Chapter 348

Lu Yan He had not expected Xiao Yun to be so interested in *My Own Swordsman*.

After all, it was a costume sitcom, and not even for the female lead role.

Lu Yan He wondered if he had underestimated the appeal of *My Own Swordsman* to actors. He had always felt that, if not for *Friends*, it shouldn't really be considered a good project for actors.

At the very least, in terms of the current market, this kind of episodic drama hadn't appeared for several years.

Current dramas fell into three major categories: realistic life, costume idol, and suspense-crime. Anything else that popped up sporadically couldn't gain any real momentum.

*My Own Swordsman* didn't fit into any of those categories. Therefore, Lu Yan He had always felt that while he believed *My Own Swordsman* would definitely be a hit, for those who didn't know the success it had achieved in another space-time, it was a high-risk project.

Its only point of attraction was that the script came from Lu Yan He, who had written *Friends*.

Lu Yan He went to the restroom.

Only Zhang Luzhou and Xiao Yun remained in the private room.

Zhang Luzhou glanced at the closed door and asked, "Xiaoxiao, if I try to lobby Lu Yan He, do you think he'll let me act in *My Own Swordsman*?"

Xiao Yun looked at her boyfriend with some surprise.

"Didn't he just say it? You're the first actor he's locked in, and the other roles haven't been cast yet," Zhang Luzhou said. "If I could play one of the leads, I could become famous."

Xiao Yun looked at him in a dilemma and said, "How about I ask him later? See what his opinion is."

Zhang Luzhou sighed, nodded, and said, "Don't force it. I know I don't have much fame right now; it's basically impossible for me to play a lead."

Seeing him say this, Xiao Yun felt a bit guilty instead.

"You will definitely become famous," Xiao Yun encouraged. "I brought you here to see him this time just to see if, with so many projects in his hands later, there might be a role suitable for you."

Zhang Luzhou nodded, held Xiao Yun's hand, and said, "Xiaoxiao, thank you."

"Hey, isn't that Lu Yan He?" After Lu Yan He came out of the restroom, someone saw him and immediately whispered to their companion.

"He's actually here too," the companion said in surprise.

"Should we just photograph him?"

"Ugh, what's there to photograph? He lives such a bland life every day, nothing worth shooting. We've already taken someone else's money; we agreed to get some photos today."

"If Lu Yan He were eating here with Chen Siqi today, it would be great if we could get photos of them on a date."

"Chen Siqi is staying in Jiangguang. If Chen Siqi had returned to Yuming, there wouldn't just be the two of us here tonight."

The two whispered as they passed through the hallway to the restroom.

They didn't notice the waiter standing to the side tidying a cart.

After they turned the corner, Wang Biao finally raised his head, a look of confusion on his face as he looked in the direction they had left.

Wang Biao had only paid attention because he heard the name Lu Yan He.

He didn't know how to describe his impression of Lu Yan He. In short, having met all kinds of people during this time, the only ones who truly made him feel gratitude were Lu Yan He and that professor from before.

Not everyone would be kind to him, especially strangers he met by chance.

From the beginning, when he rashly sought out Lu Yan He for a livestream, to later when Lu Yan He specifically comforted and encouraged him—Wang Biao had seen many people, but very, very few were truly kind to him like Lu Yan He.

Although these two didn't intend to continue photographing Lu Yan He, Wang Biao felt he should still warn Lu Yan He about this.

When Lu Yan He finished dinner with Xiao Yun and Zhang Luzhou and prepared to leave, he went to pay the bill.

Wang Biao whispered a reminder: "There are two paparazzi outside. It seems they were paid to photograph someone else, but they saw you and were hesitating whether to shoot you."

Lu Yan He was stunned.

Did that mean there were paparazzi outside hired by someone else, whose original purpose wasn't to shoot him, but because they saw him, they might shoot him?

Lu Yan He thought to himself that he was just having a normal dinner with Xiao Yun anyway, nothing to be afraid of being photographed for. He thanked Wang Biao, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "Are you free these next two days? If you are, let's talk about something. I have a job I'd like to ask you to do."

Wang Biao looked surprised and delighted.

"Huh?"

Lu Yan He smiled and said, "The pay will definitely be higher than what you make as a waiter here."

Wang Biao's eyes lit up instantly.

"I'm free. I can rotate my shifts tomorrow; I'm free before three in the afternoon."

"Alright then, come find me here at ten tomorrow morning." Lu Yan He took a card he had prepared from his wallet and handed it to Wang Biao; it was the address of Chen Ziyan's office.

Wang Biao looked at Lu Yan He, full of surprise, "Okay, I will definitely be there on time!"

Lu Yan He smiled slightly.

Lu Yan He turned back to the private room and saw Xiao Yun starting to arm herself with a hat and mask, while Zhang Luzhou helped her with her bag. A thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

Those two paparazzi outside—they wouldn't be here to shoot Xiao Yun, would they?

In his impression, the fact that Xiao Yun was dating didn't seem to have been made public yet.

Lu Yan He had only thought of himself just now, not Xiao Yun.

"Is the fact that you two are dating public?" Lu Yan He asked proactively.

Xiao Yun and Zhang Luzhou looked at each other.

Xiao Yun shook her head and said, "We haven't made it public yet. My agent said it's not suitable for me to make my relationship public right now."

For a young starlet like Xiao Yun, not making a relationship public was a very common choice.

No matter how much people talked about the freedom to date, artists could date now, but before they had a firm footing, a relationship was like a ticking time bomb—no one knew when it would explode.

Lu Yan He said, "I just received news that there are paparazzi outside. If you haven't made it public, you might want to be careful not to be photographed."

The expressions of Xiao Yun and Zhang Luzhou both changed.

"Paparazzi?"

"Yeah," Lu Yan He nodded.

oco

A look of surprise appeared on Xiao Yun's face, "Are they here to shoot us?"

"I don't know, maybe someone else is here too," Lu Yan He said. "You guys leave first. I'll stay here for a while; I'll leave thirty minutes after you go."

Xiao Yun nodded. She added, "I've messaged my driver; he'll be here in ten minutes."

She thought of something and said to Zhang Luzhou, "Luzhou, you go out first? I'll come out in a bit."

Zhang Luzhou nodded and said okay.

"Then I'll find a place nearby to wait for you."

Xiao Yun nodded.

Zhang Luzhou handed her her bag, greeted Lu Yan He, and left first.

Lu Yan He and Xiao Yun sat back down.

Xiao Yun sighed, "What a hassle."

Lu Yan He smiled, "Have you and Zhang Luzhou been together since university?"

"Yeah," Xiao Yun nodded, "We've been together for a long time."

"Is he acting now?"

"He's been auditioning, but there aren't many roles he can get. I can only recommend him to some crews as a classmate, but the roles he can get are very small." Xiao Yun sighed and shook her head, "Only now do I realize I'm not that famous either, even though everyone says I am."

Lu Yan He didn't know what to say for a moment.

It was about whether an actor and a role were a good fit; it wasn't like just because you were famous, people would use whoever you recommended. However, that might not be what Xiao Yun meant. She wasn't that kind of self-righteous girl; she might just be expressing a sense of frustration.

Lu Yan He asked, "Can't he get roles from his own auditions?"

Xiao Yun: "A lot of times his performance is quite good, but there are many 'connected' people, so he often gets squeezed out. And most importantly, he usually can't get good roles; most of the time, it's just a very functional role."

Hearing this, Lu Yan He said, "Maybe at the beginning, one can only play such roles."

Unless you have god-given looks and acting skills that make people notice you at a glance and give you a great opportunity.

Xiao Yun: "Yan He, is there a role suitable for him in *My Own Swordsman*? His acting is actually quite good; he was always at the top of his class in school."

Lu Yan He hesitated and shook his head, saying, "I haven't thought of a role suitable for him yet. Besides, I haven't seen him act, so I don't know how he is."

Xiao Yun: "Next time there's an audition, give him a chance. He definitely won't let you down."

Xiao Yun was categorical.

Lu Yan He nodded and said, "Audition is definitely no problem."

Xiao Yun: "Thank you."

After handling Xiao Yun, the second person Lu Yan He had to deal with was He Jiang.

However, Lu Yan He didn't feel He Jiang would be hard to deal with.

Instead, he decided to invite He Jiang's classmate—Wang Dashan—out first. Before that, Lu Yan He contacted Jia Long to arrange a time for Wang Dashan to audition on the spot.

After receiving Lu Yan He's call, Wang Dashan was flattered, even a bit stuttering, and when agreeing on the time, he repeated it two or three times.

Lu Yan He didn't know if He Jiang had mentioned recommending him after he went back that day, but judging by Wang Dashan's reaction, he didn't seem to expect that he would actually contact him.

At 9:30 in the morning, Lu Yan He practiced the theme song for *Seventeen Layers* twice more in the rehearsal room, finished, and went to find Chen Ziyan.

Chen Ziyan was brewing coffee.

"Do you want a cup? Ma Zhongquan sent me these beans. He really spent a fortune this time, specifically bringing them back for me from Panama."

"I've already had a cup, never mind." Lu Yan He asked, "Why did he send you coffee beans again?"

"Trying to ease the relationship with me, obviously." Chen Ziyan, wearing a dress that highlighted her exquisite figure, carried the cup, turned around, and stood in front of the coffee machine, smiling at Lu Yan He. "He had already torn his face off with me before, but then realized I had set him up and almost snatched his position. Now he's learned to be obedient and started trying to stabilize me, terrified that I might really have ideas about his position and kick him out."

Lu Yan He smiled.

"Trying to make up for it now."

"It's fine. I didn't intend to really tear my face off with him either. Now that both sides have a way to step down, it's a good thing," Chen Ziyan said.

Lu Yan He nodded.

"That Wang Biao you took a fancy to—I had someone investigate his background. There's nothing sensitive; he's just a very ordinary person. However, he's quite capable of making trouble. Judging from his experience, he doesn't seem like someone who would be content with the status quo. You're hiring him as your assistant—the first year or two might be fine, but later, having seen a bigger world, he might not be satisfied with continuing to be a small assistant."

"That's fine too. Having ambition isn't a bad thing. I've told you about his situation; I think he has good character, that's the key," Lu Yan He said.

"Hmm, that's also where I think he's not bad," Chen Ziyan nodded. "Another thing, he's a man. Being your assistant can avoid a lot of trouble."

"Hmm," Lu Yan He nodded.

Wang Biao hadn't even come over yet, but Lu Yan He and Chen Ziyan already had a basic judgment. Many times, so-called interviews or auditions were just like this. Long before they started, there was already an opinion; the interview or audition was just to confirm in person whether it was really as they had judged before.

At ten o'clock, Wang Biao was brought in by Chen Ziyan's secretary.

Lu Yan He only exchanged a glance with Wang Biao before saying he still had rehearsals and left Chen Ziyan's office.

The interview was for Chen Ziyan to see how Wang Biao was and have a serious talk with him. If Lu Yan He were here, Chen Ziyan wouldn't be able to ask many questions, and even if she did, Wang Biao might not find it easy to answer.

Lu Yan He went downstairs, but just happened to run into Lu Qingzhen holding a large cardboard box in the elevator.

"Sister Qingzhen, what's this?"

Lu Qingzhen smiled slightly and said, "What a coincidence, you're at the company today. I've resigned."

"Resigned?" Lu Yan He looked at Lu Qingzhen in shock.

Seeing Lu Yan He so shocked, Lu Qingzhen was puzzled, "Didn't Ziyan tell you? I'm going to join her company."

Lu Yan He realized, "Is it that high-end brokerage service company she started herself?"

"That's right," Lu Qingzhen nodded. "From now on, I'll be participating more in your work affairs too."

Lu Yan He breathed a sigh of relief. He thought Lu Qingzhen had been fired by the company.

Actually, if he had asked two more questions, he would have known that was indeed the case. It was just that Lu Qingzhen had taken advantage of being "fired" to get compensation from the company far exceeding initial expectations.

Lu Yan He knew Lu Qingzhen's ability was actually very strong. If she hadn't intentionally hidden her light, she couldn't have been just an ordinary team leader in the Business Department. And she did this because, no matter how capable she was, due to her relationship with Chen Ziyan, Ma Zhongquan would never let her get promoted.

Both sides knew what was going on.

This time Lu Qingzhen left, it was definitely a loss for Star Entertainment.

The most awesome endorsement Lu Yan He had so far, Math, was something Lu Qingzhen had seized the right moment and snatched for him with lightning speed.

A powerful endorsement for an artist wasn't just about the endorsement fee. Exaggeratedly speaking, it was an identity, a business card. Just like Lu Yan He, as a Math spokesperson, could be invited to the Xitu'er International Film Festival. It wasn't that anyone who wanted to go could go; Lu Yan He certainly had other ways to go, but being able to go as a Math spokesperson was legitimate—why not?

Similarly, a suitable endorsement was very beneficial to an artist's commercial image. Lu Yan He didn't have many endorsements, but the fees were not low; they were proper market prices, not like some artists who, in order to gild themselves, voluntarily lowered endorsement fees or even took no money just to get a title. At the same time, every endorsement he had fit his image, benefiting both him and the brand image, achieving the greatest endorsement effect.

It could be said that Lu Yan He's every endorsement had Lu Qingzhen's shadow.

And if one didn't know how to accept endorsements based on an artist's characteristics, only knowing to look at the price, brand image, and level, it would actually damage the artist's image.

Just like a certain writer endorsing a certain coffee sparked ridicule, or a big-name star endorsing a second-hand software being pointed out as low-class.

Regardless of whether these voices were correct, the fact that they caused public controversy was undeniable.

Lu Yan He hadn't caused such controversy because of any endorsement, so Lu Qingzhen's ability was evident.

Lu Yan He took the box from Lu Qingzhen's hand and said, "I'll see you down."

Lu Qingzhen was flattered and said happily, "You are too nice."

Lu Yan He smiled, "Just helping out, how is that 'nice'?"

"Haha, you probably don't even know, but since I'm leaving, the people in my department don't even dare to talk to me, for fear of being recorded by Ma Zong."

"Huh? What does this have to do with Ma Zong?" Lu Yan He asked.

Lu Qingzhen then explained why she left Star Entertainment at this time.

Lu Yan He couldn't help but get angry after hearing it.

"Ma Zhiyuan, does he have to be so shameless?"

"Whatever, I don't care, I was going to leave anyway," Lu Qingzhen said, then winked at Lu Yan He, "Besides, I didn't suffer a loss."

"It's just one year's salary, you call that not suffering a loss?" Lu Yan He asked.

Lu Qingzhen smiled and didn't speak, but a mysterious smile flashed on her face.

Lu Yan He immediately realized, okay, it seemed it wasn't that simple.

How could someone like Lu Qingzhen suffer a secret loss?

Lu Yan He didn't ask again.

The elevator went all the way down to the parking lot, and they walked out.

Lu Yan He held the cardboard box and accompanied Lu Qingzhen to her car.

"Sister Qingzhen, so are you starting to work at Sister Ziyan's high-end brokerage service company right now?" Lu Yan He asked.

Lu Qingzhen said, "I'll rest for half a month first. It's rare not to have to go to work, let me catch my breath and take a vacation."

Lu Yan He nodded upon hearing this.

Lu Qingzhen winked at Lu Yan He and said, "Our forms of cooperation will become more and more diverse; we'll be in contact more often in the future."

Lu Yan He looked at her with some surprise, not reacting to what she meant for a moment.

"Huh?"

Lu Qingzhen: "I'll keep you in suspense for now; you'll know later."

Lu Yan He said "Oh" and nodded, "Alright."

Just then, a roar suddenly sounded from behind—

"Lu Qingzhen! Stop right there!"

Zhou Ping'an walked toward them in a hurry like an angry lion.

His posture was as if he wanted to tear Lu Qingzhen into pieces.

Lu Yan He frowned, immediately stepped forward, blocked in front of Lu Qingzhen, and looked at Zhou Ping'an.

Zhou Ping'an hadn't expected Lu Yan He to be here either.

He glared at Lu Yan He and said, "Get out of my way!"

Lu Yan He looked at Zhou Ping'an and said, "Brother Ping'an, you're not going to lay a hand on Sister Qingzhen, are you? A man laying a hand on a woman?"

Zhou Ping'an was furious, "Don't give me that!"

Seeing Lu Yan He wouldn't move, he had to look past him and glare at Lu Qingzhen.

"You spread rumors outside about Ma Zhiyuan, saying he has many black spots and landmines, and once they explode, he'll be directly banned! You even made the two endorsement brands he has consider not renewing their contracts after the contracts expire in the second half of this year! You violated professional ethics!"

Lu Yan He was stunned to hear Zhou Ping'an's accusation.

Lu Qingzhen stood calmly behind Lu Yan He, patted Lu Yan He's shoulder, and said, "Yan He, we adults are talking about things, you don't need to stand up for your sister. Don't worry, there's surveillance and everything here. If he dares to touch a hair on my head, I can sue him until he's ruined."

A trace of dominance radiated from Lu Qingzhen's calm tone.

Lu Yan He looked at Lu Qingzhen in surprise.

Lu Qingzhen crossed her arms and looked at Zhou Ping'an, saying, "You've listed so many charges against me, then I want to ask you, do you have evidence?"

Zhou Ping'an's eyes seemed to be spitting fire, "Do you think that just because you said something outside, no one would tell us?"

"Oh, rumors," Lu Qingzhen smiled charmingly, "That means there's no evidence. Then you say I violated professional ethics—please get it straight. There are so many rumors in this industry, who said it was me? Call them out, and I'll confront that person!"

Zhou Ping'an was so angry that his breathing became heavy.

This was the first time Lu Yan He had seen this side of Lu Qingzhen.

He was just a bit puzzled—how was this side of Lu Qingzhen so similar to Sister Ziyan when she was being sarcastic?

Zhou Ping'an glared fiercely at Lu Qingzhen.

"Don't think that just because you say so, you can clear yourself. You've done such a thing, let's see how you stand in the industry in the future!"

Lu Qingzhen chuckled, "Ma Zong used a year of my salary to make me shut up about your business. If you hope to make me open my mouth again, feel free."

Zhou Ping'an was so threatened by Lu Qingzhen's words that he gritted his teeth, but had nothing to say.

After huffing and puffing for a long time, he realized he really couldn't do anything about Lu Qingzhen, so he could only throw down a harsh word and turn to leave.

"Just you wait! If you have the ability, don't let me get a handle on you in the future!"

Lu Qingzhen's smile faded, and she looked coldly at Zhou Ping'an's departing back.

Lu Yan He looked at her and asked, "Sister Qingzhen, are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

In the vanity fair, it wasn't just artists fighting artists, or agents fighting agents.

Wherever there were resources, there was competition, and where there was competition, there was struggle.

Whether you were in front of the stage or behind the scenes, the vortex would sweep you in.

Lu Yan He had fully witnessed such a face-to-face conflict in the company once.

He couldn't help but wonder, in his own matters, had Chen Ziyan also had such conflicts with others?

Especially with Ma Zhongquan.

After this question popped into Lu Yan He's mind, he immediately realized that this wasn't even a question that needed thinking about.

Because the answer was set in stone.

Chen Ziyan rarely told him about these conflicts behind the scenes.

Many things, by the time they reached him, were already conclusions, results.

He only needed to sit back and enjoy the fruits.

Half an hour later, Lu Yan He returned to Chen Ziyan's office.

Wang Biao's face looked as if he had experienced a violent storm, pale.

Lu Yan He didn't know what he had experienced. However, no matter what it was, Lu Yan He hoped he wouldn't back down.

Chen Ziyan smiled at Lu Yan He and said, "Yan He, you found a very good assistant, I'm very reassured."

Lu Yan He smiled happily, "Really? Wang Biao, you actually got such a high evaluation from Chen Ziyan."

Wang Biao showed a faint, somewhat reluctant smile.

He didn't know how to describe the tension he felt over the past thirty minutes, as if standing in a courtroom accepting judgment.

Chen Ziyan actually wasn't very fierce or strict. But there was an inexplicable aura about her that made you feel like you were being judged.

Wang Biao didn't expect that his stuttering talk for thirty minutes would be evaluated by Chen Ziyan as "very good."

Thus, Wang Biao was hired just like that.

In the first year, the monthly salary after tax was eight thousand, with bonuses based on performance every quarter, and a year-end bonus.

This generous condition instantly soothed Wang Biao's wounded heart.

He suddenly became excited and actively expressed his stance, saying, "I will definitely work hard!"

Then, Wang Biao was sent for training.

Chen Ziyan said that there were many things an artist's assistant needed to pay attention to, so training had to be done intensively.

Lu Yan He told Chen Ziyan about what happened in the parking lot just now.

Chen Ziyan sneered upon hearing about the conflict between Lu Qingzhen and Zhou Ping'an.

"That guy Zhou Ping'an is still a dog that can't change its habit of eating excrement. He doesn't do human things himself, and doesn't allow others to do them. I wish him to be angered to death soon."

Lu Yan He: "..."

Look, that sarcastic tone was exactly the same as Lu Qingzhen's just now.

Chen Ziyan looked at Lu Yan He suspiciously and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Lu Yan He put away his thoughts, smiled, and said, "Nothing, nothing."

Chen Ziyan said again, "It's good that you found an assistant for yourself, but remember, great kindness can turn into hatred; don't blur the boundaries between you."

Lu Yan He: "Okay, I know, I'll be careful."

Chen Ziyan nodded with satisfaction, "The high-end brokerage service company I have with Lu Qingzhen will no longer just target artists. We will customize service plans for famous people in various fields. I want to sign Chen Siqi as my client."

Lu Yan He was stunned.

What Lu Qingzhen said in the parking lot just now resurfaced in his mind.

—Our forms of cooperation will become more and more diverse; we'll be in contact more often in the future.

So, that's what it meant.

Lu Yan He said, "As long as Siqi agrees."

"Hmm," Chen Ziyan nodded, "Besides her, including some writers, self-media bloggers, and internet celebrities that your *Jump Up* will launch in the future... we will consider them. If we think there is room for cooperation, we will develop cooperation models. So, I'm thinking, if you are interested, do you want to buy shares? Of course, the shares left for you won't be many; it's more of a symbol of strengthening cooperation. I don't lack investment, and I don't lack money even more."

Lu Yan He didn't even hesitate and nodded directly, "Sure."

Chen Ziyan smiled and nodded.