Chapter 70

While dedicating herself to her career was admirable, Wen Tang still had reservations about performing intimate scenes. She simply couldn’t do it. If the script required such a scene, it would definitely need to be done by a body double.

The script Zhou Jingyu held contained scenes she hadn’t even read yet.

Zhou Jingyu was not unreasonable, but the mere thought of Wen Tang performing an intimate scene with another man was enough to snap the thin thread of rationality in his mind.

Wen Tang repeatedly raised her hand to assure him, “Don’t worry, I won’t do it. I’ll never perform in a scene like that!”

Yet, despite her reassurances, Zhou Jingyu didn’t let her off the hook that night.

Ultimately, Wen Tang turned down the script. It wasn’t just to avoid angering Zhou Jingyu. It was because, a few days later, he handed her a new script for a science fiction movie about the survival of humanity. The film, directed by a young actor who had become very popular in recent years, dealt with a serious subject matter. This type of film had been performing exceptionally well at the box office domestically, and Wen Tang, who had never acted in such a genre before, was genuinely interested.

The film’s shooting took nearly three months. Most of the scenes were shot in a studio, relying heavily on computer-generated imagery. The location was in Lingcheng, so Wen Tang could return home every day after filming.

It wasn’t until filming began that Wen Tang discovered Zhou Jingyu was the film’s largest investor. No wonder he had handed her the script so casually; she didn’t even need to audition—just a nod from her, and the lead role was hers.

After filming wrapped up, on May 28, Wen Tang and Zhou Jingyu held a simple yet grand wedding ceremony.

Wen Tang invited a few close friends from the industry. Despite not having seen Liu Meifen for a long time, she still invited her to the wedding. Zhou Jingyu’s side included his family and close friends. Even with just this small gathering, the wedding still had sixty or seventy tables.

After the wedding, rumors began circulating about Wen Tang being married, but since the information came from insiders and there was no concrete evidence, many people didn’t believe it.

For other actresses, it might be believable.

But for Wen Tang?

Could the “Sea King” really get married? She was only 27 years old! Female stars who got married at that age were rare, let alone someone like Wen Tang.

Who could possibly have the charm to make Wen Tang willingly enter the “prison” of marriage?

They didn’t believe it.

No matter how much they were told, they wouldn’t believe it unless there was an official announcement or undeniable proof, like photos.

But an official announcement was out of the question. As for proof, despite reporters constantly staking out her residence, Wen Tang had become so much more low-profile compared to before that it was almost impossible to catch a glimpse of her. Eventually, even the reporters gave up.

That year, Wen Tang only took on two film projects, spending most of her time on vacation.

Having experienced the joys of both work and leisure, her previous drive for her career was no longer as strong. Now, she chose roles out of pure passion. She reduced her social engagements and public appearances, making her life much simpler than before.

In late November, Zhou Donghai passed away. He was a legendary figure, and many people came to pay their respects.

By the time everything was settled, December had already passed.

Without Zhou Donghai, the Zhou family didn’t insist on gathering for New Year’s Eve dinner. Wen Tang and Zhou Jingyu spent the holiday in their own cozy home.

The two films Wen Tang shot the previous year—Psychologist and Teaching in the Mountains—were scheduled to be released in the spring and late March, respectively.

The response was overwhelmingly positive.

Neither film was initially expected to be popular, as they weren’t typical crowd-pleasers. Despite the involvement of well-known directors and actors, their screening slots were initially limited compared to other commercial films made specifically for the Spring Festival. However, once released, both films received rave reviews, with Psychologist becoming a dark horse during the Spring Festival, breaking box office records and staying at the top for a month.

Teaching in the Mountains also did well despite the limitations of its subject matter, delivering a high return on a low investment and leaving the investors very satisfied.

In both films, Wen Tang played the lead role.

Her superb acting skills proved that she wasn’t just a TV drama queen—she could also carry a film and draw in audiences. As a result, film offers started pouring in, and her agent was constantly fielding calls.

Before this, the public’s impression of Wen Tang was that of a TV queen, someone who guaranteed high ratings. The transition from TV to film was something many stars struggled with. People’s preconceived notions were hard to change, and although TV and film might seem similar, they were fundamentally different.

But Wen Tang managed to pull it off.

Fans were thrilled:

“Wow, our Tang Tang isn’t just great in TV dramas. She’s amazing in movies too! Her acting is simply incredible!!”

“I never expected Wen Tang to be this good in these two films. I was completely blown away.”

“I’ve watched it three times! It’s just that good!!”

“I used to think Wen Tang’s acting was missing something, even though everyone praised her. But now, I wouldn’t dare say that anymore. It’s just one word: outstanding!”

“Please do more movies in the future!”

…

For a time, public opinion was overwhelmingly in Wen Tang’s favor.

She had been out of the public eye for nearly a year, but suddenly, with the release of these two films, she reappeared in the spotlight.

At this point, Wen Tang finally felt that she had rested enough after the previous years and was ready to get back into the game. She shook off her lazy state, revived her energy, and personally selected a script from those carefully chosen by her agent. After signing the contract, she was set to start filming soon.

Before she began, her agent approached her with a proposal for a variety show. They wanted Wen Tang to appear as a guest for just two days, which wouldn’t affect her schedule.

This was an entertainment variety show, and Wen Tang hadn’t been involved in such shows for a long time. In the past, Liu Meifen often arranged these kinds of appearances for her, willing to do so if it meant increasing her visibility. Wen Tang herself wasn’t fond of these engagements, finding the need for social interactions and pleasantries on screen tedious.

However, with her recent film success and rising popularity, both the film side and her agency wanted her to seize the opportunity to appear more frequently before the audience.

After considering all aspects, Wen Tang agreed.

The show was called “Celebrity Kitchen,” where a group of celebrities ran their own restaurant, serving lunch and dinner to guests.

Wen Tang didn’t know how to cook. To prepare for this show, she watched previous episodes and noticed that each resident guest could cook at least two signature dishes. Liu Meifen also suggested she learn at least a couple of dishes.

It would be quite inappropriate to appear on such a show without being able to cook a single dish. Being a meticulous person, Wen Tang started learning to cook from Zhou Jingyu and spent an entire week practicing.

“Celebrity Kitchen” was filmed in Rongcheng City. For this episode, which happened to be on a workday, Zhou Jingyu took Wen Tang to the airport, where she met with Ke Xin, Yang Yang, and others.

Li Yingjie had officially become Wen Tang’s manager, no longer a temporary arrangement. She was also accompanied by Liu Chengxi, a junior from Wen Tang’s agency, who was currently on set for a three-month shoot with no need for management. Since Wen Tang was starting public activities, Li Yingjie came along to supervise the variety show.

During the filming, Li Yingjie would monitor things and make timely adjustments if needed.

The nature of variety shows often involves a lot of editing and may not fully represent reality. Knowing that Wen Tang was focused solely on acting and didn’t enjoy such shows, Li Yingjie felt more comfortable accompanying her to ensure her experience was smooth.

On the plane, Li Yingjie sat beside Wen Tang.

Having been Wen Tang’s manager for nearly two years, Li Yingjie had witnessed Wen Tang’s reluctance to continue in the entertainment industry due to past setbacks. Wen Tang had briefly considered quitting but eventually decided to stay. However, she had been largely inactive, accepting no TV dramas and only making two films a year. She refused other activities and focused on staying at home, with only a few endorsements from international luxury brands and domestic top brands.

Li Yingjie had never seen someone so willing to step back during their career peak.

In recent years, Wen Tang had not been actively involved in her career, and as a result, Li Yingjie had not had much interaction with her. Their meetings even had a sense of unfamiliarity.

Li Yingjie could never quite figure out what Wen Tang was thinking.

It was like the ancient drama script she had presented to Wen Tang last year. The production company offered substantial funding, specifically requested Wen Tang, and it was a big, blockbuster project. Li Yingjie assumed Wen Tang would take it, but she didn’t.

The next morning, Wen Tang called to decline.

This happened with several scripts afterwards.

Despite many discussions, Wen Tang refused each one.

She preferred to stay at home and relax.

She spent her time playing games, sleeping, dreaming, and spending time with her husband.

Once the plane was steady, Li Yingjie turned to Wen Tang and asked, “Tang Tang, can I ask you something?”

Wen Tang, accustomed to sleeping on the plane, was just pulling out her eye mask. Hearing “Hmm?” She turned to Li Yingjie and said, “What’s up?”

Li Yingjie asked seriously, “When do you plan to go public with your relationship with President Zhou?”

Li Yingjie had attended Wen Tang’s wedding as her manager. By the time Li Yingjie became Wen Tang’s manager, Wen Tang was already dating Zhou Jingyu. Li Yingjie had heard rumors about Wen Tang but thought she was just playing around. Unexpectedly, Wen Tang married Zhou Jingyu not long after, and their relationship had been stable for over a year.

This surprised everyone.

Given this, it was time to think about when to go public.

After all, Wen Tang had successfully transitioned from an idol to a respected actress with her recent films, gaining widespread recognition for her talent.

It was the right time to make it public.

Wen Tang thought for a moment and replied, “Let’s talk about this later.”

She didn’t want Zhou Jingyu to be disturbed too much by the public. Being a public figure was challenging, and some fans could be very obsessive.

However, she was willing to reveal that she was married, just not specify who.

Wen Tang added, “The news about the marriage can be gradually released.”

Li Yingjie understood Wen Tang’s meaning.

She nodded, “Alright, I’ll follow your lead.”