Chapter 321: On the Job, Perform Your Duty

To be honest, Chen Hao never expected that Zhou Yi's trip to the U. S. would build such a strong relationship with Maria Carey, to the point where this top-tier superstar personally escorted her here.

She had thought those newspaper reports before were just American media gossip.

"How's it going?"

"No problem, everything's taken care of, don't worry, Mom."

Nursing center, client lounge.

Upon seeing her daughter walk in, Chen's mother immediately stood up, her expression tense; only after receiving her daughter's confirmation did she finally exhale: "What a good man—Xiao Zhou has helped us so much. And Professor Sun, we owe him too for helping find people."

If not for Zhou Yi's influence making Warner take this seriously and Maria Carey leading the way, they might never have gotten into this nursing home.

"Yes."

In a lighter mood, Chen Hao smiled and handed her mother a crystal card: "Mom, take this—it'll be needed when Dad's surgery ends and he's transferred here for recovery. You know where the hotel is; when you visit Dad, just tell the driver."

Though Chen Hao was short on money, from the moment she signed Zhou Yi's MV contract, she wasn't anymore.

This time she came to the U. S., Zhou Yi, under the excuse of worrying about the MV's female lead's safety, arranged a full care team and security detail for her and her parents, even added three extra translators, just so the old couple could feel comfortable staying in America after she left.

"I owe you again, Zhou Yi."

Watching her mother leave, still mumbling grateful words under her breath—"May heaven protect us"—Chen Hao finally felt a heavy stone lift from her heart; she turned and saw the TV in the lounge playing entertainment news showing Zhou Yi's English album battling Eminem on U. S. soil, and she couldn't help but smile.

This was unquestionably the most lively moment in American entertainment since WWII.

First, Jackie Chan's *Rush Hour 2* catapulted him into Hollywood's hall of fame, finishing among the top five box office hits of the year, shaking the globe;

Then came Zhou Yi, turning a B-side into a theme song and stunning everyone with a divine album that crushed the entire American music scene.

And even more crucially, both were genuine Chinese.

After arriving in the U. S., Chen Hao received a call from Jackie Chan himself, who kindly asked if she needed help—if she did, he and his wife Lin Fengjiao would offer assistance without hesitation.

"I always say it's hard for Chinese people to struggle abroad; if I can help, I will, no questions asked. Besides, Yi and I are close, and he asked me to look after your parents."

This was Jackie Chan's way of dispelling Chen Hao's doubts.

Jackie Chan, currently in the U. S. promoting *The Amazing Tuxedo*, will be staying longer this year; the nanny introduced by his wife Lin Fengjiao was also a key reason Chen Hao could return home confidently to start working hard to "repay the debt."

She previously invested heavily in internet stocks with Zhou Yi and lost money; now only Maotai is making profits, but it's a drop in the bucket compared to her father's medical needs.

Zhou Yi might not care about the money "given" to her, but Chen Hao couldn't ignore it. She knew better than anyone she wasn't worth the price on that MV contract, nor did she deserve that "lucky red envelope" for the shoot's opening.

Only because Zhou Jianhui knew her situation and genuinely admired Zhou Yi did he approve that contract.

……………………………………

"How could that be? Don't talk nonsense—how is this favoritism?"

July 7, Capital City, outskirts, *Lianshan* MV set.

Facing Jiang Wen's slander, Zhou Yi, visiting the location for the first time, retorted sternly: "Could it not be that Zhou Jianhui had a sudden change of heart and realized Chen Hao is worth this price?"

"Using Warner's money to do your own thing, little brother, you're something else."

Jiang Wen, equally unyielding toward Zhou Yi, sneered, sized him up, then gave a thumbs-up: "But since your sales are high, whatever you say is right."

Who in the country doesn't know Zhou Yi's status as an international superstar now?

Xie Tingfeng fans who once arrogantly criticized Zhou Yi as unworthy of the "Dual Stars" title now cower in their own corners, wailing—mainly because Xie Tingfeng himself is just useless.

Others' arrogance is just a personality flaw, but you? You directly crashed into Zhou Yi's university major—who can handle that? Even the most loyal fans can't wash that away.

The fans tried their best—this battle can't be fought.

As the theoretical director of the four-part music film series, Ning Hao, dressed in a white T-shirt, trailed behind the two like a junior assistant director, unable to interject a single word.

"Let me tell you, right here, this spot, this scene…"

Holding his own wildly different, stick-figure stream-of-consciousness storyboard, Jiang Wen personally explained to Zhou Yi the script's required scenes and plot arrangements, pointing to every detail on set.

"No, it's too long—you can't stretch it into a ninety-minute MV even if you made ten; do you think you're making a movie? Condense it, simplify it, do you understand?"

As the album's producer, Zhou Yi shot back immediately: "Did you even listen to the feedback I gave you earlier?"

"You—"

"I—"

Watching these two shift from "loving each other" to shouting until their faces turned red, Ning Hao, the invisible bystander, felt for the first time in his life a strange, refreshing relief—as if he'd eaten several chilled watermelons without actually eating anything.

Especially since it was summer, a blazing August day.

So good, so good!

Jiang Wen, you son of a bitch, you've finally gotten yours!

As the nominal director, Ning Hao couldn't interfere in plot discussions; instead, he sat quietly aside, not even daring to crack sunflower seeds—what kind of treatment was this?

Many on set were clearly holding back laughter or other emotions, pretending not to notice—until—

"Zhou Yi, this scene's symbolism and setting absolutely cannot be cut."

"No, this can be cut—it's optimizable."

"You'll regret it!"

"I'm the producer!"

Seeing Jiang Wen instantly silenced by Zhou Yi, Ning Hao, seated on his chair, finally lost emotional control—his mouth twisted into a wild, uncontrollable grin.

Serves you right!

I'm the damn director!

"What are you staring at? Has the female lead arrived? Where's the director? Go pick her up!"

After losing the argument with flowery citations, Jiang Wen scowled and blurted out.

Ning Hao, once a director, now reduced to a driver: "…."

Damn, so frustrating.

Now he finally understood why Warner paid so much—and why rumors said Jiang Wen once nearly drove a director to the hospital.

After adjusting her time zone upon returning home, Chen Hao quickly boarded the MV crew's vehicle and arrived on set, where the person greeting her outside was Ning Hao—someone she didn't know.

"Hello, Miss Chen, welcome, welcome. Mr. Zhou Yi has been waiting for a long time. My name is Ning Hao; you can just call me Xiao Ning, Miss Chen."

"Trouble you to lead the way, Xiao Ning."

Thinking this person was a script supervisor or an assistant director or something, Chen Hao politely nodded at him. Soon, she saw Zhou Yi resting under the sunshade wearing sunglasses—a floral short-sleeved shirt, beach shorts, and flip-flops.

Those who knew he was here to shoot an MV thought he was here to shoot an MV; those who didn't thought he was here for a vacation.

"Zhou Yi, I'm here."

Zhou Yi, who had just taken a break after a world war with Jiang Wen, turned his head subconsciously at the gentle words. Chen Hao, wearing an orange top paired with jeans, immediately came into view.

Her height of one meter sixty-six appeared even more slender with two-centimeter high-heeled sandals.

"How many times have I said, use titles during work."

Zhou Yi, having taken off his sunglasses, stood up with a smile and opened his arms where he stood to show welcome: "But, welcome your arrival nonetheless."

"Thank you. I will definitely pay attention next time."

Her eyes and eyebrows, charming but not seductive, were full of joy. Chen Hao, giving Zhou Yi a warm embrace, smiled: "Dear Producer Zhou."

"Ah~"

Zhou Yi immediately let out a strange sound of enjoyment: "Yes, that's right, that's the title. Say it again."

"Dear... Producer Zhou?" Even though she had known Zhou Yi for many years, Chen Hao couldn't quite figure out his train of thought for a moment and asked tentatively.

"Ah~"

Zhou Yi let out another strange cry, closed his eyes, and enjoyed the title: "Comfortable."

Under another sun lounger not far away, Jiang Wen's face instantly turned black—

Who are you pointing at?!

(End of this chapter)