It happened to be the Christmas season, so Dahai Cinema also had considerable foot traffic. Cheng Lele stood to one side counting heads and noting the concession conversion rate before showtimes. The former data could be checked in the backend system, but the latter was each cinema’s trade secret. Box office depended on scheduling and commercial releases, but a cinema’s operational capability was more easily discerned from concession sales.
She was focused on recording and didn’t notice that Li Chaoxi, daughter of Hai, had appeared in the cinema lobby and had called Chen An aside to talk in a corner.
Since Li Chaoxi had last reported him, she had called Chen An’s phone several more times, but Chen An had rejected all of them.
This time, the two encountered each other at Li Chaoxi’s cinema. Chen An couldn’t avoid her and had to listen to her strike up conversation again: “President Chen, why didn’t you contact me in advance when you came over?”
“Just passing by.”
“Last time I mentioned to you about Manager Cheng—”
Chen An didn’t really want to maintain a superficial relationship with Li Chaoxi and spoke bluntly: “The fact that Huang Tiangou could instigate Shen Liming to agree to issue a warning letter to Cheng Lele—you played an indispensable role in that, didn’t you?”
Li Chaoxi’s head shot up to meet a pair of eyes glinting with cold light.
“A cinema with such good credentials has been managed by you to this level. Even Starlight is about to beat you up. Have you been putting all your thoughts into such underhanded backstabbing business?”
Li Chaoxi had only met Chen An once before. At that time, he had behaved modestly and gently throughout. The subsequent phone call—she had complained first, so his attitude being somewhat sharp was understandable. Unlike now, with harsh words and sharp eyes, looking down from above with his full aura unleashed, like an eagle seizing a rabbit, making her feel both afraid and upset.
On second thought, Li Chaoxi realized she had taken a liking to him merely because his good looks and gentle temperament satisfied her. Her father was Taixi’s richest man, and he was just the owner of a small, shabby cinema—where did he get the confidence to yell at her? Was it that scheming little vixen who egged him on?
Speaking of which, that vixen’s luck wasn’t bad. They had already agreed to let Uncle teach her a lesson, but who knew a wrench would be thrown in the works—Peter was inexplicably beaten up and expelled from the circle, letting her escape disaster.
Actually, why use someone else’s hands? There were plenty of ways to make her leave Chen An. Besides, she was also very dissatisfied with Chen An’s disrespectful attitude toward her. She wanted him to worship her, fear her, submit to her, and follow her lead in everything.
Didn’t Dad tell her he wanted to build twenty cinemas? Just acquire Starlight as one of them.
“President Chen, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” Li Chaoxi hooked back the bangs hanging in front of her face, casual yet somewhat contemptuous: “I’m looking for you to discuss serious business. These days it’s not easy to run a practical business while carrying loans. I see Starlight Cinema is practically putting on shows for sale—tough work. Manager Cheng may not have enough vision, but we’re both sensible people. Let’s speak frankly. For a single storefront like yours, when will you ever recover your capital from cash flow? All this struggling is just to make the box office look good and raise a good price to earn the difference. I want to make friends with President Chen. Give my dad a price—I’ll take it over.”
Chen An thought that Li Chaoxi must have had a very smooth life since childhood, with people spoiling her endlessly, never letting her suffer harm, which was why she grew up looking like she regarded nothing under heaven and was the only one of consequence.
If he had always doted on Cheng Lele and protected her as she grew up, and heaven had also blessed her parents with peace and health, would she also be this arrogant?
Was her current brilliance, like a beautiful steel blade, forged and tempered by past suffering?
Why did he think she was like a steel blade? Perhaps it was because in certain moments, he had glimpsed her cold and ruthless side. For instance, in Huang Wei’s matter, her blade fell swiftly without mercy. And for instance, she spoke of her seven years of longing for him, yet she never appeared before him.
Chen Xiaomu, aside from replying with the word “busy,” hadn’t said anything more, seeming to deliberately avoid him.
Chen An suspected Cheng Lele and Cheng Le had conspired to hide some of the past from him. Since Cheng Lele didn’t want him to know, shouldn’t he also cooperate with and respect her?
He cherished their current happiness and didn’t want to casually stir up mud and sediment that would make both of them uncomfortable. So he was hesitating about whether to have someone investigate.
His thoughts drifted until Cheng Lele discovered him standing with Li Chaoxi and walked over.
“Good afternoon, President Li.” Seeing Li Chaoxi, Cheng Lele greeted her. “Your cinema is so big.”
Chen An felt Cheng Lele’s way of speaking was very irritating and said with a smile: “President Li proposed to acquire Starlight.”
“Really?” Cheng Lele widened her eyes and turned to look at Li Chaoxi. “Thank you, President Li. Starlight’s honor.”
Li Chaoxi heard the sarcasm and implication in Cheng Lele’s words. No one in her life had ever dared speak to her this way, and she couldn’t help showing an annoyed expression: “President Chen, go back and think about it.” With that, she was about to sweep her sleeves and leave.
Chen An stopped her: “President Li, you’re not young anymore. Don’t believe everything people tell you. During this pandemic, your father’s port trade isn’t doing well. He’s borrowed loans for several rounds already. Cash flow might still depend on this cinema to support it. Draw yourself a pie of opening twenty cinemas and eat it yourself—I have no opinion and can’t control that. But using it to deceive people and doing evil to her—I forgave once, but won’t forgive a second time.”
“What are you saying?! My dad is the richest man, it’s not your place to…” Li Chaoxi questioned shrilly.
Chen An took a step back and looked at Cheng Lele: “Just being Taixi’s richest man dares to be this arrogant. You, Taixi’s little star, should also walk sideways, understand?”
With that, Chen An pulled Cheng Lele out.
Cheng Lele looked back at Li Chaoxi, who had just started her outburst only to lose her audience: “We’re just leaving like this?”
“I’m afraid my ears will go deaf.”
“Didn’t she want to marry you into her family? How did you end up arguing with her?”
Chen An said: “She doesn’t want us to get married.”
Cheng Lele clicked her tongue: “Oh my, then why did you pull me away? I wanted to perform that scene from ‘A Chinese Odyssey’ for her.”
As she spoke, Cheng Lele stopped, put her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows, imitating Zhou Xingchi’s voice actor Shi Banyu: “They’re a perfect match made in heaven—what right does a demon like you have to object?”
The corners of Chen An’s mouth nearly reached his ears. He gave face by clapping: “Your acting has improved so much compared to before! Especially that contemptuous, disdainful tone—one bit more would be arrogant, one bit less would be common. You nailed it perfectly!”
Cheng Lele bowed: “Thank you, mentor, for affirming me.”
Chen An gave Cheng Lele a loud kiss: “Good baby, you’re so fun.”
The two walked to a beverage shop. Cheng Lele wanted to buy a cup of milk tea. Chen An scanned the code and waited for their order.
Cheng Lele asked: “Is the Sea King not doing well?”
“What Sea King?”
“Li Chaoxi’s dad, Li Dahai. He sells seafood and operates a port, right? So he’s the Sea King.”
Chen An pinched her nose: “Oh, him. His capital chain broke, and he’s borrowing money everywhere. The global pandemic won’t get better anytime soon, financing is difficult, and he might not make it through.”
“Will Dahai be sold?”
“Maybe.”
Cheng Lele came to her senses: “No wonder you said you’d buy Dahai. So you weren’t playing domineering CEO?”
Chen An smiled: “I have no plans to enter the film industry. My thinking is simple—if you like it, I’ll buy it for you.”
“…”
“Actually, no. Seriously, you can consider taking advantage of the cinema industry slump to scout some quality cinemas on the verge of bankruptcy. I’ll provide the funds, you build a team, and selectively acquire the best ones.”
“That’s not good—it’s like living off you.”
“Then I’ll put the company equity in your name, I’ll work for you, and I’ll live off you. I don’t mind. My ideal is to live off you.”
Their order was ready. Chen An took a straw, poked it through and handed it to her. Cheng Lele took a sip and said: “Little Ge, Tang Xin added me on WeChat and told me to keep an eye on you, afraid that one day you’d choose beauty over your kingdom.”
Chen An said dissatisfied: “So the informant by your side I still have to pay to recruit, but the person by my side actively throws herself at you.”
The two held hands and strolled around the mall for a while. The shopping center had good tenant recruitment, with many quasi-first-tier brands among the tenants. The sales staff were all very enthusiastic, and matching their enthusiasm were substantial prices. Taixi’s rolling demolition had created a batch of nouveau riche who supported these stores’ operations.
Cheng Lele couldn’t help but daydream for a moment. If Dahai fell into her hands, she definitely couldn’t continue using Starlight’s current approach. But would taking a high-end, luxurious route be too pretentious for a cinema? Regardless, she would have to strictly differentiate the positioning of the two cinemas to avoid competing for customer resources. Her goal wouldn’t be to increase a single cinema’s box office, but rather how to expand Taixi’s movie-viewing market.
This challenge was quite attractive.
Cheng Lele absentmindedly tried on several outfits and finally picked one set.
The saleswoman was still tirelessly praising her figure, urging her to take more sets. Cheng Lele, with lackluster interest, carried her bag and planned to leave. Chen An asked: “Not buying more? You loved shopping when you were little.”
Cheng Lele said: “Now I have higher pursuits. Besides, I’m naturally beautiful and don’t need such expensive clothes to package myself.”
Chen An didn’t force her: “Next time we go to the provincial capital, I’ll have my mom take you shopping. She has a familiar tailor. Clothes don’t need to be big brands, but they should be comfortable to wear.”
Cheng Lele didn’t object and continued sucking on her drink while thinking about her challenge.
Afterward, the two went to the supermarket downstairs to buy some daily necessities. Chen An was very girlish at heart, picking out a pile of things like couple slippers, couple teacups, couple gloves—things that only seventeen or eighteen-year-olds would like. Chen An said he had wanted to decorate that apartment this way when he was eighteen, so Cheng Lele let him engage in compensatory consumption.
Coming out of the shopping center, a cute panda cartoon mascot waddled over and blocked her path, wanting to hug her.
It must be a part-timer hired by the mall to create a festive atmosphere.
Cheng Lele gave a hug and, remembering her dance partners yesterday sweating profusely in mascot suits, said: “It must be stuffy, right? You’re working hard.”
The panda extended both hands and made an upward lifting gesture in the air.
Cheng Lele recognized it: “Wow, you watched our cinema’s performance!”
Chen An laughed beside her: “See, you’re a celebrity in Taixi now. Even pandas recognize you.”
The panda then pulled a small panda wearing a leather jacket from a large bag nearby and stuffed it into her hands.
“For me?”
The panda nodded.
“Thank you.”
Chen An said: “You already have fans giving gifts.”
Cheng Lele waved at the mascot somewhat embarrassedly: “Thank you. Welcome to come watch movies at Starlight.”
After picking up Ah Chou, they got home and Chen An and Cheng Lele organized their purchases.
Cheng Lele really liked that panda. She spent a long time choosing a spot in the house, finally selecting the bay window by the dining table as its home.
After dinner, Cheng Lele played with Ah Chou in the yard for a while, then went upstairs for a bath. When she came out, Chen An was selecting an old movie to watch. He had installed a television and sound system that were completely out of place with this house’s style. Cheng Lele hadn’t yet settled down to enjoy them.
Cheng Lele came over and made the decision for Chen An. Hitchcock’s “Witness for the Prosecution”—a classic among black-and-white films, with tight plotting and story twists, was Cheng Lele’s preferred style.
Chen An warmed two cups of milk and brought them over. Then the two nestled on the sofa, covered with a thin blanket, holding their newly purchased black and white couple’s mugs, watching the movie.
After watching for a while, Ah Chou suddenly started barking loudly.
Cheng Lele set her cup on the table, walked to the balcony, pushed open the window and looked down. It was pitch black and she couldn’t see clearly.
Ah Chou’s barking hadn’t stopped. Chen An said: “I’ll go downstairs to check.”
Halfway down, Ah Chou quieted down. He still went downstairs and saw a helmeted man carrying a bag of takeout turning a corner at the end of the pathway.
“What was it?” Seeing Chen An return, Cheng Lele asked.
Chen An shook his head: “Delivery person.”
Cheng Lele laughed: “Besides me, are there elderly people in this building ordering takeout? Probably delivered to the wrong place.”
Chen An didn’t pay it much mind either. He pressed play again, said “don’t order takeout next time,” and pulled Cheng Lele to lie on his lap.
The classic movie with tight plotting and story twists still didn’t hold Cheng Lele’s attention. Halfway through, she fell asleep. She slept deeply. When Chen An carried her to bed, she didn’t wake up.
Chen An secretly took out the ring he had bought earlier and tried it for size. As it turned out, he had bought it slightly too large.
This time he changed his mind.
Cheng Lele had said she used to wear a ring on her ring finger to ward off suitors. Since they needed warding off anyway, why not buy an intimidating diamond ring that would make men with improper thoughts dare to think but not dare to act? More importantly, it would prevent petty people who flatter the powerful and trample the weak, like Li Chaoxi and Huang Tiangou, from scheming behind his back where he couldn’t see.