I am a historical film director in the entertainment industry.

Cheng Sheng had long been a member of the private club, but he rarely came here.

The private room was dimly lit. Not long after Cheng Sheng arrived, Xu Fan also arrived.

This wasn't the first time Cheng Sheng had met Xu Fan; he had only glanced at her the previous times. But this time, he was carefully observing this scheming woman.

It must be said that Xu Fan is truly beautiful, a woman who combines Eastern gentleness with resilience, and whose unique temperament is nurtured by the rich cultural heritage of Chu opera.

In her youth, she was a typical Eastern beauty, with soft and delicate features, expressive eyes, and smiling eyes that curved into crescents. She was elegant and not vulgar, with a clean and lively temperament.

Standing at 171cm, she has a tall and well-proportioned figure, slender yet not skinny, with graceful curves and long, thin legs. She possesses an elegant yet charming allure and was a highly recognizable beauty on screen in the 90s.

Her life is a dual blossoming on stage and screen, and also a clear-headed and insightful accumulation of years.

At the age of 12, she secretly enrolled in a drama school to study Peking Opera without telling her family. Later, she switched to drama and was admitted to the Central Academy of Drama. After graduation, she joined the Beijing People's Art Theatre and won the Plum Blossom Award for her play "Ruan Lingyu", which established her status in the drama world.

On her film and television journey, she is the lively female lead in "Da Sa Ba", the sweet Li Qing in "Be There or Be Square", and the resilient and strong Li Yuanni in "Aftershock". She has won numerous prestigious awards such as the Golden Rooster Award and the Huabiao Award, and has become a recognized veteran actress.

In her personal life, she and Feng Xiaogang met on set and, after a seven-year wait, married in 1999 and adopted a daughter. During their seven-year marriage, she dealt with controversies with an open-minded and insightful attitude, refraining from arguing or debating, and safeguarding her family and herself.

Now 39 years old, she is natural and unpretentious, her temperament has matured and become more composed and dignified, living a life that combines beauty and strength, clear-headed and at ease.

"Please sit down, Ms. Xu." Cheng Sheng politely extended his hand. Although he disliked women like Xu Fan, he still had to maintain a certain level of politeness. However, a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Director Cheng. I was afraid of being followed by paparazzi on the way here, so I took a detour. I'll punish myself with a drink here." Xu Fan knew that what she had done was a bit unethical, and being clever, she took the opportunity to apologize to Cheng Sheng first.

Xu Fan poured himself a glass of wine and downed it in one gulp.

"Isn't Ms. Xu afraid I'll put something in the wine?" Cheng Sheng sneered.

“Director Cheng is a man of great things; he wouldn’t resort to such petty tricks.” Xu Fan paused for a moment, holding his wine glass, but quickly laughed heartily. His expression suddenly changed, his cheeks flushed slightly, and he exhaled a breath of alcohol, lightly licking his lips as he said, “If Director Cheng really takes a fancy to this old woman, I’ll offer myself to him without even needing to drug him.”

Cheng Sheng was stunned by what he heard; he was speechless at the outrageous words.

Seeing Cheng Sheng remain silent, Xu Fan broke the silence first, a meaningful smile playing on her lips, her tone dripping with sarcasm: "Director Cheng is indeed young, promising, and talented, but unfortunately, beneath his glamorous exterior lies a bunch of shady dealings, seducing married women. I'll have to trouble you to 'keep' your secrets." She deliberately emphasized the word "keep," her eyes subtly sweeping over Cheng Sheng, subtly reminding him that she still held the secretly taken photos of him and Chen Hong.

Cheng Sheng picked up his wine glass, gently swirled the liquid inside, looked up at Xu Fan, and said in a calm tone with a sharp undercurrent: "Ms. Xu is quite carefree. She doesn't have to film or make money. She spends all her time watching other people's private affairs, making a living by secretly filming and blackmailing them. This 'skill' is admirable. I just wonder if Feng Dapao knows about your affairs."

Xu Fan's smile remained unchanged. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, deliberately closing the distance between them. A faint scent of perfume wafted towards Cheng Sheng.

She picked up her wine glass and moved closer to Cheng Sheng, her fingertips casually brushing against the back of his hand. Her tone was ambiguous, implying, "Director Cheng is joking. I had no choice in the matter. Besides, compared to the women around you, I'm much more sensible and can help you solve a lot of problems."

The seductive intent in her words couldn't be clearer—she was using the photos to blackmail Cheng Sheng while simultaneously trying to seduce him to climb the social ladder, hoping to get the script, help Lao Feng, and use Cheng Sheng's connections to advance her career—a win-win situation.

Cheng Sheng withdrew his hand without showing any emotion, picked up his wine glass and took a sip. A hint of disgust flashed in his eyes, but his words were still sarcastic: "Miss Xu is quite cunning. She wants to use leverage against people and also wants to take shortcuts to climb the social ladder. Her calculations are quite impressive. But I advise you, greed knows no bounds. Some paths, if taken too hastily, can easily lead to a crushing fall."

Xu Fan wasn't annoyed at all. Instead, he smiled even more charmingly, reached out and poured some wine for Cheng Sheng, deliberately lingering his fingertips on the rim of Cheng's glass for a moment: "Director Cheng, why be so serious? We're just getting what we need. What I have can guarantee Director Cheng's reputation; and what I want is just for Director Cheng to lend a hand and give me another chance to get closer to you. Why not?"

Her words became increasingly explicit, her eyes revealing undisguised seduction. She even deliberately puffed out her chest, trying to attract Cheng Sheng's attention, her tone tinged with a hint of coquettishness: "Director Cheng is so charming, having me by your side wouldn't be too much, would it? Besides, I understand you better than Chen Hong, and I'm better at keeping your secrets."

“I know you men all have the same taste for Mengde, and I’m no less so, Director Cheng, why don’t you give it a try?”

Cheng Sheng put down his wine glass, his eyes suddenly turning cold, and the sarcasm in his tone turned into blatant disdain: "Miss Xu, you should give up your little schemes. I have no interest in people who are opportunistic, who use their bodies or leverage to climb the social ladder. What you have in your hands is worthless in my eyes; and those good things you're thinking about are just wishful thinking."

Xu Fan's smile froze for a moment, but he still wouldn't give up. He leaned forward again, lowering his voice even further, with a hint of seduction: "Director Cheng, don't be so heartless. Look, I've been so proactive. If you agree, I'll not only return the photos to you, but I'll also keep an eye on Chen Hong for you so she doesn't cause you any trouble. How about it?"

Cheng Sheng leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, looking at her coldly, his tone full of sarcasm: "Keep an eye on her for me? Miss Xu, you should worry about yourself first. You think you can control me and seduce me with these little tricks? You're too naive."

He preferred to believe Chen Hong rather than Xu Fan. If he really had something going on with her, she might have another handle on him, and he would be completely at her mercy.

The atmosphere at the table grew increasingly tense. The two continued to exchange barbs and sarcasm. Xu Fan's seduction was relentless, while Cheng Sheng's rejection was swift and decisive. Every exchange was a calculated struggle, with neither willing to back down or reveal any weakness.

(The young Xu Fan) (End of this chapter)