I really didn't intend to make a living based on my looks.

After all, Yang Mi is incredibly popular right now...

The TV series "Palace" became a phenomenal hit across the internet, not only setting new records for TV ratings but also achieving record-breaking online viewership, sweeping across the entire Chinese-speaking market. The story of Luo Qingchuan was discussed everywhere, from streets and alleys to campuses and workplaces, and "The Power of Love" became a wildly popular hit song.

Less than a month after the show ended, her Weibo followers skyrocketed from several hundred thousand before the show aired to more than three million.

It's safe to say that she was the hottest female celebrity at the start of 2011, without a doubt!

This girl is hard to hire these days. She's inundated with offers from production teams, ranging from leading roles in period dramas to modern idol dramas. The quality scripts are piling up, and her fees have skyrocketed. She's already a top-tier actress.

Just who is this kid?

Meng Xianming pushed up his glasses, stared at Jiang Chen, and asked the most crucial question: "What are you after?"

Jiang Chen did not flinch. He looked into Meng Xianming's eyes, his tone more sincere than ever before.

"For the sake of an opportunity."

"President Meng, I want to play Baili Tusu."

"I can tell you the truth: when I was writing this script, the Baili Tusu in my mind was myself. I understand his struggles, his unwillingness to accept defeat, and his resistance against fate."

"I understand this character better than anyone else, and I want to play him well more than anyone else."

"To show my determination, I'm willing to convert all of my script fees, my and Yang Mi's salaries, into an investment in this drama."

"I'll write the script, I'll cast the lead actors, I'll raise the investment, and I'll assemble the team. All you need to do is take the film and television rights back from Yujing Jiangshan and hand them over to me. I'll invest everything I have; if we lose, it's on me, and if we make a profit, we'll split it."

Meng Xianming stood up and walked to the window.

"As for Yujing Jiangshan..." He said, his back to Jiang Chen, "It's really been dragging on for too long. Liu Yanjun is a proper film and television person, but fantasy is definitely not his forte. The game's popularity is declining, and if we don't film it soon, the IP's value will be wasted."

He whirled around, his gaze sharp. "Are you sure you can get Kong Sheng? Are you sure you can secure Yang Mi for the role of Feng Qingxue?"

"Confirmed. Within three months, I will personally bring Director Kong to visit you and discuss the follow-up cooperation in person."

He added a sentence that completely dispelled Meng Xianming's concerns.

"Even if things don't work out, you won't suffer any loss. You'll simply be back to square one, which won't affect your ability to seek other cooperation opportunities later."

Upon hearing this, Meng Xianming slowly walked back to his desk.

"I won't give you three months, I'll just give you two."

"If you can assemble this team completely within two months, I will immediately terminate the contract with Yujing Jiangshan and take back the film and television adaptation rights in full. I will not take a penny of the copyright fee; it will be considered my initial investment in this project. We will then split the profits as agreed upon."

"But if you can't do it, this project falls through, and you'll have to give me your adapted script. Are you willing?"

Jiang Chen didn't hesitate at all: "No problem, let's do as President Meng says."

……

Yanjing East Fourth Ring Road, Xiaoyun Road.

Yang Mi's nanny van slowly stopped in front of apartment building number 31.

She leaned back in her seat, took off her sunglasses, rubbed her temples, and looked tired.

"Honey, I'm going upstairs to get a drink of water and check out the renovations." Zeng Jia picked up her bag and prepared to get out of the car.

"No," Yang Mi pressed her hand down, "Don't go up today. I'm not feeling well and want to be alone for a while."

Zeng Jia glanced at her, didn't ask any more questions, and put down her bag: "Okay, then you should get some rest. You don't have any work scheduled for tomorrow morning, I'll pick you up at 2 pm."

"Um."

Yang Mi got out of the car carrying her bag and walked into the lobby in high heels.

She was the only one in the elevator. She looked at herself in the mirror, tucked her hair behind her ears, and touched up her makeup with lipstick.

She just bought this apartment.

Xiaoyun Road, East Fourth Ring Road, over 140 square meters, market value of ten million.

When the elevator reached the eighteenth floor, she took out her keys and opened the door.

The light in the entryway was on, and the sound of a spatula stirring could be heard from the kitchen.

Yang Mi changed into slippers, threw her bag on the sofa, and tiptoed over.

Jiang Chen was facing away from her, wearing a dark gray sweatshirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a dark blue apron tied around his waist.

He was cooking, and the clay pot on the stove next to him was bubbling and steaming.

Yang Mi pressed herself against him from behind, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Little brother Jiang Chen, do you miss your sister?"

Her hand slipped under his waist, touching his abs through his T-shirt, and then her hand restlessly tried to slide down...

Can this be tolerated?

Jiang Chen turned off the stove.

He turned around, put his left hand around her waist, and supported her knees with his right hand, lifting her up.

Yang Mi gasped in surprise, instinctively wrapping her legs around his waist. One of her slippers fell off and landed on the floor tiles with a thud.

The other toe was still hanging precariously from her toe, her toes painted with dark red nail polish, which stood out against the white slippers.

She was placed on the marble countertop of the kitchen island, the cold stone making her shiver slightly.

The hem of the sweater was gathered at the waist, revealing a section of her flat stomach.

Her legs were wrapped around his waist, her skirt rolled up and bunched up at the base of her thighs, revealing large expanses of fair skin.

The calves are long and slender, the ankles are so thin that they can be held in one hand, the veins on the insteps are slightly protruding, the toes are curled up, and the nail polish has a dark red glow under the light.

As she moved, the neckline of her sweater slipped down further, revealing the curve of her entire shoulder and collarbone, with the thin black straps creating a shallow cleavage.

As she leaned back, her sweater sagged, the neckline opened, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin on her chest and that deep curve.

The edge of her black bra was just peeking out, the lace pattern faintly visible.

"No...not here..."

Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, and her lips were slightly red from his kisses.

Jiang Chen didn't say anything...

First, show your sincerity...

An hour and a half later, the two sat down at the dining table.

The food had long since gone cold, so Jiang Chen reheated it. When he brought it to the table, Yang Mi had changed into a white T-shirt. Her hair was loose and not completely dry, with a few strands sticking to her cheeks. A few light red marks were visible on her collarbone and neck, barely visible at the edge of her neckline.

She picked up a piece of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, put it in her mouth, and then rolled her eyes at him.

"Jiang Chen, your cooking skills are amazing..."

"What's wrong?"

"The restaurant went out of business after only three days."

"Then don't eat it," Jiang Chen said, reaching out to take the plate away.

Yang Mi tapped his hand with her chopsticks: "How dare you! Put it down! I'm hungry."

She lowered her head to eat, then looked up, her eyes sparkling: "But... it's better than the boxed lunches on set. At least it's made by a human being."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"Who praised you?" Yang Mi glared at him. "I was just pitying you. A renowned author of 'The Power of Love,' a third-rate actor, reduced to cooking for women—isn't that pathetic?"

Jiang Chen put down his chopsticks and looked at her.

Under the light, her hair was messy, her face still had a lingering blush, and her lips were slightly swollen.

Even though his kisses left my lips swollen, his words are still so venomous...

"Mimi,"

"what?"

"I wrote a play for you."

Yang Mi was stunned, her chopsticks hovering in mid-air: "What?"

"I said," Jiang Chen leaned forward, took her hand, and lowered his voice, "I wrote a play for you."

Yang Mi was completely stunned...

……