Chapter 343: Some things should be taken seriously, others should not (13,000)

Lu Yan He does indeed often remind himself of one thing: do not take many things too seriously.

Chen Ziyan also often tells him the same.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, Chen Ziyan actually told him that there were people who truly believed he was a decent person, and thus spoke up for him without any motivation of self-interest.

Lu Yan He felt inexplicably disillusioned.

In the entertainment industry, how much sincerity is there, and how much is feigned for the sake of profit?

Chen Ziyan said: "He said one thing very well, Yan He: everyone likes you because you haven't changed yourself because of this environment. The words he spoke also touched me deeply."

People like Yang San do not seem to be rare in the entertainment industry.

Many people have expressed their own views on Lu Yan He as a person.

This is the situation one must inevitably face when becoming a topic of public discussion; everyone will talk about you.

"If Yu Jiang could just brush her hands clean so simply and act as if the past never happened, that would be too disgusting," Chen Ziyan said bluntly. "Li Zhibai was absolutely right to scold her; her skin is just too thick."

Lu Yan He nodded.

Ruyi Films has also been having a headache these past two days.

Collaborating with an author like Yu Jiang has both advantages and disadvantages.

The advantage lies in the fact that her works are indeed quite popular, and she has a fan base, and her past drama adaptations have had decent results.

The disadvantage, however, is that she is too restless.

It's not that an author must disappear behind their work and remain invisible. However, you cannot frequently pop up, stir up unexpected trouble, and make the controversy grow ever larger.

They had a very good plan for the film adaptations: three films, all intended to cast first-tier actors rather than using newcomers.

Among them was Li Zhibai.

In such a situation, could they still approach Li Zhibai?

Ruyi Films had no choice but to send someone to communicate with Yu Jiang, asking her not to stir up so much trouble anymore.

This infuriated Yu Jiang to no end.

However, the contract between Yu Jiang and Ruyi Films clearly stated that the author had an obligation not to bring negative public opinion to the filming and release of the films; once such a thing happened, Ruyi Films could hold Yu Jiang accountable.

For Yu Jiang, the three films in collaboration with Ruyi Films were a very important step in her career map.

From drama to film, it is all visualization for the audience, but for her, they are two different worlds.

There have already been successful cases of her novels being adapted into dramas, but not films.

For a writer like Yu Jiang, whose writing career and film/television adaptations are almost completely bundled together, it is impossible not to pay attention to this point.

She could only grit her teeth and swallow the bitterness.

What made Yu Jiang the most annoyed and angry about the whole affair was that even though she had already lowered her head to Lu Yan He, Lu Yan He still wouldn't buy it, and even dragged Li Zhibai and a few others in front of the cameras to mock her.

Yu Jiang felt extremely stifled inside.

This wave of trouble brought Lu Yan He no small amount of attention.

More variety shows came looking for Lu Yan He.

Some exaggerated ones even offered a price of three million for just one episode if Lu Yan He would appear.

This price had already exceeded his market rate.

Chen Ziyan said: "You appear on shows rarely, so even if your fee rises quickly, there are still people willing to offer higher prices."

For an artist like Lu Yan He, a recording fee of three million for one episode is considered very high. After all, he is not an artist like Li Zhibai or Ma Zhiyuan who possesses terrifying fan power; if it weren't for his high level of topicality, such a price would not be something the platforms would pay for.

This is also the paradoxical nature of this market—because Lu Yan He's quantitative metrics are not as good as Li Zhibai's and Ma Zhiyuan's, his price in the variety show market cannot be raised like theirs. If it weren't for Lu Yan He appearing on trending searches every now and then, these production teams would absolutely not offer him such a figure.

By comparison, Lu Yan He's pay for acting in a drama is far higher than Li Zhibai's and Ma Zhiyuan's. Because his past resume allows him to "carry a drama," platforms and brands will pay for it.

To say something that might attract hate, Lu Yan He really doesn't lack the income from recording variety shows right now.

When he records a show now, it is often for other factors, not because of money.

*Jump Up* now brings Lu Yan He an income in the tens of millions annually, not to mention his acting and screenwriting fees.

At the end of May, Chen Siqi specifically brought Li Bi to Yuming to sign the cooperation agreement.

The agreement stipulates that they will support Li Bi in building his personal video channel for a total of eight years. After eight years, the contract expires, at which point they will discuss renewal, or Li Bi can take this video channel and leave.

This left Li Bi shocked beyond measure.

Even if he didn't understand the market, he knew that nowadays, a social media account of an internet celebrity is basically the property of the company, and it is rarely given to the internet celebrity personally.

Chen Siqi said: "We will make a large investment in you in the first two years. For the first two years, you don't need to worry about profitability; just build up your influence and heat first."

Li Bi was a bit dazed and asked: "Then if there is no profit, what will I rely on to support myself?"

Chen Siqi said: "For the first two years, we will pay you an annual salary of 200,000. Starting from the third year, you will have to earn your own money to support yourself. We need a video channel, and even more, we need a video channel that understands the entertainment industry and can create influence. We will provide you with resources and connections, such as Teacher Jia Long, whom you have already contacted. However, how to film, what to film, and in what form it will finally be broadcast—this is something you need to consider. We will create topics and operate data for you, but this is not unlimited. Actually, simply put, we are using the investment of the first two years to exchange for you earning profits for us in the following six years. This is also a form of cooperation that we have calculated to be relatively mutually beneficial."

Li Bi understood a little.

He asked: "Then, how much of the profit from this video channel can I get?"

Chen Siqi said: "Excluding your base salary, for the first four years, we take 70%, and for the last four years, we take 50%."

Hearing this split ratio, Li Bi breathed a sigh of relief; fortunately, it wasn't too excessive.

Chen Siqi said: "This ratio is not low, but I hope you understand that we will provide you with artist resources and filming opportunities that others cannot provide. In the first two years, we will also invest no less than one million annually in marketing and promotion on you. This is the cost we incur, while you operate with almost zero cost, and we bear the risks. You only need to do your content well. I think this split ratio is relatively reasonable. Take a look, do you have any objections?"

Li Bi shook his head. "I accept."

Compared to what he knew about the situation, this was actually much better.

He also knew that what Chen Siqi said was true. Especially after the eight-year contract ended, this video channel would belong to him. Just this point alone was almost impossible to get anywhere else.

Lu Yan He said to Li Bi: "Li Bi, do you know why we want to do such a video channel?"

Li Bi swallowed his throat and said: "Actually, after receiving your invitation, I conducted an investigation into the self-media of *Jump Up*. I found that you all use text-based descriptions and have almost no video content. Whether it is your self-media or the personal accounts of each of your editors, you haven't kept up with the short video trend, which has actually caused you to miss out on a lot of traffic."

"Exactly," Lu Yan He nodded. "You are the first video channel blogger we have signed. There might be a second or third in the future, but the first one always has a different significance. Only when you succeed will there be those who follow. I invited you to join the *Jump Up* team because I really appreciate the various efforts you made to film me. This persistent spirit is the key to success. I believe that as long as you have the opportunity and the platform, you will be able to stand out."

Li Bi was flattered.

"Thank you."

"Then have you thought about what you want to film?" Lu Yan He asked.

Li Bi asked: "Isn't it just filming videos similar to vlogs for artists?"

Lu Yan He shook his head. "For things like that, the artists' own teams can film them. Why would they need to find you to film them?"

"Then I really don't know," Li Bi said. "I thought it was just like that."

Lu Yan He said: "This requires you to think for yourself—what kind of things your video channel can film, and why everyone should come to watch your videos."

Chen Siqi said: "Actually, it all comes down to a novel concept and column. If you don't do interviews, and you aren't good at doing interviews—that's not your specialty—then that's equivalent to leaving it to luck. If you happen to film good material, there's something to watch, but what if you don't?"

Li Bi said: "But that's how we usually are. Many times, we follow for two or three months and don't follow anything useful."

Chen Siqi nodded. "We aren't asking you to continue being a paparazzi and leaving it to luck. You should think for yourself: what kind of look do you want to film this into?"

Li Bi asked: "Then what if I film something that isn't suitable for the artist to release?"

Lu Yan He said: "Film it first, then we'll see. Actually, this is a problem you need to consider: what kind of media do you ultimately want to be, and how much authenticity do you want to reflect? If you only release what the artists are willing to release, the audience will find it boring. If you release everything the artists aren't willing to release, the audience will be thrilled, but will you be able to book other artists in the future? You need to weigh this balance yourself."

Li Bi looked blank and said: "Why does it sound... like an unsolvable problem?"

"It's not an unsolvable problem, but for every situation that arises, there is no reference answer; you need to weigh it yourself," Lu Yan He said. "We don't have experience in this either; we can only speak of some principles we think we know. It's just that as an artist myself, my feelings and attitudes toward different media reporters and paparazzi are actually different. Some people make me willing to cooperate, while others make me not want to cooperate. Some things I am willing to tell one media outlet, while the same words, perhaps to another media outlet, I wouldn't want to say. How to make star artists bring out things in your short videos that they aren't willing to bring out elsewhere—this is what I, standing from the artist's perspective, think you need to ponder carefully."

Upon hearing this, Li Bi nodded and said okay.

After chatting with Li Bi, Lu Yan He and Chen Siqi bought two tickets to a photography exhibition and went to browse the exhibition together.

They weren't interested in the photography exhibition; they just wanted to find something to do together.

Chen Siqi said: "Regarding our video channel, I've also been thinking: besides launching Li Bi as a video blogger, can we also develop an official *Jump Up* video channel? Indeed, the traffic for short videos is too huge right now. If we don't do it, it's a waste of this trend."

Lu Yan He asked: "How do you want to do it?"

"I want to synchronize some columns into video format, such as book recommendations, film and television reviews, and even the character interviews in each issue of our magazine could be made into an interview program," Chen Siqi said. "What do you think?"

Lu Yan He said: "I have many ideas, but I'm just worried that we have too few hands to support so many ideas."

"We have already expanded our recruitment, and now we are slowly cultivating people," Chen Siqi said. "I am also preparing to implement a column responsibility system. For example, I plan to hand over the book recommendation column to Bai Yu, and for film and television reviews, especially reviews of foreign film and television dramas, Linyu's English is so good that it's most suitable to hand it to her."

"What about interviews?" Lu Yan He asked.

Chen Siqi said: "What do you think of Peng Zhixing?"

"Brother Zhixing?" Lu Yan He was taken aback. "He is a signed host for Arctic Light Video. Arctic Light Video won't let him come to us to do a new program, will they?"

Chen Siqi: "We aren't doing a formal program; we are doing some interviews in the form of short videos, which doesn't conflict with their *Zhixing*. Moreover, we aren't mainly targeting star artists, but big names from all walks of life."

Lu Yan He: "I can't be sure about this either; I have to have a serious talk with Arctic Light Video and Brother Zhixing."

Chen Siqi nodded. "How about this: I'll communicate with Arctic Light Video, and you are familiar with Peng Zhixing, so you talk to him? If we can get him to bring his team to be responsible for this column, we will all be at ease; we all know his level."

Peng Zhixing is currently the best among the younger generation of hosts at doing character interviews.

Lu Yan He said okay.

The two chatted about work while looking at the photography exhibition.

Actually, neither of them understood it very well; they only had an intuitive feeling—good-looking or not good-looking.

Fortunately, the space of the photography exhibition was relatively large, and there weren't that many people.

Lu Yan He and Chen Siqi walked in the exhibition hall together and only occasionally attracted the attention of others, being secretly photographed, but no one took the initiative to walk up to them and disturb them.

Lu Yan He suddenly saw a familiar figure.

"Is that Sister Zixing?" he asked, looking at the back of a woman in a pink casual suit in front.

Chen Siqi looked in that direction.

"Looking at the back, it looks a bit like her."

Just as they were speaking, that person turned sideways and looked in the direction of the left.

Her profile was exposed to Lu Yan He and Chen Siqi.

They confirmed that she was indeed Xin Zixing.

"Should we go over and say hello?" Lu Yan He asked.

Just after asking, another figure suddenly walked over from the left.

He was wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, covering himself very tightly.

From his physique, one could tell he was a fit man.

In the photography exhibition, there weren't many such men, but there weren't few either.

However, Lu Yan He and Chen Siqi both recognized this person at the first moment.

There was no way around it, because they were just too familiar.

"That's Huang Kai, right?"

"Looking at him, it should be Brother Huang."

Lu Yan He took out his phone and sent a message to Huang Kai: Brother Huang, are you at the photography exhibition?

He watched Huang Kai pick up his phone, take a look, turn his head to look around, searching for something, and finally his gaze settled on him.

The two sides looked at each other.

"I want to invite Huang Kai to record an episode of *City Travelogue*."

Twenty minutes later, the four of them were sitting in a nearby coffee shop, staring at each other. Xin Zixing broke the silence first and explained.

Lu Yan He nodded.

Huang Kai even joked and asked: "Yan He, you won't mind, will you?"

Lu Yan He shook his head. "Why would I mind?"

Between Huang Kai and Xin Zixing, there was a distance of about two fists.

Instead, there was a bit more deliberation.

Chen Siqi's gaze wandered between the two of them.

Are they here to talk about work?

Chen Siqi herself often talks about work with people, and it's not like she hasn't met people she wants to cooperate with at art exhibitions or photography exhibitions, but it's usually because the other party has these preferences, and she hopes to increase the other party's favor and the probability of cooperation by meeting in such an environment, so she would choose such a place.

Xin Zixing representing the Ye Mai network to talk about cooperation with Huang Kai himself at a photography exhibition?

Who are you trying to fool?

For an artist of Huang Kai's level, their work is all handled by a huge agency team.

Work at the level of *City Travelogue* is not even at the level where an agent would bother to show up in person.

Actually, Xin Zixing and Huang Kai could also feel that Lu Yan He and Chen Siqi didn't believe at all that they were out to talk about cooperation.

But they also pretended not to know.

Acting with each other.

Xin Zixing took the initiative to throw the topic to Lu Yan He and Chen Siqi.

"Are you two on a date?"

Chen Siqi: "I had something to come back for, and it just so happened he had time, so we came to see the exhibition."

Xin Zixing: "You really are hardworking, traveling back and forth between Yuming and Jiangguang so frequently."

Chen Siqi: "Not as hardworking as you, Sister Zixing, filming *City Travelogue*, having to run all over the country."

Xin Zixing said: "I heard you are preparing to do a video channel?"

"Yes," Chen Siqi nodded. "Before, our team only had so many people, so we had to prioritize doing the magazine well. Now that the team's manpower is slowly becoming sufficient, we also want to develop new sectors and expand our influence."

Xin Zixing nodded.

Huang Kai said to Lu Yan He: "You are going to act in Director Chen Lingling's new play with Ceng Qiao later, right?"

"Yes," Lu Yan He nodded. "Brother Huang, when will you enter the crew later?"

"It will have to be the second half of the year," Huang Kai said. "The next play is a realistic-themed period drama."

Lu Yan He was a bit surprised.

"A period drama?"

"Yeah, it tells the story of entrepreneurs in the nineties of the last century," Huang Kai said. "It's not a family drama."

Lu Yan He suddenly understood.

"Who is the director?"

"Yu Huai, the director of *Long Day*."

This is also a big director. Although Lu Yan He had never met Yu Huai, he knew the drama *Long Day*, which had won many awards before, including the Best Actor Jiang Ming for the Honghe Awards.

As soon as Lu Yan He heard the director's name, he reacted; this drama should also be a mainstream drama aiming for awards.

Whether it is Jiang Yuqian or Huang Kai, after the successful transformation in *Golden Age*, they seem to hope to go further on the road of mainstream dramas.

It's just that the *Human Fireworks* filmed by Jiang Yuqian was lukewarm, and the effect was not good.

Lu Yan He didn't know how Huang Kai's drama would turn out this time. However, since it is Director Yu Huai, the quality should not be bad.

Huang Kai asked: "When are you planning to film the movie *Lost on Journey*?"

Lu Yan He said: "I don't know about this yet; the director hasn't been decided yet. Teacher Jia Long is looking for a director together with Arctic Light Video, and the filming crew hasn't been assembled yet."

"I'm so envious; you can star in a movie with Teacher Jia Long."

"I'm not acting," Lu Yan He said immediately.

"Ah?" Huang Kai looked at Lu Yan He in surprise, looking stunned.

"To be precise, I'm not starring; I might make a cameo in a role," Lu Yan He said.

Huang Kai said: "But I heard that this movie has two male leads."

"That is indeed true, but I'm not acting; neither role is suitable for me," Lu Yan He explained. "The other male lead might hold auditions when the time comes."

Huang Kai asked immediately: "Then do you think it's suitable for me?"

"Brother Huang, it's not suitable for you either," Lu Yan He said with a smile. "I estimate we need to find a newcomer to act."

"A newcomer?"

"Yeah, because it's a very simple, naturally-natured character."

Huang Kai said "Oh."

Lu Yan He suddenly remembered something and asked: "Have you met with Director Wang Zhong?"

Lu Yan He had told Huang Kai before that he wanted to invite him to try out for *Rouge*.

Huang Kai said: "Not yet, I haven't been able to make an appointment."

Lu Yan He: "Actually, I think Brother Huang, you are very suitable for the male lead of this movie."

Huang Kai showed hesitation.

"What's wrong, Brother Huang?"

Huang Kai said: "Although I haven't met with Director Wang Zhong yet, I have already talked on the phone twice. He introduced the role he wants me to play, and I... I'm not sure if I can act it well."

The role of Twelve Young Master is indeed difficult to act. Although the perspective of this movie is mainly Ruhu, the role of Twelve Young Master has not become simple because of this. His affection, cowardice, and selfishness are no small challenge for any actor.

No actor can walk into this role without psychological burden.

Lu Yan He didn't know if Huang Kai felt that the role of Twelve Young Master was difficult to act, or if he had backed out after learning that this role was relatively negative.

If it was the latter, Lu Yan He actually understood.

An actor like Huang Kai actually doesn't need to take risks at all. If he acts in this movie, he might ascend, but he might also destroy his screen image. For Huang Kai, he has not yet reached the point where he can ignore his screen image and public impression.

Lu Yan He could only persuade Huang Kai: "Brother Huang, this is not a very bad character; he is just cowardly, and he has his charm."

Lu Yan He would say this because he had seen the Twelve Young Master played by Zhang Guorong.

Such a negative character was interpreted by Zhang Guorong in a way that made people feel he was dashing and romantic, selfish and fickle, yet the audience only sighed, not resentful. Being able to act such a character to this extent is Zhang Guorong's own ability.

However, Huang Kai had not seen it. He had no reference and could only guess from the script and the character itself. Therefore, he could only see the selfishness, cowardice, betrayal, and sadness of the character itself.

As a popular actor with a very positive image, it really takes a lot of courage to play such a role.

Huang Kai said: "I might have to meet with Director Wang Zhong and have a serious talk before I can make a decision." Lu Yan He nodded.

Lu Yan He truly understood Huang Kai's hesitation 100%.

Many people often say that an actor is very cowardly when evaluating an actor, and dare not play a negative image role.

However, that is because many people don't know that sometimes, a negative image role might directly delay an actor's acting career.

In the past few decades, there have been too many actors who have been stereotyped by a role.

Why don't actors dare to play villains easily?

Because once a villain role is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, there will be few film and television dramas looking for you to play positive characters.

Just like the actress who played Rong Momo in *My Fair Princess*, the old lady Li Mingqi, she was at the level of being thrown eggs by the audience on the street; who would dare to ask her to play a positive image? There is also She Shiman, because of her negative role in *War and Beauty*, she lost an endorsement, the reason being that the advertiser thought such an image was not suitable for their brand, so She Shiman did not take on any villain roles for many years.

All actors who dare to play real villains and dare to offend the audience with their image have either reached the point where they won't be stereotyped by a role, or they need an opportunity to be known by everyone, even if it is a villain, it is better than no one knowing them. And actors between these two almost never play villains easily.

This is not a question of whether to sacrifice for art, but a question of whether one can hold onto one's rice bowl.

The role of Twelve Young Master is not a villain, but it is indeed negative.

And except for Lu Yan He, no one in this world knows that this role will become a classic in film history.

Lu Yan He cannot tell Huang Kai that the role of Twelve Young Master will become his representative work and will be a heavy stroke on his acting resume.

If he says so, Huang Kai won't really believe it either.

There is no way, words are not proof.

How to find a suitable actor who can act as a rival to Chen Bige and is also willing to play such a negative role is very headache-inducing.

Lu Yan He only hopes that Huang Kai can finally make a right decision.

Standing from a God's perspective, he knows the right decision is to take this play and play Twelve Young Master.

The four of them drank coffee in the coffee shop, and Lu Yan He and Chen Siqi made an excuse that they had something to do later and left first.

As soon as they left, Chen Siqi looked at Lu Yan He and asked: "You also think there is something wrong with the two of them, right?"

Lu Yan He nodded without hesitation. "There must be something wrong."

Chen Siqi: "I don't know when the two of them got together."

Lu Yan He: "Actually, I suddenly remembered one thing."

"What thing?"

"When I was filming *Golden Age* in Langhua, one night, I happened to run into Brother Huang buying condoms at a convenience store next to the hotel."

"Ah?" Chen Siqi was taken aback.

"However, the next morning, I met Sister Zixing in the hotel restaurant," Lu Yan He said. "I met Sister Zixing at that time."

Chen Siqi showed a look of shock, her face full of disbelief.

"Are you over-connecting a few things?" Chen Siqi's first reaction was to feel strange.

Lu Yan He said: "Maybe it's just a coincidence, but looking back carefully, there were really several times when I ran into the two of them at the same time and in the same place. I didn't take it seriously before, just thought it was a coincidence."

"So many coincidences... is it still a coincidence?" Even Chen Siqi was shaken.

"Could it be that the two of them have been together for a long time?" Chen Siqi said.

The two looked at each other.

Both saw the meaning of "there really is such a possibility" on each other's faces.

Chen Siqi said: "If that's really the case, then their confidentiality work is too well done."

Lu Yan He sighed: "Yeah."

Chen Siqi: "Then are you going to confirm this with them?"

"Forget it, since they didn't take the initiative to say it, I won't ask. Asking won't change anything, and it will be awkward instead," Lu Yan He said.

Chen Siqi: "Hmm, what you said is also right."

The two of them stopped talking when they reached this point.

Their eyes looked at each other seriously, as if they could see into the depths of each other's souls.

After talking so much about other people's affairs, they suddenly realized that they were on a date.

Chen Siqi's mouth opened and closed so many times, still rosy.

Lu Yan He's gaze stayed on it, and he suddenly felt a burst of almost instinctive dry mouth, and couldn't help but swallow his throat.

Chen Siqi noticed Lu Yan He's gradually changing eyes, and her usually indifferent personality suddenly became shy, turning her head away, not daring to look at Lu Yan He again.

Then, Lu Yan He suddenly kissed her.

#Lu Yan He and Chen Siqi kiss on the street to show their affection! #

Chen Ziyan swore that she had never thought that one day she would see such news about Lu Yan He on her phone.

What happened to the maturity, steadiness, and rationality?

What happened to not making people worry?

Although Lu Yan He won't be affected by such things now, and he had already officially announced his relationship with Chen Siqi long ago.

Chen Ziyan thought to herself, the hormones of these young people are too full; they are so unable to restrain themselves, they can't even help but kiss, and they have to kiss on the street?!

She looked at the two people in the photo who had no scruples and silently clicked her tongue.

Although she was complaining about the trouble Lu Yan He brought her, she had to admit that the photo looked quite pleasing to the eye; the intimate actions of a handsome man and a beautiful woman were very good-looking.

"Speaking of which, he's just a young guy. No matter how he pretends to be usually, at the critical moment, there's no difference," Chen Ziyan complained to Lu Qingzhen.

Lu Qingzhen said: "Do you hope he's not normal?"

Chen Ziyan: "Tsk, it's just seeing the two of them in love, it makes me feel a bit emotional."

"Emotional about those missing ex-boyfriends of yours?"

"Emotional that I once had such a romantic relationship," Chen Ziyan glared at Lu Qingzhen. "Can you not just pick the things I don't want to hear to say?"

Lu Qingzhen: "You can still have a romantic relationship now."

"Forget it, I don't have the heart for it. My heart is full of calculations, and there's no room for a love brain," Chen Ziyan said listlessly.

Lu Qingzhen looked at Chen Ziyan like this and knew that her good friend had gradually given up some things over the years.

The two were silent for a moment, and Lu Qingzhen asked: "How is that company of yours coming along? When do you need me to go over?"

Chen Ziyan said: "I'm digging for people. The official launch will definitely be next year. Many things need to be communicated in advance, and we need a good start."

Lu Qingzhen nodded.

"What you are going to do has not appeared in the entertainment industry yet. The difficulties and resistance will definitely be great, and in this way, almost all agencies will treat you as a thorn in their side. You are grabbing business from all agencies."

"This is only temporary, and besides, I am doing business for a very small portion of artists," Chen Ziyan said. "I can't grab much of their business."

Lu Qingzhen was not optimistic about this.

She asked: "Do the few artists you lead know about this? You are doing such a company, it's very obvious that the energy you invest in the three of them will be less. Won't they have objections? Especially Lu Yan He, he is currently in a period of rapid career rise and is the time when he needs you to fight side by side with him the most."

"You're wrong," Chen Ziyan shook her head. "What he needs most right now is not an agent who can help him find good projects, handle big directors, and plan his career; he needs an agent who can protect him to the greatest extent and let him grow smoothly. I am opening this company to do these things, making people at the top of the pyramid my collaborators—this is what he needs most right now."

Regarding Chen Ziyan's statement, Lu Qingzhen was surprised, but at the same time felt it made sense.

Suddenly, at this moment, Lu Qingzhen's phone rang.

She picked it up and looked at it, frowning unexpectedly.

"Why is Ma Zhongquan calling me?"

Chen Ziyan was also a bit surprised upon hearing this.

Ma Zhongquan usually didn't have any direct work connection with Lu Qingzhen and basically wouldn't contact Lu Qingzhen directly.

Lu Qingzhen answered the phone and responded twice. She didn't know what Ma Zhongquan said, but she only saw Lu Qingzhen's face becoming more and more ugly.

Chen Ziyan couldn't help but frown.

Could it be that Ma Zhongquan couldn't do anything to her and turned his spearhead to Lu Qingzhen again?

In the company, the relationship between Lu Qingzhen and Chen Ziyan was not a secret; many people knew they were close.

Ma Zhongquan also knew.

"If it were an ordinary small matter, I wouldn't say anything. For Chen Ziyan's sake, I would also treat you with some leniency."

What Ma Zhongquan said made Lu Qingzhen want to roll her eyes.

"However, this time you delayed Ma Zhiyuan's business. He is the top artist in our company and also the most profitable artist in our company. You delayed one of his business collaborations, and he is now furious. Tell me, what should be done?" Ma Zhongquan looked at Lu Qingzhen and asked with an ugly face.

Lu Qingzhen said: "Mr. Ma, I think some things should be clarified first. The brand Veden did indeed want to find Ma Zhiyuan at first. I pushed it to Zhou Ping'an and communicated with him three times, but Ma Zhiyuan himself was always dissatisfied with the endorsement price and refused to agree. It is normal for a veteran top luxury brand like Veden to offer an endorsement price lower than the market price, but Ma Zhiyuan wouldn't listen. As a result, Veden took a fancy to Li Zhibai and wanted to cooperate with Li Zhibai. How can this be blamed on me?"

Ma Zhongquan said: "I don't know how much of what you said is true, but Ma Zhiyuan insists that it is because you were negligent and did not follow up on the brand's attitude and news in time that he did not agree in time. If you had told him the brand's attitude the first time, he would have made a different decision."

"Mr. Ma, if you want to add a crime, why worry about not having words? Whether I told Zhou Ping'an the news the first time, whether it was the brand's attitude or other news, I have message records on my phone," Lu Qingzhen looked at Ma Zhongquan toughly. "If you want to use this reason to mess with me, I'm sorry, I am not dough for you to knead."

Ma Zhongquan sneered and said: "Do you think the company will choose you between you and Ma Zhiyuan? It's not that we want to mess with you now; it's that Ma Zhiyuan thinks this matter is your problem. Okay, the company's most profitable artist is unhappy with you. Tell me, what should we do?"

"I don't care what you do, but I only have one sentence: whether it's you or him, whatever you want to do, whatever hat you want to put on me, you first clarify whether you can put this hat on me," Lu Qingzhen's face was covered in frost. "Ma Zhiyuan lost his endorsement and took his anger out on me. Okay, if you think this is a settled fact and don't intend to investigate the truth, then just say what you intend to do. Let's not beat around the bush; say whatever you have to say."

Ma Zhongquan said: "You are an old employee of the company. You should know that sometimes, even if it's not your fault, the company does not profit based on right or wrong."

"Hmm, but we discuss justice based on right or wrong," Lu Qingzhen said. "I am an old employee of the company; I know how to protect myself, and you don't need to come and fool me."

Ma Zhongquan said: "You leave the company, you set the conditions. Ma Zhiyuan thinks this matter is your fault; we have to give him an explanation."

"I leave the company? Hehe, okay, one year's salary as compensation."

"This is impossible."

"If you want to drive me away casually, then let's see each other in court," Lu Qingzhen said. "I have been working conscientiously at Star Entertainment. In terms of work, in terms of results, I have a clean account."

Ma Zhongquan knew that this woman Lu Qingzhen was difficult to deal with. How could someone who had been able to roam the business department for so many years without falling be a good person?

However, she put her posture so high, which was something Ma Zhongquan did not expect.

"If you are so stiff with us, do you think there will be other companies in this industry that will use you?"

"Mr. Ma, I have reached this point. Wherever I go, I can bring dozens of brand business resources. Are you underestimating me, or underestimating everyone's need for profit?" Lu Qingzhen said. "If you want to drive me away with a trumped-up charge, I don't care if it's Ma Zhiyuan's opinion or whose opinion it is. If you don't provide enough compensation, let's see who can outlast whom. I want to see, if Ma Zhiyuan's behavior is exposed, whether the brands that cooperate with him will still think he fits the brand's image requirements."

Ma Zhongquan: "Lu Qingzhen, you have a confidentiality agreement in your contract with the company. You know that if you don't keep it confidential, you have to pay a sky-high price."

Lu Qingzhen smiled slightly. "Mr. Ma, these days, just find a marketing account to blow some wind. What evidence do you have to prove that it came from my mouth?"

These words were said directly on the table.

"If you had this ability, those marketing accounts that spread rumors would have gone out of business long ago. Could they still be as arrogant as they are now?"

Ma Zhongquan's face flushed red.

Lu Qingzhen: "Now, you can consider my compensation request carefully. One year's salary, and I will consider this matter carefully. Otherwise, I can also fight this battle."

She stood up leisurely and left Ma Zhongquan's office.

Ten minutes later, Lu Qingzhen rushed into Chen Ziyan's office with her eyes shining.

"Damn, I learned your usual posture of being so arrogant that you could kill people. It's so cool. No wonder you like to put on this face usually!"

Chen Ziyan looked at her with disgust and said: "Can you have some backbone and not make such a fuss?"

Lu Qingzhen said: "You can't understand me. You are used to being powerful, but I am not! It's so cool. It turns out this is what it feels like to be arrogant. I finally understand why everyone likes 'Arrogant Brother' so much."

"Who is 'Arrogant Brother'?"

"Li Zhibai, netizens all call him 'Arrogant Brother', and even the brand's keyword positioning for him is 'Arrogant Brother'."

Chen Ziyan: "..."

Lu Qingzhen said: "So arrogant, it's so cool."

"Don't be busy being excited first. How did you talk to Ma Zhongquan?"

"Just as you told me, the performance was perfect," Lu Qingzhen said. "Actually, I was going to leave anyway. He made such a scene, and I can just stand on the moral high ground to ask for compensation. It's okay, I won't suffer any loss."

Chen Ziyan: "They don't have the qualifications to make you suffer. How much contribution you have made to the company over the years, anyone who can see the report clearly can see it from those data. Hehe, they want to drive you away; this is the most stupid decision. After you leave, they will know how much they have lost."

Lu Qingzhen looked embarrassed and gave a shy "Aiyo."

"In your eyes, am I so excellent?"

Chen Ziyan: "Yes, in my eyes, you are so excellent. Can you restore your normal tone of voice? Can you stop acting cute?"

Lu Qingzhen finally broke her defense and couldn't help but roll her eyes at Chen Ziyan.

Chen Ziyan: "Fortunately, your contract with the company doesn't have a non-compete clause, otherwise, there would be more tossing."

"Haha, they think I don't have the ability to take the resources away."

"Stupid," Chen Ziyan scolded Ma Zhongquan again. "Do they really think that without the connections you usually handle, there would be so many business resources coming over? The competition is so great, and it's not like there's only one artist in your company in the market."

Lu Qingzhen said: "But to be honest, Ma Zhongquan does have the capital to be proud. There are indeed many popular artists in our Star Entertainment."

"However, haven't you discovered a very serious problem?"

"Hmm?"

"Logically speaking, you should be the easiest to discover the problems in our company."

"If you want to talk about the biggest problem, let me think. The first thing I think of is the homogenization of core artists," Lu Qingzhen said. "If you don't count Lu Yan He, who has emerged suddenly this year, Star Entertainment's two trump cards: one is the three 'First Sisters' who are all popular actresses with similar image routes, and the other is the two top traffic stars who both take the idol route with image positioning that is not much different."

"Exactly. The homogenization phenomenon of our company's artist lineup is too serious. They are their own competing products, and internal friction is serious," Chen Ziyan said. "That's why I said, you look at the flowers and clusters, there are many popular stars, but in fact, they have not exerted the value of their popularity at all."

Lu Qingzhen nodded.

"In this situation, Ma Zhongquan still hasn't understood a more terrible consequence."

"Hmm?"

"Homogenized competition means that someone will leave," Chen Ziyan said. "The three 'First Sisters', here they have to share the title of 'First Sister' with others. When they go to other places, they are unique. Do you think they will be willing to renew their contracts with the company?"

Lu Qingzhen suddenly understood.

Chen Ziyan smiled slightly and said: "The more top-level artists are, the more they need personalized services. In the current market, no one has the ability to plan such personalized services, but I can."

Lu Qingzhen: "Who have you taken a fancy to?"

She knew Chen Ziyan too well.

Since Chen Ziyan said so, it meant that Chen Ziyan must have someone she had taken a fancy to.

Chen Ziyan shook her head and said: "Keep it secret for now."

Lu Qingzhen hummed softly: "Even hiding it from me, okay."

On this side, because of Huang Kai's hesitation about the role of Twelve Young Master, Lu Yan He also had to start thinking about who else could play this role if Huang Kai really didn't act.

Among male actors in this age group, there are only a few top-level ones. Lu Yan He basically knows them all. Truly speaking from the image, Huang Kai is the most suitable. Others are not suitable to play a young master with a sense of destiny in such a temperamental movie, and also a selfish, cowardly, and pretending-to-be-affectionate young master.

Lu Yan He talked to Wang Zhong and Chen Bige, and Chen Bige said: "Actually, if Shang Yongzhou has time, he can definitely act."

Lu Yan He was taken aback.

Shang Yongzhou?

Speaking of which, Shang Yongzhou is indeed suitable.

Then why didn't he think of Shang Yongzhou before?

Lu Yan He actually didn't not think about it, but the moment Shang Yongzhou appeared in his mind, he subconsciously thought that Shang Yongzhou wouldn't act.

Even Huang Kai is not willing to take on such a negative role, how could Shang Yongzhou be willing to take it?

Regarding Lu Yan He's doubts, Chen Bige said: "Why would he care about whether the role is negative or not now? For him, as long as the script moves him, he can accept many things. Both he and I have this attitude."

Wang Zhong said: "But in this way, will the pay increase again?"

For a low-budget art film, if you can finally find Shang Yongzhou and Chen Bige to star, although the lineup is beautiful, the pay of the two will also further increase the financial pressure of the movie.

Chen Bige said: "Director, if it's a pay problem, you don't have to worry. At worst, I will lower my pay a bit, and I will talk to him. We will lower our pay together."

Chen Bige's importance to this movie is overflowing.

Lu Yan He said to Wang Zhong: "Director, when do you think you can take time to meet with Huang Kai? Have a serious talk with him? Listening to his meaning, he didn't say he was completely unwilling to act, but he had concerns and still wanted to have a serious talk with you before making a decision."

? c〇

"I have made an appointment with him twice, but he is busy, and I am busy, so I can never make an appointment."

Lu Yan He had already heard some dissatisfaction in Wang Zhong's tone. He couldn't help but want to sigh, but held it back.

He believed that Huang Kai definitely wanted to meet Director Wang Zhong, but with his current status, he must also be busy, and it is inevitable that it is difficult to make an appointment. Director Wang Zhong was already a bit impatient.

Lu Yan He didn't know if he should fight for Huang Kai.

He really felt that if Huang Kai acted in this movie, the transformation he had been looking forward to might really be realized.

He acts in both movies and TV dramas, but this is a special situation.

For actors like Huang Kai and Jiang Yuqian, although they are popular, it is not easy to truly step into the film circle.

If Huang Kai can act in *Rouge*, with Director Wang Zhong and Chen Bige as the heroine, he doesn't even need the movie to be released, he has already stood with one foot.

This is very vulgar, but this industry is like this: first look at what level you are, and second look at what level the people you cooperate with are.

What Lu Yan He didn't expect was that Shang Yongzhou actually took the initiative to call him.

"Senior Brother!" Lu Yan He shouted in surprise.

Shang Yongzhou laughed twice and said: "I heard from Director Fu Kai that you took the play *Road of Glory*. We can cooperate well."

Lu Yan He said "Hmm" and said: "I will work hard."

Shang Yongzhou said again: "Chen Bige called me and talked about the movie *Rouge*. Only then did I know that the script for this movie was written by you. You kid... you have something, being able to write a script of this quality."

Lu Yan He smiled embarrassedly.

Humble, humble.

He reminded himself.

"However, I have to tell you, I have read the script, and I do think this script is written very well, but I don't intend to act," Shang Yongzhou said. "It has nothing to do with the script and the role. I have to tell you in person, so as not to cause misunderstandings."

"Hmm, it's okay, Senior Brother," Lu Yan He said.

Shang Yongzhou: "It's nothing else. I want to devote myself to the creation of *Road of Glory*. Before I finish filming this movie, I won't consider the next movie for the time being. But you seem to want to start filming *Rouge* in the second half of the year."

Lu Yan He: "I don't know about the filming; it's all Director Wang Zhong and the others who are doing it."

"Hmm," Shang Yongzhou said. "*Road of Glory* starts filming at the end of the year. You should also take good care of yourself."

"Okay," Lu Yan He responded.

Shang Yongzhou: "I see you have so many projects behind you. I feel a headache just looking at it. Preparing so many projects in one breath, can you handle the energy?"

"Uh, actually, I don't act in many projects," Lu Yan He said. "I just wrote a script. I wrote several scripts before, and they all caught up with this wave, so they were announced together."

Shang Yongzhou: "You don't act?"

"Hmm," Lu Yan He said. "Just like *Rouge*, I don't intend to act. Before filming *Road of Glory*, I only have the drama by Director Chen Lingling to film. I will take good care of myself. Don't worry, Senior Brother, I won't delay the filming."

Upon hearing this, Shang Yongzhou breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good." ===== CHAPTER 344 =====