158: Chapter 158 With so many women, there's simply not enough time.

At seven in the morning, Jiang Fan was woken up by his phone vibrating.

The bed beside him was empty, and faint sounds of water came from the direction of the bathroom.

The phone was still buzzing on the nightstand.

Jiang Fan turned over, felt for his phone, and the screen displayed Su Yuyan's name.

"Hello." He sat up and leaned against the headboard.

"Awake? Li Cheng came to talk to me about the movie distribution yesterday afternoon."

Jiang Fan raised his hand to rub his brow. "Mm."

"I have a few connections with theater chain managers I've worked with before. I can get a word in with Wanda, Dadi, and Jinyi."

"Tell me your thoughts."

"Produced by Spark, I'll be responsible for distribution. I want twelve percent of the box office revenue."

Su Yuyan said it very straightforwardly.

When this woman does business, that assertive streak immediately comes out.

Jiang Fan propped up the pillow and changed his posture to lean back.

Su Yuyan's connections could indeed solve the distribution problem.

She had been in the industry for over a decade and was a shareholder of Times Media, holding quite a bit of solid resources in her hands.

Things like theater scheduling are all about social connections; having a good film isn't enough, you need someone to help you boost the screening slots.

But twelve percent—that's asking for the moon.

"I can only give you eight percent."

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a few seconds.

"Ten percent is the lowest."

"Then five percent it is."

Su Yuyan: "Jiang Fan, you..."

After a two-second pause, she squeezed out a word through her teeth.

"Hmph. Eight percent it is, then."

The corners of Jiang Fan's mouth curled up.

This woman was smart; she knew that continuing to haggle with him would only drive the price lower.

"Let's discuss the specific details in person. I'll arrive in Shanghai at three this afternoon. Dinner at the usual spot tonight."

"Alright. See you tonight."

After hanging up, Jiang Fan tossed the phone back onto the nightstand.

He turned his head and glanced in the direction of the bathroom.

The sound of water hadn't stopped, intermingled with a faint humming, and she seemed quite absorbed in it.

Jiang Fan threw off the covers and got out of bed, walking barefoot on the carpet to the bathroom door.

He pushed the door open and walked in.

Steam was rising in the bathtub, and Tang Yingxue was submerged in the water, with only her shoulders and above visible.

Her hair was coiled on top of her head, casually secured with a hair clip.

She was looking down, using one hand to scoop up foam from the surface and rub it onto her arm, stroking up and down her forearm as if checking something.

Hearing the movement, Tang Yingxue looked up sharply.

Their eyes met.

She instantly covered her chest with both hands and shrank down into the water, causing a splash of soapy water to spill onto the floor tiles.

"Don't you know how to knock!"

Jiang Fan leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

"You didn't lock the door."

Tang Yingxue glared at him.

"Teacher Tang, I saw more than this last night, so why are you covering up now?"

Tang Yingxue's face burned instantly, and she gritted her teeth, saying nothing.

She simply sank herself further under the foam, leaving only her head above the water.

"Get out. I'll be done in a minute."

Jiang Fan didn't move, his gaze landing on her shoulders.

The foam blocked most of it, but the lines of her collarbone were clearly visible.

The red marks left from last night hadn't faded yet, standing out starkly against her fair, tender skin.

"What are you looking at!" Tang Yingxue slapped the water surface, splashing a few drops onto Jiang Fan's legs.

Jiang Fan walked over and crouched by the side of the bathtub.

Tang Yingxue instinctively leaned back, her back pressing against the inner wall of the bathtub.

"What are you doing? Don't come over—"

Jiang Fan reached out and removed the hair clip from the top of her head.

Her long hair fell down, the tips soaking into the water and fanning out.

"Why are you taking my hair clip off..."

Jiang Fan didn't answer; his fingers slid down the hair behind her ears, his fingertips grazing the side of her neck.

Tang Yingxue shuddered, her shoulders shrinking.

"Jiang Fan."

"Hm?"

"It's early in the morning... aren't you tired?"

Jiang Fan looked at her. The foam on the water surface slowly dissipated, providing less and less coverage.

He stood up, pulled his T-shirt up, and tossed it onto the vanity.

Tang Yingxue's pupils contracted.

"You really want to—this is a bathtub!"

Jiang Fan stepped one leg in, causing the water to slosh violently, spilling more than half of it out and covering the floor tiles in water.

Tang Yingxue braced her hands on the edge of the tub, her legs parted, and the water rushed into the space between them.

Jiang Fan's hand pressed against her waist, pulling her towards him.

Tang Yingxue's back left the tub wall, and she leaned into him, wrapping her legs around his waist.

The water became increasingly turbulent, spilling out in wave after wave.

Tang Yingxue buried her face in his shoulder, her teeth biting into his shoulder.

"Be... be gentle... water is getting... into my ears..."

Jiang Fan freed one hand, brushed the wet hair away from her ear, and kissed her earlobe.

Tang Yingxue shuddered, the hand clutching his shoulder tightening suddenly.

Another large wave of water surged out of the bathtub.

—

Tang Yingxue gripped the edge of the tub with both hands, her upper body pressed against the rim.

"I can't... I really can't..."

At the final moment, Tang Yingxue's entire body tensed into an arc, her neck arched back, and she let out a shrill, distorted cry.

The bathroom returned to silence.

Only the sound of water dripping from the bathtub remained.

Tang Yingxue lay limp in the bathtub, her chest heaving violently.

Her hand was still resting on the edge of the tub, her fingers trembling slightly.

Jiang Fan scooped Tang Yingxue out of the bathtub and wrapped her in a bath towel.

Tang Yingxue had no strength left, so he half-carried and half-supported her back to the bed.

—

Tang Yingxue sat on the edge of the bed wrapped in the towel, her hair still dripping.

She looked up as Jiang Fan changed his clothes.

"What's your schedule for today?"

"Going back to the company."

"And tonight?"

Jiang Fan's hand paused as he buttoned his shirt.

Su Yuyan had asked him to dinner.

"I have a business engagement."

Tang Yingxue's mouth turned down slightly, but she didn't press him.

She raised her hand to wring out her dripping hair, the water flowing through her fingers onto the towel.

"Then I'll stay in Shanghai for two more days."

This was said without any preamble.

But the meaning was clear—come find me when you're done with your business.

Jiang Fan walked over to her and lowered his head to touch her forehead.

"I'll give you the song this week."

Tang Yingxue gave a hum and pushed him away.

"Go on then. I need to dry my hair."

Jiang Fan grabbed his phone and jacket and left the hotel room.

The hallway was empty, and the sky outside was already bright.

He glanced at the time on his phone.

Nine forty.

Su Yuyan would arrive in Shanghai at three in the afternoon.

Tang Yingxue would be staying in Shanghai for two days.

Fortunately, Xu Qingya had gone to Kyoto for rehearsals, and Shen Nian was busy with the Gucci fitting over the next couple of days.

Jiang Fan shoved his phone into his pocket and walked toward the elevator.

His phone vibrated again.

It was a message from Shen Nian.

[Shen Nian: The Gucci fitting went well. The stylist complimented my skin and asked what skincare products I use [chuckle]]

Jiang Fan looked at it for two seconds and typed a few words in reply.

[Jiang Fan: Then don't tell her.]

[Shen Nian: Hmph.]

[Shen Nian: Are you coming back tonight?]

[Jiang Fan: Not coming back; I have a business engagement.]

After sending the message, Jiang Fan put his phone back in his pocket and pressed the down button for the elevator.

When a man has too many women around him, time is indeed not enough.

But who told him to have such a cheap life—even if there isn't enough, he has to squeeze it out.