11:00 PM.
The car drove slowly along the pitch-black streets.
"Boss, are we still going to Residential Complex? Do you want to change course?"
Liu Yan spoke up, breaking the silence inside the car.
The luxury flat in Residential Complex was Dong Jie's residence.
She asked this, of course, because Ma Yili was in the car.
Luo Zheng shook his head. "No need, we're still going there."
He knew Dong Jie; even if he brought another woman over, she wouldn't dare to have too many thoughts.
Besides, he didn't plan for anything to happen with Ma Yili.
In the back seat.
Ma Yili sat close to Luo Zheng, but she felt ill at ease all over.
In the middle of the night, a woman got into a man's car.
Even a ghost would know what was going to happen next.
She was both expectant and nervous.
She couldn't help but secretly clench her fists.
She had to seize this opportunity to make a name for herself.
They arrived at Residential Complex.
Getting out of the car and going upstairs.
The doorbell rang, and Luo Zheng could already sense the excitement of the owner inside.
Click!
The door opened. Dong Jie's gaze quickly swept over them, and then she threw herself into Luo Zheng's arms.
"Is the banquet over? You must have drunk a lot! I've prepared some hangover soup."
The hug was brief.
Dong Jie very sensibly welcomed Luo Zheng inside and knelt down to untie his shoelaces.
She put on his slippers and took his coat.
Only then did she bother to look at Ma Yili standing outside the door.
Chin-length short hair, delicate features, not stunning enough, and lacked any distinct characteristics.
Crucially, her figure wasn't good either—she was practically a flat board.
Judging by Luo Zheng's standards for looks, she barely passed.
Therefore, Dong Jie concluded that this woman posed no threat to her.
She was probably just a minor star who got a bit lucky.
Ma Yili wasn't in a hurry as she stood at the door.
She watched Dong Jie serve Luo Zheng with practiced movements, like a wife waiting for her husband to return home.
One could imagine how long the two had known each other.
All of this seemed to have become a habit for Dong Jie.
"Come in!"
Luo Zheng sat on the sofa and called out to the person outside the door.
Ma Yili snapped back to her senses and hurried inside.
Coming into the living room, she saw Dong Jie already kneeling before Luo Zheng with a basin of foot-washing water.
At this moment, she was like an ancient foot-washing maid, her eyes full of tenderness as she served him attentively.
For a moment, Luo Zheng groaned in comfort.
"If you have something to say, say it quickly."
Hearing such decisive words, Ma Yili was stunned, then her face showed a look of grievance:
"President Luo, I just want a chance to make a name for myself, whether it's in a TV series or a movie."
Dong Jie looked up and glanced at her.
She thought to herself: A chance to make it? Even a movie?
Her chest isn't big, but her appetite sure is!
"Who in the entertainment industry doesn't want a chance to make it? Just because you beg me, do I have to give it to you?"
Luo Zheng's tone remained cold. He leaned his head back on the sofa, seemingly immersed in Dong Jie's meticulous massage.
"President Luo, I'm different from others. As long as you give me a chance, I can give everything!
Moreover, I can act without a salary, and I'm not picky about roles.
Also, I can sign with your company, even on a 90/10 split."
Ma Yili stepped forward quickly, pressing half her body against his leg.
Unfortunately, an A-cup is just an A-cup; there was absolutely no soul-stirring sensation.
Luo Zheng didn't feel even a flicker of excitement in his mind or body.
But based on the theory that only a fool doesn't take advantage of a freebie, and thinking of her cool and arrogant appearance in the future...
He suddenly had a different feeling in his heart.
"Oh?"
Luo Zheng slowly lowered his head, staring down at the determined Ma Yili in front of him.
A wicked smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "That sounds quite nice."
As an old hand in the industry, Ma Yili naturally understood what was going to happen next.
Half an hour later.
"President Luo, are you satisfied?"
Ma Yili asked softly.
"It was alright."
Luo Zheng nodded and gave his promise: "Go back and wait for news about a role. I can't say if it'll be the female lead or the second lead, but I guarantee it will be a standout role."
He planned to pick a role from "Absolute Privacy," which was a collaboration with Rosat, and throw it to Ma Yili.
This drama had high ratings and could win awards; it was substantial enough.
It wouldn't make him lose face.
"Thank you, thank you, President Luo."
Ma Yili stood up excitedly, but nearly stumbled because her legs were numb.
Fortunately, Dong Jie, who was nearby, supported her briefly, allowing her to slowly stand up.
Luo Zheng waved his hand and said casually, "Alright, no need to be polite. You earned this through your own hard work."
As he spoke, he gave Dong Jie a look and continued, "It's late today, so I won't keep you."
Ma Yili thanked him a few more times before reluctantly leaving the room with Dong Jie's support.
From beginning to end, Dong Jie didn't say a single word to her.
Ma Yili recognized the actress beside her, who had once been chosen by Zhang Yimou as a movie lead and had now latched onto the youngest golden lion director.
She truly had a good life.
She wanted to make friends but was afraid the other woman would look down on her.
After much internal conflict, she ultimately didn't say a word.
After closing the door, Dong Jie returned to the living room.
With her small mouth pouting, she threw herself into Luo Zheng's arms aggrievedly.
Luo Zheng was just about to coax her with a few words.
Who knew this young girl would actually start competing with Ma Yili.
——
A few days later, the stir caused by the golden lion award gradually subsided.
The congratulatory calls from America also dwindled.
Luo Zheng finally returned to a normal life.
Usually, he would linger among the several women, enjoying himself so much that he forgot to go home.
However, Huayi Brothers was pushing hard; the crew preparations for "a world without thieves" had been completed according to his requirements.
They were just waiting to start filming.
But before starting, Wang Zhongjun discussed with Luo Zheng about holding a press conference.
It would promote the movie while also boosting the company's reputation.
Luo Zheng agreed, and the time was set for a week later.
In the intervening time, he arranged for the company to release Huang Bo's first music EP.
He even personally wrote a promotional slogan for the EP:
[For every heartache, there is a Huang Bo song. Meticulously crafted by Luo Zheng, the most sorrowful male voice of 2002]
Two days after its release, the new songs surged onto the request charts.
On the third day, sales skyrocketed.
On the fifth day, it broke the annual EP sales record.
At a company meeting, Luo Zheng made a grand gesture and told Huang Bo to start preparing for a new album next year.
Although it was just a music EP, the explosive sales once again proved Luo Zheng's songwriting ability.
Suddenly, the famous singers in the music industry couldn't sit still anymore.
Faye Wong, far away in Hong Kong, heard the news and flew to Beijing overnight.
The next day, she had Zhang Yadong set up an appointment.
Luo Zheng happened to be in a lull these few days, and hearing from Zhang Yadong that many Hong Kong stars had arrived at his studio,
He gladly accepted the invitation.
Of course, his primary goal was still recording songs.
For the few songs he had written for Tencent earlier, Brother Ma planned to pay more to have Luo Zheng find people to help record them.
It just so happened that Zhang Yadong invited him, and many stars were present, so he didn't have to worry about finding people to record the songs...