Inside the conference room, Xia Hong froze as Chu Xiaxing entered. He hadn't expected this. Chu Xiaxing's face was free of makeup, her features natural and elegant. Dressed casually in a comfortable hoodie, she seemed more like a member of the production crew than an actress. She walked into the conference room naturally and casually, quite unlike typical young actresses.
“Hello, Director Xia.” Chu Xiaxing greeted him in a calm and composed tone. Though her words were polite, there was an underlying playfulness, a hint of amusement as if she was humoring a child. This was worlds apart from the respectful, even subservient, attitude of his other employees.
Meeting her calm gaze, Xia Hong felt strangely exposed, as if she could see right through him. He glanced down at the glamorous headshot in his hand, then back at the poised, graceful Chu Xiaxing. His expressions turned strange. “You're Chu Xiaxin?”
Xia Hong: Her entire aura clashes with these photos.
Chu Xiaxing nodded calmly. “Yes.”
Xia Hong waved the photo in his hand, bewildered. “I… didn't expect this style from your photos.”
Chu Xiaxing leaned over to look at the photo in his hand. The portrait showed Chu Xiaxin with black hair in a white dress, going for a pure and innocent look that indeed didn't match her current casual attire. She calmly explained, "The image is for reference only. The actual product may vary."
Xia Hong: "..." Are all you people running scams with these photos?
He thought Chu Xiaxin would be a timid girl afraid to speak, but now he found himself the one hesitant to talk. This Chu Xiaxing was nothing like he’d imagined. She radiated a quiet confidence, devoid of the depression or despair he’d expected from someone in her situation.
Xia Hong said dazedly, "Alright, have a seat..."
Chu Xiaxing didn't decline. She naturally pulled out the chair beside her, without any cautious look. Xia Hong felt off-balance ever since she entered the room. Talking to her felt like facing his own father alone in his study. He was the company boss, yet in her presence, he felt inexplicably… lacking in momentum in front of her.
When people occupy different positions and heights, they naturally develop a certain aura, especially those in power. Even when masked by smiles and pleasantries, their confidence and authority seeped through their demeanor and words, making others hesitant to act rashly.
Though she now inhabited Chu Xiaxin’s younger body, Chu Xiaxing’s core remained unchanged. She was still Chu Xiaoxing, the renowned director. She could see right through Xia Hong at a glance, so of course she felt no fear before him. Their life experiences were on different levels, and it showed in their interaction.
While Xia Hong was still reeling from the disparity between the photo and reality, Chu Xiaxing spoke first. She raised her eyebrows nonchalantly. "Director Xia, do you have any improper relationship with me? Let’s talk.”
She had spoken to Chu Xiaxin earlier and roughly knew that the young woman was timid, fragile, weak-willed. But she wasn't the cunning type who relied on looks to get ahead, otherwise she wouldn't have ended up in massive debt. Chu Xiaxin didn't have the guts to actively pursue sugar daddies. The only possibility was that Xia Hong had made the first move. He was the troublemaker here.
Chu Xiaxing chose to be direct, cutting straight to the chase. If Xia Hong turned out to be a scumbag, she wouldn’t hesitate to put him in his place.
Xia Hong usually frolicked among flowers. If he faces other little girls, he would have at least tried some smooth talk to show his charm. However, facing Chu Xiaxing’s directness, he felt a surge of panic, as if caught red-handed by an elder.
He waved his hands frantically, and said incoherently: “No! There’s nothing inappropriate between us! I'm an honest citizen, I'm just doing errands for someone else!"
Chu Xiaxing was taken aback: "Doing errands for someone?"
Xia Hong’s gaze darted around before he simply confessed, “I’m just the boss in name. I don’t know the details of your situation. You can discuss everything when you meet him. He might be a bit busy lately…”
Chu Xiaxing didn’t fully grasp his words, but she understood that he was just a messenger. She frowned. “So, there’s another ‘boss’ behind Mr. Xia?”
Chu Xiaxing: So this isn't the sugar daddy, but the sugar daddy's lackey?
Xia Hong: "Yes, yes, yes. You need to ask Director Song about your matters, don't ask me!"
Chu Xiaxing nodded slowly. Now that she knew his true role, her attitude became more relaxed. She simply leaned back in her chair and said casually. “Oh, Xiao Xia, how old are you this year?”
Xia Hong, oblivious to the shift in her address, responded instinctively, as if talking to a respected elder. “Twenty-six…”
Chu Xiaxing nodded thoughtfully: "That means you are almost thirty. What do you do now? Are you working in the family business, or did you start your own?"
Chu Xiaxing could tell at a glance that Xia Hong was a rich young master. Although he looked like a playboy on the surface, he was essentially a wealthy fool with insufficient brain capacity.
“I own two or three film and television companies, and now I’m…” Xia Hong suddenly reacted. His eyes widened in disbelief. “Wait, why am I telling you all this? I’m the boss!”
Unfazed by his outburst, Chu Xiaxing asked calmly, “You own other companies? What are their names?”
Xia Hong complained: "What's wrong with you, I am at least your nominal..."
Chu Xiaxing looked up at him: "Hmm?"
Xia Hong protested quite angrily, but when he saw her frown, he immediately became like a subdued puppy, weakly saying: "Fanke Entertainment."
Chu Xiaxing pondered for a few seconds, then admitted frankly: "Never heard of it."
She only knew of major players in the industry. Clearly, Xia Hong’s companies were small fry, making no waves in the vast ocean of entertainment.
Of course, Xia Hong knew his company wasn't famous, but he still felt stung at this time. At home, he was often severely scolded by his father for not making any achievements. He immediately flew into a rage and said angrily: "You're not my father, what right do you have to interrogate me? Don't think you can do whatever you want just because Song Wenye is backing you. I'm not afraid of him!"
Xia Hong had never met Chu Xiaxin before, but he shouldn't have been subdued by a little girl!
Chu Xiaxing: "No, you misunderstood..."
Xia Hong snorted coldly: "You'd better know it. Don't think I'm easy to bully. I'm not Song Wenye's follower!"
Chu Xiaxing: “No, I mean, even without anyone backing me up, I'd still do whatever I please. It has nothing to do with the person you mentioned.”
Xia Hong: "???"
Seeing his face full of doubt and uncertainty, Chu Xiaxing said calmly: "Xiao Xia, I won't argue over whether you're Director Xia or Director Song. To be honest, I'm not very interested in these matters. But if someone wants to buy out my contract in the future, I hope both of you can cooperate..."
Chu Xiaxin had no real commercial value. Chu Xiaxing doubted anyone would cling desperately to her contract. She just wanted to resolve this mess quickly and leave this agency. She couldn’t be bothered to unravel the connection between Chu Xiaxin and Xia Hong, let alone learn about the real sugar daddy, Song Wenye, that he mentioned.
Chu Xiaxing decided to use courtesy before force, and said tactfully: "You're also in the film and TV industry. Our circle is only so big; we're bound to run into each other. Who knows, we might have chances to cooperate in the future. Let's not burn our bridges, alright?"
Xia Hong understood her implication and he was very surprised: “What do you mean? Who would buy your contract?”
Chu Xiaxing: "It's hard to say right now."
Xia Hong said in a panic: "Wait, you won't cling to someone's thigh, Song Wenye hates this kind of thing the most..."
Xia Hong was sure that Chu Xiaxin was timid and weak in the eyes of his colleagues. But looking at Chu Xiaxing now, he was quite shaken and even speculated that she had found a new backer. Song Wenye, known for his upstanding character, bordering on rigid, would probably have zero tolerance for this.
Chu Xiaxing thought that the sponsor would feel angry when he learned that the little star he supported had found a new sponsor. She said casually, "It's his business if he hates it, and it has nothing to do with me."
Chu Xiaxin might fear their power and influence, but Chu Xiaxing wouldn’t waste her time playing games with these rich boys. She couldn’t be bothered. She simply stood up and said goodbye, calmly: “Anyway, thank you both for handling things online. If there’s a suitable project in the future, perhaps we can collaborate.”
"Fanke Entertainment, right? I’ll remember it." Chu Xiaxing thought about finding an opportunity to repay the favor later, so she could completely separate from the sugar daddy situation. This was also a decent way to resolve things.
Xia Hong's eyes were glazed over, his expression dazed. He couldn't understand how Chu Xiaxin, who owed a huge debt, had the confidence to say such things!
Outside the conference room, Han Chuning rushed over, her eyes bright with curiosity: “What did you talk about? How do they know each other?"
Chu Xiaxing: "This isn't the sugar daddy, this is the errand boy."
Han Chuning suddenly realized: "Oh, I was thinking the sugar daddy should be balding with a beer belly, not so young..."
Chu Xiaxing: "Did you call a car?"
Han Chuning: "Yes, wait for me to take you home, and then go to study the contract!"
The two of them were going back to Chu Xiaxing's home. As they stood at the entrance of the office building waiting for the car, the manager Xiao Cheng hurriedly chased after them, angrily saying: "Chu Xiaxin, Director Xia said you didn't sign the follow-up contract. What trick are you trying to pull now!?"
The Distant You in My Heart was a contract Chu Xiaxin had signed long ago. But today, she hadn’t signed anything else and seemed to have openly defied the new boss.
Chu Xiaxing said frankly: "I don't plan to stay here anymore." Of course, there was no need to sign follow-up contracts.
Han Chuning nodded in agreement: "That's right, that's right." With her aunt's status, how could she work in such a small-time agency!
Xiao Cheng said in disbelief: "Are you crazy? Do you know how much the breach of contract penalty is!?"
Chu Xiaxing said calmly: "I'm not crazy. You're the one who sounds a bit crazy now, yelling at the top of the lungs."
Han Chuning looked down at his phone: "The car is here, let's go!"
Chu Xiaxing followed Han Chuning down the stairs. Seeing that they were ignoring her, manager Xiao Cheng couldn't stand it and tried to chase after them: "I don't know what tricks you have up your sleeve, but you still have to act in one more drama for the company. How can you be so brazen?!”
Chu Xiaxing opened the car door and got in, treating Xiao Cheng like a fly.
As the car started, Han Chuning glanced back at the ranting agent, frowning. "Are all managers like this nowadays? The managers I've seen before were all well-behaved and very refined..."
Chu Xiaxing, unfazed by the agent’s impotent rage, was amused by her innocent and cute niece, and teased: "The managers you've seen are much higher caliber than her. Besides, would they dare to yell at you?"
By the time Han Chuning was born, Chu Xiaxing was already a force to be reckoned with in the industry. Who would dare scold Director Chu's niece?
Han Chuning asked worriedly: "She won't follow you onto the set, will she?"
Chu Xiaxing: "It's too tough on set. She won't come. I guess at most they'll send an assistant."
Chu Xiaxing couldn’t be bothered to deal with Xiao Cheng. Arguing with someone like that was beneath her. After all, there would be no more entanglements after wrapping up the shoot.
The car slowly drove into a lush, green neighborhood. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows that made one feel warm and cozy. Looking at the familiar scenery and feeling the warmth of the sunlight, Chu Xiaxing finally had the sense of being reborn. She sighed: "Summer is coming."
The furnishings and decorations at home were the same as before. Han Chuning had clearly taken care to clean it and had even placed offerings for the seventh day after her passing on the table. Seeing the offerings, Han Chuning was worried Chu Xiaxing might find it unlucky so she hurriedly said: "I'll remove these things right away..."
Chu Xiaxing took a stroll around the house. She leaned back in the soft chair she often used, completely relaxing in the familiar environment, and said leisurely: "No need. I suppose this counts as my return on the seventh day."
Han Chuning: "Auntie, don't you need to buy some new clothes? And prepare luggage for joining the crew?"
Obviously, Chu Xiaxing couldn't wear her old clothes. Her current appearance was only in her twenties, and her figure was also a little different.
Chu Xiaxing: "I think I have some clothes from when I was young in the lower drawer of the wardrobe..."
Han Chuning said in surprise: "Those clothes must be from how many years ago? You're not buying new ones?"
Han Chuning: These clothes might be older than me, right?
Chu Xiaxing: "Those clothes are of excellent quality! I'm not like you kids who treat clothes as if they're disposable!"
Chu Xiaxing and Han Chuning took out the old clothes. Han Chuning touched the comfortable fabric and looked at the styles of the clothes, marveling: "They actually have a retro feel, and the style isn't outdated at all..."
Her gaze fell on the labels, and she gasped. "No wonder they're not outdated! At this price, they can't afford to be outdated!"
Chu Xiaxing’s old clothes were all designer brands. With the recent surge in vintage fashion, they were more relevant than ever. They fit her perfectly, radiating a timeless elegance. Fashion truly is cyclical. The styles and clothing elements Chu Xiaxing loved in her youth were now experiencing a revival in Han Chuning's generation, once again becoming trendy.
Chu Xiaxing looked at herself in the mirror wearing old clothes, and said in a trance: "This is really nostalgic."
It was as if she had turned back into her younger self from decades ago, daring to strive and venture into the world, completely untouched by the dust of the mortal world.
She was young again, and more importantly, healthier. She had a second chance to pursue her passions. If she had any regrets in her previous life, it was that in her youth, she had worked so hard without taking care of her health, only to regret it deeply in her old age.
But now she had another chance. She understood that some things were more important than status and fame.
Chu Xiaxing suddenly said excitedly: "Let's stew some bird's nest later! I need to take good care of my health!"
Han Chuning mumbled: "But bird's nest doesn't actually have much nutritional value. Scientific studies show..."
Chu Xiaxing refuted dissatisfied: "Nonsense! How do you know it has no nutritional value? Look at how many health regimens use bird's nest!"
Han Chuning: "..." Although Auntie looks younger on the outside, she’s still that same old lady who trusts only health marketing accounts and not me.