Chapter 51 The sugar daddy is indeed unreasonable, my dear wife.
"I don't see much progress. Do you also want to spend another three years?" Director Zheng patted Wen Qi on the shoulder, a rare hint of teasing appearing on his serious face.
The previously noisy environment gradually quieted down. Only after Zhu Qingzhi's figure completely disappeared outside the door did Wen Qi turn his gaze away, his tone calm: "I have patience."
Director Zheng nodded in agreement. When it comes to patience, Wen Qi might be second to none.
After he finished filming "The End of the World," other scripts held no appeal for him. Since they weren't appealing, he was too lazy to film them. This "not filming" period lasted for ten years.
Three years ago, Wen Qi, carrying the script for "Yunshuiyao," went through several intermediaries to find him, insisting that he take on the role. Director Zheng had read the script; while excellent, it wasn't quite at the level that made him absolutely compelled to direct it. Besides, he had been enjoying a peaceful life tending to his flowers and plants for years, so he naturally declined.
At first, Director Zheng thought Wen Qi was just a flash in the pan and would be forgotten after a few days. Who would have thought that the seemingly noble and dignified Wen Qi would do such inhuman things, always scrambling to do the most persistent and annoying tasks, leaving people helpless?
When he went abroad to attend a film festival, he was pressured to drink by film distributors, and Wen Qi was able to appear in time to shield him from the drinks; when he went to the mountains to collect folk songs, Wen Qi said that the Wen family had a project to develop and offered to deliver some things to him on the way.
When someone on social media mentioned wanting to watch a 4K restored black-and-white silent film, Wen Qi could quickly arrange it; even when he had a cold and fever, Wen Qi would send someone to deliver medicine immediately...
Three years have passed, and Director Zheng has lost his temper. He agreed to film it because he was moved by Wen Qi's sincerity and because the adapted script of "Yunshuiyao" was so wonderful that it inspired his creative desire.
Thirdly, Zhu Qingzhi is indeed a promising talent. He had seen her works before, and her acting skills were indeed commendable. However, she is not suited to the "simple and resilient innocent girl" type, so it would be a waste for her to play an unsuitable role.
He had thought Wen Qi was a case of "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," but her performance during the audition was truly beyond his expectations. It was at that moment that Director Zheng realized that if this film were actually made, it might leave something different in film history.
"What's the use of just being patient when pursuing a girl?" Director Zheng finished the last two drops of wine in his glass, a hint of wisdom from someone who'd been there before flashing in his eyes. "Did you just hold her hand, kid? Young people are really bold these days."
Wen Qi stretched out his hand, casually flipped through a few pages of the script, and lied without changing his expression: "You must have misread it, sir. How about I bring you a new pair of glasses another day?"
Director Zheng was speechless for a moment, then slapped him across the face: "You little brat, I have presbyopia, not nearsightedness!"
He put on a stern face, but his eyes held a smile, looking exactly like a mischievous old man with a half-smile. His gaze fell down and he saw the passage marked in red on the script, which was the only intimate scene in "The Ballad of Clouds and Water".
Wen Qi lowered his eyes, his emotions churning like a tide, and his fingertips tapped the edge of the paper absently. Director Zheng could tell at a glance that this was a forced relaxation and indifference.
Wen Qi is really something. He was the one who asked the original author to revise the script for "Yunshuiyao". The final draft was reviewed at least a dozen times. Why does he have to make things difficult for himself?
Director Zheng was puzzled. He tapped the empty wine glass on the table twice, and a teasing thought popped into his head first. He slowly said, "Change it?"
"No need." Wen Qi answered decisively, twirling the edge of the page with his fingertips before closing the script. When he looked up again, his eyes were calm and unperturbed. "I just said I wouldn't interfere. Have you forgotten already? It seems I need to send not only glasses, but also two boxes of walnuts."
Hey, what a disrespectful kid! Do you believe he can increase Zhu Qingzhi's strength right now?!
However, after spending the past few years together, Director Zheng had long known that Wen Qi was good with words. If he took every word to heart, he would have been furious long ago, so it was better not to take it to heart.
In addition, Wen Qi's words really hit the nail on the head. If this kid really agreed to make changes, he would be really unhappy: "You're smart. Right now, even the dialogue in this scene would lose some of its charm if you just cut a single word."
He rolled up the script in his hand, glanced at Wen Qi, and saw that Wen Qi's phone was still on the chat interface with Zhu Qingzhi, a slight smile flashing across his lips.
He's physically present but mentally absent. Is this what modern young people call "love-struck"?
Director Zheng was about to tell them to release the person, but then he suddenly remembered something, "You also have a relationship with Shen Rou?"
Wen Qi turned off his phone, avoiding the topic without batting an eye: "Didn't anyone from the Zhao family come over?"
Director Zheng knew he didn't want to talk about Shen Rou, so he went along with it: "That Zhao family member is just like you, with a mind full of tricks. Luckily, this investment didn't give the Zhao family too much of a share, otherwise I would have really quit."
Then he stood up and said, "Let's go, let's go. Going to the girl will only be an eyesore."
Wen Qi put his phone away and stuffed it into his suit pocket, raising an eyebrow slightly as if he couldn't tell good from bad: "Thank you for your kind words."
The wintersweet trees in front of the restaurant were in full bloom, their large, pale yellow blossoms shimmering under the streetlights, their fragrance carried on the gentle breeze and soft moonlight.
A tall, slanted figure blended into the swaying shadows of the trees, mingling with the moonlight and the fragrance of flowers—it was Zhu Qingzhi.
The warm yellow light from the streetlights filtered through the branches, casting dappled patterns of light on her shoulders. A few scattered plum blossom petals clung to her pink and white checkered cashmere scarf. The wind ruffled her long hair, further softening her features.
Her eyes were clear and bright, reflecting the shattered moonlight. The moment their eyes met, Zhu Qingzhi tilted her head, like a cunning little animal, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before gently shifting to the empty space beside her.
Without any extra movements, just that one glance was like an invisible thread gently tugging at him, and her meaning couldn't be clearer: "Come here."
Wen Qi was startled. His phone vibrated in the inside pocket of his suit, but he didn't care. His heart was gripped by her gaze, and every step he took was filled with an involuntary submission.
The moonlight cast shadows on the trees, her eyelashes fluttering like butterflies, and two long, slanted shadows intertwined on the ground. The night wind swayed the shadows on the ground, as if trying to make the two shadows even tighter.
Zhu Qingzhi swayed slightly, a mischievous smile playing at the corners of her eyes: "President Wen, those few steps you took were quite interesting, huh? Do you think I'm going to eat you up?"
Wen Qi was brought back to his senses by her joke, "President Wen," it seems she knows everything.
"No." His voice was lower than usual, and when it reached Zhu Qingzhi's ears on the evening breeze, it had a slightly hoarse quality that was almost imperceptible.
The night was chilly, so Zhu Qingzhi stopped beating around the bush: "Are you here today representing the Wen family? Chaoxing? Or..." She awkwardly looked away, then tiptoed, her voice pausing before she mumbled the last "I" through her throat.
Wen Qi came here today with no intention of hiding anything anymore. Even if Zhu Qingzhi didn't say it now, he was planning to lay his cards on the table.
Chaoxing was established for her, Yunshuiyao was obtained for her, and the LR endorsement was to support her... We didn't say it before because we were afraid she wouldn't accept it. After all, given her personality, she dislikes "taking shortcuts" the most.
A chilly breeze swept past the edge of the lamplight, causing his collar to sway slightly and his Adam's apple to bob. When he looked up again, his cold, handsome features stood out sharply in the light and shadow: "These things were not handled properly by me..."
Zhu Qingzhi suddenly took a step forward, her breath carrying the coolness of the night breeze, and gently brushed against Wen Qi's chin. She could sense Wen Qi's inexplicable nervousness.
Well, if it were before, she might have been really indignant, maybe even thrown a tantrum, insisting on dismantling these "special treatments" completely. But now, to hell with it...
She put her hands on her hips and said, "Do I look that unreasonable, my patron?"
With a slight redness on the tip of her nose and a deliberately fierce expression, her voice trailed off with an undeniable intimacy. As if possessed, Wen Qi ruffled the top of her head and said, "That's true, my dear wife."
Her hair was a mess from his ruffling, and his "My dear wife" left her completely flustered. Zhu Qingzhi turned her head away and shook off his hand, letting out a soft "humph." Her hands were still on her hips, but the "accusatory" aura she had just displayed was long gone.
"It's freezing! It's freezing! It's turning me into an icicle!" Zhu Qingzhi gasped, seemingly trying to find an excuse to escape, but the next second she threw herself into his arms, burying her face in his warm coat. "You didn't even bother to warm me up!"
She nestled in his arms, her voice muffled yet defiant, and even pressed herself closer to him. Wen Qi's heart skipped a beat at her sudden pounce, and he stumbled back half a step, still somewhat caught off guard.
One second she was plotting her escape, the next she unexpectedly threw herself into his arms—she was truly unpredictable. Her messy hair brushed against his chin, a slight tickle creeping up his skin and into his heart, making him instantly forget how to react.
But then, all distracting thoughts vanished, and an indescribable joy quickly spread through her. Her anxious heartbeat became even more restless. It turned out that she wasn't looking for an excuse to escape, but rather a reason to snuggle into his arms.
The breath of the person in my arms pierced my chest through my thin shirt, the tingling sensation stimulating my senses and calming all my agitation.
Wen Qi belatedly raised the corners of her lips, and her arm, which had been slightly stiffened by the bump, slowly tightened, her palm pressed against Wen Qi's back, pulling Wen Qi even closer into her embrace.
He lowered his head, gently resting his chin on the top of her head, a faint scent of roses lingering around his nose: "Okay, I'll cover it for you."
The indulgence and tenderness in Wen Qi's voice instantly transported us back to a few months ago, to that moment in front of Xisha Gate. At this moment, the beating of his heart in his chest sounded like the gears of a clock, echoing the questions surging in Zhu Qingzhi's heart.
Xisha's encounter was what she thought was her first meeting with her nominal husband, but in reality, it wasn't.
Chao Xing debuted around the same time as her, and the LR endorsement with zero contact and no trial period was not a pie falling from the sky. Director Zheng's comeback after a ten-year hiatus was not something that happened overnight.
These previously overlooked doubts wove into a fine net under the moonlight, enveloping her breath and heartbeat. Three years is neither long nor short, but Wen Qi's feelings for her must have been far more than just three years.
She asked, "When did you start paying attention to me?"
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Author's note: Kiyoshi [shy]: Wow.
Wen Qi [Keep it up]: Be patient.
Director Zheng [Joker]: ?
Ah Mei: Enjoy reading, everyone! I'll try my best to update daily! [cheering emoji]
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