The Martial Artist Turned Movie Mogul

She actually felt a bit out of place.

Tang Shu suddenly realized that ever since the two families had sat together for an engagement dinner, there had been very little interaction between her and Jing Yu due to their infrequent meetings.

Oh right, there's someone new living in her villa now, and Xu Qianyun occasionally comes to stir up some excitement, making it hard for the freshly minted fiancé and fiancée to have any alone time.

"Do you not have work today?"

"Xiao Bei's covering for me."

"She doesn't have any objections?"

"If she has objections, it's probably because she's still not used to it. She'll be fine after a few more times."

"..."

If you talk like that, Xiao Bei will cry—you're definitely not a caring brother.

From the airport to Palm Pavilion was just a 40-minute drive, and their casual conversation soon brought them to the villa. As soon as Tang Shu stepped into the temporarily quiet living room, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist.

She was pulled into an embracing hug from behind.

It was late August, with the summer heat showing signs of receding, although the weather was still somewhat warm. The heat radiating from the touch on her neck, back, and head quickly permeated her senses.

No, perhaps "scorching hot" would be more fitting.

"...Jing Yu?"

"Did you miss me?"

"..."

Tang Shu didn't say a word, but ripples coursed through her heart. Just then, a husky chuckle reached her ears, and the vibrations in his chest transmitted steadily through her back.

"I knew it."

"..." What do you know? Stop guessing things randomly!

Very quickly, Tang Shu didn't have time to silently complain anymore—her attention was entirely captured by the sudden horizontal pickup which swept her off her feet, leaving her dizzy as she was carried to the nearby sofa.

And there, lips met lips.

***

September marked the grand opening of various schools, and the capital welcomed the back-to-school season.

"Legendary Jiayue," amidst its ongoing broadcast, received numerous positive reviews aside from criticisms about its fight scenes. The online buzz was overwhelmingly positive, with even slogans like "No drama this year can surpass this one" making the rounds.

"Vast Entertainment really put a lot of effort into the promotion—hot topics coming one after another without pause."

At Starshine Media, Luo Lin was scrolling through the news on her phone while grumbling about the drama's plot flaws.

"Thankfully it's a xianxia [fantasy] drama; otherwise, these fight scenes where they flaunt their bodies and faces would've been unbearable to watch, tsk tsk~~~"

After listening to Luo Lin's complaints for half an hour, Tang Shu reluctantly put down her coffee cup. "But the truth is, out of this year's dramas, only this one is worth mentioning."

So, please don't nitpick just because you dislike Feng Yan, okay? This is clearly hunting for bones in an egg.

Luo Lin snorted, "I just can't stand Vast Entertainment's behavior. Open competition? Fine, I don't mind. But their behind-the-scenes dirty tricks are just disgusting."

"What have they done now?"

Tang Shu thought for a moment. Her impression of Feng Yan included only that one interview event—a publicity stunt that stuck on trending topics for days, questioning her career choice and its compatibility with the Tang family.

At the time, both the Jing Family and Tang Family were busy with meetings and discussions; who had the time to bother with those unfounded rumors?

"Has something new happened recently?"

"Yes, Director Zheng called me and gave me a hint. Vast Entertainment is planning to interfere with the post-production editing of 'Cloud Gate Wind and Cloud.'"

"Vast Entertainment isn't an investor for this project, are they? They shouldn't have the authority to interfere."

"No, but they said if the editing meets their expectations, they might consider providing additional promotional investments later on."

Luo Lin scoffed at this notion. "Have they forgotten that the lead actress for this drama is their own Feng Yan? Director Zheng still has some integrity and politely declined them on the spot."

Tang Shu paused for a moment. "How do they want to edit it?"

"Of course, by reducing the screen time of the supporting male and female characters. Clearly, their target is you. By the way, what did you do on set that made Feng Yan act like she's facing a formidable enemy?"

"Maybe they're just being overly cautious in case something happens."

"No."

Luo Lin was resolute. "You definitely did something to make Feng Yan change her attitude. I know her well—she's confident and arrogant, always dismissing others as beneath her."

Feng Yan would never bother scheming against minor characters. Her attempt at manipulation must signify some unexpected threat she perceives.

Tang Shu mused, "Maybe I'm just too outstanding and gave her some pressure."

"...Can you speak properly, please?"

"Fine, I just helped the martial arts director with a small issue on set."

"What?!"

Luo Lin felt like she was hearing things. "Martial arts director?"

"Yes, I used to assist with martial arts shooting for Director Xie's film, remember? That's how I got acquainted with a few martial artists in the industry."

"...No, I didn't forget—what I don't know is you knowing any martial artists at all."

"It's not that important, just casual acquaintances via a WeChat group. We usually chat idly."

Tang Shu's tone was casual, but Luo Lin felt like she was about to combust.

"What do you chat about?"

"Techniques, exertion, acupoints."

"..."

The lounge suddenly fell into silence until Luo Lin sprang back to life and nearly jumped off the soft sofa.

"I've got it!"

"Got what?"

"Right now, the biggest criticism of 'Legendary Jiayue' is its fight choreography, while 'Cloud Gate Wind and Cloud' is a drama combining court intrigue with martial arts. When the time comes, the two will definitely be compared... No wonder Vast Entertainment is getting anxious!"

"But why is that a problem? 'Cloud Gate Wind and Cloud' is still in post-production; it's unlikely to broadcast this year."

"What if it does?"

Luo Lin was increasingly sure of this possibility and began pacing the lounge in her high heels.

"No way, I need to confirm the drama's progress with Director Zheng..."

The matter was soon confirmed. Five minutes later, Luo Lin eagerly called Director Zheng, who responded that the drama would air in the final month of the year.

"So soon? Will it pass content review?"

"Don't worry; once editing is finished, it can be submitted for review. As long as the plot stays within bounds, it'll be approved quickly."

"So... Feng Yan's two dramas will face off?"

Tang Shu felt the logic was still a bit contradictory. "Although I think 'Cloud Gate Wind and Cloud' has deeper plotting and character development, it's obvious 'Legendary Jiayue' has stronger investments and a cast with star power. The plot is also more suspenseful."

From the outset, these two dramas didn't seem comparable—clearly, 'Legendary Jiayue' had a higher chance of success.

Luo Lin shook her head. "You probably don't know Director Zheng's usual style. He always focuses on sharp pacing, ensuring every scene is precise and impactful."

"Meaning the episode count will be small?"

"Exactly. When you signed the contract with Director Zheng, I was the one who handled it personally. The payment wasn't calculated based on the episode count."