Chapter 749: Actually, What Was Truly Borrowed Was Jin Li's Influence

Sui Lingfang smiled faintly. "So, Director Zheng, what do you think of this plan?"

Zheng Chengxin pondered for a moment before saying, "Your plan is so thorough; I have no reason not to agree. Moreover, it is not entirely without benefit to me."

"So many female stars have been rumored to be involved with me; adding one Jian Liting makes no difference, nor does losing her."

He nodded. "Let's proceed according to your plan. If you need my cooperation in any area, just tell me."

Zheng Chengxin chuckled. "I am, after all, a beneficiary. Although filming is hectic, I can still spare a few minutes for a phone call."

Sui Lingfang smiled as well. "With your cooperation, I am confident this matter will proceed without any unexpected complications."

Jian Liting stood outside Director Zheng's door, pacing anxiously, occasionally tapping the ground with the tip of her foot, her heart filled with unease.

One moment she feared Director Zheng would not agree and would fly into a rage.

The next, she felt that Director Zheng, being a shrewd businessman, should agree.

After all, stirring up romantic rumors was a tactic commonly used by stars; it was just that stars usually paired with other stars, rarely with directors, though it had happened before.

Soon the door opened, and Sui Lingfang walked out.

Jian Liting hurried forward to meet her, about to say something, but was stopped by a single glance from her.

She immediately closed her mouth and silently followed Sister Fang back to her room.

Once the door was shut, the tension on Sui Lingfang's face relaxed; her posture became casual, a smile on her lips as she made an "OK" sign toward her.

"Director Zheng has agreed. We can start acting tomorrow. I will stay with the film crew for three days to guide you through completely resolving your contract issues with the company."

Jian Liting breathed a huge sigh of relief. A complex surge of emotions suddenly welled up in her heart, making her laugh and cry at the same time.

"Thank you, Sister Fang. Thank you for being willing to guide me. I... I don't know what to say..."

"Thank Jin Li, thank Chenxi Entertainment, thank you. Thank you all for reaching out to help me when I was at my lowest!"

Sui Lingfang couldn't help but say, "Sister Fang and Chenxi Entertainment can actually do very little. The person you should be most grateful to is Jin Li. If Jin Li hadn't recommended you to me, I might not have even considered signing you."

"It is first because Jin Li sees potential in you that I see potential in you."

She spoke these words very plainly, almost explicitly stating: If Jin Li did not see potential in you, Chenxi Entertainment would not sign you.

The reason she was able to join Chenxi Entertainment at all was entirely due to one sentence from Jin Li.

This statement seemed ruthless, as if it stripped Jian Liting of all her value, ignoring her abilities and focusing purely on whether she was liked by Jin Li.

But such was the reality.

There are too many talented and gifted people in the world, yet resources are limited; not every talented person can be discovered.

Jian Liting nodded heavily. Even so, she remained deeply grateful to Jin Li and Chenxi Entertainment.

Regardless of their motives, their willingness to offer help in her time of need made them her benefactors who gave her a new life!

Since it was already too late that day, Jian Liting did not call her agent.

Early the next morning, accompanied by Sui Lingfang, she proactively dialed her agent's number.

The moment the call connected, her agent's voice came through, arrogant yet laced with impatience:

"Finally decided to call me? I sent you so many WeChat messages and made so many calls before, yet you turned a deaf ear to them all!"

"Now that your popularity has faded, you're panicking and trying to curry favor with me and the company? Jian Liting, let me tell you, it's too late!"

Jian Liting took a deep breath and said, "Are you finished speaking? If you are, then it's my turn."

The agent choked on her words, then flew into a furious rage. "What do you mean by this? What kind of attitude is this? You've really gone too far!"

"Do you really think you can safely stay on the set of 'Counterattack from Despair' and finish filming?"

"Let me tell you, if any scene with you remains in this film, once it is released, the company will sue the production team for breach of contract, ensuring this film cannot be released afterward!"

"Do you think leaning on Director Zheng will make the company fear you? Your contract is still in the company's hands. Unless you pay an astronomical penalty for breach of contract, don't even think about leaving the company to go solo!"

Jian Liting replied, "Oh."

The agent widened her eyes in disbelief. That was it?

How could she be so calm?

This only intensified the sense of unease in the agent's heart.

Jian Liting remained silent for a moment. Confirming that the agent had nothing more to say, she finally spoke:

"I am in a relationship with Director Zheng. That is why he allowed me to join the 'Counterattack from Despair' crew and gave me the role of the fourth female lead. As far as I recall, the contract between the company and me does not restrict me from dating, so you cannot obstruct my right to be in a relationship."

The agent shouted loudly, "What? Who did you say you are dating?"

Jian Liting gripped her phone tightly, glanced at the calm Sui Lingfang beside her, and said quietly:

"You heard correctly. I am in a relationship with Director Zheng Chengxin. Otherwise, why would he help me for no reason, allowing someone like me, who has had no assignments for two years, to join the crew and play the fourth female lead in a highly anticipated film with a strong IP?"

The agent stammered, "You... you... how could this be... It's impossible. Why would he take an interest in you? You... you..."

The agent was so shocked by this news that she became incoherent.

She had considered many possibilities regarding why Jian Liting would suddenly join the crew without fearing a lawsuit for breach of contract from the company.

But she had never imagined the reason would be so simple and plain: she was dating Director Zheng!

Jian Liting scoffed lightly. "Why can't I date Director Zheng? Am I that ugly?"

Then she shifted her tone: "Zheng Chengxin knows about my conflict with the company. He asked me to convey a message to you: he will only offer me this one film role and will not interfere with my future assignments afterward."

"He wants to promote me, but he knows boundaries; he will only start promoting me after I have completely terminated my contract with the company."

"The reason I am calling to tell you about my relationship with him is to hope the company will reconsider its relationship with me carefully and anew."

"After I terminate my contract with the company, I will not completely leave the entertainment industry. I do not wish to make things this stiff with the company. If you want to blacklist me, preventing me from taking any film or television roles, and barring me from commercial advertisements..."

"OK, I can accept all of that. No problem."

"But you cannot deprive me of opportunities to perform in stage plays. If you are unwilling to even leave me this path to survival..."

Pausing deliberately at this point, she added, "Heh heh, what I might do after terminating the contract, even I don't know myself!"

This was a naked threat!

Having said this, she hung up the phone.

This was the first time in nearly two years she had faced her agent and her company with such confidence.

And she understood that this confidence had been bestowed upon her by Jin Li.

After a night of reflection, she had finally figured it out.

Director Zheng had no prior connection with her; he simply admired her acting skills, which was why he was willing to offer her such an opportunity.

The reason Director Zheng agreed to fabricate a scandal with her was likely out of respect for Chenxi Entertainment.

And was not Jin Li the greatest asset of Chenxi Entertainment?

Therefore, it was out of respect for Jin Li that Director Zheng was willing to cooperate in fabricating a scandal with her.

Having realized this, her gratitude toward Jin Li knew no bounds, and she resolved that she must properly repay Jin Li when the time came.

Jian Liting's company would naturally not believe she was dating Director Zheng based solely on her word.

Especially when the agent relayed this news to the President, he refused to believe it entirely.

"Zheng Chengxin is such a proud man; would he really take an interest in Jian Liting, an actress who has lost nearly all popularity and is about to fall out of the top tier?"

He is a great director; even if he took an interest in a star, it should be one currently rising among the top tier. Why would he think to promote a fallen actress whose popularity has vanished?"

The agent hesitated, then spoke: "President, regardless of the situation, Director Zheng is clearly determined to protect Jian Liting. Even if we cut off all her engagements, she will not leave the entertainment industry."

Jian Liting is a professional actress; she reached the status of a top-tier artist precisely by relying on one film and television drama after another. As long as she is given roles to play, relying on the foundation she previously built, she will quickly return to the public eye.

Regardless of what relationship she has with Director Zheng, judging solely by Director Zheng's attitude, I feel we should not offend Jian Liting too deeply; we can no longer suppress her."

Speaking to this point, she felt utterly helpless.

It was she who had propelled Jian Liting to fame.

If the President had not been determined to abandon her, she would not have wanted things to become so strained between them.

The agent continued: "Rather than provoking a potential enemy whose future is uncertain but who holds great potential, it is better to make peace now.

Even if she is destined to terminate her contract with the company in a year and not renew it, at least we will not have made an enemy of her.

Later, if the company's artists wish to venture into films, we might even be able to climb onto Director Zheng's connection; otherwise, if Director Zheng publicly announces a ban on our company's actors, it will dash the hopes of our artists ever appearing in films.

You know well how profitable films are; unless the company intends to abandon its film business entirely in the future, Zheng Chengxin is an obstacle we cannot bypass."

The President's expression shifted repeatedly; after a long while, he said, "You may leave first; I need to make a phone call to inquire."

He took out his contact list, originally intending to use an intermediary to ask about Director Zheng's true attitude toward Jian Liting.

But at the last moment, he steeled his heart, thinking that rather than having an intermediary relay messages which might transmit incorrect information, it would be better to ask Zheng Chengxin directly.

Whether true or false, one question would reveal all!

Judging by Zheng Chengxin's temperament, he was not the type to hide a romantic relationship with an artist.

So he dialed Zheng Chengxin's number.

It was still noon, during the film crew's lunch break.

Zheng Chengxin answered almost immediately: "Hello?"

The President quickly forced a smile and asked cheerfully, "Director Zheng, I am the President of Jian Liting's company. I have something I wish to ask you. I heard from Jian Liting that you are dating him."

Zheng Chengxin answered without hesitation: "Yes, so what? Are artists at your company not allowed to date?"

"No, no, nothing of the sort," the President hurriedly said.

Zheng Chengxin said, "I am filming on set and have no time to come out; otherwise, I would act as a matchmaker and arrange for Liting to have a meal with you, wiping the slate clean on past grievances.

You have already blacklisted her for two years; for an artist in a rising phase, two years of zero exposure is a devastating price, something you understand very well. You are already advanced in years; do not make things difficult for a young girl."

The smile on the President's face froze. "This, this..."

Zheng Chengxin: "How about this: as long as you do not make things difficult for Liting, I still have a few minor actor slots in my next production that I can offer to your company."

The President immediately said, "Excellent, Director Zheng, let it be settled on this word!"

The matter of Jian Liting was thus thoroughly resolved, and the result was even better than anticipated.

The promise Director Zheng made was like a castle in the air; "Desperate Counterattack" had not even finished filming, so who knew what his next project would be, or whether it could even be prepared by next year, remained unknown.

Who does not know how to paint a big pie?

But after Director Zheng made this promise, Jian Liting's company underwent a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn in their attitude toward her.

Not only did they fully restore her theater work, but they were also willing to accept audition notices for minor film and television dramas for her, while simultaneously lifting restrictions on her commercial endorsements.

Unfortunately, after two years of silence, her popularity was long gone.

The engagements she could now secure were all minor commercial performances in obscure corners, and in film and television dramas, she had already fallen from the female lead to the Nth female role.

The entertainment industry is this cruel.

If you fall behind even for a moment, you will almost never catch up again, unless you can manage to keep yourself at the very forefront continuously.

Sui Lingfang left the film set and, instead of taking a plane back to Nancheng, first went to the Imperial Capital to visit Jin Li.

In the past, when Jin Li was not yet famous, whenever she had time each month, Sui Lingfang would bring a large assortment of food to Jin Li's apartment to visit, checking on Jin Li's physical condition.

Now that Jin Li was very famous and she herself was busy with work, the habit of meeting once a month remained.

If a month passed without seeing her, Sui Lingfang would always feel somewhat uneasy.

Only by seeing the person with her own eyes and knowing she was living well could her heart feel at ease.

"...That is how things stand. Her conflict with the company is considered thoroughly resolved. Originally, she did not want to accept any engagements at all, but I persuaded her otherwise.

At this stage, she must accept some engagements to dispel the company's doubts and confirm that she truly does not hold a grudge over the company blacklisting her for two years; only then will there be no future troubles."

Sui Lingfang arrived at the apartment near the school where Jin Li lived and discussed with her the gains from this trip to the film set.

A glint of interest flashed in Jin Li's eyes: "I did not expect that your trip to the film set, aside from securing her letter of intent for a contract, would be so eventful, inadvertently helping her resolve the conflict with her original company."

Sui Lingfang helplessly spread her hands: "I did not want to either, but what choice was there? Otherwise, if this continued to escalate, I feared she would not last until next year and would be completely blacklisted this very year."

Jin Li thought for a moment and asked, "I have not had much contact with Jian Liting, nor have our discussions been this deep.

Although you have had little contact with her, you stripped her down to her foundations the moment you met; what kind of person do you think she is?"

Sui Lingfang curled her lips into a smile: "Previously, I was unsure why you held such high hopes for Jian Liting, but now I am certain; she fits the internal corporate atmosphere of Chenxi Entertainment very well.

"She is the same kind of person as the members of your Pink Maiden group: her goals are firm, she has her own stance, she does not drift with the current, and she will not allow herself to be at the company's beck and call."

She paused, then stated the most crucial factor: "Moreover, her self-motivation is extremely strong. I believe that even without me assigning tasks, she would fill her schedule to the brim on her own. This is also what sets her apart from you all."

Jin Li coughed lightly and gazed into the distance.

She is very diligent...

Well, she truly is very diligent; it is just that she has to attend school, which is why she has accepted so few engagements.