Chapter 841: Clean is You, Dirty is Him

Bai Jin waved her hand and said: "How could it be? I just want to take advantage of *Friends* still filming, I want to take advantage of these two years to do what I want to do. If *Friends* ends in the future, maybe I won't be able to go to study this book. However, if I go to Manchester to study, although the time for reading graduate students is relatively free, when I applied for schools and tutors, I also told the tutor in advance about the situation of filming at the end of each year, but it will definitely still have an impact on filming and publicity, so I also want to tell everyone in advance."

"So, you intend to not take any other plays except filming *Friends*?" Wen Minglan asked.

Bai Jin nodded.

"I also discussed it with the company. Actually, I have long wanted to go to graduate school, and they also know my thoughts," Bai Jin said. "After negotiating for a long time, they finally agreed. If I want to study, it is definitely unrealistic to star in other projects, so I said that I can only take advantage of *Friends* still filming to do this. Otherwise, I think the company definitely won't agree. If I don't take plays for several years, I might be forgotten by the audience and be eliminated."

Lu Yan He came back to his senses after a short surprise and nodded.

"It's good to go to study when you want to study."

In fact, Lu Yan He was not surprised that Bai Jin would have such thoughts.

He always felt that Bai Jin was the one with the most ideas among the girls.

Zhan Yun is good, Wen Minglan is good, they haven't considered anything other than actors for their lives, at least within the next five years.

But Bai Jin is different. In the past few years, although Bai Jin has also been filming, she has also been doing many cross-border things at the same time.

Her attribute as a female star is not so significant.

Bai Jin even writes official accounts herself—she is almost the only celebrity artist who does this.

Long-term, continuous writing of some essays, talking about what she sees and hears, related to the entertainment industry, unrelated, all have.

Of course, she is not that typical literary youth, not a quiet girl wearing a white cotton skirt and long hair.

She is actually very individual. This personality does not quite fit a commercial era star, more like a maverick icon.

Bai Jin is not very popular outside of *Friends*.

She is not short of plays to act, not a nobody, but not an idol with very high popularity.

So, these special aspects of her are not eye-catching.

Only Lu Yan He and the others who are relatively familiar with Bai Jin know more because of frequent contact.

Zhan Yun was quite envious and said: "This is really good, I envy you so much."

Bai Jin smiled, "You can apply for overseas schools in the future and give yourself a vacation."

Although Bai Jin said so, everyone knows that it is much more difficult for Zhan Yun to want to study than Bai Jin.

Like Yan Lingyu and Jiang Yuqian, she is a popular, first-tier female star. Too many people are grabbing their schedules. Their time can be cashed in every minute and every second.

In this case, suddenly wanting to disappear for two or three years because of studying is almost impossible.

After the dinner, Yan Liang and Lu Yan He took a car back.

Because the filming of *Friends* is in Yuming, they didn't stay in the hotel, and returned to Huiziyuanqiao every night.

In the car, Yan Liang said: "Bai Jin actually chose to go to study at this time, which is quite unexpected."

"Actually, she is the safest to do this, right?" Lu Yan He said, "*Friends* is filmed stably every year. During this time, you don't have to worry about not being exposed for a long time and being forgotten by everyone."

With *Friends* filming, Bai Jin has a stable work input every year.

Yan Liang: "I'm not talking about this, I'm talking about, she still wants to go to study."

Lu Yan He: "By the way, I forgot to ask, I don't know what major she is going to study."

Yan Liang: "Yes, I don't know what major she is going to study, but thinking about going to study is a bit incredible. I haven't seen anyone like this around me."

"Don't you think it's normal for Bai Jin's personality to do such a thing?" Lu Yan He said, "She seems to have never thought about taking acting as her lifelong career. She can leave at any time. This is the feeling she gives me usually."

Yan Liang: "If you say that, it seems so. She is indeed different from us. Unlike us, filming one play after another, she doesn't seem to take many plays except filming *Friends* every year, and she doesn't appear much on variety shows."

It's not that Bai Jin doesn't have any exposure usually, nor is it that she doesn't come out except for promoting works. It's just that many times, she doesn't look like a typical female star. For example, when walking on the red carpet, her styling is not the "beautiful" and "crushing" type, nor is it maverick or sword-slanting. Most of the time, she appears in a regular manner. She appears, as if she didn't appear, and rarely appears in the common type of female star hot search words.

For example, in the current era of live streaming, she has only occasionally appeared in the live broadcast rooms of brand partners so far. More often, she appears in the live broadcast rooms or videos of some of her friends. These friends include chefs, curators, doctors, involving a very wide range of fields, and even have no correlation. Every time she appears, it is also very casual, not deliberately plain-faced, but not as exquisite as a female star. It can be said that she is a star who appears frequently on various video platforms, but she is a non-conventional star appearance.

Of course, saying so is very stereotypical.

But overall, Bai Jin is such an image.

Non-typical female star image.

Lu Yan He actually appreciates Bai Jin's style very much.

Because many celebrity artists now, including actors, are packaged too cleanly by companies and teams. Clean refers to things revealed outside. Including Li Zhibai and the others, because traits like "pulling" and "living person feeling" are very popular, his team has done a lot of guidance and packaging in this regard. In the commercial era, even Lu Yan He cannot be vulgar.

However, Bai Jin presented a very unique degree of freedom in this regard.

Maybe this also has to do with the fact that she has relatively few loyal fans and great popularity. This allows her to satisfy the economic value needs of the company and team in commercial value because of *Friends*, and because she doesn't take the popularity and traffic route, she can maximize her freedom.

"Envious," Yan Liang said.

Lu Yan He: "It really makes people envious."

Yan Liang: "Compared with these people in *Friends*, I suddenly feel that except for the changes in our careers, we three actually have almost no changes in other aspects. What we looked like a few years ago, what we look like now, how can this be?"

"Because we gave our time to our careers, almost leaving no time for anything else," Lu Yan He shrugged, turned his head and grinned at Yan Liang, "You get what you sow, isn't it?"

"Does it count as a sacrifice?"

"It counts as a choice," Lu Yan He said. "Even if you do it all over again, you will still make such a choice. Personality determines destiny, this sentence is absolutely correct."

Yan Liang also laughed.

He hooked Lu Yan He's neck and said: "Every time at this time, I want to say, fortunately, you are there, so that when I am a bit confused, I am not so confused."

"Confused about what, you are just looking at another road you haven't walked, looking quite beautiful," Lu Yan He laughed.

Li Zhibai actually hasn't slept yet.

Or rather, Li Zhibai was actually at home tonight.

"Why did you return to us today? Next door? Siqi is not there?"

"She went on a business trip," Lu Yan He hooked Yan Liang's neck, "So I can only make do with you tonight."

"Still making do, get out, get out, get out," Li Zhibai gestured to wave, driving away guests.

"What are you doing?" Yan Liang diverted the topic and asked, "It's one o'clock in the morning, you haven't slept yet."

"Me? It's not strange that I haven't slept at one o'clock in the morning. It's strange that I slept at one o'clock in the morning," Li Zhibai said, "I'm watching the script. Why did you come back so late?"

"Chatted for a while tonight," Lu Yan He yawned, "Sleepy, going to sleep."

Li Zhibai: "You still have to work tomorrow, sleep quickly."

"You still don't sleep?"

"You just let me sleep now and I can't sleep."

Lu Yan He and Yan Liang thought, it is, so they washed and slept separately.

Li Zhibai still sat in the living room, looking at the script in front of him.

The script was placed on the table, but just now Lu Yan He and Yan Liang didn't think about looking at it.

Li Zhibai took a deep breath, his brows furrowed.

This script is a script made by someone found by his family company, wanting to find him to act.

The script can't be said to be very poor, but it definitely didn't reach the standard in Li Zhibai's heart. However, this script was bought by this film and television company established by his family, just to cooperate with Liu Lida.

And such a cooperation, the male lead is of course played by Li Zhibai. This is the family's play. Just buying the script cost eight figures. If it is officially put into production, the cost of this project must be at least 100 million or so. Of course, if Li Zhibai really starred, the budget in all aspects will be adjusted upward—

The key is that if Li Zhibai doesn't star, the platform may not be willing to buy this play. Even if they buy it, the purchase price is definitely not as high as when Li Zhibai stars.

According to reason, the film and television company specially established for him by his family, and it is the first big play the company wants to do, he should support it.

Li Zhibai has always been a person who doesn't think much about things, but this time he was rarely entangled.

"I don't want to act in this play."

The next day, Li Zhibai went out early, returned home, and

"Why?" asked Li Rui, Li Zhibai's father.

Li Zhibai said, "The script is too mediocre; it doesn't meet my standards for taking on a role."

Upon hearing this, Li Rui glanced at Li Shenyuan, who was sitting to the side.

Li Shenyuan said, "This is a script written by Chen Mo. He is Director Liu Lida's go-to screenwriter; the two have collaborated on several dramas."

Li Zhibai nodded.

"I know, but this script won't do," Li Zhibai said. "The company wants to produce its own film and television projects. I'm willing to act, but I can't act in a mediocre project."

Li Shenyuan frowned slightly.

"Is there room to revise the script?" he asked.

"There is, but will Chen Mo revise it?" Li Zhibai said. "Screenwriters of that level usually only accept the fact that their script wasn't good enough after the drama has been filmed, aired, and the audience dislikes it."

"I don't know about that, but we spent ten million to buy this script," Li Shenyuan said. "At the time, several film and television companies were fighting over it."

"Under normal circumstances, screenwriters collect a deposit before they start writing the script," Li Zhibai said. "Of course, this script isn't terrible; it's actually okay, but it's not good enough for me to act in."

Li Shenyuan looked at Li Rui.

Li Rui said, "Since you think the script isn't good enough, then forget it."

Li Zhibai said, "How come you didn't tell me in advance when you were going to buy this script?"

"Chen Mo has such a big reputation, and there were many companies competing for it at the time. I was worried it would be snatched up, so I just bought it directly," Li Shenyuan asked. "Did I make a bad purchase with this script? Is it not worth that much money?"

"That's not it, of course," Li Zhibai shook his head. "Brother, if you want to do it, I can help you, even though I don't want to act in it. However, with the reputations of Chen Mo and Liu Lida, it should still be able to attract other actors to perform."

"If this script is to be made into a drama, the production cost won't be small. Without a lead actor recognized by the platforms, it's hard to get approved," Li Shenyuan said. "Of course, I'm also just starting to get into this business; it's possible I only know the basics."

Li Zhibai: "Big productions do indeed need actors recognized by the platforms, but if Liu Lida really serves as the director, given the current quality of this script, the platforms certainly won't give it a red light. The key is that they might not be willing to just be a platform provider and buy the broadcast rights."

"Then what is your suggestion?"

"If Liu Lida serves as the director, their say in this drama will certainly be very large, and our control over this drama will inevitably be weakened. It just depends on whether you want to do this drama yourselves, or if you want to establish a connection with Director Liu Lida's side and develop a long-term cooperation with him in the future," Li Zhibai said. "If it's the latter, then we should just play a supporting role. If it's the former, to be honest, it's better to take the script directly to the platforms to see if they have any ideas, and as the production contractor, use the platform's production funds and production team to accumulate experience and open up the situation."

Li Shenyuan looked at Li Rui.

Li Rui: "This company was originally proposed by your brother and established to provide you with help. You tell us, what are your thoughts?"

"My thought is to follow the model of Linghe Films and do it ourselves," Li Zhibai said bluntly. "Of course, we definitely can't do it ourselves at the beginning. The company doesn't even have a professional manager right now; Brother is in charge himself, and many things are done by feeling our way across the river. Whether it's cooperating with Director Liu Lida's company to develop it, or trying to retain as much control as possible to contact the platforms in advance and cooperate with them, it's all the same. It's just that by cooperating with the former, our own room for maneuver will be much smaller, and it's easy to be constrained, especially since I'm not acting in it, so they will have even fewer scruples."

Li Rui: "Can't this script be settled for?"

"It can be settled for, and not every drama I do has great results, but I don't think it's necessary to settle," Li Zhibai said. "It's not like I have to act in it right now. If it really doesn't work out and the project development doesn't go smoothly, we can sell the script to someone else and keep the losses under control. But if I know the project isn't good enough and I still force myself to get on board because of you, one wrong step leads to another. Plus, I have a dog-like temper; I'll end up arguing with you every other day, and it'll be annoying as hell."

Li Shenyuan laughed.

"You know you have a dog-like temper, too."

"Yeah, that's why I came over here early in the morning to tell you that I'm not acting in it," Li Zhibai said. "Later on, I'll have some projects I want to do myself, including the 'Grass-Flying' series, which I will bring to our family company to do. Brother, you don't need to worry about the company not having projects. If you see a good project that can be developed and you want me to be deeply involved, just let me get involved in advance. As for this Chen Mo script, it could actually be revised—if it weren't the work of such a big screenwriter, we could go to him now and ask to change the script. Not to mention whether he'd even pay attention to us, he might even think I'm acting like a diva. The communication cost is too high."

Li Shenyuan nodded.

"I understand."

"Brother, are you planning to shift your work focus to this company? Focusing on film and television?" Li Zhibai asked.

Li Shenyuan said, "I will focus my work on this area for the next two years. Our family's industrial distribution tends toward new technology, and the internet characteristics of these fields are very obvious. In other words, compared to traditional heavy industry, we will rely more on brand effect and public impression. Shijin entering the entertainment industry is actually a demand generated by industrial transformation, and our family has the same need."

Li Zhibai immediately glanced at Li Rui.

"A company established for me? Ha."

Li Rui: "..."

It was only after Li Zhibai resolved this matter that he told Lu Yan He and Yan Liang.

Lu Yan He and Yan Liang looked at each other, somewhat surprised by the speed of Li Zhibai's actions.

"For this kind of thing, the sooner you say it, the better," Li Zhibai said. "If you don't want to act but keep dragging it out, others will still have hope for you."

"Those are your family members; you just refused them when you said you would." Lu Yan He admired this point.

It's easy to handle things professionally, but the most tangled and difficult problems are always family matters.

Li Zhibai: "I know what you're thinking, but it's not like my family and I are usually that harmonious anyway, as you both know."

"Although you're not harmonious, you're still family at the core. You haven't turned into enemies, and you're not exactly treating each other with formal respect," Lu Yan He laughed. "Stop acting cool. You actually still care about your family, otherwise you wouldn't have gone to say no right away, would you?"

"That's just nonsense," Li Zhibai retorted at Lu Yan He first, then sighed. "Sigh, I didn't expect that I would cherish my reputation so much that I even turned down a drama my family was going to produce and refused to act in it."

He started acting all calm and collected again.

Lu Yan He and Yan Liang looked at each other speechlessly.

His phone suddenly rang.

It was a call from Chen Ziyan.

"I received news that Zhang Yuezhen is investigating your past."

Lu Yan He's brows immediately furrowed, and he walked back to his room while holding his phone.

"Why is she investigating my past?"

"She's probably trying to dig up something to use against you," Chen Ziyan said with a laugh. "It seems the 'Drama Bully' incident hit Chen Pinhe hard enough to make her unable to sit still."

Lu Yan He: "That's really interesting. They can't sit still even after such a minor blow; what will they do if we really hit them hard later?"

Chen Ziyan: "I've been investigating for a long time. Chen Pinhe and Zhang Yuezhen have done quite a few things over the years, but I haven't found anything that could nail them down once and for all. Zhang Yuezhen keeps her hands too clean; she's a formidable opponent."

For the first time in so long, Lu Yan He heard Chen Ziyan call Zhang Yuezhen a formidable opponent.

It was clear that Chen Ziyan had been clashing with Zhang Yuezhen frequently during this period and genuinely believed that Zhang Yuezhen had some tricks up her sleeve and was not someone to be trifled with.

Lu Yan He: "..."

He said, "It's fine, there's plenty of time. Anyway, I'm young; I can outlast them."

Chen Ziyan: "... You're really something."

"Really, Sister Ziyan, it's actually quite satisfying. They will never be at ease from now on because they will always have to worry about us watching them, and always have to worry about when we will strike them," Lu Yan He said. "Thinking about it this way, I'm sure they aren't having a good time, and that makes me very happy."

"Don't use spiritual victory," Chen Ziyan said bluntly. "Although what you say makes sense, don't use spiritual victory; it will only numb yourself."

Lu Yan He: "Sigh, you've hit the nail on the head again."

"Zhang Yuezhen is probably planning to hit you with a heavy blow, but no matter how she looks, she won't find anything," Chen Ziyan said. "You are clean and upright in your conduct; you never have to worry about capsizing in a gutter. This is the only place where spiritual victory is worth it: you are the clean one, and they are the dirty ones."