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Want to Hide You and Time
By Bei Qing
Love is like a wildfire, it roars with the wind and burns with you.
December, Beijing.
The winter chill was biting, the sky high and the mist cold.
When Shen Qianzhan’s flight landed, it was already evening.
The sky hadn’t completely darkened yet, clinging to a fading twilight glow. But the deeply shadowed city was already ablaze with lights, like it was draped in a golden, shimmering robe, radiant with light.
The night view of prosperous cities always carries a mesmerizing illusion and a moth-to-a-flame longing. Beijing is like this, Shanghai is like this, and Nanchen is also like this. But at this moment, Shen Qianzhan had no mind to admire this “throne map” that once captivated her. She almost stepped off the plane crushing the thin, hazy mist.
Her business trip had been a whirlwind, rotating through major cities in Europe and Australia, scouting suitable filming locations for the crew and estimating the budget for production costs.
It sounded a bit complicated, but translated, this job content was: enjoying life with public funds, eating and drinking, and incidentally making a budget for a publicly funded trip.
Quite wonderful.
But that was assuming that the public relations crisis of Xiang Qianqian’s crew throwing tantrums and being publicly “executed” hadn’t happened.
Shen Qianzhan was employed by Qiandeng Pictures. The company hadn’t been established for long, and while it had a certain presence in the industry in recent years, it was still insignificant compared to well-known veteran film and television companies.
Xiang Qianqian was a milestone for Qiandeng Pictures, transitioning from investment and production to star management. Her importance was not just as the company’s top artist, but also as a living signboard of Qiandeng Pictures’ successful star-making operation.
Her value was comparable to Qiandeng Pictures’ cash cow.
Logically, as a producer, the artists signed by the company had their own agents, so even if something went wrong, it wasn’t her concern. She could enjoy herself freely, only needing to worry about attracting investment, forming production teams, finalizing directors and actors, and explaining to the boss why the filming budget had, yet again, been exceeded.
But Xiang Qianqian was different.
When Qiandeng Pictures first established its artist management project, it was Shen Qianzhan who personally discovered and nurtured Xiang Qianqian, even participating in the entire planning of that year’s management project.
She personally went out to do marketing, negotiate projects, fight for endorsements. Before Xiang Qianqian was handed over to her current agent, it was Shen Qianzhan who spared no effort and held nothing back to make her famous.
When a child you raised yourself makes a mistake, shouldn’t you discipline them personally?
________________________________________
Shen Qianzhan’s business trips always included a company car.
Almost as soon as she arrived at the airport exit, a black seven-seater commercial vehicle stopped precisely in front of her.
A young man, in his early twenties, thin, tall, fair-skinned, with narrow eyes, a high, straight nose bridge, and distinct facial contours, got out of the passenger seat. Whether by face or figure, he was no less attractive than a third-tier celebrity in the industry.
Su Zan must have dressed up before leaving. His skin was milky white and flawless, and his slicked-back hair was meticulously combed, every stray hair stiff like a steel barb, unmoved by the wind.
Shen Qianzhan glanced at him, then couldn’t help but glance again: “How much hairspray did you plaster on your head?”
Su Zan’s smile stiffened. He turned and looked in the car window: “Is it that exaggerated?”
As he turned, the bouquet of sunflowers he had behind his back was completely exposed to Shen Qianzhan’s eyes. She raised an eyebrow and sneered, “Did you come to plead for Xiang Qianqian?”
Su Zan was Xiang Qianqian’s agent, but even before that, he was the crown prince of Qiandeng Pictures. Because he spent his days cat-calling and dog-chasing and not doing proper work, Su Lanlan threw him to Shen Qianzhan to “educate.”
Shen Qianzhan had no interest in anything besides making money, let alone “educating” a defiant, uncooperative brat who thought everyone else in the world was beneath him.
After Su Zan arrived, he successively served as her personal assistant and drinking buddy, tempering his temper for two full years. She didn’t know if his stubborn temper had truly been smoothed out by her, or if the little wolf cub had finally learned to temporarily retract his claws. Shen Qianzhan watched as his professional abilities matured, then clapped her hands and, washing her hands of it, directly handed Xiang Qianqian over to him.
Yet, in less than half a year, she was merely momentarily negligent, and the cash cow she had painstakingly cultivated for several years was thus ruined by pests.
Su Zan was already guilty, and when she laid it all bare, handing over the flowers felt awkward whether he did it or not.
Shen Qianzhan, as if completely unaware of his current predicament, slightly lifted her chin and gestured: “It’s cold, let’s talk in the car.”
________________________________________
The car was fully heated.
Su Zan had prepared thoroughly to appease her anger. Besides offering flowers, he had also prepared afternoon tea snacks and a thermos of red date bird’s nest soup in advance.
His filial piety was so extreme, he was only missing a foot-washing basin to personally help her soak her feet.
Unfortunately, Shen Qianzhan wasn’t buying it.
After Xiang Qianqian’s incident, although Su Zan reacted quickly and presented a public opinion management plan to her for discussion at the first opportunity, it was ultimately a damaging blow with significant negative impact. If it weren’t for the efficient and proactive handling of this public relations crisis, Xiang Qianqian’s reputation wouldn’t have been completely ruined. Now, it’s just a situation where she has to lie low for a few months, waiting for the right time to make a comeback.
Shen Qianzhan was not in the country, and many things were beyond her reach. She had been scratching an itch for a few days, and had already accumulated a belly full of anger: “Has her wings hardened? Does she think she can fly now?”
Su Zan had been her personal assistant for two years and had already figured out her temper. Once Shen Qianzhan started speaking sarcastically, he absolutely could not follow her words. Otherwise, no matter how stubborn you were, this woman could make your head bald.
He smiled, and with a very kind tone, asked, “Sister Zhan, this business trip must have been very tiring, right? I see you didn’t buy much. You left with one suitcase and came back with only two more.”
Shen Qianzhan glanced at him, but said nothing.
Su Zan continued, “Chanel’s latest ‘bingbao’ bag, I heard it was sold out in Europe too. Did you manage to buy one, Sister Zhan?”
“And that Gucci collaboration with the little bee...”
Shen Qianzhan couldn’t resist talking about buying bags. Her expression turned sour, and she stiffly squeezed out three words: “I bought it.”
Su Zan smiled, just about to butter her up with some flattering compliments, when Shen Qianzhan’s face hardened. She pinched his chin, lifted it, and warned word by word: “Don’t always think about playing games and just getting by. How long has Xiang Qianqian been famous? You’re indulging her in throwing tantrums and giving attitude. Reputation, once it falls, can’t be rebuilt. Have you ever seen a fallen chastity arch that can be cleaned again?”
With that, she let go and leaned back into the seat, sighing deeply: “Xiang Qianqian’s path to fame cannot be replicated twice. If you really can’t manage her, change her as soon as possible.”
Shen Qianzhan always meant what she said, and Su Zan knew she was serious about this. His expression became solemn, and he no longer dared to be flippant: “I understand, I’ll pay attention to it from now on.”
“It’s no use just you paying attention.” Shen Qianzhan closed her eyes slightly, her tone lazy and languid: “You need to let Xiang Qianqian know exactly what her place is. Don’t let a few fan praises send her floating out of the galaxy. This industry doesn’t lack people who work hard. Opportunities that aspiring stars would die for, if she messes up again, not only will others not give her a chance, but Qiandeng will also directly give up on her.”
The words were too harsh, and even Su Zan didn’t know how to respond for a moment.
As he fell silent, the atmosphere in the car instantly grew cold, with only the mechanical female voice of the navigation constantly reminding them of heavy traffic on the overhead road ahead.
Shen Qianzhan’s original schedule was to meet with Su Zan first, then attend a dinner party. Now that they had discussed enough, she suddenly felt a bit disheartened, not understanding what state of mind had driven her to rush back to the country.
She didn’t want to see Xiang Qianqian. What was the point of listening to apologies? She wasn’t the kind of person who needed others to humble themselves to elevate her social status and showcase her personal value. With this time, she might as well go meet some young, handsome men and feast her eyes.
With that thought, her heart stirred slightly. She opened her eyes and asked Su Zan, “What time is that dinner party tonight?”
Shen Qianzhan was currently preparing for a tribute drama scheduled to start filming next year, a project that dozens of film and television companies had fought over but failed to secure.
The dinner she was attending tonight was arranged by the production company. Besides discussing the progress of the project, the more important purpose was for Shen Qianzhan to be introduced to the new investors.
Given that it concerned the project’s progress and prospects, Shen Qianzhan naturally could not refuse.
“Seven o’clock.” Su Zan checked his wrist: “If we leave now, we’ll arrive on time even if there’s traffic.”
Shen Qianzhan slowly hummed in acknowledgment, then asked, “Do you think we should call Xiao Yi, Xiao Er, Xiao San...”
Su Zan immediately knew what she was up to. While grumbling internally about how “women in their thirties are like wolves and tigers,” he mercilessly shattered her fantasy: “I think it’s very inappropriate, and I advise you not to have any wild ideas. The producers, investors, and platform representatives who are having dinner tonight are all serious people, unlike you. I’ve heard that this time’s capital representative hates messy dinner environments. So tonight, besides essential team members, no unauthorized personnel, not even a fly, will be allowed in.”
Shen Qianzhan felt regretful upon hearing this: “What a shame. This capital representative probably doesn’t know what ‘eye candy’ means.”
Su Zan: “...” At this moment, he really wanted to like those WeChat moments that said Shen Qianzhan got this tribute drama by pimping. It was too real.
Shen Qianzhan was still immersed in the disappointment that tonight’s dinner would not include Xiao Yi, Xiao Er, or Xiao San. She didn’t notice the dangerous thoughts stirring in Su Zan’s mind, and continued to probe, “What about Zhou Yan? He’s an artist under Qiandeng, so he could barely count as a team member, right?”
Su Zan’s expression was strange as he fell silent for a few seconds.
He really wanted to advise Shen Qianzhan not to be so eager sometimes. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he was afraid of being cut down. After a long pause, he finally said, “Sister Zhan, you, someone who has no romantic experience, why do you always like to play the role of a flirtatious person who has seen countless partners?”
Shen Qianzhan retorted, “Who says I have no romantic experience? In Xi’an...”
Su Zan silently rolled his eyes. Fine, her “Xi’an encounter” story, where she slept with someone and left, hadn’t been updated for months. He was tired of hearing it, and he didn’t know how Shen Qianzhan managed to talk about it as if it were a fresh, new romance every time.
He cleared his throat, subtly interrupting her: “Sister Zhan.”
“You might not know,” Su Zan licked his upper lip, his survival instinct temporarily abandoning him: “Every time you mention this matter and this man, you sound particularly like a scumbag woman who tricked someone into bed.”
“...The kind who will suffer karma.”
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