Whatever Su Ning wanted to do, nobody could stop him.

Shen Mingzheng watched him intently, followed him around, and even embraced Su Ning from behind, sticking to him like a clingy big dog.

However, when he inadvertently touched Su Ning’s lower back and lifted him, Su Ning hissed as if something had been pulled. His back was still sore, and then, remembering something, he glared at Shen Mingzheng.

He looked so good when he glared!

Unable to resist, Shen Mingzheng tried to kiss him, but, unfortunately, he was pushed away by the exasperated Su Ning.

Wasn’t this man quite aloof before?

He used to be so reticent at the beginning, how did he become like this? He really couldn’t figure it out.

And the versatile Shen Mingzheng knew how to coax people well.

He reassured repeatedly, and the two of them still ended up having dinner together in the restaurant that evening, then returned to their room to, well, discuss work seriously.

Even deciding to date didn’t change the workaholic nature of these two, especially Su Ning.

There were many things to handle afterward. Shen Mingzheng took over at Pinnacle Agency; he had to properly wrap up the previous turmoil caused within the company management and lead actors. The people he recruited previously at Shen Film Industry were put to good use now, perfectly positioned within Pinnacle, which was heavily artist-oriented, so there were many issues to discuss, especially about the upcoming Zhu Lan.

When they got into work discussions, they lost track of time, and it wasn’t until someone knocked on the door around nine or ten that Su Ning realized how late it was.

He opened the door to find Ji Xue and Zhou Chunqing.

They had spent half the day shopping. Ji Xue was very familiar with Rongcheng, and both seemed to have had a great time, their faces beaming with joy, especially since all expenses were paid by the boss that day.

Knowing that the benefits ultimately come from the employer, the two were quite tactful. They even bought gifts for Su Ning and Shen Mingzheng—two winter coats, similar in style and color but slightly different, looking like a matched pair for couples.

“We originally planned to buy a set, but then we thought it should be Mr. Shen who gifts the rest, it’s not our place,” Ji Xue said, carrying at least seven or eight bags of clothes, her own purchases, half-leaning on Zhou Chunqing, giggling, “Right, Mr. Shen?”

Despite the money being provided by the boss, they had put a lot of thought into choosing the clothes!

Pleased with the shopping bags, Shen Mingzheng agreed, “Exactly.”

Today’s money was well spent.

The two girls left, giggling, with a dozen shopping bags to the room across.

The idol group returning from a shooting came back even later because they played until midnight at an amusement park and also shopped quite a bit. The team was laden with big and small bags. However, since they returned very late, the gifts Li Chu brought for Su Ning were only delivered the next morning.

Their group chat was renamed “Calm and Peaceful.” Ji Xue and Zhou Chunqing, not taking sides in their arguments, told her to not overthink adult matters, which Li Chu somewhat resented.

These two were bought over!

No use talking to them!

But at breakfast the next day, seeing the two sitting together carefree, Su Ning looked up at Shen Mingzheng and his irritation dissipated.

As long as Su Ning was happy, that was enough for him.

Li Chu remembered to bring gifts for Su Ning from the amusement park—a white plush toy, which looked like a rabbit but also somewhat like a cat, considering its ears. It was a viral cultural merchandise from the park, often sold out and very hard to obtain. The official toys were being scalped online for almost four figures.

“I won it playing a shooting game there; it’s a souvenir,” Li Chu said, “This one’s really soft; it can be used for stress relief.”

Indeed, it was very soft. Su Ning took it, smiled, and thanked Little Chu, planning to place it at home.

Then, hesitating a bit, Li Chu also took out a black one from behind, still fluffy but completely black with golden eyes, like a little black coal ball.

“Uh, it’s a pair,” he said, “Nothing special, just for decoration.”

This black one was a limited edition.

Li Chu won it implying that Shen Mingzheng had a dark heart, but there was no helping it; it indeed matched the white one.

Seeing him awkwardly explaining, Su Ning found it cute.

Shen Mingzheng saw this and was satisfied; as long as Su Ning was happy, nothing else really affected him. Li Chu’s acceptance was best, but even if he didn’t, Shen Mingzheng wouldn’t change.

The past few days in Rongcheng were very relaxed for everyone, the entire team was happy, but returning to Haicheng, the atmosphere changed.

Zhu Lan responded quickly to the orders from above and had already arrived. Initially, she went to Pinnacle, which Shen Mingzheng had visited, and he had spoken to Su Ning about it afterward.

“The old man sending her over really shows his intentions,” Shen Mingzheng said, “She’s definitely not a simple character.”

Apart from being the old man’s foster daughter, her connection with the Shen family went deeper; she had never changed her surname and was later arranged by the old man to marry into the Shen family.

This brings us to the topic of Shen family’s blood relations.

Shen Antang’s biological brothers totaled three. The lineage of Allen Shen Hua, going back, belonged to Shen Antang’s brother’s line, which had many descendants because of the previous incident, they recently dared not speak up much.

Shen Antang’s younger brother, Shen Anlin’s line, had always been closer to him, had fewer children but held the most important resources of the main family, and had always been the most trusted by the old man. Zhu Lan married Shen Anlin’s favorite youngest son, which was a good strategy by Shen Antang to bind internal forces.

Before Shen Mingzheng appeared, there was a delicate balance between these two sides. The younger brother’s side was closer to the head of the family, but had fewer people; the elder brother’s side had more people but was more dispersed, rarely touching the core matters, somewhat dividing their influence into internal and external affairs.

After the old man’s daughters ran off, leaving no heirs, they always thought the next head would come from these two lines, but Shen Mingzheng’s emergence changed the situation.

If Shen Antang was hesitant about bringing back a grandson from outside, that wasn’t like him, but the butterfly effect from Shen Mingzheng’s return was now reminding him of something.

He was challenging his elder brother’s side, and it wasn’t good to let his younger brother’s internal power take advantage during this time, so it was just right to place Zhu Lan as a chess piece by Shen Mingzheng’s side, both as a warning and a balance.

Su Ning roughly understood the ins and outs, and asked, “So what do you think she values the most?”

Without hesitation, Shen Mingzheng said, “Money.”

“She really loves money, reportedly before Shen Antang brought her back, her family was very poor, nearly starving.”

Perhaps what you lack when you’re young, you value more as you grow up.

Everyone likes money, Su Ning and Shen Mingzheng had to earn it too, otherwise, what would their company staff do? No one can afford a losing business.

Currently, Zhu Lan was accumulating wealth at the Shen family, being a very famous producer with many film and television projects in her hands, clearly showing the difference between her and Allen.

One has people, the other has projects.

In this industry, the artists may come and go, but projects are solid.

So, for now, loyalty and obedience were her way to maximize benefits, whether listening to Shen Antang or supporting her husband, it was the same—running projects and earning big money with the Shen family’s platform.

But it also meant that it was hard to sway or recruit her. Which heir could match the old man’s wealth? The Shen family could offer her the best, and she would never change her heart.

Zhu Lan’s involvement at Pinnacle brought many issues, and she had some tug-of-war with Shen Mingzheng, both openly and secretly.

Some minor details the old man couldn’t manage from the capital, and although there were no apparent problems between the two on the surface, Shen Mingzheng was intentionally relaxing on some matters, not competing with her on everything.

At first, it was quite harmonious, and Su Ning didn’t intervene much initially, but soon, he met the very famous Zhu Lan.

This time, it was her who took the initiative to come to Guang Ying Entertainment.

Zhu Lan, with short hair and unremarkable looks, appeared younger than her forty-something years, well-preserved.

Although Su Ning had never met her, he had seen her information and photos. Zhu Lan was efficient and cool. Today, she didn’t make an appointment but went straight to Su Ning’s office.

The reception and the secretary at the president’s office door recognized her and didn’t dare to stop her with security.

“Mr. Su, forgive my intrusion, I have urgent business to discuss with you,” she said as soon as she entered, straightforward, “Shen Mingzheng is tough to persuade, and since this matter involves you too, I’ve come to you.”

Her sudden visit was obviously tense, but Su Ning remained calm, signaling the secretary to serve the best tea and asking her to sit down, examining her up and down.

Shen Mingzheng previously mentioned her label was “money,” and he wasn’t wrong. Su Ning had seen many wealthy individuals, but few were as overt as Zhu Lan.

At a glance, the glowing green jade bracelet and diamond ring on her hand were probably worth no less than eight figures, her clothes and outfit matched her jewelry. Although dazzling and with a strong presence, it wasn’t the gaudy nouveau-riche style, not exaggerated. She was tall and thin, and her expensive jewelry suited her, making her look luxurious yet commanding.

This wasn’t any dinner party, just Zhu Lan’s everyday attire.

Although it’s said wealth shouldn’t be flaunted, for businessmen, attire is indeed important. If she were discussing a smaller cooperation, anyone with lesser means would feel inferior even before she spoke.

Wealth commands respect, that’s the principle.

But Su Ning wasn’t a small-time businessman; after a discreet assessment, he had a rough judgment and smiled, “Ms. Zhu, don’t rush, tell me, Mingzheng isn’t a stubborn person, perhaps there’s some misunderstanding.”

She waved her hand, “There’s no misunderstanding. Mr. Su, I’ll be direct. Was the reshoot schedule for ‘Old Love Letters’ set by you?”

So it was about this.

She mentioned Shu Miao, an artist at Pinnacle.

Su Ning understood, then nodded, “I discussed it with Mingzheng, mainly to wrap up the matter involving Liao Yuansi, is there a problem?”

“Old Love Letters” was a romance film about to premiere, unfortunately affected by Liao Yuansi because he had a cameo, playing the role of the female lead’s father in her memories.

Some of his crucial scenes couldn’t be removed, replacing his face wouldn’t work well on the big screen, and the production side hoped to find someone to reshoot those parts as soon as possible. They had already found a new male actor.

But the actress for the female lead’s younger self, played by Shu Miao, had many scenes with him, and she needed to be present for the reshoot, expected to take about half a month.

Shu Miao had initially done a cameo in this film for Pinnacle, wanting to curry favor with the other party, so they offered two cameos.

When Liao Yuansi first got into trouble, Gaoshan Film, which came to discuss this, was also quite accommodating, only saying that other aspects of the reshoot were ready, they had found a replacement for Liao Yuansi, and just hoped for Shu Miao’s cooperation, a reasonable request.

Su Ning had helped communicate with Shu Miao’s team at that time, and both the team and Shu Miao herself had agreed.

But problems arose as soon as Zhu Lan arrived.

“Shu Miao can’t make it now,” Zhu Lan said, “I’m not trying to undermine you and Mingzheng, but I wasn’t aware of this situation before coming, and I specifically brought a project back from the capital for her, entering the crew in a few days, a big-budget ancient drama where she’d play the second female lead.”

Zhu Lan was not lying.

She was a decisive person, wanting to reform Pinnacle and start earning quickly, nurturing young popular actresses was naturally a real boost.

But the current Shu Miao and the Shu Miao who did a cameo half a year ago were not the same. Back then, she was a nobody, chosen because she resembled the female lead, so she played her younger self, not a big role. For a newly signed artist at Pinnacle, that was a good opportunity.

But now, her situation was entirely different. Thanks to a web drama that unexpectedly went viral a few months ago, and with several of Pinnacle’s leading actors affected by Liao Yuansi’s issue, she was now Pinnacle’s most promising young actress.

It was completely normal for Zhu Lan to give her substantial resources, but it clashed with the reshoot.

Su Ning asked, “Can’t the timing be coordinated? The reshoot won’t take long, I can negotiate with them to compress the schedule.”

“Mr. Su, I’ve asked before coming here; mainly, the ancient drama has scenes with snowscapes that must be shot during this period, you know, the film base in Yao Mountain only has snow during this time,” Zhu Lan said, “I struggled to secure that second female role for her, with the two locations so far apart, are you asking her to juggle both?”

“Old Love Letters” was set for Valentine’s Day, the reshoot had to be completed to leave time for post-production, they couldn’t wait that long.

Juggling roles was impossible, especially for a newcomer; it was a sure way to offend both sides.

“I don’t understand why Shen Mingzheng insists so much; if we’re talking about contractual spirit, the filming is already complete, the reshoot was just a verbal agreement, if the film side is unhappy, I can compensate them for the loss, find a new actress.” Zhu Lan said, “Mr. Su, I’ve heard about your matters, you’re also someone who considers artists, you must understand, securing this second female lead for Shu Miao was not easy, missing this opportunity would be too unfair to her career, right?”

Actually, Su Ning and Shen Mingzheng had discussed this matter before, not purely out of contractual integrity. When Shen Mingzheng heard the name “Old Love Letters,” something seemed to click, and he immediately agreed to the reshoot request.

“This movie will be great,” he had said at the time, very firmly, “Participating is a good opportunity, don’t easily give it up.”

Now, seeing Zhu Lan’s expression, thinking they were using Shu Miao’s opportunity to curry favor, not wanting to offend an established company like Gaoshan Film, Su Ning didn’t mention how good the movie would be, thinking for a moment, he changed his approach.

“When Shu Miao participated, it was officially announced, and the reshoot was also made public,” Su Ning said, “Changing actors now would be awkward for the newcomer, and Shu Miao might find it difficult too.”

“Mingzheng is also considering the artist’s reputation in the industry, I understand your point, shall I try to coordinate again?”

This was a dilemma, Zhu Lan knew it too, otherwise she wouldn’t have come to Su Ning after failing to reach an agreement with Shen Mingzheng.

But Shu Miao was now Pinnacle’s hottest artist, and Zhu Lan had to keep her under her project.

“I’ll be frank, this is also the artist’s wish; she chose the ancient drama,” Zhu Lan said, “Mr. Su, there are gains and losses in many things, not everything needs to be forced.”

Su Ning understood her point, signaling her to not rush, but just then, a voice came from the corner of the room.

“Then, how about I give it a try?”

Ji Xue slowly turned from the boss chair against the wall and smiled at them: “Sorry, I was here reviewing contracts, you came in and didn’t notice me, Mr. Su didn’t ask me to leave, so I listened in.”

“Since it’s tough either way, why don’t I try for the movie? Don’t worry, it won’t be awkward.”