Ever since the day he brought Jane Zhang to record songs at Zhang Yadong's studio, Luo Zheng's schedule had become noticeably lighter.
Of course, "lighter" did not mean he was truly free.
After all, maintaining harmony among the many women around him required enormous energy, careful balance, and sometimes even more effort than running a company.
Especially recently.
After several days of what Luo Zheng privately called "emotional counseling," Xu Jinglei had finally returned to her previous gentle and considerate self. During the day, she behaved like a caring older sister, asking whether he had eaten properly, reminding him to rest, and occasionally sending handwritten notes that looked calm on the surface but carried unmistakable flirtation underneath.
At night, however, things became much more dangerous.
Her bedroom door would remain unlocked.
Sometimes she would intentionally wear loose silk pajamas that barely hid anything. Other times, she would casually mention that she had "accidentally" bought new sleepwear and ask him for an opinion.
Every single time, Xu Jinglei would pretend to complain afterward, saying she was exhausted and couldn't continue living like this.
Yet the next morning, she would still call him first.
It was a cycle of torment and indulgence.
Painful.
Addictive.
And not just for her.
Because besides Xu Jinglei, Luo Zheng also had to deal with Dong Jie and the increasingly aggressive Huo Wenxi.
Especially Huo Wenxi.
Recently, something about her attitude had completely changed.
In the past, she always maintained the calm professionalism of a top-tier manager. Even when the atmosphere between them became ambiguous, she still carried herself with restraint.
But now?
She practically demanded "nutritional supplements" every single day.
The terrifying part was that she no longer even bothered pretending otherwise.
This directly resulted in Luo Zheng beginning to stare thoughtfully at the bottle of kidney supplements sitting on his office desk every morning.
For the first time in his life, he started seriously considering whether the system might eventually reward him with enhanced physical stamina.
Otherwise, one day, he suspected he might genuinely collapse before conquering Hollywood.
Just as he was contemplating life, the landline on his desk suddenly rang.
"Hello?"
"President Luo," the receptionist said respectfully, "there's a Miss Fan Bingbing downstairs. She says she has an appointment with you."
Luo Zheng paused.
Fan Bingbing?
Why had she suddenly come to Beijing without informing him beforehand?
Still, he didn't overthink it.
After all, he hadn't done anything guilty.
At least… not today.
"Bring her up," Luo Zheng said calmly. "And in the future, Miss Fan doesn't need to be announced. She can come directly."
Downstairs, after the receptionist repeated those exact words with a knowing smile, Fan Bingbing slowly removed her sunglasses and mask.
The smile on her lips immediately deepened several degrees.
As she walked through the company lobby, countless employees secretly looked over.
It's really Fan Bingbing…
She's even prettier in person!
Wait… did the boss just allow her direct access?
Nobody dared say anything aloud.
Blue Whale Entertainment employees had already learned one thing very clearly:
Their young boss looked approachable most of the time, but the pressure he gave off naturally made everyone instinctively cautious around him.
A few minutes later.
Inside the president's office.
The moment the door closed, Fan Bingbing threw herself directly into Luo Zheng's arms.
"You came without even notifying me," Luo Zheng said while holding her waist. "What is this? A surprise inspection?"
"How would I dare?" Fan Bingbing smiled sweetly, though her eyes carried obvious provocation. "I just missed you and wanted to surprise you."
Her tone sounded innocent.
But her actions were anything but innocent.
Luo Zheng quickly realized she had arrived prepared.
"The filming for The Lion Roars finished already?" he asked casually.
"Mhm. Hong Kong directors work incredibly fast."
Fan Bingbing's cheeks were slightly flushed now, her voice uneven.
Luo Zheng narrowed his eyes.
"Nobody bullied you on set, right?"
"Who would dare?" she replied immediately, smiling proudly. "I'm President Luo's woman."
The words sounded playful.
Unfortunately for her, Luo Zheng didn't let that sentence pass lightly.
A moment later, Fan Bingbing immediately regretted provoking him.
"Ow—it hurts!"
"If it hurts, then talk properly," Luo Zheng warned with amusement. "If you keep provoking me, I'll discipline you properly."
Unexpectedly, instead of becoming embarrassed, Fan Bingbing's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
Luo Zheng nearly choked.
This woman…
She truly deserved her future reputation.
An hour later, inside the lounge area beside the office, Fan Bingbing finally quieted down.
She leaned lazily against Luo Zheng, soft like melted water, her voice carrying obvious grievance.
"I came straight here from the airport. I didn't even return to my company first."
"And this is how you treat me?"
Tears seemed ready to appear at any moment.
Unfortunately, Luo Zheng already understood her personality too well.
"Enough acting," he said while pinching her waist lightly. "Tell me what you actually want."
"The female lead."
She spoke immediately.
Direct. Decisive. Completely shameless.
Luo Zheng blinked.
"What movie?"
"Don't pretend you don't know!" Fan Bingbing immediately bit him lightly in dissatisfaction. "Of course I mean A World Without Thieves!"
Now Luo Zheng finally understood.
So that was why she had suddenly launched a surprise attack.
Ever since the collaboration between Huayi and Blue Whale Entertainment had been announced publicly, nearly the entire entertainment industry had become restless.
Everyone knew this project represented more than just another domestic film.
It represented international connections.
Resources.
Future opportunities.
And most importantly—it represented Luo Zheng himself.
"No," Luo Zheng said honestly after a brief pause. "The female lead genuinely doesn't suit you."
This answer instantly made Fan Bingbing's expression collapse.
"You're lying!"
Her voice even carried a slight choking tone now.
"You're the screenwriter, investor, and director. Whether I suit it or not is entirely your decision!"
Then, naturally, she began using every trick she knew.
Luo Zheng hurriedly stopped her before things spiraled out of control again.
"Listen first," he said helplessly. "The role really isn't suitable. But the second female lead can absolutely go to you."
Fan Bingbing paused instantly.
"Really?"
"It was prepared for you from the beginning."
Only then did her expression finally brighten again.
In truth, Luo Zheng wasn't lying.
The female thief Xiao Ye truly matched Fan Bingbing extremely well—beautiful, seductive, dangerous, and ambitious beneath the surface.
Compared to the original casting in his previous life, this version might actually become even more memorable.
"Thank you, Brother~"
The sweet voice alone was enough to make Luo Zheng realize one thing.
Tonight's original schedule was definitely ruined.
—
Soon, mid-May arrived.
After continuous recording sessions, the ten songs prepared for Jane Zhang's debut album had finally been completed smoothly.
At the same time, across the Pacific Ocean, Spider-Man continued dominating the North American box office.
In just over two weeks, the film had already earned more than 280 million USD domestically.
Breaking 400 million now seemed inevitable.
Faced with Marvel's increasing leverage, Sony finally began softening its attitude and proactively transferred the second installment of box office revenue.
More than eight million USD flowed directly into Marvel's accounts.
To the nearly bankrupt Marvel of the past, this amount was almost miraculous.
The company's executives and shareholders became increasingly convinced that following Luo Zheng into the superhero industry was the correct choice.
Meanwhile, the promotion campaign for Saw officially began ramping up.
The release date was finalized for June 28th.
Its target audience was clear:
Young people.
Students.
And horror fans seeking刺激 during the summer season.
While Hollywood remained busy, Luo Zheng himself had no time to celebrate.
Because another project had officially begun.
Inside Spring City, the crew of Getting Home quietly started filming.
Compared to commercial blockbusters, this project carried a completely different significance for Luo Zheng.
He wasn't simply trying to make money.
He wanted awards.
International recognition.
And for that reason, he had already redesigned much of the film compared to the version from his previous life.
The comedy elements of the road journey were reduced.
Instead, he increased the focus on the harsh realities encountered throughout the trip:
Indifference from institutions.
Cold bureaucracy.
The cruelty of money-driven relationships.
The invisible discrimination between urban and rural citizens.
He wanted the journey itself to become a mirror reflecting society.
Even the cinematography style changed.
Less emotional music.
More restrained documentary-like realism.
He wanted the images themselves to speak.
As for the ending, Luo Zheng rewrote it completely.
More absurd.
More painful.
And far more impactful.
Once he entered work mode, all distractions disappeared from his mind.
Unfortunately for him—
the entertainment reporters had already tracked down the filming location.
Quietly, like wolves smelling blood, they began surrounding the crew from every direction.