Chapter 70
June arrived, hot as fire, and God of War successfully wrapped up filming. The film’s publicity was massive. Besides the strong cast and production team, Bo Muyu, this novice screenwriter, had unparalleled influence in the company for a time.
There were countless people who wanted to curry favor with her, as well as those who had once mocked her and were now trying to get on her good side. But she herself had not wasted any energy on these matters. She ignored those who continued to mock her, responded to those who greeted her, and just smiled at those who apologized to her.
This completely ambiguous attitude left everyone baffled. Only the colleague who worked beside her knew that she was completely focused on her work and had no time for such boring things.
In early June, Jiang Yingzong’s son, Jiang Yixuan, took the college entrance exam.
Old Master Jiang had lived for more than half his life and had a more detached view of these things, so he was not very nervous. He just told his grandson to rest well and face the exam. Old Madam Jiang, on the other hand, instructed the kitchen to make more nutritious food and had been supplementing Jiang Yixuan’s health for several weekends in a row.
Speaking of which, the most nervous one was still Xu Zijun. Her son was about to take the college entrance exam, and he studied late into the night every day. She felt sorry for him but couldn’t stop him, so she personally accompanied him.
When the weekend came, and she could finally relax a little, Sun Ruowei pulled her to the garden behind the old residence to cool off. There were some desserts and heat-clearing tea on the table, and the two sisters-in-law sat together leisurely, chatting.
Of course, since Jiang Chenyin had gone to talk business with Jiang Yingzong, the idle Bo Muyu was also there.
Xu Zijun said with a worried expression, “He’s been going to bed after twelve lately. I’m fine, since I’m not working anymore, but how can Yixuan take it?”
“You too. Why are you staying up with the child?” Sun Ruowei was both concerned and chiding, pouring her some tea. “Don’t you know how old you are now? Yixuan is only nineteen. It’s fine for him to stay up for a few days for the college entrance exam. You’re in your forties. If you stay up for one day, you won’t be able to make up for it in half a month.”
“It’s not that exaggerated,” Xu Zijun said with an amused laugh, patting the back of her hand.
“How is it not? Age is a big problem, okay?” Sun Ruowei winked, her words holding a deep meaning. “Back then, Junjun and I were… but now, it’s not even half the time as before…”
“Pfft… cough, cough, cough…”
Bo Muyu almost spat out her tea. She quickly covered her mouth and forced herself to swallow it, her eyes turning red as she coughed incessantly.
Only then did Xu Zijun and Sun Ruowei remember Bo Muyu, who had been as quiet as air for half the day. The two of them looked embarrassed. Sun Ruowei even let out a dry, forced laugh, and the meaning exchanged in their eyes was “how did we forget she was here.”
Sun Ruowei quickly patted Bo Muyu’s back to help her catch her breath, and then said to her with a tentative smile, “Ah, Xiaoyu, what your eldest auntie and I were saying just now, just pretend you didn’t hear it…”
Xu Zijun was both embarrassed and ashamed. She quickly picked up her cup and drank her tea, not wanting to hear Sun Ruowei’s belated attempt to fix the situation.
After she had finished coughing, Bo Muyu waved her hand and nodded with difficulty. “I know…”
“Oh, that’s right,” Sun Ruowei said, shooting Xu Zijun a “got it” look, and then smiled at Bo Muyu. “Actually, you’re not that young anymore. You should have heard of these things. You’ll be twenty-three in a few months. Do you have a boy you like?”
Bo Muyu was taken aback for a moment, then shook her head and said softly, “No, I haven’t had that thought yet.”
Sun Ruowei let out a “tsk.” “If you have someone you like, you can let your eldest and little aunties check him out for you. Or if you like someone like Yixuan…”
“Ruowei,” Xu Zijun called out to her, shaking her head slightly. “Xiaoyu is still young. Don’t talk about these things.”
What do you mean, young? She’s almost twenty-three. But Sun Ruowei only dared to grumble in her heart. If Jiang Chenyin found out that she had been talking about these things with Bo Muyu, she would probably be done for.
She smoothed her hair, took out her phone, and said to Xu Zijun, “Eldest Sister-in-law, have you found any new novels recently? I’m tired of the heavy stuff. Introduce me to something light and fresh.”
Xu Zijun’s brow twitched. She had just stopped one thing, and another had come up.
Seeing Xu Zijun’s helpless expression, Bo Muyu laughed inwardly. Not wanting to make them hide it, she said, “Eldest Auntie, Little Auntie, actually, you don’t have to hide it from me. I know what you’re reading.”
The atmosphere suddenly froze. Xu Zijun was full of surprise, and Sun Ruowei was completely frozen, her eyes filled with “what should I do,” “the child knows we’re reading yuri,” “how do we explain why two straight women are reading yuri,” and “will she think we’re doing that kind of thing in private.”
Before the two of them could recover from their shock, Bo Muyu said in a light and slow tone, “You don’t have to be so nervous. I’ve known for a long time. It’s no big deal. It’s just for fun.”
“You haven’t told anyone, have you?” Sun Ruowei still didn’t dare to relax. The men in the family knew she read yuri, but Jiang Chenyin had told her not to let Bo Muyu know.
The corners of Bo Muyu’s lips lifted. “No. You can read in peace.”
“That’s good, that’s good,” Sun Ruowei said, finally patting her chest. This time, she asked the relieved Xu Zijun openly, “Eldest Sister-in-law, have you not been following any novels recently? Introduce me to some. I’m in a reading slump.”
Xu Zijun shot her a look with a smile. “Find them yourself.”
“Tch…” Sun Ruowei pouted. “Then I’ll go and ask for recommendations on Weibo myself.”
Just then, Bo Muyu moved a little closer and asked in a low voice, “Little Auntie, are there any novels with a secret crush theme? The kind you guys read…”
“There are,” Sun Ruowei replied casually, but the next second, she froze.
Secret crush? The kind you guys read? She seemed to have sensed something!
She immediately turned to stare at Bo Muyu, her eyes narrowing, her body slowly inching towards her, forcing Bo Muyu to slowly move back.
Just as Sun Ruowei was about to speak, Bo Muyu grabbed her wrist, her expression calm. “Little Auntie, I’m just curious about the difference between a secret crush between same-sex and a secret crush between opposite-sex. I want to see. Can you introduce me to some?”
Sun Ruowei looked at her suspiciously. Seeing her open and honest expression, and thinking back to what she had said just now, that she had known what kind of novels she was reading for a long time, she guessed that it was just curiosity.
“Alright, alright. I’ll send you the novel titles on WeChat,” Sun Ruowei said, feeling as if she were expecting to hear something, and quickly ended the topic.
On the night of the God of War wrap-up party, all the crew members were to attend. Not only the screenwriter Bo Muyu, who had returned to Qinzhou in advance, but also Su Man, and the famous director Su Zhengyang, who rarely appeared at the company.
Since handing over the company to Su Man, Su Zhengyang had been living a carefree life. The reason Bo Muyu’s script was highly regarded was not only because of Su Man’s personal opinion, but also because of Su Zhengyang’s own affirmation.
Some behind-the-scenes footage of God of War was playing on the screen. The host and the actors were interacting on stage, and laughter would erupt from the audience from time to time.
Bo Muyu was called to Su Zhengyang’s table. Su Man was also there. Su Zhengyang was in high spirits, repeatedly nodding and praising the director’s filming techniques.
When the other staff members had left one after another to find people they knew, and only Su Man and Bo Muyu were left at Su Zhengyang’s table, he spoke.
He said with a beaming smile, “Ah, Xiaoyu.”
“Director Su,” Bo Muyu said, looking as if she were about to receive his teachings.
“Don’t be nervous,” he said with a smile, personally pouring her a glass of wine. “The box office for God of War will not be low. You’ve kept the history as it was in many places, but most of the plot is not recorded in historical books. This story has broken our fixed impression of the character Gao Changgong. Can you tell me where your creative inspiration came from?”
Bo Muyu smiled, her expression composed. “Actually, the source of the inspiration is very simple. This character is known as one of the four most handsome men in ancient China. He was born into the royal family, and he was also the god of war praised by the common people at that time. His background itself is very attractive. When I learned about the history of the Northern and Southern Dynasties in middle school, the textbook only had a few sentences about him. But this character is my favorite historical figure, so I wanted to recreate this story with my own understanding. And I also had a little selfish motive, to write an ending that I wanted.”
She had hidden her most direct thoughts in her words, which was what she had told Jiang Chenyin back then, that she wanted this character not to wait to be killed by his brother. But now, she was facing an outsider, so her words could no longer be unpolished.
Su Zhengyang laughed loudly and praised, “It seems your life is full of inspiration.”
Bo Muyu said modestly, “I just like to record the things in my daily life, and also the things I find regrettable.”
Su Zhengyang nodded and studied her with a smile for a few seconds. Su Man, on the side, looked pleased and didn’t say much.
Su Zhengyang said, “Xiaoyu, I won’t hide it from you. You are a screenwriter that Hongsheng is heavily cultivating. I can’t say that you’re the only one, but I can say that you are definitely the most important screenwriter at the moment.”
“Thank you, Director Su,” Bo Muyu’s lips lifted slightly. “I will do what I should do. You can rest assured.”
Su Zhengyang thought for a moment, then suddenly said with emotion, “Speaking of which, I feel that the way you speak now is more convincing than before. I still remember when you were writing a script for me in university, you would say whatever came to your mind, without any explanation. The other screenwriters had a hard time understanding.”
Bo Muyu let out a soft “mmm,” and honestly admitted her past. “I’ve learned a lot after I started working. I have to thank my senior.”
Su Man’s gaze was as gentle as water. She looked at her for a long time without looking away.
Seeing this, Su Zhengyang took the opportunity to smile. “Since you still call Xiao Man ‘senior,’ why are you so formal with me?”
Bo Muyu pressed her lips together and smiled. “Uncle Su.”
“Hahaha, good. Come, have a drink with your uncle!” Su Zhengyang laughed heartily and raised his glass to her.
She also raised her glass to meet his, unhurried, a hint of composure in her expression.
The night gradually grew darker, and people left one after another. Bo Muyu also had the intention of going home. After saying goodbye to Su Zhengyang, Su Man took the initiative to stand up and follow her.
Su Zhengyang called out to her, “Xiao Man, are you sure?”
Su Man stopped and turned around, a dark color in her eyes. “I’m not sure.”
“I don’t care what you want to do, but you absolutely cannot neglect your career for the sake of a relationship. I let you manage the company not just for you to promote her,” Su Zhengyang said with a sigh, looking a little helpless.
“Does she not have the ability to live up to her current fame?” Su Man asked back seriously, then reined in her emotions a little and said in a low voice, “Dad, I know what to do. I have never neglected my work.”
Su Zhengyang looked at her, not knowing what to say, and just waved his hand to let her go.
Su Man bit her lip, her gaze following Bo Muyu’s retreating back. At this moment, her eyes were like the deep night outside.
