Chapter 122: An Old Ox Grazing on Tender Grass (Part One)

"There is a shooting assignment at the rooftop studio these next few days. You will be helping out there; remember to be obedient and don't cause any trouble." Jan droned on and on, paying no mind to whether the children behind him were actually listening. "You are already late, so don't you dare come up with any more tricks. If you need anything, remember to call me."

"Also, the staff in the studio are your seniors, so don't talk back to them. Whatever they say, just do as they tell you." Perhaps it was the stress of his usual work and the long-repressed tension, but once Jan started, he couldn't stop.

The elevator was deathly quiet, with only Jan’s voice filling the space. It wasn't until the elevator was nearing the top floor that he finally considered shutting his mouth. "Did you all hear that?"

As soon as Jan finished speaking, Yin Lize immediately chimed in, "Heard it, we heard it."

"I wonder if you really did." Jan glanced at Yin Lize in the rearview mirror. Immediately after, a "ding" echoed in the air, and a second later, the elevator doors slid open.

The staff before them were all frantically busy. Some hurried past carrying clothing, while others discussed documents nearby. Their voices weren't particularly loud, but combined, they buzzed in the ears like a swarm of bees.

Jan stepped out of the elevator, looked around, and then walked toward the woman sitting on a sofa to his right. "Sister Xuan, here are six kids. Take them under your wing."

The woman Jan addressed as Sister Xuan lifted her eyes at his words. Her sharp gaze swept over them, as if she could see right through them. A moment later, her eyes returned to Jan, carrying a hint of disdain, and perhaps a trace of confusion. After a long pause, she raised an eyebrow and parted her red lips, "Why bring so many children here? Since when did President Gu start hiring child labor?"

"It’s not child labor," Jan said, leaning over to whisper something in her ear.

Jiang Muwen and the others didn't know what Jan had said, but when he straightened up, both he and Sister Xuan were wearing smiles. After exchanging a few more words, he turned and left.

A second later, Sister Xuan’s gaze returned to the group of children. After sizing them up one by one, she rose lazily from the sofa. "Follow me."

Being newcomers, the children didn't dare to wander or look around, so they obediently followed in her footsteps.

"I'll let you know when I need your help. Just stay here for now." Sister Xuan’s gaze landed on them, her eyes as cold as frost, revealing no emotion. Once she finished speaking, she gave a few instructions to the surrounding staff before turning and walking away in her towering heels.

Just like that, the children were passed around like a ball—tossed from Jan to Sister Xuan, and then dumped by her onto a group of staff members who looked like they had nothing better to do.

Wen Yichen instinctively sized up the staff before him, then moved a little closer to Jiang Muwen, feeling ill at ease.

"What are you all standing there for?" A sharp female voice pierced Wen Yichen’s ears. "That boy in the white shirt, come here."

Wen Yichen was the only one wearing white. Hearing the call, he turned his head instinctively. The person calling him was a girl who looked only a few years older than them. She gestured for him to come over.

Wen Yichen glanced at the woman, then back at Jiang Muwen. As he hesitated, the woman’s voice rang out again: "Hurry up, what are you standing there for?"

At that, Wen Yichen tentatively walked toward her.

As soon as he arrived, the woman dragged a chair over to her seat. "Sit next to me. You’ll help me watch the monitor to see if there are any continuity errors."

Wen Yichen offered a polite smile and sat down beside her, feeling awkward. He couldn't quite put his finger on why, but he felt that there was something not quite right about this woman.

Not long after he sat down, the other friends were assigned their own tasks. The studio was bustling with work. Wen Yichen looked around, then leaned slightly toward the woman beside him. "When will the shooting start, Miss?"

"The people aren't even here yet, what's the rush?" the woman said, picking up a drink and taking a leisurely sip. "The director hasn't arrived yet either. Just wait."

Wen Yichen gave a quiet "oh" and straightened his posture.

Suddenly, another female voice came from behind him, and he felt a weight on his shoulder. The woman behind him had reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Oh, Qiqi, you really know how to pick them. Since when do you like robbing the cradle?"

The woman behind teased, and Qiqi glanced at her, slapping her hand away. "Get your paws off me."

Once the hand left his shoulder, a smug smile appeared on Qiqi's face. "You’re one to talk, picking a good-looking one to do your errands for you!"

"Have you heard? They say the actor is stuck in traffic. Looks like we’ll be finishing late again today."

"Oh, really?"

The two women beside him were chatting happily, but Wen Yichen had no interest in listening. He instinctively turned his head, searching the room as if looking for something.

Finally, his gaze settled on a girl not far away—it was Jiang Muwen.

Jiang Muwen seemed to be talking to a staff member. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but he saw a look of inquiry flash in the staff member's eyes, and Jiang Muwen nodded. The next second, a camera was shoved onto her shoulder.

The small, frail girl could hardly handle the weight. As she took the camera, she tipped backward, her feet stumbling a few steps.

The staff member seemed to ask her another question, and Jiang Muwen nodded again.

Wen Yichen’s eyes narrowed as he watched her. Just as he was about to get up to help, he felt a warm grip on his wrist—Qiqi had grabbed him. "Sit down, the director and the actors are almost here."

Wen Yichen glanced at her instinctively, then shifted his gaze back to Jiang Muwen.

The camera on her shoulder was heavy, its sharp edges digging into her skin, causing a dull ache. She shifted her shoulder carefully, her brow furrowing. She blamed her bad luck for being picked to do the heavy lifting.

Just as she prepared to carry the machine a few steps, a low voice sounded from behind her: "Idiot, if you can't carry it, don't you know how to refuse?"