Chapter 9: Absolutely Not, Absolutely Not
Dong Ling roared in her mind: [If only it had been one second earlier! One second earlier and I wouldn’t be like this! Is it deliberately messing with me?]
Sensing the host’s anger, 021 patiently advised: [Host, calm down. It’s not intelligent, it has no consciousness, there’s no point in being angry at it. If you hesitate any longer, the task will expire. That’s 2%!]
If 021 had a physical body, it would be sitting on the ground, hugging Dong Ling’s leg, begging her to reconsider and not be impulsive.
What could Dong Ling do? That was 2%, not 0.2%. Working harder now meant less work later. The more main storyline progress, the more stable the world line.
Dong Ling took a deep breath, maintaining her sincere expression, walked over from the other side of the table, and called 021 in her mind, asking for the line.
[I want to protect your purity, keep you untainted in this circle. What I said before, I still mean now.]
Dong Ling thought hard. This didn’t fit the context at all, but there was a loophole. The first time, she didn’t finish her line, but the system still considered it a success.
Song Mingzhi’s gaze followed Dong Ling. Seeing Dong Ling stumble as she approached, she quickly reached out to support her.
“Thank you.”
Dong Ling looked relieved, and smoothly put her arm around Song Mingzhi’s waist.
Of course, she faked the stumble, otherwise how could she naturally touch Song Mingzhi’s waist? She was experienced in this. When she used to attend parties and was invited to dance but didn’t want to, she would pretend to sprain her ankle. She had already mastered the art of falling on flat ground.
“What I said just now was sincere. Giving you such generous terms is also to reassure you. I know this circle is very messy, so I want to protect you, keep you from being tainted by those messy things in this circle. This is my promise, no matter when, it will always be the same.”
[Task complete, main storyline progress: 4%.]
This voice was so beautiful and pleasant that Dong Ling’s smile widened.
Listening to Dong Ling’s words, Song Mingzhi looked down at the arm around her waist, and put a big question mark over Dong Ling’s previous statement of “absolutely no ulterior motives.”
She became even more curious, wanting to explore what Dong Ling was really up to, why there was a subtle dissonance between her state and her actions. As for where that dissonance came from, Song Mingzhi couldn’t say for sure.
Seeing Song Mingzhi’s expression practically screaming ‘Isn’t this just an unspoken rule?’, Dong Ling acted as if she had just noticed the position of her hand, and quickly withdrew it, apologizing repeatedly.
An embarrassed blush appeared on her face, seeming very shy, but this blush was actually Dong Ling holding her breath, at most mixed with some anger towards the task system.
Not to mention, Song Mingzhi’s waist was really slender.
“I hope Miss Song doesn’t mind, we artists are just this passionate when we see beautiful things.”
Dong Ling smoothed her slightly messy hair and returned to normal.
She hoped the Wen Han in the novel wouldn’t come up with any more intimate actions on a whim, she really couldn’t handle it today, please.
Song Mingzhi asked curiously: “Did you study art?”
“Yes, I studied violin and pop composition, and I’m also interested in other things.”
Talking about things she liked, Dong Ling became more relaxed and natural. She followed the topic and asked: “What about Miss Song, did you major in acting before?”
Dong Ling didn’t know about Song Mingzhi’s past. It wasn’t mentioned in the beginning of the plot, and she couldn’t unlock the later parts yet. She was actually quite puzzled. If Song Mingzhi was professionally trained, with her looks and temperament, she should have been discovered by the entertainment industry long ago. Why was she still an unknown freelancer?
She had secretly asked around, but couldn’t find any information about Song Mingzhi. She hadn’t played any roles, she was even more obscure than Tang Nuo, as if she didn’t exist in the entertainment industry.
She had discussed this with 021, and they concluded that it was because the male lead had been offline for two months and the plot hadn’t progressed, so the female lead hadn’t appeared in the entertainment industry yet.
“No, I majored in finance. I’m just suddenly interested in acting.”
Song Mingzhi smiled. If she said she didn’t want to enter the entertainment industry, Dong Ling would be very disappointed, wouldn’t she?
Song Mingzhi wasn’t someone who liked to give people hope and then disappoint them, except for competitors, of course. She had originally planned to continue lying low for a while, so she would really enter the entertainment industry, which wasn’t considered deceiving the other party.
“I see. Then this contract…”
Dong Ling understood, and looked at the contract on the table, full of implication.
“Of course, shall we sign it now?”
Song Mingzhi had already carefully read the contract while looking it over just now, there were no traps in it.
Dong Ling was overjoyed: “That would be great.”
021: [Ahhhhhhh! Girl, you’re amazing, you’re so efficient, it’s only been three days, you’re so awesome!]
021 suddenly had a dangerous thought, who needed a male lead? The female supporting character could carry the story to the end!
Of course, it was just thinking about it, it was still waiting for headquarters to contact it.
When signing the contract, Song Mingzhi specifically looked at Party A. This was an agreement signed between Dong Ling personally and her, not on behalf of the company. However, she didn’t raise any questions, just signed her name on the paper.
[Task ‘Sign the business agreement’ complete, main storyline progress: 24%.]
Dong Ling couldn’t control her expression at all, it was like hearing the music of the heavens!
The contract was in duplicate. When Song Mingzhi held her copy, she looked at Dong Ling’s joyful expression, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly.
Things seemed to be developing in an interesting direction, she was really curious what Dong Ling would do.
What would Dong Ling do? She would naturally be busy selecting an agent, looking for good scripts, and promoting her artist.
Without the task system, she was a serious person.
After keeping Song Mingzhi for lunch, Dong Ling told her to go back and rest. The company would provide a private place for her to live in, and would also assign her an agent and assistant. She would also have a significant say in the choice of scripts.
Song Mingzhi didn’t say much, and went home to take acting lessons. She didn’t want to appear too inexperienced on set, which would contradict her persona of someone chasing their dreams in the entertainment industry.
Dong Ling didn’t plan to rapidly expand the company for now. She selected two agents, one male and one female, who weren’t top-tier in the industry, but were experienced. She had one of them take charge of Song Mingzhi and the other take charge of Tang Nuo, while also looking for promising newcomers.
Dong Ling had her reasons for not directly poaching top agents. Top agents would definitely want more control, but sometimes Dong Ling had tasks to do, so she hoped for moderation, choosing an agent with professional ability and a steady personality.
The female agent in charge of Song Mingzhi was called Zuo Zhen. After meeting with Song Mingzhi, she immediately came to Dong Ling and submitted her career plan for Song Mingzhi.
Zuo Zhen looked at the A4 paper in her hand and said: “CEO Dong, my suggestion is to aim for the big screen. Her face is very suitable, and Mingzhi and I have privately reached a consensus on this. As for her persona…”
“Wait, you call her… Mingzhi?”
Dong Ling couldn’t help but interrupt. Although she knew her focus was a bit off, she still addressed Song Mingzhi as Miss Song!
Zuo Zhen was taken aback, and said carefully: “Since she is a contracted artist, I address her this way. Calling her Miss Song would be a bit distant and strange. I usually call other artists ‘baby’ and ‘dear,’ but I can’t bring myself to say that to Miss Song…”
Calling her Xiao Song was even more impossible. Although Zuo Zhen was older than Song Mingzhi, she couldn’t bring herself to say that after seeing Song Mingzhi’s look.
“Okay, continue. Are there any problems with her persona?”
Dong Ling also found it hard to imagine that scene. Looking at the “cold and aloof older sister” persona on the paper, she didn’t think it was very appropriate. Song Mingzhi wasn’t cold, just elegant, but that elegance was very distant, and that distance made people feel cold.
And this person could also be mischievous. Dong Ling hadn’t forgotten her answer of “Alright” and the almost-touching red lips when she wall-slammed her. The playful glint in her eyes was like a flame in the darkness, too distinct.
“I originally wanted to create a contrasting cuteness, like a cold and aloof older sister who actually likes cute plush toys in private. This kind of contrast is quite popular with fans, but Miss Song rejected it. I could also sense that Miss Song doesn’t like plush toys, because the color scheme in her home is rather cool…”
“Wait, you went to her house?”
Dong Ling couldn’t help but interrupt again. She had asked Zuo Zhen to meet and get to know Song Mingzhi, and for Song Mingzhi to tell her what kind of career development she preferred, but how did she end up meeting at Song Mingzhi’s house?
She hadn’t even been there! She didn’t even know where Song Mingzhi lived!
Zuo Zhen looked at the newly appointed boss, a little confused and apprehensive, and said: “Miss Song invited me over.”
“Oh, continue.”
Dong Ling felt so envious, she hadn’t even been invited over.
She complained to 021 once again: [Dude, I really feel like a simp, the kind who gives everything and gets nothing in return.]
021 gently patted her head and comforted her: [It’s okay, at least you’ve wall-slammed her and put your arm around her waist, not losing face for our domineering CEO.]
Dong Ling was speechless: [You make me sound like a pervert.]
021 said disapprovingly: [Girl, how can falling in love be called perverted?!]
Dong Ling: [Who the hell is falling in love?! Don’t slander me!]
021 said perfunctorily: [Yes, yes, yes, alright, alright, if you say it isn’t, then it isn’t.]
Dong Ling listened to the agent talking about Song Mingzhi’s career plan with a blank expression, mentally picturing herself dismembering 021.
“Miss Song’s appearance and temperament are very good. I think she fits the image of the second female lead in Director Liu’s new movie very well. We can try for it.”
Zuo Zhen presented the information. After reading it, Dong Ling nodded.
“You go and make contact first. If they’re not willing to give her a chance, I’ll go and talk to them.”
Director Liu was one of the more reputable commercial film directors in the industry. His last film earned over 4 billion, so his new movie was highly anticipated, and the competition for roles would definitely be fierce. If they succeeded, Song Mingzhi would definitely become famous.
For some reason, Dong Ling suddenly had a bad feeling. The next second, the familiar electronic voice of the task system rang out in her mind.
[Invest in and produce a movie for the female lead as the main investor. Completing this task will reward 5% progress.]
Dong Ling asked with a wooden expression: “How much investment does Director Liu’s movie currently have? How much did the major investors contribute?”
Zuo Zhen thought for a moment and said: “According to some industry news, it should be around 100 million. The main investor is Huiteng, and they’ve already decided on the female lead, she’s with Huiteng. I’m guessing their investment is no less than 60 million, but I’m not sure.”
Dong Ling concealed her vulnerability and said: “Forget it, no need to try for it. Help me keep an eye out for good scripts.”
No money, no money, no money! Wen Han, why didn’t you just let me inherit the company as well!
Zuo Zhen didn’t question the boss’s decision, nodded, and left the office. Dong Ling sat there counting her assets, feeling desolate.
At this moment, the phone rang, and Chen Shang Shang’s distinctive voice came from the phone.
“Ling Ling, come out for drinks, Dong Nuo is heartbroken again, again, again. She insists on you coming, saying we won’t leave until we’re drunk. Come quickly!”
Dong Ling’s first reaction was actually that Dong Nuo was quite well-off and could be approached for investment, so she immediately went.
As for Dong Nuo being heartbroken, that girl could get heartbroken ten times in a month, it wasn’t anything new.
When Dong Ling arrived, Dong Nuo was already drinking. Seeing Dong Ling, she hugged her glass and started wailing. It wasn’t the right time to talk business, so Dong Ling decided to wait until she was done drinking and talk tomorrow.
Dong Ling’s alcohol tolerance was average, and she quickly passed out. Dong Nuo roared: “Why does he only like my money and not me?! What’s wrong with me?!”
Dong Ling mumbled drunkenly: “Yeah, yeah, why doesn’t she invite me to her house? I’m a boss now, I’m at 24% progress.”
Dong Nuo said indignantly: “Exactly, how am I old at 24? And he doesn’t want to sleep with me, me wanting to is giving him face, okay?”
Dong Ling agreed: “I’m a little flushed from drinking. Is it because we’ve only known each other for three days? So it feels awkward and distant, it’s normal, why should I care?”
Dong Nuo said unhappily: “What’s wrong with knowing each other for three days? Can’t you sleep together or fall in love at first sight after three days? When you meet the right person, it’s sparks flying, okay? It’s all about first impressions!”
Dong Ling leaned back on the sofa, her eyes hazy with drunkenness, and sighed: “Actor… she must be a good actor, but what can I do, I have no money…”
Dong Nuo slapped a few bank cards on the table from her wallet: “What’s money? I have plenty, take it all!”
Chen Shang Shang and Tang Qianxi, who were also drunk, sat up, arms around each other. Chen Shang Shang asked confusedly: “What are they talking about?”
Tang Qianxi thought hard: “It seems like… something about sleeping?”
Chen Shang Shang nodded groggily: “Oh, it’s time, we should go to sleep.”
Dong Ling’s head was spinning. She dreamt of when she had just returned to the country and there was a curfew at home. Anxious to get home and avoid being lectured by her parents, she opened her eyes wide and searched for her brother in her recent contacts, successfully finding “Brother” at the top.
She dialed the number and put the phone to her ear, waiting for the call to connect.
021 yelled desperately: [Girl! Your hand slipped! You clicked the wrong one! It’s the first one! You clicked on the female lead!]
Dong Ling couldn’t hear clearly, she just felt it was noisy.
The call connected, and Dong Ling mumbled: “Brother, come pick me up and take me home.”
Song Mingzhi on the other end of the phone was a little surprised, and reminded her: “There’s no brother here, only a sister.”
Dong Ling thought of her cousin and said softly: “Then sister, come pick me up and take me home.”
Her soft voice was like a red rose under the moonlight, traveling through the electric current and eardrum, causing Song Mingzhi’s body to react strangely for a moment, as if gently bitten by a vampire’s fangs, ambiguous, alluring, and tempting.
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