Act Three

That slender hand, with its prominent joints, is set against a cool color palette of gray and white, making the skin appear as if it were made of jade. From the lines of the wrist bones to the joints of the fingers, an artistic sense of privilege and refinement is evident throughout.

If she remembers correctly, the type of man that Shen Qianzhan likes is precisely this one

The first to show support was Ai Yi, who covered her lips and chuckled lightly, her eyes filled with admiration. Even her usually strong and stern voice sounded gentle at this moment, like a soft breeze and light rain: "General Manager Ji is truly young and promising"

In her view, the representative of the capital that Jiang Yechen values so highly, while not being an old fox who has seen it all in the tumultuous world of fame and fortune, is certainly not this young man before her who resembles a friend from a different generation

One can reconsider.

Ai Yi was somewhat surprised

At one moment, this man presents himself in a dignified and aloof manner, impeccably dressed; at another moment, he displays an unrestrained demeanor, with his Adam's apple visibly moving, betraying his emotional turmoil

Until Ji Qing heard Shen Qianzhan say the phrase "dew love," his gaze finally shifted away from Shen Qianzhan's hand that was reaching under the table, and with a half-smile, he repeated, "Dew love?"

The latter is raising his hand to unbutton his suit jacket, and the fabric of the suit at the elbow is stretched due to the fold, revealing a small section of his wrist where a white shirt with a subtle pattern is sewn.

She set down her wine glass and, with a beaming smile, was the first to break the almost eerie silence in the private room: "The distinguished guest I see here seems somewhat unfamiliar, likely a first-time encounter. General Manager Jiang, you must take charge tonight and introduce me to Qian Zhan."

Shen Qianzhan confirmed with utter despair that the man before her, in terms of facial features as well as height and build, perfectly matched the romantic encounter she remembered.

Even she could see that Jiang Yecheng was being very obsequious towards Ji Qinghe. If it weren't for her status as an elder, she probably would have acted just like Su Zan, completely lowering herself and showering him with flattery.

His brows and eyes are deep-set, and his gaze gradually darkens. Just by looking at that expressionless face, it is truly impossible to discern any joy or anger

Beneath the enormous draped crystal chandelier, a young man stands tall and straight in a perfectly tailored suit

In matters of work, once one steps away from the office environment, there is always a certain lack of the atmosphere of full commitment. Not to mention, at the same time of leaving the office, a table of exquisite delicacies and gourmet dishes is also laid out.

Shen Qianzhan glanced at her and did not deny it: "I have been there a few times."

Ai Yi propped her chin up with one hand, casually glancing at Ji Qing, who was spinning a cup with one hand. She continued the conversation, saying: "I heard from Su Zan that you are interested in inviting Old Master Ji to be a special consultant. How is that progressing?"

This habit initially developed because influential figures in the industry enjoyed engaging in light-hearted conversations over drinks and meals, exchanging harmless gossip during toasts. It is akin to how young people outside the industry enjoy browsing Weibo for anecdotes, where gossip serves as a form of entertainment. Typically, after Shen Qianzhan has finished a round of dishes, the influential figures have already transitioned from discussing the aftereffects of a new facial sculpting procedure by a certain artist to the romantic relationship between a young actress and a young male star

Completed

Ji Qinghe paused in his action of handling the cup and slightly nodded, saying: "My ancestral home is Xi'an"

As the words fell, the entire room fell silent

As she finished speaking, she seemed to casually let her gaze linger on Shen Qianzhan's face for a few seconds. Then, she curled her lips into a very subtle smile. Observing Shen Qianzhan's foolish expression upon seeing a handsome man, it was as if his soul had been completely captivated.

It was neither the usual charm of being versatile and engaging in social settings, nor the relaxed and easygoing atmosphere of a private gathering

Clearly possessing a strikingly oppressive and aggressive appearance, when he arrived, he first shed three parts of his sharp and cold demeanor, leaving behind a few traces of aloofness and indifference, which blurred his overly refined and handsome features, surprisingly accentuating a sense of elegant nonchalance and restraint

Yet only Su was left, drenched in sweat, with a flushed face

Being a true producer is not easy; one must have offended the galaxy in a past life

Today, the identity of the guest of honor is particularly special. She neither wants to appear overly enthusiastic, leading others to mistakenly believe that she is an emotionless sycophant in the real world, nor does she wish to let her subjective discomfort undermine her professional competence

If it were not for the limited time, she could even write a small essay to exonerate herself, passionately and eloquently justifying her night of indulgence.

Standing there as if listening to the leader's lecture in a crowd, the leader is not tired, but he is mentally exhausted

Ji Qinghe was originally watching Su Zan

Shen Qianzhan had already been on guard when Ai Yi suddenly cued her. After patiently listening to her roundabout intentions, she nearly caused Su Zan to suffer a myocardial infarction and muscle necrosis under the table.

The contours of the eyes beneath the frame are profound, and when the outer corners of the eyes slightly droop, their sharpness is completely subdued

The man who had spent the night with her shared an identity with the financial backers she could not aspire to, which was a tremendous blow that Shen Qianzhan found difficult to digest in the moment

However, as much as one may think about it, the truth is that it must never be spoken out loud

Everyone is an adult; when it comes to sleeping, genuine feelings are involved, and walking away after a slap on the back is also a reality of life

Later, Shen Qianzhan rose steadily in rank and secured a place for himself, gradually becoming a key player in the grain production camp. Not only did he need to promptly clear the names of his own artists, but he also had to cast out some quality bait to gather firsthand information

The private room is equipped with a thermostat, maintaining a suitable temperature. The efficiency of the air purifier and humidifier ensures that the indoor air remains moist and unobstructed.

Only Shen Qianzhan seemed to have received some kind of danger signal, his gaze resting on the smile-tinged marks on his lips, causing his entire nape to go numb

Ai Yi withdrew her gaze and, while pouring wine for Jiang Ye Cheng, casually mentioned Shen Qianzhan: "I suddenly remembered that before Qianzhan went abroad, she had been to Xi'an several times"

Ai Yi let out a knowing sound and turned to shift the topic towards Ji Qing, who seemed to always be on the periphery: "Is Ji always from Xi'an?"

Shen Qianzhan felt a wave of regret for having carelessly revealed the resources for the school district housing due to her momentary slip of the tongue. She shot a fierce glare at Su Zan, who had failed to keep her mouth shut, and quickly raised a professional fake smile, responding cheerfully: "Old Master Ji is a master in the field of clock restoration. Although I intend to invite him to come out of retirement as a special consultant, it ultimately depends on Old Master Ji's own willingness."

He wore a pair of narrow gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, casting a half-inch shadow on either side of the bridge. His brow was sharp, yet the lines of his brow bone were unexpectedly gentle

However, just now, when she was discussing investment trends in the industry, the review standards for films and television dramas, and even entertainment gossip with Jiang Yechen, Ji Qinghe remained indifferent. It was only when the topic of Shen Qianzhan was brought up that he was momentarily distracted from his state of indifference

Su followed closely behind, showering compliments: "Mr. Ji is truly an outstanding role model for our generation. I always thought I was working hard enough, but it seems my perspective is still too narrow." As soon as he finished speaking, fearing that Shen Qianzhan's flattery would overshadow his own, he silently passed the next opportunity to speak with a burning gaze.

As the atmosphere was about to turn cold, Su, feeling compelled to help as one of their own, timely intervened: "Mr. Ji, after your long journey, why don't we all sit down and talk first"

However, Shen Qianzhan was not idle; due to her professional habits, she could even spare her ears to analyze the conversation while elegantly savoring the culinary delights.

She smiled and picked up a warm towel to dab at the corners of her lips: "I know very little about Xi'an. General Ji grew up in Xi'an, and the difference between us is probably a fleeting affection and a longing for home, which cannot be compared at all." After saying this, Shen Qianzhan pretended to be angry and added, "I clearly asked Sister Ai to make a suggestion between Xi'an and Beijing, yet you went ahead and directly booked Xi'an for me."

There is a sense of illusion akin to a non-physical performance of a microphone relay

To overturn

After discussing the review standards of this year's General Administration for half an hour, Ai Yi and Jiang Ye Cheng suddenly felt that tonight's dinner gathering was somewhat dull. Upon reflection, Shen Qian Zhan had been as quiet as a chicken since taking his seat, only participating in toasting, and had shown no presence at all.

Only Ji Qinghe, with a cold demeanor yet maintaining politeness, finally gave her a proper glance

Shen Qianzhan believed that she could not immerse herself in work with enthusiasm tonight, nor could she waste the sumptuous feast before her, so she decided to relinquish the stage

If this meal is too smooth, it will lack flavor

At the intersection of the two acts, Shen Qianzhan felt shameful... The stone had changed.

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turbulent waves within her that had not yet completely calmed down, and stood up as if nothing had happened, lining up behind Ai Yi, waiting for the benefactor to shake hands.

To illustrate: If she needs to reach a collaboration with Shen Qianzhan, she must ascertain what she desires—whether it is youthful flesh, supreme dignity and power, or sufficient money to satisfy her vanity

Not only does Jiang Yecheng want to get closer to him, but she is even more eager to cling to this powerful figure

She gritted her teeth, secretly cursing herself for being blinded by lust, but more so feeling indignant in her heart, believing that her luck was too poor and she was overly unfortunate... Who would have thought that a man sleeping a thousand miles away could still encounter the convenience of Dongfeng Express with free shipping online

Jiang Yechen's introductory speech finally approached its conclusion, and Shen Qianzhan barely caught a phrase: "Not a full-year Executive Director for the China region." She raised an eyebrow, recalling how this man had once claimed to be a full-time freeloader, saying his family owned a general store that sold everything. She couldn't help but internally scoff: his family's store had everything from high-end luxury to jewelry and watches, truly a mixed bag.

The plastic sisterhood, truly driven by self-interest, dismantles the golden partnership with remarkable speed and ruthlessness, showing no mercy

It is truly too glaring

Since the appearance of Ji Qinghe, Ai Yi has been observing him. In her eyes, the identity of the Executive Director for the China region is fundamentally linked to top-tier business resources and Renminbi.

Shen Qianzhan: "... ..."

After much contemplation, it seems the most appropriate thing to do is to praise the hairline: "Mr. Ji is exceptionally talented, both intelligent and not bald at all"

Without her participation, the conversation quickly progressed smoothly, and the dining atmosphere gradually improved

In stark contrast to Shen Qianzhan's reaction, which was as if struck by lightning, Jiang Yecheng and Ai Yi almost simultaneously ceased their conversation and turned to look at the doorway

Adhering to the principle that profitable opportunities should be utilized reasonably, Ai Yi smoothly presented Shen Qianzhan to Ji Qinghe: "Qianzhan values this meeting greatly; she just discussed the project preparations with me and is also inclined to set the filming location in Xi'an. Why not let Qianzhan explain it to General Manager Ji?"

As Jiang Yecheng stood up to introduce herself, her consciousness was still somewhat hazy, as if all the sounds around her had faded away. Before her eyes was a scene projected through a fisheye lens, slowed down by more than ten times, with fragmented clips playing out in succession, layers of light and shadow overlapping.

She scrutinized him with a gaze that resembled a scan, almost harshly starting from the faint mole at the corner of his eye, comparing him to the man she had encountered in Xi'an a few months ago

To understand what the other party needs, one must select topics that interest her. At the very least, one should not discuss parenting, views on marriage, or the dynamics between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law with a charming and flirtatious woman.

Shen Qianzhan made a sound of disapproval

The clock exhibition at the Shaanxi Museum is a rare opportunity. Since we are focusing on the theme of clock restoration, it is essential to understand both ancient and modern aspects. She skillfully sidestepped the main issue and even took the chance to enhance her image of professionalism.

It is unfortunate that retribution, once it arrives, is bound to strike with precision

They are all prominent figures, and now they have unexpectedly reunited. She fears that the facade will not hold and will ruin the brand she has painstakingly built over the years, while the other party likely fears that she will come knocking and bring trouble upon herself.

However, at this moment, regardless of Ai Yi's meaningful gaze at the spectacle or Su Zan's frantic hints of cramping, Shen Qianzhan had no time to pay attention to either.

In the current situation where the enemy and ally are indistinguishable, Shen Qianzhan greatly despises himself for still being filled with frivolous thoughts.

Therefore, one must first be adept at observation

On the contrary, this producer, who urgently needed the favor of investors, honestly and steadily spent half an hour eating

Moreover, this process is not achieved overnight; it requires continuous exploration

The culture of dining is indeed filled with a sense of artistry, behavior, and ritual. Wise individuals understand how to seize the moment and when to do so in order to facilitate cooperation and achieve their objectives

Thanks to the public relations handling experience gained from the shallow love affairs of those years, Shen Qianzhan was able to almost immediately analyze the pros and cons as well as the best course of action.

In the past, during such welcoming and warm-up sessions, she has always stood out, leaving others far behind.

Under the gaze of the multitude, she slightly raised her eyes to look at Ji Qinghe, who had remained silent since entering the private room