Chapter 223 - 86: Short Drama, Proving Oneself (Part 2)

Zhou Jiawen was sharp-eyed and spotted Jiang Li right away. She waved at her from a distance, "Sister-in-law!"

Jiang Manshu looked over as well and nodded at Jiang Li.

Zhou Jiawen rushed over recklessly and threw herself into Jiang Li’s arms, making Shen Yanzhi’s heart leap into his throat.

"Sister-in-law, I missed you so much."

Jiang Li chuckled and ruffled Zhou Jiawen’s hair. "Didn’t we just see each other a few days ago?"

Zhou Jiawen lifted her head and pouted. "Haven’t you heard the saying, ’A day apart feels like three years’? We’ve been apart for several ’years’ already. I’ve missed you terribly!"

Jiang Li poked Zhou Jiawen’s forehead, her eyes filled with mirth. "You’re never serious for a moment."

Shen Yanzhi narrowed his eyes. "Mind the occasion."

Zhou Jiawen, who had been lingering in Jiang Li’s embrace, immediately stood up straight and called out reluctantly, "Big Brother."

Shen Yanzhi asked, "Where’s our second brother?"

He had just glanced around and saw that only Jiang Manshu and Zhou Jiawen were greeting guests; he hadn’t seen Shen Yuchu.

Zhou Jiawen swallowed hard. "He’s still on his way back."

Jiang Li shot Shen Yanzhi an annoyed glare, then took Zhou Jiawen’s arm. "Let’s go."

The three of them walked up to Jiang Manshu, and Jiang Li and Shen Yanzhi said in unison, "Mom."

Jiang Manshu complained, "Honestly, you two. It’s one thing to throw a party, but did you have to make it such a huge affair?"

But even as she complained, the smile on her face never faded, showing she was clearly very pleased with Jiang Li’s arrangements.

Jiang Li linked her arm through Jiang Manshu’s. "It’s your 50th birthday, after all. This only happens once, so it definitely has to be a grand celebration."

After speaking, she held out her hand, and Shen Yanzhi immediately passed her the handbag.

Jiang Li opened the handbag and took out the jade bracelet that Mr. Sun had wrapped. "Mom, this is your gift. Ah Yan and I picked it out together. We hope you like it."

Zhou Jiawen looked curious, eager to know what was inside the box.

’It looks like it’s jewelry, though.’

Jiang Manshu put on a stern face. "Honestly, you two. You gave me so much money this morning, and now you’re giving me a gift too? Do you even have enough to live on?"

Jiang Li pressed the box into Jiang Manshu’s hands. "The money is to honor you, and this is a birthday gift. The two don’t conflict."

To put Jiang Manshu at ease, Jiang Li told a little white lie. "Besides, I’ve made quite a bit of money in the stock market, so you don’t have to worry about us not having enough to spend."

Then again, it wasn’t really a lie. She did have a lot of money now.

Zhou Jiawen’s eyes lit up. "Sister-in-law, what stocks did you buy? Let me in on it!"

’I want to make money too!’

Jiang Li patted Zhou Jiawen’s shoulder. "I’ll tell you when I have a moment."

Then she leaned close to Zhou Jiawen’s ear and whispered, "Didn’t you say before that you wanted to act in short-form dramas? Have you changed your mind?"

Zhou Jiawen’s eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously like a chicken pecking at grain. "I do!"

’I want to more than anything!’

It was just that after Jiang Li had mentioned it last time, she had signed a contract, but then heard nothing more.

’I thought you’d forgotten about it.’

Jiang Li said, "It’ll be in the next few days. Someone will contact you."

’After all, the short-form drama team was just starting to get into a rhythm, and I wasn’t sure of their capabilities. I couldn’t just rashly send Zhou Jiawen to act with them.’

Yesterday, Liu Qian had sent her the company’s first, as-yet-unreleased short-form drama. It was eighty-five episodes, three minutes each. In addition to the exquisite costumes, makeup, and props, the plot was solid, too. She had been so engrossed she couldn’t stop watching.

’That was also why I woke up so late this morning.’

’Now that I knew what the team was capable of, there was no time to lose.’

’Zhou Jiawen wanted to act, I wanted to make money, and the team wanted to make a name for itself. You could say all the pieces were in place.’

Zhou Jiawen looked at Jiang Li with excitement. "I knew I was right to stick with you!"

Shen Yanzhi’s brow furrowed. "What do you mean, ’stick with you’? What are you two talking about?"

Zhou Jiawen ducked behind Jiang Li. "Nothing."

Afraid that Shen Yanzhi would hold her to account, her gaze fell on Jiang Manshu’s hands, and she quickly changed the subject. "Mom, why don’t you open it and see what Big Brother and Sister-in-law got you?"

Meeting Jiang Manshu’s questioning gaze, Jiang Li smiled. "It’s fine, you can open it."

While saying, "You can’t do this again next time," Jiang Manshu was already nimbly unwrapping the gift.

When she opened the brocade box and saw the jade bracelet inside, both Jiang Manshu’s and Zhou Jiawen’s eyes went wide.

Zhou Jiawen rubbed her eyes and asked, "This jade bracelet wasn’t cheap, was it?"

"It was fine."

’I mean, I only paid 100,000 for it, so it really was fine.’

’But as an antique shop’s ’crown jewel,’ it was naturally worth a fortune.’

Jiang Li tilted her chin up slightly. "Mom, try it on, see if it fits."

Jiang Manshu carefully lifted the bracelet from the brocade box. It felt heavy in her hand.