Chapter 272

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

News that Shen Yao's Planet Film and Television would be filming a new drama had slowly begun to spread.

Because of the results of "Smoke Willow Record," Planet Film and Television was no longer an unknown entity; it had finally carved out its own reputation in the entertainment industry.

However, due to insufficient foundation, Planet Film and Television still failed to attract much attention; most people were still weighing the pros and cons, afraid that entering too early might result in losing both ways.

Regarding such worries, Shen Yao didn't take them to heart; after all, in the circle, one still had to look at individual strength.

Shen Yao's time in the circle, at most, had only been a little over a year; with only "Happy Family" in hand, Planet Film and Television could only be considered to have gained a foothold in the circle if they continued to produce hit dramas.

"Since you're so lacking in foresight, you can only miss the opportunity for nothing."

Shen Yao wouldn't wait for them to come knocking; she arranged for Ma Qingjian to handle the new project's investment solicitation. Anyway, her only target was Lu Xian—to get this person onto Planet Film and Television's carriage; everyone else could be ignored.

Lu Xian, on the other side, received the time for a formal meeting and privately began preparing in all seriousness.

As a newly risen big shot with many connections in the circle, Lu Xian had heard plenty of rumors about Planet Film and Television.

E E Website valued Shen Yao highly, giving the new drama S-class treatment.

Therefore, whatever drama Planet Film and Television would film next, no matter how bad, Lu Xian would agree to invest.

"Mr. Lu trusts Planet Film and Television, so I naturally won't disappoint Mr. Lu's expectations."

"This drama has cost Director Zheng much effort, and regarding casting, there will be strict requirements."

"If possible, I would also like to ask Mr. Lu to help recommend one or two people privately; having veteran actors join will add more luster to the whole drama."

Shen Yao blatantly wanted Lu Xian to help her find workers; there were many ins and outs regarding the new drama's casting. If Lu Xian could pull strings, they would save themselves a lot of trouble.

Lu Xian:...

Lu Xian smiled; that face of his became even more attractive when he smiled.

No wonder so many people missed Lu Xian since he stopped acting; he was simply a heaven-chosen noble prince in ancient costume, every move bringing a charming halo.

Sighing inwardly, Shen Yao continued to persuade Lu Xian; after all, they had just settled the investment matter. The new drama wasn't just Shen Yao's responsibility—Lu Xian also had to do what he could.

"Miss Shen's style is unique," perhaps others meeting him would be apprehensive and unconsciously lower their status.

Shen Yao's forthright demand made Lu Xian feel it was novel.

But only for a moment; Lu Xian was, after all, still a businessman.

A businessman—who doesn't like profit? As long as Shen Yao could bring him enough benefits, Lu Xian was very willing to serve her.

With a perfectly timed smile at the corner of his mouth, he said, "I don't know who Miss Shen thinks is more suitable. I don't yet know the situation of this drama, so I can't recommend casually."

Some were suitable, some were not; Lu Xian sought win-win results in what he did. If he botched it, it would be a case of great effort with no reward.

Shen Yao had been waiting for Lu Xian to say this. Smiling brightly, she pushed the documents on the table toward him. "The outline and plot of the new drama." Lu Xian was an actor by profession; although he no longer acted, his foundation remained. I believe he could certainly combine the roles to select suitable candidates for them.

Lu Xian flipped through them casually and was, as expected, attracted by the plot outline. Mainly, the terminal BE core of this drama was eye-catching.

Nowadays, most film and television dramas are still grand reunions, or rather, there are more theories about the male and female leads being innocent and pure.

Stereotyped characters and similar plot routines leave the audience no inclination to study anything in detail.

Most are fast-food dramas that are watched once and discarded; they can explode in popularity for a while but cannot last.

"Smoke Willow Record" is currently this type, and "Happy Family," which will be released during the Spring Festival, is also the same type.

This is what Shen Yao called making quick money—only able to harvest one batch of leeks. Unlike the drama before them, if it could truly be filmed faithfully, it could be crafted into an industry benchmark with lasting influence.

"The script remains consistent afterward?" Surely not hanging a sheep's head to sell dog meat.

Lu Xian's gaze was sharp; the hidden edge was fully revealed, and the gentle temperament he had disguised was crushed.

Shen Yao seemed completely unaware. "This drama is the painstaking effort of Director Zheng and us."

The implication was that the plot was guaranteed, and there was no need to worry about it being changed beyond recognition.

"Leave the casting to me. After I finish this period, I will be responsible."

Lu Xian had many thoughts in his heart, but in the end, he changed the subject to these things before him.

Originally, casting for the crew was the responsibility of the director and producer, but this drama had a large investment. Lu Xian had almost put in one-third of the real gold and silver, and he also saw the achievements and heights this drama might reach in the future, so he simply took over.

Shen Yao hadn't expected Lu Xian to be so cooperative; she smiled and acted as the shopkeeper.

"It's great that Mr. Lu can help." This way, she would have time to rest.

Shen Yao smiled even more sincerely. Money is earned to be spent. Shen Yao felt she had been living rather roughly lately, though her face and skin were still well-maintained.

After arranging the tasks at hand and handing the edited drama to E Goose Network, Shen Yao was carefree and took a plane back home.

Last year she was busy filming and didn't come back for the New Year. If she didn't go back today, Shen Jinshan and Huo Lan might bring people to come after them.

The two younger ones are currently in their second year of high school, with decent grades. But because they have Shen Yao, an excellent elder sister, as a role model, their daily lives are full of hardship, and their eyes are full of resentment.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao slightly embarrassedly rubbed the tip of her nose; this had nothing to do with her.

Who would have thought that Shen Yao's haphazard operations actually made money, but it made Shen Jinshan and Huo Lan famous in their own circle.

After all, the negative example is the daughter of the Chen Family; how the Chen Family's business is going goes without saying.

"You just film any drama and make money. This money comes too fast. No wonder so many people want to enter the entertainment industry."

Huo Lan had also been paying more attention to the trends of the entertainment industry lately; she could even rattle off some terms.

Shen Jinshan had a smile all over his face, feeling that Shen Yao had a good eye for investment, which was like him.

Huo Lan rolled her eyes. "Previously, you still looked down on our daughter for not engaging in proper business." Now that she made money, she immediately changed her attitude. Truly someone in real estate—changing faces is fast.

Shen Jinshan also had something to say: "Times change. Our daughter has talent; she should deeply cultivate this field."

"Daughter, this is the money Dad prepared for you. Take it and use it however you like."

"Since you know your own daughter isn't a spendthrift, what are you waiting for? We need to get someone to make money with money quickly."

Shen Jinshan produced a bank card right away, with tens of millions in cash inside; compared to the few million in startup capital given at first, it was simply a small witch meeting a great witch.

Seeing this, Huo Lan rolled her eyes even harder, but she wasn't soft-handed; Shen Jinshan gave, and she gave too.

Shen Yao:...

On her first day back home, Shen Yao accepted two glittering bank cards under the envious gazes of her younger brother and sister.

Life at home was always comfortable, and besides, some things didn't require her to busy herself; as long as she occasionally followed up, others would arrange and adjust everything else.

"Young Lady Shen is at leisure; I wonder if, after returning to Jing Shi, we might share a simple meal together?"

Lu Xian called more frequently than before, possibly because the other party was responsible for casting; although Zheng Dao was the director of this play, major decisions still had to be finalized by Shen Yao and Lu Xian.

Lu Xian simply handled it directly, saving Zheng Dao from further anxiety and hesitation.

Take those veteran actors, especially those who had won many awards—they were not people Zheng Dao could afford to offend; from the project's inception, people had constantly been testing the waters, and later Lu Xian invested to bring in talent, so without realizing it, this play had attracted much attention in the circle.

Zheng Dao was thus frightened out of his wits, fearing that one day he might accidentally be fired by the leadership and the play he had painstakingly prepared for so long would not be allowed to be shot by him.

Shen Yao:... What a wild imagination.

Fortunately, Shen Yao didn't mind these things, and she also secretly gave Zheng Dao a heads-up, which finally put Zheng Dao at ease, so he honestly prepared the play's production matters.

Now with Lu Xian's help, the play's cast was mostly decided; once the contracts were sorted out later, filming could begin right after the Spring Festival.

"Mr. Lu is too courteous; I should be the one treating you." Lu Xian had no shortcomings, no wonder people in the circle were so eager to have him as a financial backer.

A light laugh came from the other end of the phone, its hazy tone directly softening half of her cheek; Shen Yao hung up the phone with a calm face, privately sighing that this man was a calamitous beauty who could not be easily provoked.

Lu Xian, judged as someone not to be easily provoked, still didn't know his evaluation in Shen Yao's eyes; he was busy handling the company's business.

Although most of his investments were in the entertainment industry, some were still unrelated to it.

Although Lu Xian usually didn't have to rise early and work late like an office worker, he still had to be busy for several days at the end of every month.

Especially since he took on casting work, not to mention eighty or ninety percent of the entire entertainment industry, but about fifty or sixty percent of people had contacted him for testing.

Lu Xian was tight-lipped, selecting suitable ones to send to the play crew, and for unsuitable ones, he didn't directly refuse but left enough room for future communication.

Planet Film and Television's situation was getting better and better, and more plays would be filmed later.

These actors were objects that could cooperate; there was no need to offend them all right now.

Lu Xian had always been the smooth type; when he was an actor, he was very good at handling colleague relationships, and after he stopped acting and switched to investment, he was even more like a fish in water.

For now, by the light of the lit lamp, Lu Xian hurriedly handled the accumulated business, looking at the good projects above to add investment.

Shen Yao did not stay at her hometown for the New Year, but flew back to Jing Shi from home before the year ended.

"Joyful Family" was about to be released.

This time Shen Yao came back, first for the play's promotion, and second for the play crew's preparation matters.

Zheng Dao once again threw himself into the tense filming environment; he didn't look very energetic, and the two dark circles under his eyes were especially obvious.

"Director Zheng, this is..." Shen Yao was surprised; originally she had thought of letting Zheng Dao attend the promotion work for "Joyful Family," but now it could be saved.

"General Manager Shen, I'm going to the Film and Television Base to set up the scene first; this play is relatively important to me," he said; just sitting there doing nothing was simply a heart-scratching and liver-itching agony.

Especially since the script had already been written, the plot above was determined only after he and several screenwriters gathered together and seriously revised it countless times.

To ensure his painstaking efforts were not wasted, Zheng Dao felt that this time, he had to do everything personally; whatever he did, he had to go through it himself.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao also didn't expect that Zheng Dao actually had this kind of thought and pursuit; however, she didn't lose out either.

Nodding in agreement to Zheng Dao's request, Shen Yao didn't forget to prepare what she should (mainly the startup capital), then cheerfully saw Zheng Dao off on the plane, and herself turned around to inspect two beauty salons.

The beauty salon's business was as booming as ever; Shen Yao calculated the funds she had acquired and decided to open a few more around Jing Shi, especially near the Film and Television Base, a natural source of customers that couldn't be missed.

Although Shen Yao had no intention of making the beauty salon big and strong, the daily cash flow of the beauty salon was really too much.

That fellow, clatter clatter all gold money, making Shen Yao's eyes turn into the shape of gold coins.

The system jumped out to complain that the host was doing things twice; clearly she should have taken the business line from the start, but instead she took a detour to make money by filming plays.

'How could it be the same? Besides, although the beauty salon's cash flow is high, it can't compare to the income of "Smoke Willow Record" in less than half a year.'

The existence of a small goal as high as that; no wonder they all say filming plays makes money, it really does!

'Alright, I'll find a professional to take full charge of the beauty salon later.'

As for other things, her main energy was still on the entertainment industry side.

Slapping her head, she still had to continue finding suitable novels to buy copyrights and store them; Planet Film and Television's newcomers arrived with three fires, and once things were heated up, they should open the doors for business.

To make money from filming plays, more effort had to be put into quality; the director and screenwriter aspects couldn't stop, and if suitable ones were found, they still had to be signed back.

Besides, she also had to use this layer of relationship with Lu Xian and other capital to have some dealings; she couldn't just wait for the other side to make a move.

After tallying up everything she needed to do in her heart, Shen Yao spent a huge sum to treat Lu Xian to a meal.

Lu Xian looked smiling throughout, making Shen Yao feel this person was a bit of a smiling tiger; was he scheming against her in his heart?

If Lu Xian heard this, he would surely shout that he was wronged; he was clear and white, and smiling to welcome was purely out of happiness, after all everyone makes money together, who would feel stifled.

Taking advantage of this meal, Shen Yao mentioned her idea to Lu Xian.

Lu Xian didn't find it surprising; he even felt Shen Yao's suggestion was a bit late; since entering this circle, some mountains that should be bowed to should still be bowed to.

However, Lu Xian, for the sake of the new play investment, decided to accompany Shen Yao.

At least with him there, some people who didn't like Planet Film and Television could restrain themselves a bit.

"Not pleasing to the eye?"

Her Planet Film and Television was just a small transparent; how could anyone find it not pleasing to the eye?

"Two plays came out in succession; the previous one became a hit, and the next one is already scheduled; what do you think?"

She wasn't a stupid person; whose family didn't have two or three personal connections? The situation of "Joyful Family" could be guessed one or two just by looking at the posture of E E Website.

Everyone feared Planet Film and Television would score a second consecutive hit and bury their year's effort.

One must know that at year's end, besides various galas, every household settles its accounts, and how much money can be earned is all laid out on the surface.