Wait, an international number.
Fang Ning instantly perked up. She recalled that Ji Xiangnian, who belonged to the female lead in the plot and was also the original owner's husband, was abroad negotiating a business deal.
If her guess was right, the caller should be the female lead's eldest brother, the one who discussed money rather than love with the original owner-
the domineering CEO-
her husband, Ji Xiangnian.
But something seemed off about him calling her at this hour.
Fang Ning quickly went over the events of the past few days in her mind, but she couldn't think of anything wrong.
Only then did she relax and press the answer button.
A steady, cool voice came through the phone: "Fang Ning, it's me."
That unhurried voice was deep and particularly pleasant, with a magnetic quality that unwittingly tugged at the heartstrings and sent hearts fluttering.
Fang Ning wasn't just a sucker for good looks; she was also a sucker for a good voice. That deep voice sounded very much like the young man she'd found online to keep her company when she was lonely, before she'd transmigrated into the novel.
Listening to that deep voice, Fang Ning's own voice unconsciously softened. "Hello, I'm Fang Ning."
The voice on the phone held a distant politeness. "I'm Ji Xiangnian. Sorry for calling you so late. I wanted to ask you something."
Fang Ning leaned against her pillow, listening to that deep, captivating voice, and her body unconsciously relaxed. "Mr. Ji, go ahead. As long as it's something I know, I'll definitely tell you."
"I called to ask whether you and Xiangchen are going to be filming with the same production crew," Ji Xiangnian said slowly, considering his words.
He wasn't interrogating Fang Ning. He just wanted to understand the situation. If someone really had deliberately arranged this, then he would have to investigate it.
Of course, it would be even better if that wasn't the case.
No wonder he'd called her so late at night.
Fang Ning recalled that drama. Since the script the director had given her wasn't complete, she didn't know the entire plot.
But there was one thing: her character seemed to have romantic scenes with Ji Xiangchen's character.
She suspected that was why he'd called.
Fang Ning quickly organized her thoughts and explained, "Yes, that's true. My manager accepted this production for me earlier. If you think it's inappropriate, I can turn it down, but the termination fee seems to be around a hundred million, so I..."
She wasn't sure whether Ji Xiangnian didn't want her to play this role. In any case, quoting a higher termination fee first was the way to go.
System: [...]
If it remembered correctly, the termination fee her manager had told her about was less than ten million. Now Fang Ning was saying a hundred million.
Wasn't this host being a hundred million times too shameless?!
Ji Xiangnian didn't pick up on Fang Ning's implication-or perhaps he did, but had no intention of being taken for a sucker.
Standing perfectly straight, he explained in an even voice, "Here's the thing: I was only asking. I didn't mean anything else."
Upon hearing that, Fang Ning understood. He really just wanted to ask about the situation. With her hopes of getting money dashed, Fang Ning was thinking about how to end this topic.
But the man on the other end spoke, his tone unreadable, as though he'd made some sort of decision. "Fang Ning, I'd like to ask you a favor. Could you help keep an eye on Ji Xiangchen on set?"
Ji Xiangnian thought of Ji Xiangchen's explosive temper, so different from his own steady, reserved disposition, which he'd inherited from their mother.
Xiangchen must have inherited their father's temper. He was impulsive and easily angered, and seemed never to think before acting. He was in his twenties, yet showed no sign of steadiness or maturity.
That sort of personality wasn't suited to surviving in an entertainment industry where everyone was an expert actor.
He'd always known what Xiangchen had encountered in the entertainment industry, and he knew about his poor reputation there.
He'd hoped that Xiangchen would retreat in the face of difficulty, but he'd underestimated Ji Xiangchen's determination.
He'd also underestimated how far his own softheartedness would go.
Fang Ning was a little dumbfounded. Seriously, man? You're asking me to keep an eye on him? He's in his twenties, not two.
But then Fang Ning recalled Ji Xiangchen that day, not talking back as his manager berated him, only keeping his face cold and taut.
She seemed to understand Ji Xiangnian's concern a little.
When Fang Ning didn't respond, Ji Xiangnian suddenly said in a low voice, "Don't worry. I'm a businessman. It's give and take. If you help me, I'll agree to what you brought up last time about your father."
Fang Ning keenly picked up on something. What sort of deal did the original owner have with Ji Xiangnian? Things were getting interesting. "All right, I agree."
So they exchanged a few more words afterward. Fang Ning tried to fish something out of him, but Ji Xiangnian was no ordinary man. After several minutes of probing indirectly, Fang Ning had gained nothing.
Although the two were already married, they weren't close. After exchanging a few words, they were ready to hang up.
At this point, Fang Ning started chatting with the system.
[System buddy, that domineering CEO who only talks money, not love, came calling!]
[Hey, his voice is surprisingly nice.]
[Host, wake up! Is that a man you can lust after?! Watch out, or you'll get chopped into pieces!]
Ji Xiangnian lightly pressed his forehead. He was just about to hang up when he heard this jumble of inexplicable remarks. Fang Ning was now, after all, his wife in name.
He wanted to ask what was wrong.
But just as the words reached his lips, Ji Xiangnian abruptly stopped. That series of exchanges hadn't come through the phone; they had sounded inside his head.
Had he been too tired lately, causing a problem with his brain function?
A trace of suspicion crossed Ji Xiangnian's face.
After hanging up, a hint of fatigue crossed Ji Xiangnian's stern face.
He pondered for a long moment, then reached for the office landline with his well-defined hand. "Little Zheng, ask Doctor William to come over."
Alarm bells went off in Assistant Zheng's mind. "Chairman, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Ji Xiangnian said, "Maybe I've just been reading too many documents. My head feels a little uncomfortable."
There was another possibility: his brain function might have been damaged.
Just now, a conversation between Fang Ning and something called "System buddy" had played in his mind. It had been very real, definitely not a hallucination. It was too inconceivable.