Chapter 144: Great Minds Think Alike

The voice sounded somewhat familiar. Yet, he couldn’t recall where he had heard it before. It probably wasn’t anyone important.

But still, Chen Fang felt a slight urge to laugh. As an artist under Future Star Path, wasn’t it perfectly normal for him to come here for a visit?

With a mocking smile curling at the corners of his mouth, Chen Fang turned toward the source of the voice. Just as he was about to retort, the figure that appeared before his eyes stunned him.

Short hair. A trench coat. High heels. Such a familiar outfit.

Chen Fang furrowed his brow slightly, racking his memory.

He remembered now.

This woman was the one who had gone on a blind date with You Tianze last night. Back then, Chen Fang had only glanced at her briefly and hadn’t given it much thought.

“What are you doing here?” Chen Fang asked, shocked.

Why was this woman in Future Star Path’s company?

No, that couldn’t be right.

Chen Fang’s sharp mind began to whirl wildly. First, he ruled out the possibility that she was an artist signed to Future Star Path—after all, Chen Fang was one of their biggest stars; if she were a new signee, she would have known him. Next, she couldn’t be a staff member—Future Star Path hadn’t been hiring recently.

His gaze grew strange.

Could it be…

This woman was Qian Youlai’s mistress?

Good heavens!

You Tianze was truly doomed to wear the green hat. His blind date had already been sleeping with Qian Youlai behind his back. If You Tianze found out, what would happen?

Chen Fang cautiously asked, “Did Mr. Qian bring you here?”

“Mm,” the short-haired woman replied coldly.

That confirmed it.

Chen Fang’s last shred of doubt vanished.

Poor You Tianze—big head, thick neck, and average looks to boot—but to think his blind date was such a “special case.”

Chen Fang didn’t want to have much to do with this woman. After all, she was Qian Youlai’s woman. The more contact he had with her, the more uncomfortable Qian Youlai might feel. As for You Tianze, Chen Fang would wait and see—maybe the blind date hadn’t gone well after all.

Chen Fang nodded politely and prepared to leave.

Just then, the short-haired woman spoke again, “Aren’t you a singer? Why are you here in the film and television department?”

Chen Fang felt an unpleasant twinge inside.

What a meddlesome person!

I’m Chen Fang; I can go wherever I like without reporting to some woman like you.

But on the surface, he had to maintain his dignity. “Just taking a look around. I’ve been with the company for so long but haven’t really explored it. Thought I’d get familiar with the place.”

Still—

This woman was undeniably beautiful.

Especially after she took off her sunglasses, her face was far more striking than most female artists.

Her skin was fair and supple, lips pressed into a delicate red line. Her nose wasn’t the classic high bridge but rather somewhat like a foreigner’s aquiline nose, though more defined and refined. What surprised Chen Fang most was her blue pupils—was she naturally heterochromatic? Or wearing colored contacts?

From her way of speaking, she was the truly aloof type. Unlike Xi Yuanyuan’s deliberately feigned coldness, this woman was genuinely distant, looking down on everyone as if they were nothing but trash.

Chen Fang mused inwardly.

So this was the type Qian Youlai preferred—young ladies with this particular vibe. The older he got, the wilder his tastes seemed to become.

Yet, he had to admit, Qian Youlai’s aesthetic sense was undeniable.

A woman like this could ignite a man’s desire to conquer. Besides, the short-haired woman had a great figure as well.

The woman furrowed her brow slightly, the chill emanating from her growing stronger, her voice faint and clear: “You’re lying.”

No way! Lady, are you deliberately nitpicking?

Chen Fang’s expression darkened. Even Qian Youlai hadn’t been this controlling with him; in fact, he showed Chen Fang great respect. And here was a mistress acting like the company belonged to her.

“Sorry, I have some things to attend to,” Chen Fang said and walked off immediately.

Seeing this, the short-haired woman’s gaze turned cold, but she didn’t stop him.

Soon after Chen Fang left, Qian Youlai arrived, his laughter bright and hearty. “I knew you’d be here. So eager to come see this place?”

“Uncle Qian, I saw someone interesting,” the short-haired woman said, her tone much softer than when she spoke to Chen Fang—less cold, less distant.

Qian Youlai was taken aback.

Someone interesting?

Who?

Besides the short-haired woman standing before him, who else would be here in the long-abandoned film and television department of Future Star Path?

“Chen Fang,” the woman recalled Chen Fang’s earlier expression, a trace of confusion crossing her face. Chen Fang had seemed quite disdainful toward her. She’d always been confident in her looks—could it be that her tone had offended him?

Hearing Chen Fang’s name, Qian Youlai was somewhat surprised. He hadn’t expected Chen Fang to come to this deserted part of the company.

But—

Qian Youlai didn’t dwell on it.

Chen Fang was the company’s pillar now; he could go wherever he pleased.

Besides, it was just the abandoned film and television department—nothing important.

The short-haired woman turned to Qian Youlai. “Uncle Qian, how about leaving him to me? I have a script that needs an actor like him.”

Qian Youlai hesitated.

“Doesn’t this feel a bit premature? Maybe wait a little longer?”

Chen Fang’s main focus right now was singing.

Filming could wait.

The woman shook her head firmly. “My grandfather brought me back from overseas not to play around. I’m confident in this script—I want to create an outstanding film and television work. Now, all that’s left is money and actors.”

Money wasn’t a problem for Qian Youlai—after all, he was famously wealthy.

What was lacking now was talent.

After pondering for a moment, he felt he couldn’t decide this on his own. He needed to ask Chen Fang directly. After all, Chen Fang was Future Star Path’s cornerstone, with a status unlike any other artist. “I’ll ask Chen Fang what he thinks. If he’s unwilling, I can’t force him.”

The woman looked a little taken aback. “Isn’t he an artist under the company? Why can’t you make him?”

Qian Youlai scratched his head—already thinning hair, and now a few strands fell out. “Mimi, you just returned to the country and don’t quite understand the situation yet. Chen Fang is very important to the company. Although I’m the boss, I still have to respect his wishes.”

Le Mimi didn’t quite grasp this. Being a fresh returnee from abroad, she was somewhat naive.

“I’ll talk to him personally tomorrow,” Le Mimi said softly.

Hearing this, Qian Youlai had no objections.

He believed that once Chen Fang learned about Le Mimi’s background and lineage, he would be happy to engage with her.

Recently, Qian Youlai had traveled to southern Yunnan, expending great effort to meet a once-prominent figure in the film industry who had since semi-retired. With a powerful financial offer, he had managed to secure shares in Future Star Path.

Yes!

The shares were given away free of charge!

Shares in Future Star Path that others couldn’t buy for any price were handed over to him without cost. And even then, it was almost an afterthought.

But that industry veteran had already semi-retired and lacked the energy to meddle in film affairs anymore. So he sent his granddaughter to the capital and arranged for her to join Future Star Path.

Le Mimi was that granddaughter.

In short—

Qian Youlai intended to rebuild the film and television department.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths—traveling to other cities, giving money and gifts, even handing over company shares.