Huayu 2021: Isn’t he in the technology field?

Chapter 330 A World for Two, "The Long Season"

The following day, morning light streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden glow on the floor of the Pan-Ocean Residence.

Jiang Qing's biological clock is always precise. He quietly got up, while Zhou Ye next to him was still nestled in the down comforter, breathing evenly and sleeping soundly without any guard.

You can tell you were really exhausted yesterday.

He bent down and gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her cheek with his fingertips before turning to the kitchen to quickly make breakfast. After finishing, he went straight into his study.

Online meetings, email replies, critical decisions... the tranquility of the study was broken by the low murmur of conversation.

Jiang Qing handled Wuwen Technology's various affairs quickly and efficiently.

Occasionally he would stop, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on the table, his gaze drifting toward the half-closed door to the master bedroom.

It was still quiet there.

It was close to eleven o'clock when rustling sounds finally came from the master bedroom.

Zhou Ye, with his hair still slightly messy from sleeping, rubbed his eyes and walked barefoot onto the cool floor like a lazy cat into the study.

She was still wearing Jiang Qing's oversized gray T-shirt, the hem of which reached her thighs.

"Jiang Qing..."

With a soft, sleepy voice, she walked straight to Jiang Qing's chair, then slumped against his back, resting her chin on his shoulder and nuzzling his neck affectionately.

Jiang Qing paused his typing, turned his head, and his lips almost brushed against her forehead.

"Are you awake? Are you hungry?"

"Um……"

Zhou Ye responded to him in a drawn-out tone, his eyes not yet fully open.

"I want to eat... shrimp dumplings! And red rice rolls! The dim sum restaurant I saw yesterday had such high ratings!"

Jiang Qing chuckled and closed her laptop.

"Okay, go wash up, change your clothes, and let's leave right away."

"yeah!"

Zhou Ye instantly perked up, gave him a loud "smack" kiss on the cheek, and ran barefoot back to the bedroom.

This "naturally waking up" mode, driven by delicious food, became the main theme for the following week.

Zhou Ye seemed to have completely unleashed his exploratory desires, which had been constrained by the film crew's schedule.

She nestled on the sofa, phone in hand, her tousled hair casually tied into a bun, her two fair legs swinging back and forth, her fingers flying across the screen, her eyes shining like searchlights that had discovered a treasure.

"Jiang Qing! Look at this! A private restaurant in the alley, the owner's ancestors were imperial chefs!"

"Wow! A new immersive theater restaurant has opened near the China World Trade Center. You can eat and watch a play at the same time!"

"Wow! This is a horse farm in the suburbs where you can experience wild riding! The scenery is amazing!"

……

Her voice was clear and cheerful, full of excitement at discovering a new world.

Jiang Qing sometimes sits on the reading chair next to her reading scientific journals, and sometimes works behind the desk by the floor-to-ceiling window. When she hears this, she always looks up, her gaze shifting from the screen or the pages of the book to her vivid face, and she smiles indulgently.

"Okay, I'll do whatever you want."

As a result, their footprints covered the streets and alleys of the capital.

In the steamy copper hot pot restaurant, Zhou Ye gasped for breath from the spiciness, his cheeks flushed red. He gulped down a large mouthful of ice-cold Arctic Ocean soda, and didn't forget to dip the blanched tripe in sesame sauce and stuff it into Jiang Qing's bowl.

"Try this! It's amazing!"

Jiang Qing smiled and took it, then casually wiped the sesame paste off the corner of her mouth.

In a private restaurant hidden deep in a hutong, the two squeezed around a narrow but clean square table, surrounded by the sounds of people chatting in thick Beijing dialect.

Zhou Ye pointed to the faded old photos on the wall and chatted enthusiastically with the boss, inquiring about the stories behind those blurry images.

Jiang Qing sat quietly beside her, watching her animated profile, occasionally picking up her rough porcelain cup to sip a sip of warm jasmine tea, his eyes filled with unwavering doting affection.

At the open horse farm in the suburbs, Zhou Ye changed into his handsome equestrian gear and learned from the instructor with great skill.

Sunlight shone on her cheeks, which were flushed with excitement. She rode a gentle brown pony, trotted around the field a few times, turned around and waved vigorously at Jiang Qing, who was waiting on the sidelines, her smile dazzlingly bright.

Jiang Qing raised her phone, the camera steadily aimed at her, capturing this bright moment.

In the evening, they would go to the supermarket to shop, pushing their shopping carts among the dazzling array of goods.

Zhou Ye was in charge of throwing all sorts of snacks, fruits, and unusual drinks into the car, while Jiang Qing meticulously selected the ingredients needed for dinner.

Occasionally, Zhou Ye would tiptoe and try to put a bag of potato chips on the top shelf that Jiang Qing couldn't reach, but he would easily intercept it, earning her a glare from her.

At night, old movies carefully selected by Zhou Ye are playing on a huge projection screen.

Only ambient lighting was on in the living room, creating a dim and soft ambiance.

Zhou Ye hugged a soft cushion and nestled into the sofa, his head unconsciously resting on Jiang Qing's shoulder.

When she sees a touching scene, she will mutter softly, her eyes slightly red.

When she sees something funny, she laughs so hard she falls onto Jiang Qing without any regard for her image.

Jiang Qing's arm naturally wrapped around her shoulder, making her more comfortable leaning against him, and his other hand would sometimes gently squeeze her soft palm.

Jiang Qing only made one trip to Xiaomi's headquarters.

Zhou Ye didn't follow along; he spent the afternoon at home tinkering, baking a batch of... well, oddly shaped cookies following an online tutorial.

When Jiang Qing returned in the evening, he was greeted by the strange aroma of caramel mixed with a burnt smell, and Zhou Ye's face, covered in flour, looking expectant yet a little guilty.

Jiang Qing, without changing her expression, picked up the best-looking piece of "carbonized food," took a bite, and slowly swallowed it under Zhou Ye's tense gaze, before giving a serious critique.

"Hmm, the heat control... is quite unique."

In return, Zhou Ye pounced on her and threw a flurry of punches, then angrily scolded her.

The days flowed slowly and sweetly, like water soaked in honey.

Until one afternoon a week later.

Jiang Qing had just finished a video conference when her phone vibrated on the desktop.

The screen displays "Yang Wei".

He swiped to answer the call, but before he could even speak, Yang Wei's signature loud voice burst out impatiently.

"Hey! Lao Jiang! What are you doing? Did I disturb your private time with Yezi?"

Jiang Qing walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the skyline outside the window dyed orange-red by the sunset, her tone casual.

"Just finished a meeting, is there something you need?"

"hey-hey."

Yang Wei chuckled slyly on the other end of the phone.

"Good news! Our CEO Han seems a little uneasy, having seen you visit the headquarters of Kuzi Video and then appear at the iQiyi building recently! Are you worried that we at Tencent haven't been hospitable enough, making you feel distant?"

Jiang Qing raised an eyebrow but did not reply.

Yang Wei continued on the other end.

"So, Mr. Han specifically asked me to act as a go-between. He's planning to host a dinner for you tomorrow night, just the few of us, to catch up and reconnect. I've already chosen the location—it'll be absolutely private, and the food will definitely satisfy you! What do you say?"

Jiang Qing turned her gaze to the living room.

Zhou Ye was sitting cross-legged on the carpet, staring at a tablet computer, his fingers flying across the screen as if he were engaged in a fierce "battle." His face was tense, and he was muttering to himself.

Seemingly sensing his gaze, she suddenly raised her head and met Jiang Qing's eyes. She immediately smiled broadly, her eyes curving into two small crescent moons.

Looking at her smile, Jiang Qing thought of a certain project he had previously scanned through Tencent's vast script library, and a plan formed in his mind.

"Row."

He answered Yang Wei on the other end of the phone.

"Send me the time and place."

"No problem, right away!"

Yang Wei's voice instantly rose in pitch.

"I'll send you the address tomorrow night at 6 PM! Oh, by the way, Mr. Han said it's just us, so feel free to be casual! You can bring Yezi along too!"

"Oh, I see."

Jiang Qing responded and hung up the phone.

He walked back to the living room and sat down on the carpet next to Zhou Ye.

Zhou Ye had just finished a game, put down his tablet, and snuggled over like a koala, naturally resting his head on his lap and looking up at him.

"Who is it? Viagra?"

Jiang Qing lowered his head and gently ran his fingers through the wispy bangs on her forehead, a gesture filled with habitual intimacy.

"It was him. He made an appointment to have dinner with Mr. Han from Tencent Pictures tomorrow night."

"Oh."

Zhou Ye responded but didn't pay much attention, his attention drawn to the new level on the tablet.

"Then remember to drink less alcohol."

"Ah."

Jiang Qing looked at her focused profile and added in his usual tone.

"You're coming with me tomorrow night."

Zhou Ye's fingers, which were swiping the screen, paused, and he looked up at him again, somewhat surprised.

"I am coming too?"

She thought it was just a regular business dinner.

"Yes, let's go together."

Jiang Qing remained calm and gently tapped the tip of her nose with his finger.

"I'll treat you to a free meal."

Zhou Ye blinked. Although he felt a little strange, he figured Jiang Qing was right to go.

She refocused her attention on the game and casually agreed.

"Okay! Then I'll dress up nicely! I can't embarrass you!"

"Row."

Jiang Qing smiled and pinched her cheek.

Just after 5 p.m. the next day, Zhou Zhengkai parked his car at the entrance of a quiet alleyway in the middle of a bustling area.

Jiang Qing led Zhou Ye out of the car. A waiter was already waiting and led them through a winding corridor to a private room in a secluded courtyard with a plaque that read "Qushui Pavilion".

Pushing open the door, the private room was filled with an antique charm and the subtle fragrance of sandalwood.

Yang Wei was talking animatedly to Han Zijie, who was sitting in the main seat, when he saw them come in. He immediately sprang up like a spring and greeted them with open arms.

"Hey! Old Jiang! Ye Zi! We've been waiting for you to come!"

He first gave Jiang Qing a firm bear hug, then turned to Zhou Ye, his eyes lighting up as he showered him with praise.

"Tsk tsk tsk! Yezi looks so beautiful today! Her temperament, her style! She's the epitome of a rich young lady! She's lit up this whole room!"

Zhou Ye was indeed dressed up carefully today.

A well-tailored off-white retro-style dress accentuated her slender figure.

Her long hair was meticulously styled into a bun, revealing a smooth, full forehead and a graceful swan neck.

Her makeup was exquisite, with delicately drawn eyebrows and a soft mauve lip color.

She shed her usual playful and carefree demeanor, appearing elegant and serene, like a magnolia flower quietly blooming.

"You flatter me, Viagra."

Zhou Ye responded with a generous smile, his voice clear and pleasant, carrying just the right amount of familiarity.

At this moment, Han Zijie, who was in the main seat, also stood up, a gentle and polite smile on his face, and extended his hand. "President Jiang, Miss Zhou, welcome, welcome! Please have a seat!"

He was very polite.

After shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, the four of them took their seats.

Exquisite cold dishes were already laid out, and the waiter quietly poured warm yellow wine.

During the gathering, the conversation naturally revolved around the phenomenal hit film "The Beginning" that premiered at the start of the year.

Han Zijie praised Jiang Qing's crossover performance and was overjoyed that Tencent Video had won first place with this drama.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually warmed up, and Han Zijie changed the subject, seemingly casually bringing it up.

"President Jiang, I heard recently that you first went to the headquarters of Kuzi Video, and then appeared at the iQiyi building? Is there any new development?"

He held his wine glass, his smile unchanged, but his eyes held a probing look.

Jiang Qing was using serving chopsticks to place a piece of the tenderest part of the steamed grouper belly into the bone dish in front of Zhou Ye. Upon hearing this, she did not pause at all, looked up at Han Zijie, and her expression was calm.

"Nothing special, I just went to take a look, out of curiosity about the business operations of video platforms, and to make a comparison."

This answer was watertight, but it was as good as saying nothing at all.

Han Zijie was met with a rebuff, but his smile remained unchanged, though he began to have doubts in his heart.

He laughed and raised his glass.

"I see. Come, let me offer you another toast!"

Putting down his wine glass, Han Zijie struck again, this time with a clearer target.

"With the excellent precedent of 'The Beginning' and such a pleasant collaboration, I wonder if Mr. Jiang would be interested in taking a look at our new projects recently? Our script library has been enriched quite a bit, and we have several scripts that we internally assess have great potential! As long as you nod your head, Mr. Jiang, I will present the scripts to you immediately!"

His tone was warm and full of sincerity.

Yang Wei also chimed in from the side.

"Yes, Lao Jiang! President Han has saved all his best stuff for you to choose from first!"

Jiang Qing slowly wiped her mouth with a napkin, met Han Zijie's eager gaze, and shook her head slightly.

"I appreciate Mr. Han's kind offer, but several key projects of the company are in their critical phase this year, and I'm simply too busy to attend to them all. This acting project will have to be put on hold for now."

A clear look of disappointment flashed in Han Zijie's eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

"I understand! President Jiang's business empire is the most important thing!"

Just then, Jiang Qing abruptly changed the subject, her gaze naturally falling on Zhou Ye, who was quietly eating beside her, displaying elegant manners.

"but."

His voice was steady, yet it made the air in the entire private room freeze for a moment.

"When I was browsing your company's script library last time, I saw a script that left a deep impression on me."

Han Zijie and Yang Wei were both stunned for a moment, and then Han Zijie's eyes suddenly lit up with great joy!
A turn of events?

Jiang Qing changed her mind?
He involuntarily leaned forward slightly and asked eagerly.

"Oh? Which project has Mr. Jiang taken a fancy to? Please tell me!"

Jiang Qing picked up the teacup and took a slow, deliberate sip.

"The Long Season".

Han Zijie's face lit up with even more joy.

"So this is the script! Directed by Xin Kuai, with a top-notch team, a powerful work of realism! Mr. Jiang has excellent taste! You mean..."

"I think there's a good character in it."

Jiang Qing interrupted him, her gaze returning to Zhou Ye.

"Shen Mo. Her temperament and age are quite compatible with our teacher Zhou Ye."

His tone was slightly sarcastic, as if he were stating a very simple fact.

The private room fell silent instantly.

Han Zijie's smile froze for a moment.

He glanced at Jiang Qing, then at Zhou Ye, who was also somewhat bewildered by this sudden turn of events, and who had put down his chopsticks and looked up.

Who would have thought that Jiang Qing went through all that trouble just to get a role for Zhou Ye?!

Zhou Ye was completely stunned.

She looked at Jiang Qing, whose eyes were now gazing at her gently, without a trace of a joke in them.

So... that's why he said he would bring her here?
It wasn't about "mooching a meal" for her; it was about getting her a role.

A surge of scalding heat burst forth from her heart without warning, instantly spreading throughout her limbs and bones, making her fingertips, which were holding the chopsticks, feel slightly numb.

She looked at Jiang Qing, and the light in her eyes gradually brightened, like a spark being ignited.

Han Zijie finally found his voice, and after a moment's thought, he deliberately showed a troubled expression.

“Shen…Shen Mo? This character…”

He rubbed his hands together, seemingly carefully considering his words.

"To be honest, Mr. Jiang, we already had a fairly clear candidate in mind for this role: Li Gengxi..."

The words were not finished, but the meaning was clear.

What he wanted to express was the difficulty, and he wanted Jiang Qing to understand that this matter was not easy to handle.

However, Jiang Qing listened quietly, the faint smile on her face remaining unchanged.

He didn't even look at Han Zijie; his gaze remained fixed on Zhou Ye's face.

This calmness, imbued with a powerful sense of confidence, actually put immense pressure on Han Zijie, as if his carefully prepared "difficulty" had turned into a clumsy joke.

The awkward atmosphere in the private room spread like ice water.

Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, Yang Wei immediately smiled and tried to smooth things over, raising his glass.

"Hey! Mr. Han, Lao Jiang, this is still far from settled! Intentions can always be adjusted! Today, we're mainly here to get together and have a few drinks! Yezi, come on, try this cherry pork, it's their specialty!"

He quickly served Zhou Ye some food, trying to liven up the atmosphere.

Distracted by Yang Wei, Han Zijie instantly realized his earlier lapse in composure.

He immediately took the opportunity offered by Yang Wei and put on a smile again.

"Yes, yes, yes! Mr. Yang is right! Look at my memory! It's just a candidate in mind, not a done deal! Since Mr. Jiang has spoken up and thinks Ms. Zhou is suitable, then this role is definitely for Ms. Zhou! I'll have someone send the script and related materials to Ms. Zhou right away!"

He raised his wine glass and pointed it at Jiang Qingzhou.

"President Jiang has a discerning eye! I'm confident that Miss Zhou will perfectly portray the character of Shen Mo! Come, let me toast you both! I wish us a pleasant collaboration!"

Jiang Qing then picked up her wine glass and smiled.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Han, for your kindness."

He turned his head to look at Zhou Ye, giving him a meaningful glance.

Zhou Ye immediately picked up the glass of juice in front of him, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and tried his best to maintain an elegant and proper demeanor, with a reserved smile.

"Thank you, Mr. Han! I will definitely work hard!"

The crisp sound of glasses clinking shattered the awkwardness of the moment.

The atmosphere became harmonious again, even more so than before.

Yang Wei started cracking jokes, recounting embarrassing stories about Jiang Qing from their university days. Han Zijie laughed and chimed in, and the conversation completely shifted from work to lighthearted reminiscence.

Zhou Ye listened quietly, occasionally pursing his lips and smiling softly, but his gaze would always unconsciously drift towards Jiang Qing beside him.

He responded calmly, a faint smile playing on his lips. Under the table, his large hand quietly reached out and gently took her hand, which was resting on her lap.

Zhou Ye then gripped his hand even tighter, his fingertips gently scratching at his palm.

The meal ended in what seemed like a pleasant atmosphere for both host and guests.

It was past nine o'clock, and the night was deep. The alley had quieted down.

The four said goodbye in front of the private kitchen.

Han Zijie and Yang Wei watched Jiang Qing's car drive away with great enthusiasm.

Inside the carriage, the noise from outside was kept at bay.

Zhou Ye, who had been maintaining an elegant demeanor, finally let his guard down completely.

She let out a long sigh of relief, leaned back in her chair, and rubbed her stiff neck.

"Phew...it's finally over."

Jiang Qing turned her head to look at her, her eyes filled with a smile.

"You did very well today."

Zhou Ye immediately turned her head, looking at him with bright eyes. Gone was the calm elegance she had shown at the dinner party; only overflowing joy remained.

"Jiang Qing... when... when did you read that script? That Shen Mo... do you really think I'm suitable?"

"Ah."

Jiang Qing responded with a firm tone.

"The script is good, the character has depth, and it's suitable for you to broaden your acting range. Moreover..."

He paused, his expression serious.

"I believe you can act well."

The simple words "I believe" were like a burning brand, instantly soothing all of Zhou Ye's anxieties.

The emotions that had been suppressed during the dinner party could no longer be contained at this moment, surging forth and overwhelming all restraint.

The car had just entered the underground parking garage of Oceanwide World and hadn't even come to a complete stop yet.

Zhou Ye didn't even wait for Zhou Zhengkai to remind him of the arrival before he unbuckled his seatbelt with a "click".

The dim light from the garage's motion-sensor lights outlined Jiang Qing's profile.

"Jiang Qing!"

She called out, her voice trembling with urgency.

Jiang Qing turned her head upon hearing the sound.

"Ok?"

Before he finished speaking, Zhou Ye pounced on him like a nimble yet somewhat fierce little leopard.

She didn't care about her image at all. She cupped Jiang Qing's cheeks with both hands, stood on tiptoe, and with a reckless spirit, pressed her lips heavily onto his lips!

The kiss came suddenly and passionately, without any pattern, and was filled with burning emotion.

Her eyes were closed, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her arms were tightly wrapped around his neck, as if she wanted to convey all her intense love to him through this kiss.

Jiang Qing was clearly taken aback for a moment, but in just a second, he immediately took the initiative.

He held her back firmly with his arms, pulling her closer into his embrace, and lowered his head to deepen the kiss.

The silence of the garage was completely shattered by this sudden burst of enthusiasm, leaving only the sound of their somewhat hurried breathing in the air.

Zhou Zhengkai, in the driver's seat, had already tactfully lowered the partition between the front and rear seats, looking down as if he were invisible.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhou Ye finally stepped back a little, panting, his forehead pressed against Jiang Qing's, his cheeks flushed, and his eyes glistening like a lake filled with starlight.

She looked into Jiang Qing's eyes, which were so close to hers, and spoke in a soft, sweet voice with a hint of coquettishness.

"Jiang Qing...you spoil me so much...I can't help but get cocky..."

"Then let your tail wag."

"Well……"

The temperature in the back row started to rise.

(End of this chapter)