Chapter 77: World Two [47] Part 1

The next day, Jing Ke accompanied Shao Qing to the film crew for shooting, just as usual.

But after sitting down in her usual spot, she could clearly sense that the number of people around her had decreased significantly.

The assistants who used to discuss the number of hickeys on her neck at a not-so-distant distance seemed to have moved their rest area outward by about three meters. Their original quiet murmuring had turned into complete silence, their madness vented solely through frantic typing in group chats.

When Jing Ke curiously looked over, the clustered assistants all sat bolt upright, instinctively hiding their phones, the word “guilty” practically written across their faces.

Jing Ke shook her head slightly, once again realizing just how useful the nominal position that senior official had given her truly was.

Forget it, since it’s already being used, she’d just do a bit more work with the new equipment, and maybe extend the originally planned one-hour classes to one hour and twenty minutes.

—

About half an hour after Jing Ke had busied herself with work, Yu Hongjun, who had quickly finished her morning scenes, walked over. She stopped beside Jing Ke and gave her a deep bow.

“Boss Jing, thank you for helping Qingyi find the justice that was long overdue.” Yu Hongjun said, her tone utterly sincere.

Once the identity of Specially-Appointed Advisor was announced, many things clicked for Yu Hongjun. Jing Ke had done far more behind the scenes than she had imagined.

“Teacher Yu is too polite.” Jing Ke stopped her work and, by the way, locked her screen. “The main credit goes to Teacher Yu for promptly securing the evidence. I merely passed that material on to the relevant authorities.”

Yu Hongjun gently shook her head. “We also tried using that evidence to file a case and start an investigation, but the police always stated that key evidence was insufficient. Even if they opened a case, at most, it would mean those people staying at the police station for forty-eight hours.”

“Thank you, Boss Jing, for being willing to go out of your way for Qingyi, and thank you, Boss Jing, for being willing to directly expose those existences that appear glamorous on the surface but are utterly rotten inside.” Yu Hongjun said.

Yu Hongjun had dealt with people within the system before. For the General Administration to be willing to make Jing Ke a Specially-Appointed Advisor enjoying Deputy Bureau Chief privileges, she must have contributed much in places Yu Hongjun couldn’t see. Only then would the system give such generous compensation.

Of course, there was another rumor just starting to circulate in the circles: that Jing Ke was actually the child of some even higher-ranking official, hence receiving such privileges.

As someone with a brain, Yu Hongjun knew very well how absurd the latter claim was.

Jing Ke smiled, accepting the thanks from Yu Hongjun. “How is Teacher Jiang’s condition? I recall the scenes needing Teacher Jiang’s cameo were finished filming quite early on, right?”

“Mm, lately I’ve been showing Qingyi around the newer parts of the Film and Television City. Compared to twenty years ago, many places have changed.” Mentioning Jiang Qingyi, the smile on Yu Hongjun’s face instantly softened.

“Has Teacher Jiang considered formally returning to acting? If needed, Teacher Jiang could consider joining New Life Entertainment.” Jing Ke said. “As for the specific contract, we can discuss it slowly. I have high hopes for Teacher Jiang.”

Yu Hongjun was intelligent and caught the deeper meaning hidden in Jing Ke’s words.

Inviting Jiang Qingyi to join at this time was essentially placing a protective shield around her, signaling to the industry that Jiang Qingyi was under Jing Ke’s protection. It was also an indirect warning to those who knew the truth, telling them to learn to keep their mouths shut and not to recklessly discuss the events of twenty years ago.

“Thank you. I’ll discuss this matter with Qingyi. If she is still willing to reappear on the stage, she will definitely prioritize collaborating with New Life Entertainment.” Yu Hongjun promised.

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be joining New Life Entertainment. It could also be establishing a personal studio, with me holding just one percent of the shares. That would work too.” Jing Ke added.

Jing Ke remembered very clearly that Yu Hongjun was an idol her girlfriend had admired since very early on. She also remembered Yu Hongjun was the one who had proactively shown goodwill towards Shao Qing on Wilderness Survival and had looked out for her.

“Boss Jing, it seems I can only say thank you to you.” Yu Hongjun said, rather helplessly. “If there’s anything I can ever do for you, Boss Jing, I will definitely do my best.”

“Then I’ll ask Teacher Yu to please look out a bit more for Shao Qing, to help her acting talent flourish even better. She greatly admires Teacher Yu and very much enjoys collaborating with you.”

Jing Ke didn’t hesitate, immediately stating what she needed Yu Hongjun’s help with.

Yu Hongjun was first stunned, then she laughed, her smile much more evident than before.

“That goes without saying, Boss Jing. I already intended to do so. Shao Qing is very talented; she can go much higher and further.” Yu Hongjun said, a faint trace of melancholy in her eyes.

If only she, twenty years ago, had been as capable as Jing Ke now. She would definitely have been able to protect Qingyi back then.

Fortunately, it wasn’t too late now. Neither of them had reached fifty yet. Starting over was entirely possible.

—

As it happened, on May 20th, the originally scheduled date for going public, Shao Qing just so happened to finish all her scenes and officially wrap up filming.

Shao Qing had gotten along very pleasantly with everyone in the crew, her relationships with both the female lead, Ji Yumeng, and the male lead being very harmonious.

So when Director Li proposed renting out a venue for a wrap-up banquet that evening, Shao Qing didn’t refuse. Jing Ke even generously offered to cover all the expenses for the night.

They were all insiders, so the wrap party became rather lively. As the eating and drinking went into the latter half, a supporting role actor who had drunk a bit too much also dared to approach Jing Ke for a chat.

“Boss Jing, let me toast you! But there’s a question that’s been bothering me for a long time. Boss Jing, could you help me solve this mystery in my heart?” asked the actress playing the Fourth Female Role.

Seeing someone talking to Jing Ke, Shao Qing, who had had a few glasses of red wine, immediately glanced over, pricking up her ears to listen to their conversation.

“What’s the question?” Jing Ke asked.

“Hehe, it’s whether Teacher Jing thinks ‘Jingqing’ is the better ship name, or is ‘Shaoke’ closer to reality?” The actress blinked, her eyes brimming with intense curiosity.

Hearing the question, Jing Ke realized that among those who used to gather to discuss the hickeys on her neck, one must have been the assistant to this Supporting Female Role.

The question being posed so suddenly was indeed somewhat awkward and unexpected, but the number of people within the crew who cared about this topic was also genuinely large, as evident by everyone pausing their pleasantries to prick up their ears.

“‘Shaoke’ sounds like ‘ship less,’ doesn’t it? So phonetically, I still prefer the former.” Jing Ke borrowed the answer from that little fan.

“Then…” The heavily tipsy Supporting Female Role seemed to want to ask more, but her assistant rushed over just in time, directly covering her mouth while apologizing and dragging her backwards.

My dear little ancestor, just listen to what kind of questions you’re asking! With so many people present, some matters simply cannot be inquired about recklessly.

“Here, let me toast Boss Jing. I hope next time we can collaborate again.” Director Li, seeing this, quickly changed the topic, and the chatting and laughter resumed.

—

After returning from the wrap party, both Jing Ke and Shao Qing carried the smell of alcohol on them. Fortunately, no one had dared to get them seriously drunk, so both retained a fair amount of reason and hadn’t reached the state of the Supporting Female Role.

“Shower together?” After opening the suite door, Shao Qing proactively issued an invitation.

Shao Qing’s scenes were all finished, and her contract with Zongheng Entertainment would expire in just over half a month. With no new dramas or endorsements scheduled yet, Shao Qing had at least a twenty-day vacation ahead.

“Alright.” Jing Ke didn’t refuse, nor would she.

But before Shao Qing finished stripping off all her clothes, Jing Ke recalled something Shao Qing had once said.

“Today is May 20th. How about… before the shower, we post some couple photos to commemorate this special day?” Jing Ke asked.

With Jing Ke’s reminder, Shao Qing remembered the arrangement she’d made last month. “Photos? How about we take one right now?”

“Are you sure?” Jing Ke glanced at her own disheveled collar, then looked at Shao Qing, still fully dressed, and instantly understood her little scheme.

“Okay, should we use your phone to take it?” Jing Ke chose to pick up her earlier question and swallow it back down.

“Mm, I’ll take it~” Shao Qing’s eyes curved like crescent moons as she took out her phone and switched directly to selfie mode.

“Come, look at the camera.” Shao Qing said, holding the phone with one hand while grabbing Jing Ke’s collar with the other, making her appear to be bending down unwillingly.

Jing Ke’s features softened with a gentle smile as she obediently looked at the lens, seeing a half-body selfie with the large bathtub as the backdrop.

The bathroom’s slightly dim lighting was the perfect illumination. After glancing at the finished photo, Shao Qing didn’t bother with retouching. She tapped out a few words and posted it directly.

【Shao Qing V: Shower, sleep~ [Image]】

【This time, this background, this photo, this caption! AAAAAHHHHH!】

【Whoa, did Qingqing-Wife drink a bit? Her cheeks look so flushed!】

【Why doesn’t my ultimate top, Boss Jing, look as assertive? The look she gave the camera is so gentle!】

【Analyzing closely, Boss Jing probably wasn’t looking at the camera, but at Shao Qing reflected in it.】

【Qingqing and Boss Jing are truly too thoughtful. Knowing I ate little for dinner, they specially fed me a huge bowl of dog food. They care about me in their hearts; we’re family!】

【Hold up, have you noticed? Boss Jing, who usually reposts immediately, hasn’t made a sound yet. Need I say more?】

【She’s definitely busy. Didn’t they say they were going to shower and sleep? ~[Doge]】

After passionately discussing the flawless photo of the two for twenty minutes, the netizens’ topic, just as before, quickly veered to whether Boss Jing or Shao Qing was the top.

When the CP fandom first formed, most fans believed Jing Ke was the top.

But with the official nine-grid photo revealing hickeys differing by an entire order of magnitude, many fans began to support Shao Qing being the top, feeling that dynamic held even more sexual tension.