Shadows and Surprises
PhoenixTech Office – Morning
(Jiang Wei walks into the sleek, minimalist lobby of PhoenixTech. Employees glance up, startled to see such a prominent figure in their midst. He strides confidently to the front desk, where the nervous receptionist stands to greet him.)
Assistant
Good morning, sir. How can I assist you?
Jiang Wei
(calmly)
I’m here to meet your CEO, Qin An.
Assistant
(stammering slightly)
Uh, I’m sorry, but Miss Qin isn’t in the office today. She had some off-site meetings scheduled.
Jiang Wei
(expressionless, but his tone sharp)
Off-site?
Assistant
Yes, sir. Would you like to leave a message? I can let her know you came by.
(Jiang Wei pauses, glancing around the office with a flicker of irritation before stepping back.)
Jiang Wei
No need. I’ll return another time.
(He turns and walks out, leaving the staff whispering in awe.)
Upscale Restaurant – Evening
(The restaurant is a hub of elegance, filled with soft jazz music and murmured conversations. Qin An strides in, commanding attention. She’s dressed in a sleek black leather jacket paired with tailored trousers and polished black boots. Her edgy yet professional attire exudes confidence, contrasting sharply with the sea of traditional evening wear. Her hair is tied back in a loose, effortless ponytail, and her piercing gaze scans the room.)
(Meanwhile, seated discreetly in a corner, Jiang Wei leans back in his chair. His casual yet striking ensemble—an all-black designer jacket, fitted shirt, trousers, and spotless sneakers—makes him stand out effortlessly. He’s scrolling through his phone with a bored expression, clearly uninterested in the bustling atmosphere around him.)
(Qin An approaches a table where Investor Zhou, a middle-aged man with a smug smile, is waiting. He stands to greet her, his eyes sweeping over her with a little too much familiarity.)
investor Zhou
Ah, Miss Qin! You’ve arrived. Looking quite... bold tonight.
Qin An
(coldly, but polite)
Thank you, Mr. Zhou. Let’s get started, shall we?
(She sits, her posture stiff but poised. As they exchange formalities, Jiang Wei’s eyes flick over to her table briefly. He notices the tension in her body language but quickly returns his attention to his assistant, Alan, seated across from him.)
Jiang Wei
I thought this place was supposed to be exclusive.
(He smirks faintly and goes back to his phone. Meanwhile, at Qin An’s table, the conversation shifts to a more uncomfortable tone as Investor Zhou becomes less professional, pouring himself another glass of wine and gesturing for her to drink as well.)
investor Zhou
Come now, Miss Qin. Don’t be so uptight. It’s just a drink—part of sealing any good deal.
Qin An
(firmly)
I don’t drink on business occasions, Mr. Zhou. Let’s stick to the topic.
investor Zhou
(leaning closer)
Loosen up, Miss Qin. Trust me, a little wine can go a long way in building partnerships.
(Qin An’s jaw tightens, but before she can respond, a familiar voice cuts through the tension.)
Jiang Wei
(calmly, but with authority)
That’s one way to ruin a partnership, Zhou. By making your client uncomfortable.
(Both Qin An and Investor Zhou look up to see Jiang Wei standing beside their table, his hands casually in his jacket pockets. His dark ensemble makes his presence even more commanding, his gaze cold and calculating.)
investor Zhou
(nervously)
M-Mr. Jiang? What a surprise!
Jiang Wei
(ignoring the pleasantries)
Is this how you conduct business? No wonder your investments rarely pan out.
(**Zhou sputters, struggling to respond. Qin An looks at Jiang Wei, her eyes narrowing.)
Qin An
I didn’t need your help.
Jiang Wei
(shrugging)
You looked like you were seconds away from breaking his nose. I was saving you from a PR disaster.
(Zhou, now thoroughly embarrassed, grabs his briefcase and excuses himself, muttering apologies as he hurries out. The room goes quiet for a moment before resuming its buzz.)
Qin An
(standing, crossing her arms)
I had it under control.
Jiang Wei
Clearly. Let me guess—you were about to dazzle him with a PowerPoint on respect.
Qin An
(sarcastically)
And here I thought knights in shining armor were extinct.
Jiang Wei
(smirking)
Knights are overrated. Think of me as the guy who hates seeing incompetence.
(Before she can retort, she sways slightly, the effects of the wine she reluctantly sipped earlier catching up to her. Jiang Wei instinctively steadies her, his hands firm on her shoulders.)
Qin An
(protesting)
No, I’m not... I’m just— (pauses, blinking) —slightly unbalanced.
(She tries to pull away but stumbles. Jiang Wei sighs and shifts to support her weight better.)
Jiang Wei
Unbalanced is an understatement. Let’s get you out of here before you make headlines.
Outside the Restaurant – Paparazzi Frenzy
(**The moment Jiang Wei steps out with Qin An leaning heavily on him, camera flashes explode. He adjusts his grip, hoisting her onto his back as she groans softly.)
Qin An
Hey, put me down! I’m not a... a sack of potatoes.
Jiang Wei
(dryly):
You’re worse. At least potatoes don’t talk.
(She rests her head against his shoulder, muttering incoherently. The paparazzi yell questions, but he ignores them, his expression calm and unbothered as he carries her to his car.)
Hotel Room – Later That Night
(The luxurious suite is quiet, the sound of city traffic muffled through the thick glass windows. Jiang Wei gently sets Qin An down on the edge of the plush bed. She’s still wearing her leather jacket, her head lolling slightly as she tries to stay awake.)
Qin An
(slurring)
I told you… I can handle it… Didn’t need your… knightly nonsense.
Jiang Wei
(raising an eyebrow, amused)
You’re welcome, by the way.
(He walks to the minibar and grabs a bottle of water. Twisting off the cap, he returns to her side and crouches slightly to her level.)
Jiang Wei
Drink this before you pass out and make my life more difficult.
(He holds the bottle out to her, but she waves it away clumsily.)
Qin An
I’m fine! Just need to sleep… and then… (pauses, blinking heavily) ...take over the world tomorrow.
Jiang Wei
Ambitious, but let’s focus on hydration first.
(Realizing she won’t cooperate, he sighs and tilts the bottle toward her lips. She reluctantly takes a sip, spilling a little water on herself.)
Qin An
(grumbling)
Bossy… always bossy.
Jiang Wei
(dryly)
And yet, I’m the one cleaning up your mess.
(Suddenly, she puts a hand to her mouth, her eyes widening.)
(Jiang Wei quickly helps her up, guiding her to the bathroom. She stumbles, nearly tripping over her boots, but he steadies her with practiced ease.)
(Inside the sleek, marble-tiled bathroom, Qin An leans over the sink, gagging as Jiang Wei stands awkwardly by the door. He folds his arms, his usual air of confidence faltering slightly.)
Jiang Wei
(muttering to himself)
This is what I get for trying to be a decent human being.
Qin An
(muffled, from the sink)
You’re not decent… You’re annoying.
(She groans, wiping her mouth with a towel. Jiang Wei hands her another bottle of water, which she takes without protest this time.)
Qin An
I bet you’re loving this… seeing me like this.
Jiang Wei
(leaning against the doorframe)
Oh, absolutely. Nothing like babysitting a drunk woman who thinks she’s invincible.
Qin An
(Glaring weakly):
Careful, or I’ll puke on your expensive shoes.
Jiang Wei
(deadpan)
I’ll send you the bill.
(Despite herself, she lets out a faint laugh, then winces and holds her head.)
(Jiang Wei helps her back to the bed. This time, she kicks off her boots and slumps against the pillows, looking utterly drained. Jiang Wei stands there for a moment, unsure whether to leave or stay.)
Qin An
(murmuring)
Don’t… tell anyone about this.
Jiang Wei
Your secret’s safe. Though I can’t say the same for the paparazzi.
(Her eyes flutter open slightly, narrowing at him.)
Jiang Wei
(smirking)
And yet, you’re still alive. Funny how that works.
(She mutters something incoherent before drifting off. Jiang Wei adjusts the blanket over her, his expression softening for just a moment before returning to his usual stoic demeanor.)
(Jiang Wei grabs his jacket and heads to the door. Before leaving, he glances back at the sleeping Qin An, shaking his head slightly.)
Jiang Wei
(to himself)
Trouble always finds me.
(He exits the room, closing the door quietly behind him.)
Jiang Wei’s Penthouse – Late Night
(Jiang Wei enters his penthouse, the city lights from the floor-to-ceiling windows casting an ethereal glow over the room. He tosses his jacket over the back of the couch and sits down, rubbing his temples. His phone buzzes with a message from Alan.)
Alan
Alan’s Message:
"No major updates yet. Just that her name is Qin An, CEO of PhoenixTech. Will send more details soon."
(Jiang Wei leans back, staring at the name on the screen. A flicker of familiarity nags at his memory, but he can’t quite place it. His eyes narrow as he recalls seeing her at the restaurant earlier. Something stood out—something that made her seem oddly familiar.)
Flashback A Forest Clearing, 10 Years Ago
(A secluded forest road. Young Jiang Wei, around 19, sits against a tree, pale and weak, his breath coming in short gasps. His kidnappers had abandoned him, leaving him for dead. A young girl, no older than 18, kneels beside him, determined to help him.)
young Qin An
Stay awake. Help is coming.
(As she reaches for him, her sleeve shifts slightly, revealing a small, unique birthmark on her wrist—a delicate crescent shape. It catches the faint moonlight, burning the image into his mind.)
young Jiang Wei
(weakly)
Who… are you?
(The girl doesn’t answer, only tightening her grip on his hand before running off to find help. He never saw her again but never forgot her face—or the birthmark.)
Back to the Present: Jiang Wei’s Penthouse
(Jiang Wei snaps out of the memory, his heart pounding. His mind races as he recalls the brief glimpse of Qin An’s wrist earlier at the restaurant. It had the same crescent-shaped birthmark. Could it really be her?)
(He gets up abruptly, pacing the room. The thought feels impossible, yet something deep inside tells him it might be true. He retrieves an old notebook from his desk. Inside is a sketch he had made years ago—rough but clear, a crescent birthmark on a wrist.)
Jiang Wei
(to himself)
It can’t be just a coincidence. But I need to be sure.
Alan
(He picks up his phone and dials Alan.)
Jiang Wei
Alan, I want you to dig deeper into Qin An’s past. Look into her family, her history—everything. But keep it quiet. No one can know about this.
Alan
(over the phone)
Understood. Anything specific I should focus on?
Jiang Wei
Anything… unusual. Anything that connects her to someone she might have saved years ago.
Alan
(confused but obliging)
Got it. I’ll let you know what I find.
(Jiang Wei hangs up, his expression resolute. He’s not ready to confront her yet, not without confirmation. For now, he decides the best way to uncover the truth is to stay close.)
Jiang Wei
(To himself, with a faint smirk)
Looks like I’ll need to make PhoenixTech a priority.
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