Chapter 59
The opening banquet was scheduled for late April.
At the beginning of the month, Shen Qianzhan traveled to Wuxi to sign the agreement for renting filming locations at the film and television base.
A few days later, she assembled the art department team, supervised by Qiao Xin, to set up and construct the scenes.
By mid-April, the first thirty episodes of the script were finalized. Jiang Juanshan and Lin Qiao flew from Beijing to Wuxi, both to attend the opening banquet and to join the crew for scriptwriting.
Shen Qianzhan sent a driver from Group A to pick them up at the airport. In the evening, after settling the accounts, she waited with Qiao Xin in the hotel lobby to welcome the two screenwriters.
Once the scriptwriting began, Shen Qianzhan, in her rush to meet deadlines, left Jiang Juanshan with no time for anything but eating, sleeping, and writing. The exploitation was so severe that even Su Zan, known as the "Su Exploiter," couldn’t stand it and repeatedly complained to her, "Shen Qianzhan, be a decent person for once. Look at Lin Qiao’s dark circles—they’re practically dragging her to the center of the earth. And Mr. Jiang, such an elegant man, now has bloodshot eyes and a pale face, barely looking human anymore."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qianzhan didn’t even lift an eyelid. "If I didn’t do this, could Mr. Jiang have delivered thirty episodes in such a short time?"
Her original plan was to start filming in mid-May, so naturally, she pushed Jiang Juanshan hard. Unexpectedly, the combination of Jiang Juanshan and Lin Qiao proved surprisingly effective. Their seamless collaboration and high efficiency allowed them to finish nearly half a month ahead of schedule.
As a result, whenever Shen Qianzhan worked late into the night, she couldn’t help but marvel at her good fortune.
Leaving aside the efficiency and synergy of this dream team, the quality of the script alone left Shen Qianzhan utterly amazed. Even without time constraints, it was rare to come across such a high-quality script.
Why did Jiang Juanshan achieve fame at such a young age?
Talent and skill were both indispensable!
—
When the business car arrived at the hotel, Shen Qianzhan was on a work call.
Qiao Xin went out to greet the newcomers and led them to check in. "Sister Zhan is on a work call. Let’s get you checked in first. After settling your luggage, we’ll go for a late-night snack. There’s a night market stall near the hotel with everything from barbecue to light porridge."
Lin Qiao glanced in the direction Qiao Xin pointed and asked, "Sister Zhan must be quite busy lately."
"Absolutely," Qiao Xin sighed. "She’s been working incredibly hard lately, with endless tasks, meetings, and site visits. Even after returning to the hotel at night, she’s either in one meeting or another, often working until three in the morning."
In Shen Qianzhan’s own words, she had been working like a dog lately—so busy that her libido had diminished, with no desire for anything but closing her eyes and resting for a moment.
After helping Jiang Juanshan and Lin Qiao check in, Qiao Xin specifically requested rooms adjacent to Shen Qianzhan’s for convenience during meetings.
Lin Qiao, standing a few steps away, visibly deflated at the mention of "meetings," her expression sinking to the ground.
Once check-in was complete, Qiao Xin led the two to their rooms to drop off their luggage.
Their stay this time was indefinite. Shen Qianzhan wouldn’t let them leave until the final ten episodes of the script were completed.
Fearing she might have to stay for an entire month, Lin Qiao had packed two full suitcases, bringing everything from daily necessities to bedding and sheets, neatly organized.
Qiao Xin watched in awe as Lin Qiao unpacked. As soon as Shen Qianzhan’s call ended, she immediately invited Jiang Juanshan to join them for the late-night snack.
The night market stall was just around the corner, not far from the hotel.Shen Qianzhan expertly ordered a bowl of boat congee, dozens of skewers, a plate of golden cake, and grabbed several bottles of beer before returning to her seat. "You must have had a long journey. Was the trip smooth?"
"Very smooth." Lin Qiao glanced around enviously, eyeing her several times. "You've lost weight! Xinxin said you sleep at three a.m. every day. How do you manage to stay up so late yet still look so radiant and beautiful?"
Shen Qianzhan tapped a beer bottle against the corner of the table, deftly opening it. "Little flatterer, buttering me up won't get you any time off. The script still needs to be written."
She pushed the beer over. "Have a drink tonight to help you sleep."
Lin Qiao was a light sleeper unfamiliar with new beds. Every time she joined a production crew, she would find Shen Qianzhan for a drink. If conditions allowed, they'd have late-night snacks with beer; if not, they'd open a bottle of red wine and gossip about the rising stars and their younger "milk wolf dogs" in the industry. Over the years, this had almost become a ritual.
Lin Qiao clinked glasses with her and asked, "What about Mr. Ji? Hasn't he arrived yet?"
"He'll come for the opening banquet." The alcohol was sharp, and Shen Qianzhan took a moment to catch her breath before asking, "Do you need something from him?"
Lin Qiao shook her head. "It's nothing urgent."
During the early preparations, Lin Qiao had visited Time Hall's studio with Jiang Juanshan. Most of the time, when she encountered difficult writing blocks, she consulted Meng Wangzhou. She had thought that once they arrived on set, these troubles would be behind them, but Mr. Ji was still nowhere to be seen.
As they spoke, the skewers arrived.
Shen Qianzhan took a bite of a meat skewer and said, "You should have said it was urgent. That way, I'd have a reason to urge him to come earlier."
Her voice was too muffled, and Lin Qiao didn't catch it. "What did you say, Sister Zhan?"
"I said," Shen Qianzhan swallowed the grilled meat and replied nonchalantly, "The consultant can go eat shit."
—
As the end of the month approached, the set construction was nearly complete, and the crew members gradually arrived.
The producer had drawn up a detailed shooting schedule. Apart from Song Yan, everyone from Fu Xi to the supporting actors was involved in the roster and began work.
Song Yan was still filming "Spring River." According to her schedule, she should wrap up in the next couple of days.
Shen Qianzhan didn't wait for Song Yan and instructed the producer to schedule Fu Xi's costume fitting first.
Since his failed attempt to recommend Ji Qinghe, Shao Chouxi had held a bias against the male lead. While Shen Qianzhan watched the actors take their costume photos, he clicked his tongue disapprovingly. "Not quite, still not quite there."
Shen Qianzhan remained unmoved, not even sparing him a glance.
When men got petty, they often became utterly unreasonable. Ignoring them usually made them settle down.
Fu Xi was good-looking, with excellent bone structure, belonging to the same bewitching category as Ji Qinghe. He was naturally suited for the entertainment industry, and in terms of acting professionalism, he could easily outshine three Ji Qinghes.
If even Fu Xi wasn't satisfactory, what was the point of him directing?
—
April 30th, the opening banquet.
Shen Qianzhan had been reconciling accounts with the finance department until dawn the previous night and didn't wake up until one in the afternoon.
Qiao Xin must have come in the morning. Afraid she wouldn't wake up, she had half-drawn the curtains, allowing the afternoon sunlight to seep through the gaps like a basin of golden light, glaringly bright.
She fumbled under her pillow for her phone and, upon seeing the time, ruffled her hair a couple of times before getting up to freshen up.
The opening banquet was held at Jichun Erwan in Wuxi, about ten kilometers from the film and television base.
Su Zan had gone to set up the venue in the morning and left her several WeChat messages, all photos of the scene.She brushed her teeth while looking at her phone, and when she returned to the WeChat list, her gaze fell on Ji Qinghe’s chat. It was quiet there, not even a single word had been updated.
Qiao Xin had been confirming the itinerary with Ming Jue for the past two days, and last night they had another phone call to confirm the flight and arrange transportation.
Logically, Ji Qinghe should have already landed by now. If everything went smoothly, he should have boarded the crew’s business car sent to pick him up and be on his way to the film studio.
After rinsing her mouth, she glanced at her phone again.
WeChat buzzed, and the sleek phone slid from the edge of the sink into the water.
Shen Qianzhan was stunned.
She stared at the submerged phone for a few seconds before hurriedly fishing it out.
She managed to retrieve it in time, and aside from looking a bit worse for wear, the phone was still functioning.
On the wet screen was a reminder from the crew that they needed to leave for the hotel at five o’clock.
Shen Qianzhan shook the water off the phone, skipping the step of drying it altogether. She walked a few steps and tossed it onto the large bed in the bedroom.
That damn man, let’s see if he dares not talk to her tonight!
—
At three in the afternoon, Qiao Xin came to check if she was awake. Seeing Shen Qianzhan sitting in front of the vanity, carefully applying her makeup, she called her on the phone: “Zhan Jie, did you put your phone on silent again? I tried calling twice just now but couldn’t get through.”
Shen Qianzhan was busy perfecting her look, and only when Qiao Xin asked did she remember she had left her phone on the bed. She lowered her gaze, examining the half-finished eyeliner, and turned her head to say, “The phone’s on the bed. It fell into the water while I was brushing my teeth, and I didn’t bother with it after fishing it out.”
Qiao Xin acknowledged this, found the phone, and checked it for her.
The screen lit up as soon as she lifted it, and she noticed a missed call from Mr. Ji in the notifications. She said, “Zhan Jie, you missed a call from Mr. Ji. Do you want to call him back now?”
Shen Qianzhan’s hands were steady as she finished applying her eyeliner. She examined the overly exquisite eye makeup for the day, feeling quite pleased: “No.” She twisted open her lipstick, spreading the matte lip color over her lips. She pressed her lips together and murmured, “Let him wait.”
—
By five o’clock, Shen Qianzhan, who had been restless enough to touch up her makeup twice, immediately stood up.
Her sudden movement startled Qiao Xin, who hurriedly gathered the charging cables and electronic devices scattered across the sofa, muttering, “Zhan Jie, why are you as punctual as a cuckoo clock today…”
Shen Qianzhan walked to the door in a few steps: “Hundreds of people from the crew need to take the bus to the hotel. If you’re a little late and I’m a little late, it’ll cause a lot of trouble.” As she spoke, she opened the door but didn’t look outside. Instead, she turned to examine herself in the full-length mirror by the entrance: “Is Zan Zan at the hotel?”
“Yes,” Qiao Xin swept everything into her bag in one go. “Su Zan hasn’t left the hotel at all. He’s been there making arrangements.”
Shen Qianzhan swayed her hips, admiring her well-defined curves with satisfaction. “What about Mr. Ji? How is he arranged?” As soon as the words left her mouth, the half-open door was pushed inward from the outside. Ji Qinghe stood at the doorway, leisurely admiring her: “I’m right here. Why not ask me directly?”
Shen Qianzhan froze, her hip-swaying pose stiffening mid-motion as she turned to look.
Ji Qinghe stood at the door in understated casual wear. He lowered his gaze, scrutinizing Shen Qianzhan from head to toe. When his eyes landed on the low neckline that revealed a stretch of fair skin, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly: “Only today did I learn that Producer Shen is also a ‘state official.’”That statement was far too suggestive. Shen Qianzhan raised an eyebrow, and before she even realized it, the corners of her lips had already curved into an unconscious smile. "So you're the official who forbids others from lighting fires?"
"You won't allow me to show my shoulders, my back, or my face," Ji Qinghe paused, his gaze falling on her fair, smooth chest. "Yet you're quite generous with yourself."
Shen Qianzhan followed his line of sight and glanced down. Beneath the low-cut silk fabric, the alluring view of her chest was impossible to conceal—a shallow cleavage, as if holding back words, disappearing beneath the neckline.
She casually tugged at her collar, then turned to see Qiao Xin already packed up, stepping forward to walk with him toward the corridor. "How did you know which room was mine?"
Seeing this, Qiao Xin tactfully fell behind, walking at the very back.
The corridor to the elevator was quite a distance. Shen Qianzhan held her clutch bag, walking the red carpet as if she were at Cannes—graceful strides, delicate catwalk steps.
Her deliberately poised arrogance seemed utterly adorable in his eyes. Ji Qinghe chuckled softly and said slowly, "If I wanted to sneak into your boudoir at night, wouldn’t I need to scout the location in advance?"
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