Chapter 218 - Chalk and Cheese
Chapter 218: Chalk and Cheese
“What happened?” Wei Zhiqian grabbed Tan Mo’s right hand as his forehead twisted into a frown. He wanted to massage the red spot on her hand, but he feared that it might hurt her.
When she heard Wei Zhiqian ask Tan Mo this question, Shen Jingyi started to get nervous and her hands began to sweat.
Yuan Qishan didn’t know who Wei Zhiqian was, but Shen Jingyi had heard of him before.
She had heard the name, but she had never seen him in real life. Now that he had appeared right in front of her, she realized that she had never seen him before.
Shen Jingyi had been at Beijing University at the same time as Wei Zhiqian. Although they had studied different majors, Shen Jingyi had heard a lot about him because he was very well known.
She knew who Wei Zhiqian was, but she hadn’t known that Tan Mo had a close relationship with him.
When Tan Mo had started university, Wei Zhiqian wasn’t actually spending much time in school any longer because he was working full time. Only when he had a class he had to attend would he come back.
Even though Wei Zhiqian liked to make a big deal out of their relationship, Tan Mo didn’t.
She preferred to just go with the flow. If someone knew about their relationship, then all right, they knew.
It’s not like she would flaunt it to those who didn’t know.
Quite a number of first-year students from the Finance Department knew about it.
In the Chinese Department, only some knew.
Professor Guo’s team knew and those others who had gone to watch the competition knew.
The knowledge wasn’t very widespread.
Despite Wei Zhiqian being at the competition to support Tan Mo, his interactions with Tan Mo were never shown on the screen during the filming of the event.
Otherwise, Tsinghua University might have lost face because of Wei Zhiqian’s blunt and threatening words about them.
With the livestreaming, it was Tsinghua University’s words that dominated the competition.
This was why those from Beijing University didn’t see Tan Mo and Wei Zhiqian’s interactions when they watched the livestream.
And Qin Murong, who knew every bit and detail of their relationship, was obviously not going to say anything.
Tan Mo would so much rather have it this way. The less people knew about her, the better.
So, this was Shen Jingyi’s first time seeing Tan Mo and Wei Zhiqian interact. She even heard Tan Mo call him uncle.
However, she decided to compose herself. Shen Jingyi was just feeling guilty, and she felt very small around Wei Zhiqian’s vigor and presence.
She thought it through thoroughly. It wasn’t as if Wei Zhiqian could do anything to her. So, what was she so scared of?
Her career path had strayed hugely from Wei Zhiqian’s. It wasn’t like they were going to cross paths at any time in the future.
Tan Mo didn’t hide anything from Wei Zhiqian.
She immediately told him just how she had gotten hurt and been scalded.
Wei Zhiqian turned around and looked at Shen Jingyi and Yuan Qishan. The warmth that had been in his eyes when he looked at Tan Mo had vanished completely.
When Shen Jingyi and Yuan Qishan felt his piercing gaze, chills traveled down their spines.
But Wei Zhiqian didn’t say anything to them. He just greeted Director Liu and Professor Zhao.
“Director, Professor….” he said.
Neither of them said anything.
What they were thinking was, so you finally saw us and took notice of us…
Initially, it was obvious that you only had eyes for Tan Mo.
It’s not that easy.
Without waiting for Wei Zhiqian to say anything else, Professor Zhao said, “Shen Jingyi, can you come with me to town B today.”
“Professor, I haven’t gotten my tickets yet.” Of course, Shen Jingyi didn’t want to leave just yet.
“Don’t worry, I’ve already purchased those for you.” Professor Zhao wasn’t going to let her stay here making trouble.
“This…is kind of inconvenient…”
“It’s no big deal.” Professor Zhao smiled. “But you do have to pay me back for the ticket for the flight.”
Shen Jingyi had messed up badly, and now he had to clean up after her mess. This was the aftermath.
Helping her purchase plane tickets?
Don’t even think about it.
Shen Jingyi stayed quiet.
She didn’t want to leave.
But wasn’t Professor Zhao just forcing her to leave like this?
And now she’s got to pay him back for the ticket too?
Professor Zhao looked at Wei Zhiqian. Even though he didn’t say anything out loud, he was pretty sure that Wei Zhiqian understands what he was doing.
I’m taking her away. She won’t make any more trouble now. Please don’t cause a ruckus.
Wei Zhiqian stared darkly at Shen Jingyi, and then he said, “Professor Zhao’s care and love for his students really are admirable.”
It was just because of his loving personality that Tan Mo could receive so many benefits.
Wei Zhiqian really did admire Professor Zhao for this.
“I do hope though that she understands Professor Zhao’s actions. Don’t let your loving personality go to waste by letting them take it for granted,” Wei Zhiqian said bluntly.
Professor Zhao let out a sigh. “It’s just this one time.”
Two years of mentoring gone just like that…
Professor Zhao looked at Shen Jingyi. Her face was still twisted with envy, and it was obvious that she was still reluctant to leave.
It was probably just because he was forcing her to leave. She thought that if wasn’t fair to her since he didn’t treat Tan Mo like this.
It was just like Wei Zhiqian had said. As different as chalk from cheese.
Had Shen Jingyi not given any thought to the fact that if he hadn’t hurried up and taken her away and instead had let her stay, who knows what Wei Zhiqan would’ve done to her?
Shen Jingyi looked at Professor Zhao. Then she looked at Wei Zhiqian.
Were they talking about her?
But this loving personality of his…where was it? She could not feel it at all.
If Professor Zhao really loved her as a student, he would’ve let her stay.
And he would have provided her with another chance to stay within the scriptwriting group and prove herself.
Not have Tan Mo take her place.
Professor Zhao only shook his head and looked at Shen Jingyi. “The flight’s at noon. I’m going to pack my bags now. You should too.”
After that, he went back to his room immediately without waiting for a response.
Professor Zhao wanted Shen Jingyi to leave, but she was feeling defiant. However, she didn’t dare to defy Professor Zhao.
Her grades were still in Professor Zhao’s hands.
She looked at Tan Mo and Wei Zhiqian, and all she could do was to walk away solemnly.
Now the only people remaining were Director Liu and Yuan Qishan.
“Is this scriptwriter still planning to stay?” Wei Zhiqian asked coldly.
“Oh, no, of course not,” Director Liu said hurriedly. “She isn’t part of our scriptwriting team anymore. The team only set up a hotel room for her until today.”
But whether or not Yuan Qishan leaves wasn’t up to Director Liu.
If she wanted to pay for her own stay, she could. Director Liu wouldn’t be able to force her away.
He wasn’t like Professor Zhao. He couldn’t just mold Yuan Qishan the way he wanted to.
Wei Zhiqian nodded and asked, “Scriptwriter Yuan, with such a huge problem occurring in the script, trying to fool the director, and having such an attitude…this is a huge downfall for you, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it was,” Director Liu admitted. “This time, both Yuan Qishan and Shen Jingyi must be held accountable for their actions. They almost made us lose out on our budget this time. A huge deal, really…”
Wei Zhiqian nodded and took out a card and handed it to Director Liu. “Director Liu, about this series, or your next one for that matter, please contact me if you need financial help.”
Director Liu was caught by surprise, but he also felt slightly fearful. He accepted the card with both hands.
As a director, he hadn’t gotten widespread acclaim domestically, and definitely not internationally either.
Shooting television series had brought him some success and had given him some ratings, but he was far from being a famous director.