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Chapter 2647 Paying Homage to the Pier

When Suning's private plane landed at the Capital Airport, it was early autumn in Beijing.

This time he stayed in Japan for nearly a month, visiting car companies and attending corporate dinners, traveling from Tokyo to Nagoya and then to Kyoto.

Finally, he flew back with more than a dozen acquisition contracts, his suitcase filled with technical data and patent lists compiled by the investment department of China Capital.

As Suning disembarked, he loosened his collar. The dry air from Beijing rushed into the cabin, a stark contrast to the humid sea breeze in Tokyo.

The person who picked him up at the airport was naturally his assistant, Zhuangzhuang.

Zhuangzhuang stood outside the arrival gate, wearing a loose, light jacket. When she saw Su Ning come out, she raised her hand and waved.

Su Ning handed his luggage to his assistant and subordinates, and then got into the passenger seat of the car that Zhuang Zhuang was driving.

As the car exited the airport expressway, Suning leaned back in his seat, reviewing the documents and reports that had piled up over the past month. "Is everything alright at home?"

The car was driving smoothly on the highway when Zhuangzhuang turned her head and glanced at Su Ning. "President Su, I'm pregnant."

Su Ning turned to look at Zhuang Zhuang, her expression unusually surprised.

When did you find out?

“Just a few days ago. It’s been more than two months. I was thinking of calling you to tell you, but I felt it would be better to say it in person. You have so many things to discuss in Japan, and I don’t want to distract you.”

"Starting tomorrow, you don't need to go to work. Just stay home and rest. Leave all work-related matters to Xiao Zhao."

"It hasn't been long, no need to be so delicate. I'm in great health, you know that. Back when I was working in the sales office, I would run around construction sites in high heels all day without a break. Besides, Xiao Zhao already has three projects to follow up on."

Su Ning chuckled, "Then you decide for yourself. If you're not feeling well, just rest."

"it is good."

Before Su Ning could even process the news of Zhuang Zhuang's pregnancy, Shen Ranran called.

After learning about her pregnancy from Zhuang Zhuang, Shen Ranran went to the hospital for a checkup and then called Su Ning, "President Su, I'm pregnant too. What should we do?"

Two women, almost simultaneously—the odds of that are lower than winning the lottery.

Su Ning was silent for a few seconds. "When did this happen?"

"Around the same time as Zhuangzhuang. After all, we often took care of you together. After hearing that she was pregnant, I also went to the hospital for a check-up. The doctor said everything was normal, she was three months along, and the fetal heartbeat was detected."

How are you feeling? Do you have any morning sickness?

"I'm fine, I can eat and sleep well," Shen Ranran said. "It's just that I've been craving sour things lately, like plums, lemons, oranges, I want to eat anything sour. I didn't used to eat sour things much."

"Then you shouldn't film anymore. Tell President Zhou to postpone your schedule. Your health comes first. What's the progress of that film you're currently working on?"

"Just finished filming. Perfect timing, no need to ask for leave."

After hanging up the phone, Su Ning leaned back in her chair.

Zhuangzhuang and Shen Ranran both knew in their hearts that Su Ning would not marry them.

It's not that they aren't good enough, but marriage has never been part of Suning's life plan.

The equity structure, control arrangements, and power dynamics of the Tianchao Group ensure that no legitimate spouse will be allowed to appear in any of these areas.

Suning never intended to hide this from them; they knew the rules of the game from day one.

Unless he meets a woman he's particularly attracted to, Su Ning will not get married.

Actually, Zhuangzhuang already knew before she knocked on Suning's door.

Therefore, they never dared to hope for a marriage with Su Ning, and they never even made any indirect attempts or hints.

This is also why Suning has always liked them; it makes them happy and saves them a lot of trouble.

Zhuangzhuang still goes to work on time every day to help Suning manage everything, while Shen Ranran still travels back and forth between various film crews.

However, after filming her last scene, Shen Ranran asked President Zhou for a long leave, citing health reasons and the need for rest.

When President Zhou signed the leave slip, he looked up and glanced at Shen Ranran.

Shen Ranran stood in front of his desk, wearing a loose sweatshirt, with no makeup on her face. She looked healthy, but she did appear a little rounder than before.

Having worked in the entertainment industry for so many years, Mr. Zhou has seen all sorts of things and probably had some idea of ​​what was going on.

But he didn't ask anything; he just wrote two words on the leave slip: "Agreed."

Then he handed the leave slip back, saying, "Zhuangzhuang, take a good rest. I'll help you with your schedule. Let me know in advance when you're ready to return to work after giving birth, and I'll have the scriptwriting team reserve some good scripts for you."

Shen Ranran took the leave slip and said, "Thank you, President Zhou."

As time went by, Zhuangzhuang's belly grew bigger and bigger.

So Zhuangzhuang started working with Suning's new assistant to hand over her duties.

First, I tidied up my personal belongings on my desk and compiled Suning's daily schedule into a detailed document. It listed out when meetings were held, what kind of tea they usually drank, which documents had the highest priority for signature, which landline number corresponded to which department, and even details such as whether the potted green plant in Suning's office was watered once a week and the coffee machine filter was changed once a month.

The handover documents were neatly stacked in folders, each folder with a label on its spine.

When the new assistant, Xiao Tong, came to take over, Zhuang Zhuang went through everything with her point by point.

"Xiao Tong, this blue folder contains internal group documents, the red ones are from external partners, and the yellow ones are the most urgent and must be processed that day." Zhuang Zhuang pointed out each folder to her new assistant.

"Understood." Xiao Tong quickly jotted down notes in her notebook, nodding as she wrote.

Zhuangzhuang continued, "Before President Su arrives at the office at eight o'clock in the morning, the tea should be brewed and placed on the table. The Longjing tea leaves are in this drawer. The water temperature should be about 80% boiling. Don't use boiling water directly, as President Su prefers a lighter taste for tea."

"Eighty percent open?" Xiao Tong looked up at Zhuang Zhuang. "I always thought that just soaking it in boiling water would be enough."

“The tea brewed with boiling water is bitter, and he doesn’t like it,” Zhuangzhuang said. “His throat tends to be sore when the seasons change, so we switch from Longjing tea to Luo Han Guo tea. Luo Han Guo is sold in the Chinese medicine shop across the street. We break off half of it and brew a pot each time.”

As Xiao Tong took notes, she said, "Assistant Zhuang, you're so meticulous. No wonder President Su relies on you so much."

Zhuangzhuang closed the drawer. "I believe you can do better than me."

……

That evening, Shen Ranran came to Zhuangzhuang's place to find her.

Now, Suning has arranged new luxury homes for them, and they no longer live in employee dormitories.

The two sat on the sofa, with a plate of sliced ​​oranges and two glasses of warm water on the coffee table.

Shen Ranran picked up a slice of orange and took a bite. "Zhuangzhuang, have you been having a lot of morning sickness lately?"

"I'm okay, just a little nauseous this morning." Zhuangzhuang picked up her water glass and took a sip. "How about you?"

"I don't feel anything, I just crave sour things." Shen Ranran picked up another slice of orange. "I used to think oranges were sour, but now I think they're just right. Do you think this child will be as short-tempered as me when he's born?"

Zhuangzhuang laughed, "There's nothing wrong with having a quick temper. You'll never suffer a loss with a personality like that."

Shen Ranran put the orange peel back on the plate, tilted her head to look at Zhuangzhuang, and smiled mischievously. "Zhuangzhuang, guess what Su Ning's expression was when he found out we were both pregnant?" Zhuangzhuang was stunned for a moment, then covered her mouth and laughed. "I think he would have been stunned first."

Shen Ranran leaned back on the sofa armrest, placed her hand on her still flat stomach, and gently touched it. "I knew he wouldn't marry us. I knew from the very beginning."

"..." Zhuangzhuang nodded without saying anything.

Shen Ranran continued, "But I'm not worried at all that he will mistreat me and the child. He's ruthless to others and ruthless to himself, but he's never stingy with the people he cares about."

Yes. He has always been very kind to the people around him.

"So he will only treat his own flesh and blood better. I have never doubted that he will treat his children as his most precious treasures."

Zhuangzhuang nodded again and gently placed her hand on her stomach. "That's what I think too. I don't need him to give me any title. What he gives to the child is much more important than a title."

Shen Ranran glanced at her. "Aren't you scared?"

"What are you afraid of?" Zhuangzhuang asked back.

"I'm afraid it will be hard to raise the child alone in the future."

Zhuangzhuang shook her head. "I'm not afraid of hard work. I've never thought of it as a hardship. Besides, he wouldn't let me shoulder it all alone. Believe it or not, the first thing he said to me the day he found out I was pregnant was to tell me to stop going to work."

Shen Ranran laughed, "He also told me to stop filming and to ask President Zhou for leave."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Shen Ranran said, "What do you think our children will call each other? Auntie?"

Zhuangzhuang thought for a moment, "Let's call her godmother. You are my child's godmother, and I am your child's godmother."

“Okay.” Shen Ranran picked up her water glass and clinked it against Zhuangzhuang’s. “It’s settled then. We’ll look after each other from now on, and the kids will have company.”

Zhuangzhuang clinked glasses with her, "Okay."

After finishing her water and putting down her cup, Shen Ranran suddenly remembered something. "By the way, have you thought about a name for the baby?"

"I haven't thought about it seriously yet," Zhuangzhuang said. "What about you?"

“I’ve thought of a few,” Shen Ranran said. “If it’s a boy, I’d like to name him Su Zheng, the ‘Zheng’ in ‘righteousness’. If it’s a girl, I’d name her Su Nian, the ‘Nian’ in ‘longing’. What do you think?”

Zhuangzhuang repeated it twice, "Su Nian sounds good. Su Zheng sounds good too, it means righteousness."

"And what about you? What are your thoughts?"

Zhuangzhuang lowered her head and thought for a while, "I want to give the child a warm name. Regardless of whether it's a boy or a girl, I hope he will be a warm person in the future."

"for example?"

“Take Su Nuan for example.” Zhuang Zhuang laughed after saying that. “Isn’t it too simple?”

Shen Ranran shook her head, "It's not simple, it sounds nice. Su Nuan, it sounds like the winter sun. It's quite like you, you are a warm person."

Zhuangzhuang was embarrassed by Shen Ranran's praise and said, "I was just thinking casually."

"After the baby is born, let's take the baby to the park together, pushing two strollers side by side. It sounds like it would be really fun. What do you think people would think? Would they think we're sisters?"

Zhuangzhuang laughed out loud, "Then you'd better rehearse your story with me first, so that we don't end up saying one thing and the other saying the other isn't."

“Then let’s stick to the same story and say we’re sisters.” Shen Ranran slapped her thigh. “Anyway, we’ve known each other for so many years, we’re practically sisters.”

Zhuangzhuang looked at her, her eyes softening. "Ranran, to be honest, when I found out you were pregnant too, I actually felt relieved."

"Why?" Shen Ranran asked.

"Because I don't have to worry about you feeling uncomfortable. We'll both take care of Su Ning together, so neither of us will feel neglected, and the child will have a companion. That's better than anything else."

Shen Ranran was silent for a while before saying, "Zhuangzhuang, you're just too kind. You always think of others first."

Zhuangzhuang smiled and said, "Aren't you the same? You may not say it, but you know it better than anyone else."

Shen Ranran looked up. "Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore. I'm hungry, do you have anything to eat?"

"There are dumplings in the fridge, I'll cook them for you." Zhuangzhuang stood up and walked towards the kitchen.

Shen Ranran followed behind her, leaning against the kitchen door frame, and said, "Cook a few more. I'm eating for two people now."

Zhuangzhuang glanced back at her, smiled, and said, "Okay, plenty."

……

On this day, Chiung Yao, a talented woman from Taiwan, personally visited Huayu Film & Television.

Today, Huayu Film & Television is a behemoth in the film and television industry, producing more than half of the top ten TV dramas in the country each year. Its contracted artists range from A-list stars to promising newcomers, and the Tianchao Group behind it is a force to be reckoned with.

There's an unwritten rule in this circle...

No matter how famous you are elsewhere, when you come to Beijing to film, you absolutely must pay your respects to Huayu Film & Television.

Although Qiong Yao is highly experienced and renowned, she is well aware that in this industry, the power of content creation and the power of capital channels are equally important, and Huayu Film & Television is a behemoth that possesses both.

Therefore, Qiong Yao's visit to Beijing this time was both to discuss cooperation and to pay her respects to the powerful figures behind her.

President Zhou naturally gave Qiong Yao plenty of face.

Not only did they have tea and refreshments prepared in the VIP room downstairs, but they also personally greeted him at the elevator entrance.

"Sister Qiong Yao." As soon as Qiong Yao entered the door, President Zhou greeted her politely and led her to sit down on the sofa with both hands.

For no other reason than that Qiong Yao's name is too well-known in the Chinese film and television industry.

Her dramas have made generations of stars famous, from Brigitte Lin in the 1970s to Liu Xuehua in the 1980s. Every Qiong Yao drama was a ratings machine, and as soon as the theme song played, every household would be filled with people in front of their television sets.

Although Huayu Film & Television is the dominant force in the mainland entertainment industry, Mr. Zhou is well aware that the film and television industry is different from real estate and automobiles. It is not something that can be achieved solely through capital and distribution channels. The IP value and network accumulation in content creation are often more vital than capital itself.

What Qiong Yao holds in her hands are the most vibrant batch of IPs in the Chinese film and television industry.

"Sister Qiong Yao, why didn't you give me a heads-up before coming to Beijing? I could have arranged for someone to pick you up," Mr. Zhou said with a smile.

Qiong Yao sat down and waved her hand, "No need for that trouble. I've lived in Beijing for so many years, I know the way very well. I came here mainly to talk to you about cooperation, and also to pay my respects to the local authorities."

Upon hearing this, President Zhou laughed and quickly said, "What are you saying? You're a senior, it's us who should be visiting you."

Qiong Yao picked up her teacup and took a sip. "President Zhou, there's no need to be so polite. Huayu Film & Television's achievements over the past few years speak for themselves; who in the industry doesn't recognize them? Although I have an old-fashioned style, I know that the market is different now than before. The power of capital and distribution channels is no less than that of content creation. Huayu has both, so who else would I turn to if not you?"

Hearing Qiong Yao say this, President Zhou was very pleased, but he still remained humble on the surface. "Sister Qiong Yao, you flatter me too much. Huayu Entertainment has been able to reach its current scale thanks to the foundation laid by predecessors like you. Without your generation paving the way for Chinese-language film and television, how could we, the later generations, have such an easy path to walk? Please feel free to share your thoughts, and Huayu Entertainment will do its best to cooperate in any way we can."

Qiong Yao didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "Mr. Zhou, I have a script for a period drama set in the Republican era. It's been very well received in Taiwan and Hong Kong. It's been polished for several years and has a large investment. I need to find a strong mainland company to cooperate with. Huayu is my first choice."

...(End of this chapter)