"Let's put the contract matter aside for now. It's rare that you don't have any work arrangements today, and I've finally got some free time. Let's go out and relax," Xu Mingchuan said casually, not thinking too much of it.
"You've been working hard filming recently, and have suffered a lot too. Consider this as compensation - I'll take you out to play for a day."
It was hard to decline such a sincere invitation, especially with Li Liang and Xu Mingchuan's assistant Qian Lang watching. As her boss and superior, it would be really impolite to turn him down, so she reluctantly agreed:
"Okay... I guess. Li Liang is coming too, right? Didn't she say the other day that she wanted a gift? Isn't that right, Li Liang?" Qin Wei looked to her assistant.
"What gift does Li Liang want? Feel free to let me know, I'm happy to get it for her if it's convenient," Xu Mingchuan quickly chimed in before Li Liang could respond, turning to look at her expectantly.
Qin Wei stared at Li Liang silently.
Li Liang swallowed hard, glancing first at the company president then the studio president. She was momentarily at a loss - this was like being given a Sophie's choice!
Having just graduated a few months ago, Li Liang hadn't had to make many choices like this yet. The last time was when she had to decide whether to support Joe or Qin in the CP fan group, and before that, whether to stay safely coding at Anxing Entertainment after converting to a full-time employee, or follow Qin Wei as her assistant running around everywhere...
Both times, she had chosen Qin Wei.
After hesitating for a while, Li Liang finally spoke:
"...underwear."
She was going all out for her sister!
Li Liang looked out towards the corridor and shouted loudly:
"Little Tang! Little Tang said he wanted some too!"
Li Yan, who was standing there holding a cup, knew "Little Tang" wasn't his name, but also knew that in this company, he was "Little Tang".
"Hmm?"
Li Yan looked confusedly at Li Liang in the conference room.
He had a bad feeling about this.
"Li Yan, didn't you say you wanted to buy...underwear too?"
Li Yan: "?"
Although he didn't know what was going on after all his wheeling and dealing in TV stations and filming crews, Li Yan keenly grasped the situation. He firmly nodded:
"Li Liang! Thank you for remembering! I can't believe I almost forgot about such a small thing! Ha, ha, ha."
Xu Mingchuan looked puzzlingly at Qin Wei, seemingly very confused.
Qin Wei was also taken aback, before regaining her composure and nodding stiffly:
"Oh, yes, that's right."
Xu Mingchuan fell silent.
"Then... Li... Liang, Little Tang... why don't you come along with us too..."
...
Qian Lang drove Xu's car using his card. From the rearview mirror he could see Xu didn't look very happy.
The two luxury sports cars he'd specially arranged were unusable now that Qin Wei had her own car, and Li Liang and Li Yan from her side were coming too. Qin Wei had called her makeup artist Xiao Yan, camera assistant Xiao Chen and several others to come out and play together.
Xu Mingchuan had pulled an all-nighter to free up a day for their date, but it had turned into a company outing.
...
After eating at a restaurant and shopping at the mall, Li Liang and Li Yan received the "intimate apparel" gifts from their boss that they had wanted. Qin Wei wasn't very interested in the luxurious goods at the shops. Xu Mingchuan had offered to buy her several bags, but she turned him down each time.
The biggest expenditure for Qin Wei today, apart from the small gifts she bought for colleagues, was fruit she bought at the supermarket. She only went shopping because during their mall visit, Xu Mingchuan received an urgent call for work he needed to complete. He picked a cafe to work from and treated the others to coffee.
Li Liang accompanied Qin Wei to the supermarket. As they shopped, Li Liang checked Weibo's trending topics on her phone, and saw #QinWeiShoppingWithColleagues# trending. This made her deeply appreciate Qin Wei's wisdom and thoughtfulness.
Being photographed out shopping was inevitable, whether alone with Xu or not. Having been previously burned by media photos taken out of context, she certainly wasn't going to let herself be tricked a second time.
"The Best Actress winner from the last Golden Bear Awards registered her marriage with her rich tycoon husband today! Wow, her husband is so wealthy and quite handsome too. The award-winning actress is so lucky!"
Li Liang showed her the news on her phone and said:
"Sis, you know Chen Chen right? Her husband is rich and loves her so much too - she's super happy!"
"That's nice..." Qin Wei replied perfunctorily, her eyes searching for things she wanted to eat.
"Chairman Xu..."
Li Liang hesitated slightly, her voice much quieter.
"You'd probably be really happy married to him too..."
"Because he's rich?"
Qin Wei picked up a box of lemons - she could use them to make tea when she got home, or maybe Qiao Sixiao would just eat them directly?
"Rich, handsome and gentle with good manners. And he does so much for you too! If you ever think about getting married in future, Chairman Xu is a great choice!" Li Liang said softly.
Hearing her say this, Qin Wei casually asked:
"Hmm... how does he compare to Shen Kai?"
Li Liang looked puzzled.
"Three-time Best Actor, owns his own company and assets. Maybe not as wealthy as Xu Mingchuan economically, but still very rich. Also very good-looking. And when you don't step on his landmines, his personality is actually pretty good too... How does he compare?"
After hearing Qin Wei's words, Li Liang began to waver. After some deliberation, she hesitantly shared her thoughts:
"Then... Kai is also a very good choice..."
Qin Wei moved closer to her ear and said:
"But Chairman Xu doesn't have as many fangirls, and most people in his industry are male. Xu Mingchuan isn't into men, so you don't need to worry about him cheating. Being with him means you won't get bashed by fans, but will instead receive admiration and blessings from all circles..."
Li Liang frowned, conflicted.
She was right - marrying the Best Actor, there would be no shortage of young and beautiful colleagues around. And the fans... dealing with that pressure would be difficult...
"Chairman Xu is better then."
Li Liang firmly picked Xu's side this time.
The corners of Qin Wei's mouth raised into a smirk:
"Then work hard to become the corporate wife or actor's wife you dream of being!"
Li Liang was taken aback. "Sis, I meant you..."
"But I don't need to," Qin Wei patiently explained.
"The only time I compare specs and price-performance ratio is when buying equipment in games - whichever has the best stats and highest cost-effectiveness gets my money.
But I can't choose life partners that way - whoever has the better family background I'll like them? Whoever does more for me I'll marry them? Whoever can provide for me I'll be with them? I don't know, maybe that's how others choose but I can't do that.
Who I like might have a bad temper, might not be wealthy, might lack common sense and even need me to provide for them instead - but they must have outstanding qualities that appeal to me. I like them for who they are, and that's enough.
It's just that it's not right now. Currently I only care about making money and graduating.
Li Liang, if you still want to follow me then stop saying weird things like this. Go read your fanfiction and channel those strange fantasies safely into fiction instead. If I hear you going on about who you want me to be with one more time, have your resume ready. You can code right? You won't starve."
Li Liang looked firmly at Qin Wei:
"Sis, I think the same as you! From now on let's just focus on our careers, make our own money and become rich female tycoons and award-winning actresses... I mean award-winning actresses! We will definitely reach the pinnacle of our careers!
Love will only hold us back!!"
