Overnight Hit: Vicious Stepmother and Genius Son
Chapter 385 - 386

Chapter 385: 386

The atmosphere inside the private room was harmonious, but outside, Jiang Lu was getting a tad anxious. Liu Rui and Ye Zhenzhen had been inside for quite a while, and Jiang Lu had yet to receive any message from either of them, nor had she seen anyone come out of the private room.

She wondered if the conversation inside might not be going so well.

Feigning a need to use the restroom, she lowered the brim of her hat and tried to overhear something as she passed by the private room’s door, but the soundproofing was too effective; she couldn’t catch anything.

After pondering for a bit, she decided it was better to leave. Someone like Director Qi wasn’t someone actors could see just because they wanted to.

Other directors might be greedy or lecherous, or have other vices, but this Director Qi Qin had been in the industry for so long without a hint of scandal. He was fervent in his love for the arts; barring excellent acting, there was little else that could sway him.

Thinking this, she felt even more certain that Ye Zhenzhen’s dinner tonight might not go so smoothly. All the more reason for her not to join the fray. Whether she succeeded or not wasn’t the main point; the main point was Ye Zhenzhen. She silently prayed, hoping Ye Zhenzhen would get a role in Director Qi’s drama.

As for her own chances, there would be other opportunities in the future.

...

After the dinner party ended, Ye Zhenzhen and Director Fei escorted Director Qi and the others to the Hujin parking lot.

Ye Zhenzhen’s phoenix eyes slightly narrowed. Upon noticing the paparazzi lying in wait across the street, she said with a smile to Director Qi, "Director Qi, I’m grateful for your appreciation. Please give me more guidance in the future!"

Director Qi’s eyes shone with admiration. "To ask for more guidance is too modest of you, Zhenzhen. I can see that you have great potential. I’m looking forward to our collaboration!"

With these words, Director Qi gave Ye Zhenzhen ample face and went so far as to extend his hand. Ye Zhenzhen naturally shook it, replying, "I’m looking forward to our collaboration!"

Qi Feng slightly raised his eyebrows. "Don’t celebrate too soon. If you join the crew later, we might replace someone at any time."

Ye Zhenzhen smiled confidently, nodding her head, "Thank you for the reminder, Producer Qi. Replacing someone would indeed be a tiresome and brain-racking task, but don’t worry, I won’t give you any trouble in that regard."

Director Fei laughed out loud, slapping Qi Feng’s shoulder, "See, as a qualified actor, Zhenzhen really thinks ahead for you, our gold-medal producer, haha!"

Qi Feng brushed off Director Fei’s hand from his shoulder, slightly annoyed, "Enough~"

Then he turned to Liu Rui and said, "I’ll send you the contract in a couple of days if you’re free, and we’ll discuss the salary too."

Liu Rui suppressed the joy in her heart. "Certainly, Producer Qi."

Though Qi Feng may seem difficult to get along with, he was actually quite principled in his work.

No wonder, after all these years in the industry, the Qi brothers, Qi Qin and Qi Feng, besides producing excellent work, have never had their characters criticized.

Once everyone had left, only Ye Zhenzhen, Director Fei, Liu Rui, and Xiaowen remained in the parking lot, all wearing excited smiles on their faces.

Ye Zhenzhen reminded, "There are two paparazzi by the Chinese parasol tree across the street."

The smile on Director Fei’s face deepened. "You know, Zhenzhen, aside from being a good person with impressive acting skills, you have exceptional eyesight as well. You’re right, there are two paparazzi across the street, and I called them here."

The reason for setting up this dinner tonight was not only to help Ye Zhenzhen secure a role but also to spread gossip through the paparazzi about his close relationship with Director Qi.

In fact, as soon as he arrived tonight, he had contacted two entertainment reporters with whom he had a decent relationship.

"Legend of Dusk Clouds" female lead and child variety show director’s relationship with Qi Qin...

The dinner tonight was a case of killing two birds with one stone.

Liu Rui added, "I also invited a paparazzo over!"

Apart from Xiaowen, the three shared a knowing smile, all aware of what this meant.

Had Qi Feng not taken the initiative to discuss Liu Rui’s remuneration and talk about the contract earlier, Liu Rui would have let the paparazzo leak the footage they captured, naturally pertaining to the night’s discussion about the roles.

After all, Liu Rui was tricked by Qi Tao once before; this time, they couldn’t let the brothers Qi Qin and Qi Feng stand them up again!

However, speaking of which, although they all share the last name Qi, in terms of fame and character within the circle, the brothers Qi Qin and Qi Feng are indeed somewhat stronger.

The objective of the dinner had been achieved, and only then did Director Fei remember his little assistant. He turned to Xiaowen, "Xiaowen, you arrived so early, how come you still ended up being late?"

Director Fei wouldn’t have made Xiaowen feel this way if he hadn’t asked, but with that question, Xiaowen’s emotions became somewhat uncontrollable. She had felt guilty throughout the dinner, sorry for making Sister Zhenzhen late, she wanted to step up herself and explain to Director Qi on behalf of Sister Zhenzhen, but in the end, Sister Zhenzhen had stopped her.

Latterly, seeing Sister Zhenzhen secure the role with her own talent, her emotions surged. She was a mix of grievance, excitement, anger, and disappointment so complex that she felt a headache coming on.

She really wanted to burst into tears!

"Wuu~ wah~ brother, you’re right, no man is any good. I should have listened to you from the start. I shouldn’t have fallen for that scum’s tricks over and over again. I’m really too stupid!"

Director Fei: ...

Liu Rui: ...

What happened? She was somewhat confused.

Director Fei sighed, his gaze filled with disdain yet compassion for Xiaowen, "You’re not just stupid, you’re incredibly stupid, love-struck even!"

Then, his tone softened a few notches, as if he were a brother comforting his sister, "Alright, alright, don’t cry anymore. It’s so cold; if you keep crying, your face will be covered in icicles soon."

Ye Zhenzhen gently patted Xiaowen’s arm, and through this conversation, she knew that Director Fei was well aware of Xiaowen’s situation. She said to Director Fei, "We called the police in the parking lot just now and took that brute to the station, which is why we were late. My assistant is at the police station right now."

Director Fei cursed, "Damn, that really is a brute."

Turning his head, he looked at Xiaowen with a mix of frustration and steeliness, "Sis, stop crying. Come on, I’ll take you to the police station to sort that scumbag out."

"But..."

Xiaowen didn’t want to go; she was afraid to face that brute.

The disgusting words that person had said in the parking lot kept echoing in her head, one iteration after another. She felt her nerves were on the verge of collapse, ready to snap at any moment.

Ye Zhenzhen said to Director Fei, "Director Fei, you should take Xiaowen home first. I’ll have someone take care of that brute."

After saying that, she patted Xiaowen again, "Xiaowen, go home and take a hot bath. Don’t think about anything else. All the worries you have, I won’t let any of them happen. Get some good rest. Tomorrow the sun will still rise, and life will go on as usual."

Xiaowen’s tears continued to flow unabated.