Chapter Fifty-Five
After waking up, Shen Qianzhan spent some time filling in her eyebrows, applying lipstick, and covering her dark circles.
She had been up too late the night before, and despite seizing the opportunity to catch up on some sleep, she still looked a bit pale and lacking in vitality when she got up this morning.
Not long after Shen Qianzhan had finished getting ready, the medical team that had been called for a consultation the previous night arrived at her door at just the right time.
The person wasn’t in her room, so Shen Qianzhan led her to the next room to take Ji Qinghe’s temperature.
The door wasn’t locked, left slightly ajar.
To avoid stumbling upon any inappropriate scenes, Shen Qianzhan lightly knocked on the door before entering. Only after hearing a faint “Come in” from inside did she push the door open and step in.
The room had three beds set up. In addition to the standard two beds, an extra folding bed was placed near the window, bleached white by the sunlight streaming into the room.
Ji Qinghe lay on the bed fully dressed, half-propped against the headboard with one arm tucked behind his head, as if still in a light sleep. Hearing the noise, he reluctantly opened his eyes and glanced over.
Seeing this, Shen Qianzhan took a step back to make way for the girl behind her: “She’s here to take your temperature and see if the fever has gone down.”
Ji Qinghe closed his eyes slightly, as if giving silent permission.
The girl set down the medical kit, took out a forehead thermometer, and asked as she measured: “How are you feeling now?”
“Headache.” Ji Qinghe opened his eyes, his gaze passing over the girl to land on Shen Qianzhan behind her.
The latter stood with her hands clasped behind her back, scrutinizing him from head to toe as if inspecting a work project: “Why aren’t Su Zan and Ming Jue in the room?”
“They went to pick up the car,” Ji Qinghe said, sitting up. “Ming Jue was worried the highway might still be closed and the car couldn’t get through, so he took Su Zan along.”
Shen Qianzhan was puzzled: “Su Zan can’t carry heavy things or lift much. Aside from keeping Ming Jue entertained with his chatter on the road, what help could he possibly be?”
Ji Qinghe seemed to chuckle softly, the sound barely audible: “Isn’t him not being here already a help?”
The girl taking Ji Qinghe’s temperature for the third time nearly dropped the thermometer. She silently lowered her head, recorded the data in her notebook, and seized the moment to wrap things up quickly: “The fever hasn’t broken yet, so you still need to take the fever reducer on time. Avoid catching a chill or getting exposed to the wind. I’ll come back again tonight.”
She put away the forehead thermometer and closed the medical kit. After a moment’s thought, she added, “Actually, if possible, it’s best to go to the hospital for an IV drip. It works faster.” But given the current situation, even walking from one end of the street to the other was difficult, and it was unclear whether the hospital was even staffed.
Shen Qianzhan had also considered this. Seeing the girl pack up the medical kit and prepare to leave, she personally walked her out.
After seeing her off at the door, Shen Qianzhan paused, watching as the girl disappeared down the stairwell before turning and walking back inside.
—
Ji Qinghe’s mental state wasn’t great. He looked pale and weary, with dark circles of exhaustion under his eyelids, giving off a rather pitiable air.
Shen Qianzhan helped him take his medicine, but unfortunately, the hotel had no electricity or running water, and the bottled water couldn’t be heated—it was still cold. She felt a pang of guilt feeding a patient cold water and considered that the hotel might have hot water boiled with coal. She was about to head downstairs to fetch some.
Unexpectedly, before she could say anything, Ji Qinghe cut her off: “You woke up so early. Did you get enough sleep?”
“No,” Shen Qianzhan calculated the half-hour she had spent lying down and closing her eyes after returning to her room. “I barely managed to rest my eyes for a bit.”
If she hadn’t been worried about his fever, she could have slept straight through until the afternoon meeting.
Seeing her ready to leave at any moment, Ji Qinghe subtly changed the subject: “What are the standards for the crew renting this hotel?”Shen Qianzhan suspected he was looking down on the poor conditions here. After a moment's thought, she said, "That depends on the person."
Ji Qinghe shifted to the side of the bed, patted the empty space on the edge, and gestured for her to come sit down.
The gesture was so natural that Shen Qianzhan almost sat down without thinking.
To hide her awkwardness, she glanced around, pretending she had just noticed Ji Qinghe was sleeping on the narrowest folding bed in the room. She deliberately asked in an exaggerated tone, "How could Su Zan and Ming Jue let Mr. Ji sleep on such a small bed?"
"Think the bed is too small?" Ji Qinghe's eyes darkened slightly as he chuckled softly. "Switching to a bigger one isn’t out of the question."
This dog of a man—always seizing every opportunity to be inappropriate.
Shen Qianzhan didn’t respond to his remark or follow his lead. After scanning the room, she couldn’t find the armchair she had noticed yesterday. Reluctantly, she lifted Su Zan’s crumpled blanket and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Ji Qinghe’s intention was simply to keep her a little longer. Seeing this, he wasn’t the least bit annoyed. "You said it depends on the person earlier? How so?"
"First, it depends on the investors. If the investors provide more funding, the producer’s budget will be more flexible. Second, it depends on the actors. Whether filming a TV series or a movie, there’s always a long shooting period. High-profile actors often demand five-star hotels or resort villas—once agreed upon, it has to be honored. But aside from the actors, everyone else, from the director and producer to the crew, will opt for more affordable, budget-friendly hotels." She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and said, "For someone as frugal and broke as me, the hotels I choose are about the same level as this one."
Ji Qinghe had chatted with Su Zan all night, covering a little of everything without going too deep into any topic. He had gained some understanding of both Shen Qianzhan and the producer’s profession. Hearing her words, he followed her lead, skillfully steering the conversation.
Shen Qianzhan was naturally talkative.
Especially after last night’s conversation, her attitude toward Ji Qinghe had noticeably softened.
With both of them in a calm state, Shen Qianzhan unexpectedly discovered that, once she let go of her wariness and prejudices toward Ji Qinghe, he was an excellent conversationalist—patient in listening and effective in offering insights.
For example, regarding the current difficulties facing Spring River, although Ji Qinghe didn’t approach it from a producer’s perspective, the strategic self-rescue plan he proposed from a commercial standpoint was quite feasible—reducing production costs and opting for long-term partnerships with collaborators to alleviate the current financial strain.
"The snow won’t last much longer," Ji Qinghe said softly, fiddling with his phone. "Once this cold front passes, temperatures will rise. The disaster-stricken areas will recover sooner or later."
—
Shortly before the afternoon meeting, Su Zan finally returned.
Seeing Shen Qianzhan talking with Ji Qinghe in his room didn’t strike him as odd. He gulped down a bottle of water in one go, still panting as he shared the terrifying moment he had experienced earlier that day: "The snow collapsed an advertising sign, and those rusty iron frames almost crushed the car. If I hadn’t braked in time, Mr. Ji’s big BMW would’ve been a goner."
Ming Jue was much more refined than Su Zan. Mindful of Shen Qianzhan’s presence, he restrained himself, maintaining an appropriate distance in both speech and posture. "It wasn’t as dangerous as he makes it sound. In fact, if Young Master Su hadn’t braked, the entire car might have been perfectly fine."
Only then did Ji Qinghe glance at the two of them and ask, "What happened to the car?"
Ming Jue replied, "After Young Master Su slammed on the brakes, the wheels skidded, spinning the car halfway around and shattering the headlight."Su Zan immediately recognized this narrative tone as one that painted him as the culprit. Fearing Ji Qinghe might demand compensation, he quickly distanced himself: "With such a huge billboard crashing down, who could calmly keep driving forward? Didn’t you see the snow flying up, thick as an avalanche? If you’d stepped on the gas and charged through, it wouldn’t just be a broken headlight—it’d be a rear-end collision!"
Ming Jue glanced at him, and for once, due to their disagreement, showed a look of disdain.
Su Zan’s little mouth was still chattering away, trying to clear his name: "The supply truck was right behind us. If I’d rear-ended someone, could the supply truck have avoided it? Besides, a billboard that big—who knows how many steel bars or how many tons it weighs?"
Shen Qianzhan had no patience to listen to the two of them argue it out. She patted Su Zan’s shoulder, cutting him off: "Whoever holds the steering wheel is responsible. Any objections?"
Su Zan’s expression instantly drooped: "Dengdeng, you’re heartless! Is this about who’s responsible? We’re discussing the technical aspects of a stress response!"
Fine, she’d overstepped.
Shen Qianzhan patted her butt and walked away without looking back.
—
During the afternoon meeting, Shen Qianzhan presented the plan she and Ji Qinghe had discussed casually that morning. The reactions from all sides were varied.
Shen Qianzhan proposed signing a long-term contract with the film studio to reduce the rental fees for the "Spring River" filming locations, or to have the studio waive the fees in exchange for an equity investment, allowing them to share in the profits.
Some were wary of Su Lanyi, some questioned the feasibility of the strategy, and others complained that the film studio’s scale couldn’t meet the filming needs.
Shen Qianzhan was merely offering suggestions; the decision-maker was Xiao Sheng, not her.
While the others argued fiercely and debated repeatedly, she borrowed Song Yan’s assistant’s gaming console and played Snake all afternoon.
After the meeting, the director of "Spring River" stopped Shen Qianzhan and gave her a tip: "The empty lot in the southeast corner of the film studio, right next to the Republican-era street, is being set up for a scene. It’s halfway done. I heard from Producer Xiao that you’re preparing a tribute drama. You should go check it out sometime—it might be suitable."
Shen Qianzhan casually agreed. Once he left, she looked for Su Zan, and they headed back together.
—
Around eight that evening, Shen Qianzhan had just finished washing up with the pitifully limited water supply when there was a knock on the door.
Ji Qinghe stood outside, opening with a farewell she couldn’t possibly refuse: "I’m leaving tomorrow."
Shen Qianzhan was surprised: "Isn’t the car broken?"
"That’s why I’m leaving early." Ji Qinghe leaned against the doorway and asked, "Aren’t you going to let me in to share some heartfelt sentiments?"
Shen Qianzhan rolled her eyes, turned, and walked inside, leaving him to do as he pleased.
As expected, no sooner had she stepped in than Ji Qinghe followed, closing the door behind him.
Having learned from yesterday’s lesson, Shen Qianzhan remained fully dressed even after washing up. With the hotel’s water and electricity cut off, there wasn’t much to offer. She pushed the fruit Su Zan had brought over in the evening toward him, leaned against the edge of the table with her hip half-resting on it, picked up a slice of fruit, and looked at him: "Fever gone?"
"Low-grade." He sat in the chair, took her hand, and guided the fruit into his mouth.
Forced to feed him a slice of fruit, Shen Qianzhan couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation: "Have you no shame?"
A Scented Candle was lit in the room, its dim light flickering like withered grass on the verge of going out.
Ji Qinghe lifted his gaze slightly, his eyes resting on her radiant face, undimmed even by the darkness, and smiled: "I can be even more shameless."Shen Qianzhan glared at him, but a mere death stare wasn't enough. She raised her hand and pinched him, from the back of his hand all the way to his wrist, twisting wherever it would hurt the most.
Ji Qinghe didn’t feel any pain. Her strength was nothing more than a tickle to him. Every touch of their skin was like a spark bursting from a bonfire, igniting flames and smoke everywhere.
At first, he indulged her antics, but gradually, an untimely wicked thought rose in his heart. He turned his hand and gripped her wrist, rendering her immobile. His fingertips rested on her wrist, his thumb pressed against her pulsing vein. Ji Qinghe lifted her wrist to his lips and bit down.
He bit too hard. Shen Qianzhan hissed in pain, and in that moment, he raised his eyes to meet hers. "Su Zan said the male actors in the crew are all to your taste. Is that true?"
He asked unhurriedly, enunciating each word clearly. It didn’t sound like curiosity but more like an interrogation. From the unyielding look in his eyes to the cold edge of his teeth pressed against her wrist, Shen Qianzhan immediately understood and denied it. "No."
Ji Qinghe raised an eyebrow, as if finding her answer too perfunctory and unsatisfying.
Shen Qianzhan felt like crying. Wasn’t this bastard here to say goodbye? This felt more like an interrogation under torture!
"Really, there isn’t," Shen Qianzhan said. "I’ve only been here a few days. Besides the producers, directors, and finance staff, I haven’t seen a single man."
Ji Qinghe smiled. "Sounds like you’re regretting it?"
"How could I?" Shen Qianzhan rubbed the tip of her dangling foot against his calf. "Who here could compare to you?"
Ji Qinghe avoided her touch, stood up, and then leaned in, holding the jar of Scented Candle. The candlelight softened her features, making her look gentle and elegant. Her eyes, devoid of their usual sharpness, seemed to say, "Come and bully me."
He steadied himself and asked again, "Do restless people come knocking on your door in the middle of the night?"
Shen Qianzhan hummed, thinking for a few seconds. "Shouldn’t this question be answered in two steps?"
Ji Qinghe looked at her silently, not uttering a word.
Shen Qianzhan took his silence as "Go ahead, make something up," and said, "Someone knocking on the door in the middle of the night is the first half. Whether I open the door or respond is the second half. You can’t mix the two questions into one..." Before she could finish, a sharp pain shot through her wrist. The bastard had bitten her without any mercy.
Shen Qianzhan’s eyes reddened from the pain. She lifted her foot to kick his calf but missed. The moment she moved, he forced her legs apart and pinned her down, leaving her unable to move.
Ji Qinghe showed no mercy. His voice was low and slightly hoarse, as if he were laughing or holding back. "Behave."
"No, no one knocked," Shen Qianzhan lowered her eyes, her gaze at her wrist filled with grievance. "Why did you really bite?"
As soon as her words faded, before the warmth could dissipate, a knock sounded at the door.
Shen Qianzhan was instantly stunned.
What?
She usually only bullied Su Zan a little—she hadn’t done anything truly wicked!
Under Ji Qinghe’s increasingly dangerous gaze, Shen Qianzhan mustered the courage to explain, "Probably just a hotel staff member."
The next second, a man’s voice, melodious and lingering, called out, "Producer Shen, open the door."
Shen Qianzhan: "..."
Damn, tonight is really going to be a mess.
Author’s Note: No extra updates tonight, no need to wait~Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or provided nutrient solutions between 2020-04-12 23:46:36 and 2020-04-14 20:24:58~
Thanks to the little angels who threw grenades: Weiyi hhh, 24159018, Yanzi’s Golden Nest, Clear Water Floating Fish, Muhaihan’s Little Shadow Mio, Wenwenwenwen 1 each;
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Thank you all for your support, I will continue to work hard!
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