Chapter 51: Chapter 51: The Perfect Child

“Who is he?” Xiao Yu’an grabbed Zhou Chaobin’s arm and asked, his voice shaking uncontrollably.

But he grabbed Zhou Chaobin too forcefully, causing Zhou Chaobin to let out a yell.

“Hey hey hey, let go of me, you’re about to crush my arm!” Zhou Chaobin tried to shake him off, looking at the red marks on his arm in disbelief, “Are you always going to the gym now? Why are you so strong? I really feel like my arm is going to break, do you understand?!”

“I’m asking you who he is!” Xiao Yu’an impatiently pressed again, without a care about his arm.

“Director Mu’s kid, he’s pretty popular recently. What’s up, you like him? Just say it directly, why go for the kid angle!” Zhou Chaobin rubbed his arm and kept his distance from him.

This guy went to the military once.

And started acting strange.

Xiao Yu’an stared intently at the child on the screen.

Watching him laugh happily around Mu Ran, seemingly no different from any ordinary five-year-old.

Instead of Daqi’s Crown Prince, burdened from birth with many expectations, even though he’s only a few years old, countless shackles already tightly bind him.

He must be excellent.

For many to survive.

To meet the expectations of those who look up to him.

From the moment he was born, his life was destined not to be easy and carefree.

When he first appeared in front of Xiao Yu’an at age three in Daqi, Xiao Yu’an truly felt the child was cute.

But, on the first day, he issued countless orders.

Instructing the instructors to train him well, not to be soft-hearted; if he cried, he wouldn’t get food. The strategists also had to teach him how to lead troops and fight in wars.

He is the Crown Prince!

A thorn in everyone’s side.

If he’s careless, he’ll die.

To keep him alive, to ensure the Xiao family retains some power in the court, to make him understand the hardships of the military so he would treat soldiers kindly in the future.

He was never soft-hearted with Xiao Jin.

And the child seemed to know that no matter where he was, he would suffer.

So, he behaved well.

Very sensible.

After a year in the barracks, training, studying, learning military strategies, going to the battlefield to kill enemies, he never faltered.

He never cried.

Like a perfect child.

And now, he’s led home by a woman, with none of the Crown Prince’s decorum, he’d skip and hop, he’d act coy with a woman, he’d take out a toy and give it to her.

“Auntie, here’s Lazy Goat for you, it only cost me three tokens.”

“Who’s boasting to you!” Mu Ran pinched his cheek.

Chu Xijin laughed.

The staff told him.

Saying Auntie repeatedly caught Sun Wukong, and her face grew darker and darker, hahaha…

Auntie treats him so well.

To catch him a Sun Wukong despite her usual lack of patience.

Mu Ran was embraced by Lazy Goat, her brows dyed with a smile, gently rocking his hand.

Under the moonlight, their shadows stretched very long.

The live broadcast ended.

Xiao Yu’an remained lost in thought.

His heart filled with unspoken bitterness.

At this moment he could confirm, it’s Xiao Jin.

But he didn’t understand how Xiao Jin could come here, he was Daqi’s Crown Prince, he couldn’t have died…

Xiao Yu’an tried to comfort himself like this, but thinking of Xiao family’s fate, and himself sitting here currently, he couldn’t be sure.

They say even a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs.

It seems their Emperor must be exceptionally ruthless.

Xiao Jin came, what fate awaits his sister?

And why is Xiao Jin so familiar with Mu Ran, why is Mu Ran raising Xiao Jin?

Xiao Yu’an couldn’t figure these out, so he opened WeChat to send a message to Mu Ran.

Meanwhile, Mu Ran who returned to the hotel was discussing matters with her sister-in-law, hadn’t seen his WeChat.

“Tell me who the confirmed actress is, then I can tell you my progress on the proposal.”

“Mao Ziyang.” Mu Ran said.

“Mao Ziyang? Are you sure? Her reputation isn’t very good right now, and didn’t you say before you don’t really like this actor?” Feng Qikuo recalled Mao Ziyang’s scandals, knowing Mu Ran had some responsibility.

“Who said I don’t like her? I just mentioned she’s not suitable for the role I have in mind right now. The rumors are nonsense, do you believe them?” Mu Ran rolled her eyes, and impatiently opened her notebook, “Hurry up and tell me what’s the progress on the proposal?”

“Okay, okay, got it, I’ll handle her company.

Regarding the proposal, you know, Song Biao’s family situation is quite well-off, I talked it over, and things are resolved easily. But be cautious, can’t make it too scary or gory, you have many emotional scenes, right? Focus on emotional scenes, just make the cover a bit scary, if it’s too frightening it will have to be cut, making it unrecognizable later.” Feng Qikuo reminded.

“OK.”

Mu Ran nodded.

She knew the current situation of the film.

Feng Qikuo asked again, “Are you planning to focus again from a female perspective this time?”

“What else?”

This had been a trademark of Mu Ran’s films, focusing from a female perspective.

Thus, her lead actress tends to become popular faster than the male lead.

When she initially started making films from a female perspective, and as a female director, she faced discrimination, but Mu Ran didn’t care, she did things her way.

Her films followed her own rules.

If someone didn’t want to act, she didn’t care?

If anyone mocked, well, she didn’t think anyone was better than her, at least among directors of her age, none were stronger!

“Alright, I’m really looking forward to it.” Feng Qikuo was in fact a fan of Mu Ran’s films; they had a unique charm, didn’t stress women being weak or emphasize gender differences, yet managed to convey strength.

Women were strong.

Women had limitless possibilities!

Feng Qikuo knew she was conforming slightly to the mainstream.

If she depicted women too miserably or overly emphasized gender confrontation, the film would get pulled.

So, she had to approach filming from another angle.

Yet, this also perfectly established her personal style.

Both domestic and international audiences loved her work.

“That’s all for now. I’ll go talk with Mao Ziyang tomorrow. I feel her company is really terrible, letting her get criticized so badly, you need to sign her quickly.” Mu Ran remarked.

Despite being heavily criticized, Mao Ziyang has yet to take any action, continuing to do commercials and variety shows, which only drained the artist.

It’s infuriatingly terrible.

Feng Qikuo paused.

Unsure whether to say or not to say something.

“Actually, comparing your level of criticism to hers, your studio seems worse. At least her company controls it somewhat. You never control it; you’ve never spent a dime on your personal branding, and many trolls have made a fortune off you, you know?”

“Get lost!” Mu Ran hung up the phone immediately.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep