"La la la~"
Nian had been overjoyed these past few days. She would admire the movie she had filmed several times a day, her excitement no different from an ordinary person winning hundreds of millions. She had even changed her business card. Her old one was plain white, rather simple, with just "Lungmen & Yan's Famous Director, Nian" printed on it in black font.
But now, Nian felt she was different.
Her movie had been screened in major theaters across Columbia; she could more or less be considered an international director now. Using such a plain business card felt a bit beneath her. If she were to collaborate with great directors from Columbia like Cameron X in the future, she would need a respectable business card to present.
Making one out of gold bars would be a bit tacky.
So, she decided.
Nian borrowed a tiny bit of Lucas Reeve's Nirvana Metal and forged a pile of business cards that were practically semi-divine artifacts. Now *these* were befitting of her status...
Any one of these casually forged business cards, if thrown out, would be a priceless treasure that numerous companies would fight over.
"Nian, what are you writing?"
Jessica got up early in the morning. Lucas Reeve floated behind her. As soon as they walked out of the room, they saw Nian in the living room, seemingly writing something. The coat and tube top with shorts she wore in Lungmen had been worn for a while, so Jessica had found Columbia's most professional tailor to custom-make a whole new wardrobe for Nian, from formal wear to casual outfits and pajamas.
Nian looked up, the natural crimson eyeshadow around her eyes making her look both charming and lively.
"Registration forms."
"Registration?"
Nian showed Jessica and Lucas Reeve the information she was filling out.
"This is the list of entries for the Columbia Film Festival's Ocars Film Awards in a few months."
"This is the registration for the Lungmen Film Festival's Lungmen Film Awards."
"This is for the Yan Film Festival, the Yan Golden Rooster Awards."
"And this is for the Victoria Film Festival, for the Golden Lion Awards."
"..."
Lucas Reeve and Jessica stared with wide eyes, somewhat speechless. They decided not to say anything more. As long as she was happy.
And after the movie was released.
Sora's manager called immediately, flying into a rage. She demanded to know why Sora had accepted a role without her agent's consent! This was absolutely forbidden. As an idol, all of Sora's contracts were tied to her company, and by extension, Lungmen's largest entertainment conglomerate. For an artist to film a movie without the company's approval was a complete and total breach of contract.
Moreover.
If it had been a major blockbuster, the company might have turned a blind eye.
But this movie... Sora's agent nearly fainted from anger after watching it. Fortunately, Sora was the company's top idol, and only the agent knew about the movie. Plus, the film hadn't spread too widely, so the head office was likely unaware.
Otherwise.
They might have forced Sora to pay a nine-figure astronomical breach of contract fee. An amount like that was completely unaffordable for a minor idol with only a little bit of fame like Sora. Although Jessica, upon learning this, offered to buy out Sora's contract to avoid the fee, Sora refused.
Even though they were good friends now.
Sora didn't want to trouble Jessica too much.
After spending two weeks having fun in Columbia, Lisa returned to Siracusa. Since Lucas Reeve's consciousness could now leave Laevatain, he didn't need to worry too much about her safety.
However, Surtr had been unhappy these past few days, especially when Lucas Reeve left Laevatain. She would stand in a corner with a cold face, sulking. But with Lucas Reeve and Jessica's comfort, she eventually recovered.
And today.
Jessica's father, who was finally free, decided to personally visit his daughter's 'god' friend.
As the chairman of Raythean Industries, he was a man of great power and influence, but this was his first time interacting with a god. He couldn't help but feel a little unsure. After all, gods and humans were different. Gods were higher life forms, immortal and indestructible. In their presence, humans were like ants. One had to be extremely careful when dealing with them. He had planned to come earlier, but he heard his daughter was busy with some movie and didn't want to disturb her.
Two months passed in a flash, and finally, a time when both sides were free was found.
Only then did Jessica's father decide to pay a personal visit.
In the morning, Jessica didn't go to the company but stayed at the villa to play board games with her friends.
As for Nian, she was repeatedly watching videos of past film festival award-winning directors on her phone, studying their acceptance speeches. She scribbled and revised on a piece of paper, preparing her own speech for when she won. To Lucas Reeve, this scene was utterly ridiculous.
If Lucas Reeve wasn't mistaken.
Nian was probably the earliest "contending director" to ever prepare an acceptance speech. She had even prepared more than one. After all, according to Nian, a single film could win multiple awards at one festival. If she won two or three, she couldn't just repeat the same speech.
Nian even had Lucas Reeve and Surtr prepare speeches for Best Actor.
This left Lucas Reeve completely speechless.
While Jessica was playing board games with her friends, she suddenly received a call from her father. He told her he was on his way over, which caught Jessica completely off guard. She had thought "on his way" meant in an hour or two, maybe a few hours. She never expected that just three minutes after hanging up, the doorbell of the villa would ring.
"Eh? Dad, what are you doing here?"
Jessica was a little surprised and quickly invited her father in. Looking at his precious daughter who had grown so much, Jessica's father felt immense pride. The Penguin Logistics girls, who had been playing board games in the living room, immediately tensed up a little.
After all, Jessica's father was a true magnate, and they were guests in his daughter's home. It was only natural to be polite. Only Ceobe and Ifrit were still engrossed in their own games. Rosmontis and Shamare, though not much older, were very sensible. Upon seeing Jessica's father arrive, they immediately tried to pull up Ceobe and Ifrit who were playing on the floor.
"Hello, kids."
Jessica's father walked in with a cheerful smile, his eyes scanning the room. Then, his gaze locked onto Nian and Surtr, who was sitting coldly on the sofa playing with her phone.
"Hmm? My dear daughter? Where's Lucas Reeve? You two aren't living together, are you?"
Jessica's father looked around, then finally let out a sigh of relief.
He didn't actually know if they were living together; he was just trying to fish for information.
Her father's words made Jessica's face turn bright red. She pouted her cute lips and complained.
"What are you talking about, Dad!"
"Hahaha, good, good."
Jessica's father nodded in satisfaction. It was best they weren't living together. Although he was relatively open-minded and enlightened, Jessica was his most precious daughter. In his heart, he was strongly against cohabitation before marriage, and even disapproved of premarital relations. He was completely different from other, more liberal Columbian parents, and more like many parents from Yan, worrying endlessly about their children.
After casually greeting his daughter's friends, he asked amiably.
"My dear daughter, it seems you've made quite a few new friends? I don't recall seeing many of them at last year's banquet. Why don't you introduce them to me?"
His intention was obvious.
Jessica understood immediately.
Introducing her friends was just a pretense; he probably wanted to meet Surtr.
After all.
Jessica had been the first to see the security footage of Surtr and Lucas Reeve charging into the Loken Water Tank a while back. Her father must have seen it too. The footage was very detailed, and given his status, he would one hundred percent know that gods existed in this world.
So, the main purpose of his personal visit today was crystal clear.
"Mhm."
Jessica nodded obediently.
"These four are from Lungmen's Penguin Logistics: Miss Exia, Miss Texas, Miss Sora, and Miss Croissant."
Jessica started with Exia and the others.
Although Jessica's father was a man of great power, a personality like Exia's didn't know the meaning of fear. She was quite lively, standing up to greet him proactively. Sora, on the other hand, was much more nervous; after all, the man before her was a truly important figure.
"This is Rosmontis."
Jessica's father was very easygoing, completely lacking the airs of a VIP, and actively greeted these 'kids'.
"Dad, this is Miss Nian from Yan."
The last two were the crucial ones, the main reason her father had come today.
"Hello, Miss Nian and Miss Surtr."
He even used a formal address, which showed his attitude.
"Hello."
Nian smiled and nodded. Surtr was colder, merely nodding and replying with a quiet "Hello."
Jessica's father didn't like to beat around the bush and got straight to the point.
"If I'm not mistaken, you two are gods, aren't you?"
"Thank you both very much for taking care of my daughter these days. It is truly a rare blessing for my daughter to have your friendship. If you need any help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask. Miss Surtr, you single-handedly dealt with that scourge of Columbia, the Loken Water Tank. For that, I express my gratitude."
In reality.
Given Jessica's father's status, he didn't need to be so polite.
But.
Having navigated the business world for so many years, he understood one principle deeply: one's pride is the most worthless thing in the world. Even in a high position, Jessica's father could maintain a friendly demeanor towards anyone. Whether it was genuine or a facade, the surface-level effort had to be maintained. Even if the other person was a beggar, he would remain affable and kind. That was never the wrong approach. But when facing an enemy... he would be ruthless.
How many people who cared about saving face could ever reach a high position?
"Oh, come on. Jessica and we are the best of friends. Her business is my business."
Nian was also quite smooth, speaking with practiced ease.
As for Surtr...
She held it in for a long time.
Then managed to say.
"Me too."
She wasn't good at communicating with others; she simply didn't have that many words in her.
Jessica's father nodded with satisfaction.
He had come today specifically to greet them. Since these two were his daughter's friends, they might become a great asset to Jessica in the future. He had lived for so long and never had a real god for a friend. His daughter, at such a young age, had forged friendships with gods who were thousands of years old. Truly, the student had surpassed the master.
"Hmm? My dear daughter, what about that kid, Lucas Reeve? Hurry up and call him over. I'm treating your friends to lunch today."
"No, no!!"
Jessica quickly refused.
"Don't, Dad. I'll handle it. With you here, we might not feel so comfortable."
The way Jessica spoke to her father was just like a conversation between a father and daughter in any ordinary family.
"Hahaha, alright then. Your friends have come all this way, you have to be a good host, you hear?"
"Of course."
"Dad will wait here for Lucas Reeve to come. Who knows where that kid has gone. After he gets here and I have a few words with him, I'll leave. Your Uncle Jones is waiting outside."
As soon as he said this.
The entire room fell silent.
Even.
Nian felt a little like laughing.
From his tone, the other party probably just thought of Lucas Reeve as an ordinary person.
Everyone looked at each other, their gazes finally converging on Jessica. For a moment, Jessica was in a difficult position, which puzzled her father.
"What's wrong? Is he not free?"
"No... um..."
Just as Jessica was struggling.
Lucas Reeve simply emerged from Jessica's necklace.
Since Jessica's father had already met Nian, Lucas Reeve, who had initially not wanted to reveal himself for fear that Jessica's father couldn't handle it, now realized he had worried for nothing.
Looking at Lucas Reeve, who had suddenly appeared like a ghost.
Jessica's father was stunned for a moment, then had a look of sudden realization, as if he had guessed it all along.
"Well, I'll be damned. Just as I thought."
Jessica's father looked at the floating Lucas Reeve and clicked his tongue.
"I've long thought you weren't human at all. After all, how could a person have that kind of ancient-relic-like aura."
At first, Jessica's father only had a suspicion but wasn't certain.
However.
After learning there were gods around his daughter, he had pretty much pieced it together. These gods were probably Lucas Reeve's friends, which was why they were familiar with his daughter.
Lucas Reeve gave a hollow laugh, "I was mainly afraid of startling you, sir."
"Heh..."
"Do you really think I know nothing? I am the chairman of Raythean Industries, after all."
Jessica's father nodded with satisfaction. Since his goal was achieved, he stood up to leave.
"Remember to take good care of my daughter."
Before Lucas Reeve could speak, Jessica had already cut in, "Dad, you should get going. Uncle Jones is waiting outside. Mr. Reeve will, don't you worry."
Jessica's father let out a long sigh.
A daughter is never a daughter for life. How old was she? Just nineteen. What would she be like in the future?
Originally, Jessica's father had some reservations, since he didn't know Lucas Reeve's origins, but now he was completely at ease. He didn't care if he was a god or not; all that mattered was that he was his future son-in-law.
Walking out of the villa.
Jessica's father was incredibly gratified.
"Jones, Jessica has grown up. She's starting to stand on her own two feet."
Jones nodded. "Of course. The young miss will definitely be stronger than you in the future, sir."
"That's for sure! She is my daughter, after all."
Jessica's father's face was filled with pride.
"By the way, Jones, I hear that Miss Nian recently shot a film and is planning to enter it into a film festival? Notify the organizers. For this year's festival, arrange a new award category specifically tailored to the characteristics of Miss Nian's film."
"Yes, sir."