Qin Miaomiao appeared slightly embarrassed: "I haven’t decided yet."
"I’ve chosen someone for you; they’ll be here shortly. You should meet them."
Anyone recommended by Ninth Uncle would undoubtedly be outstanding. Qin Miaomiao’s gaze at Mr. Jiu was practically worshipful—he truly seemed godlike. As expected, Ninth Uncle was Ninth Uncle; with one move, he resolved all her dilemmas. Back then, why on earth had she annoyed Ninth Uncle because of that scumbag Chu Yunhao?
She could only blame herself for being stupid...
Not long after, Old Third brought someone in. When Qin Miaomiao saw who it was, her mind momentarily froze. She exclaimed in disbelief:
Heaven help her—it was Gao Hu, last year’s Oscar-winning Best Director, currently the hottest name in the industry! How did Ninth Uncle manage to bring him here?
Gao Hu glanced at Qin Miaomiao, strode forward a few steps, and bowed respectfully to Mr. Jiu, addressing him deferentially:
Mr. Jiu responded with a faint acknowledgment. Even toward such a renowned director, his attitude remained notably nonchalant as he said in a calm tone:
"This is my niece. She wants to shoot a movie; talk it over with her."
Gao Hu, however, seemed utterly flattered and quickly warmed up to Qin Miaomiao. The two of them discussed various aspects and details of the movie for about half an hour. Qin Miaomiao displayed sufficient professionalism, showing herself to be much more than just a dilettante dabbling in filmmaking. Gao Hu’s confidence in her was firmly established, and he promptly said:
"Rest assured, Mr. Jiu. I’ll take on this project. As for casting, leave the actors to me."
"By the way, can we leave the lead actress slot open? I have someone in mind who’d be perfect for the role."
The female lead in the script was a charismatic, fearless, and proactive police officer—none other than Jiaojiao seemed more fitting for the part.
"That’s absolutely fine."
Gao Hu agreed immediately. In Mr. Jiu’s presence, he was nothing like the esteemed director he usually was. Every word and gesture came across as constrained, even somewhat tense.
After wrapping up their discussion, Gao Hu astutely made his exit. As he stepped out of Liyuan’s gates, his spine was drenched in cold sweat, and his body emitted a palpable chill.
His friend, producer Hu Cheng, quickly approached him and asked: "How did it go? You met Mr. Jiu? I heard this Liyuan hasn’t allowed anyone inside for years. What on earth did Mr. Jiu want with you?"
Gao Hu let out a bitter laugh:
"Meeting a figure of that stature feels like taking a stroll through hell’s gates. Don’t be fooled by how unassuming Liyuan looks—the security system rivals that of the world’s top facilities. Then there are the countless bodyguards hidden inside. Over these years, Mr. Jiu has rarely made public appearances, but make no mistake: Mr. Jiu will always be Mr. Jiu. Across Yan Jing, even across all of Huaxia, I doubt there’s anyone who dares to cross him."
Gao Hu nodded with lingering fear: "Exactly, which is why this movie needs to be done right! Pleasing Mr. Jiu just once, and I can rest easy for the rest of my life. Still, though..."
"I’ve never heard of Mr. Jiu having a niece."
"Doesn’t the Su Family have a bunch of heiresses? Aren’t several of them actively involved in high society circles?"
Gao Hu scoffed contemptuously: "Those so-called heiresses? They’re merely distant branches of the Su Family. Most can’t even get a glimpse of Mr. Jiu. If we’re talking about a true Su Family heiress, I’ve heard rumors that Mr. Jiu once adopted someone. Word is she’s returning to the country sometime soon."
"So how should we handle this niece of Mr. Jiu moving forward?"
"Just pander to her. From the looks of it, she has Mr. Jiu’s ear. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have summoned me over for a mere movie. I’d wager she’s even more favored than that adopted girl. As far as we’re concerned, we’ll just treat her like a little goddess and keep her happy."