Chasing Shadows and Headlines
Qin An’s Apartment – Living Room
(The door opens with a soft click. Qin An steps inside, visibly drained. Her usually sharp, confident demeanor is softened by exhaustion. She tosses her clutch onto a side table and kicks off her heels with a relieved sigh. Chen Mei, her lively roommate and best friend, is lounging on the couch in an oversized hoodie, a snack bowl in her lap. She looks up from her phone as Qin An enters.)
Chen Mei
(teasing)
You look like you just survived a war. How was the party? Did you secure any investors, Madam CEO?
Qin An
(collapsing onto the armchair with a heavy sigh)
Don’t even start. It was a complete waste of time.
Chen Mei
(leaning forward)
No one showed interest?
Qin An
(shaking her head)
No one worth my time. Most of them were too busy bragging about themselves, and the rest just see me as some ‘young upstart.’
Chen Mei
(Snorting)
Classic. Let me guess—then your darling sister decided to make things worse?
Qin An
(bitterly)
Oh, you already know the script. Qin Ling couldn’t resist humiliating me in front of her crowd. And of course, she made sure to remind everyone that I’m the disgrace of the Qin family.
Chen Mei
(rolling her eyes, exasperated)
That woman needs a hobby. Honestly, how do you even keep your cool around her?
Qin An
(leaning her head back, closing her eyes)
Practice. Lots of practice.
Chen Mei
(grinning)
One of these days, you should throw your drink on her. That’ll make headlines.
Qin An
(chuckling softly)
Tempting, but I’d rather not stoop to her level. She’s not worth the effort.
Chen Mei
(playfully dramatic)
Ugh, you’re too classy. I’d be banned from every hotel in the city by now if I had to deal with her.
Qin An
(standing, her exhaustion showing)
Trust me, Mei, it’s taking everything I have not to let her get to me. But right now, I just need sleep.
Chen Mei
(watching her head toward her room)
Alright, go recharge that CEO brain of yours. Tomorrow’s a new day to prove those snobs wrong.
Qin An
(smiling faintly as she opens her bedroom door)
Thanks, Mei. Goodnight.
Chen Mei
(calling after her)
And next time, drag me to one of these parties. I’ll deal with Qin Ling for you!
(Qin An changes into comfortable pajamas, pulling her hair into a loose bun. She sits on the edge of her bed, her shoulders slumping as the events of the evening replay in her mind. She remembers Qin Ling’s smirk, the whispers of the crowd, and the weight of being underestimated. She sighs deeply, shaking her head as if to clear it.)
Qin An
(to herself, quietly)
One step at a time. They’ll see.
(She crawls into bed, the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the curtains. The camera lingers on her thoughtful expression before she closes her eyes, letting the stillness of the night wrap around her.)
Qin An’s Apartment – Morning
(The sunlight streams through the windows as Qin An groggily steps into the kitchen, still in her pajamas, her hair tied messily. She yawns, heading toward the coffee maker. In the living room, Chen Mei is scrolling through her phone, her eyes suddenly widening as she stares at the screen in disbelief. She jumps to her feet, nearly spilling her cereal.)
Chen Mei
(shouting)
Qin An! You are not going to believe this!
Qin An
(half-awake, pouring coffee)
Can it wait until I’ve had my coffee?
Chen Mei
(rushing into the kitchen, shoving her phone in Qin An’s face)
No, it can’t! Look at this!
(Qin An, startled, pulls back slightly before squinting at the phone screen. A photo is displayed showing Jiang Wei, looking sharp as always, with a woman walking beside him, her face mostly obscured. The caption underneath reads: "Mystery Woman? Bluejay CEO Jiang Wei Spotted with Possible Love Interest at Qin Dynasty Event.")
Qin An
(frowning)
Why are you showing me this?
Chen Mei
(dramatically gasping)
Why? Because it’s Jiang Wei! The Jiang Wei! And look at that—he’s with some mystery woman! Can you believe it? He’s probably dating her. I knew he had someone. The man’s too perfect to be single.
Qin An
(rolling her eyes, taking a sip of coffee)
Good for him. Why does this concern me?
Chen Mei
(gesturing wildly)
Because this is huge! He’s never been photographed with a woman before. People are losing their minds online. Look at the comments—they’re all speculating who she is. Some think she’s a model. Others think she’s the daughter of some foreign billionaire.
Qin An
(glancing again, unbothered)
Still not my problem.
Chen Mei
(grinning, scrolling quickly)
You say that now, but just wait until the paparazzi dig her up. I bet her identity will be revealed in no time.
(Chen Mei pauses, zooming in on the photo. Her grin slowly fades, replaced by a look of confusion. She leans closer to her phone, scrutinizing the image. Then, her eyes widen in realization.)
Chen Mei
(gasping loudly)
Wait. Wait, wait, wait! This… this isn’t just some random woman. An An, this is you!
Qin An
(startled, nearly spilling her coffee)
What?
Chen Mei
(pointing at the screen, her voice growing louder)
It’s you! Look at the dress! The hair! The way you’re walking! That’s the exact dress you wore last night!
Qin An
(snatching the phone, studying the photo closely)
It’s… not clear enough. You can’t see the face.
Chen Mei
(Crossing her arms)
Oh, please. I live with you. I know your silhouette better than you do. That’s you, Miss Mystery Woman. You were walking with Jiang Wei? Why didn’t you tell me?!
Qin An
(groaning, rubbing her temples)
Because it’s nothing! He just happened to step in and help me last night. That’s all.
Chen Mei
(grinning mischievously)
Oh, “helped you,” huh? And now the entire internet thinks you’re his secret girlfriend. This is incredible!
Qin An
(rolling her eyes, shoving the phone back)
It’s ridiculous. The photo doesn’t even show my face clearly. No one will figure it out.
Chen Mei
(grinning wider)
Give it a few hours. The internet works fast. I can already see the headlines: “Mysterious Gaming CEO Steals Jiang Wei’s Heart.”
Qin An
(dryly):
You’re enjoying this way too much.
Chen Mei
(laughing)
Of course, I am! This is the most exciting thing to happen since you started PhoenixTech. Who knew you’d go viral?
Qin An
(Groaning, heading toward the bathroom)
I need a shower. And peace. Don’t bother me unless the world is actually ending.
Chen Mei
(calling after her, teasing)
Too late! The internet already is!
(Qin An disappears into the bathroom, and Chen Mei resumes scrolling on her phone, a gleeful smile on her face. The camera pans to the phone screen, showing the viral photo and a flood of comments speculating on the identity of Jiang Wei’s mystery woman. The screen fades to black.)
Jiang Wei’s Penthouse – Breakfast Table
(The scene opens in a lavish dining room bathed in warm morning sunlight. Jiang Wei sits at the head of a sleek, long table, casually reading his tablet while sipping coffee. A housekeeper quietly places more dishes on the table—perfectly arranged croissants, fruit, and scrambled eggs. The atmosphere is serene until Alan walks in, holding his phone, grinning.)
Alan
(teasingly)
Good morning, Boss. Looks like you made headlines again.
Jiang Wei
(not looking up)
I always do.
(Alan steps closer and places his phone in front of Jiang Wei. The screen shows a news article with a bold headline: "Jiang Wei Seen with Mystery Woman at Qin Dynasty Hotel—Romance or Strategy?" The blurry photo of Jiang Wei and Qin An from the previous night accompanies it.)
Jiang Wei
(finally glancing at the phone, his expression indifferent)
Ridiculous.
Alan
(chuckling)
Apparently, people are fascinated by your ‘mystery woman.’ They’re saying she looks poised, elegant, and unattainable.
Jiang Wei
(setting his tablet down)
She looks blurry. The speculation is pathetic.
Alan
(grinning)
True, but this could have some implications. Some are calling it a PR win—‘The enigmatic Jiang Wei finds a partner as mysterious as him.’* Others, though, are wondering if you’re mixing business with pleasure.*
Jiang Wei
(picking up his coffee, unfazed)
Let them wonder. It’s meaningless.
Alan
(Sitting across from him):
Still, it wouldn’t hurt to figure out who she is. The media’s going to dig, and if they don’t find anything, they’ll start making things up. Better to be ahead of the narrative.
(Jiang Wei pauses for a moment, then nods.)
Jiang Wei
Get me a report. I want to know who she is and why she was at that party.
(nodding)
Already on it. I’ll have something for you by the time we’re in the office.
Jiang Wei
(Standing, adjusting his cuffs)
Good. Let’s make this the last time we’re blindsided by nonsense.
(Alan watches him leave, his amused grin widening as he pulls out his phone to start gathering information.)
Jiang Wei’s Office – Later That Morning
(Jiang Wei is at his desk, reviewing documents. Alan walks in, holding a sleek folder, and places it on the desk.)
Alan
Here’s what I’ve got so far. Not much to go on. No one seems to know her name or her connection to the party.
(Jiang Wei opens the folder, skimming through photographs and a short report. A few blurry shots of Qin An accompany vague notes about her presence at the party.)
Alan
She wasn’t on the guest list, which makes it more interesting. Whoever she is, she must’ve been invited personally by someone high up. My guess? She’s not just another socialite.
Jiang Wei
(closing the folder)
If she’s not important, this will fade. If she is, I need to know why she’s suddenly in my orbit.
Alan
Want me to keep digging?
Jiang Wei
No. Schedule a visit to the Qin Dynasty Hotel. I’ll handle it myself.
Alan
(raising an eyebrow):
The hotel? What’s the angle?
Jiang Wei
(leaning back, his tone calculated)
It’s where this started. Someone there knows who she is. I’ll find out soon enough.
Alan
(grinning):
Alright, Boss. Just don’t end up making more headlines while you’re at it.
Jiang Wei
(smirking faintly)
That depends on whether they have answers worth my time.
(Alan leaves the office, and Jiang Wei stares at the folder for a moment longer before tossing it onto his desk, his expression unreadable. He stands, buttoning his jacket, ready to leave.)
Outside Qin Dynasty Hotel – Afternoon
(A black luxury car pulls up to the grand entrance of the Qin Dynasty Hotel. Jiang Wei steps out, exuding his usual aura of authority. The camera lingers on his confident stride as he enters the building, his mind clearly focused on uncovering the identity of the mysterious woman from the night before.)
Qin Dynasty Hotel – Grand Lobby
(The grand lobby of the Qin Dynasty Hotel exudes opulence: marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and gilded decor. Jiang Wei strides in, his presence commanding as always. Hotel staff quickly straighten up as they notice him. He approaches the concierge desk, where a polished manager greets him nervously.)
manager
Mr. Jiang, welcome. How can we assist you today?
Jiang Wei
(Curtly)
I’m here to speak with someone who might have been at last night’s party. Someone from the Qin family.
manager
(bowing slightly)
Of course, sir. Allow me a moment to arrange that.
(Jiang Wei steps aside, glancing around the grand lobby, clearly unimpressed by the extravagance. Moments later, Qin Ling descends the grand staircase, dressed in a designer outfit, her confidence radiating. She notices Jiang Wei and instantly puts on a charming smile.)
Qin ling
Mr. Jiang, what an unexpected surprise! I wasn’t aware you’d be visiting our humble hotel today.
Jiang Wei
(coolly)
Miss Qin.
(Qin Ling approaches him, feigning warmth, though her curiosity is evident.)
Qin ling
To what do we owe the honor? If I’d known, I would’ve ensured a proper welcome. Are you here for business? Or perhaps... leisure?
Jiang Wei
(bluntly)
I have some questions about last night’s event.
Qin ling
(laughing lightly, though her eyes narrow slightly)
Oh? I hope everything went smoothly. My family takes great pride in hosting the most prestigious gatherings.
Jiang Wei
(sharp)
Your family, yes. But I’m more interested in one particular guest. A woman.
(Qin Ling’s expression falters briefly before she quickly masks it with a curious smile.)
Qin ling
Ah, a woman? There were so many stunning guests last night. Perhaps you could be more specific?
Jiang Wei
She wasn’t on the guest list, but she certainly drew attention. Slim, poised, confident.
(Qin Ling’s smile tightens, the description clearly striking a nerve. She crosses her arms, adopting a more defensive posture.)
Qin ling
Oh, that must be Qin An. She has a knack for showing up uninvited to events far above her station.
(Jiang Wei’s eyes narrow slightly, detecting the venom in her tone.)
Jiang Wei
Qin An? Your sister?
Qin ling
(letting out a sharp laugh)
Sister? Hardly. She’s my father’s... mistake. Let’s just say she isn’t part of the Qin family anymore. She was disowned years ago.
(Jiang Wei remains silent, his expression unreadable as he processes this new information. Qin Ling, emboldened by his lack of response, continues.)
Qin ling
She’s a troublemaker, really. She thinks she can make it on her own, but PhoenixTech? That little company of hers is doomed to fail. I wouldn’t waste your time on her, Mr. Jiang.
(Jiang Wei tilts his head slightly, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.)
Jiang Wei
Interesting. You seem to have a lot to say about someone who’s ‘not part of the family.’
(Qin Ling’s smile freezes, caught off guard by his sharp observation.)
Qin ling
Well, I just thought you deserved to know the truth. People like her... they’ll drag you down if you’re not careful.
(Jiang Wei steps closer, his tone cold and cutting.)
Jiang Wei
Thank you for the warning, Miss Qin. But I’ll decide for myself who’s worth my time.
(Qin Ling falters, her confidence cracking under his piercing gaze. Jiang Wei turns on his heel and strides toward the exit, leaving her standing in the lobby, fuming silently. As he exits, he pulls out his phone and dials Alan.)
Jiang Wei
(on the phone)
Alan, cancel my next meeting. I’ll be visiting PhoenixTech this afternoon and get me information on the girl Qin An.
(**The camera lingers on Qin Ling, her frustration evident as she watches him leave. She pulls out her phone, furiously typing a message—clearly scheming something in retaliation. The screen fades to black, setting up Jiang Wei’s impending visit to PhoenixTech.)
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