5 | Contact
CEO Song, do you use Weixin?
Song Nanchuan was watching her, the corners of his lips raised up.
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A staff member came up to the director and told him that Song Nanchuan had arrived. The director told everyone to take a break and headed off to where Song Nanchuan was.
“CEO Song, how did you make the time to visit the set today?” Meeting with this major shareholder, the director was extremely courteous.
Song Nanchuan nodded to him and said, “I made the trip over to learn a few things.”
“CEO Song, you hold us to too high of an esteem.” The director’s face creased with a smile. “CEO Song, did you see the scene we were just filming? What did you think?”
Song Nanchuan responded, “I’m not very knowledgeable about acting. On that front, Director Liang, you’re still the professional.”
Director Liang laughed courteously, and then he really spoke about the acting. “The scene just now was the female lead meeting a famous model, Shi Jing. Tao Tao would be considered as having more acting experience, but she was just completely overtaken by Pei Ying.”
Hearing the director mention Pei Ying, Song Nanchuan asked, “Director Liang, what do you think of Pei Ying’s acting?”
Director Liang thought for a moment, and then said, “In terms of skill, Pei Ying is better than Tao Tao. But, how do you say it, this girl’s fate is just bad. None of the roles she’s played before really showed off her abilities. And…” He decided to leave things there and turned to the topic of Tao Tao. “Tao Tao is more personable, so it’s easier for her to mix into the entertainment circles.”
Song Nanchuan smiled, and didn’t make a comment about being ‘personable."”
Song Nanchuan was basically a light source. Standing together with the director, he attracted the eyes of the entire crew, and a lot of the staff were quietly discussing Song Nanchuan. Sitting beside Pei Ying, Tao Tao waited a moment, and then got up and walked toward Song Nanchuan.
“h.e.l.lo, CEO Song. I’m Scenic Studio’s Tao Tao and the female lead for ‘Light Shines on Raiment of Rainbow."” Tao Tao smiled at Song Nanchuan and greeted him graciously, neither acting too pleased nor too cool.
Song Nanchuan smiled and nodded, “h.e.l.lo.”
Face still full of smiles, Tao Tao said, “CEO Song, are you here to inspect our work? I wonder if you’re satisfied by my acting as the female lead?”
Song Nanchuan smiled and said, “I’m not much of an expert in this field, but Director Liang seems to think highly of you.”
Director Liang chuckled. Since Tao Tao had already some over, he decided to call Pei Ying over as well. He turned to the resting Pei Ying and waved her over. “Xiao Pei, you should come over too.”
Pei Ying had actually been secretly watching them from the side, but she was still caught off guard. She didn’t expect to be a part of anything as a walk-on.
She put away the expectation and nervousness she felt, and walked over to Song Nanchuan on her long legs. “h.e.l.lo, CEO Song.”
Song Nanchuan smiled at her. “h.e.l.lo, Ms. Pei. We meet again.”
Tao Tao’s ears perked up. The director also grew very curious, but understanding the rules of things, he didn’t ask about it further. “CEO Song made a special appearance on the set today, so make a good showing, everyone.”
Pei Ying and Tao Tao agreed, and then the director’s eyes landed on the still-resting Yu Kaize. Customarily, as the male lead in this project, Yu Kaize should come over to greet Song Nanchuan. But this young master wouldn’t move after being invited over, and the rest could only laugh awkwardly and continue chatting.
Yu Kaize had originally been lying in his chair, playing games on his mobile. Seeing the director, female lead, and even Pei Ying surrounding Song Nanchuan, he glanced over. His eyes met with Song Nanchuan’s. He sneered with disdain and then lowered his head back to his game.
Song Nanchuan didn’t take this seeming provocation to heart. He’d seen Yu Kaize before at a Universe Pictures’ and his att.i.tude then was pretty much the same as right now. Song Nanchuan didn’t have much interest to care about him.
He smiled, unconcerned, and turned back to the director. “It’s my first visit to the set, and everyone’s been working hard. I’ll treat everyone to dinner tonight. Please do my the honor (of accepting the invitation).”
“Eh, what are you saying, CEO Song. If you’re treating to dinner, they’d all be extremely happy,” the director said. He turned around and clapped his hands, calling everyone’s attentions. “CEO Song is treating everyone to dinner tonight. Let’s finish up filming early today!”
Sure enough, the crew and staff clamored about and everyone started applauding.
Yu Kaize put away his phone, then pulled out his sungla.s.ses and put them on. Leaning against his chair, he said, “I don’t have time tonight, so I won’t go.”
The director grew a bit embarra.s.sed. Yu Kaize and Song Nanchuan – he couldn’t offend either of them.
In the end, it was Song Nanchuan who lowered himself to Yu Kaize’s level. “If Young Master Yu doesn’t have time, everyone else should at least make it.”
And then he shot a smile at Pei Ying.
The little deer in Pei Ying’s heart suddenly started to riot. Before her heart gave out from beating furiously, Pei Ying opened her mouth to say, “Okay.”
Song Nanchuan smiled again, the mark near his eye seemingly sparkling.
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The crew started filming again. Song Nanchuan watched for a bit, and then he left. He still had a lot of work to do, so he couldn’t just squander away his time standing around.
Perhaps it was because he was treating the crew to dinner, everyone’s work efficiency very obviously improved. Even the number of NG scenes (Note: ‘No good’ scenes, where they mess up) had decreased. By 5:30 that evening, the crew finished all their tasks for the days. Xiao Zhang told the director where they would be eating that night.
The crew was in an uproar. Indeed, CEO Song was CEO Song. He was treating the entire crew to dinner. They were all extremely thankful to him.
Yu Kaize was the only one who turned his nose up at it.
He saw Pei Ying removing her makeup at the side and walked over to her. “Beautiful, it’s your first day filming with us. I’ll treat you to a meal.
Pei Ying’s hand froze for a moment, then she turned to look at him. “Ah, but isn’t CEO Song treating us to dinner tonight?”
Yu Kaize said with disdain, “Why go eat with him? With so many people, what are you going to be able to eat?”
Pei Ying raised her eyes to look at him. His expression was just like that of a little boy who refused to let anyone else steal their thunder. Desperately degrading their opponent, refusing to give up even if their life was on the line.
Pei Ying didn’t find it amusing. Yu Kaize was probably protected very well by his family, so he still acted like a little kid.
“I already promised CEO Song. It wouldn’t be good to ditch him suddenly. Why don’t we pick another day to go out with Tao Tao too,” Pei Ying suggested.
Yu Kaize’s expression was obviously unhappy, but since Pei Ying said it like that, he didn’t want to keep badgering her. “Whatever then.”
With those two words, he put on his sungla.s.ses and turned to walk away.
Pei Ying watched his figure leave, and she wondered if she hadn’t just offended Universe Pictures’ young prince…
“Pei Pei, are you ready?” Tao Tao had already changed into her everyday clothes. She walked over to Pei Ying and started to rush her.
Pei Ying pushed Yu Kaize to the back of her head and quickly cleaned up her makeup. “I’ll be ready in just a minute.”
Song Nanchuan had reserved two rooms at the restaurant. One was a large connecting room where the crew and regular actors sat. The other was a VIP room, mostly for the creative staff.
No one really minded eating in the larger room. Actually, not sitting with the director meant they would be able to eat more freely.
Pei Ying was originally going to sit with everyone in the large room, but Tao Tao kept pulling her along to the VIP room. “Come sit here with me.”
Pei Ying felt a bit uncomfortable. “That doesn’t seem like a good idea.” It was a bit difficult for her, a walk-on, to grandly sit there.
Tao Tao said, “We’re from the same company. If word gets out that you sat out there, people would think I was bullying you.”
Pei Ying felt that made some sense, so she put on her thick skin and walked into the VIP room. Song Nanchuan hadn’t arrived yet, and everyone else was chatting. Pei Ying followed behind Tao Tao. She asked quietly, “I heard what CEO Song said earlier. You two know each other?”
Pei Ying nodded. She hadn’t intended to hide anything anyway. “When I went to meet Director Liang before, CEO Song was also there.”
Tao Tao thought for a moment and suddenly recalled. “Oh, for the role of Tang Feifei?”
“Mm.”
Tao Tao nodded thoughtfully, but didn’t say anything more.
A few minutes later, Song Nanchuan arrived. The waiter opened the door for him and he walked in sporting a smile. “Excuse me for making everyone wait. I just finished some business.”
The director quickly stood up to greet him. “No, no, we’ve all just arrived.”
The waiter confirmed with Song Nanchuan that they could start serving the food and then left. Song Nanchuan looked around the room. There was only one seat left, probably saved for him.
To the left of the seat was Tao Tao, and to the right was the director. Song Nanchuan didn’t say anything and walked over. Tao Tao and the director were both very good at holding conversations, so the atmosphere around the table was great. Pei Ying would also occasionally say a sentence or two, but she mostly spent her time eating.
When they were just about done eating, Song Nanchuan politely asked if they should order some more. After the general consensus that it wasn’t necessary, he asked Pei Ying individually, “Ms. Pei, is there anything else you’d like to eat?”
Overwhelmed by the favor, Pei Ying shook her head repeatedly. “No need, I’m full.”
She was the one who’d eaten the most seriously at the table.
Song Nanchuan smiled and handed his card to the waiter.
After dinner concluded, the staff left in twos and threes, just the same was as they’d arrived. When they came in, Tao Tao had been glued to Pei Ying, but when they were leaving, she was glued to Song Nanchuan. Pei Ying walked out by herself. When she pa.s.sed the a.s.sistant director, she heard him whisper to the director, “Why do I feel like CEO Song arranged this meal specifically for Pei Ying?”
Pei Ying, “…”
Her face reddened in an instant. In order to treat her to a meal, he brought along the entire crew? How could that be.
But her heart couldn’t stop from beating faster.
The director glared at him and told him not to speak randomly. The a.s.sistant director quickly understood and turned quiet.
Song Nanchuan only treated dinner, but wasn’t in charge of sending people off, so after everyone left the restaurant, they each went their own ways home. Tao Tao had a company car waiting for her, but she seemed to have entirely forgotten about that. She kept standing at the entrance, chatting with Song Nanchuan.
Pei Ying said her goodbyes and then left. Song Nanchuan saw her walk to the corner to hail a taxi.
The sky was already dark and the evening breeze was a bit chilly. Pei Ying tightened her coat and continued trying to get a taxi.
But she didn’t end up getting a taxi. Instead, a Maybach showed up.
She looked at the black Maybach that stopped in front of her, stunned. “CEO Song?”
Sitting in the car, Song Nanchuan helped her open the door. “Now’s not a good time to get a taxi. I’ll send you home.”
Pei Ying hesitated for a moment, then got in.
Sitting in the same car as Song Nanchuan once again, she reminded herself not to act like last time. Song Nanchuan was sitting next to her again, this time not reading the news. She considered for a moment, and then asked, “What about Tao Tao?”
She immediately regretted asking. Why did she have to ask that?! She didn’t care at all about Tao Tao sticking to him!
Song Nanchuan was also startled. Then he smiled and said, “Ms. Tao had a car waiting, so she didn’t need me to send her back.”
“Oh… Excuse me, I didn’t mean anything by it.” Pei Ying’s presumptuous question left her feeling extremely awkward.
Song Nanchuan didn’t really care though. He smiled and a.s.sured her, “It’s okay, I didn’t mean anything by it either.”
Pei Ying, who’d been looking at him the whole time, appeared a bit distracted. She suddenly realized that when Song Nanchuan looked at her, it seemed like he was always smiling.
She sat to the left of Song Nanchuan, and she could see the birthmark by his left eye. It was like a feather drifting down, sometimes there, sometimes not.
After a moment of silence, she finally mustered the courage to ask, “CEO Song, do you use Weixin?” (Note: Weixin, or WeChat, is a text and voice messaging app)
Song Nanchuan was caught off guard, but quickly a smile appeared. “Mm, you want to add me?”
Pei Ying was already extremely embarra.s.sed, but she still bit the bullet and nodded.
Song Nanchuan opened up Weixin on his tablet. Pei Ying scanned his QR code and then a Weixin number appeared on her phone.
The ID was a string of numbers and looked like his phone number. His nickname was just one word, Chuan.