Chapter 42

This evening was originally meant for updating the "Sigh of Amazement" account, but in order to prepare for tomorrow's interview, Zhang Tan could only postpone it.

Xiaobai didn't come over this evening, having played "Eagle Catching Chicks" to the point of exhaustion, which led to a serious consequence: Meng Chengcheng wet the bed.

It was Meng Chengcheng who wet the bed, not Xiaobai.

Meng Chengcheng was caught by Xiaobai to be the eagle, and despite great effort, he couldn't catch a single chick.

Xiaobai protected the chicks so tightly that Meng Chengcheng was no match at all.

If Xiaobai hadn't let up and betrayed the chicks behind him, Meng Chengcheng would have had to catch them until the next morning.

The kids played so hard that they wet the bed, impressive.

Xiaobai, on the other hand, was fine. Probably tired, he didn't stay in the reading area to read picture books tonight but went to bed with the kids.

The next day, as soon as Zhang Tan started work, a staff member informed him to go to the meeting room at 9:30, as the supervisor was looking for him.

He watered the plants and flowers as usual, made tea, had a cup, and then steadily went to the meeting room. When he pushed the door open, someone was already sitting there, back to him, head down, flipping through documents. Hearing the door open, the person turned around, and their eyes met, both stunned.

Zhang Tan reacted first, nodded, and smiled, "Hello, Xu Jian."

The person sitting opposite was indeed Xu Jian, who had previously competed with Zhang Tan for the "Lantern Bearer" project.

Xu Jian's expression was stunned, a strange feeling rising in his heart. After careful consideration, he realized it was a feeling of being utterly defeated. He had a bad premonition. How could he run into Zhang Tan here?

He asked, "Zhang Tan, I didn't expect it to be you. 'Unlucky Bear' is written by you?"

He waved the documents in his hand, which were the scripts the staff had just distributed, including Zhang Tan's "Unlucky Bear" and his own.

"Yes, the other one is written by you, right?" Zhang Tan said.

Xu Jian's heart sank. His wish had come true. "Lantern Bearer" was done? Why were they in competition again? Was this a double kill? That's too much, right?

Xu Jian asked unwillingly, "By the way, did you finish 'Lantern Bearer'?"

"The scriptwriting part is done," Zhang Tan said.

Xu Jian chatted idly with Zhang Tan, thinking about the "Unlucky Bear" script in his hand. The concept was completely different from his, two entirely different styles. He wondered which style the TV station bosses would prefer.

Considering it was the 50th anniversary of the TV station, no one would choose "Unlucky Bear," it was too unlucky and didn't fit the style.

Xu Jian's confidence recovered a bit.

Soon, the head of the scriptwriting department arrived and discussed the scripts with them. Then, the head of the animation department, Yang Senlin, was invited in.

"Let's go."

After a few words, Yang Senlin called everyone to leave.

The supervisor then told Zhang Tan and Xu Jian that they were going to the Pujiang TV station to meet the responsible person there.

Pujiang Film Studio and Pujiang TV Station were both state-owned enterprises, supervised by the Pujiang City Propaganda Department, and located in the JA district, a 15-minute drive away.

The group included Zhang Tan, Xu Jian, the scriptwriting supervisor, the head of the animation department, the head of the public relations department, and an animation director.

The company provided a car to take everyone there. Upon arriving at the TV station, someone was already waiting. After confirming, they led the group into the elevator to the 16th floor and into the meeting room.

In the meeting room, six people were standing or sitting, both men and women. The one in the main seat was a woman who looked no more than 30 years old. After the introduction, they learned she was the person in charge of the animation project at the TV station, and Yang Senlin called her Director Wang.

The heads clearly knew each other and chatted warmly. Zhang Tan and Xu Jian exchanged glances, both clueless about the situation, feeling like they were just there to make up the numbers. After the pleasantries, they sat down, and both sides introduced the attendees. The people on the other side then greeted Zhang Tan and Xu Jian, saying it was a pleasure to meet them, praising their talent.

The two scripts had been sent to them the night before, so they had already read them.

When Yang Senlin asked Director Wang if she had a preference for either script, Zhang Tan couldn't help but feel anxious.

Xu Jian took out his laptop, opened a blank document, and hovered his fingers over the keyboard, ready to take notes.

"Both are good," Director Wang said with a smile.

Zhang Tan immediately saw Xu Jian type a few random letters, "lkjh," and then delete them.

"Especially 'Unlucky Bear,'" Director Wang said, looking at Zhang Tan, and Yang Senlin also turned to look at him.

Xu Jian's fingers lightly tapped the keyboard, not pressing hard enough to type anything.

Yang Senlin said, "How about this, let Zhang Tan and Xu Jian introduce their scripts, and you can listen to their ideas to help make a decision."

Director Wang said, "Sure."

Yang Senlin then asked Zhang Tan to start, and the supervisor stood up, took out the printed and bound scripts from his bag, and distributed them to the people on the other side. Xu Jian quickly stood up to help.

Zhang Tan stood up, and Director Wang said, "No need to stand, you can sit and talk."

"Standing makes my voice louder," Zhang Tan said, and began to introduce the concept of "Unlucky Bear."

After he finished, it was Xu Jian's turn. Then, the other side asked some questions, some about "Unlucky Bear" and some about Xu Jian's "Qiqi's Wonderful World."

"Let's discuss it," Director Wang said.

"Sure, go ahead."

Director Wang and her team left the meeting room to discuss in the adjacent office.

"What are everyone's opinions?" she asked.

"Both scripts are good, we can choose one."

"Everyone agrees?"

"Sure."

"Indeed, they are good."

...

Director Wang asked again, "Which one should we choose? Everyone, please share your thoughts."

"I think 'Qiqi's Wonderful World' is more suitable for our needs."

"I also lean towards 'Qiqi's Wonderful World.'"

"Let's go with 'Qiqi's Wonderful World.' 'Unlucky Bear' is interesting but risky."

"Let's go with 'Qiqi's Wonderful World.'"

"If it weren't for the anniversary, I would choose 'Unlucky Bear.'"

Out of the six people, except for Director Wang, the others all leaned towards "Qiqi's Wonderful World."

Director Wang was silent, not speaking for a moment.

After about ten minutes, Director Wang and her team returned to the meeting room.

Yang Senlin asked, "Director Wang, have you made a decision?"

"We have."

Xu Jian closed the web page and reopened the blank document, looking at the screen, his fingers hovering over the keyboard, ready to take notes.

Zhang Tan glanced at Xu Jian's document, which was still blank, and then looked at Director Wang, who had short hair and was wearing a light blue women's suit, giving an impression of sharpness.

"Unlucky Bear," she said, "We choose 'Unlucky Bear.'"

Yang Senlin's gaze moved from Xu Jian, who was staring intently at the screen, to Zhang Tan, with a look of surprise and relief.

For him, whether it was "Unlucky Bear" or "Qiqi's Wonderful World," both were scripts from the studio. It didn't matter which one was chosen, as long as the project was secured.

The most disappointed person in the room was Xu Jian.

"Zhang Tan, you need to work quickly on the subsequent scripts and put your heart into it. I'm counting on you," Director Wang said, half-jokingly.

Earlier, the others had chosen "Qiqi's Wonderful World," but she had leaned towards "Unlucky Bear."

"I won't let you down," Zhang Tan promised.