Zheng Weize glanced at Zhang Yuwen with a slightly pitiful look in his eyes. “I don’t have any plans for Christmas yet. What about you guys?”
“I have a job on Christmas,” Chang Jinxing said. “An outdoor shoot. But I’ll be back before the new year.” He’d gotten a big job: a four-day, three-night cruise, taking photos for the cruise guests.
Oh, so that’s why, Zhang Yuwen thought. No wonder Zheng Weize looked disappointed.
“I’m going back to my hometown to see my parents,” Chen Hong said. “My clients don’t have classes during the holidays anyway.”
“Okay, go ahead,” Zhang Yuwen said. “How about you, Yan Jun?”
“I’ll be at home with Xiao-Qi.”
“Will you spend the time with us, Yuwen?” Zheng Weize asked lazily.
“Yeah,” said Zhang Yuwen.
“Not spending it with the straight guy?”
“Nah,” Zhang Yuwen replied simply. “Are we spending the new year together? Let me organize it. All the rent has been paid, and I promised to treat everyone.”
“Whoa!” Everyone perked up at the mention of a treat, so Zhang Yuwen made plans with everyone to get together again on New Year’s Eve.
He wanted to organize an outing for everyone and invite Huo Sichen along, but where to?
The next day, Zhang Yuwen paid a visit to a film production company that he’d collaborated with before. The production company had prepared New Year’s gifts to send to Riverbay Road, but Zhang Yuwen stopped them and made a trip down in person.
“I remember you sent me complimentary vouchers for a hot spring hotel, right?” Zhang Yuwen rarely had to be thick-skinned enough to ask for things like this. “Can you give me a few more?”
The vice president was flattered. “You really want them?! I’ll get them for you. Now! As many as you want!”
“Oh, you’re too kind!” Zhang Yuwen smiled, feeling relieved.
“Not at all, not at all. We should thank you for supporting us all this time.” The vice president found a huge stack of vouchers, bowed, and handed it to Zhang Yuwen.
These were vouchers that the production company used to entertain their guests. They had shares in a hot spring hotel where they’d once shot a drama. One of their investors owned the hotel, so they often invited their partners to visit by handing out vouchers, but Zhang Yuwen had never thought of going before. His vacation time was precious, and he would rather pay out of his own pocket to travel.
“This is too many!” Zhang Yuwen exclaimed. “I’m just going with a few friends. Six is enough. Kids under two stay for free, right?”
“Yes, yes, that’s right. And it’s not that many at all. I’ll reserve a family room for you. How many kids are going?” Embarrassed, Zhang Yuwen watched as the vice president stamped each voucher. “How many days are you staying?”
“Uh, is one voucher only good for one night?” Zhang Yuwen asked.
“You can stay as long as you want,” the vice president said. “Or I can call and make a reservation for you, and then you can just go there with your friends.”
“No, no. I’ll use the vouchers. I…need these vouchers. I’ll make the reservations myself. Speaking of which, are there any rooms available for reservation now?”
“You can try making the reservation first. If there are no rooms, I’ll make a call for you! Here are the meal vouchers. Just bring them along and use them for dinner. Breakfast is free of charge.”
“Three days and two nights it is, then,” Zhang Yuwen said. “Thank you so much, and sorry for the trouble.”
Zhang Yuwen was always careful not to inconvenience anyone else, and because of this, companies often struggled to find opportunities to connect with him. Their last collaboration had been a pleasant one, and the production company was eager to find more opportunities for collaboration. Zhang Yuwen coming in person to ask for a favor was a rare sight, so they quickly brought out a full set of Tiffany china, made coffee for him, and offered him snacks.
Zhang Yuwen accepted twelve accommodation vouchers and twelve meal vouchers, placed them in an envelope, and thanked the vice president profusely. The vice president was even more delighted than Zhang Yuwen. Carrying a luxurious year-end gift hamper in his arms, he politely escorted Zhang Yuwen to the door and put the fruit basket in his trunk. Then he complimented Zhang Yuwen’s car, admiring his good taste.
Next, Zhang Yuwen went to another film production company to pick up his year-end gifts. He’d politely declined gifts from other companies, but as he had a favor to ask of these two companies, he had to make a trip in person.
The person who received him was the company owner, a young director in whom Zhang Yuwen had previously invested.
“President Wang is busy at the moment—”
“What could he possibly be busy with?” Zhang Yuwen interrupted the assistant and entered the office without even knocking on the door.
The director had gone on to become a producer and company president, and he’d been raking in the dough for the past few years. A man with a domineering presence in public, he came with his own personal whirlwind and lighting effects wherever he went. He was known in the industry as the Demon Director, and now the demon was on the phone in his office, furiously rebuking the producer for going over budget. Zhang Yuwen’s sudden entry startled him.
“Yuwen-ge?!” The president quickly said into the phone, “That’s all for now! My ge is here. Ge! What brings you here?!”
“Hey!” Zhang Yuwen was happy to see him too. This was his junior, after all. Zhang Yuwen went over and gave him a hug.
The young president called for someone to bring over snacks and quickly went off to personally make Zhang Yuwen coffee. Zhang Yuwen had eaten a lot at the last production company, though, and he really couldn’t stomach any more.
“This mug’s pretty,” Zhang Yuwen complimented as he accepted the coffee. “Your taste is getting better.”
“They bought Hermès mugs for clients as PR gifts last time. I thought they looked nice, so I kept a few. I have more here…” He started to climb the bookshelf to get the box.