Chapter Thirty-Two
Begging for mercy?
That phrase seemed to strike a sensitive nerve in Ji Qinghe. His fingers paused on the coffee cup as he gave Shen Qianzhan a meaningful look. "You prefer it here?"
He glanced at his wristwatch.
Perhaps due to his long-standing relationship with time, or perhaps because Ji Qinghe inherently held time in reverence, every time he checked his watch, the lines from his brow to the corner of his eyes seemed like a framed slow-motion shot. His gaze deepened, focused and earnest.
Shen Qianzhan had seen him with a faint frown, as if lost in waves of desire, trembling from heart to body. That was a version completely opposite to the man before her now—as if he possessed two opposing souls, one standing by the clear riverbank, the other at the edge of a cliff's abyss.
She quietly took a breath, steadying her heartbeat.
Damn it, was this man sculpted according to her aesthetic standards? Every detail hit the mark.
Unaware of Shen Qianzhan’s rapidly shifting thoughts in that brief moment, Ji Qinghe lowered his wrist and casually placed the coffee in the car door’s storage compartment. "There isn’t enough time."
Shen Qianzhan, who had been captivated by the enemy’s charm and teetering on the edge of surrender, suddenly snapped back to reality. "What do you mean, not enough time?"
Warily, she placed the sealed document between them, as if drawing a line of demarcation—a futile attempt to establish clear boundaries.
The interior of the car was already a confined space, where breaths could intertwine within inches.
Shen Qianzhan’s pointless gesture made Ji Qinghe chuckle. He lowered his gaze, his eyes deep and bright, catching the last rays of the setting sun. A golden arc seemed to gleam in his pupils, reflecting a tri-colored glass-like luster. "Take the initiative and come sit here?"
Shen Qianzhan’s face was full of resistance, yet her mouth still spouted flattery: "It’s fine sitting here. I can fully appreciate Mr. Ji’s distinguished and handsome appearance."
Ji Qinghe saw right through her thoughts. He tapped the seat beside him with his fingertip. "Don’t make me say it twice."
Those accustomed to giving orders naturally carried an air of authority that was hard to resist.
Shen Qianzhan instinctively trembled, almost yielding.
When they first met, how could she have thought Ji Qinghe was a tame twilight wolf she could manipulate at will? Their clashes had ended in repeated defeats, leaving her with an almost indelible psychological shadow.
Seeing her stubbornness, Ji Qinghe reminded her, "The first installment of the investment hasn’t been transferred yet. It can be halted at any time."
Shen Qianzhan was least intimidated by threats. "We’re bound by a contract as cooperative partners. Who are you trying to scare?"
Ji Qinghe’s gaze fell on her unconsciously tightened grip on her phone. He smiled silently, offering her a way out. "The soundproofing in the back seat isn’t great. Are you sure you want Ming Jue to overhear some private conversation?"
No, she wasn’t.
Shen Qianzhan seized the opportunity and moved over, maintaining a careful distance—just a palm’s width away—close enough to engage but far enough to retreat, guarding against any sudden advances from the old dog Ji.
Ji Qinghe was well aware of her calculations and didn’t press further. He merely adjusted his glasses. "Internal disputes within Thousand Lights are not within Endless Year’s purview. As long as it doesn’t affect our cooperation or harm Endless Year’s interests, it’s none of my concern.""Out of consideration for you, I've already suppressed the documents. But the company's resources are limited; we can't endlessly rescue Thousand Lights time and again." His thin lips pressed together, the color on them shifting from pale to deep, suddenly taking on a somewhat bewitching quality. "Endless Year will not only refuse to cooperate with Thousand Lights, but when necessary, we will take special measures to sever ties promptly. No one wants to sink into a quagmire. I'm sure Producer Shen understands this principle?"
Shen Qianzhan certainly understood.
Businessmen prioritize profit; in the turbulent seas of commerce, you never know which storm will bring you down. Protecting oneself and preserving one's foundation has always been the primary rule for seeking advantage and avoiding harm.
When it came to handling matters, Ji Qinghe was far more decisive than Shen Qianzhan. He didn't give her a chance to speak, delivering his final verdict: "If you came to me today just to explain the situation, you can get out at the next intersection."
Shen Qianzhan was left speechless, her face alternating between pale and flushed.
Endless Year suppressing this press release was indeed going above and beyond. Professionally speaking, Ji Qinghe had already shown her considerable favor. Personally, she had always been committed to clarifying the nature of their relationship. After reaching an agreement, there was no reason for her to tear up the deal at the last minute and demand his cooperation.
Besides, how could Ji Qinghe possibly cooperate?
By publicly clarifying that they had no relationship? This man would never deny something that had actually happened.
Shen Qianzhan swore on her fingers that if she dared make such a request, Ji Qinghe would absolutely dare to reenact it all to help her remember. That bastard was like a spark ready to ignite at the slightest touch.
Better not clarify anything—the more you try, the murkier it gets.
Her thoughts raced, and she finally realized that her desperate move had been a panicked, foolish mistake.
Seeing her silence, Ji Qinghe raised an eyebrow slightly and, without any change in expression, dropped a depth charge: "I have another idea."
Shen Qianzhan looked over at him. His features were illuminated by the fading light, revealing an unusual softness. "Producer Shen might consider accepting my pursuit. As long as you're willing, all of Endless Year's resources will be at your disposal."
—
Shen Qianzhan got out of the car at the intersection ahead.
It was rush hour, and both taxis and ride-hailing apps were completely overwhelmed, with no drivers available.
She stood at the intersection for a long time, watching pedestrians come and go in waves, but still unable to secure a ride.
Beijing was too cold—so cold that the north wind felt like slicing blades against her face, freezing her thoughts and halting time.
After waiting through several traffic light cycles, just as Shen Qianzhan was considering alternative transportation, a car pulled over. The front window slowly rolled down, and Su Zan waved to her: "Sis Qianzhan, get in."
The car, filled with warm air, felt like a cozy sanctuary. Rubbing her frozen hands, Shen Qianzhan adjusted the radio and asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Mr. Ji sent me a location pin," Su Zan replied, noticing her poor complexion and speaking cautiously. "He said it would be impossible to get a ride at this hour and asked me to pick you up."
Shen Qianzhan pressed her lips together. They were dry, her lipstick half gone, leaving a somewhat patchy appearance.
But compared to the shock she had just experienced, her disheveled appearance was the least of her concerns.
Ji Qinghe was like a god orchestrating the battlefield, laying the groundwork step by step from the moment she proposed their meeting, building up to a grand finale.
When he only hinted at things, leaving half unsaid, Shen Qianzhan could still manage. Given his cunning, strategic nature, she hadn't expected him to be so forthright, unreservedly stating his intention to take advantage of the situation.Even her subconscious refusal had been anticipated, leaving her speechless with the phrase, "Take your time to consider it, and give me your answer in a few days."
How much did Ji Qinghe like her? Not necessarily.
Between adults, lust had always been more direct than love.
Rubbing her temples, which ached faintly from the wind, she replied wearily, "When is the annual party?"
Su Zan flipped through the calendar at a red light and answered, "Friday, in two days."
She hummed in acknowledgment, closed her eyes, and said nothing more.
—
Shen Qianzhan had always considered herself delicate and frail. After being exposed to the wind the previous day, she expected at least a headache, fever, or a bout of sneezing and coughing. Before bed, she even reminded Qiao Xin to bring her some cold medicine to work the next day. Unexpectedly, when she woke up the next morning, she was radiant and glowing, with no trace of the weariness she had anticipated.
After working as a producer for so long, her constitution had nearly become as resilient as a "diamond Barbie."
Though she was somewhat disappointed not to fall ill, Shen Qianzhan quickly adjusted her mindset and threw herself back into work.
The matter of finding a screenwriter had recently shown progress. Shao Chouxi had recommended a long-reclusive, highly regarded screenwriter named Jiang Juanshan. Coincidentally, Jiang Juanshan had been at the top of Shen Qianzhan’s initial list of potential screenwriters. If not for his long hiatus from the industry, he would have been her first choice—a screenwriter widely recognized and respected by television networks.
She arranged to meet him that afternoon. After her lunch break, she set off early to wait at the agreed-upon teahouse.
Collaborating with an experienced screenwriter with a solid portfolio was incredibly reassuring.
After confirming Jiang Juanshan’s willingness to collaborate, Shen Qianzhan began by discussing his past representative works, exploring his perspectives on storytelling and scriptwriting. To her surprise, despite his years of seclusion, Jiang Juanshan remained sharp and well-versed, with insightful views on contemporary television dramas, films, and web series.
She discreetly glanced at Jiang Juanshan’s profile on Baidu Baike.
Jiang Juanshan had achieved fame at a young age, immigrated overseas at thirty, and had remained in seclusion ever since. This return to China seemed to be merely for a vacation, with the added intention of resuming his career.
Shen Qianzhan expressed some concern about the level of commitment he could offer: "This project is a key focus for this year. From script development to filming, it will take no less than five months."
Holding his teacup, Jiang Juanshan took a sip and responded understandingly to her concerns: "To be honest, I returned to China this time to handle some personal matters. My wife and I are going through a divorce."
Shen Qianzhan grew even more apprehensive.
Could such an unstable personal situation produce a script that was truly exceptional?
However, their earlier conversation had been so pleasant, and Jiang Juanshan perfectly embodied the qualities she sought—an interesting soul with steady experience. After a moment of hesitation, she said, "If we have the honor of collaborating, we’ll need to start preparing the script by the Lunar New Year. The timeline is tight, and the creative pressure on you will be significant."
Jiang Juanshan placed his teacup into the tea tray, his handsome eyes smiling gently as he replied, "Producer Shen, you can rest assured about my professionalism. My personal matters are also straightforward and won’t hinder progress."
He didn’t elaborate further, and Shen Qianzhan had no interest in prying into his private affairs. She had always trusted her judgment of people, and after discussing the terms, she felt confident.
Jiang Juanshan was humble and amiable, with no exorbitant demands. Given his exceptional talent and stellar reputation, Su Lanyi would likely have little difficulty approving the contract, which could be finalized in the coming days.
Once Shen Qianzhan categorized him as a key member of the creative team, her demeanor became noticeably warmer: "Do you work with a team, or have you always worked independently?""There used to be." Jiang Juanshan refilled her empty teacup with hot tea, looking up at her. "After all, writers have too many trivial matters that can easily affect their creative mood. But I've been retired for five years, and my previous team has already disbanded."
Shen Qianzhan expressed understanding. Since the details of the collaboration still needed Su Lanyi's approval before proceeding further, she decided to leave it at that for now.
With one worry resolved and the dawn of a breakthrough in sight, Shen Qianzhan was in high spirits.
On the drive back to the company, she hummed a tuneless children's song, maintaining her cheerful mood all the way to the department. She called Qiao Xin to prepare the workflow.
Su Zan, still carrying out his spy mission, was itching with curiosity. He waited until Qiao Xin came out of Shen Qianzhan's office before approaching to ask, "What happened to make Sister Qianzhan so happy?"
As she pulled out her chair to sit down and opened a document, Qiao Xin replied, "She found a one-in-a-million screenwriter. How could she not be happy?"
Completely unaware of any news beforehand, Su Zan looked confused. "One-in-a-million? Who?"
Qiao Xin answered, "Jiang Juanshan." Seeing that Su Zan didn't recognize the name, she eagerly lowered her voice and said, "He rose to fame young, retired after achieving success, and has been living a low-key, reclusive life. His return now is like a mature uncle delivering a fatal blow online, ying ying ying."
Su Zan: Didn't understand.
But he vaguely felt that a rival for Mr. Ji had appeared?
Author's Note: Jiang Juanshan: I have a CP romance line, Zan Zan, don’t blindly make enemies.
The strategist collaboration arc should be starting soon, with the watch restorer delivering fatal blows online.
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