Life countdown begins, ice queen bursts into security room

At seven o'clock in the morning, Jiang Fan was awakened by his cell phone ringing.

The bed beside me was empty, and I could faintly hear the sound of water coming from the direction of the bathroom.

The phone was still buzzing on the bedside table.

Jiang Fan turned over, reached for his phone, and saw Su Yuyan's name displayed on the screen.

"Feed." He sat up and leaned against the headboard.

"You're awake? Li Cheng talked to me about film distribution yesterday afternoon."

Jiang Fan raised his hand and rubbed his temples. "Mmm."

"I have several cinema managers with whom I have good relationships and have worked before. I can get in touch with Wanda, Dadi, and Jinyi cinemas."

"Tell me your thoughts."

"It's produced by Xinghuo, and I'm in charge of distribution. We'll get 12% of the box office revenue."

Su Yuyan spoke very frankly.

When this woman gets into business, her assertive nature immediately comes out.

Jiang Fan propped up his pillow a little and changed his posture to lean back.

Su Yuyan's connections can indeed solve the distribution problem.

She has been in the industry for over a decade and is a shareholder of Times Media, so she has a lot of real resources at her disposal.

When it comes to scheduling films in theaters, it's all about personal connections and relationships. Having a good film isn't enough; you need someone to help you get more screenings.

But 12% is an outrageous demand.

"I can only give you eight percent."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Minimum 10%."

"Then five percent."

Su Yuyan: "Jiang Fan, you..."

After a two-second pause, she squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth.

"Hmph. Eight percent it is."

Jiang Fan's lips curled up slightly.

This woman is smart; she knows that if she keeps going with him, she'll only keep cutting her losses.

"We'll discuss the specifics when we meet. I'll arrive in Shanghai at 3 PM this afternoon. We'll have dinner at our usual spot tonight."

"Okay. See you tonight."

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Fan tossed it back onto the bedside table.

He turned his head and glanced in the direction of the bathroom.

The sound of water hadn't stopped, interspersed with soft humming, the humming quite enthusiastically.

Jiang Fan threw off the covers and got out of bed, stepping barefoot onto the carpet as he walked to the bathroom door.

He pushed open the door and went inside.

The bathtub was steaming hot, and Tang Yingxue was submerged in the water, with only her shoulders and above showing.

Her hair was piled on top of her head, casually secured with a hair clip.

She was looking down, scooping up foam from the water and rubbing it on her arm, moving it back and forth along her forearm as if confirming something.

Hearing the noise, Tang Yingxue suddenly looked up.

Eyes facing each other.

She quickly covered her chest with both hands and shrank into the water, causing a small patch of foamy water to splash onto the floor tiles.

"Couldn't you knock?"

Jiang Fan leaned against the door frame, his arms crossed.

"Your door isn't locked."

Tang Yingxue glared at him.

"Teacher Tang, we saw much more than this last night, why are you covering it up now?"

Tang Yingxue's face flushed instantly, and she gritted her teeth, remaining silent.

She simply sank herself down into the foam, leaving only her head above the water.

"You can leave now. I'll be right there."

Jiang Fan didn't move, his gaze fixed on her shoulder.

The foam covered most of it, but the lines of her collarbone were clearly visible.

The red marks left from last night hadn't faded yet, standing out starkly against her fair skin.

"What are you looking at!" Tang Yingxue slapped the water, splashing a few drops onto Jiang Fan's leg.

Jiang Fan walked over and squatted down by the bathtub.

Tang Yingxue instinctively leaned back, her back pressed against the inside of the bathtub.

"What are you doing? Don't come any closer—"

Jiang Fan reached out and took off the hair clip that was pinned to the top of her head.

Her long hair was loose, with the ends touching the water's surface and spreading out in a patch.

Why are you taking my hair...?

Jiang Fan didn't answer. His fingers slid down the strands of hair behind her ear, his fingertips brushing against the side of her neck.

Tang Yingxue shuddered and shrank her shoulders.

"Jiang Fan".

"Um?"

"So early in the morning...aren't you tired?"

Jiang Fan looked at her. The bubbles slowly dispersed on the water's surface, obscuring it less and less.

He stood up, pulled his T-shirt up, and threw it on the sink.

Tang Yingxue's pupils contracted slightly.

"You really want this—it's a bathtub!"

Jiang Fan stepped one leg in, and the water surface shook violently, with most of it overflowing and soaking the floor tiles.

Tang Yingxue braced her hands against the bathtub wall, her legs spread apart, and water flowed into the gap between them.

Jiang Fan placed his hand on her waist and pulled her towards him.

Tang Yingxue's back left the bathtub wall, and she leaned over him, hooking her legs around his waist.

The water was churning more and more, with waves overflowing outwards.

Tang Yingxue buried her face in his shoulder and bit his shoulder with her teeth.

"Be gentle...be gentle...water's getting into my ears..."

Jiang Fan freed one hand, brushed the wet hair behind her ear, and kissed her earlobe.

Tang Yingxue shuddered, and the hand gripping his shoulder tightened suddenly.

Another large wave of water surged out of the bathtub.

-

Tang Yingxue gripped the edge of the bathtub with both hands, her upper body pressed against the bathtub wall.

"I can't... I really can't..."

With that final thrust, Tang Yingxue's entire body tensed into an arc, her neck arched back, and she let out a distorted scream.

The bathroom returned to silence.

The only sound was the dripping of water in the bathtub.

Tang Yingxue lay paralyzed in the bathtub, her chest heaving violently.

Her hand was still resting on the bathtub wall, her fingers trembling slightly.

Jiang Fan pulled Tang Yingxue out of the bathtub and wrapped her in a bath towel.

Tang Yingxue was completely exhausted and he half-carried and half-lifted her back to bed.

-

Tang Yingxue sat on the edge of the bed wrapped in a bath towel, her hair still dripping wet.

She looked up at Jiang Fan changing his clothes.

What are your plans for today?

"Back to the company."

"And at night?"

Jiang Fan paused for a moment while buttoning his shirt.

Su Yuyan made a dinner appointment.

"I have social engagements."

Tang Yingxue's lips twitched down slightly, but she didn't press the matter.

She reached up and wrung out her dripping hair, the water trickling through her fingers onto the towel.

"Then I'll stay in Shanghai for a couple more days."

That statement is completely incoherent.

But the meaning is clear—come find me when you're done with your work.

Jiang Fan walked up to her and touched her forehead with his head.

"I'll give you the song this week."

Tang Yingxue hummed in agreement and pushed him away.

"Let's go. I need to dry my hair."

Jiang Fan grabbed his phone and coat and left the hotel room.

The corridor was empty, and it was already bright outside the window.

He glanced at the time on his phone.

9:40.

Su Yuyan arrived in Shanghai at 3 PM.

Tang Yingxue will stay in Shanghai for two days.

Fortunately, Xu Qingya went to Kyoto for rehearsals, and Shen Nian has been running around for Gucci's makeup fittings these past two days.

Jiang Fan put his phone in his pocket and walked towards the elevator.

My phone vibrated again.

It was a message from Shen Nian.

Shen Nian: My Gucci makeup session went smoothly. The stylist complimented my skin and asked what skincare products I use [smirk]

Jiang Fan glanced at it for two seconds, then typed a few words in reply.

Jiang Fan: Then don't tell her.

Shen Nian: Hmph.

Shen Nian: Are you coming back tonight?

Jiang Fan: I'm not going back, I have a social engagement.

After sending the message, Jiang Fan put his phone back in his pocket and pressed the down button on the elevator.

When a man has many women around him, he certainly doesn't have enough time.

But what can you do when your life is so cheap—you have to squeeze in even if you don't have enough?