Lin Jiaye really was something. He’d managed to make someone as money-loving as her feel less worldly, at least for the moment.
Thinking of the family backing him, Ji Mingyu suppressed her discomfort, curved her lips, and replied politely,
“We can certainly be friends. But I imagine, Mr. Lin, you’re not short of friends of either sex, are you?”
Lin Jiaye’s expression darkened slightly.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked, displeasure creeping into his voice. “Miss Ji, do you think I’m not good enough for you?”
Ji Mingyu hurriedly waved her hands, her smile turning a little more sincere. “No, no. It’s just that I already like someone.”
She paused, letting a touch of shyness show on her face at just the right moment.
“There’s also someone I admire very much. I’m looking for a chance to meet him.”
At that, Lin Jiaye grew interested too. With the air of someone eager for gossip, he asked,
“What kind of man could make a beauty like Miss Ji fall for him?
Would you be willing to tell me? Maybe I could even help.”
A perfect chance to watch the show!
If the man didn’t come from a better family than his, Lin Jiaye could use the opportunity to mock him.
Ji Mingyu hadn’t expected him to keep pressing for an answer.
She gave an awkward smile, unable to reply at once.
Seeing that, Lin Jiaye’s tone turned sour. “What, Miss Ji? You’re not just making fun of me, are you? You made that up?”
Ji Mingyu quickly waved her hands. “No, no.”
She bit her lip, putting on an air of someone who had decided to take the plunge.
“I’m just embarrassed to say…”
“Hmm?”
“I admire Sheng Xiuwen of Shengshi Group very much.”
Lin Jiaye paused, then burst out laughing. “You’re not making that up, are you? You just picked a name at random?”
“Of course not. He’s highly capable. Not only does he hold an important position at Shengshi Group, he also founded Chengwen Group himself.”
She paused, then added the most important part.
“Most importantly, he’s handsome.”
The man in the magazine was every bit as handsome as those male models. His looks weren’t the most important thing, though. What mattered was how substantial his assets were.
She was too embarrassed to say that so bluntly, though.
Seeing how highly Ji Mingyu praised Sheng Xiuwen, Lin Jiaye could no longer keep a straight face.
“You women are all so shallow,” he said, his voice tinged with resentment. “Inner beauty is what really counts. I thought Miss Ji was the kind of deep person who valued what was on the inside and didn’t care about appearances. I see I was mistaken.”
He straightened his tie and put on an air of dignity.
“In that case, I won’t keep you any longer, Miss Ji.”
Ji Mingyu watched him disappear around the corner. Only then did she finally let herself slump against the bench and breathe out a long sigh.
“Finally, he’s gone.”
She muttered the words under her breath.
Behind the artificial rockery,
Assistant Wang stole a glance at the Chairman beside him.
He was having a grand old time inside.
A beauty of such dazzling elegance had a secret crush on the Chairman. Surely the Chairman was secretly pleased right now?
Still, given their identities… it really wasn’t appropriate.
Everyone at Shengshi Group was saying that Young President Sheng was going to form a marriage alliance with the Ji family. Wouldn’t that make Miss Ji his future nephew’s wife?
Oh my goodness.
A phrase suddenly popped into Assistant Wang’s head: wasn’t this exactly the “younger uncle” romance trope that was so popular online?
The thought made him practically giddy.
He sneaked another look to the side. Sheng Xiuwen was still expressionless, giving no hint of how he felt.
Assistant Wang quietly looked away.
Ah.
Clearly, the Chairman just didn’t have a romantic bone in his body.
Ji Mingyu sat on the bench for a little while longer before getting up, composing herself, and returning to the banquet hall.
Zhou Chongli spotted her coming in from a distance and stopped deliberately keeping an eye on her.
What was the point of a young woman spending all her time with an old man like him? It was better for her to socialize with people her own age.
There were so many outstanding young people here today. It would do her good to mingle on her own.
Ji Mingyu had only just entered the hall and hadn’t even found a spot in a corner to stand in when someone stopped her.
“Hello, Miss Ji. I’m Song Qingyuan, president of Songjia Media.”
She had been trying to find Ji Mingyu earlier, but had lost sight of her in the blink of an eye.
In recent years, the film and television industry had become increasingly difficult. Whether a historical costume drama succeeded depended on how carefully it researched history, and whether its costumes, makeup, and props fit the period.
Ji Mingyu paused slightly and politely held out her hand. “Hello.”
Song Qingyuan released her hand and immediately said, “Our company is preparing a historical costume drama, and I’d like to invite you to serve as our historical consultant.”
“President Song,” she said, sounding a little surprised, “are you sure you’re looking for me and not Professor Zhou?”
Song Qingyuan replied earnestly,
“Miss Ji, there’s no need to be modest.
The fact that you’re Professor Zhou’s doctoral student, and that he brought you along to take part in this ancient city cultural-tourism project, is proof enough of your ability.”
Ji Mingyu looked at her without replying.
She understood perfectly well.
Half of what Song Qingyuan had said was sincere, and the other half was politeness.
Song Qingyuan knew that even if Ji Mingyu herself wasn’t up to the task, she had powerful connections behind her. Her mother, Su Wanyun, was also a professor at Nanjing University. If her daughter ran into trouble at work, would her mother really stand by and do nothing?
It was like spending a little money to gain access to Ji Mingyu’s entire cultural network.
Even if Ji Mingyu had no ability at all, there were more than enough people behind her to step in.
But so what?
Connections and networks were part of her abilities too.
She looked at Song Qingyuan and asked a practical question. “President Song, could you tell me which dynasty the historical drama your company is preparing will be set in?”
Song Qingyuan answered without hesitation. “The Tang dynasty.”
Then she added, “It’s about the Empress Wu Zetian.”
The Tang dynasty. Wu Zetian.
That was a subject she knew well, and besides, she was eager to give it a try.
She was interested in the project itself, but she also genuinely wanted to get involved in the film and television industry.
People shouldn’t assume the industry was a bad one just because it was difficult to make films and shows these days. Compared with other industries, it was still highly lucrative, with exceptionally high returns.
Of course, that was only if you found a good project.
“President Song, could I ask to see the relevant script?”
A hint of scrutiny and confusion appeared in Song Qingyuan’s eyes.
Ji Mingyu noticed her hesitation and explained,
“I’d like to understand the overall story and see whether it follows the historical timeline. If it airs and the audience finds it completely at odds with history—”
She smiled.
“Wouldn’t that reflect badly on my teacher?”
At that, Song Qingyuan relaxed and nodded in agreement.
But she was still quite clear about the matter.
“Miss Ji, the script is the core of the entire project. We can’t reveal the complete script before filming begins.
Of course, we can show you a small portion.”
Ji Mingyu nodded. “I understand.”
Seeing how readily she agreed, Song Qingyuan made a direct invitation.
“Miss Ji, are you free tomorrow afternoon? If it’s convenient, you can come straight to Songjia Media, and we can discuss the details.”
Ji Mingyu had been wondering how to break into the industry. Hearing this, she nodded almost without hesitation.
“All right. I’ll come by tomorrow afternoon.”