pack abs, a perky butt, and long legs."
He pressed down on Xia Zhitang, his hot breath spraying on her face: "Sister, aren't you moved?"
Xia Zhitang listened to his low and hoarse voice and smelled the refreshing fragrance on his body. Even though she was already familiar with his body, she couldn't help but blush.
"Sister, you look so tempting when you blush." Gu Zian smiled and kissed her.
Even after kissing her countless times, Gu Zian still felt that his sister was so delicious and so irresistible.
During the intimate kiss, the person under him twisted her waist unconsciously, causing Gu Zian's heart to burn with passion.
He impatiently took off her coat, and the vibrating phone in his pocket fell out, and Lin Jingming's name popped up in the message box. He tossed Xia Zhitang's phone onto the sofa in the distance, took off his coat and turned into a diligent old ox, using all his strength to cultivate his small piece of land.
Xia Zhitang was sweating from the tossing and turning. She let Gu Zian carry her into the bathroom, but kicked him out when he was eager to try.
Gu Zian, who was locked outside the bathroom, glanced at the vibrating phone on the sofa and snorted coldly.
From the first scene he filmed with the crew of "The Golden Flower", he could tell that Lin Jingming had special feelings for Xia Zhitang, but he didn't show it obviously because of the power of the Yue family.
Humph, how can such a dirty old man be worthy of his gentle, kind and smart sister!
When Gu Zian thought about his decision to get on the bus first at the right time, he felt that this was the bravest and wisest decision he had made in more than 20 years!
When Xia Zhitang came out wrapped in a bathrobe, Gu Zian was assembling the newly purchased photography equipment.
"Look, sister, this is Sony's latest mirrorless camera, which has greatly improved the performance of the sensor." Gu Zian handed the camera to Xia Zhitang like presenting a treasure.
Xia Zhitang took the camera and took two photos for Gu Zian: "I'll take a set for you next time."
Before Gu Zian could say anything, Xia Zhitang had already handed the machine back to him, then turned around, picked up his phone and started processing work messages.
Gu Zian held the camera and took a few photos of Xia Zhitang at work with a dull look on his face before putting the camera away in boredom.
Xia Zhitang looked up at her boyfriend who seemed to be inexplicably depressed, and said with a smile, "Finish the homework your father assigned you first."
Gu Zian reluctantly stood up, moved to the desk and started reading.
As Gu Zian was reading aloud, Xia Zhitang answered the phone: "Hello."
"Yes, I know. What's the specific date?"
Although there was no name, Gu Zian keenly felt that it was Lin Jingming, and he deliberately stretched out his voice and read it louder.
Xia Zhitang clearly heard the laughter on the other end of the line, and she felt a little embarrassed for a moment—after all, having your personal life heard over a work call seemed unprofessional. So she stood up, took the phone, and walked out onto the balcony, not noticing Gu Zian's gloomy face.
Ten minutes later, Xia Zhitang hung up the phone and came back: "Zi'an, can you lend me your computer?"
"Oh, it's your birthday." Gu Zian sat in a chair and poked at the book.
Xia Zhitang felt that Gu Zian was a little unhappy, so he walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek before going to work.
Xia Zhitang turned off the computer and looked up to see Gu Zian putting the newly bought women's home clothes on the bed. They were a couple's style with his.
"Well, I'm not staying here tonight." Xia Zhitang said softly, "I have to go back to the company for a script meeting tomorrow morning."
"Lin Jingming is here too?"
"He's the director." Xia Zhitang said helplessly, "We don't have any private topics other than work."
"I hate him."
When Gu Zian thought about how Lin Jingming was the one standing next to Xia Zhitang openly whether in a meeting or on the set, he couldn't help but feel jealous.
"He's certainly not worthy of being liked." Xia Zhitang nodded in agreement, "But he's indeed an excellent director, and someone who can help us fulfill our two-year agreement."
"Sister, does success mean learning to cooperate with people you don't like?" Gu Zian was a little discouraged.
"You have to learn to discover the shining points in others and learn how to deal with them." Xia Zhitang paused and added, "If you really can't bear to complete the mission, run away immediately."
Xia Zhitang recalled that many years ago she really couldn't stand Lin Jingming, so she resigned as soon as "Dark Alley" was released. She couldn't help but miss her free self.
"We'll get rid of him right after we finish filming this drama!" Gu Zian clapped his hands happily.
"good."
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