After a quick wash-up, Jiang Cheng left in the rolls-royce from Luxury Hotel. The car soon arrived at the location Su Wan had shared.
Su Wan's complex looked like a mid-range apartment block, neither new nor old.
Within five minutes, a graceful figure hurried toward the car at a light jog.
Jiang Cheng looked closely—it was Su Wan.
Today she wore a pale-yellow lightweight top, thick-soled black Martin boots, and showed off her snow-white, straight legs without reserve. Classic late-Su style.
Once inside the rolls-royce's back seat she peeled off her black cap and mask.
As soon as Su Wan boarded, the chauffeur asked respectfully, "Mr. Jiang, where to now?"
Seeing Jiang Cheng glance at her, Su Wan quickly said, "Driver, please take us to the Baiyue Hotel in Lujiazui."
"Certainly," the driver replied politely.
Once the car started, Su Wan smoothed her bangs on her phone screen, then batted her bright fox-like peach-blossom eyes and grinned. "Good afternoon, Mr. Jiang."
"You came down fast—aren't you hot?" The speed suggested she was always ready.
Su Wan covered a laugh. "Where we're going is all air-conditioned malls. In our line, wearing down jackets in summer and gowns in winter is normal."
"Fair point."
"You look very young, Mr. Jiang; I'm curious—what do you do?" Su Wan probed.
Jiang Cheng smiled. "I told you I'm here sightseeing. I plan to apply to Modu University; came early to check the place out."
Su Wan's face flickered with shock. "I wondered yesterday, but thought you were joking."
Second-generation rich kids are this loaded these days? Eighteen and free to splash that much cash?
Seeing only a smile, Su Wan sighed. "I'm jealous. Does your family own mines? Buying Ferraris so young."
She recalled her own eighteen-year-old self juggling university and bit-part auditions.
Jiang Cheng gave a faint shake. "Just an ordinary family."
Since he wouldn't say more, Su Wan let it drop.
Watching her sit obediently beside him, Jiang Cheng asked,
"Will Huang Ming's business affect your work?"
Su Wan smiled wryly. "Some, but not much. He visited our company as an investor and picked me…"
Halfway through she glanced at Jiang Cheng, hesitating. "Our circle—maybe you know—has rules. When an investor chooses you for the lead and funds you, it's rarely without strings…"
Jiang Cheng understood perfectly; he wasn't truly eighteen.
The unspoken rules.
Movies need shooting, money needs spending; picking someone likeable and compliant is most investors' condition.
Unless you're an A-lister whose fame can publicize the drama, you can bypass the rule.
Investors need your name for marketing.
Otherwise, minor stars like Su Wan get chosen.
"Huang Ming offered terms—accept, I'm the lead; refuse, someone else replaces me. The company sent me to host him for exactly that reason."
"So you plan to accept?"
Su Wan shook her head. "Of course not. If I'd accepted years ago, I wouldn't still be a little third-tier star. I'll shop with him at most—nothing more."
Jiang Cheng didn't doubt her; her privacy stat was zero.
"From the look of him, Huang Ming probably makes this offer to plenty of actresses."
Su Wan nodded. "Naturally. If I refuse, another will agree."
"Ever thought of saying yes?"
She glanced at him and spoke plainly. "Of course. Even my Agent advised me—the script is excellent, could be a hit. But I don't want to climb up by 'lying down'."
Jiang Cheng let it drop; her words were a tactful warning she wouldn't accept his own unspoken rules.
Yet investing in her wasn't about that—it was for the rewards; he was, after all, a shallow man.
"Hmm, is it a big-budget production?"
Su Wan shook her head. "Far from it. Big budgets don't cast me as lead. It's just a small web-drama."
"web-drama?"
Jiang Cheng pictured the usual cheap web series and lost half his interest.
Seeing his reaction, Su Wan hurried, "Small productions have perks—low cost, fast returns, almost no risk of loss. And the script is great; I've read it—the show has real potential."
When he stayed silent, Su Wan grew anxious. "Mr. Jiang, please help me. I really need this chance."
"All right, since you ask, I can only be hard-pressed to refuse."
"Really?? You agree?"
"Of course I'm hard—want proof?"
Su Wan waved her hands. "That's not what I meant. I'm just surprised—this is only our second meeting…"
"Too fast? I think it's fine."
Su Wan, now flushed and breathing quickly, said, "You're the investor—your call."
"Relax, don't pant so hard. I'll fund the web-drama and make you the lead—on one condition: sign with my company as an artist."
Su Wan's breathing grew even quicker. "You want to sign me?"
A half-faded, middling actress—why would Jiang Cheng want her?
Jiang Cheng nodded. "Yes, sign you. Become my company's actress and I'll invest."
"Mr. Jiang, my contract hasn't expired yet—do you know that?" Her fox-eyes studied him.
"I do."
"Then signing me means paying the penalty."
"Not a problem—I know."
Jiang Cheng had over 430 million in hand; Su Wan's buy-out would cost only a few million at most.
Su Wan fell silent.
She knew no one promotes you for nothing.
After years in the business, she was no longer an innocent Little Girl.
Now she wondered what designs Jiang Cheng had on her.
Could it be—her mind filled with very adult images.