The world of film and television begins in the ideal city

Li Wei changed into a dress, a beige silk dress with a fitted waist, knee-length hem, and a beautiful drape. A thin leather belt gently cinched her waist, making her figure appear slender yet understated. She wore nude low-heeled shoes, her hair was still styled in a low bun, and she wore a pair of small pearl earrings. Her makeup was light and natural.

As Lin Chen and Li Wei walked out of the Jinshi Capital building, a black Bentley was already waiting quietly, with driver Li Xu standing beside the car.

He was tall and straight, dressed in a black casual suit, with a calm face and sharp but not overt eyes. He was like a knife sheathed in its sheath, silent, reliable, and unassuming.

"President Lin."

Lin Chen walked to the car and introduced Li Wei to him, "Li Wei, this is Brother Li, my driver. Brother Li is a retired soldier. He'll be picking us up and dropping us off whenever we go out. You two should keep in touch."

He then said to Li Xu, "This is Li Wei, my secretary."

Li Wei quickly bowed slightly, her tone gentle and polite: "Hello, Master Li, thank you for your help in the future."

Li Xu simply nodded slightly, his voice low and concise: "Hello, Secretary Li."

Lin Chen ignored them and got into the car. He watched as Li Wei carefully got into the passenger seat, smiled slightly, and said nothing.

Li Xu gently closed the car door, his movements swift and silent, and the car drove away smoothly, like a shadow blending into the flow of traffic.

On a spring afternoon in Shanghai, sunlight filters through the plane tree leaves, dappling the old villas and glass curtain walls of Nanjing West Road. This street always possesses a perfect sense of balance—high-end yet understated, bustling yet not noisy. Established shops and foreign luxury stores stand side by side, and Rongji is tucked away in such an alleyway.

Above the entrance is a dark wooden plaque with the gilded characters "Rong Ji," exuding a sense of composure and restraint. Inside, a faint scent of sandalwood fills the air. Waiters in subtly patterned cheongsams walk with light, steady steps. A gentle stream flows through the courtyard, and the booths are partially veiled by bamboo curtains, so quiet that only the soft clinking of porcelain dishes can be heard. The two enter a small private room on the second floor. Floor-to-ceiling windows face the street scene, and a small bouquet of white orchids sits on the table, elegant and understated.

The dishes arrived quickly: drunken crab, braised eel in sizzling oil, braised pork belly, crab roe soup dumplings, and stir-fried river shrimp. Each dish was Rongji's specialty, with a mild and pleasant aroma.

Li Wei was still a little reserved, sitting upright with her hands on her knees.

Lin Chen observed this and joked, "This doesn't seem like the legendary ice beauty from the Finance Department. How did she become the girl next door?"

Lin Chen placed a piece of drunken crab on her plate, chatted for a few moments about old times on campus, and seeing that she was gradually relaxing, he spoke softly:

"There were so many people in this campus recruitment, but I specifically chose you."

Li Wei suddenly looked up, her eyes widening slightly.

"Me...me?"

"Hmm." Lin Chen blinked, his tone calm and serious. "Teacher Wang recommended you to me, saying you're hardworking, diligent, smart, and have a knack for it. She asked me to mentor you. You've been doing well these past few days."

Li Wei's cheeks flushed instantly, a light blush spreading from her face to the tips of her ears, and her heart skipped a beat. She lowered her head and softly murmured an "Mmm," her voice low but firm:

"Thank you, Teacher Wang. Thank you, General Manager Lin. I will definitely study hard and not let everyone down."

Lin Chen looked at her like this, a faint smile flashing across his eyes. He didn't continue the topic, but simply told her to eat more vegetables.

After finishing his meal, Lin Chen saw that it was still early and said to her:

"Let's go for a walk on Nanjing West Road. I'll give you a piece of clothing as a welcome gift."

Li Wei wanted to decline, but he brushed it off with a simple "Don't be so polite."

The two walked out of Rongji. The sunlight slanted down, the shop windows were bright, and people were coming and going.

As I walked to the entrance of a wedding dress shop, white veils hung in the window, and the lighting was gentle.

Just then, the door of the wedding dress shop opened, and two people came out.

It was Wu Hongmei and Su Xiao.

Su Xiao had just finished trying on wedding dresses, still wearing half of the white veil from the fitting room. Her long hair was loosely tied up, and her face showed a hint of excitement. She was less straightforward than usual and more feminine. But she had always been cheerful and outspoken, never hesitant. At this moment, she boldly tugged at the hem of her wedding dress and said to Wu Hongmei, "Hongmei, do you think this hem is too long? I'm afraid I'll trip over it."

Lin Chen saw the two female leads in the drama.

Su Xiao is currently the cost manager for the affordable housing project at Zhongjian Group. Lin Chen also knows that she's going to be fired tomorrow. She's straightforward, honest, and outspoken, believing in professionalism above all else. She always speaks her mind directly and without pretense. She's about to marry her boyfriend of many years, Zhou Jun, and today she came specifically to try on wedding dresses. Of course, the wedding didn't happen.

Wu Hongmei is her best friend; she works in the human resources department of Yinghai Group. Gentle yet somewhat timid, she lives with a deep-seated inferiority complex and a people-pleasing personality, habitually observing others' expressions and acting cautiously. She lives a repressed and restrained life both at work and in life, yet deep down she harbors a tenacious spirit that refuses to be controlled by fate. The two are completely different—one strong, one gentle; one assertive, one weak.

He knew Su Xiao would be trying on wedding dresses today, but he never expected to run into her like this.

Just then, the veil pin in Su Xiao's hand loosened, slipped slightly, and was about to fall to the ground.

Lin Chen reached out and caught the small button.

Su Xiao was startled and quickly thanked him:

Thank you.

Lin Chen handed the button back, his fingertips clean and slender, his tone calm and gentle:

"It's nothing, I just happened to see it."

Lin Chen didn't make any special effort to get to know her; a first meeting was enough to leave an impression. This woman was a key character in the TV series, and she would be very helpful to his mission.

Su Xiao: Clean, stubborn, useful, straightforward, easy to get along with, the most qualified working person.

Wu Hongmei: Gentle, patient, and shrewd, she may seem weak and ingratiating, but she actually possesses resilience and is a key piece that can influence Zhao Xiankun.

Without any unnecessary formalities, Lin Chen simply gave Li Wei a set of clothes. As a seasoned veteran in the world of romance, he wasn't in a hurry to succeed but rather enjoyed the process.

The girl got off the bus, carrying her handbag, and said softly, "Thank you for today, senior. I had a lot of fun."

Lin Chen nodded slightly: "You're welcome, junior. I'll give you half a day off today, go back and get some rest."

Time passed, and soon night fell, and the lights of Shanghai spread out.

Inside the private club, soft music played, the drinks were ice-cold, and young girls chatted and laughed gently, creating a relaxed yet luxurious atmosphere.

Xiao Li had already made all the arrangements. When Lin Chen entered, everyone stood up and greeted him as "Brother Chen."

Lin Chen sat down casually, took off his suit jacket, leaving only a white shirt, and unbuttoned two buttons at the collar, losing some of his elite coldness and gaining a touch of laziness.

He picked up his wine glass, swirled it gently, admired the beautiful woman's dance, and enjoyed the ease and freedom of the wealthy world.

Outside the door, Li Xu stood in the shadows, silently waiting.

Happy times are always fleeting.

Midnight, Huashan Apartment, JA District.

Lin Chen casually draped his suit jacket over the sofa armrest, loosened his silk tie, and walked to the window to stand. The evening breeze, carrying the scent of sycamore trees, drifted through the slightly open window, and his gaze drifted languidly towards the neon lights outside.