The Martial Artist Turned Movie Mogul

"Jing Bei."

"President Jing, what can I do for you?"

"Notify the driver, I’m going back to Palm Pavilion."

"Um... There’s a remote conference call at 6 o’clock and a cross-time zone business forum at eight tonight."

"Cancel them, or you can host and attend on my behalf."

"..."

With her delicate nose wrinkled, Jing Bei forcefully slapped the folder onto the president’s desk with a "smack".

"Cousin, you owe me an explanation. Not interested in making money anymore? This company belongs to the Jing Family, and by being so neglectful, my share of the profits will suffer!"

When Cloudscape Group was established, all the younger members of the Jing Family had a stake in it.

Jing Yu stood up, took the suit jacket from behind him, draped it over his shoulders, and glanced at her impassively.

"So, as a minor shareholder, what obligation do you have to take over the work I leave behind?"

Do your job well.

Watching her boss—who was also her cousin—leave the office with long strides and without a hint of guilt, Jing Bei felt a stifling frustration that she could not vent.

"When is Cloudscape Group going to go bankrupt?"

This was a serious question.

***

In fact, Jing Yu’s efforts for peace turned out to be much less smooth than he had imagined.

"She’s gone to Weicheng?"

"Yes, she took the flight yesterday. Miss Tang Shu received an invitation for a role in Director Xie’s new movie. President Jing, don’t worry, Yang Tiantian also went with her."

With the phone in hand, Luo Lin diligently reported the itinerary of her boss to the person at the other end of the line. Once the call ended, the efficient and quick-acting ace manager let out a sigh of relief.

Shen Yan looked at her with unprecedented curiosity, "Sister Luo, do we at Starshine Media have an invisible boss, who is the person you were just speaking to?"

Your tone was way too respectful and cautious. God knows it’s the first time since I’ve joined that I’ve heard you speak so formally and seriously to a superior.

"Shut your mouth, don’t think I don’t realize you’re mocking me!"

Luo Lin was helpless as well; despite having grown to the point where she could negotiate with various big bosses without changing her demeanor, why did she always seem to collapse when dealing with President Jing?

Is this the invisible deterrence of a business magnate?

Shen Yan recoiled into his chair under her murderous gaze, "I’m just a bit curious..."

"Curiosity killed the cat. Get back to work," Luo Lin walked straight to the legal department, "Have we received the contract from Director Xie’s side yet?"

"Not yet. The courier says it will arrive tomorrow morning."

"Got it. File it directly after receiving it."

Luo Lin had recently ended a call with Jing Yu and was well-adapted to the news of Tang Shu signing a film role directed by a famous director on her own strength, despite the fact that the little ancestor had taken the role and notified her a day after heading to the filming location.

Meanwhile, at Palm Pavilion Community, Jing Yu had also just ended a call. After standing next to the business car for only a minute, his valuable brain made the most correct decision for him.

"Go to Xinyuan Flower Shop on Wenan Street in the East District."

After receiving the address sent from the reception, Jing Yu got back into the car and promptly booked a flight to Weicheng.

At 8 o’clock that evening, he stood punctually in front of a five-star resort hotel by the seaside, not only holding a familiar bouquet of fiery red roses, but also a phone that had just sent a message.

[Jing Yu: Have you finished today’s scenes?]

[Xie Yunqing: ??? When did you become interested in my work, cousin?]

Upon receiving the response, Jing Yu came to a conclusion.

This famous perfectionist director even had the leisure to check his phone, which suggests the shooting must have concluded.

He walked towards the hotel reception, his figure clad in a blue hand-made suit harmonious among the crowd in beach T-shirts, the fiery red roses in his arms even more dazzling under the hotel lights.

"Hello, ma’am. I would like to inquire about Miss Tang Shu’s room number, I am her friend."

The receptionist reflexively looked up, only to be met with a pair of deep, jet-black eyes, which left her tongue-tied.

"Good, good evening sir, this... we can’t just disclose our guests’ information."

Today Jing Yu was uncharacteristically amiable, glancing at the brightly blooming flowers in his arms, "Please forgive a man seeking to surprise his girlfriend."

"Oh... I see."

The receptionist’s face reddened again, dodging his earnest gaze while bowing her head to flip through the guest check-in information, and after fifteen seconds, she accurately reported the room number.

"Miss Tang is in room 8206, sir, I wish you success with your endeavor."

"Thank you."

***

Tang Shu never expected to run into Jing Yu even after hiding away in the Linhai Area.

When she heard the doorbell and opened the door, she deeply regretted not having peeped through the peephole to check who the visitor was.

The consequence was — a handsome man and a beautiful woman stood in front of the door, locked in an eye-to-eye standoff closer than one meter apart.

"Good evening, Xiao Shu."

Jing Yu took the initiative first, his inherent sharpness letting him clearly understand that dragging out the issues between them would only be detrimental to himself.

"..."

Tang Shu had absolutely no idea how to face him, which was one of the reasons she had hidden herself away and didn’t want to see anyone.

Jing Yu offered earnestly, "Can we talk somewhere else?"

Standing at the hotel entrance was indeed inappropriate, as this five-star hotel had not only the film crew members but also a good number of ordinary tourists, given it was the peak of the travel season.

After a pause, Tang Shu moved aside, making a small gap, "Come in."

Thanks to her now being beyond a mere 18th-tier celebrity, Director Xie had sincerely invited her here this time, preparing a suite for her, which conveniently had a small living room outside the bedroom.

When the door to room 8206 closed, Tang Shu turned around only to see a very familiar bunch of roses in front of her, fiery red and glaringly so.

"I don’t remember ordering flowers today?"

"I went to the flower shop and bought them for you," he said.

To express sincerity.

However... the other party didn’t see it the same way.

"I feel it’s more like a mockery of my past actions."

"..."

As soon as the words left her mouth, both parties were taken aback.

After blurting it out, Tang Shu realized she seemed to be projecting her anger, and within that, there was a touch of irritation from being exposed, making her emotions even more complex.

And Jing Yu on the other side also realized that presenting these flowers might not have been appropriate. He had thought that red roses could convey love and reflect the true interactions they had had during this period but totally forgot that identical items could remind one of unpleasant memories.

No, that memory was special to him.

"I apologize for my behavior that day," he said.

"So if you hadn’t been drunk that day, were you planning to continue playing dumb?"

"No."

Jing Yu put the roses down on a nearby table and stepped forward, his profound eyes unusually bright and serious.