Quan Jiu and Wang Feifei walked into the hall. Director Jiang Nanchen spotted them immediately, smiled, and hurried over.
"You're finally back. Was the journey smooth?" Jiang Nanchen welcomed Quan Jiu into the conference room.
The other staff members of the crew gathered around.
"Is this the famous Nine? They look so young, nothing like a screenwriter."
"Newcomers nowadays like to get degrees and experience abroad. They sound impressive, but they're actually very superficial. Back in our day, we had to pass tough exams; we relied on real talent, not connections or background."
The speaker was Deng Jie, a well-known screenwriter in the industry. She felt she was condescendingly offering her help as a co-screenwriter to the newcomer, only to be rejected.
Deng Jie knew the screenwriter would be coming today, so she had been lingering around the set, wanting to see how capable they were. She hadn't expected it to be someone so young.
"Dressed like a nightclub hostess. Do they think screenwriting is a game? So unprofessional," Deng Jie said with undisguised sarcasm.
Someone couldn't help but retort, "She has a great aura, clearly a socialite. Her reputation abroad is solid. If Director Jiang didn't have connections, we wouldn't be able to invite such a talent."
"Teacher Deng, please go about your business. We've got this covered," another person added.
Deng Jie gritted her teeth in anger and turned to leave. However, after stepping out, she took out her phone and posted on various public platforms: "Relying on a superficial degree and experience abroad, she's arrogant and a Western worshipper upon returning to China. If you're so capable, continue being a foreigner and don't come back."
She then attached a picture of the number nine. The implication was obvious.
Quan Jiu was, of course, unaware of this. She was in the conference room discussing casting with Jiang Nanchen. "...I only select people with potential. If you want to join the crew based on investment background, I won't agree."
Jiang Nanchen smiled, "Do you just know me today? If I were willing to be swayed by capital, I wouldn't have been inactive for three years after returning to China."
"Don't worry, this is my first project in China. I definitely won't let it be compromised. I'll personally invest one hundred million," Quan Jiu said.
Jiang Nanchen solemnly clasped his fists, "Alright, my generous patron, Quan. I'll listen to you. Anyway, as long as you take the lead, and I cooperate, we won't lose."
...
On the top floor of the Chu Group building, the thousand-square-meter CEO's office was so understatedly luxurious that Quan Xingfa always felt uneasy whenever he visited.
Hearing footsteps, Quan Xingfa immediately stood up, a fawning smile on his face. Only when he saw his niece's husband did he quickly walk over, his face creased with smiles.
"Little Chu, hahaha, how has everything been lately? Last time I went to the temple, I prayed for a peace charm for you. The abbot said it would guarantee smooth sailing for the Chu family."
Wang Xiao rolled his eyes with annoyance. Did this man really think the vast Chu Group achieved its current status because of his peace charm? He was truly audacious.
Chu Rong showed no expression, merely inviting him to sit with a faint gesture, then picked up the documents on his desk to read.
Quan Xingfa felt uneasy and stammered for a while before saying, "Well, Little Chu, the five million you invested last time is almost used up.
As the company expands, the expenses increase. See, could you invest another ten million? From now on, you'll be the largest shareholder, and the company is guaranteed to be profitable this year. I've already negotiated a major deal, just waiting to sign the contract."
Chu Rong finally looked up, his expression calm. "Have there been any updates on her recently?" The figure at the airport remained vivid in his mind, both infuriating him and inexplicably filling him with anticipation.
Quan Xingfa sighed, "No, I don't know where this little... this child could have gone. Her aunt and I can't eat or sleep worrying about her, our hair has turned white from anxiety."
Wang Xiao couldn't help but laugh, "With your physique, you don't look like you can't eat."
Quan Xingfa's face stiffened, and he angrily said, "I'm talking to my nephew-in-law, why are you, a subordinate, interrupting? You have no manners."
However, after speaking, he saw Chu Rong's icy gaze cast upon him. Quan Xingfa felt a pang of unease and chuckled sheepishly, "Little Chu, when you're the boss, you can't be too lenient with your subordinates, otherwise, they won't listen and won't do their jobs properly. I'm an experienced person, and I'm imparting valuable experience to you."
Wang Xiao really felt like vomiting. If the boss hadn't said anything, he would have thrown this shameless man out directly.
"Then come back when there's news," Chu Rong said with a cool glance. "Don't forget why you were able to enter this building."
Quan Xingfa nodded with a dry laugh. Intimidated by the oppressive atmosphere, he didn't dare to say more and left sheepishly. Only after walking out the door did he let out a sigh of relief, mentally cursing his niece, who had been missing for five years, to vent his frustration.
The head of the investment department pushed open the door and entered the CEO's office, holding a folder. "Mr. Chu, these are the investment directions for this year. The film and television industry is developing very well this year, so I've focused this year's investments on the entertainment industry. There's a potential stock we're preparing to discuss."
Chu Rong glanced at it a few times. There were no issues, so he signed it. Just then, the secretary rushed in with a panicked expression.
Wang Xiao saw the secretary waving at him, glanced at his boss's expression, and then walked over to ask, "What's wrong, you're so flustered?"
The secretary frowned and whispered urgently, "Brother Xiao, something's happened."
Mimi and Tutu were bored playing in the lounge. Finally, Tutu couldn't sit still and took out his exclusive computer from his suitcase to play a game. However, after playing for a short while, he sneakily asked Mimi.
"Sister, I have a really fun idea. Do you want to join?"
Mimi shook her head like a rattle. "No, you're definitely up to some mischief again."
"It's not mischief, it's to get back at Mom," he explained his plan. Mimi listened and expressed some concern, "Don't expose Mom's whereabouts. That person's methods are not simple."
"My methods are not simple either," Tutu said proudly, his hands also operating the computer.
In the CEO's office on the top floor of the Chu Group building, Chu Rong stared at the computer screen, his expression grim. The director of the technical department was sweating profusely, his fingers flying across the keyboard.
On the screen, in large bold letters, were the words "Scumbag," glaring red and刺眼. Below "Scumbag" was a cartoon character that, by all appearances, represented the CEO of the Chu Group.
The technical director swallowed, saying while cracking the code, "The hacker's methods aren't particularly sophisticated, but the virus is embedded in various network nodes. It's impossible to crack it all at once, so we have to dismantle it one by one, which will take some time. But Mr. Chu, rest assured, the technical department will definitely..."
Seeing his boss's increasingly grim expression, he quickly changed his tune, "Within one minute, we'll remove it all within one minute."
Chu Rong said coldly, "This not-so-sophisticated hacker easily breached your security. It seems I need to re-examine your capabilities."
The technical director dared not reply. In fact, this hacker had only breached their outermost layer. There were five more security systems behind it, and overall, the security system was very robust.
But in the boss's eyes, being hacked was being hacked. He wouldn't care how many layers were behind it.
The more he thought about it, the more nervous he became, and the faster his hands moved. Indeed, all the cracks were removed within a minute.
The glaring "Scumbag" on the screen finally disappeared. The technical director quickly reinforced the outer security system. However, before he could finish reinforcing it, the screen went black again, and "Scumbag" reappeared.