Red Guest Film Industry.
After parking her car, Meng Tang was greeted by her assistant, Tong Tong.
“Tang Jie, there’s a newcomer at the company. I heard Manager Sun personally invited her. She just returned from studying abroad and graduated with a degree in drama and film directing. She’s here to compete with us for opportunities!”
Tong Tong had only graduated a couple of years ago. Full of youthful energy and enthusiasm, she was a perfect match for Meng Tang’s personality.
After transmigrating into this world, Meng Tang had immediately fired her previous assistant, who was slow and careless, and instead hired Tong Tong, a fresh graduate no one else wanted.
The young woman was deeply grateful for Meng Tang’s recognition and trust, following her instructions diligently and working with great enthusiasm and dedication. She had significantly lightened Meng Tang’s workload.
Like many young people, Tong Tong loved gossip and was always up-to-date with the latest company rumors, which she eagerly shared with Meng Tang.
Hearing about the newcomer who had studied abroad, Meng Tang’s heart sank.
If she wasn’t mistaken, this was a key plot point from the original novel. This newcomer should be—
“Xiao Meng, you’re here just in time. Let me formally introduce you. This is Chu Weiwei, a professional director who studied in France and graduated with a degree in drama and film directing.”
Chu Weiwei wore a simple white dress, looking like a pure lotus flower emerging from the mud. Meeting Meng Tang’s gaze, she smiled and extended her hand in greeting.
“Senior Meng, hello. I’m Chu Weiwei. I’m new here, so I hope you can guide me.”
Indeed, in the original novel, Chu Weiwei also worked at Red Guest Film Industry—a carefully arranged plot by the author to create opportunities for interactions between her and the male lead.
Chu Weiwei’s first project after joining the company was a collaboration with the male lead, Cheng Youjun, following a storyline of reunion after a long separation.
Cheng Youjun had fallen in love with Chu Weiwei at first sight during his time in France, and their feelings rapidly deepened while filming this drama.
Like all clichéd Mary Sue novels, Chu Weiwei was the female lead who possessed both irresistible charm and a Golden Finger. Her first directorial project, of course, had to achieve instant success to satisfy readers.
Meng Tang put on a professional smile and shook her hand. “We’re probably around the same age. Just call me by my name.”
“The company is in need of professional directors like Weiwei. Recently, we’ve had two projects on hand. One is an Ancient Costume Detective Genre project, which Xiao Meng is currently handling.”
“The other is a Modern Romance Brainstorming Genre project, featuring a Soul Swap between the male and female leads. The current young market loves this kind of quirky theme, and the company was struggling to find someone to take it on. Now that you’re here, Weiwei, it’s perfect.”
As a transmigrator, Meng Tang naturally understood the upcoming plot better than any of the characters in this world.
With the female lead present, it was inevitable that her Ancient Costume Detective Genre project would fail, while Chu Weiwei’s Modern Romance project would become an instant hit across the internet as soon as it aired.
Sure enough, Manager Sun added, “However, the company is currently facing financial constraints. The funding for these projects will require both of you directors to put in the effort to secure.”
“Xiao Meng has already made significant progress in negotiations with Manager Sun from Haihui. Weiwei, even though you’re new, you’ll need to work hard too. Here are the contact details of potential investors. It’ll be up to you to reach out to them.”Chu Weiwei took the business card, looking somewhat troubled. “Manager, I’ve never raised investments before and don’t have much experience. I’m afraid I might mess up the negotiations.”
“That’s true, Wei Wei. You just graduated, so you really don’t have much experience in this area. How about this—Meng Tang, you take Wei Wei with you today and let her learn some negotiation skills from you.”
The plot in the original story was the same, except in the end, the original protagonist became the stepping stone for the female lead, losing the investment at the last minute only for the female lead to swoop in and take it.
Was Meng Tang that kind of sucker?
Of course not!
She would do everything in her power to make others the suckers instead!
Meng Tang’s eyes flickered as she readily agreed, “No problem.”
After leaving the manager’s office, before Chu Weiwei could speak, Meng Tang spoke first. “Get ready. We’re treating Manager Sun to lunch at Fuduolai Restaurant at eleven. Don’t be late.”
Chu Weiwei was a bit puzzled. “Aren’t we going together?”
“Xiao Chu, since you’re new, you might not be familiar with our company’s situation. The company was established not long ago, and we’re quite poor. Several people share one business car, so when I go out to raise investments, I usually drive over with my assistant.”
The implication was that she would only bring her own assistant, not any other irrelevant people.
Chu Weiwei, after all, was the female lead. Upon hearing this, she understood Meng Tang’s implication and smiled. “I understand. I’ll be there on time.”
After Meng Tang left, Chu Weiwei’s phone rang. It was Cheng Youjun calling.
On the other end of the line, Cheng Youjun’s tone was very gentle. “How was your first day at the company? Are your colleagues easy to get along with?”
“Everyone’s been great, it’s just…”
Chu Weiwei hesitated.
Cheng Youjun noticed something was off. “What’s wrong? Did someone bully you?”
“It’s not bullying, but I feel like that Sister Meng doesn’t seem to like me very much.”
Cheng Youjun quickly guessed, “Meng? Meng Tang?”
“Youjun, do you know Sister Meng?”
Know her? This woman practically threw herself at him whenever she saw him. She was utterly annoying.
“I understand. I’ll handle this. Don’t overthink it. Just focus on your work.”
Meng Tang planned to sign the contract with Haihui today, so she was carefully reviewing the terms with Tong Tong.
Her phone, placed on the table, rang.
Meng Tang glanced at it and saw the caller ID: “Debt Collector.”
Her brows furrowed, her face filled with undisguised disdain. She immediately reached out and hung up.
But the other party seemed relentless. As soon as Meng Tang hung up, he called again.
In the end, Meng Tang answered the call but put it on speakerphone.
“Meng Tang?”
A familiar, magnetic male voice came from the other end of the line. At first, Tong Tong wondered who was calling so persistently.
Seeing the look of disdain on Meng Tang’s face, she thought it might be a harassing call. But upon hearing the voice, she realized it was Cheng Youjun?
Tong Tong looked at Meng Tang’s indifferent expression in surprise.
Then she glanced at the contact name for Cheng Youjun on the phone—”Debt Collector.”
What was going on? Didn’t Sister Tang have an obsession with Cheng Youjun? It was said that she joined the company as a director just to make Cheng Youjun famous.
She practically catered to his every whim, almost orbiting around him all day.
She raised investments for him, tailored scripts and filmed dramas specifically for him. And all this time, Meng Tang’s contact name for him had been the affectionate “Youjun,” followed by a heart.
Everyone in the company knew that Meng Tang liked Cheng Youjun—to the point of obsession.But today, things seemed a little different.
When did Sister Tang change his contact name to “Debt Collector”?
Sister Tang, who always picked up Cheng Youjun’s calls the moment they rang, actually hung up more than a dozen times before finally answering impatiently!
“Whatever it is, make it quick. I’m busy.”