She wasn't driving fast today, leisurely strolling back to the city.
Unexpectedly, the car broke down halfway through the journey.
Xi Jia pulled over, turned on the hazard lights, took a warning sign from the trunk, walked a short distance back, and placed it in the correct spot.
There's no village or shop in sight here.
It's some distance from the city center and not close to the horse farm either.
Xi Jia removed Ji Qingshi's number from the blacklist. At this moment, Ji Qingshi's number was more useful than the towing hotline.
She sent a message: "My car broke down on the road."
Soon, Ji Qingshi called: "Send me your location, and I'll bring people over right away."
Bored, Xi Jia tied up her long hair, put on gloves, picked up her tools, and prepared to try to fix it herself.
I opened the hood, but I couldn't understand anything about it and didn't know where to start.
A car passed by.
Zhou Mingqian only glanced at the people in front of the car unintentionally and caught sight of that figure.
At first, the face looked familiar, but I couldn't remember who it was.
After the car drove past, Zhou Mingqian remembered that it was a screenwriter who had submitted a script a few days ago, whose name seemed to be Xi Jia? He was arrogant, even domineering.
She even had the audacity to say that one day he would beg her to act in her script.
Zhou Mingqian is demanding at work and not very warm to people.
However, they still have basic compassion.
For example, right now.
Zhou Mingqian stepped on the brakes.
Then, looking in the rearview mirror, I kept reversing.
The car that had been there before returned, and Xi Jia turned her head to look at it.
The SUV window rolled down, and Zhou Mingqian asked, "Can I fix it myself?"
Chapter Thirteen
This was Zhou Mingqian's first time taking this route. He was filming in the suburbs today, and after finishing work, he drove back to the city by himself.
As luck would have it, Xi Jia's car broke down.
Xi Jia was even more surprised to meet the person she most wanted to work with here.
"You know me?" she asked curiously.
Zhou Mingqian countered with, "What do you think?"
Xi Jia was pleasantly surprised. She had long wanted to build a relationship with Zhou Mingqian, but had never had a suitable opportunity. This was a rare chance, so she didn't stand on ceremony, "Then I'll trouble Director Zhou."
Zhou Mingqian parked the car on the side of the road and got out.
Xi Jia took off her white gloves and found a new pair.
Zhou Mingqian had already taken his toolbox from his trunk and was wearing his own gloves.
Xi Jia looked at the gloves in her hand and put them back.
Zhou Mingqian has a cold, aloof personality that keeps people at arm's length.
Although he was trying to help, he was prickly and clearly not someone you could talk to.
Xi Jia crossed her arms and leaned against the car door, glancing at Zhou Mingqian every now and then.
She actually remembered Zhou Mingqian.
The key point is that Zhou Mingqian also knows her.
She had absolutely no recollection of how the two of them met.
Xi Jia opened the car door, took out her notebook from her bag, and flipped through the pages one by one. She finally found a useful record: it turned out that she had submitted a script to Xing Lan a few days ago, but he had rejected her.
She even teased Zhou Mingqian, only to be caught red-handed.
Closing her notebook, Xi Jia carefully chose her words, "I'm sorry about last time, I didn't mean to offend you."
Zhou Mingqian raised his eyelids slightly, but didn't reply, continuing with the inspection.
Her tone didn't sound like she was apologizing at all.
Xi Jia put the laptop back, took out her water glass, and slowly drank it.
The western sky was sparsely covered with clouds; today's sunset was not beautiful.
Xi Jia figured she had nothing to do that evening, and since she was eating alone anyway, it wouldn't hurt to order a couple more dishes.
"I'll treat you to dinner tonight as a way of expressing my gratitude," she said sincerely.
Zhou Mingqian didn't even look up. "No need."
After saying it, I felt cold inside, so I added a few more words: "It was just a small favor."
Xi Jia: "Don't be so polite with me. Now that you've fixed it, it saves me the towing fee."
Zhou Mingqian: "..."
There was no response. Xi Jia turned her head to the side, and Zhou Mingqian was bending over to check.
She said, "I'd like to ask you about the script." She paused, then added, "I heard that Mr. Yue's work was filmed and produced by your team."
I mean, where does she get so much kindness from?
The old drunkard's heart was not in the wine.
Although Xi Jia disliked Zhou Mingqian's arrogant temper, she tolerated it in order to recommend herself.
She tilted her head back and took a sip of water.
He continued, "I am a loyal fan of Mr. Yue. I have read his works more than a dozen times, especially the one you are going to photograph."
Zhou Mingqian said calmly, "Many screenwriters say that."
Xi Jia choked.
This means they don't believe her.
She put the lid on the water glass.
“I dare say that few people understand Mr. Yue’s work better than I do. I spent some time in the mountains and experienced life there firsthand.”
Zhou Mingqian didn't even bother to say anything and just closed the hood.
"All done?" Xi Jia asked.
"without."
"Then why did you cover it up?"
No problems were found.
"..."
She hired an amateur to fix her car.
Xi Jia didn't care whether the car was fixed or not. She opened the car door, reached into the passenger seat, grabbed her bag, and took out the book. "I've read Mr. Yue's books so many times they're worn out."
Zhou Mingqian glanced at it; this version was sold out long ago and was the first edition.
Xi Jia turned to the title page and walked a few steps to Zhou Mingqian: "Let me show you, here's the message Grandpa Yue left for me. Aren't you envious and jealous?"
Zhou Mingqian recognized Mr. Yue's signature. He himself was a fan of Mr. Yue's books and had also had the old man's signature, but it was just a signature.
Xi Jia closed the book and said, "I heard that Xinglan has already started having several screenwriters adapt that novel."
Zhou Mingqian did not respond.
He opened the car door and looked down.
Xi Jia said to herself, "I have an equestrian competition on the 10th. After the competition, I will make time to focus on revising the script. I will show it to you when it is ready."
Zhou Mingqian paused for a moment, then turned to look at her.
He's a professional rider.
No wonder the screenwriter's skills are so mediocre.
Xi Jia: "I hope Director Zhou will be able to see the fourth page by then."
Zhou Mingqian found out the problem with the car, just as he had thought: the fuse was loose, but it wasn't a big problem.
Xi Jia put the book away, her mind made up. After this tour ended, she would take a break and focus on revising the script.
Seeing Zhou Mingqian's disdainful expression, she really wanted to slap him in the face.
What would prove him wrong is if she produced a decent piece of work.
After the car was repaired, Zhou Mingqian gestured to Xi Jia, "Try starting it."
As he spoke, he took off his gloves.
Xi Jia got into the car, started it, drove for a while, and then it was normal.
She stepped on the brake, and just as she put her hand on the handlebars, intending to get out and thank him, Zhou Mingqian's car sped past and disappeared into the distance.
Xi Jia chuckled.
This man is really arrogant.
Xi Jia then remembered that her second brother, Ji Qingshi, was on his way to the rescue.
She sent a message to Ji Qingshi, telling him he didn't need to come.
Ji Qingshi was stuck in traffic on the way out of the city. He called back: "Did Mo Yushen come to pick you up?"
Xi Jia: "No, I ran into an acquaintance. The car is fixed, it's just that the fuse was loose. You don't need to come over."
Ji Qingshi: "I've canceled all my social engagements tonight to have dinner with you. You can eat at home, or I'll have the chef cook for you."