At the first regular meeting after the start of the work week, all the agents sat around a table to analyze their artists' performance last year and formulate development plans for this year.
After Nan Moxi finished speaking, Lin Zhi, unusually, added a few more words: "The legal department has already started preparing for the lawsuit, but the mastermind behind it all must be caught."
Nan Moxi reported, "This is really troublesome. The other party's mobile phone number belongs to an elderly man over seventy years old, and it's not a local number. He's very vigilant and seems to be plotting against Jiang Lai."
Lin Zhi frowned slightly, tapping her ballpoint pen rhythmically on the table, the atmosphere in the meeting room dropping to freezing point.
Kevin said, "Jiang Lai's background has been exposed, and that person is probably scared. If you ask me, there's no need to be overly cautious."
Zhang Zhen: "We still need a house, Lin Zhi. You need to be more careful."
Lin Zhi understood the underlying meaning in his words, but with so many people around, she could only pretend not to understand: "Indeed, the search for people can't stop. Sister Nan, you should remind Jiang Lai's assistant more often."
Nan Moxi nodded: "Okay."
"She's planning to focus on film and television this year, right?"
Nan Moxi: "Yes, many people have already approached me. Jiang Lai has high standards, and I have selected a few outstanding projects. I haven't accepted any variety shows for her yet, as her schedule is already full."
Nan Moxi's words enlightened Lin Zhi. Jiang Lai became famous overnight with "The Lonely Island". Even if she abandoned her background, she would still be popular and have a very busy schedule.
If you want to meet, you'll have to make time for it...
Lin Zhi touched the little dolphin necklace on her chest and tucked it into her clothes: "Okay, next one..."
After the meeting, Lin Zhi left the new girl group's manager behind. The first episode of the show aired, and the group gathered together to watch it, occasionally discussing it amongst themselves.
As expected, Fang Wei was one of the mentors' favorites. The other members of the group were somewhat inferior to her, and the mentors discussed pushing her into the final group.
Halfway through the movie, Jiang Lai called. Lin Zhi paused the playback, walked out of the meeting room to the rest area, and answered the call.
"Lai Lai, have you gotten off the plane?"
Jiang Lai's cheerful voice came from the other end: "Okay, let's head to the hotel now. We need to go through the script and discuss the details this afternoon."
Lin Zhi: "I just checked your schedule, it's very full."
"Yeah...it's a little sad not to see you, but then I think about how I'm making money for you, and it's not so sad anymore."
"What do you mean by 'making money'? Our company's distribution is very reasonable!"
"Okay, okay, are you free tonight?"
"have."
"I'll video call you tonight, I miss you."
Filled with sweetness, Lin Zhi pursed her lips and said in a nasal voice, "Mmm."
"Oh, right." Jiang Lai took out a brand-new dolphin nightlight from her backpack and admired it carefully: "I really like the New Year's gift you gave me."
Lin Zhi said, "I'm glad you like it. I was worried you'd think it was too cheap, after all..." It's not even close to the necklace you gave me.
Jiang Lai scolded, "How could you say that? I really like it. The previous one didn't even light up anymore. I almost broke it while fixing it. I couldn't even buy another one."
Lin Zhi bought it in her hometown when she was in high school. Later, she brought it to City A. Lin Zhi asked her high school classmate who was still in her hometown to help her buy it and mail it over. Her high school classmate ran his legs off for this. If it weren't for the high reward Lin Zhi gave him, he would have given up long ago. Later, it was found in the warehouse of this factory. It was covered in dust and had been there for who knows how many years. Fortunately, it was still usable when it was taken out.
"I'm glad you like it."
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Lai carefully put the nightlight back into her backpack. Anna looked at it curiously and asked, "Who sent this?"
Jiang Lai zipped up her jacket, not letting her see: "Guess."
Anna was right: "Could it be Actress Xia?"
Jiang Lai's conversation was quite ambiguous, and Anna happened to have read a fanfiction about Jiang You and Fan, and from then on, she became completely obsessed with shipping them.
Jiang Lai rolled her eyes at her and beckoned her over. Once Anna was close, Jiang Lai spoke slowly.
"It's Lin Zhi."
"What!"
It was as if a bolt of lightning struck Anna from the sky, making it very difficult to force CP fans out of their fantasies.
"You, you, you all..."
Jiang Lai nodded: "It's exactly what you think, but it has to be a secret."
"Don't worry, I'm your assistant... But isn't President Lin Director Min's student...?"
It's common knowledge that Jiang Lai is the daughter of Min Xuehua and Jiang Chuanmin, which has increased Anna's workload.
"yes."
"Director Min agreed?"
"certainly."
Anna is all better now. President Lin and Jiang Lai seem to be a better match than Actress Xia and Jiang Lai!
If there's something real, why would anyone buy a fake one?
——
Filming historical dramas is quite complex. This time, the director was even stricter than Yu Wei. Every shot was meticulously crafted and had to be exactly as recorded in historical materials. There could be no mistakes or inaccuracies. The costumes were also very elaborate. Jiang Lai played a princess. The first scene was a grand spectacle. She had to stand up straight while wearing heavy prop costumes. When she removed her makeup and changed clothes, you couldn't even feel her head.
The filming of this drama lasted for more than four months. When it wrapped up, it was already the hot month of July. Jiang Lai finished her last scene, and the four-month filming came to an end.
Lin Zhi and Nan Moxi came to celebrate her wrap-up. Lin Zhi stood under the parasol holding a bunch of roses, and only came over after the applause subsided.
"Thanks for your hard work."
Jiang Lai's hair ornaments were too heavy, so she could only hold her head while hugging the flowers: "Since you came to pick me up, I won't feel tired."
After the photos were taken, Lin Zhi took the flowers and helped her into the dressing room, where makeup artists gathered around to help her remove the complicated hair accessories.
Seizing the opportunity, Nan Moxi sat down with her iPad and began explaining the upcoming tasks. Jiang Lai, completely bewildered, asked Lin Zhi with a pained expression, "Sister, Nan-jie sounds like Tang Sanzang!"
Everyone around her laughed. Nan Moxi laughed in exasperation and scolded, "You little brat, now that you're famous, you're disobedient?"
Jiang Lai stuck out her tongue: "Not popular."
Anna exclaimed in surprise, "You're not famous yet? I've had quite a few fans on my way to and from the hotel these past few months. This is the first time I've ever seen such a big scene."
Jiang Lai still insists: "I haven't won Best Actress yet because I'm not famous."
Lin Zhi comforted her, "No rush, you're still young."
Jiang Lai sighed, "Yes...we're still young."
Leaving the film set, I immediately saw the stalls set up outside, with the words "Jiang Lai Fan Club" written on them. When the fans saw Jiang Lai appear, they swarmed over.
Jiang Lai handed the flowers to Lin Zhi, then picked up a pen and paper from a fan and signed her name with a flourish. No matter how many people came, she was never annoyed and signed each one very carefully.
After the support event ended, Jiang Lai got into a van, rolled down the window to say goodbye to her fans, and searched for a figure in the crowd but couldn't find one. She looked at a girl in the fan group, who seemed to be the one who organized the event, since everyone followed her instructions.
"Hello, I'd like to ask if you know Wu Qianqian?"
The girl's smile froze instantly: "She...something happened, she can't come."
Jiang Lai was taken aback and quickly asked, "Is it something difficult?"
The girl shook her head: "No, no, she's just busy preparing for exams lately."
Jiang Lai was relieved. Wu Qianqian was the first fan she had ever met, and she looked forward to becoming friends with her.
As the van started, Lin Zhi noticed Jiang Lai fiddling with her phone, looking sullen, and asked, "What's wrong? Why are you pouting so much?"
Jiang Lai said in a muffled voice, "One fan didn't come."
Lin Zhi asked gently, "Is it one of your fans whom you know very well?"
Jiang Lai nodded.
Lin Zhi smiled silently, took Jiang Lai's hand, and said, "Lai Lai, fans are people too. They have their own families and jobs. You can't expect them to come to every event."
"I know, but..."
"Lai Lai, look, I'm here. I'll come to every event you have from now on, and every wrap-up of filming."
"Really?" A glimmer of light flashed in Jiang Lai's dark eyes.
"real."
The two people in the back seat had long faces, thinking to themselves: "We should have just taken a taxi!"
Since Jiang Lai's next stop was in City A, and she was arriving the next day, they didn't stay. They went back to the hotel, grabbed their luggage, and headed to the airport.
The plane landed, and it was already dark.
Anna originally intended to take Jiang Lai back, but since Lin Zhi was there, she sensibly hitched a ride with Nan Moxi, since the young couple probably didn't want her to bother them.
As the car drove onto the overpass, Lin Zhi could no longer hear the person's voice. She glanced sideways and realized that the person was indeed asleep.
Lin Zhi drove to an unfamiliar neighborhood. This was her newly purchased apartment, a two-bedroom, one-living room unit with a balcony. The interior was spacious, and the minimalist decor suited Jiang Lai perfectly. She had bought a fully furnished apartment, thinking it would be quicker to move in immediately.
Just as she was about to turn off the engine, Lin Zhi suddenly saw a person standing not far away. Through the light of the car headlights, she could see the person's face clearly; it was Lin Xi.
Lin Zhi got out of the car and walked over: "What a coincidence, Mrs. Yu, I didn't expect to meet you here. You live here too?"
Just two months ago, Lin Xi had already completed her wedding with Yu Yang and become the official Mrs. Yu. Lin Zhi didn't know why she came here, but the fact that she never took her eyes off Jiang Lai for even a moment made Lin Zhi very uncomfortable.
Lin Xi gave off a strange feeling; she had a gloomy face and glared at Lin Zhi as if she wanted to devour her alive.
She saw the person in the passenger seat fast asleep, her molars grinding together, and she asked in a low voice, "What's your relationship with her!"
Facing the wife of her former business partner, Lin Zhi naturally had to give her face, but the thought that she was also Jiang Lai's ex-girlfriend who had betrayed her made her fists clench involuntarily.
"I don't feel obligated to tell you." The voice suddenly turned cold.
Forget about saving face for her; not tearing each other apart is already giving her plenty of face.
Lin Xi suddenly moved closer, grabbing Lin Zhi's wrist tightly. It was unclear how long it had been since she had cut her nails, but they actually scratched Lin Zhi's skin.
"I'm warning you, she's mine. I'd do anything for her. If you don't give her back to me, I'll ruin her reputation!"
Lin Zhi frowned: "You are Mr. Yu's wife, yet you won't let her go? Aren't you afraid Mr. Yu will kick you out?"
Lin Xi laughed, a sharp and piercing laugh: "Yes, I'm not afraid. She's mine, why should you lay a finger on her!"
"Your things?"
With a strength she didn't know she possessed, Lin Zhi broke free from her grasp, shook her off, and pushed Lin Xi away. Lin Xi crashed heavily against the wall and coughed for a long time before recovering.
Lin Zhi approached, pinched her cheek, and her warning tone sounded even more intimidating than Lin Xi's: "Try touching her and see what happens?"
Normally, people would have been terrified, but Lin Xi seemed to have gone mad, with a strange smile on her face: "I haven't deleted anything about her or me. If I just casually say that you betrayed me, guess what will happen if I post it online?"