Everyone’s eyes went wide.
’Is Director Zhang scouting an actress right here on the spot?’
Jin Meiting was also stunned for a moment before replying:
"I already have one, Director."
Zhang Baiwei frowned.
"Come with me. I’ll make you a star."
Jin Meiting pursed her lips.
Zhang Baiwei was famous for loving his craft more than women. He was a complete workaholic, and there had never been any scandals about him.
Jin Meiting politely declined.
"I’m sorry, Director Zhang. I’ve already promised my boss I’d report for work tomorrow."
Everyone was dumbfounded.
’Even if you’d signed a contract with a Fortune 500 company, you should know which opportunity is more important, right?’
Zhang Baiwei, his brow furrowed, tried to persuade her earnestly.
"You need to think this through! No job could possibly be better than being the female lead in my movie!"
Jin Meiting still shook her head.
Zhang Baiwei wouldn’t give up.
"Are you afraid of the penalty for breaking your contract?
Tell me which company it is. I’ll go talk to their boss."
Everyone was stunned once again.
’Director Zhang is personally going to help an actress get out of her work contract?’
’This is definitely going to be a trending topic!’
They thought that if it were them, they would be utterly devoted to Zhang Baiwei and work themselves to the bone for him.
Jin Meiting didn’t dare say that the place she was going to work was Antique Shop Zero.
First, to avoid unnecessary trouble, she had to keep her boss’s details confidential.
Second, even if she said she was going to work at an antique shop filled with Taboo Items, no one would believe her.
She refused again.
"I’m sorry, Director Zhang, I really can’t. I already have a job."
Everyone looked at Jin Meiting in disbelief.
’Director Zhang has already gone this far, and you’re still not appreciating the favor, are you?’
’No matter how great the company you’re joining is, it can’t possibly have the same prestige as being personally supported by Director Zhang!’
Director Zhang’s brow was deeply furrowed as he continued to plead patiently.
"You need to understand, miss. Coming with me offers a much more promising future than staying with that boss of yours."
Just then, the door was pushed open again.
Everyone’s gazes shifted to see a strange man.
He had neat, short hair and a tall, slender build.
He wore a black business shirt, a black business vest, and a black business suit jacket. The creases on his black trousers were sharply ironed, and his black leather shoes were polished to a shine.
Strangely, he wore a key-shaped pendant around his neck.
The key pendant looked ancient, probably an antique itself.
He wasn’t handsome in the conventional sense, but his melancholic, world-weary eyes seemed to hold countless stories.
The newcomer was none other than Jiang Chaosheng.
Jiang Chaosheng looked at Jin Meiting, his expression blank.
"Sorry, you’re starting work early. Come with me."
The reason Jiang Chaosheng had appeared here was because tonight was a rainy night.
Normally, rain wasn’t so frequent in the South Sea during autumn, and rainy nights were even rarer.
Jiang Chaosheng had no intention of wasting this rainy night; he was going to retrieve a lost Taboo Item.
Coincidentally, Jin Meiting was scheduled to start working at Antique Shop Zero tomorrow.
So he might as well take Jin Meiting tonight to familiarize her with the business.
The girls present looked at Jiang Chaosheng with curiosity.
From the recent exchange, they knew this man was Jin Meiting’s boss.
’What kind of magic does this boss’s company possess, to make Jin Meiting give up the chance to become a huge star with Director Zhang?’
Gradually, everyone’s expressions became filled with insinuation.
’Jin Meiting... she must be one of those girls who gets irrational when she’s in love!’
’Goddesses like her always fall for men with a mysterious past.’
’Honestly, what kind of good company has the boss personally fetching an employee for overtime in the middle of the night!’
An imperceptible smile touched the corners of Cui Xinyue’s mouth.
’Jin Meiting is indeed beautiful, but she’s not very bright.’
’I’ll be following Director Zhang, while she follows some unknown small-time boss.’
’It’s obvious who will have a better future, isn’t it?’
Wanting to curry favor with Zhang Baiwei, Cui Xinyue instantly switched into a protective mode for him.
"Jin Meiting! You really don’t know what’s good for you!
Director Zhang invited you so enthusiastically, and this is your attitude?
What kind of future will you have following that man? You’re so ungrateful!"
With these words, she first distanced herself from Jin Meiting to prevent Director Zhang from directing his anger at her.
Then, she burned Jin Meiting’s bridges, making it impossible for her to go with Zhang Baiwei now.
This little trick was so transparent that all the other girls present could see through Cui Xinyue’s petty scheme.
Their gazes shifted between Jin Meiting and Jiang Chaosheng.
’Will Jin Meiting refute her? Or will she remain silent?’
’Will the small-time boss strike back in anger? Or will he swallow his pride?’
What was even stranger was the flicker of pity in Jin Meiting’s eyes as she looked at Cui Xinyue.
Jiang Chaosheng’s eyes narrowed slightly. Ignoring Cui Xinyue, he looked at Jin Meiting and said:
"I’m on a tight schedule. Come downstairs with me now."
Jin Meiting obediently stood up, grabbed her bag, and walked toward Jiang Chaosheng.
Cui Xinyue, now energized, piped up again.
"Do you have any manners! Don’t you know you should say goodbye to Director Zhang before you leave!"
The onlookers’ faces showed they were enjoying the drama even more now.
The small-time boss chose to remain silent, but Cui Xinyue had the word "provocation" written all over her face...
’This is getting more and more interesting,’ they thought, ’more interesting than one of Zhang Baiwei’s movies.’
Then, something completely unexpected happened.
Zhang Baiwei yanked Cui Xinyue aside, cautiously approached Jiang Chaosheng, and said respectfully:
"You... what brings you here?"
The girls’ mouths slowly fell open, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Zhang Baiwei had been so arrogant just moments ago. How did he become so humble in front of this small-time boss?
Jiang Chaosheng gave him an indifferent glance.
"You know me?"
The girls were utterly shocked, their eyes wide as saucers.
’This small-time boss—no, this gentleman—actually asked Zhang Baiwei ’You know me?’ so casually?’
’This is Zhang Baiwei! Who doesn’t know him!’
Zhang Baiwei humbly lowered his head.
"A great man like you has many things on his mind. If it weren’t for your support back then, I would never have gotten to where I am today."
These words left the girls reeling.
’Without his support, Director Zhang wouldn’t have made it this far?’
’Who is Director Zhang? He’s a superstar director, famous overseas!’
’But the man in front of them looked to be in his twenties at most, right?’
Their minds started racing...
’Could it be that Director Zhang once suffered a major setback or hit a career bottleneck, and only became famous because this man helped him?’
’So, is this man some kind of super Crown Prince?’
They all cast envious glances at Jin Meiting.
’Just how lucky are you to know someone like that!’
Jiang Chaosheng frowned.
"Speak plainly."
Zhang Baiwei lowered his head even further, leaned in close to Jiang Chaosheng, and whispered:
"I once... traded for a few books from you.
I know you have countless forms, but I remember your key pendant."
Jiang Chaosheng understood.
This Director Zhang had once made a deal at Antique Shop Zero.
Jiang Chaosheng searched his mind and finally found the record of his transaction with Zhang Baiwei.
He had dealt with the previous shop owner, and the items he traded were so peculiar that Jiang Chaosheng remembered them vividly.
Zhang Baiwei took two steps back, his palms sweaty as he said nervously:
"I didn’t know Miss Jin Meiting was one of your people. Please forgive my rudeness."
Jiang Chaosheng said casually:
"I don’t have time for that."
He was, by nature, a cold and indifferent person.
He had no interest in showing concern for old customers; Antique Shop Zero didn’t offer after-sales service.
He was also a very goal-oriented person.
He did what he set out to do and wouldn’t let any small interruption delay him for even a second.
With that, Jiang Chaosheng walked straight out of the private room.
Seeing Jiang Chaosheng’s attitude, Zhang Baiwei wanted to strike up a conversation but couldn’t find the words, and he certainly didn’t dare to say anything unnecessary.
Jin Meiting walked to the door of the room and shot Cui Xinyue a mocking glance.
"I didn’t tell anyone what happened that day. I didn’t want to ruin you.
But you just had to provoke my boss. Why did you have to bring this upon yourself?"