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Chapter 2648 Acting Skills

At this moment, President Zhou quickly went through the matter in his mind.

Qiong Yao personally visited, so there's no doubt about her sincerity.

The IP she owns comes with guaranteed viewership and a large audience base; that's obvious.

For Huayu Film & Television, co-production is naturally a bonus, and it also provides an opportunity to further consolidate the brand's influence in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese markets.

So, President Zhou immediately made the decision on the spot, "No problem with the cooperation. Let both teams sit down and discuss the specific terms. Investment ratio, copyright ownership, cast, etc. can all be negotiated. Huayu will definitely cooperate fully."

Qiong Yao smiled and nodded, "I'm relieved to hear Mr. Zhou say that."

The two chatted for a while about the specifics of their collaboration, when Qiong Yao suddenly changed the subject, "Mr. Zhou, there's one more thing I'd like to ask you."

"Please speak."

"I'd like to invite Mr. Su to dinner. Would that be convenient?"

Mr. Zhou's smile faltered for a moment.

Because he knows Suning's temperament too well.

Suning would decline nine out of ten such dinner invitations, and the remaining one would depend on his mood.

Many Hong Kong and Taiwanese filmmakers come to the mainland to pay their respects and want to meet Suning, but most of them can't even get a chance to see him. Mr. Zhou directly blocked them for his boss.

After all, Suning has never interfered in the operation of Huayu Film & Television, and those Hong Kong and Taiwan film and television bigwigs are not people Suning cares about.

But Qiong Yao's attitude today was very sincere, so it would be too impolite to refuse outright.

“Mr. Zhou, actually I wanted to express my gratitude to Mr. Su in person,” Qiong Yao said. “Huayu Film & Television has done such a good job in the mainland film and television market in recent years, and we content creators have also benefited from it. I have been in the industry for decades and have watched the mainland market grow from nothing to something, from small to large. I know the role Mr. Su has played in this. It’s just a simple meal, so as not to take up too much of his time.”

After a moment's thought, Mr. Zhou said, "Sister Qiong Yao, I can ask for you, but I can't guarantee that Mr. Su will agree. He just returned from Japan recently, and he has a lot of things to do, so his schedule is really full."

“I understand,” Qiong Yao said. “Just pass on the message for me. It’s okay if President Su is not available; we can talk about it another time.”

……

That afternoon, President Zhou relayed Qiong Yao's request to Suning.

Mr. Zhou originally thought that Suning would refuse directly as usual, and he had already prepared his reply to Qiong Yao in his mind.

To Mr. Zhou's surprise, Suning agreed almost without hesitation, saying, "Okay."

Mr. Zhou was taken aback for a moment, and couldn't help but ask, "Ms. Su, what's wrong? Don't you usually try to decline these kinds of dinner invitations?"

Su Ning leaned back in his chair, twirling the worn-out gold-plated fountain pen in his hand. "I also want to see the true face of this talented Chinese woman."

Mr. Zhou didn't ask any more questions, but he always felt that the boss had a kind of inexplicable interest, not the kind of interest in business cooperation, but something more personal.

"Then I'll talk to Qiong Yao and set a time."

"You can arrange it."

The dinner was held at a reputable five-star hotel in Beijing.

Now that we've entered the new century, many international hotel brands have opened branches in Beijing.

Even Tianchao Group's "Winter Goes, Spring Comes" is expanding internationally, after all, the hotel industry is a truly highly profitable industry.

Qiong Yao arrived at the hotel early, showing how much she valued this meeting.

Moreover, Qiong Yao did not rely on her seniority to act superior to Su Ning, but personally oversaw everything from ordering food to seating arrangements.

The waiter brought over the menu, and Qiong Yao flipped through it page by page, saying as she did so: "This steamed shad must be fresh, not frozen. For this crab roe tofu, the crab roe must be freshly removed; don't serve anything that's been sitting overnight. And for this matsutake soup, you all know the quality of the matsutake yourselves. President Su is particular; don't try to fool us with inferior products."

The waiter took notes one by one, saying, "Don't worry, we in the kitchen all know that Sister Qiong Yao is treating us today, so we won't be careless."

Qiong Yao looked up at the lights in the private room again and frowned. "This light is too bright. Dim it down a bit. Warm light is fine. When it comes to dining, comfort is the most important thing."

"Understood." The waiter quickly went to adjust the lights.

"Also, today's meeting is very important. I have booked the entire floor, and I hope you can make the necessary arrangements."

"Don't worry, ma'am! We have everything prepared, and no other guests will be received on this entire floor."

Qiong Yao not only came herself this time, but also brought several young actors to warm up the atmosphere.

Little Swallow was a very easygoing person. After sitting down, she looked left and right, pointed to the koi in the yard and said, "This fish is so pretty, so plump."

Ziwei was relatively quiet, sitting upright in her seat, and said softly, "Keep your voice down, don't startle us. Aunt Qiong Yao values ​​today's meeting very much."

Little Swallow chuckled, "I didn't shout outside, only our own people heard it."

Jin Suo sat on the far side like a nobody. She was in her early twenties, with delicate features, skin that was almost transparently white, and long, jet-black hair draped over her shoulders.

Jin Suo sat in the corner and didn't speak much, not caring much about her inconspicuous status.

At this time, she did not yet have the aura of the later "Fan Ye" (Master Fan), after all, aura is closely related to status.

……

When Su Ning and President Zhou arrived, Qiong Yao quickly got up to greet them.

Qiong Yao grasped Su Ning's hands and said, "Mr. Su, it's an honor to have you here today."

Su Ning said, "Sister Qiong Yao, you're too kind. I've been reading your works since I was a child. I should be the one who has long admired you."

Qiong Yao smiled, "President Su, you really know how to talk. Come, please take a seat."

After everyone was seated, Qiong Yao led several actors to introduce Su Ning and exchange pleasantries.

Xiao Yanzi stood up with a smile and said, "Hello, President Su! I'm Xiao Yanzi."

Qiong Yao smiled and playfully scolded her, "President Su, Xiao Yanzi is the female lead in our period drama set in the Republican era."

“I know! Your ‘Misty Rain’ is a classic. I’ve also read the Taiwanese version of ‘Misty Rain’ before.”

"So, do you think Xiao Yanzi is suitable to play the female lead?"

"The characters are a perfect match! I'm really looking forward to this collaboration."

Little Swallow stuck out her tongue and sat down. "President Su, thank you for your recognition."

"Little Swallow, your acting skills and talent are beyond doubt. I just hope you can maintain a sense of awe in real life. Your character's quirky personality is cute, but if you continue to be like that in real life, things will go wrong."

"Uh? Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Su! I will pay attention."

At this moment, Ziwei immediately stood up and changed the subject, saying softly, "Hello, President Su, I've heard so much about you. I'm Ziwei, the second female lead in this drama."

Suning nodded. "Hello."

When it was Jin Suo's turn, she stood up with her wine glass in hand. "Hello, President Su. I am Jin Suo! I didn't act in this drama, but I still admire President Su very much. I took the initiative to ask Aunt Qiong Yao to bring me to the banquet."

Jin Suo's voice was soft and sweet, but with a hint of restraint. After she finished speaking, her face turned red, and she quickly lowered her head to look at the wine glass in her hand.

Su Ning's gaze lingered on her face for an extra second.

The main reason is that I didn't expect such a big difference in a person's personality. The "Fan Ye" of the future is going to be quite domineering.

Some people joked that Rong Momo only used needles to prick bad people, which shows that there is a big difference between a person's appearance and his inner self.

But Qiong Yao noticed the subtle change in Suning's attitude.

A seasoned veteran is a seasoned veteran; she has spent most of her life in the film and television industry, and has witnessed the ambiguous relationships and maneuvering between investors, producers, directors, and actors.

She had long heard of Su Ning's reputation in the industry, and she had also heard a lot about how many female celebrities from Huayu Film and Television were vying for Su Ning's attention.

This subtle atmosphere naturally did not escape Qiong Yao's notice.

She took in the scene without making a sound, then picked up her wine glass and began to adjust the rhythm of the table. She turned to Su Ning with a smile and said, "President Su, although Jin Suo is a newcomer, she is very smart and eager to learn. I feel that she has a bright future ahead of her."

"..." Jin Suo blushed slightly at the compliment, and lowered her head, holding her wine glass, unsure of what to say.

Qiong Yao continued, "She never complained about being tired on set, and she could film a crying scene seven or eight times in a row without losing her composure. The director said she was talented, but just lacked opportunities."

As she spoke, she gently patted Jin Suo's shoulder, her tone filled with the affection of an elder for a younger generation, "Come on, Jin Suo, toast President Su."

Jin Suo quickly picked up her cup with both hands and stood up, her movements revealing an unadorned sincerity. "President Su, I'd like to toast you."

Su Ning clinked glasses with her, but thought it was a display of great acting skills. "How old are you?" Jin Suo replied, "Twenty years old this year."

How many movies have you filmed?

"I filmed two movies, both in supporting roles. One was a period drama and the other was a modern drama."

Suning nodded without saying anything more.

Looking at Jin Suo's behavior, if I weren't a time traveler, I would really be foolish enough to think she was an innocent little white rabbit.

It's important to know that no actress who makes a name for herself in the entertainment industry is simple.

Qiong Yao watched from the side, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Then, she turned to Su Ning and started talking about the film and television industry, "Mr. Su, what are your thoughts on the current trend of Chinese-language content going global?"

Suning put down his wine glass. "The market exists, but we lack good content. It's not a lack of investment, but a lack of stories that can move people across cultures. Sister Qiong Yao, your works have a natural advantage in this regard. Emotions are universal; audiences from all over the world feel the same way about love, family, and friendship."

Qiong Yao nodded repeatedly, "President Su has hit the nail on the head. When I was writing the script, I never thought about the market or anything like that. I just wrote about the feelings between people. I just felt that it would be a pity not to tell this story."

Su Ning said with a smile, "Sister Qiong Yao's dedication is something we younger generations should learn from."

"So, what does Mr. Su think about the future prospects of Chinese-language film and television?"

"It has great development prospects! More capital will flow in in the future, and the next twenty years will be the golden age for the Chinese language."

"I'm really looking forward to it! I really hope I can witness these twenty years of development."

"Yes! Sister Qiong Yao, you are in good health."

Little Swallow chimed in at this point: "Aunt Qiong Yao was so serious when she wrote the script. She came to the set every day when we were filming, and sometimes she would revise a scene several times, until she cried herself."

Ziwei chimed in, "Yes! Aunt Qiong Yao puts a lot of effort into every character. She tells us what the character went through as a child and why they became the way they are now, explaining it in great detail."

Qiong Yao waved her hand, "Don't praise me, this is what I should do. If the content creators don't put their heart into it, the audience can tell."

The atmosphere at the dinner party remained harmonious under Qiong Yao's control.

She talked to Suning about the prospects of the film and television industry, the market potential of co-productions, and the investment of Huayu Film & Television in the industrialization of production. She asked insightful questions on every topic.

It wasn't just empty politeness; it was genuine thought and insight.

However, Qiong Yao arranged for Jin Suo to serve Su Ning wine every few days.

Jin Suo stood up as soon as the wine glass was half empty, and carefully filled it with wine from the wine pot with both hands.

Every time she poured wine, Jin Suo would bend slightly over, her hair slipping down her shoulders to cover half of her face.

Then she tucked her hair behind her ears, revealing her fair earlobes.

Suning said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Jin Suo replied immediately in a low voice.

Qiong Yao watched from the side, occasionally giving Jin Su a wink, meaning, "Don't just pour the wine, talk to President Su too."

Jin Suo received the message, but she really didn't know what to say, so she could only refill Suning's wine even more frequently.

Jin Suo knew that since Su Ning was paying some attention to her, she had to create a pure and innocent persona.

Su Ning noticed this, and when Jin Suo poured him another drink, he said, "Jin Suo, you should eat something too, don't just keep pouring drinks."

Jin Suo paused for a moment, then whispered, "I'm not hungry."

Suning said, "Eat something even if you're not hungry, you've gotten so thin."

Qiong Yao smiled and said, "President Su is right, Jin Suo, you're too thin. You look good on camera, but your health is more important. Here, have a piece of fish."

"Thank you," Jin Suo replied, picking up a piece of fish and eating it in small bites.

At this moment, Ziwei and Xiaoyanzi also noticed Su Ning's attention to Jin Suo, and they couldn't help but feel depressed, wondering why the famous President Su liked this kind of thing.

I should have known they'd put on an innocent act from the start...

……

When the event ended, Mr. Zhou saw Qiong Yao off to her car.

Qiong Yao held President Zhou's hand and said, "President Zhou, the cooperation is settled. I'll go back and have my team work on the specific terms."

Mr. Zhou said, "No problem, I've arranged for someone to follow up. Rest assured, Huayu will definitely treat this project as a priority."

Xiao Yanzi and Ziwei got into a nanny van and left first.

Before getting into the carriage, Little Swallow turned back and called out, "Jin Suo, let's go!"

Qiong Yao tugged at Xiao Yanzi's sleeve and whispered, "Let's go first and let her make her own arrangements."

Little Swallow paused for a moment, then exclaimed "Oh!" in sudden realization, and climbed into the car.

Jin Suo stood at the restaurant entrance, the night breeze gently blowing her skirt.

She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and bit her lower lip slightly, as if she had made a huge decision.

Then Jin Suo didn't follow Qiong Yao's car. Instead, she deftly walked around the back of the car and sat in the back seat of Suning's Rolls-Royce from the other side.

The car door slammed shut with a deep, heavy sound, shutting out all the noise from outside.

Su Ning sat on the other side of the back row and glanced at Jin Suo.

The car was dimly lit, and Jin Suo's profile looked exceptionally delicate in the shadows, her skin glowing with a fine sheen in the dim light.

After all, Jin Suo was still full of collagen at this time...

Jin Suo nervously placed her hands on her knees, her fingers slightly curled, not daring to look at him.

Su Ning reached out and grasped Jin Suo's jade-like hand; she neither refused nor pulled away.

There was a few seconds of silence in the car before Jin Su spoke first, "Mr. Su, thank you for today."

Suning said, "What are you thanking me for?"

Jin Suo thought for a moment, "Thank you for saying those things to me. You are the first investor to ask me how many films I've made."

Suning smiled and said, "Isn't this what investors should be asking?"

Jin Suo shook her head. "No. Most people just ask me how old I am and where I graduated from, and then they talk to my agent about my salary."

“…” Su Ning didn’t respond, waiting for her to continue.

Jin Suo lowered her head, her voice growing softer and softer, "I know why Aunt Qiong Yao made me sit next to you today. I understand. But I want to tell you, I followed you not because of Aunt Qiong Yao's arrangement, but because I wanted to."

Su Ning looked at her, "Why?"

Jin Suo finally turned her head, her eyes looking at Su Ning with a tense yet determined gaze. "Because I feel that you are different from others. When you look at me, there is respect in your eyes. I haven't been in this industry for long, but I have already learned to distinguish between people. Some people's gazes make me feel like an object. But you don't."

Su Ning was silent for a few seconds, then pulled her hand to his side.

Suning naturally understood his true feelings, after all, he was thinking about the future "Fan Bingbing".

It was unexpected that Jin Suo, who had just debuted, would be so perceptive as to have noticed it.

"You are really smart! You have chosen a truly promising path."

"President Su, don't worry! I won't let you down."

"I'll have President Zhou resolve your contract issue later, and you can develop your career at Huayu Film & Television from now on."

"Thank you, Mr. Su."

Jin Suo was overjoyed and finally breathed a sigh of relief after holding her breath for so long.

Jin Suo naturally understood what it meant to latch onto Suning's coattails; she would definitely not need to take any detours in the entertainment industry in the future.

...(End of this chapter)