Chapter 3, "What is your relationship with him?"...
Wen Jia and Xu Shaoting met privately.
Three years ago, Wen Jia began a semi-retirement from the entertainment industry. During that time, she secluded herself in her villa, never leaving the house and not filming a single drama. Until a year and a half ago, Zhuang Yansong knocked on Wen Jia's door and offered her a script.
Wen Jia glanced at the script casually, then pushed it back to her original position and smiled, "Director Zhuang, you know I'm not in the mood to film right now."
"The investors specifically asked for you."
"who?"
Zhuang Yansong smiled but said nothing, only pushing a gold-embossed business card over.
Wen Jia naturally went to see the man on the business card.
"Chairman Xu, do we know each other before?"
Inside the restaurant, Wen Jia looked at the man opposite her. He lowered his eyes slightly, his features were deep, and his expression was nonchalant.
"I don't know him."
Xu Shaoting's voice was low and steady, as if he were stating a trivial fact.
"But we've met once," he added casually.
Wen Jia searched her memory for a few seconds with great effort, but to no avail: "When?"
Xu Shaoting swirled his wine glass, took a small sip, and remained silent for a long time.
Wen Jia stared at the man opposite her, ignoring his silence, and threw out her bargaining chip, "Chairman Xu wants me to act in this film, but give me a reason that can convince me, and then I'll act."
"I've seen your movies, and I admire you."
"Is that the reason?"
"That's all." Xu Shaoting smiled and nodded.
What if I say I'm not going to act?
Xu Shaoting bent his arms and rested them on the table. He glanced at her and patiently negotiated with her: "How much is Zhuang Yansong paying you? I'll give you double."
"I won't act." Wen Jia said decisively without even thinking.
"three times."
"I won't perform."
Xu Shaoting chuckled softly, "Miss Wen, are you planning to give up your acting career?"
Wen Jia paused, her hand still holding the wine glass. This question had completely stumped her. Yes, she wasn't willing to give up her career; she had just been subconsciously running away from it.
Xu Shaoting stared at the person opposite him, seemingly seeing a satisfied expression on Wen Jia's face. He then slowly picked up his knife and fork, put a piece of steak into his mouth, and chewed it slowly.
Before Wen Jia could answer, Xu Shaoting picked up a wet wipe, carefully wiped his mouth and hands, then stood up and tilted his head slightly as he passed by her: "This meal is on me. Miss Wen can think it over carefully. You can come to me anytime after you've decided."
Then he strode away.
As the biggest investor in "Wild Journey", Wen Jia had naturally considered that Xu Shaoting would also attend the celebration banquet, but when she actually saw him, a strange feeling still welled up in Wen Jia's heart.
But Zhuang Yansong led Xu Shaoting toward Zhou Jingcheng and Wen Jia.
She tried desperately to suppress the turmoil in her heart, but the ripples spread outwards with each approaching footstep of Xu Shaoting.
Wen Jia figured it out. Ultimately, it was because the two of them met in such a contradictory way. Officially, they had no business dealings. Privately, they had only eaten one meal together and hadn't even exchanged a few words before one of them left.
The two didn't seem very familiar with each other, but his insistence on her starring in the film he invested in went far beyond the word "stranger," creating an awkward atmosphere between them.
To put it bluntly, even if Zhuang Yansong specifically asked her to film, he would still need to get to know her first.
Who would immediately name someone and ask them to make a movie? That's one thing, but when asked why, he only mentioned "appreciation" and wouldn't say anything else. Wen Jia felt that she would have accepted it if he had at least specifically praised her acting skills.
What abstract reason is there for simply appreciating something?
Wen Jia came to her senses. Xu Shaoting was getting closer and closer. Although his leather shoes made no sound on the thick wool carpet, Wen Jia could clearly feel his approach. After taking two more steps casually, he stopped right in front of her.
However, Xu Shaoting did not look at her carefully. His gaze only swept over her twice before he looked up at Zhou Jingcheng next to Wen Jia.
Zhuang Yansong smiled modestly, his eyes darting between the two men. He stroked his chin thoughtfully. Given the status of these two men, it was only right that he introduced Zhou Jingcheng to Xu Shaoting. There was never any reason for a superior to introduce a subordinate.
So he spoke first to Xu Shaoting, saying, "Chairman Xu, this is Zhou Jingcheng, a friend of mine for many years," he paused, "I think you two should have something in common to talk about."
After speaking, he turned to Zhou Jingcheng: "Jingcheng, this is Chairman Xu, whom I've often mentioned to you. He's also the biggest investor in this film." Zhuang Yansong, being a seasoned veteran, then shrewdly flattered Xu Shaoting, "You could say that without Chairman Xu, there would be no film like this..."
Xu Shaoting seemed to be used to such polite remarks, neither taking them seriously nor pointing them out, but simply listening without changing his expression.
Zhou Jingcheng's eyes softened. He knew the identity of the newcomer, so he toned down his sharpness, but not much. He simply greeted Xu Shaoting, saying, "I heard of Chairman Xu's name from Yansong. I've heard so much about you."
Xu Shaoting smiled politely, but this politeness was extremely superficial. It was as if he could smile at someone one second and then turn away the next, and the smile on his face would disappear completely.
"I've heard so much about you." Xu Shaoting drove himself here and couldn't drink, so he just touched his glass to Zhou Jingcheng's without taking a drop.
Wen Jia stood to the side, feeling a strange unease. She usually thought Zhou Jingcheng had a sharp enough aura, but when he stood in front of Xu Shaoting, his presence seemed to have diminished by three points.
To be fair, Zhou Jingcheng is quite handsome, but he pales in comparison to Xu Shaoting. Wen Jia felt that the latter's temperament was naturally more outstanding.
Ever since the two men started greeting each other, Wen Jia's feet had been subtly moving to the side. It was just a few words of small talk that made her skin crawl, and she was already tired of dealing with such situations. She was fed up with hearing it so much that she decided to just ignore it and head to the fruit section to pick out some of her favorite fruits. When it was time to go home, she would slip away.
She had barely turned around and taken two steps when she heard Zhou Jingcheng's voice behind her: "Wen Jia, come and say hello to Chairman Xu." His tone was somewhat commanding, which was unpleasant to hear. "We might have to rely on Chairman Xu in the future."
Zhou Jingcheng deliberately emphasized the words "rely on". Sometimes Wen Jia didn't know where his awkwardness came from. He spoke words of admiration, but his tone was a bit frivolous.
Perhaps it was pride at play; even though he knew he was inferior to the other person, he still felt resentful.
It's quite like a hyena that would bar its teeth at a lion even if it overestimated its strength.
Wen Jia paused for a moment. Although she really wanted to offend Zhou Jingcheng and pretend she hadn't heard him, she was a pragmatic person. Leaving him behind in this situation would not do her any good.
Having figured this out, Wen Jia slowly turned around and walked towards them.
Before they were even fully close, Zhou Jingcheng stretched out his arm, put his arm around Wen Jia's slender waist, and wrapped her up in a circle.
Wen Jia tried to break free, silently reaching behind her to pry Zhou Jingcheng's fingers off her waist. But the harder she tried, the harder he tried, a silent contest of strength. In the end, both of their knuckles turned faintly blue, yet Zhou Jingcheng's hands remained firmly wrapped around her waist.
Xu Shaoting witnessed this scene.
Wen Jia wasn't going to be overly humble in front of Xu Shaoting, but the man was very tall, and even though she was wearing high heels, she had to tilt her head back slightly as she looked at his straight nose and handsome face.
Her face was illuminated by the halo of the crystal chandelier, making her look beautiful. The two people were facing each other, one with her head slightly lowered and the other with her head slightly raised.
"Chairman Xu, we meet again."
Before Xu Shaoting could even speak, Zhou Jingcheng couldn't hold back any longer: "Have you met before?" He looked a little surprised.
Wen Jia felt there was nothing to hide, and answered generously, "Yes, I've also had dinner with Chairman Xu."
Xu Shaoting spoke up at the right moment to prevent Wen Jia from feeling awkward: "Actually, I was the one who asked Ms. Wen to star in this film. Didn't Director Zhuang mention this to you?"
Xu Shaoting looked at Zhou Jingcheng with a half-smile, while Zhou Jingcheng looked at Zhuang Yansong, who was being whipped.
Zhuang Yansong coughed twice, as if to smooth things over, "These kinds of things... are hard to talk about. If I say it out loud, what will the other people on set think? Don't you think so?"
Neither of the two men beside him spoke.
Poor Wenjia, she couldn't feel anything at the moment, except for the large hand gripping her waist tighter and tighter.
She felt a wave of embarrassment – being surrounded by Zhou Jingcheng in this dazzling display of light and shadow made her feel like a meticulously crafted vase, with all her value seemingly concentrated in her face. Wen Jia felt that Zhou Jingcheng didn't respect her much; his seemingly intimate gestures revealed a disdain for her as a social calling card.
Moreover, the two are not in that kind of relationship.
Across from him, Xu Shaoting gazed at Wen Jia's somewhat embarrassed expression with a gentle look, a half-smile playing on his lips. He seemed to be thinking about something, and after a moment of contemplation, he took out a gold-embossed business card from his inner pocket and calmly handed it over.
The other two men present were at a loss, since Zhou Jingcheng should have been the one to offer it to them.
In this world of fame and fortune, Zhou Jingcheng also stands in a position where he is fawned over by everyone. He is used to being fawned over and is in charge of Fuguang Film and Television, a major domestic film and television company. As an investor, he has invested in several films. Basically, behind every blockbuster work that has become popular in the domestic entertainment industry in recent years, there is his operation.
But compared to Xu Shaoting, he seemed somewhat overshadowed and pale in comparison.
Zhou Jingcheng stared blankly for a moment, then finally loosened his grip on Wen Jia's waist, nodded slightly, and accepted the business card from Xu Shaoting with neither arrogance nor servility.
Wen Jia naturally understood Xu Shaoting's intention in handing over his business card in the opposite direction, and gave him a grateful look.
Xu Shaoting maintained a faint smile throughout, merely glancing at her without changing his expression in the slightest.
When Zhuang Yansong saw that Xu Shaoting had arrived, the arrival of other guests was no longer important to him. So, on a whim, he went to the front of the stage and gave a speech with great emotion.
Wen Jia had focused on catching up on sleep all afternoon and hadn't eaten anything after waking up. Now that she was quiet, the feeling of hunger became more and more obvious, so she went to the fruit section and ate the fruit platter prepared by the waiter while listening to Zhuang Yansong speak.
Zhou Jingcheng stopped paying attention to her and went to chat with others. Wen Jia ate until she was about half full, then put down the fruit plate.
The banquet hall was located on the top floor of the hotel. Night had already covered the entire city. A raindrop hit the floor-to-ceiling window first, then splashed up countless tiny droplets. A heavy rain was about to begin.
Wen Jia stared at the floor-to-ceiling window for a while, then picked up a wet wipe and wiped her mouth. The icy touch radiated from her fingers to her whole body, and she inexplicably felt a little cold.
The celebration banquet was more than halfway over. Wen Jia walked to the solid wood door, and a waiter quickly opened the door for her. She walked towards the restroom. She had just eaten something and was about to go to the restroom to touch up her makeup.
The warm yellow wall lamps in the corridor cast halos of light from both sides, spreading patches of amber color onto the tiled floor.
The corridor was deserted at the moment, with only the sound of Wen Jia's high heels clicking on the tiled floor, even, crisp, short, rhythmic, one click after another.
The steady sound of high heels stopped abruptly as they rounded the corner. Wen Jia looked at the tall, slender figure that seemed somewhat familiar in front of the glass window.
Raindrops fell on the window, leaving thin streaks of water. Xu Shaoting's handsome face was reflected in the transparent glass. His jawline was sharp, and the surrounding light slid down his brow bone and shone under his eyes, making his whole face three-dimensional and profound.
He had his back to her, so Wen Jia couldn't see his expression. She could only see his long, slender neck, where his snow-white shirt stood out above his suit jacket, neatly revealing a ring of white skin.
Xu Shaoting held a cigarette between his long, slender fingers. The cigarette butt was bright red and particularly glaring in the dim room. He had obviously heard the sound of a woman's high heels in the corridor. His eyes, which had been staring at the raindrops outside the window, flickered slightly. He came back to his senses, slowly turned around, and looked at Wen Jia.
Xu Shaoting's eyes were extremely deep. When their eyes met, Wen Jia felt a little uncomfortable, so she spoke first: "Chairman Xu? Why are you here alone?"
Xu Shaoting smiled faintly and stubbed out his cigarette on the sand table: "If you want to smoke, you come out."
The banquet hall corridor was not as wide as the interior, so the two were not far apart. Xu Shaoting took a few steps toward her, and now there was only a little over half a meter between them.
As the masculine scent approached, Xu Shaoting didn't have the usual pungent tobacco smell of cigarettes. Instead, he exuded a light minty scent, which blended unexpectedly well with his masculine woody fragrance.
Wen Jia had wanted to thank him earlier, but there were too many people in the banquet hall and she couldn't find an opportunity. Now that it was just the two of them, she spoke up generously, "Thank you for helping me out of that situation earlier."
Xu Shaoting ignored her thanks, stared at her meaningfully for a long time, and then asked, "Miss Wen, may I ask what your relationship is with Zhou Jingcheng?"
Wen Jia didn't expect Xu Shaoting to be so direct. There was no one else around, and he was surrounding her. It was hard for Wen Jia to escape. She subconsciously gripped her handbag tightly.
"Why are you so nervous?" Xu Shaoting's expression was relaxed, a stark contrast to his demeanor in the banquet hall just now. "If I'm not mistaken, you and Zhou Jingcheng aren't in that kind of relationship."
Wen Jia calmly retorted, "I'm not nervous, why is Chairman Xu asking this?" She looked up at the man's face, paused for a few seconds, and asked, "What do you think my relationship with Zhou Jingcheng is? What kind of relationship are you referring to?"
Xu Shaoting listened patiently to her series of questions, then looked away from her and turned to look at the wall behind Wen Jia. The smooth, light-colored tiled wall faintly reflected her beautiful figure.
"curious."
"Curious? Chairman Xu is curious about this kind of question? Is he so curious about everyone at this gathering?" Wen Jia smiled and looked at him, trying to dodge the question.
Wen Jia felt that he was always very cautious in answering questions and would never give a full answer.
Previously, when asked why he specifically requested to direct his own film, he only said "admiration." Now, when asked why he asked this question, he only said "curiosity." It seems like he answered, but in reality, he only touched on the point and never gave anyone a chance to find fault or loopholes.
"You're overthinking it... Wen Xiao..." Xu Shaoting was interrupted by Wen Jia before he could finish his last word.
“Mr. Xu, it’s not very polite to ask a girl such a private question.” She blinked slowly, looking at him as if anticipating Xu Shaoting’s response.
She was quite curious to see what it would be like for someone like him to be speechless.
Xu Shaoting frowned, seemingly processing what he had said. A minute passed, and he didn't speak again. The two stared at each other for a long time. Wen Jia felt relieved, thinking that he was completely speechless.
Outside the window, the rain poured down. Before the sound even arrived, a purple flash of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a deafening roar—
Accompanied by the sound of thunder, he leaned closer and whispered in her ear:
"Is that so?" Xu Shaoting looked directly at her. "What if I said this answer is important to me?"
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