Bingbing's Heart Stirs

"Sister Bingbing, then it's settled. Take a look at the character script and the full script first."

After a round of pointing things out, Shen Shanden successfully completed his task.

They had settled their intention to collaborate in a single meeting. As the director, he had truly gone all out for the film.

Fan Bingbing gave a quiet hum. Even after Shen Shanden had left, she remained seated without moving, her feet slightly drawn together.

He really didn't treat her like an outsider at all!

"Sister Bingbing, you didn't even see him off."

The moment Shen Shanden left, Fan Bingbing's little assistant breathed a sigh of relief. But when she saw Fan Bingbing's state, she sucked in a sharp breath.

Her cool-toned, porcelain-white skin was flushed across her smooth, full cheeks, the blush spreading like ripples unfurling over her face. Sweat dampened the strands of her glossy black hair.

She looked as though she had just run five kilometers.

"Did you two really make babies in there?"

The little assistant was stunned.

She had known the entertainment circle was straightforward, and her own artist was already a complete wreck, but surely it couldn't be to this extent?

If she let the other side have his way so quickly, could the plan still continue?

What if he had secretly recorded something?

After a while, Fan Bingbing relaxed her feet and came back to herself. She snapped coyly, "What are you talking about? We were just chatting, and we basically achieved our objective."

Seeing this, the little assistant did not ask further.

With things looking like this, even if something had happened, it had been voluntary. It had little to do with her.

She turned her attention to the food. More than half of it remained. Shen Shanden had eaten some, while Fan Bingbing had barely touched it.

"Have some. It'd be a waste not to," Fan Bingbing said, beckoning to her assistant.

As for Fan Bingbing herself, she could only watch.

Artists had to manage their figures. She was prone to gaining weight, and with so many matters tangled together right now, she needed to stay battle-ready. Her weight had to be kept under control.

In other words, she had to go hungry every day.

Only after confirming that Fan Bingbing was all right did the little assistant sit down. She did not stand on ceremony and immediately started eating. Fan Bingbing treated those under her well and had no airs about her.

She was eating the driver's meal, which was not as good as the business meal.

Seeing that her assistant's attention was entirely on the food, Fan Bingbing casually stretched a hand downward.

Shen Shanden did pay attention to personal hygiene. He even knew to put on a layer, but she still felt a little uncomfortable.

The little assistant did not forget about work. "Aren't we going to communicate with Shen Shanden directly? Why do we need to go through Wu Jing?"

"He's the assistant director."

Fan Bingbing had already returned to business mode. She read through the full script while chatting idly with her assistant.

During their previous contact, the production team for The Grand Director had only given her a character outline and script excerpts for several key scenes. Now that they were truly engaging with each other, Shen Shanden had finally produced the complete script.

In that respect, the The Grand Director team was highly professional.

This collaboration had initially been pursued for the connections involved, but she also hoped both sides could deliver professionally.

There were rumors that The Grand Director was a pilot project for a super-scale production.

Because of the historical development of the mainland film and television industry, mainland actresses held greater status than male stars and also earned more. Such a phenomenon was rare anywhere in the world.

Compared to male stars, Fan Bingbing had a chance to fight for the female lead in a major production. And she was truly desperate for film resources.

After hurriedly reading through the full script once, Fan Bingbing could no longer remain calm.

She still possessed the basic ability to judge whether a script was good or not.

The script for The Grand Director revolved around three major events, threaded through with smaller incidents. Nearly every half page contained a satisfying high point; in a film, there would be a beat every two or three minutes.

This kind of scriptwriting format had never appeared in domestic films before. From beginning to end, it existed solely to make the audience feel exhilarated.

"Sister Bingbing."

The little assistant had finished eating, only to discover that Fan Bingbing was still flipping through the script, unable to put it down.

Fan Bingbing scanned the female lead's character outline once more, her gaze growing even firmer. "I have to get the role of Xu Zhicui!"

Xu Zhicui, also known as Cuicui, was the daughter of a disgraced minister. Innocent yet resilient, she and the male lead Chen Mo supported each other as they rose from the bottom. She bore the burden of a wrongful case, and her father's miscarriage of justice was one of Chen Mo's important early motivations.

Previously, she had been working toward goals outside the project itself. But now, she keenly realized that the project itself held immense value.

She was determined to win it!

Shen Shanden opened the door, spinning his key ring around two fingers before tossing it onto the narrow, long cabinet by the entrance.

Da Mimi crossed her arms. "You're done taking care of business?"

Seeing her stern expression, Shen Shanden's face darkened as well. He knew full well that at a time like this, he absolutely could not indulge her.

"What business? What business do you think I was taking care of? I asked Fan Bingbing out—if I wasn't going to take care of business, what was the point? Was I supposed to waste everyone's time?"

"I originally wanted to share the good news with you. We've preliminarily reached an intention to cooperate with Fan Bingbing. She's willing to make a friendly appearance. A top-tier star—what great news that is for our project!"

"I'd just wanted to share my joy, but the moment I saw you with that stern face, you shoved my words right back down my throat. What are you trying to do?"

Da Mimi's lips puckered.

What was going on? How had it become her fault instead?

Her voice weakened by three parts. "I was just asking."

Shen Shanden did not truly blame her. She was still young, after all, but a lecture was unavoidable.

"There are many ways to ask. You could ask happily, ask calmly, or run over and hug me while asking. You chose the most mood-killing way possible."

"Do you know how much pressure I'm under? I don't even know who I offended, yet an International Great Director like John Woo has announced he's Banned me from the Hong Kong and Taiwan circles."

Da Mimi cried.

She did not know what else to do but cry.

She had merely been a little unhappy. How did Shen Shanden have one little speech after another?

He had made her sound like some wicked woman.

"Why is John Woo Banning you?" she quickly changed the subject.

"How would I know? Maybe he's having some kind of episode. Am I supposed to care what he thinks?" Shen Shanden would not let her change the subject. "I finally secured an important collaboration. Do you know how hard it is for a man to build a career?"

"Mimi, think carefully. Should a good girl help her man achieve success in his career, or sabotage his career?"

"Or are you the kind who can't stand seeing your own family do well—who sees her man's career soaring and can't bear it, so she wants to ruin it?"

"As a girl, are you really that selfish?"

Da Mimi sobbed in little hiccups, making tiny chirping sounds.

"I'm not. I just don't feel secure."

Shen Shanden stood straight, unafraid of a crooked shadow. "If you doubt me, I can prove it to you. But Mimi, I hope you reflect on yourself properly."

Da Mimi stopped crying. "How will you prove it?"

Shen Shanden was speechless. She really knew how to put on an act. "The truth will soon come to light."

"What wa—" Da Mimi cried out. "Ah! What are you doing?"

The next day.

Shen Shanden got up on time and went to work.

Da Mimi lay under the covers in a rather ungraceful position.

Tired!

The Grand Director production crew.

"Brother Jing, Producer Zhang, follow up with Fan Bingbing's team."

At Monday morning's meeting.

Shen Shanden announced that he and Fan Bingbing had reached a preliminary cooperation agreement, placing special emphasis on the points both teams needed to watch for in their subsequent communications.

Upon hearing this news, Wu Jing, Zhang Nengshou, and the others were all stunned!

Shen Shanden had opened up the situation after only one meeting!

Terrifying indeed!

A star cast was the most direct way to showcase a project. Fan Bingbing joining undoubtedly added weight to The Grand Director.

"I'll make sure the communication is handled well." Zhang Nengshou gave his assurance, his drive growing stronger and stronger.

Wu Jing was also delighted with his choice. The future of The Grand Director was visibly bright.

"Try to finalize the main cast before the New Year. The basic concept for the action design must also be settled. Communicate with Fan Bingbing's team and release news of the preliminary intention."

After the meeting.

Everyone immediately threw themselves into the new week's work, and preparations for The Grand Director entered the fast lane.

Shen Shanden worked day and night without pause.

That evening, he took Da Mimi to a dinner gathering arranged by Rongxinda.