Chapter 728: Jiaojiao 8

The moment Tan You left, Chen Jiao felt an emptiness beside her. But one look at Assistant Director Liu Fu’s dark expression made Chen Jiao pull herself together. ’I’m going to be a great actress, so I can’t let anyone look down on me!’

After leaving the film set, a plain-looking man handed a large bag to Zhanng Ping. Zhanng Ping quickly found a car, and when he pushed open the door, he saw a man with fox-like eyes sitting inside.

The man was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old. His eyes were long and narrow, with the corners tilted upwards. He didn’t look like a gangster, but more like a scholar, the kind who teaches and nurtures students.

Seeing Zhanng Ping get in the car, the man raised a slight eyebrow. "Got it? What took you so long?"

Zhanng Ping nodded and bowed obsequiously. "Yes, Brother Yuan, I got it. Chen Jiao only arrived on set at noon, and her scene was just now, so I only just managed to get it."

Brother Yuan said nonchalantly, "What kind of amazing script are you making all this fuss about? Let me see."

Zhanng Ping was extremely reluctant, but he couldn’t refuse. This was Brother Rong’s strategist, the one who always used his brain. Zhanng Ping hadn’t expected Yuan Sheng to come today. To make matters worse, this man had an exceptionally good eye for things.

Back then, he was the one who said Qiao Ling would be a hit, and he’d kept a tight grip on her. In the end, Qiao Ling really did blow up. And how much profit did that bring the organization? Now he had come to see this person for himself...

At this thought, Zhanng Ping could only hand over Chen Jiao’s notebook. Yuan Sheng took the notebook, which could only be described as plain, and couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows before opening it.

After reading just the beginning, Yuan Sheng unconsciously sat up straight. He read scripts at an extremely fast pace. In less than half an hour, he had gone through everything Chen Jiao had transcribed over the past few days.

"It’s not even a third of the way through, but you can already see the quality." Yuan Sheng closed the notebook. "Are you sure Chen Jiao wrote this?"

Zhanng Ping, sitting beside him cautiously, said, "Yes, the handwriting is the same, and I saw her write it with my own eyes."

Yuan Sheng leaned against the car window, mulled it over for a couple of seconds, then said, "Bring her over tonight."

Zhanng Ping let out a breath of relief. "Okay, Brother Yuan. Don’t worry, I’ll get it done."

He hesitated for a moment. "About this script... can I be the one to direct it?"

"We’ll see," Yuan Sheng said, narrowing his eyes slightly. "We’ll talk after I’ve seen the complete script."

Seeing Zhanng Ping’s slight indignation, Yuan Sheng scoffed. "You’re the only director in the industry we’re on good terms with. If we don’t give it to you, who else would we give it to?"

Zhanng Ping’s face immediately lit up with a smile. "Hearing you say that, Brother Yuan, puts my mind at ease. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely bring Chen Jiao over. Chen Jiao’s photos..."

Yuan Sheng raised a hand. "You should get back to the set."

Zhanng Ping checked the time, quickly grabbed Chen Jiao’s large bag, got out of the car, and trotted back toward the set. Tan You just sat there in the car, watching Yuan Sheng and Zhanng Ping scheme.

After Zhanng Ping got out of the car, Yuan Sheng picked up a file folder next to him, which naturally contained all sorts of information on Chen Jiao. Right on top was a photo of Chen Jiao. Yuan Sheng’s finger brushed across her cheek on the picture. "So tender."

Tan You’s brow twitched. ’This scumbag is still harboring such filthy thoughts? If that’s the case, I can’t hold back tonight.’

After coldly watching Yuan Sheng make a few calls, Tan You finally left his car. When she returned to the set, she saw Zhanng Ping standing on a small stool, waving a script rolled into a tube. "The shoot has been progressing exceptionally well recently, and the investors are very satisfied! Tonight, I’m treating the whole crew to dinner!"

"Alright!"

"What are we eating?"

"Hot pot or barbecue?"

"It’s gotta be seafood!"

Hearing the chatter around her, Chen Jiao felt a little panicked. ’Why isn’t Teacher back yet? Without Teacher here, I don’t dare go anywhere.’ Just as Chen Jiao was about to refuse, Zhanng Ping seemed to read her mind and immediately added, "Everyone has to be there! No one is allowed to be absent!"

At the same time, Tan You’s voice sounded: "Go."

Chen Jiao immediately broke into a smile. "Okay, I’ll go then!"

Seeing Chen Jiao’s smile, Zhanng Ping couldn’t help but rub his fingers together. ’Such a young, beautiful girl... she’s just so tempting.’

Because of the dinner party that evening, the group didn’t go far, eating at a restaurant near the film set. From the crew members to the actors and everyone else, there were about forty or fifty people in total.

Blending in with the crowd, Chen Jiao didn’t stand out at all. She was a nineteen-year-old girl, her face still holding the innocent chubbiness of youth, and she didn’t have a bubbly, outgoing personality. If it weren’t for her face, she would have completely disappeared into the crowd.

Zhanng Ping’s main target was Chen Jiao, so he kept a close eye on her all night. As for Chen Jiao, she inevitably had a few too many drinks in the lively atmosphere. Eventually, she was just slumping in her seat, looking dazed and silly.

Zhanng Ping curled his lips in satisfaction and exchanged a look with two of the prop masters. At their instigation, the atmosphere among the crew became lively once again.

When it was time to part ways, Zhanng Ping said directly, "Chen Jiao’s drunk. I’ll take her home."

Hearing this, everyone immediately understood what he was implying. Liu Fu wanted to say something, but wary of Zhanng Ping and the power behind him, he could only watch helplessly as Chen Jiao was shoved into Zhanng Ping’s car.

Shoved into the car by the two prop masters, Chen Jiao, who was only pretending to be drunk, couldn’t help but knock her head. She quietly complained to Tan You, "They’re so rough."

Tan You scoffed. "They’re gangsters. How many of them know how to treat a lady with care? You have a tough battle ahead of you. You’ll need to be strong and stand your ground."

"Don’t you worry," Chen Jiao said, gritting her teeth. "I still have to hire a doctor to treat my dad’s illness. Of course I can’t let anything happen to me."

"No matter how vicious they are, I won’t back down."

Watching Chen Jiao declare her resolve, Tan You couldn’t help but curve her lips into a slight smile. "Good. Keep up that spirit."

"The place Yuan Sheng arranged is an apartment under the name of his big boss, Brother Rong," Tan You explained the situation she was about to face. "Brother Rong has made a lot of enemies, so he has a ton of lackeys around him, and the apartment is filled with security cameras."

"There’s a lot of stuff hidden in that apartment, so be careful of everything once you’re inside," Tan You instructed. "Also, when you use the scented balm, be careful not to drug yourself."

"Teacher, you can relax. I may not be smart, but I’m not that stupid, am I?" Taking advantage of the fact that her back was to the front seat, Chen Jiao said indignantly, "I would never do something so dumb. What’s that saying? ’To perish before the battle is won’?"

Tan You was surprised. "You even know that one? I remember your grades weren’t very good."

Chen Jiao’s smugness lasted all of three seconds. "Hehe, I have a decent memory, but that’s the only line I remember."

Tan You chuckled. "We’re almost there. Because I don’t have a physical body, I can’t help you much. You’ll have to get through this on your own."

"Don’t worry, I’ll get through it." Chen Jiao pressed her lips together. "I won’t let anyone bully me."

"Besides, this is good too. Teacher, you can just watch from the sidelines and see how I grow, right? This way, I can talk to you all the time. As long as I can see you, I’m not afraid of anything at all."