The Ex-Wife-to-Be Is Acting Weird After Losing Her Memory - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: March Seven

After the snow, the morning was sunny and bright.

Formal filming had yet to begin, and the staff of the Dark Light crew were gathered in small groups on the set, holding coffee and enjoying a rare moment of leisure.

“Teacher Cheng, good morning. Is your scene first today?” In front of the coffee cart, Zhen Zhen’s assistant, Xiao Chen, greeted the newcomer with a bright smile. “You said you liked hot mocha last time. Would you like a cup to refresh yourself?”

Hearing the familiar voice, Cheng Yan snapped back to attention and hesitated for a moment before saying, “Thank you, but I’ll skip it today.”

Xiao Chen blinked, watching the handsome movie star walk toward the makeup room, casually saying to himself, “That’s odd. Teacher Cheng usually runs on coffee in the mornings. Strange that he’s skipping it today.”

Such rambling, of course, went unanswered. Xiao Chen continued to brew coffee unconcerned, while his usually quiet boss was focused on her computer screen, her fingers rapidly typing code. A cup of black coffee sat by her hand, already drained to the bottom.

To be able to concentrate this completely amidst the noisy film set—only a workaholic like Zhen Zhen could manage that, right? Xiao Chen turned his head regretfully, continuing to smile and chat with the next “customer.”

As a professional graduate of an international butler academy, Xiao Chen had been with Zhen Zhen since she graduated from college. However, as a personal assistant, he often felt that taking care of a boss like Zhen Zhen was unfulfilling.

Her lifestyle demands were minimal. Every day was either work or business trips. Even her clothes were bought from a few select, regular brands, leaving absolutely no room for a personal assistant to “excel.”

It wasn’t until his boss married an actress—or, more accurately, until the last few months—that Xiao Chen distinctly felt his job finally starting to become more exciting.

Getting gowns from major high-fashion ateliers in advance, selecting jewelry from auction catalogs, customizing functional motorhomes, and now, he was even asked to arrange for a coffee truck to be driven from the freezing cold into this deep mountain film set.

The talented assistant, who had felt restricted with nowhere to showcase his abilities, was eager to use all his skills to single-handedly elevate the living standards of the entire crew.

And all these changes were because of this person.

“Good morning, Ms. Lu,” Xiao Chen greeted her with a radiant smile. “There are freshly baked scones, your favorite!”

The moment he spoke, Zhen Zhen, who had been engrossed in work, miraculously looked up, her gaze fixed brightly on the newcomer.

Lu Jiayin had just finished her styling. The collar of her white sweater was trimmed with soft rabbit fur, framing her face and making it look small and exquisite. She walked briskly toward the coffee truck and sat down in the chair next to Zhen Zhen.

Her familiar perfume scent, like a soft, light cloud, sweetly lingered in the air.

“You’re leaving this afternoon, aren’t you?” Although she knew her schedule yesterday, Lu Jiayin still asked with a hint of reluctance, “They say it’s going to snow again tonight…”

She had been working alone on sets for years, yet habits seemed surprisingly easy to break. Zhen Zhen had only been here for a few days, and Lu Jiayin could barely remember what it felt like to sleep alone in the hotel room.

But she was leaving in a few hours. A sense of loss slowly spread through her heart. Lu Jiayin lowered her head and bit into a fragrant scone, but the warm scent of butter couldn’t lift her spirits.

“The new car test is tomorrow, and I must be present,” Zhen Zhen explained softly. “We plan to use this car in the international test race early next year.”

It was the first time she had talked to Lu Jiayin about her work. Although she didn’t fully understand the complex terminology, Lu Jiayin tried hard to grasp what she was saying, knowing that Zhen Zhen wanted to explain her job to her.

She wanted to understand everything about this person, feeling that only then could she possess her more completely.

“So, this test is very important because it will affect the competition next year, right?” She picked out the logical chain from the mass of information, nodding obediently. “I’ll be fine by myself. You have to do well!”

Zhen Zhen stroked her hair.

In reality, the test should have started three days ago. Concerned about Lu Jiayin’s recovery, she insisted on staying here for an entire week. Seeing that the filming in Nan’an was nearly finished, she finally decided to return.

“I have three scenes today. I can make it to see you off after I finish,” Lu Jiayin’s voice sounded again. She checked the script and counted, “The last scene is at 2 PM… Uh, will you come and watch the filming?”

This time, Zhen Zhen shook her head: “I have something to do before I leave this afternoon. Don’t worry, I’ll wait until you’re done filming before heading out.”

Lu Jiayin breathed a sigh of relief: “Okay, I see.”

The “something to do” Zhen Zhen mentioned was a meeting with Director Long Jing of Dark Light.

Upon learning of Lu Jiayin’s accident, she immediately contacted Fu Ruyi and quickly figured out the entire situation.

“So, after ZhongSheng Media withdrew its investment, this ‘Xinli Pictures’ stepped in temporarily, allowing Dark Light to proceed with filming. And Xinli was able to join the project because it was recommended by Yueying,” Zhen Zhen said softly as steam curled from the tea table. “I didn’t realize the production company structure for Dark Light was so complicated.”

She rarely paid attention to the film and television industry until this incident. Upon slight investigation, she discovered that Xinli Pictures was the primary source of the trouble behind the accident.

“The film industry is highly competitive now. Dark Light was commissioned with the highest production standards, and the investment threshold rose accordingly. When ZhongSheng suddenly withdrew, I hastily finalized the contract to start filming as quickly as possible, which is why we’ve been constrained at every turn,” Director Long regretted this upon reflection. “But now that filming has started, it’s difficult to pull out.”

The total estimated investment for Dark Light was 1.5 billion yuan. The gap filled by Xinli accounted for about one-fifth, roughly 30 million yuan. The amount wasn’t astronomically huge, but it came right at a critical juncture before filming, making it very hard to secure additional last-minute funding from other investors. That’s why Director Long agreed to it.

Unexpectedly, although Xinli was a new company, its ties with the veteran film company Yueying were numerous. The dispatched supervisor could mobilize the script team and various resources, causing Director Long to be constrained everywhere. Even though she resisted, she had to compromise to ensure the film’s smooth production.

“I bear an inescapable responsibility for Teacher Lu’s accident, and I’m truly grateful that CEO Xiao Zhen hasn’t held it against us and has helped us so much,” Long Jing sincerely thanked her.

Compared to other investors who threw money around and acted like they owned the place, Zhen Zhen was incredibly reliable and powerful. If not for the fact that the Zhen conglomerate did not venture into the entertainment industry, Director Long would have asked her if she was interested in investing.

“This matter concerns my wife, so I had to intervene and understand it clearly,” Zhen Zhen unexpectedly spoke up. “To be honest, I’m investigating Xinli. If the situation is as I suspect, their subsequent 20 million investment might be withdrawn.”

Director Long’s eyes widened in surprise.

So, she wasn’t indifferent. She waited until now to tell her that she was still going to take action against this investor?

Losing 20 million in investment would be a significant blow to Long Jing. But if what Zhen Zhen said was true, getting rid of Xinli might not be a bad thing—it just meant being very strict with the budget for the rest of the filming. “Teacher Lu was seriously injured. I understand your feelings,” she pondered carefully, finally deciding to speak. “I understand whatever you feel you need to do.”

Zhen Zhen nodded and continued: “I apologize for the trouble. The only way I can try to compensate financially is this: can I be responsible for filling the gap after Xinli withdraws? I estimate I can provide the crew with 50 million yuan.”

Fifty million?

Director Long thought she had misheard.

So, she wasn’t here to reprimand her, but to offer additional investment?

“I heard Jiayin say you are a great director,” Zhen Zhen looked at her, sincerely stating. “Good work shouldn’t be held hostage by capital. You just focus on filming the work you want to express. Don’t worry about the money.”

She paused, then added a little awkwardly: “I apologize. This is all I can offer you.”

Whether that sentence counted as an unconscious boast, Long Jing no longer cared. Only one thought remained in her mind: I must treat this sugar daddy well!

“You are too kind,” she said with a smile. “I thought… never mind. Let’s not talk about it. We’re all family now!”

Excitement shone in the director’s eyes: “This is a rare opportunity. I heard you’re leaving this afternoon. Shall we go to the set and watch some filming?”

Director Long’s invitation was genuine, but her regret at that moment was also deeply felt.

She was so excited just now that she forgot which scene they were filming today.

In the set decorated as a theater after a performance, Lu Jiayin sat on the edge of the stage. Her beautiful white sweater lightly draped over her graceful figure, and her calves swung in the air, creating a dazzling white shimmer.

Cheng Yan, playing the art troupe director, stood below the stage. The tall, handsome actor slightly raised his head, gazing at the glittering female dancer. Light streamed directly down from above, enveloping the two people in a spotlight.

The next second, he looked up, and she looked down. Lu Jiayin’s eyes were filled with a smile. She opened her arms toward Cheng Yan and jumped directly off the stage, landing right in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck.

This was the exact scene Director Long saw when she brought Zhen Zhen onto the set.

The dense light stands and props obstructed the view. Zhen Zhen looked into the camera’s viewfinder. In the hazy, dreamlike light, the two figures were pressed close together. Cheng Yan’s arm supported Lu Jiayin’s waist, slowly pulling her tighter… Zhen Zhen’s gaze lingered on the camera for a second.

The sound was recording, and the set was quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Director Long couldn’t speak to explain, only watching Zhen Zhen intently, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead.

The associate director operating the camera was also completely confused. After learning that the two were going to discuss business, he maintained his composure and directed the start of the kissing scene. He never thought the two would suddenly return right when the filming reached its most crucial stage.

Although he knew this scene wouldn’t involve anything too inappropriate, the associate director swallowed hard, driven by a strong desire for self-preservation.

I wonder if the afternoon’s hot coffee cart will be leaving with CEO Zhen because of this scene?

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