National Tide 1980.

The wall lamps cast a soft, warm yellow light, and the flames from the fireplace made the small living room on the other side of the winery cozy and inviting.

Patricia, Monica, and Kelly, three young women, sat around the fireplace, a set of French playing cards with gilded embossing spread out casually on the carpet.

They held the cards between their fingers, seemingly playing the game leisurely, but a subtle atmosphere always lingered in the air.

The night in Burgundy had fallen outside the window, and the sound of the men's engines driving to Dijon had long since faded into the wind. There were no business negotiations between film industry moguls, nor the meticulous plans of investors, but hidden within were the most delicate and subtle competitions between young girls.

Each of the three was preoccupied with their own thoughts, their eyes darting around with probing glances. No one was truly concerned about the cards they held, and every seemingly casual remark ultimately pointed in only one direction—Ning Weimin.

Patricia is the one who talks the most. As a singer, she seems to have the characteristics of a lark in her personality.

She held a King of Hearts between her fingers, a sweet, soft French smile curving her lips, looking innocent and enthusiastic.

But her words were laced with wit, unlike her naive and coquettish manner when she acted coquettishly in front of Ning Weimin at the banquet.

"Monica, you were absolutely the center of attention tonight. I've never seen anyone wear black so stunningly. No wonder the boss's eyes kept falling on you. I think you have a chance at the Alice lead role. The boss is actually quite easy to talk to. Why don't you put in a little more effort? Try to get it done privately, maybe he really will give it to you..."

Her tone was full of sincere admiration, but a hint of sharpness was hidden in her eyes.

She boasted that among the girls attending the banquet that evening, she was the first to win Ning Weimin's favor.

Having starred in "Taken" and sung its theme song, he has gained considerable fame and success in his career in recent years.

In her heart, her friendship with Ning Weimin was far deeper than that with Monica, who had just appeared. These words were both a test and a way of secretly observing the other person's character.

Monica has faced various forms of treatment unlike those of ordinary people since childhood because of her beauty, and now she is in the fox den of the fashion industry.

How could she not understand the subtext in Patricia's words?
Her fingertips lightly traced the smooth edge of the playing card, but she merely raised her eyes slightly, a polite yet aloof smile curving her lips.

"I don't know Mr. Ning very well yet. I was quite surprised to be invited here today, and I don't know why I have such an honor. It wasn't until I attended the banquet and learned about Mr. Ning's plans that I understood a little better. However, Mr. Ning attaches great importance to this film. As I understand it, he would definitely choose such an important role as Alice very carefully. He would never give it away easily, nor would he be influenced by anyone. So my opinion is different from yours. I think that begging is useless; it still depends on ability, and perhaps a little bit of luck. But if I am fortunate enough to gain Mr. Ning's approval and get this role, I certainly won't refuse. Because even God is looking out for me. Isn't that right?"

Her words were humble, yet she subtly highlighted her unique qualities.

Ning Weimin would never have brought her here without a reason; it meant he might be considering her as the lead actress. This weighty recognition was something others could hardly attain, and it was her core source of confidence.

Kelly sat beside the two women, quietly watching the cards, seemingly oblivious to the verbal sparring between the two foreign girls.

She is a girl from China, with a calm and reserved personality, unlike the outgoing French girl, but she also has her own principles.

She knew Ning Weimin the longest and was also aware of the bond between Ning Weimin and Qu Xiao.

So even though she knew that Ning Weimin and Qu Xiao had no chance to be together again, she didn't want Ning Weimin to become a piece of meat that two foreign girls were fighting over.

Especially during this visit, Ning Weimin privately told her that Qu Xiao's situation in Gangcheng was not good.

To this end, he specially helped her build connections and even privately wrote her a check for two million francs, asking her to help Qu Xiao improve her situation.

She understood even more that Ning Weimin was neither heartless nor immoral, and naturally couldn't stand seeing two foreign vixens eyeing her Ning-ge.

Seeing the two women engrossed in their conversation, she gently put down her cards, her voice soft and gentle, with just the right amount of obedience, and slowly began to speak. "Miss Patricia, Miss Monica, you are both excellent. But you clearly don't know Mr. Ning well enough. I'm different. I'm from the same hometown as him, and we were colleagues; we've known each other for almost ten years. I know his temperament best. He appears gentle but is resolute inside, a man of principle. What he hates most is internal strife among his subordinates and those messy interpersonal relationships. So, no matter which of you ultimately gets the role of Alice, or is fortunate enough to participate in the filming of 'Resident Evil,' don't think you can rest easy. Remember, never cross his bottom line, otherwise, the consequences of his anger will be severe."

She deliberately emphasized the relationship between "colleagues" and "fellow townsmen," her words were pure and sincere, yet also carried a subtle warning.

She made her bargaining chip clearer—Ning Weimin's care for her was not about personal gain, but stemmed from their blood ties and hometown affection. This closeness was purer and more special.

Patricia's sweet smile faltered slightly as a surge of resentment welled up inside her. She clenched the cards in her fingers, but quickly regained her gentle demeanor.

Her tone was somewhat coquettish, yet it carried a hint of sourness.

"Kelly, I didn't know you knew the boss so early on. I'm so envious. But with the boss's help, how come you're not even a supermodel yet? Why don't you consider changing careers? Stop being a model and try singing. Maybe you can achieve real success. Look at me, the boss not only got me a role in a movie, but also promised to create a global theme song for Resident Evil tailored just for me, saying my voice is unique and the song will spread throughout Europe. I feel so lucky to receive such special treatment."

She emphasized that it was "tailor-made" and a "global theme song," clearly indicating that she was aiming for "Versailles."

It needs to compete with Monica's leading lady resources and Kelly's hometown connections.

In her view, Ning Weimin's willingness to devote himself to her dream was proof that he valued her the most.

Monica picked up the coffee on the table, took a small sip, a hint of calm arrogance flashing in her eyes, her tone still gentle, yet carrying an undeniable confidence.

"Everyone is equal before opportunity. Changing industries doesn't solve career bottlenecks. I'm just a model, and now, besides having the opportunity to act in movies, Mr. Ning also wants to sign me as a brand ambassador for Pierre Cardin. Who says that being a model means fewer opportunities to succeed?"

She looked up at the two of them, her gaze calm yet powerful. In her heart, Ning Weimin had placed his most important and core resources on her, which was enough to show that she was the person Ning Weimin placed the most hopes on, and no one could replace her.

This statement left Patricia feeling quite uncomfortable.

Upon hearing this, Shi Kaili's fingers tightened slightly, and the stubbornness in her heart surged up.

She looked up, her eyes clear and pure, her tone still gentle, yet carrying a hint of determination.

"I absolutely agree with Miss Monica. Opportunities are equal for everyone. In France, my heritage may have created a career ceiling for me, making it difficult for me to become a supermodel like Tina Chow. However, I believe that as Mr. Ning invests more in film projects in France, I will have better career opportunities. Mr. Ning is very considerate of his fellow countrymen and will definitely invest in films featuring predominantly Asian characters. For example, next month, his wife will be visiting the Château de Saint-Tropez to use the location for a film. That's just how things are in this world, isn't it?"

Her words implied that the other two were merely business partners in Ning Weimin's business strategy, and were foreigners. She, on the other hand, was Ning Weimin's own person, and this special status afforded by their shared race was unmatched by anyone else.

And so, it must be said, what should have been a leisurely card game turned from the very beginning into a silent, unspoken contest between the girls.

All three wore elegant French smiles and spoke softly and politely. They seemed to admire and praise each other, but in reality, every word they uttered subtly proclaimed their importance in Ning Weimin's heart. They were very tactful, yet they were also at odds with each other.

The three of them exchanged words softly, yet none of them were willing to back down, and their eyes held an unyielding pride.

Patricia firmly believes that Ning Weimin favors her lively enthusiasm and is willing to pave the way for her dreams.

Monica believed that Ning Weimin appreciated her looks and potential and would definitely entrust her with the core business.

Shi Kaili firmly believes that Ning Weimin's affection for her hometown and his trust in her are a level of favor that no one else can ever match.

The cards were scattered haphazardly on the table; no one cared about winning or losing anymore. The atmosphere in the living room seemed warm and peaceful, but undercurrents were swirling beneath the surface.

Three girls from different countries each want to outdo the other in this invisible competition, making the other understand that they are the number one in Ning Weimin's heart.

This isn't a card game; it's essentially a shady "green tea" game.

So much so that after the card game ended, Monica Bellucci couldn't wait to call her agent as soon as she got back to her room.

“Ms. Matilda, I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to accept Mr. Ning’s contract. There’s no need to discuss it anymore, let’s just sign it.”

The other party was taken aback by her request and felt extremely abrupt.

"What's wrong with you? It's just a dinner party, and it's made you decide? Are you sure you're of sound mind? You're not drunk, or you've taken illegal drugs?"

“I’m sure, I’m perfectly clear-headed. And I’m also very fortunate. You have no idea what kind of film production plan Mr. Ning has come up with. He’s actually willing to invest 200 million francs to make a big-budget film like Hollywood. If nothing unexpected happens, I should be the leading lady he’s chosen…”

"Don't get excited or impulsive. You're still young, so don't make such a hasty decision. The bait used by hunters is often very tempting. Are you sure the other party has real money involved and no other extra conditions?"

There was no one else in the room, and Monica simply rolled her eyes.

“Alain Delon and Catherine Deneuve are both here today. They are old friends of this Mr. Ning. Taken is a movie that Mr. Ning invested in. And that singer Patricia Case, she is completely shameless. Relying on her familiarity with Mr. Ning, she actually tried to steal my leading lady by acting cute.”

Monica said with a hint of resentment, "If the news I received today gets out, I think almost every girl who wants to be the lead in a role will be eager to meet this Mr. Ning in the coming week. If we don't sign the contract soon, things could very well change."

"No, no, no, don't be so nervous, my dear. It's precisely in situations like this that you need to stay calm. Think about it carefully. That Mr. Ning specifically sought you out through Saint Laurent, and he offered you a contract worth two hundred million francs right off the bat. Do you think he'll easily replace you? Use your wits! You don't need anyone to teach you how to keep a man on your toes, do you? We should..."

As a seasoned agent, Matilda believes her greatest strength lies in securing good prices for the girls in her company.

She also got into the habit of trying to raise the price by one level when a client gave her the first quote, otherwise how could she demonstrate her contribution and value?

However, this time she was destined to miscalculate, because Monica Bellucci sensed a unique charm in Ning Weimin. She was already satisfied with the existing conditions and even felt threatened, so she did not want to take any more risks.

“No, no, no, you didn’t come with me, so you don’t know what kind of opportunity this is, and you don’t know what kind of person Mr. Ning is. In short, I don’t want to miss this opportunity no matter what. They have already shown their sincerity, and they are someone we can’t afford to offend. I don’t want to gamble with Mr. Ning’s tolerance just to get a little more money…”

Matilda hadn't expected Monica to surrender on her own, and tried again to persuade her, "Good girl, don't be anxious, trust me. This is the first time you've been in a situation like this, but the company has seen too many lucky girls like you. Don't be so anxious, we know how to handle this situation. I'm doing this all for your sake. To ensure your safety and to help you reap more benefits, but the condition is that you must trust me, as long as you listen to me..."

However, this was still futile. Monica had completely lost her patience, so she didn't let the other person finish speaking. "Listen, Matilda, I've made up my mind. Under the current conditions, there's absolutely no need to change anything. Either you come over tomorrow to sign the contract on my behalf, or I'll change agents."

Matilda rolled her eyes at this, unable to understand why Monica was so impatient.

But she really didn't dare to urge them again.

After all, the saying "If you don't follow the right path, you'll work yourself to death and achieve nothing" applies everywhere.

In the end, she could only sigh helplessly, "Alright then, I'll go tomorrow morning. But don't blame me for not warning you upfront, the penalty for breach of contract for such a large contract is astronomical. Especially since there's so much work involved, it will last for five or six years. If Mr. Ning isn't satisfied with you after signing the contract, you'll be in trouble. If he finds something to hold against you and demands compensation, you could end up bankrupt. In other words, you have to please him as much as possible, do you understand what that means?"

Monica held the phone in silence for a good ten seconds, but just as she began to have concerns, she remembered Ning Weimin's handsome face and his stunning presence at the banquet.

Who is the best man in the world?
Is he a handsome guy with a sweet tongue and a knack for flirting, like Don Juan?

No, actually, the most glamorous ones aren't rich, handsome, and charming playboys at all.

The best kind of man is one who exudes masculinity, has rich life experience, a great physique, impeccable fashion sense, and a calm and collected demeanor.

Ning Weimin not only possessed all of these qualities, but he also had talent, wealth, status, and power.

So, is he someone that ordinary handsome guys can compete with?

He's standing at the cusp of his life, with a successful career on one hand and a clear understanding of life on the other. He's starting off with a built-in counter-attack and a powerful attack. What does it mean to have a father with a youthful spirit? This is the age when men are truly in their infancy and feeling inflated.

So, on the other hand, if a man like that takes a liking to you, even if he makes excessive demands, it doesn't seem like it's entirely unacceptable.

So just when Matilda thought she would convince Monica, she received a stubborn reply instead.

"I understand, thanks for reminding me. See you tomorrow." (End of Chapter)