Chapter 19, Chapter 19, Gold Master, Dad, Dad
Xu Shaoting smiled, whether at her sharpness or her clear-headedness, it was hard to tell. He took out a business card from his suit pocket and pushed it towards her, tapping it lightly with his fingertips. "Discussing work at a time like this is a downer, but I think you shouldn't miss this opportunity."
Wen Jia didn't take it immediately, but examined it for a few seconds before picking up the business card with two fingers and looking at it. "Yu Jianshan? I know him."
A highly respected director in the industry, he has won three Best Director awards without any questionable credentials, and has twice graced the international stage, simultaneously sweeping both the Best Director and Best Film awards at the Silver Sail Film Festival. To exaggerate slightly, his leading role tickets are so valuable that even award-winning actors and actresses would willingly take a pay cut to secure them.
Yu Jianshan is known in the industry for his meticulous and impartial casting style. He doesn't consider the actor's status or influence. Given the choice between a famous but overrated actor and a struggling but talented actor, Yu Jianshan would choose the latter without hesitation. In his films, even if you can only secure a minor supporting role, you can pray to the temple for the right timing, location, and people. Fame is just a matter of time.
Xu Shaoting nodded. "I'll give you the first prize."
Upon hearing this, Wen Jia calmly pushed the business card back, her words implying a polite refusal, "I auditioned before, but I was rejected."
From what she said, it seemed she wanted to fight for it herself.
However, her reaction was clearly within Xu Shaoting's expectations.
“I’ve spoken to Yu Jianshan. If you want to act directly, you don’t need to audition; the lead role is yours. But if you still want to audition yourself, he’s happy to, and he won’t lower his standards. If the audition doesn’t meet his standards, he’ll find someone else for the lead role.”
Candles were lit on the table. Wen Jia looked at the handsome face of the man opposite her through the flickering candlelight. In a daze, it was as if she had truly returned to the first time they met. He was sitting across from her in the same way, giving her a choice that allowed her to have both options, without forcing or pressuring her, letting her decide for herself.
Give her a chance, and listen to and respect all her choices.
A thoughtful and meticulous man.
Something that's hard to refuse.
A decision that could be made with ease.
Wen Jia found it hard to admit that she didn't need this opportunity; on the contrary, she really wanted it.
But if it comes without any effort, she'd rather not have it.
What kind of insight could lead someone to consider giving her such comprehensive options?
Wen Jia had no time to think about these things.
She didn't stand on ceremony with him, pushing the business card back exactly as it had been handed to her, putting it into her handbag, and speaking in a less heavy tone, "Thank you, my benefactor."
Xu Shaoting raised an eyebrow, but a smile played on his lips. "What did you call me?"
"Master, Dad, Dad," she said, enunciating each word clearly. She clasped her hands together, gently resting them on her cheeks, and smiled like a young girl, looking directly into his eyes.
Was she doing it on purpose?
He had clearly told her that he was a normal man too.
She insisted on saying those four words in such a serious and innocent tone.
Of course, she had no idea that such a dignified, composed, and unmoving man could also experience such a flutter in his heart.
But thankfully, you can't see into someone's heart, he thought.
Xu Shaoting's grip on the wine glass tightened, and his heart and throat tightened along with it.
He immediately picked up his wine glass and took a small sip to conceal the unusual agitation within him.
Xu Shaoting stopped talking to her about work and quietly shifted the topic to someone else.
"Wen Jia," he called her name earnestly, "you still haven't told me how Zhou Jingcheng made things difficult for you last time?"
If he hadn't brought it up, she would have almost completely forgotten about it. She suddenly remembered asking him that day how he planned to take responsibility, but he hadn't answered. Wen Jia smiled, "Is this meal what you mean by taking responsibility?"
Xu Shaoting didn't hesitate, "Of course not."
She slowly looked away, biting her lip, her expression one of distress.
He didn't know what Zhou Jingcheng said, but she knew it perfectly well.
Whether it was a few days ago or now, it seems that what Zhou Jingcheng said to her cannot reach Xu Shaoting's ears.
“What did Zhou Jingcheng say to you? Tell me,” he pressed.
He said that you are the kind of person who starts relationships and then abandons them, loves to play around with female celebrities, is morally corrupt, and loves to toy with feelings.
These words must not be spoken.
Wen Jia swirled her wine glass, took a small sip, and said nothing.
"You talked about me, didn't you?"
Wen Jia felt that this was just a very objective question, so she nodded subconsciously.
Xu Shaoting pondered for a moment, "Should we talk about my good points or bad points?"
“Of course Chairman Xu is good. Chairman Xu is so good, how could he not be good? I can’t think of anything wrong with him.” Wen Jia smiled, her expression perfectly controlled.
Xu Shaoting leaned back with his hands on his hips. "Miss Wen, you really can't lie."
Wen Jia feigned innocence, saying, "Chairman Xu is implying that my acting is bad."
Xu Shaoting found her reaction amusing and suddenly laughed out loud, "I wouldn't dare, besides, these are two different things."
“I’m an actor. Didn’t you ever think that I was deliberately letting you see through my lie, Mr. Xu?”
“Of course I’ve thought about it, but whether it’s acting or real, there’s no difference in essence, is there?” Xu Shaoting brought the topic back. “So, Zhou Jingcheng told you about my shortcomings.”
"He was just guessing."
The two were talking about outsiders, but the atmosphere was strangely subtle. The man's voice was deep and the woman's voice was clear and melodious. They spoke one sentence at a time, and Wen Jia, being clever, did not manage to get any information out of him. It was as if neither of them wanted to lose.
"Did he tell you not to come near me?" Xu Shaoting's gaze was unabashedly probing as if he wanted to thoroughly analyze the person opposite him.
"No."
After she finished answering, she stopped stroking the wine glass with her fingertips. Her hand trembled, causing the red liquid in the glass to slosh around, and the taut string in her mind also swayed slightly.
She's still too bad at lying.
Xu Shaoting saw her reaction clearly.
He knew he had guessed correctly.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Xu Shaoting pressed her further without changing his expression, "Did I also tell you that I'm not as good as I seem on the surface?"
There was no wind in the enclosed space, but the candlelight flickered slightly.
She felt like she was invisible in front of Xu Shaoting.
No, it's that even Zhou Jingcheng is like a transparent person in front of him.
Wen Jia suddenly became quite open-minded: "How did Chairman Xu know?"
Xu Shaoting scoffed and said the exact same thing Zhou Jingcheng had said: "Men understand men best."
Do you believe what Zhou Jingcheng said?
It seems the two of them can't avoid this topic.
"Although I don't know exactly what Zhou Jingcheng said to you, I can guess the general direction. Do you believe what he said?"
"Believe half of it."
Which half?
"The good half."
"...Would Zhou Jingcheng really say good things about me to you?"
He didn't say that it was all made up by me, she thought to herself.
Wen Jia couldn't outmaneuver him. He could find loopholes in every word she said and leave her speechless.
Wen Jia picked up the wine glass with her slender fingers and presented it to the person opposite her. "Let's not talk about this anymore, okay? Mr. Xu, I don't want to talk about other men when it's just the two of us..."
Xu Shaoting narrowed his eyes, his lips taut.
Clearly, he was extremely pleased with Wen Jia's words. He swirled the red liquid in his glass and touched it to the person opposite him.
Neither of them initiated a toast; the only evidence was the clinking of glass.
The moment his lips touched the rim of the glass, Xu Shaoting raised his eyelids and glanced at the woman opposite him. The wine glass obscured the lower half of his face, and his eyes were deep, as if he were looking at prey.
Then he lowered his eyelids. If the waiter in the distance had looked over at that moment, he would have seen Wen Jia also look up at him at that instant.
Their gazes met tightly as they looked back and forth.
The two enjoyed their meal very much. The waiter standing to the side could only see the elegant profiles of the man and woman, who were chatting and laughing softly. The man's gaze never left the woman, but the waiter couldn't quite put his finger on what kind of look it was. It seemed to contain indulgence, inquiry, and amusement, but it was also quite dangerous.
Wen Jia wasn't a big drinker, but Xu Shaoting kept pouring her red wine, and the dark red liquid turned into a light pink blush that quietly appeared on her cheeks.
But only she knew that her blushing wasn't entirely due to the red wine, but rather to the words Xu Shaoting had whispered in her ear.
The exquisite dishes on the table were barely touched, but a bottle of red wine was almost empty.
...
An hour and a half later, the two finally finished their meal.
Lin Youzhe waited in the car for nearly two hours before seeing the two familiar figures reappear at the building entrance. The waiter pushed open the revolving glass door, and Xu Shaoting had his coat draped over one arm, while Wen Jia held his other arm. Her two slender and smooth legs were too conspicuous in the night.
The two seemed to be talking about something. Xu Shaoting kept his head slightly lowered, leaning towards the woman beside him, with a faint smile on his lips.
Seeing that the two were about to reach the car, Lin Youzhe quickly got out of the car and opened the car door for Wen Jia. Only then did he realize that Wen Jia's face was flushed and her steps were unsteady in her high heels. If Xu Shaoting hadn't been there to support her weight, she would have almost stumbled on her own.
Wen Jia was half-carried into the back seat of the car by Xu Shaoting. Fortunately, she was not completely drunk and was still able to support the weight of her upper body.
Xu Shaoting slowly walked around to the other side and got into the car. Before Lin Youzhe even started the engine, the partition screen in the back row was slowly raised.
He didn't dare guess what was happening in the back row, but he never imagined it would be so enchanting—
Wen Jia moved closer to Xu Shaoting, trying hard to open her still-drowsy eyes, and propped her chin up to look at him. "Where are we going now?"
"Go home." Xu Shaoting looked down at her, his eyes dark.
"Which home to go back to?"
Hearing her words, Xu Shaoting realized that she was indeed a little out of it, but he was still perfectly sober.
"Go back to your home."
What are you going back to my house for?
Xu Shaoting looked at her amusedly, "You're drunk."
She ripped off her shawl, her tone defiant, "I'm not drunk!"
“He’s drunk,” he said, turning to look at her. “He doesn’t even call me Chairman Xu anymore.” His tone was serious, as if he were genuinely concerned about the matter.
With what little rationality she still had, Wen Jia called out softly, "Chairman Xu."
She called him "Chairman Xu" hundreds or thousands of times, both on the phone and in person; he had heard it all.
But he felt that no sound could compare to this one, a soft voice with an upward inflection, and a slightly muffled nasal tone due to the alcohol.
"Hmm?" he replied to her earnestly.
"I want to go to the beach and feel the breeze."
A note from the author:
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