Even if Xia Xiange and Gu Zhong had some personal grudges, they wouldn't go so far as to target her without any benefit; it would just be a side effect.
Are Miss Ling and Miss Gu preparing to leave?
Sensing Gu Zhong's growing impatience, Xia Xiange very considerately asked, preparing to bring this unexpected meeting to a close.
"I've stayed here long enough, it's time to go somewhere else."
Ling Yan nodded politely, adopting the same courtesies she used in business meetings.
"Well... I look forward to our next meeting, Mr. Ling."
Xia Xiange chuckled softly, took the lead and walked past them, leaving only a few wisps of ethereal and intoxicating fragrance behind.
--------------------
Author's Note:
The villain appears
Chapter 42 Agent and Movie Queen (Fourteen)
================================
"Sister, who exactly is that person?"
Gu Zhong walked around behind Ling Yan, rested his chin on her shoulder, being careful not to put too much pressure on her, but tightened his arms around her waist, his expression showing dissatisfaction.
"Summer Strings at Dawn".
Ling Yan turned her head slightly, avoiding Gu Zhong's questioning gaze.
"Sister, I always feel like you two have known each other for a long time."
Gu Zhong narrowed his eyes and moved even closer.
"..." Ling Yan's body stiffened for a moment, then relaxed again. This little guy always has such a sensitive intuition.
"No, at least in my life, this is indeed the first time I've seen her today."
She still vehemently denied it, using a teasing tone to say what sounded like a perfunctory truth.
"Sister~"
Gu Zhong reached out and tickled her waist in annoyance.
"No!" Ling Yan couldn't stand the tickling and broke free from her, turning around to look seriously into Gu Zhong's eyes. "I'm serious. Just know that you should be wary of her; she's not here with good intentions."
"I'll listen to my sister."
Tilting his head, Gu Zhong obediently replied.
After the two returned to China from their travels, the buzz surrounding Gu Zhong had faded considerably, replaced by news of Qu Xiaoran's collaboration with Chen Xi.
The film's production company has joined forces with industry giants, bringing in an international special effects team to produce an epic war film set in space. This news has attracted widespread attention since its release.
If there's one thing that's most scarce in the domestic film market, it's definitely special effects blockbusters. Audiences are eagerly anticipating the release of a domestically produced film with impressive special effects.
The stock market value of Dawn rose with the wind, which also generated a lot of buzz for the completed filming of "The Astrologer".
If this series of combined attacks goes smoothly, Dawn will be able to rise to another level, and Starlight will probably be completely suppressed by it.
Ultimately, the market is only so big. If someone gets a bigger slice of the pie, the rest of the people will inevitably get less.
After receiving the marketing department's analysis report on future entertainment trends, Lingyan tapped the black solid wood tabletop with the tip of her pen.
"How's the person I sent to dig up doing?"
"Most people were reluctant to leave their original studios and politely declined."
The director standing in front of him reported respectfully.
Upon hearing this, Ling Yan frowned. The director's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly changed the subject, afraid that if he was even a second too slow, he would be fired by the boss.
"but--"
"I just want the results. No beating around the bush!"
Ling Yan shifted her gaze from the report to her subordinates, speaking calmly yet with an unspeakable air of pressure.
"Yes, Mr. Ling. We finally recruited three people. Although they are not as technically skilled as the original studio staff, they have their own ideas. With the support of Starlight's training program in recent years, they are capable of setting up our own special effects studio in the shortest possible time."
Realizing that the seemingly young and easy-going boss didn't want to hear about the employees' arduous struggles, the director succinctly delivered the answer Lingyan wanted to hear.
"Very good." Ling Yan praised, "Call the people from the technology department and the marketing department over. Starlight has been sharpening its blade in silence for so many years, it's time to unsheathe its sword. We can't let others trample on us."
"In addition, Tianchen has expanded very quickly this year. Its ambitions are quite large, and the landmines it has planted are about to explode."
Soon, news spread that Starlight had set up its own special effects studio, and it was clear to everyone that they were going to challenge Dawn.
If you hire a foreign special effects team, I'll build it myself.
The clash between two industry giants inevitably caused a stir, and the internet quickly became abuzz with all sorts of gossip and rumors.
After all, exposing each other's dirty laundry is a normal way of fighting in the entertainment industry, which has given the gossip-loving public another treat.
Busy developing new strategic plans, Lingyan held meetings and negotiations day and night. Not wanting to leave Gu Zhong alone at home, she could only bring him to the company every day.
Fortunately, Gu Zhong was a star performer, so his appearance at headquarters wasn't a big deal. However, it was inevitable that some clueless people would come up and cause trouble.
"Oh my, isn't this Miss Gu?"
A woman with heavy, glamorous makeup bumped into Gu Zhong in the tea room on the eighth floor, and made an exaggeratedly surprised gesture.
"You've never been to the company before, have you? Your agent always handled everything by himself. What brings you here today?"
Gu Zhong turned his head and immediately recognized the woman in front of him whose words were dripping with sarcasm. Before she arrived, this woman was Yang Mei, who was ranked second in Starlight.
The former top female star's contract expires this year, and she will most likely leave to go solo.
Yang Mei's palace drama filmed last year achieved remarkable success, and she was bound to be the next star to be heavily promoted by Starlight Media. However, Gu Zhong suddenly appeared out of nowhere, so it's no wonder she was so hostile.
The way that question was asked made it sound like a concubine vying for the emperor's favor in the imperial harem; I wonder if it's a habit I picked up from the previous drama.
"Miss Yang, perhaps you just haven't encountered this before."
Since they were all from the same company, Gu Zhong didn't want to make things awkward, so he replied calmly and politely.
"Oh? Gu Zhong?"
Just as Yang Mei moved her lips, about to speak, a middle-aged man walked out of a nearby room. He was wearing a sharp brown suit, silver-rimmed glasses, and his hair was neatly parted in a three-seven ratio.
At most men's age, this man would be considered dashing and handsome—though he did appear a little greasy.
He had a smile on his lips, but it had an unsettling, incongruous quality.
Gu Zhong thought back carefully and realized that she didn't seem to know this person, but the man clearly knew her.
"This gentleman—?"
"Miss Gu is quite precious. She was kept well hidden by her agent before, so it's understandable that she doesn't know Mr. Wang."
Yang Mei chuckled lightly, acting as the middleman in the introduction, but her words inevitably added fuel to the fire.
This reminder made Gu Zhongcai remember with difficulty who this Mr. Wang was. Ling Yan had mentioned him to her by chance before—someone she needed to stay away from.
Wang Ze, the vice president of Starlight, effectively controls half of the company's power, getting involved in Starlight's cinema chain, marketing, and production.
He was clearly in a high position of power, but he was actually a seemingly respectable beast. Although he was picky, he didn't discriminate between men and women, and none of the artists he set his sights on could escape his clutches.
Gu Zhong's gaze swept back and forth between Yang Mei and Wang Ze, and he secretly became more vigilant.
"It's alright. After all, Miss Gu has recently gained the favor of the person above her, and she's receiving a lot of resources. It's only today that I, Wang, have the opportunity to get to know Miss Gu."
Wang Ze remained expressionless, smiling as he politely extended his hand.
Gu Zhong suppressed his disgust and shook hands with him briefly.
In that brief moment, the middle-aged man's rough knuckles brushed against her palm as if by accident, making Gu Zhong's hair stand on end. She wished she could rush to the bathroom and wash her hands a hundred and eighty times.
"Mr. Wang, I have something to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."
Ignoring the fact that Wang Ze was a high-ranking executive in an entertainment company, Gu Zhong took the initiative to say goodbye.
"It is I, Mr. Wang, who has taken up Miss Gu's time. I will invite Miss Gu to dinner another day to apologize. I hope you will do me the honor of attending."
Wang Ze doesn't seem to have any intention of forcing her to stay, but this invitation has left Gu Zhong in a rather awkward position.
"Gu Zhong is very busy, I'm afraid he won't have time to have dinner with President Wang."
A familiar voice, like a divine intervention, rescued Gu Zhong from dire straits.
"President Ling."
Yang Mei, who was standing next to Wang Ze, instantly became dignified, and unconsciously put a meter's distance between herself and Wang Ze.
"Is President Ling's meeting over?"
For a fleeting moment, Wang Ze's lips curled into a gentle smile.
"Naturally, with Mr. Wang absent, the meeting progressed by leaps and bounds."
Ling Yan walked closer, pulled Gu Zhong to her side, and looked at Wang Ze with an unfriendly expression.
"Hehe, President Ling truly lives up to his reputation as a business prodigy; his leadership skills are undoubtedly top-notch."
Wang Ze narrowed his eyes, ignoring the sarcasm in Ling Yan's words, and instead continued to flatter her with a smile.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take it now. As President Wang knows, the upcoming project cannot afford to fail."
Impatient with dealing with this hypocritical smiling tiger any longer, Ling Yan took Gu Zhong's hand and turned to leave.
"Farewell, Mr. Ling."
With a slight bow, Wang Ze saw him off with a smile.
"Mr. Wang, you really have a way with your temper."
After watching the two walk away, Yang Mei came closer and fanned the flames.
"Smack!"
Her response was a resounding slap.
"Bitch, it's none of your business how I am. Remember who you are."