“What happened to Tingting's hind paw?” Zou Songpu had watched the newly posted cancellation video ten times before spotting a bandage around the little cat's back foot.
“Dear viewer, Tingting was being naughty and accidentally scraped her paw on a railing. It's already been treated. Thank you for your concern! We've removed the railing as well.”
The reply came so quickly that Zou Songpu silently deleted, character by character, the message he had already typed: “How did it happen is it serious what are you people doing can't you even watch a cat if you can't take care of her I'll do it name your price.” He sent only an awkward-looking smile instead.
Zhou Dao had noticed that this person, despite following their account for only a month, already topped the gift rankings by a huge margin. She answered the instant she saw his message, offering abundant reassurance for fear he might feel neglected.
Then she posted another video to the group. In it, Tingting was working very hard at sharpening her claws.
Zou Songpu saved it and zoomed in, repeatedly checking that Tingting was all right. Only then did he relax and ask, “When is the next livestream?”
“@WantToTalk, we're taking Tingting for a checkup today. We'll probably stream tomorrow~”
Having learned what he wanted, Zou Songpu logged out, stood, and went to look through the script.
Before long, he realized that its direction was entirely unlike Director Qin's usual style.
This film, Sunny Days, centered on the male lead Tian Yuan, the female lead Jiayi, and Jiayi's friend Zhenqing, the second female lead. Tian Yuan graduated in law from a prestigious university and should have had a bright future. But after uncovering illegal conduct by a partner at his original firm, he was ostracized under that partner's leadership. In the end, he resigned and moved nearly a thousand kilometers away to practice law in a small inland city, barely making ends meet with trivial cases.
At first, he didn't want Zhenqing's case. The defendant was a loan-shark company with extensive local connections. Winning would be easy; whether they would retaliate afterward was another question.
But after meeting the plaintiff repeatedly, he discovered a resilience he himself lacked. However difficult life became, she remained hopeful. Even facing stormy seas, her eyes showed no impulse to retreat.
Moved by her, he remembered that he had once been such a person too. He decided to take the case, whatever the outcome.
The female lead, Jiayi, was the daughter of a local glassworks owner. The last Tian Yuan had heard of her family, the factory had gone bankrupt overnight and they had hired a colleague at his firm to litigate. Later, Zhenqing told him that Jiayi had stolen her property deed, illegally mortgaged it to the loan sharks, and vanished with the money.
In Qin Sheng's previous films, even if the male lead ended up with the second female lead, the female lead wouldn't exist solely in other people's accounts.
Puzzled, he called Zhuang Qian.
“Qin Ting, they're changing the script. Major changes.” Zhao Jing swept into the house with her bag and dropped onto the sofa. By habit, she took out cigarettes and a lighter, then remembered and put them away. “Forgot you can't stand smoke. I don't smell of it, do I?”
“No, Sister. Have some water for your throat.” Qin Ting pushed a glass toward her. “How long will the changes take?”
Her manager took a large gulp and cleared her throat. She had just come from the company, where a lengthy argument with Zhang Youfu over this had left her parched.
“I hear they've revised enough for a few days of filming. Beyond that, they'll have to rewrite as they shoot. You won't have much time to memorize your lines.”
“What? I won't be able to remember them!”
Qin Ting was alarmed. She had read the script several times and memorized the beginning. She felt confident she could shoot those scenes on receiving the pages. But as the plot developed, her scenes opposite the male lead increased. Ever since cornering him in the restroom, she had felt intimidated by Zou Songpu. With even less time to learn her lines, she doubted she could manage.
Seeing her panic, Zhao Jing offered reassurance. “Don't worry. Just because you think you can't do it doesn't mean anyone else can. Who knows what's gotten into Director Qin? He's cast someone I've never even heard of as the female lead too.”
“You mean she's even more obscure than me...”
“That's not what I meant. It's just strange. Before his previous films began shooting, everything was thoroughly prepared. Now he's suddenly decided the script needs a major overhaul. Everyone's baffled.” Her phone kept ringing. She had to answer, gave a few distracted responses, then stood. “Something's come up. I need to go.”
Qin Ting took the lunch bag Zhou Dao handed her, several food containers inside, and passed it to Zhao Jing. “Sister, I know you've been helping me. I'm very grateful. If you're busy, we won't keep you for lunch. Zhou Dao made a few home-cooked dishes, and there's fruit too. Take them with you.”
Zhao Jing had looked displeased since she arrived. Ever since Ning Jiajia offended a well-connected cast member with her loose tongue and got sent back, she had been pestering Zhao Jing to find a way to steal Qin Ting's role.
In terms of ability, Ning Jiajia was indeed better. But her emotional intelligence was appalling. She thought only of herself and had driven away one assistant after another. Qin Ting was different. Though not professionally trained, she worked hard and thought things through. Recognizing her shortcomings made her anxious to improve, and she eagerly sought more classes. Compared with Ning Jiajia, her interpersonal skills were worlds apart.
Seen that way, anyone would know whom to favor.
The simple food warmed Zhao Jing's heart. “Qin Ting, you may not have professional training, but I believe you'll do just as well as anyone this time. I have faith in you. I've asked whether the opening ceremony date is fixed. I'll tell you as soon as I hear. And remember, don't dress too extravagantly for it. A cocktail dress for a casual dinner is overkill.”
“Thank you, Sister. I'll remember.”
Once the engine downstairs faded into the distance, Qin Ting interlaced her hands behind her head and crossed her legs. Cat hair had ruined the adhesive on her bandage. One edge had come loose and fluttered as she swung her foot.
Zhou Dao replaced it while speaking. “Judging from Sister Zhao's expression, something's definitely gone wrong with Ning Jiajia. I don't know how badly. The friends I asked only told me to keep away from her lately.”
Qin Ting crossed her legs the other way and chewed a piece of watermelon. “Then I'll keep away too. Wow, Sister Zhao hears everything so quickly. My foot hasn't even healed, and she already knows what happened at the restaurant.”
“With her abilities, finding out everything about you would be easy. It just depends on whether she wants to.”
“Then I... Cough, cough...”
Startled, Qin Ting choked on the watermelon. Zhou Dao hurried to pat her back.
“Sister, what are you afraid of? We've run this account for ages, and she hasn't said anything. As long as it doesn't affect work, she can turn a blind eye. Don't worry.”
“Good, good. You scared me. If it came out, Mom would worry herself sick and fly straight back.”
After Zou Songpu called, Zhuang Qian immediately investigated. She was already back at his house. Her efficiency was frightening.
“I contacted the investors and the screenwriter. Both said they lacked final authority. So I reached Qin Sheng through someone else. He personally confirmed the major rewrite, but didn't explain why.”
“Did he say when shooting starts? What about the table read?”
“The table read is next week. Filming begins afterward.”
“And the new script?”
“They said they'd send it the moment the revisions were done.”
Her phone chimed as she finished. “There. The script's here.”
After forwarding it to Zou Songpu, Zhuang Qian kept watching him. Ever since he began following that unknown person's livestream, his mental state seemed to have improved.
This actor should have had an unclouded future. She had managed him since he reached adulthood, accompanied him through countless awards, and shared both hardship and success. At first she had other artists too. Gradually, she realized that whatever job she gave him, he could handle it. He adapted exceptionally well, was intelligent, and held on to his original convictions. Why not manage him alone?
He deserved to stay famous, forever the object of others' envy.
Whatever the character of this streamer who used a cat to chase views every day, she thought, anyone who made this difficult man more positive about life was her great benefactor.