Outside the small meeting room, big sister Ling pulled Xiao Zhu and used her eyes to signal her to go inside. "What's going on? Why did she come to the studio three days in a row?"
Xiao Zhu said softly: "She seems to have quarreled with teacher Yu because he did not show up in the past few days."
"Wasn't it still good a few days ago?" Big sister Ling let go of Xiao Zhu and pushed open the door of the meeting room.
Qiao Jing Jing was leaning on the sofa and lost in thought. She appeared somewhat dispirited and downcast, so big sister Ling intended to tell her a piece of good news to raise her spirit.
"Jing Jing, director Li's side had sent over the contract, the terms were pretty good. Furthermore, when the news was spread, those who came to discuss about TV drama offered an increase in filming fees."
Big sister Ling announced a figure with a very happy expression.
There was no change in Qiao Jing Jing's expression. Big sister Ling waved her hand in front of Qiao Jing Jing's eyes, so she looked up at her and suddenly asked, "Am I worth so much money?"
Big sister Ling was surprised.
Qiao Jing Jing asked again: "It'll take at most five months to film a TV drama, am I worth so much?"
"Why you're not worth it? The TV stations and also online video streaming websites are fighting over your dramas because advertisers are scrambling to put their ads, so the TV stations and video streaming websites will not lose money. How are you not worth it? Wang Liu and Yue Xiao Hua are also fast approaching this figure."
"I am not comparing with them."
"Then who are you comparing with?"
Qiao Jing Jing did not answer her. After a while, she lowered her eyes. "I wonder if this is very unreasonable?"
"It's not unreasonable." Big sister Ling sat down beside her. "To tell the truth, I've also thought about this issue. But the current market is like this. Even if you don't take, others are still taking. Even if you don't take this money, the production company will still sell the drama you filmed at that price. Ultimately, the difference will fall into the investor's pocket. Thus it is meaningless for you to think whether this is a question of reasonableness."
"Furthermore, I ask you, if someone is looking for you to film a drama and willing to give you tens of millions, would you say that you only want a few million?"
Qiao Jing Jing pursed up her lips and told the truth: "No."
"So what is the point for you to think about this? This topic is too deep. Let's concentrate on filming the drama properly, don't deviate from the norm, be worthy of people's work of art and money and do the charity that you ought to do for real."
After big sister Ling finished talking in one breath, she asked probingly. "Why are you suddenly thinking about these? Where is teacher Yu?"
Qiao Jing Jing's eyelashes were fretting, and she took the phone and started playing the game without saying a word. Big sister Ling vaguely understood, so she didn't say anything again. She watched her play for a while, then got up and left.
Qiao Jing Jing played two ranked matches, was in a daze for a while, then opened WeChat. The finger strolled down the list and clicked on a certain name.
She had seen that three words several times in the past few days.
"I am sorry."
She had immediately seen this message on that day, but she simply didn't want to reply him.
When the next one was received, it was already very late at night.
"I have to go on a work trip for a while, and I am not sure when I can return."
Xi'an.
Yu Tu took off the anti-static protective wear, took out his mobile phone from the safe, pressed it once and as expected, the battery was dead.
He put on his coat and walked out. Guan Zai walked in, "Lao Yu, wait for me to leave together."
Yu Tu waited for him to finish changing his clothes. The two walked together to the guest house beside the measurement and control center.
It was already very cold in November in Northwest China. At a little after six o'clock, the sky was still not bright and the world was enshrouded in darkness and silence. Only faint street lights illuminated the road under their feet.
When the wind blew, Guan Zai pulled back his neck and teased Yu Tu: "You didn't forget your area of specialty even after leaving work for a month."
"It is mainly due to the credit of the people at the measurement and control center." The data was still hovering in Yu Tu's brain. "The life span of the satellite is still affected."
"Originally, it was designed to survive for only three years, but now it had already exceeded its service period. What's more, the cause for this breakdown is not in the overall design." Guan Zai yawned and shook his head firmly. "This satellite is the first model that you participated in designing. It is also our first cooperation."
"Yes."
"Guess how I felt when I saw you for the first time?"
"Probably envy." Yu Tu smiled. "It was quite obvious."
"Bah." Guan Zai protested with a smile. "At first I felt that another facade has come. Then before long, you gave me a complete optimization plan. I thought it was pretty good. This excellent ability and appearance are a good match."
Yu Tu felt helpless, "Please pay attention to your words, don't make us engineering students lose face."
Guan Zai laughed and rather abruptly said: "Let's talk about money?"
Yu Tu slowed down his footsteps, "Did the teacher tell you?"
"Chief Zhang called me and asked me to make subtle inquiries whether you have any difficulty?" While Guan Zai was speaking, he suddenly thought of something, "Is it related to your family?"
He seemed to suddenly realize: "I recalled now, one day you received a phone call from home and spoke in a dialect. On the next day, you were a little off."
Yu Tu was silent for a moment.
"Everything is fine at home," he replied. "I just have a lot in my mind."
"It is good that everything is fine." Guan Zai nodded and didn't ask further. "I am a little curious. Can you really earn a lot working in the investment bank? Is it true that a newly graduate can earn a million?"
"Depend on the person and timing." Yu Tu said, "Before the financial crisis in 2008, there were people who can get it. The year I graduated, the economy was just recovering from the financial crisis, which can still be regarded as pretty good."
"If I go to Google, the salary will also be high. Beside Google, if I go to NASA, it will also be pretty good. But as a foreigner, I probably will never get to access the core technology. Moreover if there is any achievement, it will all be theirs. I won't have my own presence."
He took out a cigarette packet and handed one to Yu Tu.
"Do you know why I've never urged you to stay? Because I've never thought you would go. I always think that you and I are the same kind of people. In my wife's words, like two peas in a pod. This current model was designed by us together. We did feasibility study together and proposed the plan together. Hence, I think that you'll not be able to let go. I even made a bet with people, if you go, I will change my name to Guan Zai Zhu Juan."
Yu Tu lowered his head and looked intently at the cigarette in his hand. "Then isn't it a family reunion? All your brothers and sisters."
"Get lost, then you and I are also brothers."
Guan Zai took a deep inhale. "Lao Yu, I have a question. Nobody can say precisely when a satellite will break down. This time, we have resolved it in five days, but there was also instances where it took a few months. If it is really a few months, can the investment bank wait for you? Or you are not concerned with this, will wash your hand of this and walk away?"
Yu Tu halted his footstep, "Please lend me a lighter to light the cigarette."
The faint flame flashed once then extinguished. The two did not continue the topic.
Guan Zai has always been a fast smoker. After a few minutes, he lit another one. Yu Tu frowned: "You should smoke a little less."
"I need to keep myself awake. My wife will wake up in a moment so I will call her before I go to sleep." Guan Zai remembered, "Oh, by the way, speaking of my wife, she has a junior schoolmate who she wants to introduce to you."
Guan Zai's tone was a little sour, "People just took a look at a photo we took together and immediately asked whether you've a girlfriend. Looking handsome is really advantageous. During that time I courted my wife, I went to great lengths."
"You better get treatment for your habitual jealousy as soon as possible. Please help me to tactfully decline."
"Really no need? I have met her once, very pretty."
"No need."
Guan Zai did not mention it again. After a while, Yu Tu spoke of his own accord. "I recently met a …"
He paused.
Guan Zai's interest was piqued, "Girl?"
"Yes, very quick-witted, a bit skinny… also very obedient."
"Oh good." Guan Zai was full of interest, "Just met during your vacation?"
"No, my high school classmate."
"High school classmate? Why are you only dating now?"
Yu Tu laughed: "Probably because I used to have poor ability to judge."
He added: "Not dating now."
"Why, people doesn't like you? Can't be that bad."
Yu Tu did not say anything, but the eyes were very bright.
Guan Zai immediately understood. "Good on you. You've still got it in you."