Chapter 162
Investors who bring their own capital to the project.
When these two words are put together, it's hard not to have wild fantasies.
Zhao Xuning put down his half-finished beer and stared intently at Liang Shi.
Liang Shi: "?"
It was a long, seemingly century-long gaze between them.
Then Zhao Xuning turned his head and calmly watched TV.
Liang Shi: "?"
A few seconds later, Liang Shi coughed softly: "What?"
Zhao Xuning's voice was indifferent: "It's nothing."
But a barely suppressed smile appeared on her usually expressionless face.
Liang Shi couldn't help but ask, "What? Are you doubting the truthfulness of what I'm saying?"
Zhao Xuning shook his head: "No."
"Then what's with that expression?" Liang Shi took a big gulp of beer.
Zhao Xuning looked surprised and casually raised an eyebrow: "Hmm? What's wrong?"
“Do you know that’s three parts mockery and four parts indifference?” Liang Shi glared at her and said, “You are now completely unrelated to that person, but you are exactly the same.”
Zhao Xuning: "..."
The slight upturn of her lips suddenly froze, looking very awkward.
“It looks even more like it now,” Liang Shi said.
Zhao Xuning: "...Go."
Liang Shi stared at the message on his phone for another second, and finally said to her very seriously, "Don't you believe me? This is how it is for newcomers in the entertainment industry. It's not like Sister Ying, who has connections and resources right after she gets in. For small fry like us, those big shots see that we're somewhat attractive and just... you know what I mean."
Zhao Xuning: "..."
"Power can crush people." Liang Shi scrolled through his agent's messages, then closed them, still pondering whether or not to go.
Zhao Xuning continued to stare at her.
Liang Shi angrily asked, "Don't you believe me?"
Zhao Xuning shook his head: "I believe you."
She didn't seem to believe it much.
Liang Shi was already wondering whether he should bring pepper spray when he went tomorrow, and just as he was placing an order in the online store, a sudden inspiration struck him—
"Zhao Xuning, do you think I'm not attractive enough, so no one will sexually harass me?"
Zhao Xuning: "..."
She crushed the empty beer can in her hand, got up and went back to her room, leaving Liang Shi with only a back view that said, "Figure it out yourself."
Liang Shi casually picked up a cushion and threw it at her back, but it ended up hitting the closed door.
"Zhao Xuning." As Liang Shi got up to pick up the cushion from her doorway, he muttered to himself, "Is it so hard to compliment someone?"
Zhao Xuning, who was looking at Liang Shi's Weibo in his room: "..."
"You'll suffer sooner or later because of your personality," Liang Shi said.
Zhao Xuning's finger, which was hovering over the screen, suddenly paused.
That sounds so familiar.
Even their tone of voice is very similar.
At that time, Shen Hui also complained to her, "Is it so hard to praise someone?"
She just sounded more coquettish and aggrieved than when Liang Shi spoke of her.
At that time, Shen Hui's tone was much softer than Liang Shi's.
Shen Hui said to her, "Your mouth is so pretty, saying more nice things won't kill you."
Zhao Xuning often felt helpless against her.
They're not good at saying nice things, nor are they good at doing nice things.
Back then, I was young and arrogant, full of vigor, and always thought it was no big deal.
But looking back now, it seems that's true.
She has indeed suffered a lot because of this personality.
Zhao Xuning lowered his eyes, checked Liang Shi's company, and then made a phone call to a friend.
"Yes, it's me," Zhao Xuning said. "I heard that Huayi's senior management has changed?"
The other party was taken aback: "Yes, it was acquired by Minghui Jewelry and Zhenghe Group in a joint venture."
“Minghui Jewelry?” Zhao Xuning asked in surprise.
"Hmm, Xu Qingzhu, you should know her, right?" the other person said. "Didn't she take over her father's business a few days ago? Suddenly she reconciled with Haiwei Jewelry, and Su Zhe spared no effort in helping her. During that time, everyone said that there's no smoke without fire when things have been going on for so many years."
“Xu Qingzhu is the daughter of Sheng Qinglin and Su Yao. Some people have even seen her out with Su Yao.” The other party succinctly finished the story: “Now she has somehow gotten in touch with the Lu family in Kyoto and acquired Huayi in less than a week.”
Zhao Xuning replied, "Thanks."
The other person asked curiously, "But why are you asking these questions?"
“My cousin signed with that company,” Zhao Xuning said. “I’ll find out more about it.”
"Sister Ying," the other person said with a smile, "You don't even own your own company."
“She’s too lazy.” Zhao Xuning chatted with her for a few more minutes, then found an excuse to hang up the phone.
She also encountered the unspoken rules of the entertainment industry when Liang Shizhen was involved.
It has now been discovered that Liang Shi was overthinking things.
However, Zhao Xuning was startled awake by a dream in the middle of the night.
I was covered in a cold sweat.
She raised her hand to cover her eyes, tears welling up in her eyelashes.
I picked up my phone from the side and saw it was 1:20 AM.
It was when people were fast asleep.
The house was quiet; not a sound could be heard.
Thinking of that dream, Zhao Xuning's hands trembled as she dialed the number she had memorized for a long time, only to be met with a long, drawn-out dial tone...
Just as the call was about to automatically disconnect, it was answered. A slightly hoarse voice, tinged with a sob, asked, "Hello?"
"Why are you crying?" Zhao Xuning's palms were sweaty.
There was a sudden silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a wary voice: "What's it to you?"
"Shen Hui." Zhao Xuning closed his eyes, tears falling onto the pillow: "I...I'm sorry."
Chen Hui paused for a moment.
I was somewhat dazed when I heard those three words.
Even when they were dating, the number of times Zhao Xuning uttered those three words could be counted on one hand.
Even after she suffered a miscarriage, she never said a word of apology to her.
Zhao Xuning's expression and eyes were saying sorry, but she never actually said it.
Upon hearing these words, Shen Hui was startled, her mind going completely blank.
After a long pause, she finally found her voice: "Zhao Xuning... don't you think it's too late?"
“I dreamt about…” Zhao Xuning said, her voice choked with emotion, “about our family’s child.”
"And one more thing," Zhao Xuning sighed softly, "Ahui, I miss you so much."
The phone was hung up the moment the words left his mouth.
Zhao Xuning turned his phone upside down and buried his head in the pillow.
There was no sound, only the pillow got wet.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Shen Hui, having hung up the phone, sat up in bed and suddenly burst into tears.
Her cries echoed continuously in the empty and silent house.
So many things... seem to always be late.
What she wanted was Zhao Xuning's apology, his submission, and his submission.
She hasn't dreamed about her child for a very, very long time.
//
Liang Shi brought pepper spray with him when he went out and waited for his agent downstairs on time.
As I went upstairs with my agent, the agent reminded me, "If it's just normal business talk, we'll talk. Otherwise... there's no need. I'll come with you."
This can be considered a shot in the arm for Liang Shi.
Seeing Liang Shi looking at her in shock, the agent laughed and said, "What? Did you think I was going to sell you off right away?"
Liang Shi shook his head: "No..."
"I manage artists on set," the agent said dismissively. "I'm not a pimp."
Liang Shi: "..."
Straightforward, but very helpful.
“Our company doesn’t have that kind of culture,” the agent said. “It’s all about merit.”
Liang Shi nodded: "Looks like I joined the right company."
The two went upstairs and headed towards their agreed meeting place.