Chapter 25: Chapter Twenty-Eight I'm tired…

As soon as she got Xiao Zhao's call, Ceng Jia rushed over from out of town without stopping.

On the way, she had already heard Xiao Zhao give a rough report.

By the time Ceng Jia arrived at the set, it was already the next day.

Da Mi Mi had been filming all day at the hospital; likely affected by the role, she couldn't get out of character and looked somewhat gloomy.

It's a melodrama targeting the mother-in-law market, where each character is more miserable than the last.

It turns out filming such melodrama is draining; she just wants to rest now.

Even when she opened the door and saw Ceng Jia, Da Mi Mi merely dragged her exhausted body and spoke weakly.

"Mm, Big Sister Jia, you're here…"

Ceng Jia also nodded indifferently and got straight to the point: "Xiao Zhao already gave me a rough rundown of yesterday's events."

"Oh."

Da Mi Mi responded uncertainly, instinctively pulling out her phone. Usually at this time, after wrapping up, she'd call Chen Ci.

But today she couldn't muster the interest. She just buried her head and sent a text: "I'm tired…"

After sending the message, she lifted her head in confusion: "Big Sister Jia, what did you just say?"

Ceng Jia smiled and said, "Yesterday's matter."

"Yesterday?"

Her dim eyes flickered with a hint of bewilderment, but soon she recalled something and gained a little energy.

"Big Sister Jia, you already know."

"You must be exhausted, and this has only just begun…"

"Oh, Big Sister Jia, don't say that—I know."

Da Mi Mi slumped limp against the bed, her vacant gaze fixed on the ceiling.

The Chen family's influence is huge; they easily persuaded the director.

To let her finish filming early and prepare for the next project, the nonstop shooting days have just begun.

While she was feeling wistful, Ceng Jia suddenly broke the silence: "Right, the crew needs to speed up—surely there's no role for you in the Olympic promotional video you asked leave to film. I've already explained the situation to the Olympic Committee; let them get someone else."

"Huh?"

Da Mi Mi suddenly sprang up like a carp flipping, looking at Ceng Jia with astonishment.

She opened her small mouth, wanting to speak but hesitating; then her brows furrowed and her gaze deepened.

Taking in Da Mi Mi's reaction, Ceng Jia chuckled lightly; this girl is still sharp, able to tell priorities.

Right now three things have collided—Living On With a Smile, Mei Lanfang, and the Olympic promotional video—and due to time we can only pick two.

Living On With a Smile is under contract; she can't afford the penalty for breaking it.

As for Mei Lanfang, needless to say—it's Chen Kaige!

Only the Olympic promotional video is merely an invitation without a contract; its earnings can't compare to Mei Lanfang's, so given the circumstances we'll have to drop it.

But Da Mi Mi still has another concern—that's Chen Ci: "Big Sister Jia…"

"I know what you're thinking—your little boyfriend probably already heard the news about the replacement."

"What? Then…"

"To be honest, I didn't think much of you two at first, but I didn't expect him to be somewhat useful at the crucial moment. Mi Mi, this chance to work with Chen Kaige doesn't come easily—you must seize it."

"Not easy to come by? Da Mi Mi herself feels nothing of the sort… Wait, now's the time to agonize over this!"

"Big Sister Jia, but he…"

Ceng Jia's smile grew: "I know what you want to say—it's just that you stood up your boyfriend once. If he really likes you, he shouldn't mind too much; you can act cute and spoiled, and if needed I'll help explain."

Da Mi Mi paused, swallowed, and looked hesitant.

Seeing this, Ceng Jia asked curiously, "What's wrong now?"

"It seems… not just one pigeon…"

Entering June, Chen Ci suddenly became so busy he couldn't find his bearings.

Mainly because he'd previously overhyped things, now he has to prepare both the movie and the Olympics, and also help Shi San build momentum at the press conference.

No idea what their company was thinking, but the press conference originally set for the end of the month was suddenly moved up to June 13.

Supposedly to better match Shi San's stage name, with tight schedule and heavy workload, Chen Ci summoned Lao Zhao and Pang Zi again.

As for Shi San himself, he was also frazzled by the press conference being moved up.

"Tsk, look at Pang Zi—he's so meticulous."

"Who are you calling meticulous?"

"I'm talking about Master Ci's schedule…"

For a moment, Chen Ci regretted calling those two idiots, but he had no other choice.

"Cut the nonsense—in a couple days the minority ethnic delegation will keep arriving in Jingcheng; we must follow the schedule strictly."

A troupe of over fifty performers, trying to organize a promotional video shoot and record songs—that's not something you can do just by flapping your gums.

To that end Chen Ci drew up a detailed schedule, but he still felt uneasy.

Lao Zhao slapped his chest: "No problem—I'll make sure all the ethnic compatriots feel Jingcheng's warmth and the greatness of the motherland."

Pang Zi had some concerns: "Just the three of us serving over fifty people—isn't that a bit thin on manpower?"

Chen Ci also knew the biggest problem was lack of manpower, but these years he's only made girlfriends, or else just drinking-and-eating buddies.

The only usable ones are still just Lao Zhao and Pang Zi and a few others.

"Otherwise, if any of you have a more reliable friend you could call in to help, I can pay wages."

Chen Ci glanced at Lao Zhao, who tactfully turned his head away.

He then turned to Pang Zi and saw he was pondering something.

Chen Ci waited silently as he thought for a few seconds, and finally he had an answer.

Pang Zi said seriously: "I can get Xiao Dan to help, and I also have two classmates I'm on good terms with."

Xiao Dan is Pang Zi's girlfriend, so that shouldn't be a problem.

Pang Zi also thought of two schoolmates in the same predicament; with graduation near, they couldn't find acting work and had no income.

If there were pay, they would definitely be willing to come.

Lao Zhao asked: "Pang Zi, are your classmates reliable?"

Pang Zi hesitated again upon hearing that, and frankly, those two usually give the impression of being somewhat unreliable.

But this is a serious matter, and there's money to be made; they couldn't possibly not take it seriously.

But Pang Zi couldn't be too certain: "I guess they're somewhat reliable..."

There was no better option, so Chen Ci decided: "Let's do that, get in touch quickly, and we can talk about the money."

Pang Zi broke into a grin, his round face turning into a bun: "Understood, Master Ci has never shortchanged his brothers."

Chen Ci patted his shoulder, just opened his mouth to say something, when his phone rang.

Chen Ci answered the phone right in front of them: "Hello, this is Chen Ci."

"She can't come, why?"

"Alright, I understand."

"Okay, no problem, I'll arrange it."

From the first sentence of the call, Chen Ci's expression looked off.

Lao Zhao and Pang Zi exchanged glances, no one daring to be the first to speak.

"She can't come..."

Chen Ci bit half of his lower lip and muttered, his gaze solemn and unfocused.

Pang Zi finally couldn't hold back, wanting to ask: "Who..."

Before his words finished, Chen Ci's phone rang again, this time a text message.

He tilted his head to glance: "I'm tired..."