The company’s only two assets were that pile of minor roles for Qian Duoqun and Director Zhong’s million-yuan film.

 

Zhong Jiudao did not ask Ji Pan exactly whom she could find to help. After thanking her, he simply waited patiently for news.

He had thought that the relationship between their production team and Ji Pan would end perfectly in this way, with neither side owing the other anything. Who could have known that, several days later, Ji Pan would actually take the initiative to approach Luo Huai and strike up a conversation?

After learning the name of Fallen Home, she naturally managed to find out, through acquaintances, the list of cast and crew that Zhong Jiudao had submitted. The production team’s poverty left Ji Pan dumbfounded. Having made her debut by appearing in a film by a major director, she had never seen a production team where the director personally shouldered all the work, and where there were fewer behind-the-scenes staff than principal actors.

One name in the cast list caught Ji Pan’s attention: Luo Huai.

Although Zhong Jiudao had been working with the production team for more than half a month, he was only a director’s assistant, usually busy with miscellaneous tasks, and therefore rarely had any contact with the actors. Luo Huai was different. He was a well-known little lucky star on the set and an important supporting male actor who also had quite a few scenes opposite the female lead. Ji Pan was very familiar with him.

Thus, that evening, while Zhong Jiudao was making a new knotted cord for Luo Huai, Ji Pan arrived with her assistant and knocked on Luo Huai’s door.

During filming, Ji Pan did not want anyone to photograph her alone with another male actor, so she took her assistant with her wherever she went. This assistant was also the person she trusted most. He even knew that she had once had an abortion after becoming pregnant, and was someone she could truly trust.

“Ji Pan?” Luo Huai opened the door and looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“Just call me Panpan. Whatever you do, don’t call me ‘older sister’; that makes me sound so old.” Ji Pan smoothly walked into the room, narrowing the distance between them with a single sentence.

She immediately noticed Zhong Jiudao holding the knotted cord, but merely nodded at him politely. She did not ask about his relationship with Luo Huai, nor did she ask Luo Huai to introduce him.

From Ji Pan’s perspective, Zhong Jiudao was a tall, handsome, unfamiliar man who had appeared in Luo Huai’s room in an extremely intimate and familiar manner. If the two of them were lovers, asking directly would put Luo Huai in an awkward position.

“So, Panpan, what did you want to see me about? Is it about tomorrow’s scenes?” Luo Huai asked.

Ji Pan replied, “It is related to work, but not your current work. It is that film you acted in before, Fallen Home. It is currently under review, and I believe the result will come out soon. You can tell your producer to contact the cinema chains as soon as possible and arrange the screening schedule.”

“So soon!” Luo Huai was filled with delight. In his eyes, there was a possibility that their low-budget film could be held up for an entire year. He had never expected that, not long after finishing filming, it would be able to grab a release slot and go online at lightning speed.

“Yes.” Ji Pan also looked relieved, as though she had finally settled an old debt. “I don’t know your director or producer, so I can only rely on you to pass the message along. Also, the female lead of this film is called Qi Wanlian, right? Are you familiar with her?”

As soon as Ji Pan finished speaking, a battered wallet on the desk suddenly dropped to the floor with a slap, and a small paper figure was even sticking out through a gap.

Zhong Jiudao put down the knotted cord, picked up the wallet, forcefully stuffed the paper person back into the wallet, and said to Ji Pan, “Sorry about that.”

“It’s all right.” Ji Pan replied politely before turning her attention back to Luo Huai.

“Miss Qi is a very nice person. We filmed together for nearly two months, and we even sneaked snacks in the middle of the night. But I didn’t add her as a friend back then, and we haven’t really kept in touch since filming ended. I haven’t seen her for quite a long time,” Luo Huai said.

“Really?” Ji Pan looked somewhat disappointed. “Before coming to see you, I also asked around about her, but she doesn’t seem to be famous. I used all the connections I had, yet I still couldn’t find anything out about her, so I had no choice but to trouble you.”

“May I ask what you want with her?” Luo Huai asked seriously. “Although I don’t have her as a contact, she is an artist signed to the same management company as me, so I can pass the message along.”

“That would be wonderful,” Ji Pan said. “Here’s the situation. I recently invested in a film, but I haven’t been able to find a suitable female lead. My own schedule is already booked through next year, so I simply don’t have the time to do everything myself. I watched all of Qi Wanlian’s short videos, as well as your film, and I think she would be extremely suitable for this role. If her schedule allows, I hope she can come audition.”

“Slap!” The wallet Zhong Jiudao was holding actually fell to the floor as well. A paper person desperately squeezed its way out, even revealing a tiny head.

Ji Pan’s expression changed slightly. She could see that there was a little paper person inside the wallet. However, according to the supernatural folklore circulating in the entertainment industry, little paper people were not exactly auspicious things; they were more commonly associated with placing curses on people. Although she did not believe such rumours, someone carrying such a thing around with them did seem somewhat ill-intentioned.

Zhong Jiudao squeezed the wallet hard and said directly to Ji Pan, “There’s no need to contact her. She won’t go.”

“Do you know Miss Qi?” Ji Pan asked.

At first, Luo Huai had not known why Ji Pan had come, so he had never revealed Zhong Jiudao’s identity. He knew that he was not good at reading people’s expressions, so when he did not understand the other person’s intentions, he preferred to remain silent rather than say a single unnecessary word.

Now that he saw Zhong Jiudao answer on his own, Luo Huai finally introduced him. “This is Zhong Jiudao, Director Zhong. He is also the person in charge of our company. Miss Qi’s work is all handled by him.”

Zhong Jiudao extended his hand toward Ji Pan. “Hello, Ms. Ji.”

The familiar form of address brought back memories for Ji Pan. She asked, “Are you the person who replied to me on the short-video app?”

“That was me,” Zhong Jiudao said. “I appreciate your kind intentions, Ms. Ji, but I have other plans for Qi Wanlian’s career. I’m truly sorry.”

What a joke! Using these powerful ghosts as actors was merely a stopgap measure due to insufficient funds. Even after signing them to the company, they would only be doing odd jobs around the company. After all, Aunt Yang was genuinely very useful. In the future, when he made more productions, he could use these powerful ghosts as guest actors or something similar, but only under Zhong Jiudao’s supervision.

With him present, these powerful ghosts could tear the sky apart even when suppressed by talismanic formations and a peachwood sword. If they entered another production team completely unrestrained, he guaranteed that two months later, there would not be a single living person left on the set.

“Is that so? Then when will she be available next? Even if it conflicts with filming a movie, television dramas and variety shows would work too. She is an extremely talented actress, and I don’t want her talent to go to waste.” Ji Pan spoke with absolute determination.

What an incredible opportunity! Luo Huai, who had nothing but minor supporting roles at his disposal, was practically stunned when he heard what Ji Pan was offering. He stared at Director Zhong with eager eyes, his entire face practically screaming, “Take it, take it, take it!”

“If these offers were invitations for our Luo Huai, we would be flattered. But Qi Wanlian is not actually a professional actress. Her appearance in my film was merely a favour between friends, and she herself has no ambition in this field,” Zhong Jiudao said.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a paper person poke its head out of the wallet, extending half an arm and silently pointing at him while apparently saying something. There was no need to hear it to know that it was cursing him.

“It turns out that’s how things are,” Ji Pan said, her expression turning grim. “Then could you give me her contact information? I really like her acting and would like to become friends with her.”

Who knew what kind of spell Qi Wanlian had cast on Ji Pan in her dream to make a currently popular young actress put aside her status so readily, all just to become friends with Qi Wanlian?

Unfortunately, the only answer Zhong Jiudao could give was, “I’m sorry, but she doesn’t want to associate with people in the entertainment industry.”

For Ji Pan to have risen to such a position at the age of twenty-five, she could hardly have lacked emotional intelligence. She had always been good at keeping her emotions off her face. Yet today, after being rejected by Zhong Jiudao again and again, she could not even maintain a smile. Gritting her teeth, she said, “It seems I was making assumptions. I’m sorry.”

With that, she did not even say goodbye. She turned around and left with her assistant.

After returning to her room, Ji Pan was so furious that she grabbed the cushions in the room and hurled them around as though they were Zhong Jiudao.

She was not actually angry about Zhong Jiudao’s refusal. What angered her was the way he was keeping Qi Wanlian hidden from the public.

With her experience, how could she not see that their tiny, shabby company was pouring all its efforts into promoting Luo Huai alone? But they could not disregard the future of another excellent actress just for Luo Huai’s sake, could they?

Could it be that Qi Wanlian had some grudge against Zhong Jiudao? Had she failed to win his affection and consequently been resented? Had she refused to entertain clients and drink with them as the company instructed, and therefore been sidelined?

Ji Pan had seen plenty of things in her time. At the end of the day, it was nothing more than some failed money-for-sex transaction, which only further proved that Qi Wanlian was a woman of outstanding looks, outstanding acting ability, and outstanding character!

In fact, Ji Pan no longer clearly remembered what had happened in the dream. She even thought that she had first come across the short video herself, been frightened by Qi Wanlian, and only then dreamed about her that night.

But she simply had an indescribable fondness for Qi Wanlian. She wanted to become friends with her and wanted to help her have an easier path in the entertainment industry. She had never expected that, despite someone of her status personally extending an olive branch, Zhong Jiudao would actually refuse!

“Look into this Zhong Jiudao’s background,” Ji Pan instructed her assistant. “And wasn’t there another producer for their film, Qian Duoqun? Find out about him too. I refuse to believe I can’t get Qi Wanlian’s contact information. I want to contact her directly and help her get away from that lousy company!”

The assistant agreed and immediately set about handling the matter. She contacted several old hands in the industry to make inquiries. After sending out the messages, she cautiously asked Ji Pan, “Panpan, you’re in such a hurry to find Qi Wanlian. Don’t you perhaps have… some special feelings for her?”

The assistant was Ji Pan’s right-hand woman. If Ji Pan really had some feelings or intentions, she would help her deal with them, so there were some things Ji Pan did not need to hide from her.

“Of course not! I just want to make a friend!”

“You don’t really have any good friends in the industry. They’re all plastic sisters in front of the cameras,” the assistant said.

“Can’t two people simply click with each other?” Ji Pan felt that even if she had a hundred mouths, she could not explain this properly.

Because this feeling of fondness had come about far too strangely, almost as though she had been possessed!

In Zhong Jiudao’s eyes, Ji Pan really had been possessed.

Qi Wanlian had not deliberately bewitched Ji Pan, but she had just absorbed the resentment of Ji Pan’s child at the time, so she naturally carried some of the infant spirit’s aura. Ji Pan was not actually fond of Qi Wanlian; rather, she had directed all the maternal love in her heart toward Qi Wanlian. Under these circumstances, it was even more important not to let the two of them meet. Once some time passed and the intensity of those feelings faded, things would be fine.

Luo Huai rested his face in his hands and stared blankly at Zhong Jiudao, somewhat unable to understand why Zhong Jiudao had refused.

Zhong Jiudao finished braiding the knotted cord and tied it around Luo Huai’s waist. During this period, he had braided one knotted cord or bracelet every day. There were already more than a dozen altogether, and Luo Huai treasured every single one of them.

“This cord is really sturdy. It hasn’t broken even once,” Luo Huai said.

After putting away the knotted cord, he continued resting his face in his hands and looking at Zhong Jiudao.

Zhong Jiudao felt extremely uncomfortable under such an unabashed gaze, so he could only explain, “Qi Wanlian’s family is rather strict, and they don’t really want her to enter the entertainment industry. I can’t simply agree on her behalf. I still need her family’s consent.”

“Oh.” Luo Huai accepted this explanation. He lowered his head dejectedly and said, “Miss Qi has such good qualities, and she’s talented too. It would be a shame if she didn’t enter the entertainment industry. Director Zhong, could you try persuading her family?”

“Our company’s resources are limited. At most, we can promote one actor. If she becomes famous, there won’t be anything left for you. Why are you so concerned about her?” Zhong Jiudao tried his best to make Luo Huai abandon the idea.

“But those opportunities aren’t being provided by the company. They’re being found for her by Ji Pan. Besides, does our company… even have any good resources?” Luo Huai asked doubtfully.

Zhong Jiudao: “…”

The company’s only two resources were that pile of minor roles Qian Duoqun had and the million-yuan film invested in by Director Zhong.

Just thinking about it was depressing.

With Ji Pan’s help, if Qi Wanlian took part in more activities, the company could gradually become more famous, attract more investment, make more films, and fulfil its agreement with the Zhong family sooner.

But right now, Qi Wanlian really could not be allowed to go out alone, and Zhong Jiudao could not possibly follow her everywhere. Unless he could find one or two celestial masters who knew what they were doing and have them keep an eye on Qi Wanlian under the guise of being her assistants…

Hmm? That might actually work. The Zhong family was a large clan, and quite a few of Zhong Jiudao’s distant relatives of the same generation wanted to escape the Zhong family and become fashionable young people of the modern era.

But they did not have the courage to betray the family. Unless the films directed by Zhong Jiudao could prove to the younger members of the Zhong family that they could pursue their dreams without becoming celestial masters!

“After this film is released, if the response is good, we could use that as leverage to negotiate,” Zhong Jiudao said.

“Exactly. If the film succeeds, Qi-jie’s elders might see her talent and perhaps be willing to loosen the restrictions,” Luo Huai said hopefully.

Although the two of them were talking about different things, they shared the same expectation.

From that day onward, Luo Huai and Zhong Jiudao began counting the days on their fingers. At last, they waited until the film passed review and received a release date. They could finally promote the release date across all platforms!

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The author has something to say:

Paper Qi Wanlian pointed at Zhong Jiudao and protested: “Zhong Jiudao, you tyrant! You turned down my opportunities, ruined my chance to interact with living people, you %&%&￥#@[BEEP—]”

Zhong Jiudao opened his wallet late at night. “What did you just say?”

Qi Wanlian: “I will follow Director Zhong’s every instruction.”

 

Translator : DarNan