“You…”
Li Xiao looked at Lin Biqi, his lips moving but the words stuck in his throat, unsure of what to say.
The two of them had only known each other since childhood because of their elders’ relationship, but he had never felt even the slightest trace of romantic feelings for her — he had always treated her as a younger sister.
“Qiqi, listen to me…”
“I don’t want to listen!” Lin Biqi screamed hysterically. “I won’t allow you to like anyone else! I won’t allow you to be with someone else! I won’t, I won’t, I won’t!”
She seemed to have gone mad. Her sharp, ear-piercing roars drew countless curious looks, and quite a few people recognized Li Xiao.
“Isn’t that Li Xiao? What’s going on?”
“Who’s that girl? Crying and shouting at the cafeteria entrance like that — is she crazy?”
“Probably not a proper girlfriend. No wonder his actual girlfriend wants to break up with him.”
“Are you blind? This girl doesn’t hold a candle to Shen Ci at all.”
Whispers and gossip rose quickly. Li Xiao felt his head splitting. Shen Ci had already refused to get back together with him, and now Qiqi was here making a scene. If Shen Ci found out, she’d definitely be even less likely to forgive him.
Thinking of this, Li Xiao deliberately raised his voice and said firmly to Lin Biqi, “I don’t need your permission to date! I like Shen Ci!”
One clear declaration of loyalty, and the onlookers’ eyes widened in surprise.
Lin Biqi cried even harder, stubbornly shouting back, “I said you can’t!”
Li Xiao didn’t bother dealing with her any longer. He left her standing there and turned to go.
Unfortunately, Shen Ci didn’t witness this dramatic scene.
After leaving school, she went straight by taxi to the real estate transaction center. The sales agent had set up an appointment today to complete the transfer of a second-hand property.
She originally thought the seller had left all the transfer paperwork to the sales department, but when she arrived, she discovered the property owner had come in person.
“Mr. Lu, this is Miss Shen, the one buying your house.”
The moment they met, the young saleswoman introduced them to each other. Seeing the name badge on the woman’s work uniform, Shen Ci realized she’d already been promoted to full-time staff.
Lu Jinzhao was a little surprised when he saw Shen Ci. Her striking appearance and youthful energy were completely different from the kind of person he’d imagined could buy his house in full cash.
She obviously looked like a college student.
Noticing his astonishment, Shen Ci remained calm, smiling as she extended her hand. “Hello, Mr. Lu.”
“Hello.” Lu Jinzhao reached out, politely clasping only her fingertips, then couldn’t help but sigh. “I didn’t expect Miss Shen to be so young.”
Although he said so, he felt a twinge of disappointment inside.
The reason he’d come to handle the transfer in person was to meet the person who had casually spent tens of thousands to buy his property. He’d imagined someone powerful and influential, because the sales agent told him this buyer had dropped over twenty thousand yuan at once to buy two houses — and all in cash.
Anyone with that much liquid money had to be someone significant.
He hadn’t expected a girl barely twenty years old. Most likely she just came from a wealthy family — nothing to do with her own ability.
The sales staff handled the entire process. The buyer and seller only needed to provide ID and sign documents.
While waiting, Shen Ci asked casually, “I heard you reserved this villa a year before the opening, Mr. Lu. Why are you selling it after owning it for less than six months?”
Lu Jinzhao chuckled and explained, “Plans can’t keep up with changes. I had my eye on this villa development early on, but later our company spotted a very promising project. It has huge potential, so the company decided to pour major funds into it. That’s why I had to grit my teeth and let this house go.”
Shen Ci nodded. She remembered the sales agent saying the original owner’s company needed cash, so they decided to sell the house.
After studying her for a moment, Lu Jinzhao suddenly asked, “Miss Shen, do you read novels?”
The unexpected question made Shen Ci pause for a second, but she nodded. “I do. I read to pass time when I’m bored.”
Lu Jinzhao’s eyes lit up. “Then have you read Destined to Be Phoenix? It’s super popular with young people like you!”
Destined to Be Phoenix?That big female-lead web novel?
“I know that one.” Shen Ci nodded, then something suddenly clicked in her mind, and she blurted, “Mr. Lu, is your company planning to adapt that novel into a TV series?”
Lu Jinzhao nodded. “Yes. The online buzz is huge, and it has a massive reader base. It’s one of our company’s major IP projects for the second half of the year. We’re planning to invest nearly twenty thousand to make an epic female-lead drama!”
So he was the boss of a film and TV production company.
Twenty thousand was the equivalent of two hundred million before — absolutely a mega-budget production.
Shen Ci also remembered that after Destined to Be Phoenix got adapted, the series became a huge hit, breaking multiple records upon release. The female lead skyrocketed to the top of the industry, and even the supporting newcomers made names for themselves, gaining nationwide recognition.
Her mind shifted gears. Smiling at Lu Jinzhao, she asked, “Mr. Lu, do you still need investors?”
Lu Jinzhao was clearly stunned. “Miss Shen… you want to invest in our drama?”
His tone rose with barely concealed excitement.
“Let’s exchange contacts. I’ll take a closer look at the novel later. If I think it has potential, I’ll consider it.”
Shen Ci didn’t commit fully, because she wanted to study the characters first — to see which role would suit her sister, and make sure she could secure that role. Only then would she decide whether to invest.
Lu Jinzhao nodded repeatedly and quickly pulled out his phone. “Miss Shen, let me scan your code.”
The company had poured nearly everything into this project. Just securing the adaptation rights had taken a year of fierce competition.
If the drama succeeded, the company would soar. But funding had been their biggest bottleneck.
They’d been seeking investors for a while. Now the shoot was about to begin, yet they were still far short of the twenty-thousand budget. So when Shen Ci expressed even tentative interest, Lu Jinzhao’s excitement came straight from the heart.
“May I ask what your family does, Miss Shen?” Lu Jinzhao asked while scanning her WeChat.
Shen Ci answered calmly, “I’m an independent investor. I’ve made some good calls and earned some money.”
Hearing she was a professional investor, Lu Jinzhao was visibly startled.
He’d been in business for years and met hundreds, if not thousands, of investors and venture capitalists. He’d seen plenty of young geniuses in finance, but never anyone this young.
“Miss Shen, this Friday night, we’re hosting a cocktail party for potential investors in this project. Even though you haven’t decided yet, I’d like to invite you. Would that be alright?”
(End of Chapter)