Chapter 11

"Let's have lunch together."

"Huh? Why?"

"Do you need a reason to have lunch? Can you not eat?"

"I mean, why are you treating me to lunch?"

"To apologize and to admit that I called you a fool."

"It's fine, I don't mind."

After learning that the hero in the story was written by Zhang Tan, Jiang Rong insisted on treating him to lunch. On one hand, she said it was to apologize for calling him a fool, and on the other, she wanted to seek his advice.

Zhang Tan felt that the latter reason was more genuine.

"What? Not going to give me the pleasure?"

Zhang Tan said, "I'll treat you. When I first came, you helped me a lot, and I should thank you."

Jiang Rong said with a smile, "No problem, no problem. I just helped you because you're handsome. Look at He Chao, I didn't even pay attention to him."

Zhang Tan: "…"

He couldn't respond to that. Jiang Rong laughed and said, "I'm just teasing you. Since we're front and back desk neighbors, if you want to treat me, go ahead. I'll treat you next time."

"Zhang Tan—" the deputy team leader called, "Come over here for a moment."

"Sure." Zhang Tan quickly stood up and said to Jiang Rong, "I won't chat with you anymore."

Jiang Rong shouted to him, "Then it's settled. At noon! Don't forget."

Zhang Tan waved his hand silently, indicating that he understood.

In the meeting room.

In addition to the deputy team leader, there was a middle-aged man in his forties with an ordinary appearance.

The deputy team leader introduced him, "This is Luo Ming, the screenwriter of 'Under Tianyu Mountain.'"

He then introduced Zhang Tan to Luo Ming, "This is Zhang Tan. You two can chat. I'll step out."

After the deputy team leader left, Luo Ming introduced himself further.

He had read the evaluation team's suggestions for 'Under Tianyu Mountain' yesterday and found them very insightful, especially the three points Zhang Tan raised, which hit the mark. This was something he hadn't considered before, as they say, an outsider can see more clearly.

He came to the evaluation team as soon as he started work today, wanting to meet Zhang Tan and have a chat.

Originally, he only planned to chat for a while and then leave, but once they sat down, they talked for over half an hour without realizing it.

Luo Ming was pleasantly surprised by Zhang Tan's insights and viewpoints, which were fresh and demonstrated a very high level of screenwriting skills.

"Did I hear correctly that you just graduated from university?" Luo Ming asked.

Zhang Tan replied, "Yes, I joined the company just half a month ago."

"Did you write many scripts during your university years? Have you participated in any projects?"

"I've written some, and I've participated in a few projects, but they were all minor."

After a moment of thought, Luo Ming said, "You should know that the 'Under Tianyu Mountain' project has already started. I'm the only screenwriter now, and I need more hands. Are you willing to come and be my assistant?"

Zhang Tan was secretly delighted but didn't show it on his face. He asked, "Assistant screenwriter?"

"Yes, assistant screenwriter. The pet character you suggested adding, I think it's a good idea. If you come, you can be responsible for designing this character. What do you think?"

"I have no personal objections, but I need to consult with the team leader."

Luo Ming said, "Of course, I'll also ask for his approval. Don't worry about that."

After leaving the meeting room, Zhang Tan seemed not to take the matter to heart. He had lunch with Jiang Rong nearby and then found the team leader to discuss joining the 'Under Tianyu Mountain' project.

Team leader Lao Liu looked at the "late" Zhang Tan and thought that young people could really be patient. Luo Ming had already told him about needing someone in the morning, and he had expected Zhang Tan to come eagerly, but he waited and waited without seeing him until now.

He, of course, had no problem. The script evaluation team was meant to train and develop new talent, and Zhang Tan's advancement would also be a credit to him.

Finally, the team leader encouraged him, "Luo Ming has a lot of experience and project history. You can learn a lot from him. Remember, be patient and don't rush. Opportunities will come."

He then realized that the young man was already very patient, and it was almost he himself who couldn't hold his ground.

This made him think even more highly of Zhang Tan.

After this was settled, Zhang Tan called Luo Ming to inform him of the matter. Luo Ming asked him to come over the next morning, as the project schedule was tight, and he needed to start immediately.

---

Xiaohongma Academy.

Security guard Old Li saw Zhang Tan return with groceries again and found it increasingly strange.

A few days ago, when he saw Zhang Tan buying and cooking food, he was just a bit curious. Now, after several times, he was truly puzzled. The old Zhang Tan was a rich kid who rarely cooked, let alone ate at home, often staying out until midnight, drunk.

Now, Zhang Tan goes out early and returns early, often buying and cooking his own food, which is completely different from his old style, making Old Li very surprised.

However, this is a good change. Despite the strangeness, he was still very happy.

While Zhang Tan was cooking, Xiao Bai, holding a soccer ball, appeared under the window, swaying back and forth in a carefree manner.

"Uncle, come down and play?"

Xiao Bai called him down to play, and fortunately, this time she didn't raise two fingers and ask how many.

My mom doesn't let me play with you, Zhang Tan thought mischievously.

"I'm cooking."

Xiao Bai sniffed hard and said, "I can smell it. It's so fragrant, with meat."

"… Meat? What kind?"

"Chicken."

"Ah, shredded chicken. Do you want to come up and try it?"

"Pot chicken? I'll come and see."

She dropped the soccer ball and darted into the building, quickly knocking on the door.

Zhang Tan opened the door, and Xiao Bai peered into the room from the door frame, speaking in Mandarin this time.

"Is it dangerous?"

Zhang Tan was taken aback: "Of course not, what danger could there be at home?"

Xiao Bai looked into the kitchen and asked curiously, "Why do you always cook by yourself? Where are your parents?"

Zhang Tan said, "They passed away."

Xiao Bai said sympathetically, "Oh, you're so pitiful."

"Come in and sit down."

"Should Xiao Bai take off her shoes?"

She had been playing soccer in the yard, and her shoes were dirty.

"Take them off. Oh, I'll find you a pair of slippers."

There were no children's shoes in the room, so he found a pair of his own and put them in front of Xiao Bai. "Can you wear these?"

Xiao Bai took off her white shoes, revealing a pair of black socks with several holes, exposing her tender toes.

Seeing Zhang Tan staring at her little feet, she said shyly, "One, two, three, four, four toes are showing. Hehehe."

Zhang Tan laughed, "It's hot, your feet want to breathe. Come in, there are grapes on the table. Can you reach them?"

Xiao Bai rubbed her hands and, wearing Zhang Tan's slippers like a pair of snowshoes, walked slowly and carefully.

She sat on the floor, grabbed her little feet, and sniffed them, saying to herself, "They smell pretty good, not stinky." Then she asked Zhang Tan if she could walk around barefoot.

"Sure." Zhang Tan said.

Xiao Bai walked around the house in her holey socks, looking around with curiosity.

Zhang Tan brought a plate of grapes and placed it on the coffee table, then turned on the TV.

"You can sit here and watch TV, eat grapes, while I finish cooking dinner. It'll be ready soon."

"Okay, go ahead."

Then she added shyly, "I didn't cook peanuts today."

Zhang Tan laughed, "It's fine. Cooked peanuts are delicious, but my grapes are also very tasty. Try them."

"Can I try one?"

"Try a few."

The TV showed an animated show, and Xiao Bai was instantly captivated.

Zhang Tan returned to the kitchen, where the first dish was already done, and he was preparing the second, which was shredded chicken.

He had bought a cooked chicken, shredded it, and then mixed it with finely chopped green chilies, garlic, cilantro, lemon juice, sesame oil, salt, soy sauce, and Sichuan pepper oil. After stirring, he poured it over the chicken, completing the cold shredded chicken dish.

"Do you want to help?" Xiao Bai asked, standing at the kitchen door.

"Can you cook?"

Zhang Tan mixed the shredded chicken with the seasonings.

"I can, Xiao Bai can make pot chicken."

Bluffing, right? Zhang Tan didn't quite believe it, but seeing the serious look on the little girl's face, he swallowed his words.

"Emmmm~~~ Not pot chicken, it's shredded chicken, like this."

Zhang Tan showed her how to shred the chicken.

"Xiao Bai can do that too. Do you want me to help?"

"Thank you, but I've already finished."

He brought the two dishes to the dining table.

"Try them and see if my cooking is good."

Xiao Bai shook her head and said, "Xiao Mi is here. I can hear her voice. I have to go play with her. Bye."

She ran off without Zhang Tan's attempts to stop her.

"Be careful going down the stairs, don't run." Zhang Tan called after her.

Xiao Mi was at Xiaohongma Academy in the evening and was arranged to attend a nearby kindergarten during the day. After school, she would come here.

He finished dinner and was just sitting down to eat when he heard Xiao Bai arguing downstairs.

"You little brat, you're so annoying! I'm so angry!"

Zhang Tan sat at home, eating while listening to Xiao Bai's argument, finding it quite amusing. Even when she scolded in Sichuanese, it sounded cute and playful.

However, the person she was arguing with probably didn't find it amusing, as they were completely overpowered.

It seemed to be Luo Zikang again.

Luo Zikang was truly pitiful, completely outmatched by Xiao Bai in terms of language.

Zhang Tan could imagine Xiao Bai's fierce, little-kitten-like appearance, which was completely different from the polite guest she had been earlier.

Which side was the real her?