Want to Hide You and Time Away
By Bei Qing
Liking is a seven-part wildfire, roaring with the wind, burning for you.
Chapter One
December, Beijing.
The winter chill was sharp, the sky high and the fog cold.
When Shen Qianzhan’s flight landed, it was already evening.
The sky hadn’t completely darkened yet, still holding onto the faint, lingering glow of dusk. The city, cloaked in deep twilight, was already ablaze with lights, as if draped in a golden veil, shimmering and dazzling.
The nightscapes of bustling cities always carry a touch of intoxicating illusion and a moth-to-flame yearning—Beijing is like this, Shanghai is like this, and Nanchen is too. But at this moment, Shen Qianzhan had no mind to appreciate this once-coveted kingdom-like panorama. She practically stepped off the plane with a stride that seemed to crush the thin, hazy mist.
This business trip had taken her through several major cities in Europe and Australia, back-to-back, scouting suitable filming locations for the crew and budgeting the required production costs.
It sounded a bit complicated, but translated, this work assignment meant—enjoying life with public funds, eating, drinking, and having fun, while incidentally preparing a budget for a publicly funded tour.
Quite lovely.
But that was only if the PR crisis of Xiang Qianqian’s diva antics being publicly “executed” hadn’t happened.
Shen Qianzhan worked at Thousand Lights Pictures. The company hadn’t been established for long; though it had gained some presence in the industry over the past few years, it was still nothing compared to the well-known, established film and television companies.
Xiang Qianqian was the milestone for Thousand Lights Pictures as it crossed over from investment and production into talent management. Her significance wasn’t just as the company’s top star; she was the living proof of Thousand Lights Pictures’ successful star-making operation.
Her value was comparable to Thousand Lights Pictures’ cash cow.
Logically, as a producer, Shen Qianzhan shouldn’t be responsible for the artists signed by the company—that fell to their managers. Even if something happened, it wasn’t her concern. She could have remained carefree, only needing to worry about securing investments, assembling the production team, finalizing directors and actors, and explaining to the boss how the filming budget had doubled again.
But Xiang Qianqian was different.
When Thousand Lights Pictures first launched its talent management project, it was Shen Qianzhan who personally discovered and nurtured Xiang Qianqian, even participating in the entire planning of the management project back then.
She had personally handled marketing, negotiated projects, fought for endorsements. Before Xiang Qianqian was handed over to her current manager, it was Shen Qianzhan who spared no effort and held nothing back to make her famous.
When a child you’ve raised makes a mistake, don’t you have to discipline them yourself?
—
Shen Qianzhan’s business trips always included a company car.
Almost as soon as she reached the airport exit, a black seven-seater business vehicle pulled up right in front of her, perfectly timed.
A young man stepped out from the passenger seat, in his early twenties, tall and slender with fair skin, narrow eyes, a high, straight nose bridge, and sharp facial features. Whether judged by face or figure, he was completely on par with third-tier male idols in the industry.
Su Zan must have groomed himself before heading out—his skin was milky and translucent, his slicked-back hair meticulously styled, not a single strand out of place, each hair stiff as steel, unmoved by the wind.
Shen Qianzhan glanced at him, then couldn’t help but glance again: “How much hair gel did you slather on your head?”
The smile on Su Zan’s face froze. He turned to check his reflection in the car window: “Is it that exaggerated?”
As he turned, the bouquet of sunflowers he’d been hiding behind his back was fully exposed to Shen Qianzhan’s view. She raised an eyebrow and sneered: “Here to apologize on Xiang Qianqian’s behalf?”
Su Zan was Xiang Qianqian’s manager. Even before that role, he was the young master of Thousand Lights Pictures. Because he spent his days fooling around and neglecting his duties, Su Lanyi had tossed him to Shen Qianzhan for “training.”
Shen Qianzhan had zero interest in anything besides making money, let alone “training” a brat who refused to admit defeat, wouldn’t listen to advice, and thought everyone in the world besides him was a worthless punk.
After Su Zan arrived, he served as her personal assistant and drinking companion, tempering his attitude for a full two years. Whether his dog-like temper was truly worn down by her or the little wolf-dog had finally learned to temporarily retract his claws, Shen Qianzhan watched as his professional skills improved, then clapped her hands and casually tossed Xiang Qianqian to him to manage, washing her hands of the matter.
But it hadn’t even been half a year. Just one moment of oversight, and the cash cow she’d painstakingly built over several years had been gnawed rotten by pests.
Su Zan was already feeling guilty. With her laying it out so bluntly, whether he offered the flowers or not felt awkward.
Shen Qianzhan acted as if she didn’t notice his predicament at all, slightly lifting her chin to indicate: “It’s cold. Let’s talk in the car.”
—
The car’s heater was on full blast.
To appease her anger, Su Zan had prepared quite a bit. Besides the flowers, he’d also arranged for afternoon tea snacks and a thermos of red date bird’s nest soup in the car.
The level of devotion was just short of bringing a foot-soaking bucket and personally washing her feet.
Unfortunately, Shen Qianzhan wasn’t buying it.
After Xiang Qianqian’s incident, although Su Zan had reacted quickly, immediately drafting a public opinion management plan to discuss with her, the damage was still severe, with significant negative impact. If it weren’t for the efficient and proactive crisis management, and the fact that Xiang Qianqian’s reputation wasn’t completely ruined, the situation now wouldn’t just be lying low for a few months, quietly waiting for the right time to make a comeback.
Shen Qianzhan hadn’t been in the country, so many matters were beyond her reach. After scratching the surface for a few days, she’d already built up a bellyful of anger: “Has her wings hardened? Does she think she can fly now?”
Having been Shen Qianzhan’s personal assistant for two years, Su Zan had long since figured out her temper. Once Shen Qianzhan started speaking with barbs, you absolutely couldn’t follow her lead. Otherwise, no matter how thick-skulled you were, this woman could rub your head bald.
He smiled, offering a very amiable concern: “Sis Qianzhan, this business trip must have been tough, huh? Looks like you didn’t buy much—left with one suitcase, came back with just two more.”
Shen Qianzhan shot him a glance but didn’t speak.
Su Zan continued: “The latest flap bag from Chanel—heard it’s sold out in Europe too. Did you manage to get one, Sis Qianzhan?”
“And that Gucci collab with the little bees…”
Shen Qianzhan was most vulnerable when someone talked bags with her. Her expression turned sour as she forced out three words: “Got it.”
Su Zan grinned, about to flatter her with some rainbow-puffing praise, when Shen Qianzhan’s face hardened. She pinched his chin and lifted it, warning him word by word: “Don’t spend your days thinking about playing around and muddling through. How long has Xiang Qianqian been famous, and you’re already letting her throw diva tantrums and pull faces? Once a reputation falls, it can’t be propped back up. Have you ever seen a chastity arch that’s collapsed get washed clean again?”
With that, she released him, leaning back into the seat with a deep sigh: “Xiang Qianqian’s path to fame can’t be replicated twice. If you really can’t handle it, change people sooner rather than later.”
Shen Qianzhan always meant what she said. Su Zan knew she was serious this time, his expression turning solemn, no longer daring to be flippant: “I understand. I’ll be more careful from now on.”
“Just you being careful isn’t enough.” Shen Qianzhan closed her eyes slightly, her tone casual and lazy: “You have to make Xiang Qianqian understand her own worth. Don’t let her float out of the galaxy just because fans flatter her. This industry isn’t short of people who work steadily. Opportunities that others beg for but can’t get—if she keeps acting up, not only will others not give her chances, but Thousand Lights will directly drop her too.”
These words were too heavy. Even Su Zan didn’t know how to respond for a moment.
His silence instantly chilled the atmosphere in the car, leaving only the mechanical female voice of the navigation system repeatedly reminding of congested traffic ahead on the elevated road.
Shen Qianzhan’s original plan was to meet with Su Zan first, then attend a dinner. Now that they’d talked it through, she suddenly felt a bit listless, unsure why she’d rushed back to the country in such a hurry.
She didn’t want to see Xiang Qianqian—what was the point of listening to apologies? She wasn’t the type who needed others to grovel to elevate her social status or prove her personal worth. With that time, she might as well meet some fresh-faced young actors and feast her eyes.
Thinking this, her heart stirred slightly. She opened her eyes and asked Su Zan: “What time is the dinner tonight?”
Shen Qianzhan was currently preparing for a tribute drama scheduled to start filming next year—a quota-assigned project that dozens of film and television companies had fought over but failed to secure.
The dinner she was attending tonight was hosted by the production company. Besides discussing the project’s preparation progress, the main purpose was to introduce Shen Qianzhan to the newly joined investors.
Given the project’s progress and prospects, Shen Qianzhan naturally couldn’t refuse.
“Seven o’clock.” Su Zan glanced at his watch: “If we head over now, even with traffic, we’ll arrive on time.”
Shen Qianzhan slowly hummed in acknowledgment, then asked: “Do you think we should bring Xiao Yi, Xiao Er, Xiao San…”
Su Zan knew exactly what she was scheming the moment he heard this. While inwardly complaining that a thirty-year-old woman was as fierce as a wolf or tiger, he mercilessly shattered her fantasy: “I think it’s highly inappropriate, and I advise you not to entertain such whims. The production company, investors, and platform representatives dining tonight are all proper people, unlike you. I checked in advance—the investor representative this time particularly hates smoke-filled, chaotic dinner environments. So tonight, besides necessary team members, not only are no outsiders allowed, but not even a fly can get in.”
Hearing this, Shen Qianzhan immediately felt regretful: “What a pity. This investor representative probably doesn’t know what ‘feast for the eyes’ means.”
Su Zan: “…” At this moment, he really wanted to go like those Moments posts claiming Shen Qianzhan only got this tribute drama through pimping—too accurate.
Still immersed in the disappointment that Xiao Yi, Xiao Er, and Xiao San wouldn’t be joining the dinner, Shen Qianzhan didn’t notice the dangerous thoughts swirling in Su Zan’s mind. She continued probing: “What about bringing Zhou Yan? He’s an artist under Thousand Lights—barely counts as a team member, right?”
Su Zan fell into an odd silence for several seconds.
He really wanted to advise Shen Qianzhan not to appear so desperate at times. The words reached the tip of his tongue, but he feared being cut down. After steeling himself for a while, he said: “Sis Qianzhan, you—someone with no romantic experience to speak of—why do you always like to play the role of a seasoned playboy who’s wandered through countless fields?”
Shen Qianzhan protested: “Who says I have no romantic experience? In Xi’an…”
Su Zan silently rolled his eyes internally. Fine, that story of her Xi’an fling—sleeping and leaving—had been bragged about for months without any updates. He was tired of hearing it, yet Shen Qianzhan managed to bring it up each time as if it were her first love.
He cleared his throat, subtly interrupting her: “Sis Qianzhan.”
“You might not know this,” Su Zan licked his upper lip, his survival instinct temporarily absent: “Every time you mention this incident and this man, you sound exactly like a manipulative woman who just tricked someone into sex.””
“…The kind that’ll face instant karma.”
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