Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
So he was the sort of the person behind-the-scenes for “The Grey List”.
Everyone was as though relieved and was not as uptight as earlier.
Xiang Wan kept her lips pursed together. Her line of sight fell on Bai Muchuan who was sitting beside her.
Well, he was still the same without any emotion.
Meng Chi’s smile spread to Tang Yuanchu as well.
“Even the CEO still need to follow and supervise the filming personally?” Tang Yuanchu asked with a smile.
“I value this project a lot,” explained Meng Chi, “just not long ago, the crew arrived in Nanmu for shooting. Many actors could not get accustomed to the climate of Nanmu and fell ill. That caused the shooting progress to be rather slow. I’m here to send my regards on behalf of the company.”
At this point, he suddenly turned and looked at the woman sitting next to Abdul.
“This is a rewarding trip, as I found someone suitable for the company. It’s Mr. Abdul’s daughter, Lima!”
When Meng Chi talked to everyone, it felt as if he was chatting with an old friend.
That, accompanied by his smile, removed the uncomfortable feeling of chatting with a stranger.
Indeed, someone who could manage a big company was really something!
When Lima heard his introduction, her originally lowered head lifted up slightly. Then she got up from her seat and smiled politely at everyone.
“My name is Lima, pleased to meet all of you.”
Her mandarin was better than the locals in the restaurant.
But if one listened carefully, there was still a strong Nanmu accent.
Meng Chi gestured for her to sit down, and suddenly looked at Tang Yuanchu.
“Which character in ‘The Grey List’ do you think is similar to Lima?”
Ah! Tang Yuanchu: “…”
The lie that I just made is going to be exposed right in my face? he thought.
In reality, he did read “The Grey List”, but less than 100 chapters. His understanding about “The Grey List” was completely different from what he had claimed earlier… Hence, for a supporting character suitable for Lima, he could not remember at all.
This was why he was stunned when Meng Chi asked him.
“It’s the girl, Nada!” Xiang Wan took a glance and answered the question for Tang Yuanchu. “Nada was a girl also from an ethnic minority group. She’s a warm and bright girl whose singing sounded like silver bells. Everytime she danced around the bonfire, she would attract numerous attention, especially the young men… Miss Lima’s appearance also fitted the description of Nada.”
“Yes, yes, yes! It’s Nada!” Tang Yuanchu had as though suddenly recalled there was such a character.
Xiang Wan took another glance at him. “Well, there weren’t many scenes of Nada—there’s only one arc.”
… And, her ending was not very good.
Xiang Wan did not said that sentence but Meng Chi seemed to have read it through her eyes.
“Yes.” Meng Chi’s lips quirked lightly upward, showing her a smile and then quickly looked away. “We’re all birds of a feather.” He said to Bai Muchuan.
What did he want to express by saying that?
Those present at the table felt odd.
Xiang Wan guessed that he might have referred to the fact that everyone loved “The Grey List”.
But why did he have to say it while looking at Bai Muchuan?
Bai Muchuan laughed and did not seem to mind. “CEO Meng is really hard-working, devoting to your work wholeheartedly without complaint. You travelled from so far to the shooting site and even select the actors personally. Even when you’re having a meal, you do not forget to talk about work.”
Meng Chi was as though did not notice the irony in his words. “Of course, I have great expectations for ‘The Grey List’.”
He smiled slowly and gazed at Bai Muchuan. “Those who know me well probably know that this is the biggest investment project that I’ve ever undertaken since taking over as CEO this year. Of course, I need to do my best.”
Bai Muchuan pursed his lips slightly without a word.
Meng Chi looked at the crowd again and continued to talk about his project.
“The drama series of ‘The Grey List’ is just the first step. We’re planning to film the movie next. At the moment, the movie project has been approved with an estimated investment of more than 1.5 billion yuan—”
Silence ensued in the room.
An investment that was over 1.5 billion yuan. How big exactly was the production?
From another perspective, that meant this Meng Group was really a rich company!
“Wow, so cool!”
As the die-hard fan of Second Young Master Mu, Xiang Wan really looked forward to the completion of the drama as well as the movie of “The Grey List”.
She asked, “So when will the filming of the movie start?”
Meng Chi’s eyes turned to her once again, his attitude gentle and polite. “Probably after the upcoming Lunar New Year.”
Oh, that’s two more months to go.
When they finished filming, editing, and all, the movie would only be released in the next Lunar New Year.
All the people on the table did not know much about this industry. This was a rare opportunity to get to know more, so they opened their mouths and asked questions one by one.
Unexpectedly, Meng Chi’s attitude was very good throughout. As long as it was something he could answer, he would reply to them.
The conversation at the table grew more and more lively.
The dishes made their way to the table, and the hotpot was now boiling.
As the conveyor belt on the round table turned, everyone praised the taste of the hotpot and the owner, Abdul, was grinning from ear to ear.
The atmosphere in the private dining room gradually became relaxed from the initial tension.
Watching how everyone was chatting happily with each other, Xiang Wan felt maybe she was too sensitive about the earlier unnatural atmosphere?
The only problem now was Abdul. Could he be related to the Dark Clan? Although nobody had specifically said what Bai Muchuan’s line of work was, if such words were to spread, would it pose a problem to their mission?
“Feel free to order the food you want!” Abdul was polite and thoughtful. “It’s on the house tonight. Don’t stand on ceremony!”
The owner, Abdul, wanted to give a treat!
Wow, that sure was satisfying.
Salimu was totally having the thought that his hometown was truly the best and seemed a little proud. Occasionally, he would talk to Abdul using their native dialect. His face was red from all the excitement.
Tang Yuanchu would also talk to Meng Chi to find out more about the film set and movie.
The rest of them did not really bother to talk to Abdul.
Xiang Wan was a little embarrassed. “Mr. Abdul, don’t worry about us. We will eat to our fill.”
“Sure, sure!”
“Why don’t we have some drinks?” Abdul suggested with a laugh. “Somehow, it feels incomplete to eat hotpot without liquor?”
Bai Muchuan seldom talked during the meal. When he heard that, he looked over. “We won’t be drinking, thank you!”
Since he had said that, who else on the team would dare to drink?
Abdul looked a little regretful as everyone declined to drink liquor.
In order to show his sincerity, he thought for a moment and then looked at his daughter who had been quiet all this while.
“Lima, go get a bottle of liquor and offer a toast to our guests.”
Ethnic minorities were generally more enthusiastic.
But Lima had been very quiet, which was somewhat inconsistent with Xiang Wan’s initial impression of “warm and passionate”.
Lima nodded and went out with her head lowered, eyes looking down.
When she was back, she was holding a bottle of Maotai—a well-known Chinese liquor.
Earlier on, Xiang Wan did not see this liquor on the menu.
That meant this liquor could be Abdul’s personal collection.
Lima poured the liquor into a glass and held it up. “Everyone, please let me offer a toast to you!”
When a beautiful woman raised her glass of liquor, what should the group of men do?
“Just use your beverage will do!” Lima did not want to make things difficult for them. After that, she drank the glass of liquor.
Next, she filled her glass to toast Meng Chi.
“The second toast is for CEO Meng. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to act in the drama!”
The next instant, she gulped down the liquor in one go.
Wow! This girl!
The atmosphere at the room was instantly elevated.
However, before everyone realized it, Lima’s third glass was full again.
She did not toast everyone this time but slowly turned around and looked at her dad, Abdul, her eyes somewhat red.
“My third toast is to you, dad. Thank you for raising and taking care of me all these years.”
Without giving Abdul a chance to react, she gulped it down once again and coughed quite badly as though choked.
“…”
There was a momentary silence on the table.
Being respectful to the guests was fine, but was there a need for a daughter to behave so solemnly to her own dad?
Could it be a custom of the ethnic minority in Nanmu?
Everyone was puzzled and advised her to stop drinking.
Abdul, on the contrary, waved his hand. “It’s alright,” he smiled, “Lima’s alcohol tolerance is rather good, don’t worry.”
He poured a glass for himself and said to the people on the table. “My friends, thank you for your presence here tonight. Let’s have a toast to thank fate for having met each other!”
Since someone suggested, of course, they had to respond.
Hence, everyone clinked their glasses.
Besides Abdul and his daughter, no one else drank any alcohol. Not even Meng Chi.
So after all these toasts, Lima was the only one with a faint reddish tinge on her wheat-colored skin tone.
Her alcohol tolerance was not as good as what her dad claimed.
Abdul drank two glasses of liquor, but he seemed to be the same and kept saying his thanks to Meng Chi.
Meng Chi did not have much emotion. After hearing Abdul’s words, he suddenly cleared his throat.
“Abdul, there’s something I need your help.”
“Please say it!” Abdul patted his chest and looked serious. “All of you are my most distinguished guests. I’ll do my best to accede to your requests.”
“These friends of mine—” Meng Chi looked at Bai Muchuan and group, a half-smile on his face. “They’re not the ordinary folks. Please don’t reveal anything about them outside, alright?”
“Ah?”
Not the ordinary folks? Then what are they?
Abdul didn’t quite get it, his mouth was open as he looked at Meng Chi.
“You don’t know them. Just know that they are friends of mine will do.” Meng Chi said with a smile. “In this way, you won’t create trouble for yourself, get it?”
Abdul seemed confused but understood Meng Chi’s instructions.
For a man who was able to open a hotpot restaurant at such a place, how would he not know what to do?
He nodded his head in agreement. “I understand, I understand. They are CEO Meng’s friends and I don’t know them.”
Meng Chi smiled in satisfaction.
While the rest of them were full of questions in their head…
Nobody requested Meng Chi to do all these. Yet he took the initiative to help them decrease the risk.
Was this person just being thoughtful and friendly? Or there was something really fishy about him?
Meng Chi was at ease and relaxed, totally behaving like a good friend of theirs.
“I know a little about your work. It’s always good to try to minimize any possibility of inviting any trouble.”
He added with some explanation of his action.
Everyone said their thanks with smiles on their faces. “CEO Meng, thank you very much!”
“No need for thanks. We’re all good friends. Who knows I might need to ask for your help in future?”
“You flatter me.”
Everyone enjoyed their dinner.
However, Bai Muchuan seemed to be the only exception as he hardly said anything during dinner.
After dinner, everyone was prepared to go back.
Before they left, Meng Chi handed a business card to Bai Muchuan.
“The film crew is staying at Nanmu Hotel. I would also be spending some time in Nanmu. Captain Bai, mind coming out for tea if time allows?”
Nanmu Hotel?
So the entire filming crew was also there?
When Xiang Wan checked in at the hotel earlier in the day, she was unaware of that—
She saw Bai Muchuan taking the business card indifferently and nod at Meng Chi without any change in expression.
“Okay, goodbye.”
Somehow, Xiang Wan was a little bit suspicious that Bai Muchuan should have known about it?
Could it be that Xie Wanwan had never told him before?
…
In the lobby of Nanmu hotel, their lightings was not very bright.
Apart from the fact that there were two staff on duty at the front desk, there were hardly anyone hanging around in the lobby.
This place was so quiet that it did not look like a film crew was actually staying there.
However, the possibility was still there as in Nanmu, people there hardly chased after celebrities.
Well, the film crew could have gone out for shoots during the day, and the time they came back to the hotel was very uncertain as well—
As Xiang Wan thought about all these, she took Bai Muchuan’s arm while following him back to the hotel.
When the elevator stopped at the 10th floor, the group said goodnight to each other and headed back to their rooms.
When he arrived at his room, Quan Shaoteng deliberately poked Bai Muchuan’s arm with his elbow. “Go easy buddy, we have work tomorrow!”
Bai Muchuan swept a glare at him. “Scram!”
Quan Shaoteng pointed to his room. “And, don’t forget your next door lived a young man that needs to be taken care of. Don’t affect his physical and mental health!”
Bai Muchuan: “Your eye’s good already?”
“…”
Beep! Quan Shaoteng swiped his room card, quickly entered his room and closed the door.
As the two of them jested with each other, Xiang Wan walked straight ahead as if she had not heard anything.
She opened the door, changed into slippers, hung her coat, and waited for Bai Muchuan.
When Bai Muchuan came into the room, he looked at her while he changed into his slippers. “What’s up?”
Xiang Wan looked at him indolently with a half-smile. “Are you already aware that Xie Wanwan is filming in Nanmu?”
Bai Muchuan: “…”
There is a type of incomprehensible creature—women!
Bai Muchuan deliberated over the question, striving hard for ‘survival’!
“For this matter, I did not hear from her directly—”
“That means you do know about it?” Xiang Wan raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I just knew not long ago.” His tenacity for survival was very strong. He puffed a sigh and put an arm around Xiang Wan’s shoulders, pulling her gently into his arms. “Silly girl, are you still jealous?”
“…”
Xiang Wan struggled out from his arms.
“No!” She looked at him seriously. “The question earlier is like the preface. I’m observing your attitude. The actual question starts now—”
