When Chu Xiaxing heard Song Wenye's name, it felt strangely familiar, causing her to search through her memories.
Song Wenye paused for two seconds, carefully choosing his words as he explained, "The company is currently managed jointly by President Xia and me, though President Xia handles more of the affairs..."
Song Wenye had initially wanted to save his friend some face, but little did he know his words would instantly trigger Chu Xiaxing's memories!
Chu Xiaxing recalled her meeting with Xia Hong, and looked at Song Wenye in disbelief, completely caught off guard by her misjudgment. She hesitated, "...Weren't you supposed to be balding with a beer belly?"
Chu Xiaxing remembered Han Chuning’s teasing. They had both envisioned the sugar daddy as a greasy, middle-aged man with a receding hairline and a protruding belly. At first, naturally, they didn't connect him with Song Wenye at all.
Song Wenye: "?" So this is how Xia Hong portrayed me?
At home in the city, Han Chuning was messaging with her aunt about the contract's progress when suddenly the replies stopped. She didn't think much of it, casually putting her phone aside and crouching on her chair eating takeout, assuming Chu Xiaxing had gone offline as usual.
A moment later, a message suddenly popped up on her phone. When Han Chuning picked up the lit screen and saw the message content, she nearly fell off her chair in shock, immediately hit by that familiar sense of being controlled!
[Pack your bags and join the crew tomorrow morning. Script has been sent to your email.]
Every time Han Chuning saw such messages, it meant facing the tense, high-pressure life of a film crew, so naturally she was quite frightened. She quickly called Chu Xiaxing to ask about what was going on, but her aunt's response on the phone was very brief.
Chu Xiaxing calmly said, "I'm in a meeting with President Song, I'll call you back later. Pack your suitcase."
Han Chuning: "Auntie, wait, why am I suddenly joining the crew, and who is President Song..."
Han Chuning was bewildered - didn't her aunt used to be an actress? Why was she suddenly controlling her life again?
However, Chu Xiaxing didn't explain further. While she was gentle and kind at home, she was quite decisive when it came to work. She had already hung up the phone, giving Han Chuning no chance to refuse.
The next day, Han Chuning arrived early at the filming location. She pitifully carried her suitcase as she joined the crew, finally finding Chu Xiaxing whom she hadn't seen for days, and anxiously called out, "Auntie..."
Chu Xiaxing didn't immediately comfort her niece. Instead, she put on a professional smile and said composedly, "President Song, let me introduce you to screenwriter Han Chuning. She previously wrote 'The Legend of Jinyou' and 'That Summer With Him.'"
Having just arrived at the crew feeling disoriented, Han Chuning was completely unaware of the current situation. Now faced with this distinguished-looking stranger, she could only shrink timidly beside Chu Xiaxing and politely say, "Hello, President Song."
Song Wenye nodded at Han Chuning, and they exchanged a formal handshake, though they were actually quite unfamiliar with each other.
Chu Xiaxing asked politely, "President Song, do you have any thoughts about the script? You can discuss them with Ningning now."
Song Wenye replied calmly, "Since you're the director, you should decide. Xia Hong and I aren't very good at these things - we should listen to the professionals."
Han Chuning was quite surprised to hear the word "director," becoming increasingly confused about the situation, but obediently kept quiet.
This was exactly what Chu Xiaxing wanted to hear, but she maintained her warm smile and professionally praised, "Not at all, I think President Song is very skilled at managing film crews."
Song Wenye looked at her upon hearing this, blinked, and asked in return, "Don't I lack that…certain something?" he countered.
He clearly remembered Chu Xiaxing bluntly stating he lacked that certain something, that he didn't seem like someone from the industry.
Chu Xiaxing's smile remained flawless. "You're joking," she said politely. "You don't need that certain something-it's enough that we have it."
Soon after, Song Wenye and Xia Hong left the crew, along with some personnel changes in the crew. Director Wang quietly disappeared overnight, and the director's name on the announcement sheet changed to Chu Xiaxin, marking the end of the crew's power shift.
The producers arrived in the night and departed in the morning light. They waved their sleeves and took away one director.
From today onward, in the crew of The Distant You In My Heart, there was only Director Chu, and no more Director Wang.
Seeing the big shots leave, Han Chuning finally found a chance to speak up, asking curiously, "Auntie, who were they?"
Chu Xiaxing, who had just been subtle and courteous with Song Wenye, changed her attitude the second the investors left, saying ruthlessly, "Who cares who they are, as long as they pay up."
This was just how professional Chu Xiaxing was as a director - as long as the producers didn't hold back the crew's funding, she would immediately display excellent communication skills, absolutely making them feel the warmth of spring while in the crew!
Han Chuning asked confusedly, "Are they very wealthy investors?" She was familiar with her aunt's two-faced approach to investors, as this was common practice in film crews, but she didn't know President Song's identity to warrant such high courtesy.
Chu Xiaxing pulled out a business card and casually handed it to her niece: "Here, see for yourself."
Han Chuning took it and exclaimed in surprise, "Yuansheng Group? Isn't that..."
Chu Xiaxing patted her shoulder and said seriously and meaningfully, "That's right, super deep pockets. So write those script revisions well. I plan to swindle a large sum from him later!"
Chu Xiaxing wasn't thinking about this film - she was thinking about the future three hundred million yuan. Rich and naive investors were so rare these days!
"Ugh, why do you always call securing investments 'swindling'…?" Han Chuning complained.
Chu Xiaxing replied matter-of-factly, "Isn't the film industry all about being con artists? What's the difference?"
Han Chuning was momentarily speechless: "..." Straight up admitting to being an old con artist, huh.
The crew members were quite clever. Seeing the changes on the announcement sheet and thinking of the producers' visit yesterday, they knew everything was settled. They immediately began calling Chu Xiaxing "Director," never mentioning Director Wang again.
As the new authority, Chu Xiaxing didn't waste time and directly called a meeting with everyone, announcing, "Recently there have been some small personnel changes in the crew. Screenwriter Han Chuning has also joined our team, and we might need to shoot quite a few revised scenes. I hope everyone can understand and cooperate..."
Chu Xiaxing transformed back into Director Chu overnight. Her most urgent task now was to revise the script - if they were to shoot according to the old script, it would definitely flop and might not even make it to release. She immediately called Han Chuning over, planning to keep her in the crew writing revisions - no going home until they were done!
In the conference room, the crew's original screenwriter now sat with Han Chuning. After secretly searching Han Chuning's online profile, he incredulously asked, "Teacher Han, you've written such famous dramas before, yet you're here writing revisions? Are screenwriters really that humble?"
Screenwriter: I thought only unknown screenwriters had it rough, but famous ones have it tough too!
Han Chuning thought to herself that it depended on who the director was - with Chu Xiaxing as director, did she dare not come!?
Han Chuning timidly responded, "Yeah, that's right, that's right, very humble indeed, getting criticized daily..."
The junior screenwriter felt hopelessly discouraged about their future, lamenting, "When will screenwriters ever stand up for themselves!"
If there were still people in the crew who subtly disapproved of Chu Xiaxing's sudden appointment, Han Chuning's addition completely crushed the opposition's will - after all, Han Chuning had the most impressive resume in the crew!
Though Han Chuning was young, her works spoke for themselves, and she was always the lead screenwriter, including some well-known hits. She was a screenwriter trained hands-on by Chu Xiaxing, and with her own talent plus Director Chu's connections, she had gained quite a reputation in the industry.
In Chu Xiaxing's eyes, Han Chuning was still that messy, easily manipulated little kid, but the crew saw her differently - why would a famous screenwriter with successful works agree to write revisions for an unknown director!?
Famous screenwriters usually refused to join crews for revisions - it was the most stressful and demanding work, only done by junior screenwriters. Yet Han Chuning was absolutely obedient before Chu Xiaxing, never daring to speak a harsh word while revising scripts, making others too afraid to argue with Director Chu, all feeling unworthy.
The crew: Since even Ms. Han isn't complaining, who are we to grumble?
In the crew, no one expected such a powerhouse to drop in, and they couldn't help but try to get close to Han Chuning - if they could establish good connections, they might get better opportunities in future productions.
The cinematographer, seeing Han Chuning sitting next to the director's chair, warmly greeted her: "Teacher Han, didn't you write 'The Legend of Jinyou'? My old boss was the cinematographer for that drama. I was working as a camera operator under him before becoming a cinematographer."
Han Chuning was staring at her laptop screen when she looked up calmly at him and said with surprise, "Is that so? But I know all the camera operators Teacher Qi usually works with, and I don't remember ever seeing you."
The cinematographer laughed awkwardly: "The boss had quite a few camera operators..."
Han Chuning didn't play along with such networking attempts on set - she was now like an emotionless typing machine, completely uninterested in socializing with the crew. Although she wouldn't directly scold anyone who interrupted her while writing revisions, her face would instantly turn cold, making her seem unapproachable.
Chu Xiaxing was sitting in the director's chair checking playback when she suddenly smelled tea fragrance and said, "Oh? Whose tea is that? It smells so good!"
Han Chuning, who had just been expressionlessly typing away coldly, instantly switched back to her sweet demeanor and actively raised her cup: "It should be mine. Smell my tea - I brewed new tea."
Chu Xiaxing sniffed and nodded, "It does smell nice."
Without another word, Han Chuning put down her laptop, picked up Chu Xiaxing's cup, and headed outside the studio: "Then I'll go brew you a cup, and I'll bring the tea leaves to your room tonight."
"You don't need to go, just ask Jingjing..." Chu Xiaxing looked around but couldn't find Li Jing, suddenly remembering she had sent her to do something else.
"It's fine, it's fine, I'll be right back." Han Chuning had absolutely no airs when dealing with Chu Xiaxing, running off to brew tea like an eager little servant.
When Han Chuning returned sweating from brewing tea, Chu Xiaxing leisurely drank while reading the new revisions and said bluntly, "This scene isn't written well, quickly revise it again."
Han Chuning immediately hugged her laptop again, like a strict order-following little robot, without a single complaint, "Okay, I'll revise it right away."
The cinematographer who had just tried to network with Han Chuning but got rejected: "..."
The cinematographer witnessed this absurd scene and didn't know what to say. Looking at the cold-faced Teacher Han's servile attitude, then at the composed Chu Xiaxing in front of the monitor, he felt the world had become somewhat surreal.
Cinematographer: I know I may not be worthy, but why is she?