Chapter Sixty
By the end of April, the days had grown longer.
The corridor was bathed in the lingering afterglow of sunset, streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The weather was clear today, and the almanac indicated it was an auspicious day for seeking wealth, opening businesses, and welcoming blessings. It seemed that luck and fortune were everywhere, with good omens in every corner.
Shen Qianzhan, pleased by the sunlight, decided not to bother with Ji Qinghe, that scoundrel. She merely adjusted the long hair coiled behind her ear and shot him a reproachful glance. "Mr. Ji is still too young."
She stepped over the threshold into the elevator lobby, her long dress swaying with her movements, the fishtail hem resembling ocean waves, rising and falling with each step.
When this woman turned on her charm, every gesture exuded allure.
Yet Shen Qianzhan remained blissfully unaware of her irresistible appeal. As Qiao Xin caught up, she released the elevator door button and gracefully stepped back. "I have no time to entertain you tonight."
Ji Qinghe offered no response.
Today, he was unusually low-key—no tailored suit, nothing eye-catching. Dressed in casual attire typical for his age, he would have looked as unassuming as an accountant if not for the radiant, undeniable brilliance of his face. He appeared refined on the surface, but his mind was undoubtedly calculating.
Shen Qianzhan couldn’t help stealing a few extra glances at him. "Where’s Ming Jue?"
"He didn’t come. With me here, Beijing can’t be left without someone to hold the fort." Ji Qinghe paused, adding nonchalantly, "And I was afraid he’d get in the way."
"Get in the way? How could he possibly get in the way?" With so many people in the crew, one more mouth or bed wouldn’t make a difference.
Ji Qinghe chuckled softly, glancing at her through the elevator’s floor-to-ceiling mirror.
Though he said nothing, his gaze was filled with ambiguity and indulgence from the inside out.
Shen Qianzhan met his eyes for only a moment before quickly looking away—fixing her gaze on the elevator ceiling, the surveillance camera, the handrail—anything but Ji Qinghe.
Soon, the elevator reached the lobby.
Shen Qianzhan, as if her pants were on fire, was the first to step out.
A line of business vehicles was parked outside the hotel, from Group A to Group B, the entire team waiting to pick up guests.
The production crew and life coordinators were arranging transportation for those already present. Naturally, Shen Qianzhan was given priority upon arrival. As an honored guest, Ji Qinghe, along with the two screenwriters, joined Shen Qianzhan’s vehicle, setting off first for Jichun Erwan, ten kilometers away.
—
Jichun Erwan Hotel was built by the lake and was the most luxurious five-star hotel in Wuxi in recent years.
Due to its high accommodation costs, Shen Qianzhan hadn’t even considered it when allocating funds, only sparingly arranging the production launch banquet in the hotel’s reception hall.
When the group arrived, Su Zan, having caught wind of their arrival, was already waiting at the entrance.
He stood in front of the hotel’s exterior-hung concept poster for "Time," wearing a vibrant floral shirt, looking spirited and beaming with joy.
A bellboy stepped forward to open the car door. Ji Qinghe, seated on the outermost side, exited first, followed by Shen Qianzhan.
She was wearing a long dress with a narrow hem, unsure whether to elegantly hop out or awkwardly sidestep out of the car. Before she could decide, Ji Qinghe reached out, one hand grasping her palm, the other wrapping around her waist, and without giving her a chance to refuse, lifted her out of the car.
Once her feet touched the ground, he withdrew his hands as if nothing had happened, the entire motion fluid and effortless.
Shen Qianzhan was still processing what had happened when Su Zan, standing nearby, clapped twice in amusement. His laughter had barely escaped his throat when Ji Qinghe’s sharp glance silenced him instantly.
Clearing his throat, Su Zan pretended not to have seen anything, stepping past Shen Qianzhan and Ji Qinghe to extend a hand toward Qiao Xin. "Come on, come on. Big brother won’t allow you to go unassisted."Qiao Xin was still digesting that mouthful of dog food when Su Zan dropped a bucket of dog shit out of nowhere. With a sweeping leg kick, she sent him flying far away: "You, you, you—go cool off somewhere else!"
There weren't many people in the hotel corridor, and aside from those involved, no one paid attention to this little episode.
At a time like this, Shen Qianzhan didn’t bother being coy. Once they entered the hall and were alone, she lifted her eyes lightly and glanced at Ji Qinghe: "Mr. Ji is so practiced at this—have you been helping girls out of cars a lot these past few months?"
Ji Qinghe withdrew his gaze from surveying the reception area. Lowering his eyes slightly, he met her gaze and replied in an ordinary tone: "I had Ming Jue send you my itinerary—where I was each day, who I met, what I was busy with. How can you wrong me with your eyes closed like that?"
Itinerary?
Shen Qianzhan looked full of doubt: "Where did Ming Jue send it?"
"Email." Ji Qinghe gave her a faint glance. Seeing her clearly clueless expression, he knew she hadn’t noticed at all. "Sending it privately on WeChat would’ve been too deliberate. Without any proper standing, it wouldn’t be appropriate to be so direct, so I took a slightly roundabout approach."
Shen Qianzhan’s earrings swayed slightly, and for a moment, she didn’t know what expression to wear.
She felt a little like laughing.
He had been so humble in his careful calculations and cautious probing, yet she had neither received nor noticed any of it.
But she also felt somewhat flustered and annoyed.
Lately, she had been so busy that her skin felt thinner, blushing and flushing at the slightest provocation, feeling all agitated. In the past, she could’ve easily traded risqué banter with Ji Qinghe without batting an eye, but now, even when he spoke without any innuendo, she found herself unable to handle it.
Was she still the famed "Shen No-Mercy" who once dominated Beijing’s nightlife and the romantic scene?
Acting coy wouldn’t do.
Just imagining herself tugging at Ji Qinghe’s sleeve, stomping her feet, and cooing, "Who told you to send me an itinerary?" made her whole body shudder. It was too nauseating—she couldn’t pull it off.
Cold and aloof wouldn’t work either.
What if it hurt Mr. Ji’s delicate, prideful little ego? She couldn’t just cast a disdainful glance, like some heartless woman, mocking him for being fussy and lacking masculine decisiveness by sending her an itinerary, while also sarcastically remarking that this was all he knew when it came to pursuing girls.
That would definitely be a case of harming the enemy a thousand while damaging herself eight hundred.
After much thought, Shen the Scoundrel could only avoid meeting Ji Qinghe’s gaze and said nonchalantly, "Someone’s coming, we’ll talk later."
Her topic change was abrupt, and as soon as she finished speaking, she tried to make a quick escape. Just as she turned around, her left shoulder was gently grasped by that dog of a man, Ji Qinghe. He leaned in close, whispering by her ear: "Hold your collar up a bit. However many inches you show, I’ll go in that many inches."
What the hell?
Shen Qianzhan was shocked. She turned her head to glare at him: "Shameless."
After cursing him, she felt her heart trembling, her mind flooded with beautiful images of "going in that many inches" stirred up by his words.
She shrugged her shoulder slightly, shaking off his hand, but still feeling unsatisfied, she turned back and shot him a fierce glare: "You dirty rogue." But that final glance was shy and timid, carrying not a shred of intimidation. Instead, it looked charming and alluring, with a playful sense of teasing flirtation.
Once she left the hall and reached the entrance,
Shen Qianzhan patted her chest and took a deep breath.
Her mind was filled with memories of how many low-V dresses she had in her closet. There seemed to be one that barely covered her chest, a deep ink-colored flowing sand dress with a deep V down to her underbust. She had bought it as haute couture years ago, wanting to go for a sexy style to overshadow that brat Jian Xin. Unexpectedly, Jian Xin came down with a severe cold before the film festival and ended up absent.
If it weren’t for Jian Xin spoiling the fun, she probably would’ve had another highlight moment in her career as a producer.When Shen Qianzhan snapped back to reality and realized what she had been thinking, she pressed her hand to her forehead in frustration, nearly wanting to smash her own skull.
She took a deep breath, shook off the wild thoughts flooding her mind, straightened her back, and only then stepped out.
—
By six o’clock, all personnel, including Song Yan, had arrived.
The opening banquet officially began.
The flower hall of Jichun Erwan could accommodate hundreds of people. Inside the hall was a stage, which, though not particularly large, was fully equipped with a podium, curtains, lighting, and sound systems.
Directly below the stage was the prominent twenty-seat main table, where name cards had been placed in advance, requiring guests to sit according to their assigned seats.
Shen Qianzhan sat in the center seat, with Ji Qinghe to her left, and Shao Chouxi, the assistant director, Fu Xi, Song Yan, and other main cast members to her right in order. Jiang Juanshan and Lin Qiao sat side by side, occupying the seats next to Ji Qinghe.
The table of the production’s main creative team was particularly eye-catching.
Su Zan was the host for tonight’s opening banquet. From the opening remarks to warming up the crowd, he had spent an entire day memorizing his lines.
Shen Qianzhan had initially not asked Qiao Xin to prepare a script for him. After all, the opening banquet was essentially just the crew gathering behind closed doors for a meal, a chance to motivate and encourage everyone before the official start of filming, and to bring good luck. With Su Zan’s silver tongue and his experience in all sorts of grand occasions, as long as he remembered the necessary procedures, warming up the crowd would be a breeze.
But Su Zan was someone who valued ceremony highly, so he begged Qiao Xin to write a script for him. Early that morning, he had come to rehearse for no reason, adjusting the lighting, making a grand spectacle as if he were preparing for a major television gala.
Fortunately, the crew members were all kind-hearted and good-natured. At first, they laughed at Su Zan’s uncharacteristically serious demeanor, so different from his usual playful and cheerful image, but afterward, they cooperated enthusiastically, cheering and applauding.
Su Zan didn’t falter either. After finishing his scripted lines, he began to improvise. When it came time to introduce the main creative team of the production "Time," he suddenly grew sentimental, signaling with his eyes for the lighting to focus on Shen Qianzhan.
The latter, who had been half-distracted while chatting with Shao Chouxi about the filming location for the first scene the next day, was caught off guard when the light enveloped her. On the stage curtain, the conceptual poster for "Time" faded away, cutting to her shot.
She instinctively looked up, and in that moment, her gaze sparkled, unexpectedly stunning.
It took Shen Qianzhan a few seconds to realize that the opening banquet had reached its second segment. She smiled gracefully, listening contentedly as Su Zan showered her with a stream of lavish praise.
As the producer, the highest decision-maker in the crew, she enjoyed supreme honor and glory.
The entertainment industry was a very pragmatic place. Those with power and money were the ones who called the shots. Whether you were a proud and principled individual, a clear-minded person, or a shrewd opportunist skilled at currying favor, you had to treat those in power with respect.
Shen Qianzhan had initially been unaccustomed to such customs, but after weathering many storms, she came to understand. The respect many people showed was not for Shen Qianzhan the person, but for "Producer Shen."
If she declined or acted modestly, people would only think she was petty and unfit for great responsibilities. If she accepted graciously, she would earn respect, and everything would go more smoothly. People were born equal, but economic strength, professional ability, and family background naturally divided them into different classes—a reality that was not entirely fair.
To hold a position was to enjoy its glory and endure its bitterness. In moments of glory, thousands looked up to you; in moments of hardship, only you knew the struggle.
She lowered her head and listened quietly, and for as long as she listened, the camera remained fixed on her.After Su Zan finished speaking and invited her to take the stage, the applause from below surged like a long-awaited tide, stirring excitement among the listeners.
Shen Qianzhan didn’t hesitate or show any false modesty. Without even a blush, she calmly rose and ascended the steps to the stage. The spotlight overhead cascaded like a curtain of water, enveloping her diamond-studded skirt in a misty, ethereal glow, breathtakingly beautiful.
The self-admiring and vain producer Shen, appreciating her own stage presence with satisfaction, took the microphone and encouraged the entire crew.
Her words were few but each sentence was a classic.
From the arduous yet honorable collaboration between Fu Xi and Song Yan to Su Zan’s diligence and hard work, she praised Shao Chouxi’s extraordinary talent and acknowledged the efforts of every crew member, not leaving out even the supporting actors—each mentioned succinctly without unnecessary elaboration.
No wonder Shen Qianzhan was said to be a spirit born from the Chinese lexicon. Her word choice was precise, perfectly targeted, without a single superfluous remark. With practiced ease, she elevated the atmosphere of the opening banquet to its peak.
After her speech, she lifted her skirt and gracefully descended the stage.
The spotlight had already shifted to Shao Chouxi. Shen Qianzhan discreetly returned to her seat. With the formalities over, she had nothing else to attend to for the moment. Holding her chopsticks, she quickly ate a few bites to line her stomach, preparing for the upcoming round of toasts.
Although Ji Qinghe was speaking softly with Jiang Juanshan, his peripheral vision didn’t miss a single one of her movements.
Wherever her gaze lingered, he unhurriedly placed dishes into her bowl.
Once or twice, Shen Qianzhan showed no adverse reaction, but as it happened more frequently, the eyes at the table gradually and quietly gathered upon them.
She lowered her head to eat, her hand under the table tugging lightly but firmly at Ji Qinghe’s sleeve. Originally intending to hint for him to stop serving her, she wasn’t sure whether Ji Qinghe misunderstood or did it on purpose—he leaned closer, waiting for her instructions by her ear.
Shen Qianzhan shot him a glance. Unable to make a scene in public, she could only lean in and whisper through gritted teeth, “Mr. Ji, there are many people here. Please restrain yourself.”
Ji Qinghe remained unperturbed. “Qiao Xin asked me to keep an eye on you and make sure you eat more.”
As he finished speaking, a sudden burst of laughter erupted from below, startling Shen Qianzhan. She looked up to see Shao Chouxi, who had been performing a solo comedy act on stage for half an hour without any intention of stepping down, directing his gaze toward her. It was unclear what he had just said about her, but the entire crew was laughing uncontrollably, some doubled over, others leaning sideways.
Indeed, daydreaming is ill-advised.
This principle applies regardless of age.
Shen Qianzhan instinctively asked Ji Qinghe, “What did he just say?”
Still clutching Ji Qinghe’s sleeve, she tugged again in her urgency. Ji Qinghe was pulled slightly by her force, his shoulder tilting toward her. Behind them, another wave of warm, kindly laughter rose and fell in harmony.
Ji Qinghe had always been composed and steady, unshaken even if Mount Tai collapsed before him. But at this moment, as if infected by the atmosphere, he smiled silently and said, “If you don’t let go now, we’ll really become the joke.”
Shen Qianzhan: “…” She immediately released his sleeve as if the fabric had burned her hand.
By now, if Shen Qianzhan still couldn’t tell that Shao Chouxi was teasing and making fun of her, she might as well not live anymore. She turned her head and retorted without hesitation, “Director Shao has been standing on stage like a wooden stake for half an hour without coming down. Don’t tell me tomorrow that your lips are worn thin and you can’t direct anymore.”
The entire room erupted in laughter.
Having regained the upper hand, Shen Qianzhan waited for Shao Chouxi to return to his seat and, with petty vindictiveness, stomped hard on his foot. “What bad things did you say about me just now?”Shao Chouxi had his foot stepped on by a high heel, his face flushing from green to red. His gaze swept past Shen Qianzhan to Ji Qinghe, conveying a sympathetic look that said, "This woman is not to be trifled with, brother, you're on your own."
Before Shen Qianzhan could erupt in anger, he softened first, raising a small cup of baijiu in a mock toast: "How could I speak ill of you in public? I only said, 'There's a woman here who probably won't understand what I'm saying even after I step down.'"
Then his eyes shifted to Shen Qianzhan, and the cameraman's lens followed, capturing her subtle movements. In that moment, the entire crew knew she was indulging in male charm, neglecting her ambitions.
Unjustly framed, Shen Qianzhan could only retort with a threat: "...Just you wait. This matter won’t end peacefully tonight."
—
The consequences of offending Shen Qianzhan were undoubtedly painful.
Shao Chouxi initially paid no mind, but it wasn’t until he followed Shen Qianzhan table by table to toast that he truly understood what regret felt like.
The premiere banquet had always been a wild celebration for the entire crew.
According to Chinese drinking culture, Shen Qianzhan was destined to drink until she dropped tonight. Not only did she have to toast the crew members table by table, but representatives from each table also came to toast her.
Fu Xi and Song Yan could take small sips just for show, but Shen Qianzhan couldn’t escape unscathed.
Even with Shao Chouxi as her scapegoat, shielding her from many toasts, by the time the crew gathered for a group photo, she was already dizzy and disoriented from the alcohol.
Qiao Xin helped her back and fed her hangover medicine. Seeing her unable to sit steadily, Qiao Xin was about to support her waist when Ji Qinghe took the lead, holding her shoulder and leaning her against the chair back: "I’ll do it."
Qiao Xin didn’t refuse, bringing the already prepared hangover soup to Shen Qianzhan’s lips: "Sister Qianzhan, drink some of this. After the group photo, I’ll take you back to the hotel."
Shen Qianzhan was too dizzy, all the sounds around her distant as if muffled by a layer. Unable to hear clearly, she leaned sideways into Ji Qinghe’s embrace, fumbling to pinch his ear and asking, "What did you say?"
His earlobe was slightly cool and pleasant to the touch. Shen Qianzhan couldn’t get enough, kneading it twice before wrapping an arm around the back of his neck and holding him tightly: "I’m drunk and want to sleep."
She buried her head against him, her hair brushing against his temple. Ji Qinghe was momentarily stunned but couldn’t bring himself to push her away. Instead, he took the teacup from Qiao Xin’s hand and brought the hangover soup to Shen Qianzhan’s lips.
Shen Qianzhan stuck out her tongue to taste it, then pushed it away in disgust: "It tastes awful."
The hangover soup she pushed away spilled all over Ji Qinghe’s hand. He frowned slightly and looked up at Qiao Xin: "Tell Su Zan to gather everyone. Once the photo is taken, I’ll take her upstairs to rest."
Though he hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol, he knew that mixing red and white wine was the most intoxicating.
Shen Qianzhan’s current state was clearly one where her rationality remained but she had lost self-control. If she wasn’t taken to her room to rest soon, who knew how she might embarrass herself later.
Qiao Xin naturally realized this too.
Shen Qianzhan’s behavior when drunk was always unpredictable. On good days, she’d pass out and sleep like a lamb. On bad days, she wasn’t above clinging to male actors, sympathizing with their struggles or lamenting their unrecognized talents. If Su Zan hadn’t covered her mouth in time, who knew how many industry secrets she might have spilled.
In the end, it was Qiao Xin who managed to coax and drag away the three-year-old version of Shen Qianzhan. Even so, "Shen the Three-Year-Old" had thoroughly frightened that male actor, who feared he might have to sell himself and avoided her until the filming wrapped.Just recently, Shen Qianzhan had also gotten drunk and embarrassed herself.
Last year, Jiang Yecheng was itching to replace Shen Qianzhan with Jian Xin. She and Su Zan accompanied Shen Qianzhan to meet Shao Chouxi at Jichun Erwan. Unexpectedly, Director Shao was held back by Jian Xin at her gathering and couldn’t leave. Shen Qianzhan spent the whole evening sparring with two old foxes. She didn’t get drunk during the dinner, but on the way back, she was so intoxicated she babbled nonsense the entire trip.
Things like "public dog waist" and "can’t afford diamond-studded ones"—nothing but vulgar talk, spewing filth.
Just thinking about it made Qiao Xin’s face burn and her heart race. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Ji Qinghe, nor could she face Shen Qianzhan. With her face flushed, she fled as if escaping, rushing off to find Su Zan.
Ji Qinghe glanced at Qiao Xin’s fleeing figure, then turned Shen Qianzhan’s chin and studied her thoughtfully for a moment. He lowered his voice to confirm, "Drunk?"
Shen Qianzhan stubbornly insisted, "Not drunk."
Ji Qinghe curled his lips, smiling silently. "Alright, not drunk."
"Better not be drunk."
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