After exchanging pleasantries with everyone, Xia Qingtian got into the car leaving the film crew. Li Mengxiao, who was in the same car, was diligently editing photos to be posted on various platforms, making sure to cater to every teacher she took pictures with.
In the back seat, Wen Jiu was looking down at her phone, contacting someone, her expression somewhat solemn.
"It's snowing~" Xia Qingtian remarked, looking at the fluttering snowflakes outside the car window. "It's quite a bit of snow today."
"Yes, timely snow promises a good harvest," Li Mengxiao glanced out as well, then turned to Xia Qingtian and asked, "Qingtian, will you be going home for New Year's this year?"
Xia Qingtian blinked. This was a difficult question for her.
Aunt Liu and Xia Qingyu had already called her several times via video, urging her to come home soon for the New Year.
With the end of the year approaching, it was impossible for her not to want to go home.
However, Xia Honglang had never contacted her. She didn't know her father's attitude about it.
"I'll see," Xia Qingtian chuckled awkwardly, then asked Li Mengxiao and Wen Jiu in return.
"I'm going home for New Year's. Sister Ning said there are no more tasks before the year, so I can buy my ticket home in the next couple of days," Li Mengxiao said with a grin.
"I've booked a flight to Kyoto, and I'm not sure when I'll be back," Wen Jiu finally took her eyes off her phone. "Driver, please take me to the airport later."
"Now? So suddenly?" Xia Qingtian and Li Mengxiao were both surprised.
"It's fine," Wen Jiu was used to dealing with various sudden tasks. She often had to travel due to work. Her stay in Z City this time had been quite long. "I've informed Mr. Gu. He'll send someone else to protect you after the New Year."
"Did something happen?" Xia Qingtian asked, looking at Wen Jiu.
"It's not anything serious, just encountered a tough problem at work that needs my attention," Wen Jiu's tone was quite relaxed. "I'll bring you back souvenirs when I return."
"Okay," Xia Qingtian and Li Mengxiao felt relieved after Wen Jiu said that and continued chatting about other things.
Wen Jiu then lowered her eyes slightly, her expression grave.
It seemed the weather in Kyoto was about to change.
She didn't know until she investigated. After looking into those entrenched old families, she found that not a single one was clean!
She had to go there in person.
Thinking that her trip might offend all the major families, Wen Jiu shivered and silently recalled the image of her family head huffing and puffing.
Wen Jiu then lowered her eyes slightly, her expression grave.
This was a disaster...
She would be disciplined by the old man again this time.
Soon, the car stopped at the entrance of the Xiaoyao Pavilion residential complex.
"Qingtian, I'll send you the photos after they're edited," Li Mengxiao said, waving from the car.
"No need to send them to me. Just log into my account and post a grid of nine photos with an official caption," Xia Qingtian instructed, then looked at Wen Jiu. "Be careful yourself."
After bidding farewell, Xia Qingtian turned around and saw a black private car parked outside Xiaoyao Pavilion, with a man in a suit standing beside it.
"You've got to be kidding me..." Xia Qingtian's heart sank when she saw the man's silhouette. After a moment of daze, she walked forward. As she got closer, Xia Qingtian felt increasingly strange.
By the time she reached the man, Xia Qingtian noticed a thin layer of snowflakes on his shoulders and hair.
They stood facing each other, neither speaking first, as if holding their breath, or perhaps waiting for the other to break the strange silence.
"Dad," Xia Qingtian finally spoke first, calling out.
After all, Xia Honglang had come all the way here. Thinking about their shared stubbornness, Xia Honglang's action was already a significant effort.
Hearing Xia Qingtian speak, Xia Honglang finally reacted, "Get in, it's time to go home."
Just like countless times when Xia Honglang used to pick her up from school, Xia Qingtian lowered her head and obediently got into Xia Honglang's car.
Once in the car, Xia Qingtian sent a simple text message to Mobius, saying she wouldn't be coming for dinner tonight as she was going back to the Xia family.
Upon seeing Xia Qingtian's message, Mobius merely smiled faintly and continued with the meeting.
"Mr. Gu, in addition to the previously confirmed project arrangements for after the New Year, there's an invitation from a veteran dating show. The invited list is Xia Qingtian."
Hearing this, Mr. Gu frowned, "A dating show? Is it 'First Step of Love'?"
"Yes, 'First Step of Love' has reached its fifth season. The reputation is actually quite good. Although it's a dating show, the perspective is more focused on personal display and there's no forced pairing guided by a script, so it's unlikely to provoke fan backlash. Moreover, the filming period is relatively short, which I think is very suitable for Xia Qingtian."
"Xia Qingtian just finished filming 'The Moon Cherishes Spring'. Her starting point was quite high, and she needs to carefully select scripts for her future film and television career. During this period, having a variety show as a transition would be very good."
"However, the early episodes of 'First Step of Love' were quite popular. Now that it's progressed, it seems to be losing momentum. The fourth episode seemed to cause viewer fatigue, and the ratings were not very good. I don't think the fifth episode will make much of a splash."
"I've seen the planning document for the fifth episode. The program team has removed the observer seats and directly invested a large amount of funds to create a brand new format, using a dual version of 24-hour live broadcast plus post-editing. They've also canceled the [Heartbeat Confession] segment. In the entire interaction, confession is not allowed; at most, pairing signals can be sent. This ambiguity and vagueness are very suitable for the current market of 'shipping enthusiasts'. It's evident that 'First Step of Love' wants to make a glorious comeback, and if it succeeds, it would be a good opportunity for Xia Qingtian."
"The other party likely sees the popularity and potential of Xia Qingtian's previous live broadcasts on variety shows, and the conditions they've offered are very good."
"But Xia Qingtian's current popularity is quite high, and she's gaining momentum. It's hard to guarantee that someone won't try to bundle her for CP hype, which could actually be more troublesome."
"If that's the case, why don't we introduce a male artist from our side, take their path and leave no path for others."
"I disagree with bundling Xia Qingtian for a CP," Wen Ning directly objected. "However, this variety show can be considered."
She also felt that a variety show would be good for Xia Qingtian during her transition period. But a dating show...
Wen Ning silently looked at Mr. Gu, feeling that the probability of Mr. Gu agreeing was very slim.
Although she had been in meetings until now, Wen Ning felt that this dating show was very suitable for Xia Qingtian. If it weren't for the unclear relationship between Mr. Gu and Xia Qingtian, Wen Ning would have certainly agreed immediately.
However, considering that relationship, Wen Ning decided to wait and see.