Chapter 18: Assistant Jiang, who do you think is more suitable than my wife?

Jiang Xiao walked into his office, and Zhou Xiulin was sitting elegantly at his desk, as if in a beautiful painting.

She walked over and noticed that he was reading a movie script.

Zhou Xiulin slowly raised his head and asked, “How is it? Are you getting used to it?”

“Not bad,” Jiang Xiao replied.

She had a strong adaptability, there was no doubt about that. Zhou Xiulin glanced at the clock and said, “There’s a lounge inside, you can go and rest for a while.”

Jiang Xiao was feeling energetic today and not at all tired, so she shook her head. “Why did you come back so soon?”

“Things are already settled.”

Jiang Xiao thought to herself that he certainly acted swiftly. “I just heard from Assistant Jiang that Tina’s Chinese name is Xu Yina.”

The following parts of the text will be scrambled to prevent theft from aggregators and unauthorized epub making. Please support our translators by reading on secondlifetranslations (dot) com. If you are currently on the site and and you are seeing this, please clear your cache.

“Zlp.”

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Hbsw Dkwzkd aykple yd lulcaso yde zssjle yv bla.

“Fsxlvbkdt vbyv pswdep pkxkzya vs xu dyxl, lypu vs rasdswdnl.”

“Gdtlzy.”

“Gdtlzy? Rpd’v vbyv yd ydtlz?”

Rd bla xkde, y psdt kdhszwdvyakzu nyxl wr:

Zsw yal xu ydtlz

Protecting me, my angel

From now on, I have no more sorrows

You are my angel

…

Zhou Xiulin nodded and a warm smile formed on his lips. “Assistant Jiang, accompany me to a party tonight.”

“Me? Wouldn’t Tina be more suitable?”

“Assistant Jiang, who do you think is more suitable than my wife?”

My wife…

Jiang Xiao’s expression became slightly unnatural. “I don’t know what to do.” She had never attended a formal banquet before.

“You don’t need to do anything, just consider it a dinner outing and see if there are any connections to be made,” Zhou Xiulin said casually.

Jiang Xiao looked at her attire and said, “What should I wear? And I haven’t done any makeup.” With a plain face and unkempt hair, how could she go to a banquet?

Zhou Xiulin didn’t think there was anything wrong, though his clothes were a bit casual. “I’ll accompany you to the store later.”

“Or maybe I can go by myself now.”

“No hurry.” Zhou Xiulin took out a stack of documents. “These are the plans for several variety shows the company will be doing next year, along with profiles of the artists we’re preparing to sign. Take a look and write a detailed report on their development directions for me.”

Jiang Xiao glanced at the documents and was surprised to see the wide range of investment projects involved. She asked, “When do you need it?”

“You can start on it now.”

“Then I’ll go out first.”

“No need, sit on the couch and if there’s anything you don’t understand, ask me.”

With a learning attitude, Jiang Xiao stayed in his office.

The bright and spacious office was quiet. The curtains covered most of the glass, allowing a faint sunlight to enter and casting a layer of golden sheen.

Occasionally, he would tap the keyboard, producing a pleasant sound.

With him here, what else could I ask for?

Jiang Xiao collected her thoughts and started to carefully examine the materials. The artists the company intended to sign were all in their early twenties, youthful and full of vigor, with dreams for the future. The entertainment industry was a world of fame and fortune, capable of changing a person’s destiny overnight. Whether it was a dream or personal desire, only the individual knew. It was evident that the company had made plans before selecting suitable artists. Each person in the dozens of profiles had their own unique qualities.

In fact, she had many opportunities in the past to pursue an acting career. There were one or two times when she almost didn’t follow through. But at the last moment, she changed her mind.

She didn’t want to be an actress. So, why not become a star manager?

As time quietly passed, at that moment, there came a few knocks on the door.

Jiang Xiao immediately stood up and anxiously looked at Zhou Xiulin.

Zhou Xiulin calmly said, “Continue with what you were doing.” Then he addressed the person outside the door, “Come in.”

Tina entered with Zhou Yanyan, both wearing smiles. But when they saw Jiang Xiao sitting on the couch, their expressions changed. Tina remained composed.

Zhou Yanyan’s face instantly turned cold.

Zhou Xiulin instructed, “Tina, go ahead and attend to your tasks.”

Tina gracefully turned around and left.

Zhou Yanyan took a deep breath, her voice returning to calmness. “Brother, I just finished my vocal lesson and came up to see.”

Jiang Xiao clicked her tongue. So Zhou Yanyan was also going to become a singer. She discreetly glanced at the siblings. It seemed that the brother’s genes were too dominant, making the sister look ordinary in comparison. It had only been a little over half a month since they last met, but Zhou Yanyan had changed quite a bit. She had cut her hair short, and her makeup was more exquisite. The entertainment industry never lacked handsome men and beautiful women, but undoubtedly, natural beauty had its advantages.

Zhou Xiulin said, “Yanyan, don’t rush.”

Zhou Yanyan sighed, “Of course, I’m anxious. Look, even the post-2000 generation has debuted, and as a 90s sister, I feel a lot of pressure. Brother, I heard that Huaxia has bought several popular novels.”

“Who did you hear that from?”

“I mean, we should take advantage of our own resources.”

“Yanyan, I’ve told you before. There are no shortcuts here.”

Zhou Yanyan frowned and pointed at Jiang Xiao, “Then why is she allowed to be here?” Her tone was full of disdain.

Jiang Xiao looked at her expressionless, then glanced at Zhou Yanyan.

Zhou Yanyan raised an eyebrow slightly, “She’s working for me, earning a monthly salary of 5,000. Yanyan, if you want, you can also come here.”

Jiang Xiao almost spat blood.

Zhou Yanyan’s face didn’t improve, “I have an event tonight, so I’ll leave.”

Once Zhou Yanyan left, Jiang Xiao lost interest in the materials. She was curious, “How do you plan to promote her?”

Zhou Xiulin massaged his forehead, “She will sing the theme songs for two TV dramas produced by the company.”

Jiang Xiao nodded. It was one of the ways to increase exposure for newcomers. However, she knew about Zhou Yanyan’s singing abilities. In their sophomore year, during the school’s New Year’s performance, their class voted for her and Lin Wu to represent the class. Because of that, Zhou Yanyan disliked her and Lin Wu even more.

“What do you think?” Zhou Xiulin asked.

Jiang Xiao thought for a moment, “She’s quite suitable for the idol path. Like she just said, the novels purchased by Huaxia already have a certain fan base. Choose one that suits her and let her be the lead actress. Although it’s risky, it can be a gamble. Campus youth genre suits her style well. When the drama airs, with online marketing, it can generate a positive impression. However…”

Zhou Xiulin’s eyes flashed with a hint of approval. “However, what?”

“The key lies in her acting skills. The audience nowadays isn’t stupid. If the acting is subpar, they won’t buy it.”

Zhou Xiulin chuckled lightly. “Assistant Jiang’s analysis is spot on.”

Jiang Xiao spoke earnestly and realized she was giving advice without being asked.

Zhou Xiulin felt that Jiang Xiao’s part-time work over the years had not been in vain. Experience accumulated bit by bit, and what she lacked now was connections.

That could wait.

The banquet was held at Jun Tian Hotel.

Because they went to buy dresses at the last minute, they were more than half an hour late.

Jiang Xiao didn’t care much about clothing, but it didn’t mean she lacked aesthetics. Inheriting her father’s artistic talent, she was extremely sensitive to colors. In the past, when selecting dresses for Zhao Xinran, she always made her stand out. As for her own attire, she had low expectations, as long as the clothes fit comfortably.

She wanted to accompany Zhou Xiulin to the banquet, so as long as the dress didn’t go wrong, it was fine. However, Zhou Xiulin surprisingly patiently accompanied her to try on dresses one by one.

He seemed to enjoy it and ultimately chose a black dress for her. Black was dignified and not outstanding, but it wouldn’t go wrong either.

Jiang Xiao silently criticized, “I thought you wouldn’t accompany women to go shopping for clothes.”

Zhou Xiulin replied, “Tonight, several directors will be here

. If you want to leave an impression on them, appearance is the first impression, so clothing is also a factor.”

Jiang Xiao pursed her lips. Her dream of being a manager had already deviated from its original path.

As Zhou Xiulin had said, many big shots from the entertainment industry were present tonight.

Zhou Xiulin held Jiang Xiao’s hand and walked in with elegance. Gradually, some gazes turned toward Jiang Xiao, subtly acknowledging her presence.

Jiang Xiao remained calm, a subtle smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

Zhou Xiulin leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Don’t be afraid.”

Their eyes met, and Jiang Xiao’s heart indeed felt somewhat settled.

Zhou Xiulin introduced her to the people they met, saying, “This is my assistant, Jiang Xiao.” It was clear that these people might be their future collaborators, so they were enthusiastic towards her. In just half an hour, Jiang Xiao had received several business cards. What annoyed her was that she didn’t have her own business cards yet.

Taking advantage of the moment when no one was around, she complained to Zhou Xiulin.

Zhou Xiulin chuckled at her childishness, saying that business cards were just a formality. Today, her presence here with him was more effective than any business card. “Let Jiang Qin print a box of business cards tomorrow.”

Jiang Xiao felt a bit embarrassed and said, “I can go by myself. I shouldn’t bother Assistant Jiang with everything.”

They were standing in front, and Director Zhao Zhou was talking to a woman.

The woman had her back to them, so Jiang Xiao couldn’t see her face and naturally didn’t know who she was.

Zhou Xiulin said, “Let’s go and greet Director Zhao.”

Jiang Xiao’s heart suddenly tightened. She couldn’t imagine that one day she would be able to talk to Director Zhao.

Director Zhao saw Zhou Xiulin and waved his hand enthusiastically, saying, “Xiulin—” he called out loudly, and the woman beside him turned around. She smiled and said, “Yes, Manager Zhou.”

The hotel’s lights were dazzling, but they were not as eye-catching as she was.

Director Zhao shook hands with Zhou Xiulin and said, “I was just discussing ‘Fleeting Years’ with Liang Yue. Thanks to Huaxia’s investment.”

Zhou XiuLin saw the sparkle in her eyes, like stars mixed with a hint of coldness. He said, “Director Zhao, you’re too polite. It’s a loss for the public if we don’t invest in such a good script.”

Liang Yue’s gaze passed over Zhou Xiulin and turned to Jiang Xiao.

Zhou Xiulin said, “Director Zhao, Teacher Liang, this is my assistant—”

Jiang Xiao involuntarily stiffened all over her body, but she quickly restrained herself and tried her best to calm down. Liang Yue was even more beautiful in person than in photos, despite being close to forty. She paid attention to skincare and frequently exercised, maintaining a graceful figure.

“I’m Angela—Director Zhao, Teacher Liang, I really like your collaboration on ‘Spring Blossoms and Autumn Moon.'”

Liang Yue was slightly surprised. That was a movie she made her debut in, and it was with that movie that she transitioned from a newcomer to a different stage in life.

Director Zhao didn’t expect such a young girl to like ‘Spring Blossoms and Autumn Moon.’ The movie didn’t create much of a splash domestically but received awards in Berlin.

Liang Yue said, “I didn’t expect young people nowadays to still watch our old movies.”

“Old movies may not have the best visual effects, but I think many old movies have great scripts, and the natural acting skills of the actors are worth the younger generation’s study,” Jiang Xiao spoke sincerely, her eyes misty with emotion, making it hard to see her true feelings.

Director Zhao chuckled, “Xiulin, where did you find this assistant? Not bad, not bad.” When Director Zhao praised someone, it was genuine.

Zhou XiuLin smirked, “She just graduated from university. A young calf is not afraid of a tiger. Please don’t mind them, both of you.”

Director Zhao and Liang Yue could tell from his tone that she was not ordinary.

Liang Yue smiled and looked at Jiang Xiao, saying, “If you were a Huaxia actress, I would definitely invite you to participate.”

“Thank you, Teacher Liang.” Jiang Xiao replied gracefully, “Although I’m not an actress, I will introduce more outstanding actors in the future.”

Director Zhao also felt a bit regretful. Jiang Xiao’s temperament and appearance were indeed exploitable.

But everyone has their own aspirations.

Later, Zhou Xiulin took Jiang Xiao to have some dim sum.

Jiang Xiao focused on choosing her food.

“Just performed very well.”

Jiang Xiao smiled playfully, “Actually, I was quite nervous, but I thought, I can’t let you lose face.”

Zhou Xiulin chuckled lightly and reached up to tidy up a strand of hair that had fallen near her ear, his movements natural. A trace of invisible indulgence appeared on his face. “What if I lose face?”

Jiang Xiao stuck out her tongue.

He suddenly said, “Jiang Xiao, do you know what your biggest flaw is?”

Jiang Xiao pondered for a moment, a bit puzzled.

“Not being worldly-wise and unable to dance with long sleeves. As a manager, especially a manager for top-tier celebrities, you must have the ability to stand on your own.”

Jiang Xiao asked, “Are you saying I’m not suitable to be a manager?”

“No. You have a great advantage—being self-aware, genuine in your dealings with people, and sincerely looking out for the artists. Most importantly, you have Huaxia behind you.” Regardless of whether she had scheming or methods, it didn’t matter. Huaxia would deliver the best resources into her hands.

Jiang Xiao was stunned, her heart melting completely.

“Alright, you eat first. I’ll be right back.” Zhou XiuLin pointed ahead, where several suited men seemed to be waiting for him.

Zhou XiuLin was called over by his friends, leaving Jiang Xiao sitting alone in the corner. She savored the experience of tonight. Just a month ago, she couldn’t sleep well due to worries about housing, but now, a month later, she unexpectedly met so many people.

Life always surprises you.

Jiang Xiao gently caressed her belly, a satisfied look on her face. “Little Bean Sprout, Mommy is very happy.”

Suddenly, a string of footsteps came from behind.

Jiang Xiao turned her head and saw Zhou Yanyan.

Zhou Yanyan wore 7-8 cm high heels. “Jiang Xiao—”

Jiang Xiao smiled faintly.

“You’re capable. You’ve managed to make my brother want to marry you. What exactly do you want?”

Jiang Xiao blinked, “I want a lot of things.”

Zhou Yanyan fumed, “You have no shame. Intentionally getting into bed with my brother, knowing that my brother is traditional, he’ll definitely take responsibility for you. Jiang Xiao, you’re shameless.”

Jiang Xiao coolly smiled, “What else do you want to say?”

Zhou YiYan choked with anger.

Jiang Xiao flicked her hair, “Zhou Yanyan, why are you still so childish? High school matters have long passed. Lin Wu and Qin Heng are not together now. If you like Qin Heng, just go after him.”

“You! I’m talking about you now. Let me tell you, I will never admit that you’re my sister-in-law. And you don’t even come close to deserving my brother.”

“I know. Whether I deserve it or not, I don’t need your evaluation. If your brother loves me, that’s enough.”

“My brother won’t fall in love with you. Don’t flatter yourself, thinking you’re beautiful. With so many beautiful female celebrities in Huaxia, if my brother can be with you, he won’t be with anyone else…”

“You really don’t believe in Zhou Xiulin. How about we make a bet? I bet that Zhou Xiulin and I will live happily ever after.”

“Dream on. You will definitely lose. If you lose, you have to…”

“If I lose, it’ll be miserable enough. What else do you want me to do?”

Zhou Yanyan pursed her lips. “If you lose, come and be my assistant.”

“Alright. I don’t mind.” Jiang Xiao smiled lightly.

On the way back that night, Jiang Xiao felt drowsy. She squinted her eyes and leaned there, her head nodding.

Zhou Xiulin furrowed his brows, “Sleeping like this can cause neck pain. Weren’t you energetic during the day?” Saying that, he leaned over and embraced her, placing her upper body on his legs.

Jiang Xiao realized a bit too late and tried to get up.

“Don’t move. Sleep first, I’ll wake you up when we get home.” He pressed down on her shoulder.

This intimate gesture was too ambiguous. Jiang Xiao simply closed her eyes and went to sleep.

Zhou Xiulin’s gaze remained fixed on her face. “Sleep well.”

On the second day, when Jiang Xiao arrived at the company, Tina and Manqi were talking, but they stopped when they saw her.

“Good morning, Jiang Xiao.”

“Morning.”

“Jiang Xiao, where do you live?”

Jiang Xiao mentioned a residential area near Zhou Xiulin’s place. “Yuhe Fengyuan.”

Tina paused for a moment. “The company provides housing subsidies, you can apply for it.”

Jiang Xiao smiled. “Okay.”

“By the way, I heard that you and Yanyan were classmates?”

“Yes.”

Tina and Manqi misunderstood.

Jiang Xiao returned to her office with mixed feelings.

Days passed peacefully like this. Jiang Xiao gradually adapted to her job.

Half a month later, the filming of “Fleeting Years” officially started. Liang Yue made a comeback after eight years, causing a stir and bringing attention to the drama. At the same time, “Eight Weeks Magazine” suddenly released photos of Zhao Xinran and Mo Yiheng holding hands on a night out.

Due to this incident, Zhao Xinran was sidelined by the company, and her role in “Fleeting Years” was also affected. There was a high possibility that she would no longer be able to play the role of her daughter.

Distraught, she stayed at home for the first two days. Then she called Jiang Xiao.

“Jiang Xiao, can you come over?”

Jiang Xiao remained silent for a moment. “Okay. I’ll be there in an hour.”

When she arrived, she found Zhao Xinran in a terrible state, with a pale complexion and lifeless eyes.

“Jiang Xiao, they’re trying to ruin me!”

“I should have listened to you.”

…

As she spoke, Zhao Xinran started crying.

Jiang Xiao sighed. “Are you really with Mo Yiheng? Are you together?”

Zhao Xinran cried.

“Speak!” Jiang Xiao suddenly raised her voice.

“Yes. We’re together.”

Jiang Xiao rubbed her temples. “You!”

“I’m just an ordinary person. I have the right to be with the man I like.”

“But you chose to be a star. If you choose this path, you inevitably have to sacrifice something.”

Zhao Xinran, with blurry eyes, said, “But what now? Jiang Xiao, please talk to Zhou CEO for me. You’re his assistant now, and you have a good relationship with Jiang Assistant. Please help me.”

Jiang Xiao felt a headache coming. “What about your manager and assistant? Where are they when something like this happens?”

“They’re figuring things out.”

“I have a plan, but I don’t know if it’ll work.”

“What plan?”

“Mo Yiheng can release a statement confirming your relationship. Of course, in the statement, Mo Yiheng must show his protection towards you.”

“Do you think he’ll do it?”

“I don’t know. It depends on how much he loves you. Give him a call.”

Zhao Xinran suddenly smiled. “Forget it. Jiang Xiao, it would be great if you could be my assistant all the time.”

“Xinran, this is your choice. I’ve always believed that when making decisions, others’ opinions shouldn’t influence us. Even if I’m by your side, you would still choose to be with Mo Yiheng.”

Jiang Xiao stayed with her for an hour before leaving. By the time she left, Zhao Xinran’s mental state had improved significantly. The next day, she proactively contacted her manager to participate in an event.

Jiang Xiao understood that she couldn’t ignore Zhao Xinran.

But should she involve Zhou Xiulin?

The next day, there was a company senior management meeting to discuss the leads for several upcoming Huaxia productions.

After listening to the reports, Zhou Xiulin asked, “Are there any negotiations for the female lead in ‘The Year of Eighteen’?”

“CEO Zhou, I read the original novel, and the female lead role is actually very suitable for Yanyan.”

Zhou Xiulin raised an eyebrow. “Continue.”

“The female lead is a top student with high intelligence, transitioning from a student to a doctor. The character is likable, and Yanyan is a pure newcomer, which suits her well.”

Zhou Xiulin asked, “Do you have any other suggestions?”

Silence fell among the staff.

“I will consider it. Hurry up and finalize the actors for the other productions.”

After the meeting, Zhou Xiulin stayed behind with a few assistants.

Tina confirmed their upcoming schedule. “We have a meeting in City B the day after tomorrow at ten o’clock.”

Zhou Xiulin tapped his fingers on the table. “Do you have any ideas for the female lead in ‘The Year of Eighteen’?”

Tina briefly paused. “Yanyan is quite suitable.”

Zhou XiuLin looked at Jiang Xiao. “Do you think the same?”

Jiang Xiao pondered for a moment. “Actually, I don’t think Yanyan is suitable for this role.”

“Why?” Zhou XiuLin asked.

“Their personalities are different. Yanyan has an outgoing and lively personality, but the original female lead is understated and restrained due to her family background. It requires certain acting skills.”

Tina said, “Acting skills can be honed over time.”

Jiang Xiao thought for a moment. “Yanyan can try a cute leading role.”

The two beautiful women started arguing, and Jiang Qin joined in at the right time. “The company has acquired IPs with cute leading roles. I’ll organize them tomorrow.”

Zhou Xiulin smiled faintly. “Write your proposals and submit them to me tomorrow. You can leave now.”

In the evening, Jiang Xiao sat in the living room writing proposals. She analyzed the recent data of several popular youth dramas.

When Zhou Xiulin came out after taking a shower, he saw her furrowing her brows in thought. He casually wiped the water droplets off his hair and walked to her side. “Did you contact Mo Yiheng today?”

Jiang Xiao replied with a sound, “Ah, yes.”

Zhou Xiulin narrowed his eyes. He had mild nearsightedness, but he wasn’t used to wearing glasses. “Is it for Zhao Xinran?”

Jiang Xiao responded, “Desperate times call for desperate measures. I can’t just watch Zhao Xinran fall.”

A drop of water from his hair fell onto his white vest, slowly wetting a small area.

In such close proximity, Jiang Xiao tilted her head slightly and blurted out uncontrollably, “Do you want me to help you dry your hair?”

---

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