Jiang Shiyan sat on the edge of the bed, with a bouquet placed beside him.
A large cluster of pink roses was tightly gathered in tin foil, tied with a ribbon, forming a heart shape. In the center of the giant heart were two soft teddy bears, also dressed in pink outfits.
If it had been just a single rose or a single teddy bear, Tang Yang would have found it cute.
But with such a grand display on the floor, estimated to be the 999-rose style…
Accompanied by a faint fragrance…
Tang Yang felt slightly breathless.
Beyond the roses was Jiang Shiyan’s face, wearing a gentle smile.
Tang Yang looked away, inhaling and exhaling. She moved her dry throat and weakly said, “Can I say… that right now, I want a glass of water more than roses?”
“That can be arranged,” Jiang Shiyan said, steadying the roses with one hand while reaching for the prepared cup on the bedside table with the other.
The warm honey water made her stomach feel cozy, but Tang Yang still didn’t want to face the roses directly. “Can I go see what clothes I should wear today?”
Jiang Shiyan pointed to the walk-in closet. “You have a regular meeting this morning. I’ve picked out that gray suit for you.” The pinstripe one that both elongates and enhances presence.
Tang Yang hugged her cup. “What about breakfast?”
Jiang Shiyan continued to smile at her, his voice warm: “It’s ready, on the table.”
Alright, all topics are exhausted.
Tang Yang put down her cup and resignedly stroked the roses lightly. Her eyes reflected the dewdrops rolling on the petals, and her gaze flickered. “How early did you get up?” Her voice softened unconsciously.
Jiang Shiyan tucked Tang Yang’s stray hair behind her ear, his hand lingering near her ear. “Last night, you were in my dream, smiling at me with curved eyes. Your eyes could speak, and I woke up at dawn, pillowed by your smiling words.”
Sudden poetry.
Tang Yang’s ears and heartfelt scorched, but she complained softly, “Why buy roses? They’re troublesome afterward.” Tang Yang counted on her fingers, “We need a vase to arrange them, we have to trim the stems when arranging, change the water daily, and when they wilt, we have to throw them downstairs…”
“I’ll take care of all that,” Jiang Shiyan said matter-of-factly.
Tang Yang was surprised. “Then why did you buy them?”
Isn’t an important aspect of giving flowers the act of caring for them? Seeing the flowers daily would naturally remind one of the giver.
Jiang Shiyan lowered his head to kiss Tang Yang’s ear tip. “I just wanted you to experience that one second of greatest joy when receiving flowers.”
His voice was mellow, his warm breath brushing against the back of Tang Yang’s ear.
This man’s lips must be oiled, Tang Yang thought bashfully, not wanting to admit but unable to deny that she was touched by this large, pink display from her straight boyfriend that she wouldn’t have to maintain.
She was just considering how to thank Jiang the Pursuer for his sixty-point-worthy effort when Jiang Shiyan as if guessing her thoughts, pushed her away and stood up. Then he bent down and, as if performing a magic trick, produced a gift box from the floor.
The box had a pink openwork shell, with a small silver lock mimicking the style of a Republican-era tin trunk.
Tang Yang was puzzled. Jiang Shiyan placed the box on Tang Yang’s lap, covered her hands with his, and then slowly guided her hands to open the lock and lift the lid of the gift box—
A silk scarf with intricate patterns and exquisite texture lay quietly in the box.
It was from Tang Yang’s favorite luxury brand, a new style she had wanted to buy but kept forgetting. It could be paired with shirts or Bohemian long dresses. The ceiling light refracted off the edges of the gift box onto the silk scarf, as if giving it life, suddenly shimmering with brilliance.
Tang Yang hadn’t expected this at all. Her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth, speechless.
“Just like how I feel when I see you,” Jiang Shiyan said.
“I just wanted you to experience that one second of greatest joy when receiving flowers, just like how I feel when I see you.”
As Jiang Shiyan spoke, he took the silk scarf from the box. The scarf slid from his long fingers to her slender white neck. He took both ends of the scarf and loosely tied a knot.
“Do you like it?” he asked as he tried.
The ends of his hair brushed against Tang Yang’s skin, causing a slight tickle.
Jiang Shiyan smiled and patiently explained, “On Saturday when we went to see a movie, there was an advertisement for this near the subway escalator. You looked at it twice at the time,” Jiang Shiyan chuckled, “Although later…”
Tang Yang suddenly lifted the scarf and threw herself into Jiang Shiyan’s arms. With her nose filled with Jiang Shiyan’s familiar woody scent, Tang Yang felt as if her whole body was sinking into a cloud. Her little face was warm, and she unconsciously called out, “Husband…”
Soft and tender.
“Yes!” Jiang Shiyan responded steadily. Then, for the entire morning, he remained in a state of uncontrollable smugness.
When Tang Yang got up to dress, he smiled contentedly.
When Tang Yang brushed her teeth, he squeezed toothpaste for her, smiling contentedly.
When Tang Yang drank milk, he sat beside her, still wearing an incredibly smug smile.
His smile followed her everywhere, making Tang Yang both embarrassed and annoyed.
“Say it again, let me hear,” Jiang Shiyan coaxed.
“No,” Tang Yang turned her face in the other direction.
Jiang Shiyan gently tugged at her newly tied silk scarf and said softly, “Give your pursuer a little sweetness.”
Tang Yang, with a red face: “No.”
If she wouldn’t say it, he’d say it himself.
Jiang Shiyan: “Let me recall…”
Let him recall.
Tang Yang was going crazy.
She wanted to scream.
She knew she was wrong, she shouldn’t have given Jiang Big Dog the advantage of the title, she was wrong, okay?
Yet Jiang Shiyan pinched his voice and imitated her tone: “Husband—”
“Jiang Shiyan, aren’t you annoying!” Tang Yang, the human radiator, felt hot all over and kicked his knee with her slipper.
The embarrassing breakfast lasted nearly an hour. But with A City’s recent odd-even license plate restriction, traffic was smoother than before, so Tang Yang wasn’t in a hurry.
She was checking if she had packed everything while enduring Jiang Shiyan’s endless teasing when suddenly her phone rang.
It was Jiang’s mother.
Tang Yang put it on speakerphone.
“Tangtang,” Jiang’s mother seemed to be at an event. She walked a few steps to a less crowded area before continuing, “Tangtang, a friend here gave me two tickets to a jewelry exhibition. Jiang Shiyan’s father doesn’t have time, so I was wondering if you’re free tomorrow night to go with me?”
“Sure, I’m not working overtime tomorrow,” Tang Yang asked, “What time and where should I be?”
Jiang’s mother gave the time and said she’d pick up Tang Yang. Then she happily added, “Your Aunt Li and Aunt Zhang have been bringing their daughters-in-law recently, now I can finally bring my beautiful daughter-in-law too…”
Jiang Shiyan mouthed “daughter-in-law”.
Tang Yang and Jiang Shiyan exchanged glances.
Jiang Shiyan’s face once again showed the smug smile from earlier at the dining table.
Tang Yang also smiled: “Okay, then Mom, we’ll see you then. Oh—”
Suddenly remembering something, Tang Yang’s tone dropped: “Aunt Yi, I might not be able to call you Mom anymore.”
“Huh?” Jiang’s mother became nervous, “Why? What happened? Tangtang, did something happen to you?”
Tang Yang didn’t respond, and a brief silence slowly dispersed the previous cheerful atmosphere.
Jiang Shiyan, who was trimming roses by the coffee table, suddenly had a bad feeling.
The next second, Tang Yang’s little mouth pouted, and she indeed spoke with a pitiful tone: “You know Song Jing, right? I used to date Song Jing for a while.”
Jiang’s mother didn’t understand: “I know, but that’s all in the past…”
Tang Yang’s throat bobbed, and she put on an extremely suppressed state: “Our bank launched a special financial product that requires coordination with 762. I was previously in charge of this project, and the person in charge from 762 happens to be Song Jing. Then Jiang Shiyan overheard me talking to Song Jing about meeting for a meal. It was just a meal, I was only going to return something to Song Jing, I didn’t intend to have anything more with Song Jing.”
Tang Yang said: “I do like Jiang Shiyan, I want to spend my life with Jiang Shiyan.”
Jiang’s mother’s heart melted at Tang Yang’s words. She sighed, “Good child, good child…”
“But Jiang Shiyan thought I would betray him,” Tang Yang changed her tone, looking at Jiang Shiyan with a smile, but her voice became even sadder, “He thought I would get back together with Song Jing, he imagined all sorts of things, he even proposed breaking up with me, very seriously proposed breaking up,” Tang Yang paused, as if troubled, “So now we’re in an ex-relationship.”
Jiang Shiyan nearly blacked out.
There was complete silence on Jiang’s mother’s end.
“So, Aunt Yi,” Tang Yang said, “I might not be able to accompany you—”
“I’ll still come to pick you up,” Jiang’s mother said without changing her expression.
Tang Yang made a bitter sound: “But Jiang Shiyan—”
“Jiang Shiyan?” Jiang’s mother repeated with a frown, “Jiang Shiyan? Who is Jiang Shiyan? The name sounds familiar, but I don’t know this person.”
Jiang Shiyan stood like a statue in the living room, holding a rose.
Tang Yang suppressed her laughter and continued talking to Jiang’s mother.
On the other end, Jiang’s mother told Tang Yang that “she only has two daughters, one called Jiang Yanan and one called Tang Yang”, and that “no matter whether Tang Yang forgives Jiang Shiyan or not, Auntie is on your side, you’ll always be Auntie’s daughter no matter who you’re with, Auntie won’t interfere with young people’s choices”, and then said “goodbye” in a voice so gentle it could drip water.
After hanging up, Jiang Shiyan slowly came back to his senses and was about to pretend to be stern and settle accounts with Tang Yang.
At this moment, Jiang’s mother called again.
The three words “Jiang Shiyan” were shouted out, and Jiang’s mother’s scolding filled the spacious living room.
“While others eat wife cakes, did you eat idiot cakes?! If Tang Yang wanted something with Song Jing, would it be your turn?! Even taking a step back, if there was something, you only know how to break up? Is breaking up all you have in your brain? You have such a big Yixiu and you don’t know how to seize and plunder?”
The final phrases were too impactful.
Jiang Shiyan and Tang Yang were both stunned.
“Don’t you usually read books to enrich yourself?” Jiang’s mother was full of disbelief, “Don’t you read ‘The Tycoon’s Priceless Little Runaway Bride’, ‘Mistaken Love with the Wife 99 Times’, ‘The Young Madam Runs Away with a Baby: The CEO’s Unlimited Time to Chase His Wife’…”
Jiang Shiyan was petrified, while Tang Yang muffled her laughter.
Having already gotten her answer from the silence on the other end of the phone, Jiang’s mother sighed, “Young people still need to study more to improve. I’ve always told you to study hard, but you didn’t listen. Now I’m still telling you to study hard. I’ll ask my secretary to buy a copy of ‘The Young Master’s Wife-Chasing Bible’ that your Aunt Zhang and the others recommended…”
Jiang Shiyan helplessly said: “Mom, don’t make trouble. I promise I’ll win her back, okay… I swear!”
After this phone call, Jiang Shiyan’s arrogant air was completely gone.
Tang Yang was laughing so hard she couldn’t straighten her back.
Jiang Shiyan’s chest felt flustered from his mother’s scolding. Seeing Tang Yang’s smug expression with her eyes curved in amusement, he gritted his teeth: Just for making you call me husband a few more times? How dare this little mouth tattle! I’ll teach you to tattle! I’ll teach you to tattle!
He had to pull her over and give her a good kiss or two.
Jiang Shiyan thought so, and he did so.
————
On the way to drop Tang Yang off at work, Jiang Shiyan mentioned that when Song Jing left and he went to see him off, Song Jing told Jiang Shiyan that he had listed Jiang Shiyan and Tang Yang as his emergency contacts.
Jiang Shiyan said: “He seemed to imply that it might have some impact on Danxin Tong?”
“It’s to avoid suspicion,” Tang Yang said, “He’s afraid that we might collude and exploit product loopholes for money laundering or something similar,” Tang Yang explained softly, “But since he was my first love, I should indeed avoid suspicion. If I’m on his emergency contact list, I need to avoid suspicion.”
Yixiu divides its industrial chain, and then small teams operate under the industrial chain. Jiang Shiyan asked: “So should we let someone else take charge of the first batch of Danxin Tong? Can we trust them?”
Tang Yang thought for a moment: “If it’s Qin Yue, I can trust her.”
Danxin Tong was like a child to Tang Yang. If she had to entrust this child to someone else due to objective conditions, the foster mother should be Qin Yue, and she hoped it would be Qin Yue.
As Tang Yang and Jiang Shiyan were talking, the car arrived at the Huishang Building.
Jiang Shiyan unbuckled her seatbelt: “May I have the honor of inviting the beautiful Ms. Yang to lunch?”
Tang Yang: “I have a meeting at 1 PM, I’ll eat in the cafeteria. Tonight or tomorrow night, our department has a gathering.”
The passenger door opened, and Jiang Shiyan grabbed Tang Yang’s wrist from the driver’s seat.
Tang Yang turned back, meeting Jiang Shiyan’s eyes full of unspoken words. She curved her lips sweetly and said: “I know, I know,” she imitated his tone, “If possible, take a lunch break, wait a while after lunch before drinking yogurt, my stomach isn’t good, can’t handle hot and cold, get up and move around after sitting for a long time, there are moisturizing eye patches and eye drops you just put in my bag…”
After reciting all this, Tang Yang reached out and pinched Jiang Shi Yan’s face: “Brain waves have received today’s thousand reminders from Jiang the Pursuer—”
“I’ll miss you,” Jiang Shiyan said softly.
Tang Yang was slightly stunned.
Jiang Shiyan leaned forward and kissed the back of her hand, then looked up at her with gentle, warm eyes: “Remember to miss me.”
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
Tang Yang came back to her senses, then took off the new silk scarf from her neck, leaned forward, and tucked it into Jiang Shiyan’s shirt pocket over his heart, leaving a loose and beautiful corner visible.
Jiang Shiyan hadn’t expected this move from Tang Yang either. His heart itched unbearably, but Tang Yang had already gotten up to leave.
As she walked towards the building, she put on her spare scarf, lowering her head to suppress a smile. Each step she took was sweet as honey.
Earlier, Jiang Shiyan had told Tang Yang that Song Jing had already left. So Song Jing arrived on Sunday afternoon and left early Monday morning, staying in A City for less than a day.
Tang Yang thought that not many people would know about her relationship with Song Jing. However, when she arrived at the Credit Review Department and was waiting for the water to boil in the tea room, her colleagues outside, assuming she hadn’t arrived yet, started gossiping.
One person said, “Did you see that secretly taken photo Fan Deputy Director posted and quickly deleted on her social media? I was captivated just by the back view. I heard the face is incredibly handsome too, a top-tier beauty, an unapproachable flower. The name is nice too, Wei Jing or Song Jing, I think.”
“It’s Song Jing. Lower your voice,” another person pulled their companion, “I heard he’s Director Tang’s first love. Do you think she still has feelings for him and wants to rekindle the old flame?”
“It’s possible. He’s a Lieutenant Colonel,” a third person sighed, “Director Tang should write a guide on how to charm men. Song Jing harboring ulterior motives, CEO Jiang’s possessive love, a passionate love triangle… just thinking about it is thrilling.”
“Wait, if Song Jing and Director Tang have an emotional entanglement, then what about Danxin Tong… Deputy Director Fan or Deputy Director Qin?”
“…”
Tang Yang emerged from the tea room with her cup. The colleagues outside quickly composed themselves, nudging each other and calling out, “Good morning, Director Tang.”
“Good morning,” Tang Yang raised her cup slightly and entered her office.
Ao Siqie, who had recently been in charge of Tang Yang’s schedule, followed her into the office, muttering, “The young man next to Lieutenant Colonel Song said no photos were allowed. Deputy Director Fan secretly taking photos and gossiping about your relationship with Lieutenant Colonel Song behind your back… it’s not right.”
Tang Yang made a gesture of putting her index finger to her lips, signaling Ao Siqie to be quiet.
Ao Siqie looked confused.
Tang Yang took a sip of her tea and said calmly, “You don’t know what kind of relationship I have with Fan Linlang. You might think you’re close to me, but I might be closer to Fan Linlang. If you badmouth Fan Linlang in front of me, I might tell her immediately. Fan Linlang manages office affairs and performance evaluations. Think about how it would affect you if she heard what I told her…”
Ao Siqie seemed to understand a bit and called out, “Director Tang…”
“Don’t make personal comments in the workplace,” Tang Yang handed her a stack of documents with a gentle smile, “Take these up first.”
Last week, Huishang held a new product presentation, and this week’s large regular meeting was particularly long.
It wasn’t until noon that the executives called several heads of the Credit Review Department to the small conference room.
Song Jing’s deputy quickly sent over the scanned copies of Song Jing’s emergency contact information. Tang Yang was still in charge of the entire issuance plan for Danxin Tong, but the first pilot issuance task was to be led by Qin Yue. Tang Yang and Qin Yue had a brief discussion at the conference table, and neither had any issues.
The list of subsequent team members was still being drafted, with Fan Linlang’s name at the top.
Zhou Zisheng ordered a few boxed meals, which his secretary delivered directly. Zhou Zisheng told everyone to eat while they talked. In the relatively relaxed atmosphere, Fan Linlang poured tea into disposable paper cups for everyone, and they politely thanked her.
Zhou Zisheng didn’t mince words: “Director Tang’s final destination won’t be the head of the Credit Review Department. Leaving the Credit Review Department is just a matter of time.”
Several executives agreed: “She has a bright future ahead.”
Everyone knew Qin Yue didn’t want to move up, so Zhou Zisheng continued, “Deputy Director Fan has been in the Credit Review Department for a long time and has rich practical experience, but her educational background and knowledge reserve are relatively weak,” Zhou Zisheng said, “High-end product design talent is rare, but the top floor hopes she can join this pilot issuance plan. Your PhDs and Masters can guide her, let her learn gradually,” Zhou Zisheng looked up from his boxed meal, “Tang Yang, do you have any objections?”
Tang Yang, of course, knew that others would join in, and she also knew that Qin Yue was still in charge of the pilot issuance of Danxin Tong.
Perhaps it was because of the gossip she had heard in the morning, or because of Ao Siqie’s muttering, but Tang Yang felt a bit uncomfortable. However, all the executives were looking at her.
Tang Yang’s expression remained unchanged.
“Alright,” she responded gently.
Tang Yang was sitting next to Qin Yue and Zhou Zisheng’s secretary.
As the meeting was about to end, Fan Linlang took the initiative to walk halfway around the conference table, humbly saying, “I’ve signed up for a class to prepare for the part-time Finance program. I’ve bought a few books to read, mainly ‘Macroeconomics,’ ‘Microeconomics,’ then ‘Commercial Bank Operation and Management,’ and ‘Corporate Finance,'” Fan Linlang said in a low voice, “Director Tang, I have to go on a business trip this afternoon. Could you help me make a book list when you go downstairs later?”
Couldn’t this wait until after the meeting?
Tang Yang, of course, knew that Fan Linlang was doing this for the executives to see. She didn’t expose her, maintaining her composure and agreeing.
After the meeting, Tang Yang called Jiang Shiyan from the balcony. Qin Yue was also on the balcony, smoking in the hot wind from the high-rise buildings.
July in A City had entered the scorching heat. The steel and concrete jungle reflected blinding white light under the midday sun. The two women in suits and skirts took shelter in the shadow of the building, their moods cooling off with the opportunity.
“Weren’t you quite close with Fan Linlang before?” Qin Yue finished a cigarette just as Tang Yang hung up the phone, and she asked her.
“It was okay,” Tang Yang’s mood was noticeably better than before, and she half-jokingly said, “I’m quite close with the cleaning lady too.”
The glass door blocked the sound. Qin Yue and Tang Yang had a good relationship, so she teased, “You don’t seem to want Fan Linlang in your Danxin Tong project.”
“If she doesn’t join, someone else will,” Tang Yang changed the subject, “It’s good that I have time to finish the Jiujiang case. There’s only one final check left,” Tang Yang said, “Although Jiujiang Real Estate wants to increase the limit to 60, it should be dealt with in half a year.” Seeing Qin Yue still staring at her, Tang Yang frowned her delicate brows, “Was my dissatisfaction that obvious just now?”
“No,” Qin Yue reassured her, “I’ll handle the details in the plan, including Fan Linlang, don’t worry about that. But I might need your help with some parts.”
Tang Yang asked about the specifics and agreed.
Qin Yue thanked her.
After their chat, Qin Yue thought of something and put her palm in front of Tang Yang’s eyes as if to shield them, whistling a long, melodious tune, “Has no one ever told you that your eyes speak?”
Jiang Shiyan had said that, but Tang Yang remained silent.
Qin Yue looked at Tang Yang’s affectionate eyes and shouted “Okay, okay, okay, don’t say anymore” three times, quickly retreating downstairs with her fragile single heart.
Did I say anything?
Tang Yang stood in the corridor with contrasting light from above and below, feeling a bit puzzled, and quietly blushed.
When Tang Yang was thinking about Jiang Shiyan, he was also distracted during a high-level meeting.
The first week’s preview data for “The Lost Pearl” in the European region had come out. The reception hadn’t flopped, but it wasn’t as good as expected, barely passing the mark.
The person in charge had found plenty of reasons: On one hand, due to differences in national systems and cultural heritage, Europeans couldn’t appreciate the subtle sense of patriotism and national pride in “The Lost Pearl”; on the other hand, direct translation from Chinese to English created cultural barriers.
It was just a mediocre international promotion.
Jiang Shiyan summed it up concisely: “Failure.”
He tapped his index finger on the table twice, and the executives at the table gradually fell silent. The sound of the air conditioning became particularly noisy.
One executive said, “This promotion plan invested about 100 million. If we cut our losses now, we won’t lose too much. It will probably break even with the domestic film and television premium of ‘The Lost Pearl’.”
Another executive said, “We’ve come this far, and this is a precedent for domestic documentaries. If we stop here, we’ll be in a very passive position.”
“Can we change the concept,” Jiang Shiyan’s assistant agreed, “The current thinking is to transform IP into film and television. From another perspective, film and television can also be transformed into IP. A truly significant IP has no national boundaries, like the palace concept that RDC under Thompson did before, documentaries about the Forbidden City, the Louvre, the White House…”
Jiang Shiyan’s assistant was groomed by Jiang Shiyan himself and understood his thoughts very well.
After the assistant finished speaking, some executives discussed quietly below.
Jiang Shiyan’s fingers tapped for a while, then stopped on the table.
The assistant pulled up the pre-prepared presentation that Jiang Shiyan had instructed earlier.
When the content came out, the meeting room fell silent.
It was at this moment that Jiang Shiyan unexpectedly thought of Tang Yang, and also of Song Jing.
The executives’ eyes followed the presentation page by page, they looked at each other but didn’t know what to say, or who should stand up to speak first.
Because it was somewhat crazy.
Crazy with Jiang Shiyan’s style.
Jiang Shiyan wanted to directly transform “The Lost Pearl” into an IP concept, with the same structure and core, then hire well-known foreign screenwriters to write the script, find foreign directors and actors, and shoot it from a foreign perspective.
The connections and channels were displayed on the screen. At the same time, the executives also understood one thing – Jiang Shiyan wasn’t listening to them talk about “The Lost Pearl’s” poor reception at the meeting and then choosing from their proposals. He had known about and faced the problem of “The Lost Pearl” in advance, then came up with his solution, informed them, and listened to their opinions. It was like a net, watertight.
An executive with a shareholding spoke relatively dialectically: “The preparation and filming are minor issues. The key is the follow-up, the subsequent promotion, and the entire operation after the film is completed. We may need to allocate a large portion of the budget for this and face the risk of possibly not making a splash.” After all, anything is novel the first time, but ordinary the second time.
“Filming is not a small matter, is a budget of several hundred million small?” Another executive laughed, “If we make ‘The Lost Pearl,’ I feel like it would be enough for a lifetime because the possibility is too small.”
Another executive said, “In a sense, ‘The Lost Pearl’ carries the transformation of Yixiu, and such a transformation seems unnecessary.”
“…”
The Yixiu executives were all quite young, and they kept firing off one argument after another.
Jiang Shiyan had heard enough.
“Without a representative work, it’s easy to be forgotten. Everyone knows the rule that three months in the internet industry is like a year,” Jiang Shiyan tried to maintain his good temper, “We’ve made many documentary series before, and ‘The Lost Pearl’ has the highest domestic rating. I’ve heard everyone’s opinions, but I’m giving the green light to this plan.”
Jiang Shiyan’s tone was light but firm: “I just want to make it into an unsurpassable representative series. ‘The Lost Pearl’ is not just about martyrs’ families, it can be extended to many related groups, it can be any record,” Jiang Shiyan did not attempt to hide, “It’s just ordinary, even a bit mediocre, but when others want to make any film about ordinary people, ‘The Lost Pearl’s’ script, finished film, subsequent promotion, and topping the charts will all be textbook level.”
The meeting room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Jiang Shiyan looked around, “It will be a milestone,” he said calmly, “and I can make it happen.”
When making this series before, Jiang Shiyan had included too many compromises and uncertainties.
But that day when he sent Song Jing off, seeing the once-supportive Song Jing in his olive green uniform going to protect more people, and Tang Yang’s seriousness and persistence in many small things, Jiang Shiyan saw the clouds in the sky that early morning and suddenly wanted to find something like a foundation on the ground.
He was a person with a lucky streak, finding many things easy to do. “The Lost Pearl’s” setback was both expected and unexpected, and he wanted to cherish it properly.
The presentation had only five pages.
But most of those present had fought alongside Jiang Shiyan, and they naturally smelled ambition in it. The ambition of those in high positions is too tempting to put into words.
The meeting had started tense, but for some reason, by the end, there was a harmonious atmosphere of “CEO Jiang is lucky, he won’t fail at anything he does,” “Then whatever CEO Jiang says is right,” “Don’t be like that, CEO Jiang is very capable.”
Regardless, CEO Jiang’s disregard for the several hundred million reshoot cost of “The Lost Pearl” and his desire to break through Yixiu’s superficial circle marketing bubble seemed noble and respectable.
The meeting dragged on intermittently, ending at five o’clock.
Jiang Shiyan returned to his office and collapsed into his chair, rubbing his temples wearily. He was almost thirty, not young anymore. At twenty, he wanted to break free from his parents’ constraints, discover the business opportunity in new media, and ride the wave. The waves grew bigger and bigger, with many driving forces and obstacles, but in many things, he still wanted to go his own way.
Qin Yue had previously mentioned to Tang Yang about the promotion of Danxin Tong, wanting Tang Yang to ask Yixiu first if there was a suitable time slot three months later.
Tang Yang knew Jiang Shiyan was in a meeting. Around five o’clock, estimating that he would be finished, she called him.
After arranging the official business, Jiang Shiyan wanted to chat with Tang Yang, wanting to hear her voice when he was tired.
Tang Yang felt the same.
So Tang Yang would say one thing, and he would say one thing.
After a few exchanges.
Tang Yang only said to Jiang Shiyan: “Zhou Zisheng seems to have the intention of promoting Fan Linlang. Backing? Doesn’t seem like it. Attraction? Even less likely. I can’t figure out the reason behind this, so I dare not act rashly.” Perhaps it was Tang Yang’s narrow-mindedness, but Fan Linlang had said things about her behind her back, and she was a bit unhappy.
“If you can’t figure it out, don’t think about it. Let me tell you a joke,” Jiang Shiyan comforted her, “Previously, when Gan Yiming and Qianqian had an affair, and Wei Changqiu was cheated on and trended on social media, many media outlets started paying attention to her, wanting to interview the wife of a tycoon and such. She would occasionally trend on social media automatically. Wei Changqiu wanted to lower her popularity, but Wang Qianqian had over a million fans and had just tasted the sweetness of online stores, naturally unwilling to stop. Then they fell into a strange cycle: Qianqian wanted to hype up the love entanglement between Gan Yiming, Wei Changqiu, and herself, the hotter the better, while people from Jiujiang often came to us crying and begging for heat substitution, asking us to lower the heat…”
Tang Yang chuckled: “So what to do? Should the heat be increased or decreased? You can’t have your cake and eat it too.”
“Why not?” Jiang Shiyan found it strange, “Just increase and decrease at the same time.”
Jiang Shiyan said to Tang Yang, “The fluctuation of heat has its natural rules. When the heat naturally rises, we’ll ask Wang Qianqian for payment. When it falls, we’ll ask Wei Changqiu for payment. The funny thing is, we don’t do anything, yet both sides end up paying us and expressing their gratitude.” Moments ago, the usually indifferent Jiang Shiyan now spoke with an air of confidence, “I like money.”
Tang Yang agreed, “I like money too.”
Jiang Shiyan continued, “I like a lot of money.”
Tang Yang responded, “I also like a lot of money.”
Maintaining his previous tone, Jiang Shiyan added, “I like you.”
Tang Yang’s face flushed with embarrassment. She retained her earlier tone, saying with a hint of shyness, “Oh, you’re impossible. Just make a phone call or discuss business matters. Why suddenly make such a declaration…”
“Tang Yang,” he called her name softly, “I love you.”
His deep, smiling voice seemed to gently flow through the receiver, carrying an almost electric warmth.