Chapter 30: Absolutely Not, Absolutely Not – Perseverance Is Key
Dong Ling was a little surprised that Xuan Du hadn’t caused any trouble for a long time. After making some inquiries, she learned that Xuan Du was in a very difficult situation, as her company was extremely busy.
In addition, there were some changes in the political landscape in Jingzhou, which affected Beihai. Mayor He was busy with other matters and couldn’t help her clean up the mess, so Xuan Du became unusually low-key.
This was good news for Dong Ling. Without anyone to disturb her, she could focus more on her career.
The company had expanded considerably, seven or eight agents each managing two or three artists. Zuo Zhen also managed one. Dong Ling initially wanted her to focus solely on Song Mingzhi, but Zuo Zhen tactfully expressed that she could contribute more.
Dong Ling understood her implication. She, the boss, would often be by Song Mingzhi’s side, resolving issues before they could even be communicated to Zuo Zhen, acting more like an agent than the actual agent.
Dong Ling didn’t want to leave anyone idle, but she requested that Song Mingzhi be prioritized.
During another visit to Dream Machine, Dong Ling suddenly remembered what she had forgotten before.
That girl who looked four or five points similar to Song Mingzhi, Dong Ling saw her again this time.
She was practicing dance in a dance studio on the second to last floor, which meant she had made considerable progress during this time. Although she was still far from being ready for debut, she was already much better than most amateurs.
When Dong Ling saw her, she still had the same expressionless face as before.
“This girl is called Zhong Zhong, very talented, good-looking too. Some companies have already expressed interest in signing her, but she seems a bit expressionless, and her personality isn’t very good. She currently has no intention of signing with any company.”
The manager beside her explained, first stating that Zhong Zhong was in high demand, and then stating that she wasn’t for sale at the moment.
Dong Ling didn’t insist on signing her, just curiously watched her dance practice for a while.
She subconsciously felt that a person who looked four or five points similar to the female lead appearing in a novel must have some role to play, but unfortunately, she didn’t have the complete information and didn’t know if the other party was just a passerby.
“Is Zhong Zhong her real name?”
“Yes, that’s the name on her ID card.”
Dong Ling noted inwardly that she didn’t share Song Mingzhi’s surname.
Dong Ling decided to put this matter aside for a while and wait and see if the relevant plot would be unlocked later. After all, with so many people in the world, it was normal for someone to look similar.
If Zhong Zhong was truly an important plot character, then according to the irresistible force of the plot, she would eventually appear in front of Song Mingzhi.
But this world was already messed up, the male and female leads hadn’t even sparked, requiring system intervention. There might not be any irresistible force of the plot. If she didn’t appear, then there was nothing to worry about.
Dong Ling walked around, signed a trainee, and then left.
This period was a lull in the original novel’s plot, and also a lull for Dong Ling, no strange tasks were issued.
Time quickly passed to mid-February, and Song Mingzhi finished filming.
Song Mingzhi no longer had to work from early morning till late at night, and Dong Ling originally wanted to invite her on a trip to relax. After all, being famous wasn’t quite the same as being an ordinary person.
“Something came up at home, I have to go back and deal with it, I’m sorry, I have to decline your kind offer.”
Song Mingzhi said apologetically. She also wanted to go on a trip with the girl, but her uncles were already fighting over the management rights of a family company, and she had to be there to deal with some matters and push her plans forward more smoothly.
“It’s okay, family matters are more important.”
Dong Ling nodded and waved goodbye to Song Mingzhi.
Because they were in different cities, Dong Ling couldn’t complete some small tasks like having dinner together, but she didn’t mind, because the main storyline progress these small tasks could add was already very limited.
Dong Ling returned home from Hengyan, and then practically lived at Canghai headquarters for work.
Socializing was actually quite mentally exhausting, and Dong Ling was forced to improve her alcohol tolerance considerably.
Cheng Ge had filmed a lot of footage, and he had many ideas, so it took him a long time to finish editing.
Then came the review, scheduling, and promotion. Dong Ling was very invested in this movie, after all, it was Song Mingzhi’s screen debut.
Dong Ling was also on guard against Xuan Du suddenly causing trouble, like interfering with the film bureau’s review process as she had threatened before. Fortunately, this didn’t happen, and everything seemed to be going very smoothly.
“A Mysterious Person’s Funeral” was scheduled to be released on May 1st, and pre-release publicity was essential.
Dong Ling was a little worried that Song Mingzhi wouldn’t be able to attend the premiere, but fortunately, she arrived as promised.
Dong Ling was stunned when she saw her get out of the car, she noticed that Song Mingzhi’s hair was shorter.
The short hair made Song Mingzhi’s face look even more refined, her elegant features hiding a steely inner strength.
The change wasn’t just her hair. Song Mingzhi’s aura seemed stronger and sharper than before, like a sharpened blade, making Dong Ling feel like the person attending the premiere wasn’t the lead actress herself, but some investment tycoon.
Then she realized, she was the real investment tycoon.
But when Song Mingzhi’s eyes fell on her, it was still the familiar look, as if what she had just seen was just an illusion.
“New hairstyle?”
Dong Ling walked beside her and started a conversation.
Although they hadn’t seen each other for a while, they had been in constant contact, so it didn’t feel awkward when they met again, and they could chat easily.
“Yes, it was getting too long, difficult to manage.”
Song Mingzhi had limited time to deal with her own matters while filming. To be more efficient and make her future arrangements more convenient, she had been squeezing in time to deal with things almost every day. Long hair took too much time to wash and dry, so she simply cut it short.
“Indeed, it’s even more difficult for someone like me with thick hair. I’ve been drinking too much lately, I feel like the quality of my hair has deteriorated.”
Dong Ling didn’t style her hair today, just letting it hang loose.
Dong Ling actually wasn’t sure if drinking would damage her hair, but her hair did feel coarser these days.
Song Mingzhi’s gaze fell on her dark hair, and she said: “Really? It still looks good.”
“Really? Touch it and see.”
Dong Ling gathered a strand of hair in her hand and offered it to Song Mingzhi.
The sudden flash of a camera made both Dong Ling and Song Mingzhi turn around. The person holding the camera smiled awkwardly and quickly ran away under their gaze.
Dong Ling wasn’t sure if this was one of the invited reporters, but it didn’t matter.
The premiere went very smoothly. Dong Ling was still moved when she saw the completed film, even though she had watched some of the scenes being filmed on set, the feeling was still different.
Dong Ling personally felt that the film was well-made, so when leaving, she said to Song Mingzhi sincerely: “Mingzhi, you will definitely become famous.”
“I appreciate the good omen.”
Seeing her sincerely wishing her well, the smile on Song Mingzhi’s face deepened.
Song Mingzhi thought Dong Ling would want to say something more, but then she saw Dong Ling turn to leave.
“Um…”
She subconsciously called out to Dong Ling, and then, realizing what she had done, gently pursed her lips.
“Yes?”
Seeing the confusion in Dong Ling’s clear eyes, Song Mingzhi felt a pang of jealousy.
They hadn’t seen each other for so long, how could she just offer a perfunctory expression of concern and then leave it at that?
Wouldn’t she invite her to dinner, or suggest doing something together?
She had been so affectionate and ambiguous before, why was she so aloof now, as if their relationship was just that of friends?
Were artists always this fickle towards their muses?
Was it because she had been too cold, causing her to retreat? But she hadn’t made up her mind yet, and there were still many things she hadn’t dealt with…
“I’ve brought my telescope here, do you want to come over to my place and look at nebulas together?”
Song Mingzhi hesitated, but still couldn’t help but ask.
“Okay!”
Dong Ling remembered their previous agreement and readily agreed happily.
“Then take my car.”
Song Mingzhi’s mood improved, the corners of her lips curving upwards.
Dong Ling told her driver to go home directly and got into the passenger seat of Song Mingzhi’s car.
Song Mingzhi looked at Dong Ling, who was fastening her seatbelt, a conflicted look on her face.
How could she subtly remind the girl that it was best not to give up halfway, that perseverance might lead to success?
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