Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 38
Jiang Lai and Lin Zhi were sulking, so Jiang Lai didn't contact her at all. She spent all her time at the gym or going to Jiang Wanqiu's house to freeload. This continued until November.
As the temperature gradually dropped, Jiang Lai changed into thicker clothes, including her trench coat, while putting away her sexy summer and autumn tank tops and short-sleeved T-shirts.
It started raining outside, and dark, thick clouds covered the entire sky, creating a gloomy environment that made one want to sleep.
It was only 10 a.m. when Jiang Lai finished tidying up the wardrobe, got up, and turned on the light, instantly brightening the room.
She sat on the dolphin-shaped rug, too lazy to get up, and leaned against the bed playing on her phone.
Six days have passed, and she hasn't spoken a single word to Lin Zhi. Lin Zhi hasn't come looking for her either. That brush past her that day was the last time she saw Lin Zhi. When she's not working, she doesn't go to the company. The fans downstairs, who are crazy and noisy, give her a headache. She's glad those people aren't her fans.
She opened Lin Zhi's Moments. There were hardly any selfies; most of the posts were reposts from public accounts or pictures of scenery. She scrolled down and refreshed the page, and suddenly a new photo appeared. It was a group photo of a company dinner, with Kevin and Sadako in it. Lin Zhi was standing between the two of them, and behind them were both unfamiliar and familiar faces. She immediately spotted Fang Wei and Qi Chuan.
Goodness, rivals in love meet. Jiang Lai is curious whether Qi Chuan can keenly sense that Fang Wei likes Lin Zhi.
Jiang Lai sighed, tilted her head back, lay on the bed, and stared at the ceiling. The bright light hurt her eyes a little, so she simply closed her eyes to rest, her mind filled with Lin Zhi.
The more she thought about it, the more heartbroken she felt. Lin Zhi was truly a hot commodity; both men and women liked her. If she continued to be so cold, would Lin Zhi forget about her?
If we're talking about marriage, Qi Chuan is a man, which puts him ahead of her in terms of gender. If we're talking about "treatment," Fang Wei is also a woman, so it's not impossible. Lin Zhi just doesn't accept being touched by a man. So if she hadn't met Lin Zhi in the first place, would Fang Wei be the one who made the appointment with Lin Zhi now?
Fang Wei isn't petty, he won't give Lin Zhi the silent treatment, and he's quite handsome...
Jiang Lai is not an insecure person, but she is a little depressed now, just like the weather outside.
Irritable.
The phone lit up and then went out. Jiang Lai hesitated whether to text Lin Zhi. Just as she was struggling with this decision, her phone suddenly vibrated. Jiang Lai was startled and unlocked her phone. It wasn't Lin Zhi, but Nan Moxi.
She answered the video call, forcing a smile: "Hi, Sister Nan, I heard you're on a business trip right now? Are you having fun?"
The weather was sunny where Nan Moxi was, a stark contrast to Jiang Lai's situation. She was in a hotel, where sunlight streamed generously into her room through the windows.
"Where do I have time to play? I'm exhausted." Nan Moxi looked tired, but her expression was serious.
Nan Moxi has always been like this. Other people's agents would take the opportunity to relax when they take their artists on business trips, but Nan Moxi is different. Work is work, and rest is rest. She keeps them very separate. She has too many artists under her management and can't be in two places at once. How can she have time to play with any artist?
Nan Moxi wouldn't just call Jiang Lai for no reason, so Jiang Lai knew that work was coming up.
Sure enough, the next second, Nan Moxi said, "You're going to record a show in a few days, right?"
Jiang Lai nodded, got up from the floor, and sat on the bed.
"Rumor has it that there's an industry gathering in S City the day after tomorrow, attended by many directors and actors. They say it's just for fun, but the directors are casting, and they all bring their scripts with them, or they're planning to go for a day and a night. Want to go?"
Jiang Lai immediately perked up. How could she, a newcomer, refuse such a great opportunity?
Can I go?
Nan Moxi smiled and said, "You can go if you pay."
Jiang Lai instantly slumped: "Then we're doomed? Our company..." is so poor.
Nan Moxi laughed in exasperation: "How can you talk about your own company like that? The company's revenue has increased a lot compared to last year, and the resources for our artists are better than those of other entertainment companies at the same time. It's not as poor as people online say."
"So the company paid me to go?"
No, that's not it.
Jiang Lai: "" If that's not the case, then don't say so much!
Nan Moxi explained, "There are many actors in the company with more potential than you. It's impossible to pay everyone to go, unless you have money of your own and pay for it yourself. And there are also thresholds. You have to bring out good works."
Jiang Lai started calculating her balance. It should be enough, but if she really took the money herself, she would definitely be suspected. Where would a recent graduate from an ordinary family get so much money?
Nan Moxi's phone call was like two buckets of water: first, she poured a bucket of warm water on you, and just as you were getting warm, she poured a bucket of ice-cold water on you.
Seeing that she was very disappointed, Nan Moxi stopped teasing her after achieving her goal: "It's like this, you're lucky. Xia Fanrou's agent contacted me before, saying that Xia Fanrou invited you to go with her and that you could bring one person. She chose you. As for the work, it's simple. Director Yu has some reputation in the industry. He spoke with the organizer, and the film 'Isolated Island' will be your work, even though it hasn't been released yet."
Jiang Lai grinned, showing her two rows of white teeth, and said, "Sister Nan, don't tease me next time. My heart is like a roller coaster. If I have heart disease, it's because you scared me."
"Alright, you've gotten such a great deal for free, I have to scare you a bit, right? Did you save the world or something in your past life? Good resources are being thrown at you like crazy."
Jiang Lai was actually quite surprised; it went too smoothly. She had originally prepared herself to face setbacks everywhere, but she didn't expect the resources to be so amazing. Take Xia Fanrou back then, for example; she played supporting roles for several years before gaining some fame, and then she got good resources and finally won the Best Actress award.
Jiang Lai smiled and changed the subject: "Maybe I'm the one destined for you."
"I'm dying of laughter. I'm not going to say anything more. I'll send you the compiled information later. Be careful and take Anna with you."
"Okay, thank you, Sister Nan."
Shortly after hanging up the phone, Jiang Lai received a document from Nan Moxi containing a list of directors who participated in the party, as well as... preferences—or rather, character traits, such as those highlighted as having a penchant for unspoken rules...
Nan Moxi: [Top Secret Document, Do Not Distribute, Remember and Delete.]
Jiang Lai understood instantly from those few simple words.
Nan Moxi has been an agent longer than Zhengzheng Rishang has been established. She is well aware of these things in the industry, but she won't interfere since it doesn't concern her. However, like Lin Zhi, she doesn't allow her artists to be sexually exploited unless they consent.
Jiang Lai noted down the names that were highlighted, and after looking at the stylistic preferences of the other directors, she deleted the document.
She texted Anna, who quickly sent her the flight information, indicating that Nan Moxi had informed her in advance.
Jiang Lai opened her wardrobe again, took out her suitcase and packed her clothes. It would probably be a while before she could come back. Her itinerary information had already been sent to her phone. After the party, she would participate in a program recording, which would last for two days and one night. After the recording, she would go on a roadshow with the crew. She probably wouldn't be back until December. That was fine. Her work was all done before the New Year, so she could still go home for the New Year.
She called Min Xuehua, but the other party didn't answer until half an hour later.
"I just finished a lecture, what happened?"
"Well, it's nothing, I just wanted to let you know I have to go on a business trip."
The other person paused for a moment, then asked, "Where to?"
"Recording a variety show in City S."
"Oh, okay, when are you going home?"
"Tomorrow, okay? By the way, Mom, are you going to participate in any activities recently?"
Min Xuehua makes a film almost every three years, and it always wins an award upon release. When she's not directing, she teaches at schools and occasionally makes guest appearances on TV shows. She's quite busy.
Min Xuehua said, "There aren't any events. I've got my eye on a script and I'm preparing it. I don't have time to participate in any events. What's wrong?"
"Oh...do you still keep in touch with other directors? I heard they had an industry gathering."
"I don't know. I haven't attended a party in years. I don't even want to go to a party, let alone a gathering. It's useless."
Indeed, actors in that kind of situation are not qualified to join Min Xuehua's crew. The actors in Min Xuehua's crew are all big names, and even the least experienced ones have won numerous awards.
Min Xuehua seemed to realize something and chuckled, "What? Want to participate? I can help you, it's just a matter of putting in a good word for you."
"No, no, I'm not interested in participating."
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Lai fell into deep thought. Judging from Min Xuehua's tone, she seemed to really not know about the gathering, so it probably wasn't her doing it. If even Min Xuehua didn't know, then her father couldn't possibly know either, let alone do anything underhanded.
Jiang Lai breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it had nothing to do with her family, it was probably just good luck.
Two days later, Jiang Lai and Anna boarded a plane to S City. They didn't fly first class, thinking of saving the company money, although they weren't short of money.
After the plane took off smoothly, Jiang Lai put on her eye mask, intending to take a short rest. Just as she closed her eyes, she heard someone come over and start talking to Anna.
Is it Jiang Lai?
Anna smiled and replied, "Yes, may I ask who you are...?"
The girl who was speaking was a little excited, her face turned red, and she quickly went back to her seat and pulled out a notebook. It was a planner, and it was covered with pictures of Jiang Lai. It was very beautiful.
Anna nudged Jiang Lai, who took off her blindfold and saw the notebook Anna handed her.
Jiang Lai was speechless with surprise. The notebook was covered with photos of Jiang Lai, many of which were posted on her Weibo account, and many of which she herself had never seen before. After thinking carefully, she realized that they were photos of her when she was filming a movie during her university years.
Did you take all of these photos?
The girl nodded, then shook her head violently: "I took the picture, but... I'm not a sasaeng fan. I've liked you for a long time. I've watched all your dramas, and I even went to the set to see you, but you seemed to be in a hurry and didn't notice me."
Jiang Lai then remembered that she was filming whenever she had free time. Min Xuehua, that "landlord," exploited her, giving her all sorts of work. She would change into her costume and run to school, completely unaware that her fans were taking pictures.
A strange feeling welled up inside me, and my nose started to sting.
"I know, I remember you."
She doesn't remember at all; she only said that because she didn't want to hurt her fans' feelings.
The girl's face grew even hotter, and her hands trembled slightly, but she tried her best to control herself.
Jiang Lai took the pen, signed her name, and then, feeling something was missing, looked up and asked, "What's your name?"
"Huh?" The girl was flattered and stammered out her name: "Wu...Wu...Qianqian."
Jiang Lai smiled and asked, "Is it Wu Qian or Wu Qianqian?"
The girl held up two fingers, swallowed, and said, "Wu Qianqian."
"Um."
Jiang Lai wrote: Wu Qianqian, I wish you a bright future, and I'll see you at the top.
Author's Note:
Jiang Lai: It's been n days since I last spoke to my sister. I miss her, I miss her, I miss her.
I'm looking for some Weibo IDs, but I'm at a loss for words, sob sob. Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants between 2022-04-08 20:29:35 and 2022-04-09 20:35:18!
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: LLA 42 bottles; Yu 2 bottles;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 39
Jiang Lai noted down the girl's name. After getting the autograph, the girl returned to her seat and didn't bother Jiang Lai again until the plane landed. However, Anna noticed that the girl kept crossing several rows of seats to focus her gaze on Jiang Lai.
Even though her idol of several years was right in front of her, she vehemently restrained herself from disturbing him. Such fans are rare in today's fandom. Anna suddenly recalled the stalker incidents abroad a few years ago; similar incidents have frequently occurred in China in recent years, and just thinking about it sends chills down her spine.
When they got off the plane, the girl kept a distance from Jiang Lai. She could have kept up, but she deliberately slowed down.