They're quite capable.
She subconsciously looked down and saw a carton of milk, the brand she usually drank.
She's a milk fanatic. On weekdays, she buys a big carton from the convenience store downstairs from her office to take up and drink. On Fridays, she buys two more to take home and put in the refrigerator, drinking one a day on the weekend.
She hadn't had time to buy any before leaving in a rush, but she unexpectedly found it here. Completely forgetting she was still angry, she took the straw Tang Yizhuo handed her, opened the packaging, and happily began sipping her milk. How could such happiness exist in the world?
"We're going to meet a friend at noon." Tang Yizhuo finally revealed some details of his itinerary as they approached the station.
Xu Luoluo, feeling obliged because she had been treated to a meal, nodded in agreement before asking, "What kind of friend?"
"You'll find out when you get there." Still keeping it all mysterious.
However, seeing him leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed, Xu Luoluo suspected that all the high-level decisions were just a pretext, and that he was simply too lazy to explain anything further to her.
Whether she talked or not, she rubbed her flat, hungry stomach and thought, "I'll eat with whoever I want, as long as I can get my food quickly."
She just hadn't expected that once they got to the restaurant, she wouldn't dare to wolf down her food. Even though it was indeed someone she knew.
"Producer Xu, it's been a long time." Xu Luoluo greeted him politely.
Producer Xu, dressed in a simple business suit, with her hair neatly tied up, stood up in black high heels and gave a professional smile: "President Tang, Luo Luo."
Tang Yizhuo glanced at Xu Luoluo, who immediately sat up straight upon hearing this, and smiled with interest before pulling out a chair and sitting down as well.
“I’ve read the outline of the new drama.” Producer Xu, true to his reputation as a workaholic in the industry, got straight to the point after just a few words. “The framework is grand, and the storyline is very rich. The market response to your previous drama also shows that fantasy is a field worth exploring. I won’t beat around the bush, I’m very interested in taking on this project.”
"That's wonderful!" Xu Luoluo said with a joyful expression. "I secretly hoped to work with you this time, and now my wish has come true."
"Seeing how well you two work together, I'm relieved." Tang Yizhuo chuckled and raised his glass. "Then I wish this project a complete success."
Seeing this, Producer Xu quickly picked up his wine glass. Xu Luoluo was somewhat surprised, but almost at the same time, she also raised her wine glass.
"But I'm sure you've heard from President Tang that the schedule is very tight this time." Producer Xu put down his wine glass. "We need to get the scripts for all 24 episodes within three months, and then we need to contact the director. Luo Luo, are you okay with anything?"
Three months? Xu Luoluo looked troubled. If she were writing scripts full-time, she could barely keep up, but she also had a day job, and when she was busy, she couldn't even say when she would get off work. Six months had always been her deadline for submitting drafts, and that was under the condition of working day and night to finish them. She didn't want to affect the production process, but this was not something she could easily agree to just by gritting her teeth; it wasn't realistic.
"Would it be faster if we hired an assistant for you?" Tang Yizhuo suddenly asked, just as she was hesitating about how to tell the truth.
Yes, she's always worked alone and has never thought about finding someone to share the work. Of course, not having the resources before was also a factor. Nowadays, many web series writers operate on a studio model, with a senior writer leading a team of junior writers to create content together.
“Of course.” She nodded, and after thinking for a moment, said, “If this assistant also has some screenwriting experience, I think three months is feasible.”
“Very good.” Producer Xu was also very satisfied. “I have quite a few young screenwriters on my side. If you are hiring, I can have them come for interviews.”
"Thank you, Producer Xu." Xu Luoluo readily accepted. Who else but Producer Xu could provide her with so many suitable candidates right now? Time was tight and the task was heavy. If she could recruit the right people during these few days in Z City, this business trip would be well worth it.
Not long after the business was finished and they were eating, Producer Xu received a phone call, saying that a project he was working on was about to be broadcast on a satellite TV channel and he was so busy that he had to leave first.
Xu Luoluo finally breathed a sigh of relief, poured herself a glass of soda, and prepared to savor the dishes on the table. However, looking at the largely untouched food, she wondered if Producer Xu had eaten enough. She certainly hadn't eaten a thing; she'd forgotten about hunger because of the tension, and now that she relaxed, she was starving.
She turned her head and her eyes widened. Tang Yizhuo was even faster than her and had already started eating. After sensing her gaze, he quickly put the roast duck leg into his own bowl, as if the "President Tang" who had just been so magnanimous was not him at all.
"Tch, childish." What a joke, would she, a grown woman, fight with him for a duck leg? She snorted disdainfully, and at the same time swiftly scooped both chicken legs from the soup bowl into her own.
Putting aside whether she's childish or not, her basic principle in life is not to suffer losses.
"By the way, who pays my assistant's salary?" After eating for a while, Xu Luoluo's mind suddenly regained its ability to think.
Tang Yizhuo slowly took off his disposable gloves: "Generally speaking, it's the investors of this project who approve it. Why didn't you ask them just now?"
"I..." Wasn't it because I was scared and nervous in front of Producer Xu that I forgot to ask?
Seemingly realizing this as well, Tang Yizhuo suddenly asked with great interest, "Why are you so afraid of Producer Xu?"
"If you're so curious, why don't you work with her for a day?" To put it bluntly, Producer Xu is a perfectionist and a workaholic. For that last project, she practically worked herself to the bone during script discussion meetings to ensure the project's approval. Although the final result was indeed excellent, and she genuinely admired Producer Xu's professionalism, the memory of those grueling days still left her with a psychological aversion to her.
Unexpectedly, she would be working with her again so soon. Xu Luoluo poured herself another glass of orange juice, downed it in one gulp, and picked up her phone with a heroic expression as if going into battle.
"Alright." Tang Yizhuo leaned back and waved his hand at her. "You don't need to worry about this. Just focus on writing the script."
Upon hearing this, Xu Luoluo loosened her grip, putting down her phone as if throwing a time bomb, and turned to look at him with starry eyes. She had already noticed that Producer Xu's attitude towards her was unusual; if he said he could handle it, he must be confident.
"I haven't asked you yet, how did you meet Producer Xu?" In a good mood, she couldn't help but gossip.
"You've already forgotten what I just told you?" Tang Yizhu shook his head, then surprisingly began to explain seriously, "This project is related to our company's new game. Do you think we'd just sit back and do nothing?"
"You mean," Xu Luoluo's eyes widened, "that you want to get involved too?"
Tang Yizhuo nodded.
She suddenly realized: "No wonder you asked me to finish the script and game outline. It turns out it was all related to you."
"After all, it's a project invested in by the company, and it's a new model of using drama to drive game development." Tang Yizhuo rubbed his temples, looking somewhat tired. "Someone has to worry about the feasibility of user acquisition."
"This is none of your business," Xu Luoluo murmured, looking down. "No wonder the public accounts are saying that your peers are surpassing you. You're not just surpassing them, you've already reduced me to dust and dirt."
"What are you doing, rewriting poems like that? The poet is turning in his grave." Tang Yizhuo ruffled her hair with a look of disgust. "Besides, I'm not your age."
"Ouch!" Xu Luoluo exclaimed, slapping his hand away. The fluffy curls she had carefully styled before leaving the house were now messed up by him. "So what if you're a few years older than me? What's with the arrogance?"
Tang Yizhuo: "Okay, you're so capable. Then go and talk to Producer Xu yourself."
"No way! You already agreed, why are you going back on your word?" Xu Luoluo immediately regretted arguing with him. She had forgotten that this man could change his mind faster than flipping through a book.
"However..." Tang Yizhuo saw her bitter and aggrieved face, and his voice couldn't help but carry a hint of amusement.
"No, but you go and tell him for me, I'll go back and write the script right now, it's settled!" Xu Luoluo didn't know what he was up to again, but seeing his tone soften, she knew there was hope, so she quickly interrupted him, picked up her phone, and was about to run away.
But before he could run a few steps, his wrist was grabbed. Tang Yizhuo stood up and his voice, tinged with laughter, came from behind him: "Why are you running? I haven't finished speaking yet."
That's exactly what I wanted to do—not let you finish speaking, so who knows what other demands you'd make. She tried to pull her hand away and continue running, but he held it even tighter, so she had no choice but to give up struggling and obediently stand still.
Seeing that she had finally calmed down, Tang Yizhuo continued, "But Producer Xu is probably busy right now, I'll talk to her later."
She turned around, somewhat surprised: "You mean this?"
"Otherwise what?" Tang Yizhuo raised an eyebrow. "Do you really think I'm the kind of person who goes back on their word?"
Xu Luoluo nodded vigorously.
"You woman are truly ungrateful," Tang Yizhuo sighed. Xu Luoluo didn't speak, shaking her wrist which he was holding, her eyes full of question marks. Is this what you call being good to her?
Tang Yizhuo looked at her speechlessly, as if she were talking to a brick wall, and let go of her as he walked outside: "I was just thinking of going back to sleep for a while, let's go."
"Oh." Xu Luoluo rubbed her wrist, which was finally free, and caught up with him. "Slow down."
For this "formal" Chinese meal, she even changed into high heels. To put it nicely, it made her walk gracefully; to put it bluntly, she couldn't walk very fast, and naturally, she couldn't walk as nimbly as him.
But Tang Yizhuo acted as if he hadn't heard, and without turning his head, he disappeared from sight in the blink of an eye.
"What's going on this time?" Xu Luoluo decided to stop chasing and take care of her feet, slowly walking back.
Given Tang Yizhuo's intelligence, it's impossible that he didn't notice she hadn't kept up. So there's only one truth: he's angry. She was a little confused; it was just a joke. Although he used to bicker with her, he had never actually gotten angry before.
Xu Luoluo suddenly recalled his rude "You don't know what's good for you," and couldn't help but feel upset. Why did she feel like she was always being scolded lately?
At the same time, Su Ze's cold voice echoed in his mind again: Have you ever liked anyone? I didn't expect you to have even fooled yourself.
He spoke calmly, not even explicitly scolding her, but every time he thought about it, his heart would ache sharply.
She unconsciously quickened her pace, wanting to get back to her room as soon as possible, whether it was to finish her script or to get some sleep, as long as she could banish that voice from her mind once again.
The hotel wasn't far away, and she quickly entered the lobby, but stopped before getting into the elevator.
The group of people checking in at the front desk looked very familiar. Xu Luoluo glanced at them from afar and saw Chen Shanshan, and Liu Ping as well.
Just then, Liu Ping also looked over, and upon seeing her, a hint of joy appeared on his face. Xu Luoluo was taken aback. What was he smiling about?
Since they were all colleagues, I couldn't just not react, so I nodded as a greeting and hurriedly turned and went into the elevator.
Why is he here too? The project proposal was just finished; isn't this the busiest time for their development department?
And after that day, he always acted like he was dealing with her in a very unpleasant way, as if he had suddenly become a different person. Xu Luoluo felt a chill run down her spine whenever she thought of his expression just now.
"Knock, knock, knock," the door was suddenly knocked on, startling her and making her heart clench.
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