Love doesn't ask for permission. It arrives uninvited, on a quiet day, in a quiet place, and rearranges everything you thought you knew. You won't see it coming. But when it comes, it stays.
The words were projected on the screen. A beautiful piece of melodic music was playing in the background, holding everyone in quiet attention. A female voice artist simultaneously narrated the same words which blended with the music.
Loving and being loved are two different things. Most of us want to get, yet forget to give. Though, giving will bring the greatest happiness.
The narration continued.
Sometimes, just one meeting can change a life forever.
Finally, the calligraphic phrase captured the screen...
Just Met You
The music came to a halt. With everyone's applause, a middle-aged woman got up, turning the projector off with a remote.
"This is the next project of YuanYu entertainment. A movie based on the comic Just Met You. The documents are in front of you."
The people around the horseshoe table picked up the script folders in front of them. The title Just Met You appeared in elegant calligraphy. Beneath it, a single name in softer cursive: Rhea.
Most had never heard of this writer. She was clearly a newcomer to the industry. Very few who were already familiar with the comic were surprised since a well-known director like Yuan Yu had picked the story of a novice writer into consideration. Still, Just Met You was not a bad choice. Not at all.
While the board members were pondering over the script, someone knocked on the door of the board room. A quarter of the room turned to see who it was. Yuan Yu had always detested latecomers. As the CEO of Yuan Yu entertainment, she didn't want any delays in her business. Thus, they were curious about what would happen then. Soon, as if to answer their curiosity, the door opened.
A young girl stood by the door. Her eyes quickly assessed the board room.
"May I come in?" her voice broke the silence. That brought all the people's attention to the door. A few already looking her way now exchanged amused glances.
Yuan Yu who was still keenly reading the script lifted her head to see this new girl. She had a quietly disarming presence.
The girl reminded them that Yuan Yu had already approved her request. No one knew how she had earned the director's favour so quickly. Some of them were surprised since it was not common with Yuan Yu. But others seemed to have not noticed it yet.
She was fairly tall. She wore a beige-coloured knee-length dress with vertical brown stripes. Her feet were covered in a pair of white sneakers. She carried a black backpack.
Yuan Yu responded with a nod before returning to the script. The girl hurriedly walked towards the front and sat next to Yuan Yu's seat. This once again surprised the rest of the room.
Rhea quietly pretended to read the script while listening to all the turbulence.
"About the cast," Yuan Yu started talking about the cast and crew. Since the auditions were already finished, Yuan Yu started the projector once again and continued with the presentation. Once she finished presenting the cast, discussions began. Most concerns centered around one thing: the male lead. Yuan Yu hadn't announced the lead actor yet. One man voiced his concern.
"Who is going to play Aaron? Seems like the decision is still pending," he asked.
"We should go for the best," one man suggested. "Jacob Liu would be the best fit."
"Since it's a Rom-Com, we should hire the most handsome. Kevin Zhao renewed his contract with us, right?", a woman spoke this time.
Yuan Yu's face showed disapproval of those suggestions. Her eyes involuntarily fell on Rhea who was seemingly frowning at these suggestions. "We signed a contract with Miss Rhea Frank yesterday. As you all know, she is the author and illustrator of the comic. So, we've given her the freedom to make a few decisions. Miss Rhea will be the one to choose the lead actor."
Although the faces around the table appeared not that pleased with this announcement Yuan Yu continued. "Have you decided, Rhea?", the question was directed towards the youngest member of the crowd, Rhea.
"Yes, I have," she replied confidently. "We need someone who can embody this role and whose presence can define Aaron," she looked at the others. "There is one actor who fits all the requirements. In fact, Aaron wasn't just a character to me. He came from somewhere personal. I can imagine only one person in this role."
Now all of them seemed interested. They waited eagerly for her to spill the name.
Rhea paused for a bit, looking down. After a few seconds, she lifted her head, with a strong determination in her eyes, and said the name, "Ryan Jin".
Just as she expected, the expression on the faces in front of her changed from eagerness to nonplus, then nonplus to disappointment. Some stared blankly. Others murmured to each other in confusion. The director and the female lead who already knew the fact remained calm.
"Ms Rhea. You are a foreigner. You may not know what is happening here.", a man tried to explain things to Rhea.
"I know," Rhea cut in.
"Then there's nothing more to discuss. Having someone who is currently facing a scandal in the crew will ruin the film's box office collection. But here, the male lead himself is going through it. If we produce a film like that, it will be a flop for sure."
Most of the other gentlemen nodded their heads in accordance.
All the people in the industry were aware of the fact that Ryan was special to Yuan Yu. They knew that she was his godmother. Yet they didn't know that she would be willing to risk her company for him. That was quite a shock.
The debate continued, but the others refused to agree to her terms. Some even raised their voices at Rhea, and even at Yuan Yu. At last, Rhea had to let them know her stand.
"I'm afraid I can't move forward with this film unless you cast Ryan Jin." Her words hung in the air like a challenge. If she was bluffing, she didn't show it. But in truth, her hands were clenched beneath the table.
After a very long discussion turned into an argument, forty per cent of the original budget was withdrawn. Considering the thirty per cent from Madam Yuan Yu, only half of the others agreed. The withdrawn group got out of the meeting room.
The people who left hesitated by the door.
All eyes shifted to the waiting room. There was a man in the waiting room sitting crossed-legged in a handmade charcoal grey suit. He looked calm and composed, a stark contrast to the storm inside the boardroom.
Of course, he was the topic of every heated word inside the room. He had likely heard it all, but didn't seem to care.
Inside the room, the meeting continued with the remaining half and a few of the selected artists. These people didn't seem bothered about those who left.
Yuan Yu was keenly receiving the ideas of others regarding the film together with Rhea. Once the meeting finished, everyone left the room except for Rhea and Yuan Yu. Footsteps approached the meeting room.
Rhea and Yuan Yu were still discussing since the aftermath of the meeting was not great. They wanted the film to succeed and were willing to take any risk.
"We need to focus on the budget as of now," Yuan Yu worriedly told Rhea.
"I'll invest that forty percent," Rhea volunteered. She was Rhea Frank, only daughter of Richard Frank from Swevyn Group, Alaska, a name well known in corporate circles, even in China.
"If you would, that'll fix everything", Yuan Yu replied.
A beautiful, content smile appeared on Rhea's face as she slightly turned to grab her bag from the chair next to her. This, for the first time that day, exposed her face to the man who had just entered the room. It wasn't just the smile, it was her. In this room, in this city, where she shouldn't be. He froze, like seeing a ghost he'd spent years trying to forget, one he thought he'd never have to face again.
Rhea, who didn't know someone was approaching, slowly got up from the chair, ready to leave.
Someone tugged her arm from behind. She bumped into a tall, firm figure. The familiarity hit her a second before she looked up.
It was a man in a charcoal suit. Flustered, she looked up, ready to scold this unruly man. But when she saw the face of the stranger, her words froze in her throat. Ryan Jin.
His gaze lingered. His lips pursed into a line. At last, his lips moved.
"It's really you." Of all people. The last person he expected. And maybe the only one he wasn't ready to face.