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墨書 Inktalez
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the meeting room at Yuexing Capital, where three people sat around a long table discussing the insights from the previous night.
Today, Lin Yue was a completely different person. Gone was her usual reticence; she proactively proposed investing in Dark River. A rare sparkle lit up her eyes.
"This project has tremendous potential," Lin Yue said, her fingers swiftly gliding over her tablet to showcase her analysis. "First of all, the core story revolves around seeking light in darkness, which resonates deeply with audiences."
"Secondly, Director Li's style is stable and mature, ensuring the quality of the work."
As she spoke, her voice unconsciously softened. "And then there's Su Yao..."
Lin Yue's gaze brightened remarkably at the mention of this name, as if it brought her to life.
"I watched a few of Su Yao's works and interviews yesterday. Her expressiveness and emotional control are astonishingly precise."
"Although she hasn't played a leading role yet, her aura is perfect for this character."
"Plus, her background is impressive. She's definitely a Star Second Generation, but every step she's taken to get here has been through her own efforts."
Jiang Rou's expression instantly stiffened, her brows furrowing tightly. "Did you stay up all night watching dramas?"
Her voice was laced with both anger and concern. "You didn’t take your medication again, did you?"
Lin Yue frowned slightly, clearly disliking the topic. "That medication makes my head feel fuzzy; I didn’t take it yesterday."
"Then you definitely didn’t sleep!" Jiang Rou pouted, a mix of worry and frustration on her face.
"Lin Yue..." Her tone carried both complaint and a sigh.
Lin Yue waved her hand impatiently. "Let’s not talk about me; let’s finalize the project first."
She turned to Lu Chen, signaling for his opinion.
Lu Chen cleared his throat. "I agree with Lin Yue. Dark River could really become a phenomenon."
"And since this is our first investment in film and television, choosing someone like Director Li—who is so accomplished—greatly reduces our risk."
He glanced back and forth between Lin Yue and Jiang Rou. "Xiao Rou, what do you think? If there are no issues, I’ll follow up on the details."
However, Jiang Rou remained unusually silent, her slender fingers tracing small circles on the table.
Last night, she had tossed and turned in bed, her mind filled with the image of Lin Yue’s infatuated gaze when she looked at Su Yao. That gaze… had never been directed at her, even in their most intimate moments.
She bit her lip and couldn’t help but speak up. "I think we should be cautious with our first film investment."
She struggled to suppress the jealousy and dissatisfaction in her voice. "We should look at other scripts!"
Realizing that she had come off too aggressively and appeared out of line, she quickly lowered her eyes.
Jiang Rou knew well that while Lin Yue usually indulged her in everything else, she never backed down when it came to investment decisions. And Lu Chen would never oppose Lin Yue's choices. With just herself against them, it was futile.
Regaining her composure, Jiang Rou left her seat and moved closer to Lin Yue, adopting a coy demeanor. She gently took Lin Yue's hand, drawing soft circles on the back of it with her thumb, her eyes filled with tenderness.
"Lin Yue, Dark River is good, but since we've just ventured into the film industry, we really need to think it through carefully."
Her voice was soft, almost like she was soothing a child. "Who knows, there might be even better scripts waiting for us."
Lin Yue frowned slightly, not giving a clear response. Seeing this, Jiang Rou pressed on: "And that Su Yao, she’s been in the entertainment industry since she was little with her mother. No one even knows who her father is."
There was a hint of pleading in her eyes. "Who knows if there are any issues behind her? We shouldn't make impulsive investments just because of a momentary excitement."
Lin Yue patiently listened to her without immediately countering. She knew Jiang Rou too well. This wasn’t about business considerations; it was purely personal feelings.
However, when it came to investments, Lin Yue never easily changed her mind.
"Xiao Rou," Lin Yue's voice was gentle, as if comforting a child throwing a tantrum, "I've thought this through regarding investing in Dark River."
"Please don’t persuade me anymore. I’ll head back to the office now; we can talk when you come around."
After saying that, she gently ruffled Jiang Rou's hair and stood up to leave the meeting room.
Only Jiang Rou and Lu Chen remained in the room. Jiang Rou put away her expression and turned to Lu Chen, adopting a serious demeanor.
"Lu Chen, we can't just easily invest in Dark River!"
She asked anxiously, "What if something goes wrong? What would be the impact on the company? Can you talk some sense into Lin Yue?"
Lu Chen looked troubled, his brow furrowed as he pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Xiao Rou, I think Lin Yue's judgment is correct; Dark River is indeed worth investing in."
"From the quality of the script and market potential, this is definitely a good project."
"You know Lin Yue’s investment acumen; she has never made a wrong call."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Rou’s anger flared up. She stomped her foot in frustration, nearly breaking her high heels.
"Can’t you think more about Lin Yue? That Su Yao clearly has a negative influence on her!"
She could hardly control her volume. "With such a complicated background and how deep the entertainment industry is, we must keep our distance!"
"We need to protect Lin Yue! What if that woman has ulterior motives?"
Seeing Jiang Rou so agitated, Lu Chen sighed helplessly and patted her shoulder reassuringly.
"Xiao Rou, listen carefully to what you’re saying."
"Are you overthinking it? Lin Yue is investing in Dark River because it has value, not because of Su Yao."
"You need to trust Lin Yue’s professional judgment."
A sudden smile appeared on his face, revealing a knowing expression. "When did our Miss Jiang become so lacking in confidence?"
"Stop it; from the company’s perspective, Dark River is indeed worth investing in."
"We can't let your lack of confidence cause the company to miss out on a good opportunity."
He took Jiang Rou's hand and headed toward Lin Yue's office.
Jiang Rou stood still, her brow furrowed and her lips pressed into a thin line.
She was well aware of how sharp Lin Yue's investment instincts were; it was something she had always admired. She also acknowledged that Dark River was a good project both commercially and socially. However, the thought of Lin Yue being with Su Yao felt like a knife slicing through her heart, each image cutting deeper than the last. The pain was suffocating.
"Xiao Rou," Lu Chen's voice softened, "the bond between you and Lin Yue is irreplaceable."
"Don't let an outsider affect the company's development."
Lu Chen's words seemed to awaken Jiang Rou. Yes, how could the feelings between her and Lin Yue be easily shaken? She should have more confidence in their relationship.
Ultimately, Jiang Rou relented and agreed to invest in Dark River.
As they entered Lin Yue's office, they found her engrossed in reading the script, her long fingers occasionally gliding over the paragraphs. Upon noticing their arrival, a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Have you come to a decision?"
Jiang Rou walked straight to Lin Yue's side and plopped down onto her lap, wrapping her arms around her neck. Her index finger gently traced the nape of Lin Yue's neck, a gesture so intimate that Lu Chen felt compelled to look away.
Jiang Rou locked eyes with Lin Yue, her tone a mix of playfulness and warning. "Lin Yue, I agree to invest in Dark River, but I have one condition."
Lin Yue's heart tightened, though she maintained a calm smile. "What condition?"
"After the investment, you are not allowed to get too close to Su Yao."
Though Jiang Rou's voice was soft, each word was crystal clear, revealing a sickly possessiveness in her gaze.
Lin Yue froze for a moment, feeling as if she had been stabbed in the heart. She had actually been looking forward to spending more time with Su Yao; the thrill of their initial encounter was too wonderful to ignore. Yet faced with Jiang Rou's request, she felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness and struggle.
Jiang Rou had always been her closest friend, standing by her during the darkest days and offering unconditional support and love. She couldn't bear to hurt Jiang Rou, even if it meant suppressing her own desires.
Lin Yue held Jiang Rou's waist, trying to keep her tone light. "Alright, I promise you."
Seeing Lin Yue agree so readily brought both joy and unease to Jiang Rou's heart. She didn't know what else to say and could only force a smile. "I hope Dark River brings great returns for the company."
Lu Chen chimed in to ease the atmosphere. "Don't worry; with Lin Yue's eye for talent, Dark River will surely succeed. Let's look forward to winning some awards."
The three shared smiles, and the tension in the conference room began to dissipate. However, once Jiang Rou and Lu Chen left, Lin Yue slumped into her chair like a deflated balloon. The smile vanished from her face, replaced by exhaustion and inner turmoil.
She pressed her hands against her temples, closed her eyes, and furrowed her brows. Lin Yue was acutely aware of Jiang Rou's feelings and worries for her; that love was too pure and too intense. For so many years, Jiang Rou had been by her side, considering everything for her.
Agreeing to Jiang Rou's request felt like a response to that deep affection, a respect and cherishment for their long-standing friendship. However, the woman named Su Yao was like a comet that had suddenly entered her life—dazzling and mysterious. From the moment Lin Yue first saw her at the banquet, she was deeply captivated, as if something within her soul had been awakened.
Su Yao's elegance, confidence, and unique aura tugged at her heartstrings, making her long-numbed heart begin to beat again. The investment in Dark River provided them with more opportunities to interact. Deep down, she actually looked forward to this contact, yearning to know more about Su Yao and to step into her world.
Lin Yue's fingers unconsciously tapped on the table, the rhythm slow and heavy, her gaze somewhat dazed. She knew that the promise she had just made felt like a shackle, binding her inner desires. She kept asking herself if she could truly uphold such a promise. To avoid hurting Jiang Rou, did she really have to suppress her feelings for Su Yao?
Every thought felt like a tangled mess, stirring up her anxiety. She stared at the plain ring on her middle finger, feeling a twinge of fear. Fearful that when faced with Su Yao in the future, she might lose control of her impulses, break her promise, and hurt Jiang Rou. Yet if she were to keep her distance from Su Yao, it felt as though she would lose something incredibly important. That sense of loss was almost unbearable.
Leaning back in her chair, she closed her eyes in an attempt to calm her thoughts. But images of Jiang Rou’s gentle yet worried gaze mingled with Su Yao’s enchanting smile in her mind, making it impossible to find peace. She opened the drawer and took out a bottle of antidepressants, twisting off the cap with a deep sigh.
A white pill slid down her throat, bringing with it a familiar bitterness along with deeper feelings of helplessness and fatigue. Lin Yue picked up the script on the table; Su Yao's character was marked on the title page. Her fingers lightly brushed over that name, revealing a hint of tenderness and anticipation that she had never felt before.
As the medication began to take effect, she felt a sense of stability wash over her, yet it was accompanied by an even deeper emptiness.
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