All three variety shows were now in pre-production.
The audition show was moving the fastest. With the platform showing strong support, the production team had come together quickly, and they were already filming the first episode.
The dating show had its script finalized and had confirmed three pairs of exes—six people in all. Once they found the last pair, filming could begin immediately.
The charity show was progressing more slowly. After all, the guests needed to undergo background checks, and it was difficult to attract investment. So far, they had only secured the schedules of two entertainers. It would probably be another month before filming could begin.
The drama projects were moving even more slowly.
All three production crews were still polishing the scripts and negotiating with directors. The period drama was heading south to scout locations, while the xianxia and historical dramas were building their sets at a film and television production base.
As for the cast, the company planned to find a well-known actor for the lead role and promote one of its own second- or third-tier performers for the other. There was no reason to let outsiders profit when the company could benefit itself; at least one of the male and female leads had to come from the company.
Everything appeared to be proceeding at full speed, with an excellent outlook.
After thinking it over, she called CEO Liang and asked, “The ancient business drama is set in a fictional dynasty. Have you decided on a style for the costumes yet?”
Liang Siqi replied, “Not yet. The producer is still negotiating with the film base over the shooting locations.”
“Right. There’s a game company that wants to invest in our script, but they require us to use their costume and set designs.”
“A game company?”
Liang Siqi thought of those revealing female costumes and instinctively rejected the idea.
“I’ll send you a file package. Take a look and see what you think.”
Since the caller was the chairman’s special assistant, Liang Siqi could only respond helplessly, “…All right.”
She opened the files.
The very first glance drew her in. The designs had a distinctive style, different from the three mainstream Hanfu styles of the Han, Tang, and Song dynasties.
Comfortable, exquisite, and imposing!
“Of course! Absolutely!” Liang Siqi agreed at once. “Which game company is it? Do you have the person in charge’s number, Assistant Qiu? I’ll contact them and discuss the details.”
“It’s a new company, and the game hasn’t even been released yet. I’ll talk to them first.”
“Wonderful, wonderful. Thank you for all your hard work, Assistant Qiu. You’re still worrying about work during the New Year.”
Qiuyun replied politely, “You’re one to talk. We’re both in the same boat.”
After the round of business pleasantries ended, Qiuyun called Fourth Young Master.
At the company, he had always been the one responsible for attracting investment, developing business, and handling marketing.
After hearing her out, Jiang Linzhi tactfully explained that the company did not have any spare funds to provide sponsorship.
“I’ll cover the sponsorship fee myself, though it will be paid in the company’s name,” Qiuyun explained. “I previously signed an exclusive copyright agreement with President Pei, so if we want to license the rights out, it has to go through the company’s procedures.”
“In that case, there’s no problem. I’ll have my assistant draw up a contract and send it to you later.”
Jiang Linzhi stressed, “Since this is for promoting the company’s game, we’ll waive the copyright licensing fee, and the project will be negotiated by the company. However, this is your personal investment. You’ll be solely responsible for any profit or loss, and the company won’t provide a guarantee. Is that acceptable?”
Qiuyun replied, “No problem.”
“Good. Send me the partner’s contact information.”
Qiuyun forwarded CEO Liang’s business card.
Jiang Linzhi glanced at the name. “MR? Isn’t that the media company Fourth Uncle gave to Big Brother, and Big Brother later gave to Little Seven?”
“That’s the one.”
“…”
Well, then.
They were all family.
Besides, Beijing was only so big. It was perfectly normal for relatives to cross paths after going around in circles.
“All right.” Jiang Linzhi calculated the schedule. “Our game is expected to launch in August. If we’re shooting promotional material, we’d better move quickly.”
The two of them finalized the details, discussed a few other matters, and then ended the call.
Since Pei Cizhou was being kept at home by his family, she had been in more frequent contact with Fourth Young Master, the company’s second-largest shareholder.
The holiday passed in the blink of an eye.
On the eighth day of the lunar New Year, it was an auspicious day to return to work.
Qiuyun packed a few personal things and returned to the estate. As soon as she arrived at Mingyue House, Steward Chen came toward her.
“Good morning, Steward Chen,” Qiuyun greeted him with a smile.
Steward Chen replied courteously, “Good morning. I knew you’d come back early, Assistant Qiu. Luckily, I didn’t miss you.”
“What’s the matter? Is something wrong?”
Steward Chen said with a smile, “Something’s happened—and it’s good news. Come with me.”
The two of them went upstairs to the second floor.
The madam had moved back to the auxiliary first floor, but her room had not been restored to its former state. Instead, it had been completely tidied up, with new furniture and curtains, and converted into a room for Assistant Qiu.
Qiuyun had previously been living in a maid’s room. Since the villa occupied a large area, all the rooms with windows had been reserved for the members of the main household from the very beginning, so the living conditions there were not particularly good.
Qiuyun, however, had felt that staying closer to the young lady would make it more convenient to do her job. So she had never moved into the staff dormitory and had continued living there.
But now, her status had risen considerably. She was a favorite in front of Mr. and Mrs. Jiang and their daughter. It would be far too unfair to keep her in a windowless maid’s room.
And so—
As soon as a room became available in Mingyue House, it had immediately been assigned to her.
Qiuyun entered her new room.
The furniture had indeed been replaced, and Fang-jie and Yuan-jie had moved all her belongings upstairs exactly as they were. She only needed to organize them a little.
Qiuyun set down the bag in her hand. “I really have caused you trouble, Steward Chen. You should have told me. I could have tidied everything myself.”
“It’s no trouble at all. Looking after the house is what we do.” Steward Chen stepped out. “The young lady’s violin teacher will be here this morning. There’s nothing else going on in the house, so take your time arranging your things.”
“All right.”
Steward Chen closed the door. Qiuyun looked around the room, then called the madam.
“Hello, Madam.”
“Yes, I’m back.”
“No, nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to ask about moving to the second floor.”
“Won’t this break the household rules? I noticed that Sixth Miss’s assistant also lives in the staff dormitory. Assistants aren’t supposed to live on the second floor, are they?”
“All right, then. Thank you for looking after me, Madam. I’ll take good care of the young lady from now on.”
“Of course. Goodbye.”
After hanging up and confirming that Steward Chen and the others had not made the decision on their own, Qiuyun finally took off her coat, braced herself with both hands, and flopped down onto the bed.
She had to admit, the view from the second floor really was wonderful. Looking out, she could see the estate’s artificial lake through the layers of tree shadows.
Its surface shimmered in the sunlight.
After putting away her belongings, Qiuyun washed her hands and went downstairs.
“Fang-jie, Yuan-jie.”
The two longtime colleagues greeted her with some awkwardness. “Assistant Qiu.”
They only knew that something had happened in the Jiang family before the New Year: the Old Master had become seriously ill, and then several of the gentlemen had been hospitalized. They did not know the details.
But after Mr. Jiang returned from the hospital, Assistant Qiu had actually been allowed to sit at the table and eat with Mr. and Mrs. Jiang!
That meant something very different indeed.
Qiuyun smiled and said, “By the way, from now on, I’ll take care of the daily cleaning in my room myself. You two don’t need to worry about it.”
Fang-jie said, “What? You’ll do it yourself? How can we let you?”
“It’s fine. I live alone, and I’m not as particular about cleanliness as the young lady. Cleaning once or twice a week is enough. It won’t be any trouble.”
Yuan-jie suggested, “How about this? Every Sunday, I’ll vacuum the floor and clean the bathroom while I’m at it. You can handle the rest yourself.”
“Really, there’s no need.”
Qiuyun tried to persuade her. “You’re not my hired housekeeper. How could I ask you to clean my room? Let’s keep work and personal matters separate.”
