The scene in the living room was this: You Li, Xie Yunzhi, and Director Liu were all engrossed in their scripts. Meanwhile, Tan You and Old Zhou seemed to have nothing to do. They exchanged a glance, and Tan You got up and headed to the kitchen.

Old Zhou quietly followed her. "I’ll order us some food. Looking at them, I doubt they’re in the mood to go out to eat."

"I’m sick of all the food around here," Tan You said. "I’ll just cook. It’ll be a simple home-cooked meal, so don’t feel like I’m slighting you."

"How could we think that?" Old Zhou immediately protested. "We’d all feel honored! For you to cook for us personally, Li Zi, is a huge compliment. I can help, though I’m not sure how useful I’ll be."

Tan You blinked. "No need. I like to work alone. If you have nothing to do, you can go out and buy some seasonings for me. I’ll write you a list."

Old Zhou didn’t mind running errands; in fact, he was eager for something to do. So, after getting the list, Old Zhou quickly went downstairs to the supermarket near the residential complex.

Meanwhile, Tan You herself was selecting and preparing the vegetables, doing the prep work before cooking. Tan You didn’t think cooking for others was beneath her; she simply enjoyed the feeling of being alone.

Unfortunately, while her world was peaceful and quiet, Old Zhou’s was not so smooth. He was stopped just as he left the complex. He saw that the ones stopping him were all people he’d dealt with in the industry—investors and directors. Old Zhou felt helpless.

"Look, it’s no use stopping me. I can’t change Director Tang’s mind."

President Qi narrowed his eyes. "So, Tang Li lives here?"

Old Zhou gave him a deadpan look. "Haven’t you already guessed? I still have to go shopping. Honestly, I don’t have that much sway with her. Besides, she has a cool and reserved personality, so it wouldn’t be right for me to rashly introduce you to her."

The director who had come along was sharp. "So Director Liu is upstairs reading a script right now? Don’t tell me Xie Yunzhi and Teacher You are there too?"

Old Zhou sighed. "Yes, yes, you’ve guessed it all correctly, but there’s really nothing I can do. I really have to get to the supermarket. Director Tang is waiting in the kitchen."

Pushing aside the boss’s arm, Old Zhou waved and entered the nearby supermarket. Even though Tan You had three scripts, he wasn’t stupid enough to broadcast that information.

’Isn’t it better to let Director Liu take his time filming them? Why give them to a competitor? Besides, if he dared to say Tan You had extra scripts, she would be the first to kick him out the door.’

Old Zhou went into the supermarket. President Qi pondered for a moment, then returned to his car without a word.

The famous director who came with him was surprised. "We’re not heading back?"

President Qi said, "Of course not. We’ll wait here for Old Liu. In ancient times, they made three visits to the thatched cottage. If you want to beg someone to help you make money these days, you have to be willing to lower yourself."

Director Chen shook his head. "I’m so jealous of Old Liu. He’s won awards and now he has another script. Why didn’t she come to me first? It’s not like I couldn’t have directed that movie of Old Liu’s."

"Maybe because he’s on good terms with Xie Yunzhi." President Qi rested his right hand on the car window. "Back then, Tan You approached Xie Yunzhi by tempting him with a script. And since Xie Yunzhi and Director Liu have always been close, Director Liu simply rode on Xie Yunzhi’s coattails."

Director Chen sighed. "It’s a case of one misstep leading to falling further and further behind. I mean, for people like us who have been making movies our whole lives, who wouldn’t want to win the top prize? But in the end, we were all overshadowed by an outsider."

"And the key thing is, she’s not even a professional screenwriter. She’s a variety show producer. It’s just outrageous."

When Old Zhou came out carrying various seasonings, he saw the luxury car still parked in the distance. Old Zhou lowered his gaze, smiled, and walked on without pausing. He would never mention that he’d run into those two. Telling her would just be creating more competition for himself, and he wasn’t that foolish.

So, after returning to Tan You’s place, Old Zhou helped her with some useless tasks, never mentioning what had just happened. Tan You didn’t ask why he had taken so long. As long as he didn’t bring it up, she would pretend she didn’t know.

Tan You’s cooking skills used to be average, but after being tempered through several worlds, her culinary abilities were now quite impressive. As dishes came out of the kitchen one after another, the aroma in the living room grew stronger and stronger, finally rousing the three who were immersed in their scripts.

Director Liu was the first to put down his script. "That smells amazing! I didn’t know Li Zi had this skill. Incredible."

Old Zhou came out just then, carrying a plate of steamed leopard coral grouper. "I was stunned watching her. Are talented people amazing at everything they do? All I did from start to finish was wash a few vegetables. I couldn’t help with anything else."

"You did," Tan You said. "Brother Zhou helped by cheering me on."

Xie Yunzhi and You Li both laughed. Some people seem very cold, but sometimes they can be quite mischievous with their words. Of course, she wasn’t always humorous, but this occasional, wry wit was actually very charming.

"Let’s eat first. I remember you have a sensitive stomach, Teacher You, so I made a special soup for you that’s easy on the stomach." Ladling a bowl of soup for You Li, Tan You’s smile was gentle, lacking her usual coolness.

You Li didn’t stand on ceremony. "See? Women are just more thoughtful. Our Li Zi is talented on the inside."

Tan You just smiled. "Have you chosen a script?"

She wasn’t one to avoid talking about work during a meal. After all, they were all very familiar with each other, so there was no need for such formalities.

You Li replied, "I haven’t finished the one I have, but I don’t think the male lead is a good fit for me. I’ll take a look at the others."

Tan You wasn’t in a hurry. "Alright, take your time. However, I think the one Director Liu is reading might be suitable for you."

Director Liu also nodded. "Yes, I agree. I think the male lead in the one I have is perfect for you. Old You has the acting chops, he just hasn’t found a script that’s a perfect fit all these years. He’s always been missing that little something."

You Li smiled. "Is it really a good fit? If both Li Zi and the director say so, I’ll have to take a closer look after dinner."

"I think it’s suitable," Tan You said. "But of course, it also depends on what you think, Teacher You."

Old Zhou asked cautiously, "Then what about the other two scripts...?"

"Let them sit," Tan You said nonchalantly. "I’m not a full-time screenwriter. If Teacher You hadn’t asked, I wouldn’t have brought them out at all."

You Li clinked his glass with Tan You’s. "I’m truly honored. The script I’m reading right now—if it were released, people would be fighting tooth and nail for it."

Tan You laughed. "It’s not that exaggerated, is it?"

"It is," You Li said. "Just you wait. The moment we step out your door, our phones are going to be blown up with calls."

"Everyone is just holding their breath and watching right now."

Tan You’s chopsticks paused. "That has nothing to do with them. I’m just a variety show producer, and the scripts belong to a friend of mine. I have no right to decide."

’This is a blatant lie,’ You Li thought. ’But what can anyone do if she refuses to admit it?’