National Tide 1980.

"Xiao Yao, I'm so sorry to have made you fly all the way from Japan."

"No, it was you who brought me abroad and gave me so many opportunities. Your words make me feel embarrassed."

"No, these are two different things. It is indeed me who has caused you trouble."

Ning Weimin took the initiative to greet Yao Peifang, speaking in his usual refined and courteous manner.

And perhaps it's because Yao Peifang had just dressed up carefully.

Ning Weimin looked at her standing there with a fresh and natural beauty, exuding the graceful charm of a woman from Jiangnan. His gaze was involuntarily drawn to her, landing on the hairline on her neck.

Yao Peifang could guess that the other party was waiting for her at the elevator.

Touched by the other person's thoughtfulness and feeling the warmth in their eyes, she suddenly lowered her head slightly, realizing that her careful dressing up had not been in vain.

However, this ambiguous atmosphere only lasted for a moment.

After exchanging a few polite words, Ning Weimin quickly returned to his normal demeanor.

"Ah, it's too chaotic here. Let's go somewhere else to talk..."

With that, Ning Weimin walked through the lobby without looking back and headed to one side.

His composure and rationality somewhat disappointed Yao Peifang, and the slight excitement that had just welled up inside her turned into a self-deprecating remark.

Alas, I was just being presumptuous. Look, fate immediately taught me a lesson.

After passing the lobby, at the end of the corridor, you can see a unique neon sign; it turns out there's a bar there.

Yao Peifang followed Ning Weimin inside and found that it was a small bar with elegant decor and a soft atmosphere.

Completely different from the brightly lit, noisy, and chaotic atmosphere of the lobby outside, this place is filled with soft lighting and soothing music, making it seem like a perfect spot for quiet conversation.

There were only two bartenders behind the bar, no waitresses.

In a corner sat a blond, blue-eyed foreign couple, whispering to each other as they raised their glasses.

"What would you like to drink? Anything you like, just what's here..."

It was probably because they saw that Yao Peifang had come with Ning Weimin that Ning Weimin said those words.

The two bartenders immediately turned their attention to Yao Peifang, becoming unusually attentive. This made Yao Peifang a little embarrassed, and she awkwardly said that a cup of coffee would be fine.

Unexpectedly, Ning Weimin said, "I remember you can drink a little alcohol, right? You've been on the plane for so long, how about a cup of coffee with a little alcohol to soothe your nerves?"

Can you add alcohol to coffee?

"of course."

Seeing that Yao Peifang seemed interested, Ning Weimin simply took it upon himself to make the arrangements for her, "Make these ladies a cup of Irish coffee with my best Irish whiskey, and also make me a cup of my usual drink."

So, the two bartenders started getting busy like tightly wound springs.

After a while, the coffee, which was served like a cocktail, was brought out.

The coffee was served in a glass with a handle, topped with a layer of whipped cream and sprinkled with nutmeg powder.

However, Yao Peifang was somewhat speechless when she saw Ning Weimin's drink.

Because it was just an ordinary cup of tea. You could tell it was jasmine tea just by the smell, and it was served in the kind of covered teacup that's most common when government offices hold meetings.

"What's so special about my cup?" Ning Weimin asked curiously, noticing Yao Peifang's strange look.

"The cup itself isn't special, but seeing such an ordinary cup here is quite special."

Yao Peifang's words were loaded with meaning; she felt that Ning Weimin seemed a bit pretentious.

"I think you're probably the only person in this restaurant who can use this kind of teacup. So you're quite special. People will know you're an important person at a glance."

“That’s true.” Ning Weimin put down the teacup he had just taken a sip from. His lips were red and his eyes were slightly narrowed. Because of his handsome and refined appearance, this expression was quite attractive.

"I understand what you mean. You're laughing at me for trying to get attention. Okay, I'll take your advice and won't ask for special treatment anymore."

After saying that, he immediately turned to the bartender and said, "Did you hear what this lady said? See, I wasn't wrong. Listen to me, put these glasses away from now on, just give me the teacups for the guests. Don't give me any special glasses."

Faced with this, the two bartenders could only scratch their heads and chuckle awkwardly, obediently agreeing.

Yao Peifang also realized at this moment that it seemed that the special teacup was not Ning Weimin's own idea, but a gesture by someone else to curry favor with him.

And it seems that he also embarrassed the staff.

Then she felt a little embarrassed and said, "I was out of touch with reality, I'm sorry."

Ning Weimin simply laughed it off.

To him, it was all just a joke.

He also admired Yao Peifang's principled personality.

To avoid embarrassing the other person, I casually changed the subject.

"This hotel and the building behind it both belong to the Pierre Cardin Group. You haven't been here before, have you? Give me a review, what do you think?"

"What a magnificent hotel! The scale and grandeur here are luxurious, maybe a five-star hotel? I'm actually quite surprised, a little overwhelmed," Yao Peifang said without reservation. "I'd heard that President Song opened a high-end hotel in Beijing named after Pierre Cardin, but I didn't expect it to be this good. Just look at all the guests just now, you can tell how popular this hotel is. It must be the first of its kind in the fashion world."

Ning Weimin is quite objective and speaks his mind.

"It's not that exaggerated, it's just a four-star standard. There are quite a few guests, but it's probably because there are fewer hotels in China. After all, it's in China, and the environment and conditions can't compare to Japan. We're just copying what's available. Take this bar, for example, it's much smaller than a typical restaurant, which is due to its limited scale."

"It's exquisite. Perhaps in some aspects, as you said, it's not as good as Japan. But in others, it's far superior. For example, the driver who picked me up today provided excellent airport service. And the room you arranged for me—I doubt even Japanese hotels have such a complete and luxurious room with so many features. I doubt even a presidential suite is as good as this. Especially seeing the garden on the balcony and the small swimming pool, I was almost stunned. To be honest, today was the most luxurious service I've ever experienced in my life, and the best hotel room I've ever seen. I've never experienced anything like this in Japan. Of course, it's possible that I'm just not very worldly. So please don't laugh at me, Mr. Ning, and please understand the difficulties of us poor people..."

On the surface, Yao Peifang and Ning Weimin seemed to be chatting casually, but in reality, she was trying to find out why Ning Weimin treated her this way.

She couldn't figure out what she had that, apart from a little bit of physical attractiveness, was worth Ning Weimin going to such lengths for.

Yes, she has now concluded that things are not as she imagined, but Ning Weimin's true intentions have become even more elusive.

She knew exactly how busy Ning Weimin was on weekdays.

Could it be that someone like him called me back to China and then rushed over to meet me just to have a chat?

"Of course not. You must be wondering why I was in such a hurry to bring you back to the capital and why I treated you like this, right? You seem quite surprised?"

As expected, the topic shifted in the direction Yao Peifang wanted to find out.

"Yes, that's right. I was even a little startled." She nodded, patiently waiting for Ning Weimin to get to the point.

"If that's the case, then I'm really sorry. It's my fault for not thinking things through and for seeming a bit abrupt. However, I was really anxious because I suddenly learned that you had submitted your resignation to Matsumoto's office. I was afraid that you would just leave, so I used this method to urgently invite you to discuss things. At the same time, I also hope to express my sincerity in seeking talent."

"Eager to find talent?" Yao Peifang never expected to hear such a phrase from Ning Weimin.

"Yes, to put it simply, you are an outstanding talent, and exactly the kind of talent I need most. I don't object to your resignation, but I hope that after you leave Matsumoto Office, you can work for me."

Yao Peifang fell silent; things seemed to have deviated from all her expectations once again.

It wasn't that she didn't believe Ning Weimin's words.

But a person should know their own limitations. She really couldn't see any special talent in herself that could make Ning Weimin so persistent in pursuing her.

So the idea she had previously dismissed resurfaced, making her suspicious again.

She wasn't sure what tricks Ning Weimin was up to, but now she really wanted to get to the bottom of it in person.

“What can I do for you? I’m just a model who switched to acting. And I’ve always relied on your help. I really don’t understand why you value me so much. I might hesitate with other people, but if you need me to participate in any performance, just one word is enough.”

"Oh my, you're so good with words."

Ning Weimin was amused by Yao Peifang's strategy of feigning retreat. He knew exactly what the girl in front of him was wondering about, and admired her intelligence and quick wit, so he spoke frankly, "However, there is one thing you may have misunderstood. Although you are a very good model and actress, the reason I invited you here this time is not to have you perform on stage, but because I also want to invest in the entertainment industry in China, so I hope you can stay in China and help me manage the company."

"Manage a company? I... how could I do that?"

Yao Peifang's expression said it all; this time, she covered her mouth in surprise, unable to hide her shock at all.

"Don't underestimate yourself. We're not complete strangers. We've known each other for a long time, and I know most about your situation. I made this suggestion to you after careful consideration."

Ning Weimin then gave Yao Peifang a detailed introduction to the state of the domestic entertainment industry and his original intention for suddenly wanting to formally try his hand at this industry.

He gave a presentation on the current state of music, film, and animation based on his own understanding.

That's not all; the key point is that he also listed out Yao Peifang's personal strengths.

Firstly, Yao Peifang has an exceptionally outstanding professional background.

Yao Peifang, a former model, won third place in the competition.

As an actress, she has not only worked with big stars like John Lone and Fei Xiang, but she has also become quite well-known in Japan.

Later, he not only appeared on variety shows, recorded songs, and filmed commercials, but also participated in commercial performances.

Especially after signing with Matsumoto Agency in Japan, she not only had her own agent, but also received professional training arranged by the Japanese agency.

It can be said that she has a comprehensive and thorough understanding of the basic situation of the entertainment industry in both China and Japan.

She not only has a thorough understanding of how film and television companies, record companies, and artist management companies operate, as well as the various rules of conduct and special phenomena within the industry, but more importantly, she is even more aware of the difference between an artist who is famous and one who is not, and the changes in their mentality and circumstances.

Secondly, Yao Peifang's personal qualities are also quite outstanding.

Interpersonal skills are one of Yao Peifang's strengths.

Whether it's a modeling team or an entertainment company, she gets along well with most people, except for a few who are jealous of her.

In particular, management, directors, agents, and crew members who have worked with her almost all have a very good impression of her and are quite friendly towards her.

Although Ning Weimin instructed others to take care of her, Yao Peifang's personal qualities were clearly the decisive factor.

In addition, Yao Peifang has a talent for languages ​​and is proficient in Japanese and English.

This gave her the potential to mobilize all the resources Ning Weimin possessed and coordinate various relationships.

It's important to understand that Ning Weimin is not someone who comes empty-handed. He can leverage the resources of all the companies under Matsumoto Keiko's name, and he even has a considerable network of connections in France that he can utilize.

Even so, he still needs a suitable person to manage it.

What does "suitable" mean?

First, one must be proficient in a foreign language to ensure communication skills; second, one must understand how the entertainment industry operates.

Both aspects must be met to ensure timely coordination and accurate communication.

So, besides Matsumoto Keiko, Yao Peifang seems to be the only one who fits this description of Ning Weimin.

Furthermore, Shanghai is the cradle of China's film and animation industries. Whether it's the dubbed film field that Ning Weimin has already ventured into, or the animation field that he plans to enter soon, his domestic base is in Shanghai.

Even though Beijing has now become the cultural center of the country, it is impossible for Ning Weimin to make any achievements in these two areas without going to Shanghai.

However, Yao Peifang is a native of Shanghai, and her family connections and understanding of Shanghai are her unique advantages.

Therefore, all things considered, it can be said that she is the only suitable candidate.

In fact, after hearing Ning Weimin's words, even Yao Peifang herself felt that this job was as if God had arranged it for her.

If she didn't do it, it would be a waste of her perfect qualifications.

All my previous lack of confidence vanished instantly.

However, even so, the mental block is still hard to overcome.

Don't forget, Yao Peifang resigned not for any other reason than to escape Ning Weimin, to have nothing to do with him anymore, and to live a peaceful, normal life.

But now that she's faced with this situation, if she agrees, wouldn't her relationship with Ning Weimin become even more complicated and messy?

It wasn't that Yao Peifang distrusted Ning Weimin; the key issue was that she distrusted herself.

So to be honest, she felt like she was facing a cup of poison filled with endless temptation.

Drinking it is one thing, not drinking it is another.

A fierce battle between reason and desire created a heavy burden on her heart. (End of Chapter)