Chapter 120: Quan Zhiling

"Water Village" is just what the insiders call it; most people refer to it as Lakeside Dream, a rather tacky name.

Of course, Xiao Ma didn't dwell on the semantics. After getting into the car, he discovered a beautiful woman sitting inside—so fresh and delicate she looked as if she might drip water if pinched. Not bad at all.

Xiao Ma actually recognized her; it was the famous Korean star, Jeon Ji-ryeong.

This was Fatty Jiang’s doing. He had heard from the "little students" that this was the custom in these circles: when you need something from someone and invite them to a dinner party, you usually include a female companion as a perk.

After a brief exchange of glances, Jeon Ji-ryeong lost her patience first. "You wouldn't happen to not know who I am, would you?"

"I know you," Xiao Ma said with a smile. "But your English is terrible. Just speak Korean."

This left Jeon Ji-ryeong feeling incredibly awkward, yet also intrigued. She couldn't help but sneak a few more glances at him. She had expected this dinner party to involve being a companion to some pot-bellied old bastard, but meeting him felt like a breath of fresh air; he even seemed brilliant in terms of talent.

"How many... languages do you speak?" she asked in Korean.

Xiao Ma tapped his temple. He felt a bit depressed; his recent physical condition was such that using his "Great Demon King" skills caused a slight, piercing pain. It was much better than a while ago, though. Back then, he suffered from split personalities and lacked the Demon King’s abilities. Recently, the splitting pains had diminished—he was still a bit neurotic, but basically in control—and he had inadvertently unlocked some of the Demon King’s powers.

Finished with his internal musings, Xiao Ma replied, "I speak all languages, including some animal tongues. I even understand donkey."

What?

His Korean reply made Jeon Ji-ryeong’s eyes sparkle. He had even used the exact dialect of her hometown, which was truly miraculous. She couldn't help but scan him with another secret glance.

She hadn't come to Haizhou solely for money. Of course, in this world, everything eventually circles back to money. Due to market capacity, if Jeon Ji-ryeong wanted to advance her career, she had to take this step; that was why she was in Haizhou. People like her were bound to cross paths with the big shots and socialites of the circle—if she hadn't intended to, she wouldn't have come to Haizhou. Since she was here, even if she didn't want to network, high-end matchmakers would pull strings to invite her to certain events. It was a transaction.

Crucially, this transaction was vital for Jeon Ji-ryeong. A few days ago, while on the *Sea God*, she had struck up a conversation with Godfather Mike Travis’s assistant, hoping to join a production and embark on a different career path. As it turned out, the Haizhou side was in charge of the project, and the "great director" Feng Chenchen had agreed to let her take on a significant role. However, the condition was that she act as a companion to a "big shot" at the Water Village dinner party. If she did that, everything would be fine; otherwise, as Jiang Yaowen had bluntly put it, she could just go back to Korea and flop.

"What do you... do for a living?" Jeon Ji-ryeong asked curiously.

Xiao Ma replied, "I’m a young master at home."

"Oh..." Jeon Ji-ryeong didn't know how to respond. She tried again, "But many wealthy heirs have jobs, like working in their family businesses. Does your family invest in the film industry? Are you managing that kind of thing?"

Xiao Ma chuckled. "Well, you could say that. I’ve even given pointers on scripts to certain directors."

"Ah," Jeon Ji-ryeong feigned surprise. "So you were the lead writer for the script of *The Vixen Must Be Subdued*? How talented! I was skeptical at first, but once I started reading, I was hooked."

Huh?

Xiao Ma paused. "You aren't going to be in it, are you?"

Jeon Ji-ryeong nodded eagerly. "I’ll be playing the prosecutor, based on the character of Zhen Yuqi."

Xiao Ma gave her a strange look. He felt she did resemble the character—the type of "bad girl" who doesn't quite show any obvious "flaws," making her feel somewhat bewitching. Truth be told, if you stripped away the hype, her looks and figure weren't necessarily superior to Zhen Yuqi's; they were the same type, each with their own distinct features.

Jeon Ji-ryeong immediately seized the opportunity. "But after reading the script carefully, I’m more interested in 'The Devil Wears Prada' type of character. That role is more important and challenging, isn't it?"

Xiao Ma shook his head. "You aren't suitable for that."

"F*ck! That’s your problem, not mine. I’m responsible for wanting it; you’re responsible for making it happen." Jeon Ji-ryeong transformed instantly.

Xiao Ma’s face twitched. Her shift in persona was so vivid and perfect that, for a split second, he didn't even realize she was "auditioning." She had perfectly mimicked the insufferable traits of Big Hong-hong. For a fleeting moment, he felt like he was back in those days of being "trained" by Ni Feihong.

Jeon Ji-ryeong quickly added, "No, no, don't misunderstand. I was just auditioning for you; I wasn't even joking."

"I know you were auditioning. But let me think about whether I should give you that important role." Xiao Ma hesitated.

Jeon Ji-ryeong knew it wouldn't be easy. Honestly, given that it was him, if they were somewhere where no one knew them, she might have been tempted to drag such a handsome, talented man away if she met him in a bar. Especially since this was a work assignment with massive benefits. She wore a mischievous look, pondering what would happen next.

Of course, they wouldn't just sleep together. Jeon Ji-ryeong wasn't that tacky or stupid. A man like him clearly valued the "vibe," and she was a woman who cared about her reputation. If he hadn't made a demand, she might have gone for it based on his looks and the chemistry, but since he had set conditions, she had to do the opposite. She had to keep things ambiguously suggestive—hinting that something might happen without actually letting it happen just yet. That was the art of balancing progress and retreat.

With that settled, the BMW X6 pulled into Water Village.

The big shot, Jiang Yaowen, came out to greet them personally. At first, she had thought Jiang and this handsome man were partners, but now it was clear that wasn't the case; Jiang was opening the car door for Xiao Ma with an air of complete deference.

Seeing this, Jeon Ji-ryeong felt a surge of confidence. The place was packed with people—none of whom were simple characters—but there were no introductions. Introductions were for business partners; big shots usually didn't speak when dealing with subordinates.

Jiang Yaowen gave Jeon Ji-ryeong a meaningful look, nodded slightly, and then turned back to Xiao Ma. "We still have some time before the party starts. Would you like to find a place to rest, or would you prefer to walk around?"

Finding a place to rest almost certainly meant sleeping together. Jeon Ji-ryeong didn't want that right now, so she hooked her arm through Xiao Ma’s. "It’s boring to stay cooped up. I’ll accompany Brother Xiao Ma for a walk. The scenery looks lovely and the air is fresh. I’ve been curious about this place for a long time."

That worked. Jiang Yaowen knew he didn't like to talk much, so he gave Jeon Ji-ryeong a nod of approval and went inside on his own.