Chapter 240: Li Bingbing's Plea for Help

On the day before Labor Day, Xiang Fei pushed open the door to the Chairman's office of China Film Group and heard Han Shanping humming the Peking Opera "Empty Fort Strategy," his fingers tapping a rhythm lightly on the desk.

"Uncle Han is in a good mood," Xiang Fei said with a smile as he walked in and closed the door behind him.

Han Shanping looked up, his smile deepening: "Oh, A-Fei is here! Sit, sit, sit."

Xiang Fei sat on the sofa, his gaze sweeping over a document spread on the desk—"Notice on the Adjustment of Comrade Han Shanping's Post"—and he withdrew his glance after just one look.

"Uncle Han, is everything arranged for tomorrow's premiere of Tang Tan?" Xiang Fei went straight to the point.

Han Shanping waved his hand: "Rest assured, it's all settled. Theater scheduling, media promotion, security measures—nothing is left out."

Just as they were speaking, the office door was pushed open again, and Zhang Weiping from New Picture and Wang Zhonglei from Huayi walked in one after the other.

"Oh, everyone's here!" Zhang Weiping's voice was loud. "What are you chatting about so happily?"

Wang Zhonglei's gaze lingered on Xiang Fei for a second, then he smiled: "Chairman Han, I heard you're getting a promotion next year?"

Han Shanping widened his eyes: "It's not even a blip on the radar yet, don't talk nonsense."

Zhang Weiping plopped down beside Xiang Fei and familiarly draped an arm over his shoulder: "A-Fei, do you have any good projects lately? New Picture is waiting to cooperate with you."

Wang Zhonglei leaned in too: "Yes, Huayi has ample funds; we're just short of good scripts."

Although Han Shanping didn't speak, his eyes also revealed the same expectation.

Xiang Fei lifted his teacup, took a sip, and smiled without speaking.

The atmosphere in the office became somewhat subtle for a moment.

"Alright," Zhang Weiping broke the silence first, "it seems A-Fei has big moves and can't say."

Back at Feimin Pictures, Xiang Fei had just sat down to review documents when the office door was suddenly pushed open.

Li Bingbing stood at the door with red-rimmed eyes, her makeup slightly smeared, clearly having cried.

Xiang Fei frowned: "Is there something wrong?"

"President Xiang, I'm sorry," Li Bingbing's voice choked. "I shouldn't have barged in without asking..."

Xiang Fei's expression softened slightly: "Come in and close the door."

Li Bingbing closed the door and suddenly dropped to her knees with a "thud": "President Xiang, please help Ah Xing!"

Xiang Fei was startled and quickly stood up to help her: "What are you doing? Get up and speak."

Li Bingbing sat on the sofa, accepted the tissue Xiang Fei handed her, and wiped away her tears.

"Ah Xing he..." her voice trembled, "Shaw Brothers is forcing him to run eight film sets a day, his salary is only 800,000, and they threatened that if he breaches the contract, he'll have to pay an astronomical penalty."

Xiang Fei's eyes turned cold: "What exactly happened?"

"A few days ago Ah Xing fainted on set," Li Bingbing started crying again, "and the hospital said it was overwork. When I went to see him, he held my hand and said... said he might not be able to hold on..."

"Bingbing," Xiang Fei sighed, "it's not that I won't step in to help him. You know his temper."

"Thud"

"President Xiang, please help him," Li Bingbing knelt down again. "President Xiang, only you can help him."

"Sigh," Xiang Fei looked at Li Bingbing, whose face was already smeared with tears. "Go to the Beijing Film Studio and find Uncle Han; he will help you."

Just then, Xiang Fei calmly took out his phone from his pocket and skillfully dialed Dong Xiaoming's number. After the call connected, Xiang Fei spoke concisely: "Director Dong, modify Li Bingbing's contract to a lifetime contract. Also, set all commercial performance fees and film salaries on a 40-60 split, with the company taking 40% and the artist 60%."

Dong Xiaoming on the other end of the line obviously didn't hesitate for a second and immediately replied: "Understood, President Xiang, I'll handle it right away."

After hanging up, Xiang Fei slowly turned his gaze toward Li Bingbing. His eyes revealed a hint of helplessness and guilt.

Looking at Li Bingbing, he said softly: "Bingbing, don't blame me. I'm doing this out of necessity. If you don't sign this lifetime contract, given your personality and background, in this big dye vat called the entertainment industry, you'll sooner or later be eaten until not even a bone remains."

Li Bingbing listened quietly to Xiang Fei's words; there was not much change in her expression. After a while, she slowly spoke: "President Xiang, I know you are doing this for my own good. I understand your actions and thank you for your care and concern for me."

Xiang Fei nodded, waved his hand, and signaled that Li Bingbing could leave.