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As dusk settled, a black Giovanna A Plus slowly drove into a quiet, old residential area in western Hangzhou.

The area here is shaded by plane trees, exuding a quiet and slow-paced atmosphere reminiscent of the old days, seemingly a completely different world from the glamorous entertainment industry where Chen Xiaojun now resides.

In the back seat of the car, Suning felt a rare sense of tension.

Today, he was dressed in a simple dark cashmere sweater and trousers, shedding his usual business aura and looking more like a composed scholar.

The gifts he carried, though not extravagant, were clearly thoughtful: two bottles of top-aged Feitian Moutai, a high-quality Hetian jade pendant, and several boxes of top-grade health supplements.

"Are you nervous?" Chen Xiaojun, who was standing next to him, noticed his unusual behavior and couldn't help but chuckle. She reached out and straightened his already neat collar.

She dressed exceptionally elegantly today, in a beige knitted long dress and light makeup, striving to present the image of the "good girl" that her parents liked best.

"It's even more stressful than meeting with ministerial leaders," Su Ning said, half-jokingly and half-seriously, as he held her hand.

"Nonsense! My parents are just ordinary people. Besides, you've met them before."

"It's precisely because I've seen it that I'm even more worried! Back then, you almost emptied your house to compensate me for my medical expenses."

"Hmph! I should have driven even faster back then."

"Haha, so you missed out on the one you loved?"

Next to open the door was Chen's mother, a kind-faced, ordinary old lady.

When she saw her daughter and Su Ning, her face immediately lit up with a smile, but her eyes lingered on Su Ning for a few more seconds, filled with scrutiny and barely perceptible worry.

She naturally knew that Su Ning was the unlucky guy who had been hit by her daughter's car, but she never expected that her daughter would give up her life for him.

"Hello, Auntie, I'm Su Ning. I apologize for the intrusion." Su Ning bowed slightly, her tone respectful.

"Please come in, Su Ning. I've heard Xiao Jun mention you before, and I've always wanted to meet you." Chen's mother stepped aside to let the two in, her words polite yet measured.

"Auntie, I was rude. I should have come to visit you and Uncle sooner."

"Come in quickly! How are you recovering?"

"It's alright! Apart from not having recovered his memory yet, he's just like a normal person."

"That's good! That's good."

In the living room, Mr. Chen was wearing his reading glasses and reading a newspaper.

Seeing them enter, he slowly put down his newspaper and looked intently at Su Ning.

"Uncle, hello." Su Ning bowed again to greet him.

"Sit down," Mr. Chen said calmly, his voice devoid of emotion.

The small talk began in a slightly reserved atmosphere.

The conversation started with the weather in Hangzhou, then moved on to Suning's work, and naturally transitioned to Chen Xiaojun's recent film, "Qin Liangyu".

Mr. and Mrs. Chen had clearly done their homework, and in their conversation, they expressed appropriate appreciation for Suning's achievements in the business and film and television fields.

But beneath that politeness lay the anxiety and scrutiny of parents about their daughter's choices.

"Su Ning, you are quite accomplished at such a young age, and your career has grown so much. Our Xiaojun... has a straightforward personality and is in that complicated circle, so I'm afraid she has caused you a lot of trouble, right?" Chen's mother asked casually as she poured tea, but the probing in her words was quite obvious.

Su Ning accepted the teacup with both hands, leaned forward slightly, and said in a very humble manner, "Auntie, you flatter me. Xiaojun is very outstanding. She is independent and has her own opinions. She does an excellent job in both company management and acting. It's not that she's troubling me, but that I need to rely on her in many ways. It's my good fortune to have met her."

He spoke sincerely, and Chen Xiaojun gently nudged his leg under the table to show her approval.

The atmosphere at dinner was somewhat relaxed.

"Su Ning, you're graduating soon, right?"

"Yes! I was originally a student at Zhejiang University in 2012, but I had to take a year off from school due to a car accident, so I won't graduate until 2017."

"Won't your studies be affected by being so busy?"

"It's okay! We've already reached an agreement with the school, and the school is very supportive of students starting their own businesses."

……

After the meal, Mr. Chen put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a tissue, and looked at Su Ning: "Su Ning, shall we go to the study for a cup of tea?"

“Great! I’ve always heard that Uncle’s tea is excellent, and today I can finally taste it.”

"Haha, if you like it, I'll have Junjun bring it to you later."

The study was small, but it had a strong scholarly atmosphere, which showed that Mr. Chen had good taste.

A banner reading "Tranquility Leads to Far-Reaching Vision" hangs on the wall, and the bookshelves are filled with history and literature classics.

Mr. Chen brewed a pot of Pu'er tea. As the aroma of the tea wafted through the air, he got straight to the point: "Su Ning, your aunt and I are just ordinary people. We've never experienced the kind of storms that you've weathered in our lives. We only have one daughter, Xiao Jun, and we just hope that she can be safe and happy."

He paused, his gaze sharp. "Xiaojun has mentioned some things about you and her. We'd like to know, what specific plans do you have for the future?"

Su Ning knew that any pretense or evasion would be futile at this moment.

He put down his teacup, met Chen's father's gaze, and said in a calm and frank tone, "Uncle, I understand your concerns. My situation is indeed quite complicated. Whether it's the business entanglements or the excessive attention from the outside world, it makes it impossible for Xiaojun and me to handle our relationship openly and simply like ordinary couples."

He paused briefly before continuing, "But I am serious about Xiaojun. So, I have come here today to solemnly request that you and Auntie allow Xiaojun and me to register our marriage in secret."

Mr. Chen's eyes flickered slightly, but he did not respond immediately.

Su Ning continued, “This means that legally, I will provide Xiaojun with all the protections and rights of a wife. I will sign a notarized agreement to clearly allocate a portion of my assets to her, ensuring that no matter what happens in the future, she and our future children will have an absolutely comfortable and stable life. However, in order to protect her and our respective businesses from unnecessary public scrutiny, this matter needs to be kept strictly confidential. Xiaojun can continue to use her premarital identity, and we will not hold a public wedding, at least not at this stage.”

Mr. Chen silently took a sip of tea, and after a long while said, "A secret marriage... It sounds like Xiaojun is someone who can't be brought into the light. Although our Chen family isn't extremely wealthy, we are an honest and upright family."

“Uncle, I had no such intention.” Su Ning responded immediately, his tone becoming more serious. “On the contrary, it is precisely because I cherish her that I do not want her to be drawn into the vortex of right and wrong in my complicated world, nor do I want her to suffer unnecessary pressure and malicious speculation. What I want to give her is a solid and reliable fortress, not a transparent display case. The substance of this marriage is far more important than its form.”

He looked at Chen's father with utmost sincerity: "I know this request is selfish and will put you both in a difficult position. But I can assure you that in my heart, Chen Xiaojun is the wife I, Su Ning, have chosen for this lifetime. I will use everything I have to respect her, cherish her, and never let her suffer any injustice."

……

In the living room outside the study, Chen Xiaojun nervously held her mother's hand.

Chen's mother sighed and patted her daughter: "You've always been stubborn since you were little. Once you've made up your mind, nothing can change it. You chose this path yourself, so you'll have to bear the joys and sorrows yourself from now on." At this moment, the study door opened.

Su Ning and Chen's father came out, both of them looking relatively calm.

Mr. Chen walked up to his daughter, looked at her deeply, and finally let out a helpless sigh: "We're old and can't interfere with your affairs as young people. Since you've both thought it through, then... do as you wish."

He turned to Su Ning, his gaze returning to its previous seriousness, even carrying a hint of warning: "Su Ning, I'm entrusting my most precious daughter to you. Remember what you said in the study today. If Xiao Jun suffers any injustice in the future, although our Chen family may not have much power, we'll risk our old bones to seek justice for her!"

"Uncle, Aunt, please rest assured," Su Ning solemnly promised, while tightly grasping Chen Xiaojun's hand.

It was already late at night when I left the Chen family.

Once inside the car, Chen Xiaojun let out a long sigh of relief, rested her head on Su Ning's shoulder, and her eyes were a little moist: "My dad's last words made me want to cry."

Su Ning put his arm around her shoulder, feeling the complex emotions brought about by this hard-won promise.

He knew that this was not complete approval, but rather a reluctant compromise out of respect for his daughter's choice.

"Don't worry," he whispered in her ear, his voice low but carrying immense weight, "I won't let you or your parents down."

The car slowly drove out of the residential compound and blended into the dazzling night view of Hangzhou.

A secret pact that would last a lifetime was settled on this ordinary night in a small study.

The road ahead may still be mysterious and complicated, but at least for this moment, they have the blessings from their loved ones, blessings tinged with concern.

……

In the conference room of the "Bizarre and Extraordinary" film company, sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows onto the huge whiteboard displaying the projects.

Suning drew a clear line under the title "Ode to Joy" with a marker.

“After ‘Qin Liangyu’, we need an urban drama that can ignite contemporary discussions.” Su Ning turned around and glanced at Chen Xiaojun and the core planning team. “‘Ode to Joy’, five urban women from different backgrounds and social classes, their predicaments, struggles and growth, have all the potential to become a hit.”

He looked at Chen Xiaojun and said decisively, "President Chen, you are in full charge of this project and will be responsible for coordinating with Shandong Film and Television. Tell them that we will not only co-produce it, but also be deeply involved to ensure that the production quality is maintained at the level of 'Nirvana in Fire'."

Chen Xiaojun quickly took notes of the key points. She knew very well that this was a crucial step for the company to expand its influence from period dramas and historical dramas to modern urban dramas.

“Regarding the character,” Su Ning walked to the whiteboard and wrote annotations next to several names, “Andy, an overseas returnee elite, high IQ, low EQ, and with inner trauma. The complexity and explosiveness of this character require an actor who can handle a powerful aura.”

He paused for a moment, then pressed the pen tip heavily onto the name "Liu Tao".

"I believe Liu Tao is the perfect choice. She possesses a resilience honed by life and an indomitable spirit, which perfectly aligns with Andy's core character. Inform her team that we prefer her for the role."

This decision surprised some people present, after all, Liu Tao was not the female lead in "Nirvana in Fire".

But no one questions Suning's vision; he always manages to uncover the most wonderful chemistry between actors and roles.

Only Chen Xiaojun knew that this was something Su Ning had promised to Liu Tao long ago, and it was a shady deal between a man and a woman.

Then, Su Ning's pen moved to the name "Qu Xiaoxiao." He looked at Chen Xiaojun, a slight smile playing on his lips: "As for this quirky, seemingly cynical but actually insightful 'Qu Xiaoxiao',"

His tone carried an undeniable certainty, "President Chen, you should play the role."

Chen Xiaojun was stunned for a moment.

Qu Xiaoxiao is quite different from the Qin Liangyu she just created, as well as her own capable CEO image. This is undoubtedly a huge challenge and transformation.

Moreover, Chen Xiaojun always thought Su Ning was joking, but she never expected that Su Ning was actually serious.

"President Su, this..."

"Forget Princess Nihuang, forget Qin Liangyu, forget your CEO identity," Su Ning interrupted her. "Unearth the hidden sharp wit and cleverness in your personality. I believe you can portray a unique Qu Xiaoxiao."

Finally, Suning circled the name "Zhao Qiping".

"This young doctor comes from a scholarly family, and he is aloof yet possesses a certain intellectual pride and charm," he said in a flat tone, as if he were talking about a trivial matter, "I will play the role."

A knowing chuckle rippled through the conference room.

The boss's personal cameo appearance will undoubtedly bring huge attention to the project and demonstrate the company's emphasis on the show.

After identifying several key roles, Suning put down his marker, rested his hands on the conference table, and displayed the strategic vision of a top investor: "The remaining roles are Fan Shengmei, Guan Juer, Qiu Yingying, and other important supporting characters,"

He looked at the team that was about to work with Shandong Film and Television, "We can provide a suggested list, but the final decision rests with Shandong Film and Television, especially the director team."

He looked around at everyone and emphasized, "We are major investors, but not dictators. Shandong Film & Television's professionalism in production and judgment of actors are worthy of our trust. Domineering will only destroy a good working atmosphere. Our goal is to create high-quality works, not to flaunt power. Remember, leave professional matters to professionals."

These words were both reasonable and persuasive, demonstrating both control and sincerity in cooperation.

After the meeting, Chen Xiaojun and Su Ning walked back to the office side by side.

“I didn’t expect Liu Tao to play Andy,” Chen Xiaojun said calmly, her tone revealing no emotion.

“She needs this opportunity to prove herself, and the role of Andy can help her shed some of her preconceived notions,” Su Ning replied casually. “Besides, her abilities deserve a groundbreaking role.”

Chen Xiaojun glanced at him, then changed the subject and asked, "And what about you? Is Dr. Zhao's cameo appearance really just a pretext for something else?"

Su Ning smiled, neither confirming nor denying: "Hehe, let's boost the project's popularity, and incidentally... experience a different kind of life, isn't that right?"

Soon, the "Ode to Joy" project, co-produced by "Guangguai Luli" and Shandong Film & Television, was officially launched.

When Liu Tao received the offer to play the role of Andy, she was filled with mixed feelings. She understood that this was a kind of "compensation" and recognition from Su Ning, and it strengthened her determination to stick close to this big tree.

Chen Xiaojun began to study Qu Xiaoxiao in depth, trying to find a foothold for her performance in this character who was so different from herself.

She knew this was going to be another tough battle.

Su Ning only needs to occasionally glance at Zhao Qiping's script; for him, it's more like a leisurely game.

The story of the five women in "Ode to Joy" has not yet been filmed, but the real-life game has already been set up.

Everyone, with their own purposes and expectations, threw themselves into this impending storm of urban women's issues.

...(End of chapter)