Life countdown begins, ice queen bursts into security room

On the way back to the company, Li Cheng was calculating while driving.

"Brother Fan, the drama troupe has been acquired, and the actors have been cast. Only the major expense remains—the distribution company. With a film costing 40 million, without strong support from theaters in terms of screenings, the box office simply won't pick up."

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Ning Yuan in the back seat through the rearview mirror.

"Director Ning, do you have any familiar distribution channels?"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Ning Yuan's face, and he looked away.

"……No."

Li Cheng waited two seconds, but received no further response, so he pressed on, "Not a single one?"

Ning Yuan got angry: "I'm a filmmaker, not someone who pulls strings. I've argued with several distribution managers before, and now they won't answer my calls if they see me."

There was a three-second silence in the car.

Jiang Fan leaned back in the passenger seat, his eyes closed.

"Go find Su Yuyan."

Li Cheng was taken aback for a moment, then gave a thumbs up: "Sister Su's connections are really useful."

Su Yuyan has been in the industry for over ten years, and she knows the ins and outs of theatrical distribution better than anyone else.

I promised her a share of the profits from the film project, and now it's come in handy.

When the car arrived at the company building, Ning Yuan left first.

Jiang Fan entered the office and sat down. Before he could even get comfortable, his phone vibrated.

It was a WeChat message from Tang Yingxue.

"I've arrived in Shanghai."

Jiang Fan glanced at the time; it was 3 PM.

We just parted ways in Xingcheng the day before yesterday, and you've already caught up with me today?

He typed a few words back.

Jiang Fan: The song isn't finished yet.

The other party replied instantly.

Tang Yingxue: I'm not pressuring you to write a song. I have a collaboration I'd like to discuss in person. Is tonight convenient?

Jiang Fan stared at the screen for two seconds.

Tang Yingxue is not the kind of person who would make a last-minute trip when she's bored.

She said that when there's a collaboration, it's usually for something serious.

Jiang Fan: You decide on the location at 7 PM.

"Tang Yingxue: I've booked a private room at the Bulgari Hotel's Chinese restaurant."

-

At five o'clock in the afternoon, Li Cheng knocked on the door and came in.

"Brother Fan, Gucci's people from the company that Shen Nian is endorsing have replied to me."

"How so?"

"Annual contract, endorsement fee of 8.6 million, Asia-Pacific regional ambassador. Exclusivity is limited to the luxury goods category, but will not affect negotiations for other categories."

Jiang Fan leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment.

Shen Nian's championship popularity is still at its peak, so this price is reasonable.

"Sign it."

Li Cheng nodded and wrote it down, then flipped through the small notebook in his hand.

"Vio has also responded, offering six million for an S series endorsement, for a one-year term."

"Sure. Have the legal department review the contract; if the terms are fine, then proceed."

"Alright." Li Cheng turned to leave, but stopped when he put his hand on the doorknob. "By the way, Brother Fan, are you free tonight? Want to grab a drink?"

"I'm busy, I have an appointment."

Li Cheng chuckled and tactfully closed the door.

Jiang Fan stretched in his chair.

Shen Nian's business is progressing faster than expected.

With the champion's halo, the brand's asking price was significantly higher.

While the hype is still going strong, she should sign a few big contracts, and her income for next year will be secure.

Jiang Fan finished work at six o'clock and took a taxi straight to the Bulgari Hotel.

-

The waiter led him through the corridor and opened the door to the private room.

Tang Yingxue has arrived.

She wore a black dress, her hair was tied in a low ponytail, and she had a pair of small silver hoop earrings.

She wore a thin layer of black stockings on her legs and stiletto heels.

Her makeup was very light, but she looked great.

Her skin had a glow that radiated from within, a completely different state from when she was a mentor in Xingcheng the day before yesterday.

Jiang Fan sat down opposite her.

Tang Yingxue poured him a cup of tea and pushed it towards him.

"You look good today." Jiang Fan picked up his cup and took a sip.

Tang Yingxue paused for a moment, looked up at him, and her lips twitched: "I have to thank Teacher Jiang for this."

Jiang Fan didn't reply. He put down his cup, picked up the menu, and flipped through a couple of pages.

The waiter served a few dishes, then left and closed the door behind him.

The private room fell silent, with only the soft clinking of dishes.

Tang Yingxue picked up a piece of beef, chewed it slowly, and wiped her mouth with a napkin.

"After that night, my skin condition improved. It was very noticeable." She put down her chopsticks and placed her hands, folded, on the table. "I've used all sorts of top-tier skincare products, but I've never seen results like this before."

Jiang Fan didn't stop picking up food with his chopsticks.

Tang Yingxue stared at him.

"Is Xu Qingya like that too?"

Jiang Fan swallowed what was in his mouth.

"Teacher Tang, don't ask too many questions. As long as it doesn't do you any harm, that's fine."

Tang Yingxue pursed her lips and didn't ask any further questions.

The private room fell silent for a few more seconds.

She took a couple of bites of food, put down her chopsticks, and said, "I heard you're preparing for a movie lately?"

"Um."

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Not at the moment."

Tang Yingxue didn't press the matter and changed the subject: "After the song is released, you can cooperate with me on a joint promotion. You'll endorse it, and I'll help your movie get exposure. It's a two-way traffic boost, and both sides will benefit."

Jiang Fan thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay."

Tang Yingxue raised her teacup and touched the rim of his cup.

"It's a pleasure working with you."

-

After finishing our meal and leaving the private room, we found the hallway lighting to be very soft.

Tang Yingxue walked ahead, her high heels making little noise on the carpet.

When she reached the elevator, she pressed the up button.

The elevator doors opened.

Tang Yingxue turned to the side and looked at Jiang Fan.

"Would you like to come up and have a seat?"

Her tone was flat, but the tip of her left ear was flushed.

Jiang Fan stepped into the elevator.

Tang Yingxue pressed the floor button, and the two stood side by side without saying a word.

With a "ding," we arrived.

Tang Yingxue swiped her card to open the door, and just as she inserted the room card—

Someone first put their arm around my waist.

Jiang Fan put his arm around her from behind, and Tang Yingxue stiffened, instinctively reaching for something nearby to steady herself.

He slapped his palm on the full-length mirror in the entryway.

"What's the rush..." Her voice was slightly breathless.

Jiang Fan didn't answer, but instead hooked his fingers around the edge of her skirt and pushed it up.

Tang Yingxue braced herself against the mirror with one hand, her skirt pushed up to her waist, exposing the thin layer of black stockings underneath.

"Wait a minute—go to bed."

Jiang Fan pinned her against the mirror, not giving her a chance to move.

Tang Yingxue's face was pressed against the cool mirror, her breath hitting the mirror and exhaling a small cloud of water vapor.

Then she heard the sound of fabric tearing behind her.

"...My stockings cost over three thousand a pair." Tang Yingxue gritted her teeth, her voice both angry and soft, "Do you all waste things like this?"

Jiang Fan ignored her.

Tang Yingxue's knees began to tremble, and she only managed to stay upright because he held her waist.

She turned her head, her peripheral vision catching a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror—

Her skirt was bunched up at her waist, her stockings had a tear at the top of her thigh, and her whole face turned bright red.

The man behind him was wearing a neatly pressed shirt.

She quickly turned her face back, pressing her forehead against the mirror, and biting the back of her hand with her teeth.

Jiang Fan helped Tang Yingxue walk from the entrance hall to the living room.

The sofa backrest made a dull thud as it was pressed down, and one of Tang Yingxue's high heels flew off during the struggle, hitting the coffee table and bouncing away.

When Tang Yingxue was thrown onto the bed, her skirt was already torn up somewhere.

She lay sprawled on the white sheets, most of her hair spilling out from her ponytail and clinging to her cheeks and neck.

"No more, that's enough... that's really enough..."

Her voice trembled, and she pushed against Jiang Fan's shoulder, but she couldn't muster any strength.

Jiang Fan leaned down, his lips touching her earlobe.

"Teacher Tang, didn't you just say you wanted a long-term collaboration?"

Tang Yingxue turned her head and glared at him, her eyes filled with tears, the corners of her eyes red as if about to bleed.

He opened his mouth twice, but not a single word of cursing came out.

Jiang Fan smiled, placed his palm on her lower back, and started moving again.

"Again, again...ah!"

-

I don't know how much time has passed.

Tang Yingxue lay face down on the bed, her face buried in the pillow, her shoulders rising and falling slightly with her breathing.

I have no strength left in my body, and I can't even turn over.

Jiang Fan lay down beside him, and the system panel appeared before his eyes.

[Deep Compatibility x3, Lifespan +6000]

Current lifespan: 50100 points

[Remaining lifespan: 123 days]

It's 50,000.

Jiang Fan turned off the panel.

It took Tang Yingxue a while to recover before she finally turned half her face out from under the pillow.

"What exactly is your constitution?"

"Exceptionally gifted."

Tang Yingxue wanted to curse, but her voice was so hoarse that she could only manage a loud groan.

She struggled to move and rested her head on Jiang Fan's shoulder.

"Stockings that cost 3,800 yuan."

"I'll accompany you with ten pairs."

"...If only you could write songs this easily."

Jiang Fan put his arm around her shoulder without saying a word.

Tang Yingxue closed her eyes, and her breathing gradually became longer.

After nearly three hours of this, she was completely exhausted.

For the first time in thirty-two years, she felt so comfortable leaning on a man's shoulder.

Tang Yingxue's consciousness gradually faded, and she fell into a deep sleep.

Jiang Fan turned his head and glanced at her.

Once asleep, Tang Yingxue's aggression vanished completely; her brows relaxed, her lips parted slightly, and her breathing became even.

He pulled the blanket up to cover the two of them and closed his eyes.