Pei Ji’an had to leave the next day. After all, he had his own career to tend to, and upon returning, he needed to imdiately attend an important eting.
During this ti, besides starting on the road construction in the mountains, the signal got fixed too, so Qu Fulan and Pei Ji’an spent each day chatting on the phone, sharing warmth and concern.
It’s often said that distance creates a certain beauty, and after this separation, Qu Fulan’s understanding of this relationship deepened, and her longing for him flowed like an endless river.
But she still stayed in the mountains for a full month before returning to the big city.
Editing and producing short videos is ti-consuming, so the footage shot in the mountains couldn’t be imdiately shown to the audience.
So far, Qu Fulan’s studio had been running in a lukewarm manner. If a formidable team could join in, it might beco an overnight sensation.
So things are either not done or must be done to the extre.
After so inquiries, there was indeed such a formidable team — Zhanfeng Team, which had popularized the "Red Star" account. This account belonged to a beauty who, despite being pretty and distinctive, initially didn’t attract much attention. Later, it was the Zhanfeng Team that made her famous; now she’s debuted as a star. As her developnt path diverged, Zhanfeng Team terminated their contract, and currently in a gap period, many want to collaborate with them, but they haven’t accepted anyone.
"The team leader is nad An Li, a very capable woman, rumored to be a rich second-generation graduate of a prestigious overseas university. People like her are naturally selective; not everyone who invites her would get her cooperation unless there’s a connection or sufficient networking exchange."
Speaking of networking, in all of G City, if President Pei claims to be second, no one dares to claim first.
With the need for her boyfriend to step in, naturally, Qu Fulan had to perform well.
Having been back from the trip for several days, they both busied with their own tasks, leaving them with very few real opportunities to spend ti together. Qu Fulan felt no small amount of guilt — he had traveled so far to find her in the mountains, and she hadn’t properly reciprocated.
Pei Ji’an’s use of "travel far and wide" touched Qu Fulan deeply, and she made him feel relaxed and happy over two nights.
Even without going all the way, there were still many things they could do, and she felt quite exhausted, but it was worth it.
Because Pei Ji’an arranged for his assistant to introduce her to the Zhanfeng Team.
When An Li t Assistant Cai, she was very surprised; she never expected the Pei Group would step in, offering a favor she couldn’t refuse. But she wouldn’t agree imdiately either.
"I need to et the counterpart and assess the studio’s overall strength. If it’s too subpar, I’m afraid I cannot help."
This team doesn’t collaborate with just any studio; if there’s no distinctiveness, it’ll be a wasted effort on her part.
Assistant Cai maintained a calm deanor, "Naturally, knowing more about things is always good. Please schedule a ti to et, Miss An."
The eting was set for the next noon.
Through Assistant Cai’s introduction, Qu Fulan t An Li at a café.
Though she had known the other’s age beforehand, seeing her in person still surprised her secretly. She looked so young, just like soone her own age, not a bit like what soone a few years older ought to look.
It wasn’t just Qu Fulan who was surprised; even An Li was a bit unexpected. Qu Fulan’s appearance was too outstanding and younger than she imagined. She hadn’t reviewed the other’s profile before coming; profiles could be beautified. It becos clear in person whether good or bad, so she didn’t waste ti.
Now having t her in person, she found her to be even more remarkable than the woman she had previously turned into a star. Such a beauty could easily beco popular.
But An Li had a peculiarity; she disliked people who didn’t follow the right path. Those trying to make their way up through shaful ans, she wouldn’t collaborate with at all, and many prior collaborators had been eliminated by her for this reason.
The "Red Star" she had boosted was admired for, although being a beauty, never taking detours, always managing her career straight, which she admired.
However, this Qu Fulan, she didn’t like so much.
She was puzzled about why a group like Pei’s would want to collaborate with her, but upon eting Qu Fulan, she understood.
Indeed, An Li had classified Qu Fulan as a mistress.
For soone of Pei’s status, marrying a woman of ordinary background was impossible; it had to be a match that made sense, hence categorizing Qu Fulan among the mistresses.
She despised the entertainnt industry’s practice of benefactors fostering mistresses.
Because her father had been seduced away by a mistress, and later even her boyfriend proved to be restless, she regarded those kinds of won as mortal enemies.
"I’m sorry, I can’t collaborate with her. Please offer my apologies to President Pei." After An Li finished speaking, she didn’t even glance at Qu Fulan before grabbing her bag and leaving.
Not only was Qu Fulan baffled, but even Assistant Cai had yet to comprehend.
Without rhy or reason, rejecting collaboration straight away, how could anyone understand that?
Since Assistant Cai was under President Pei’s orders, failing to accomplish the task would be dereliction of duty. Naturally, he wouldn’t let the matter remain unclear and took a few steps forward to stop her, seeking to understand the reasons so he could adequately report back.
An Li’s countenance was aloof, "Assistant Cai, it’s not that I’m intentionally making things difficult, it’s just that I base my collaborations on a sense of connection, and not everyone fits the bill."
Her vague explanations were as good as no explanation at all, before casting him a look and walking away.
Even soone as even-tempered as Assistant Cai felt a flicker of anger, but he knew that anger wouldn’t solve the problem; only clarifying the matter would do.
As the saying goes, ’Know your enemy and yourself, and you’ll prevail in every battle.’
With Assistant Cai’s connections, he quickly identified An Li’s characteristics through a few phone calls.
"So, she believes I’m a mistress and thus refuses outright to work with ?" After hearing Assistant Cai’s analysis, Qu Fulan found it inconceivable. "From where did she get the idea that I’m a mistress?"
Assistant Cai was at a loss too, but he could guess part of the reason.
Qu Fulan was too attractive, coming from an ordinary background, able to link to soone like President Pei; aside from being his mistress, there seed no qualification for marrying into the Pei family.
This was the general perception.
Because in people’s minds, high society adhered to appropriate matches.
Upon learning the reason, Qu Fulan also imdiately dismissed the idea of collaborating with the Zhanfeng Team.
If soone provides no chance to explain but imdiately condemns, there’s no need to collaborate either.
"Why the sudden reluctance to collaborate with them?"
In the restaurant, Pei Ji’an inquired about the matter, mainly because Qu Fulan initially made considerable efforts to collaborate with the Zhanfeng Team, both by enticing him and diligently probing various aspects of them. Yet, after eting, she opted not to collaborate, which called for an inquiry.
"Just not a good fit, I guess." Qu Fulan replied indifferently, not inclined to discuss the matter.
Being misunderstood and undervalued isn’t sothing worth elaborating on.
Public bias isn’t easily altered; even if soday she would marry into the Pei family, those with conventional prejudices wouldn’t change their views of her. By then, they would just adapt their remarks to: "Think marrying into high society lets you live without worry? You won’t be in there long before being divorced."
When An Li entered the restaurant, she imdiately noticed the two people by the window, a sneer flashing in her eyes.
This day and age, mistresses appear so openly under the sun, illustrating just how chaotic life has beco.
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