Li Xu looked at the woman who had casually sat down across from him without so much as an introduction.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
Were women these days really this familiar with strangers?
Su Cheng had been cultivating for two hours every night lately, so her skin had become smooth and radiant. There was a natural allure in her beautiful eyes, and she looked no more than twenty-two.
“Hello, my name is Li Xu. Sorry you had to witness that,” Li Xu said with a bitter smile.
“I own a film and television entertainment company. I currently have a script that I want to turn into a historical drama. I’m absolutely certain it’ll get great ratings.”
“But you know how expensive historical dramas are to produce. I’m short on funds, so I’m trying to find some investors.”
Su Cheng raised an eyebrow.
“Oh? I heard the gentleman just now say that your company has been losing money all this time.”
Li Xu scratched his messy hair and sighed.
“Isn’t that because of money? We simply don’t have enough funding. There are a lot of things I can’t do properly because of that.”
“I’m especially fond of historical dramas, and costumes alone cost a fortune.”
His eyes lit up as he looked at Su Cheng.
“If you really have money to invest in the film industry, you’ll definitely make a lot of money. Especially with this historical drama. Right now, I’m only short of 100,000 yuan.”
“How much money does the entire production need?”
“Or rather, how much are you putting into it yourself?”
Su Cheng looked at the embarrassed expression on Li Xu’s face.
Li Xu gave an awkward smile.
“I have connections and technical expertise. What my company lacks is money.”
“So, you understand what I mean, right? Connections are money too.”
Seeing that Su Cheng hadn’t gotten up to leave, Li Xu realized he still had a chance and continued.
“Look at China right now. Only a little more than half of households have televisions, and in the countryside, half the families still don’t have one.”
“The market is huge.”
“In the future, every household in China will have a television. As people’s incomes increase, movies will become increasingly popular with young people as well.”
“So if you invest now, you’ll definitely make a fortune later.”
Su Cheng listened to Li Xu speak enthusiastically.
When the original owner had been wandering around Zhao Ruyue as a ghost, she had seen Li Xu before.
At that time, Li Xu had been ambitious and full of confidence. He had eventually become a famous film director.
Su Cheng smiled.
“I think you’re suited to being a director, not running a company.”
Li Xu’s eyes immediately lit up.
“Really? You think I’m suited to being a director?”
He seemed to have automatically ignored the part where she said he wasn’t suited to running a company.
Su Cheng continued.
“Your company has been losing money for years. Have you never wondered why?”
“I have a proposal. I’ll buy your company, and you’ll become a director for our company.”
“For every production, I’ll give you five percent of my investment as your share.”
“Don’t underestimate five percent. If a production costs 100,000 yuan, you’ll get 5,000 yuan.”
“Do you know what 5,000 yuan means right now? It’s more than a worker earns in an entire year.”
“And some productions might have investments of one million or even ten million yuan.”
“Think about it. If a production has an investment of ten million, you’d get 500,000 yuan.”
“And if we work well together, I’ll even consider giving you shares in the entertainment company.”
Li Xu stared at her blankly, his eyes fixed on her without blinking.
Su Cheng continued,
“And if you come across a good script, you can invest some of your own money too. You’ll make far more that way than you ever could running this little company.”
Su Cheng thought to herself:
Looks like even a future big-name director isn’t that easy to fool.
Li Xu stared directly at her.
“You’re right.”
“If I’m suited to directing, why do I insist on running a company?”
He paused before asking cautiously,
“But you won’t interfere with the movies I direct in the future, will you?”
Su Cheng laughed.
“I promise I won’t interfere with your productions. You can rest assured.”
“Then it’s settled. Tomorrow, I’ll send someone to your company to evaluate the copyrights and other assets you have.”
Before she could finish, Li Xu hurriedly interrupted.
“Actually, our company doesn’t have many copyrights.”
“The main thing is the office property. You have to pay me for that.”
“We bought that place five years ago for 450,000 yuan. Property prices have gone up a little over the past few years.”
“Give me 500,000 yuan and that’s enough.”
“As for the script I’m holding right now, I spent 5,000 yuan on it.”
“So that’s everything.”
“Can we sign the contract now?”
Seeing how anxious he was, Su Cheng smiled helplessly.
“All right. Let’s go to your company and have a look first.”
The two of them arrived at the company, which occupied the second floor of an office building.
Several large golden characters were mounted above the entrance:
Huajin Entertainment.
As soon as Su Cheng stepped inside, she saw an office space of more than 200 square meters.
There were only three or four employees scattered around.
The floors and desks were a complete mess.
Everyone looked listless and completely unmotivated.
Su Cheng raised an eyebrow.
“You’re sure this is your company?”
Li Xu smiled awkwardly.
“I’ve been busy making films, you know.”
“Besides, once you become the owner, everything will be fine, right?”
Su Cheng didn’t say anything else.
The two of them signed the contract.
Su Cheng smiled.
“I hope we have a pleasant partnership.”
They looked at each other and smiled.
Meanwhile, in the chairman’s office of the Huo Group in Hong Kong, Huo Zhengting’s expression was dark and grim.
“You’re certain?”
“It was Miss Zhao? Zhao Ruyue?”
Secretary Lin answered carefully.
“Miss Zhao has been transferring 1,000 yuan into Aunt Liu’s account every month. In exchange, Aunt Liu was supposed to report every move you and Miss Su made to her.”
“She knew everything that happened at the villa.”
Huo Zhengting took a moment to calm himself.
“Where is Su Qianqian now? Have you found her?”
Secretary Lin secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
“We traced the taxi that took Miss Su away that day.”
“The driver said he took Miss Su to the Dihao Hotel.”
“But according to what we found at Dihao, Miss Su checked out that same afternoon.”
“She left with two men in black, and each man was carrying a large stone.”
“The front desk said they remembered it clearly because she arrived carrying two stones and left carrying two stones.”
Secretary Lin watched as Huo Zhengting slowly rubbed his thumb against his coffee cup.
His gaze was deep and unreadable.
Secretary Lin knew this was a habit Huo Zhengting had whenever he was thinking.
After a moment, he spoke quietly.
“I suspect they were jadeite rough stones.”
“Continue expanding the search.”
Huo Zhengting’s expression remained cold.
“As for the piece of land Zhao Real Estate has been trying to acquire recently, the Huo Group will compete for it as well.”
“You can go.”
Secretary Lin was almost at the door when Huo Zhengting’s low voice came from behind him.
“What has Xiaoxuan been doing lately?”
“Young Master Xuan is still the same as before. He’s hardly been going to university these past few days. He’s been spending time with some friends.”
Secretary Lin paused.
“Young Master Xuan seems to know about what happened to Miss Su and that it’s related to Miss Zhao.”
“Mm.”
Huo Zhengting’s deep voice came from behind him.
At the Zhao family villa, Zhao Ruyue swept all the tea set off the table.
Crash! Bang!
The porcelain shattered across the floor.
She glared furiously at the bodyguard in the black suit standing opposite her.
“You still haven’t found her?”
“It’s been so many days! Is this how you people do your jobs?”
“You can’t even handle something this simple?”
“Expand the search area!”
“I refuse to believe she somehow flew away!”
The bodyguard nodded repeatedly.
“Yes, yes, Miss!”
He hurried away as quickly as he could, as though a dog were chasing him.
Zhao Ruyue clenched her fists.
Su Qianqian, don’t even think about escaping my grasp.
Could you be the one who pushed Aunt Liu down the stairs?
I really did underestimate you.
At a coffee shop, Su Cheng casually stirred her coffee with a spoon.
When she looked up, she saw a man around thirty years old approaching her.
He wore a white dress shirt with a pair of dark, perfectly pressed trousers. A suit jacket was draped casually over his wrist.
The man smiled and extended his hand.
“Hello, President Su. I’m Zhang Rui.”
“Hello.”
Su Cheng stood and lightly shook his hand with her fingertips.