Chapter 721: The moonlight is truly beautiful tonight

"Well stuffed!"

Regarding this type of "money-throwing" sucker (—scratch that) tycoon who rushes to hand over cash, Sui Lingfang expresses a warm welcome.

Sui Lingfang continued to ask: "Besides this, did he say anything else?"

Jin Li shook her head: "No, he just wanted me to accept 5% of the box office share. If I don't accept it, he won't be at peace."

Sui Lingfang thought for a while and said: "As expected of an international director, the way he ropes people in is truly high-class."

Jin Li asked with great interest: "How so?"

Sui Lingfang: "I haven't seen the script for *Dawn 2* yet, but you have. From your attitude, I can tell you should appreciate it quite a bit."

"And the contract they sent you is for the treatment of an absolute female lead, so starting from the second installment, they have completely replaced you as the female lead."

"And *Dawn* is a series of films. If they can launch the first and second installments, they can certainly launch the third, fourth, or even more."

"So who can be the absolute protagonist of the series?"

Jin Li couldn't help but be stunned.

She pondered for a while and said uncertainly: "The person you are referring to, is it me?"

Sui Lingfang said affirmatively: "It is definitely you. Only you can bear the weight of the film series. He is betting that your future will always be bright."

"So Director Chu wants to give you a share of the film’s box office because he wants you to have a good impression of the *Dawn* series, so that when discussing the third or fourth installments later, you will also join and participate."

Jin Li said: "Director Chu didn't mention anything about the third installment to me."

Sui Lingfang: "But you have seen the script for the second installment. Have you already discovered that the third installment can completely expand based on the story of the second, and the absolute core character is still played by you?"

Jin Li answered quickly this time: "On the surface, yes. However, it specifically depends on how the script is written. As long as the screenwriter’s skill is excellent, changing people halfway is also fine."

Wasn't she also replaced in this way?

Sui Lingfang shook her head: "Perhaps the male lead will be changed, but you will definitely not be."

"Since Director Chu is willing to give up 5% of the box office share to you, he must be playing a very big game. He wants you to always serve as the female lead of the *Dawn* series."

Jin Li was thoughtful.

"I have quite good feelings for the *Dawn* series. If there is a chance, I would also like to continue being the female lead, but it specifically depends on the script. If the script is not good, I won't continue to act."

Sui Lingfang smiled, "Look, you have already said this."

"As long as the script is suitable in the future, you will definitely act. Didn't Director Chu’s efforts to rope you in pay off?"

"And you are different from other stars in the industry. Other stars might withdraw from a film series due to conflicting interests, but you are different."

"Your concept of money is different. As long as the money doesn't deviate too outrageously, Director Chu can keep you."

She thought for a while and continued: "However, the script for the second installment has only just been finalized, and the venue and props are not ready. Even if filming starts, it will be a matter for next year."

"It is too far away to mention the third installment now. I estimate that when the second installment is being filmed, Director Chu will mention it to you."

"You should have some psychological preparation in advance; what can be said and what cannot be said, just know it yourself."

Jin Li said "Mm."

Dawn Entertainment’s speed in reviewing the contract was very fast, mainly because the contract conditions given by Director Chu were very generous.

Even if Dawn Entertainment wanted to add something, they felt there was nothing they could do.

So they quickly mailed the contract to Jin Li.

After Jin Li looked through it once, she signed her name.

Thus, her schedule for next year added a filming project: *Dawn 2: Apocalypse*.

On the other hand, He Wuyou’s resignation from One Billion Media finally brought about subsequent effects.

His resignation was without any warning, fitting the style of contemporary young people who want a quick resolution.

The manager felt that everything was fine at work yesterday, so how did he receive He Wuyou’s resignation letter today?

Because he hadn't even been at the company for a month and his social security hadn't been entered, he could just leave directly.

As for his workstation, there was nothing belonging to him at all; it was all company data.

Whether he packed it or not didn't matter; anyway, the company would send someone to pack it.

So He Wuyou just left.

At first, the manager thought he was joking, thinking today was April Fool’s Day.

It wasn't until the second day after receiving the resignation letter, when he had something to communicate with He Wuyou but couldn't find him anywhere, that he remembered the resignation letter He Wuyou had sent on WeChat.

He actually really resigned and ran away without a trace of nostalgia!

Could it be that something happened that made He Wuyou unable to endure it, so he ran away?

The manager’s heart skipped a beat. He didn't tell the company’s high-level management immediately, but first found the master who was guiding He Wuyou to ask what exactly happened.

But even the veteran screenwriter who was guiding He Wuyou didn't know what was going on.

He was about to retire, so he wouldn't be overly dedicated to teaching people.

But the script held by this young man was a key task for the company next year, so the veteran screenwriter wouldn't be too slack either.

Simply put, he taught what should be taught, and didn't teach what shouldn't be taught.

The veteran screenwriter heard the manager’s intention and guessed: "Ultimately, he is still very young. Could it be that he couldn't bear the pressure, so he ran away?"

The manager was stunned, "Ran away?"

The veteran screenwriter said calmly: "Right, ran away. Isn't this very normal?"

"The script he holds is a key project for the company next year, with an investment of up to tens of millions. If the script he writes is not good, it will cause the company to lose money."

"How many years would it take to pay back tens of millions?"

"Young people can't bear the pressure, so they just ran away."

The veteran screenwriter also said: "It was wrong from the start to put such a big project on the shoulders of a young man."

"The company valued the newcomer too much, thinking how outstanding this newcomer’s talent was, but when I was guiding him, I didn't feel it."

"The drama he adapted was just so-so; it didn't have a central theme, nor did it follow the most popular template-based routines of the moment, always wanting to change things up with new ideas."

"But is 'new ideas' something a rookie screenwriter can touch?"

"I’m afraid that once it’s released, this 'new idea' will actually be a cliché plot, and he will be scolded by netizens instead."

The manager understood, "So you think he ran away because he couldn't bear the pressure?"

Veteran screenwriter: "Nine times out of ten, that’s the case."

The manager asked again: "Could it be that some dispute arose when you were guiding him, and he ran away because he was unconvinced?"

The veteran screenwriter glared at the manager, "You’re wrong to say that. I’m at a retiring age; why would I argue with him? Harmony brings wealth!"

The manager said sheepishly: "That’s true, I thought wrong."

Because He Wuyou ran away, the project *Invisible Secrets* could not be pushed forward for the time being.

The manager racked his brains thinking about how to remedy the situation, and after making two preparations, he reported the matter to the high-level management.

The first preparation was to continue digging for rookie screenwriters with potential, starting from those past bought-out scripts.

As a rookie screenwriter’s first practice work, being valued by that group of wine-and-meat-bag people in the company before meant there was at least some ability.

Wine-and-meat-bag people aren't just anyone who can be one.

They need to have a bright resume, work experience, have worked in large companies, and know how to bluff people.

So their eye for things is still there.

The scripts screened by the wine-and-meat-bag people also have outstanding points; otherwise, the company wouldn't have started filming, right?

The other preparation was to rake back.

Take the initiative to report to the high-level leadership, saying that the new screenwriter He Wuyou was unruly and stubborn.

He wouldn't listen to the veteran screenwriter’s guidance, was incompatible with the company’s philosophy, and left the company directly.

The manager made preparations before reporting He Wuyou’s resignation to the high-level leadership.

His upward contact person was Yang Zong.

Yang Zong didn't care when he heard the manager say a rookie screenwriter had resigned.

They had found nearly ten rookie screenwriters to cultivate this time; one leaving was not a big deal.

It wasn't until he heard the manager say this rookie screenwriter was the screenwriter for *Invisible Secrets* that Yang Zong’s expression changed slightly and he frowned.

"Ran away? How did he run? Why did he run?"

The manager said: "A newcomer, couldn't eat bitterness, was stubborn, thought the veteran screenwriter’s concepts were too outdated, didn't fit our style, so he just sent a resignation letter and left."

Yang Zong asked: "When did he resign?"

Manager: "Three days ago."

He paused and added: "After he resigned, I tried to contact him, but I couldn't reach him; he blocked my number."

This was true, not made up.

The manager also believed He Wuyou’s personality was too arrogant because of this incident.

Yang Zong frowned: "He’s gone, so how is the script going to be pushed forward?"

The manager asked tentatively: "Should we find another screenwriter to write it? If this script needs to be written by a rookie screenwriter to get inspiration, then we will find some talented rookie screenwriters to adapt it."

Yang Zong reached out and rubbed his eyebrows, sighing heavily.

"It’s not as simple as you think. Jin Li only recognizes this screenwriter. But if He Wuyou resigned, the responsibility is not ours, and there’s nothing we can do."

Seeing that He Wuyou couldn't be saved, Yang Zong didn't want an arrogant rookie screenwriter either, so he didn't intend to continue trying to keep him.

If it weren't for the fact that this cooperation with Jin Li was too important, he wouldn't have wanted to hand the script over to a rookie screenwriter to adapt.

His eyes were full of confusion; why did Jin Li happen to take a fancy to this drama *Invisible Secrets*?

He felt that other dramas were also quite good, such as those fantasy dramas, immortal hero dramas, and modern urban workplace dramas; the plots of the newly launched scripts in these categories were all quite good, following the formula for explosive popularity.

But Jin Li just didn't like them.

After the manager left, Yang Zong took the initiative to call Sui Lingfang.

He didn't have Jin Li’s private number, and even if he did, he probably wouldn't get through.

Hearing Yang Zong’s intention, Sui Lingfang said calmly: "The screenwriter left?

If he left, he left. It’s fine; we have already found a screenwriter here to adapt *Invisible Secrets*."

Yang Zong originally wanted to say, how about changing to another script, or he could find someone else to continue adapting it, but he didn't expect Sui Lingfang to say she had already found someone.

Yang Zong asked one more question: "Can you reveal which screenwriter it is?"

Sui Lingfang refused, "It’s not convenient to reveal that, but you will meet sooner or later."

"After the script is adapted, this screenwriter will be stationed in the crew as an on-set screenwriter."

Yang Zong: "Fine!"

Since Dawn Entertainment had already found a solution, Yang Zong didn't pester her anymore and said with great sincerity:

"If you need One Billion Media’s help, just speak up. We also have many resources and connections in the industry that can be used."

Sui Lingfang: "Good, I won't be polite."

Time flew by, and it was January.

Jin Li spent a lively New Year’s Day on the Qingbei campus. She and Gu Cheng participated in the New Year’s Eve party held by the school together, with a duet performance.

On New Year’s Day, many TV stations also sent them invitations to participate in local New Year’s Eve parties, but they were all rejected by the two of them.

Jin Li and Gu Cheng felt that participating in their alma mater’s New Year’s Eve party was more meaningful.

There would be plenty of opportunities to participate in other TV stations’ New Year’s Eve parties, but participating in their alma mater was one year less each time, making it more precious.

Before they knew it, they had already been at school for a year and a half.

Once this summer vacation passed, they would be juniors.

The two of them singing together at the Qingbei New Year’s Eve party was uploaded to the blog by students and immediately hit a trending search.

【So sweet!】

【This is the love I yearned for in my student days】

【Strongly recommend the two of them film another university campus drama, film one where a secret crush comes true, it’s very easy to ship!】

【I want to see childhood sweethearts (shy)】

【Ah, am I the only one who wants to see forced play? I want to see Jin Li force Gu Cheng, making the cold and aloof scholar fall into the mortal world!】

【The brain hole above is amazing, I vote for it!】

【!】

……

Neither Jin Li nor Gu Cheng expected that this trending search would be so powerful.

Actually, many crews filming youth-themed dramas sent invitations to the two, wanting them to cooperate in filming a university-era romance.

Jin Li was busy with her studies and didn't have time to look.

Gu Cheng did read all the scripts sent, but he wasn't satisfied with any of them.

When the two were resting at night, Gu Cheng embraced Jin Li, feeling that current youth dramas were still very cliché.

"The plots are always melodramatic, misunderstandings, twists and turns, eventually parting, meeting again years later, and only then are the misunderstandings resolved."

"But this kind of drama is not exclusive to youth dramas; it can be applied to any workplace drama, so I don't like it very much."

Jin Li asked: "Then what kind of drama do you want to film?"

Gu Cheng thought for a while: "A fantasy-type rescue drama. Before, there was a theme about burning past photos and then returning to the past to save the male or female lead, which exploded in popularity."

"But because the actors were all newcomers, the drama exploded thoroughly, but the actors were average and still need to struggle for a few years to level up."

Jin Li thought for a while and nodded.

"A rescue plot related to youth themes is indeed quite touching. If people could be given the choice to return to their youth, everyone would definitely want to make up for past regrets."

She smiled: "You can pay more attention to this type of theme; if you find a good one, tell me."

Gu Cheng raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you worried—"

Jin Li asked: "Worried about what?"

Gu Cheng chuckled: "Worried that I’m eating soft rice."

Jin Li touched his clear and handsome face and boasted shamelessly: "Is that so? Then your service doesn't meet the standard for eating soft rice yet!"

Gu Cheng: "Then I’ll work harder."

He didn't strip Jin Li’s, but just took off his pajamas piece by piece in slow motion.

Jin Li’s throat couldn't help but move.

……

The night was deep.

The moon is truly beautiful tonight.