Chapter 356

Splashing water, lukewarm water splashed all over Dilireba's legs.

She stared at the phone soaking in the footbath, stunned for half a second before letting out an "Aiya!" scream.

The others in the dormitory all turned their heads in unison.

Yang Zi, whose bed was next to hers, leaned over and asked, "Xiao Di, what's wrong? What fell into the water?"

"Oh my god, my phone!"

Dilireba scrambled to fish the phone out, only to see the screen of the wet Motorola N97 covered in water droplets.

She was the nationally famous "Sweet Potato Sister," but unfortunately, as a dark and rigid N97, it showed no mercy, going black-screen without a word, and naturally, the current call was disconnected.

She hurriedly wiped it, shook it hard a few times to try and dry the water, and then frantically pressed the power button, but the phone was like a cold black brick, completely unresponsive.

Dilireba was unwilling to give up, her fingers pressing down again and again, as if she could press it back to life.

"Don't be too sad." Seeing her gritting her teeth, Yang Zi laughed sincerely and comforted her gently: "It's okay, Xiao Di, out with the old, in with the new. If it really doesn't work, take it to be repaired tomorrow, maybe it can still be saved."

Dilireba didn't speak, struggling for a good while longer, and finally accepted her fate—this slider phone, bought for over 2,000 yuan last September,

was completely,

totaled.

She stared at that tiny black screen, feeling as if a stone had sunk into her heart; it was unbearable, and tears were about to fall.

Seeing this, Yang Zi added: "Don't worry, buy an Apple phone tomorrow. Haven't you always wanted to use the same one as me? Isn't this just right?"

Yang Zi said it lightly. But Dilireba knew her own situation, and was left with nothing but bitterness.

She was not Yang Zi.

Although she had some fame now and many merchants had contacted her to participate in activities or commercial performances, the companies that contacted her, including Huayi, all disagreed with her going.

So she really didn't go, and had spent the last half-year at home reviewing for cultural exams.

Her savings were only the money she had accumulated while at the Xinjiang Dance Troupe.

But at that time, her monthly salary was only over 3,000, and with bonuses, it didn't exceed 5,000.

After a year of hard work dancing, the money she saved was less than 20,000.

To get into the Beijing Film Academy, she traveled thousands of miles to Beijing; signing up for classes, renting a house, all kinds of expenses flowed like water.

Although her tuition this time was paid by her family and her living expenses were subsidized by them, the balance in her card was still less than 3,000 yuan.

Buy an Apple phone? Unless she reached out to her family.

However, although her father was a solo singer in the song and dance troupe and a national first-class actor, her mother was a housewife, and the burden on her family was not light. Her grandparents and maternal grandparents basically relied on her father's salary alone, so life could not be considered affluent. At the very least, if she were to ask for a few thousand yuan to buy a phone, Dilireba really couldn't bring herself to say it.

"Out with the old, in with the new" sounds nice, but without money, where does the "new" come from?

She didn't say anything more, lowering her head to desperately recall the number on the screen just now. 139818... No, it was 1398083... What was the end?

She couldn't remember.

She calmed down and looked up at Yang Zi: "Zizi, you... oh no, your phone won't work. Xiyang, can I borrow your phone? I'll put in my card; that call just now was very important, and I'm afraid he thinks I hung up on purpose."

Xu Xiyang frowned and hesitated: "I'm also afraid someone might be looking for me."

Dilireba squeezed out a smile: "Oh, okay, never mind then." She turned to Bao Wei, "Xiao Wei, can I borrow your phone? Just ten minutes, I promise to return it."

Bao Wei shrugged indifferently: "Sure."

She picked up the Nokia on the table, skillfully pried open the back cover to remove the battery, and took out the SIM card: "Just return it before you go to sleep; anyway, I'm a single old maid, no one is looking for me at this time."

Dilireba took the phone, inserted her own card, and stared intently at the screen, thoughts spinning in her mind.

She wasn't a fanatical star-chaser, but receiving a call from someone claiming to be "Chen Nuo," it would be a lie to say she wasn't excited.

She knew very well that at this time, if it really was Chen Nuo calling, it must be to discuss signing a contract with the Huanxin company.

Thinking of this, she felt a bit proud and excited at first, but soon, relying on the self-control cultivated from practicing dance, she forced herself to calm down.

She knew in her heart that she couldn't sign with the Huanxin company.

The blueprint that Manager Tang of Huanxin had painted for her at the beginning did indeed look quite moving.

Spend freshman and sophomore years peacefully in school learning acting, start taking roles in junior and senior years, and the company guarantees to provide some high-quality resources; in this way, by solidifying the basics, her acting career would also go more smoothly.

Such a long-term plan showed they were thinking for her.

However, she really didn't want such a slow pace.

If she were Han Chinese, perhaps she could consider this stable plan, but she was Uyghur.

The mainland had never produced a super-famous Uyghur star; now that she had fame relying on "Sweet Potato Sister," if she didn't strike while the iron was hot, would it be too late for everything to return to zero in two years?

Would anyone still pay attention to her?

She didn't have that confidence.

Huanxin was powerful, Chen Nuo was even more powerful, and Fan Fan Binbing, Liu Yifei, and Zhao Liying were all powerful.

However, the Huanxin company had a total of five female artists.

Wen Yongshan's situation was special, and she was temporarily retired from the circle, so that's not mentioned.

Then what about the other one?

Examples like Zhang Xinyu, who looked good but was unknown, were right before her eyes.

In two years, would she also become like this?

Therefore, even if Chen Nuo called personally, she was touched, but realistically speaking, other companies' conditions were more suitable for her current needs. Make money, change her family's situation, and let her parents enjoy life a day earlier.

Besides, from a career planning perspective, she also felt she couldn't wait.

Just like Yang Zi, although she hadn't signed with a company, she had taken three small-budget dramas relying on the popularity of "Home with Kids." Being a freshman like this, by the time she graduated, her height would definitely make her classmates look up in despair.

The stars from the Beijing Film Academy over these years, Liu Yifei, Yang Mi, and even Chen Nuo himself. Who didn't start taking roles as freshmen?

By junior year, the opportunity would have long passed.

She thought silently, perhaps Chen Nuo shouldn't call again, otherwise she really wouldn't know how to refuse.

Just then, Yang Zi asked: "Xiao Di, who are you waiting for a call from?"

She hesitated: "No one, just a friend."

Yang Zi laughed: "Who are you lying to? I see your eyes are almost glued to the phone. Hey, be honest, is it your boyfriend?"

"What? Xiao Di, you have a boyfriend?" Bao Wei shouted excitedly.

"No, no, really not!" Dilireba waved her hands hurriedly, "Just a friend, he called about work matters."

Yang Zi didn't believe it: "What kind of work, how is that possible? Looking at how nervous you are, it doesn't look like it."

Bao Wei also chimed in: "The class teacher said, school matters are not allowed to be spread outside. Tell us quickly, is it a boyfriend? We will definitely keep it secret!"

If only Yang Zi were questioning her, she could still hold out, but Bao Wei had just lent her the phone, so she felt embarrassed to hide it further, hesitating: "It's really not a boyfriend. He said he was so-and-so, which gave me a fright, and I dropped my phone. But I'm not sure if it's true or false, it might be a scammer."

Bao Wei looked blank: "Who? What are you talking about?"

Dilireba glanced at Yang Zi: "It's that person Xiao Zi mentioned."

Yang Zi was stunned: "What person? I don't have that many..."

"It's Chen..."

"Who, Chen Nuo?" Yang Zi blinked.

"Yeah."

"Hahahaha." The dormitory was quiet for a few seconds, Yang Zi laughed first, Bao Wei followed, and even Xu Xiyang, who had been reading, looked up and smiled.

"Alright, I won't force you. If you don't want to say it, forget it." Yang Zi shook her head and started washing her feet.

Xu Xiyang lowered her head and continued reading.

Bao Wei said with a smile: "Xiao Di, just be stubborn. It's okay, there's plenty of time, I'll find out the truth sooner or later. I'm Detective Conan, you can't hide it from me!"

Dilireba had attended a Han school when she was young and had also watched "Conan"; she knew if Bao Wei were really Conan, how could she not believe the truth she told?

She breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a bit uncomfortable, even faintly hoping that the person claiming to be Chen Nuo would call again to prove she wasn't lying.

But an hour passed, and by the time she returned the phone to Bao Wei, that call never rang.

Dilireba even began to doubt, did she really receive a call from someone claiming to be Chen Nuo?

Or did she actually hear it wrong?

She fell asleep thinking about it in a daze.

Chen Nuo didn't think Dilireba hung up on him on purpose.

But after stating his name, he was hung up on, and couldn't get through again.

He could only guess she took him for a scammer.

It's not like she heard the two words "Chen Nuo" and was afraid the radio waves would make her pregnant, so she hung up in a hurry, right?

Not to that extent, absolutely not.

Even back at Long'an No. 1 High School, his reputation wasn't that bad, okay?

So it could only be that.

Chen Nuo couldn't be blamed for thinking this way; after all, who could have guessed such a bizarre thing as a phone falling into a footbath? He wasn't Conan either, so it was normal that he couldn't deduce it.

So Chen Nuo dialed two more calls, and after finding they were all out of service, he thought about it and decided not to call anymore. He would just go directly to the Beijing Film Academy to find her. By the way, he would confirm if this Dilireba was that Dilireba.

Tang Qing had gone to chat for a long time without taking a photo, and he was impressed; he still had to go see for himself.

When all is said and done, he really didn't have the impression that Dilireba was a student at the Beijing Film Academy.

Although the probability of two people having the same name was extremely low, the butterfly effect of the World Cup made him not dare to be careless.

What if it was really a coincidence? It was best to confirm it with his own eyes.

If it really was "that" Dilireba, then he was sorry; gods block him, he kills gods, Buddhas block him, he kills Buddhas. Never mind Tang Ren, Songren, Huayi, or Yiyi, he was determined to get her.

It was the same concept as digging up Fan Fan Binbing back then.

He was willing to pay a 20 million breach of contract fee, let alone face!

The next day, he asked Li Er about the freshman military training time, and that night he took Qi Yuntian straight to the Beijing Film Academy.

Just the two of them.

Linghu's blind date was successful, and he was currently in Long'an "making babies" with a young woman from the Power Bureau, enjoying his first vacation in three years, and wouldn't return until after National Day.

"Give her a call, see where she is, and we'll go over." Chen Nuo said.

Qi Yuntian glanced outside the car: "Are you sure?"

"Don't worry, it's fine." After shopping in Anxiang, Chen Nuo was no longer suspicious. Who would stare at him? He wasn't Michael Jackson. It was 8 PM, it was dark, and in the school, surrounded by juniors, what was he afraid of?

"Alright." Qi Yuntian agreed and started dialing.

At this time, Dilireba was leaning against a tree, feeling heartbroken, and tears were about to fall.

Because just over ten minutes ago, in a cafe outside the Beijing Film Academy, she had rejected Huayi.

That was a 1.5 million signing fee! 500,000 more than the previous 1 million.

Dilireba didn't know what was wrong with her, that she had actually said "No."

Finally, when that Manager Tian left, his face was extremely ugly, and he even whispered "ungrateful."

She was very angry at the time, but now...

Thinking of the 1,000-plus yuan of living expenses left in her bank card, Dilireba felt, was she really a bit ungrateful?

Every time she thought about how large a sum 1.5 million was, and how many things she could do with that money, she really couldn't walk,

touching her phone several times, wanting to ask Manager Tian to come back and talk.

But in the end, the dark secrets of Huayi that Yang Zi spoke of made her restrain herself.

At 171cm tall and weighing only 88 jin, Dilireba's good figure relied entirely on self-control.

So,

she finally gave up. Sighing, she walked on the Beijing Film Academy campus under the night sky, her mind recalling everything that happened today.

Just this morning after military training, she ran to the phone shop at the school gate and spent over a thousand yuan to buy a Nokia.

Just after inserting the SIM card, a strange number called in. The new phone only had the relatives' numbers saved on the card; the ones in the previous phone book were all gone. She didn't know who it was at all, nervously answered, and it turned out not to be the person from last night, but Manager Tian from Huayi.

Later, on the way back to the dormitory, she received another call from Wang Jinghua's team at Shiyi Culture.

At that time, she immediately forgot about last night's matter. Because she knew Tang Ren hadn't contacted her yet, but this didn't mean she could continue to drag it out. Now that school had started, it should be the time when she had to make a decision. Several talent agencies didn't have the time to wait anymore.

So what should she do? Who should she choose? As a Gemini, her decision-making difficulty had been very severe since she was a child.

Sometimes, to avoid entanglement, she knew that change was better, but deliberately didn't move. Heaven knows how many sleepless nights she went through when she gave up her dance career to come to Beijing to take the acting exam, before finally making up her mind.

In such matters, her father didn't understand either and couldn't give her any advice.

Thinking and thinking, she still found the only person in the circle around her.

"If I were you, I would definitely choose Tang Ren."

During the military training break at noon, after Yang Zi heard her hesitation, she said seriously: "Even if Huayi gives you millions, I don't suggest you go. Not to mention the bad reputation, big companies have many resources, but they also have many artists. You, a newcomer, want to stand out in a short time? Dream on! Without engaging in unspoken rules, there's simply no chance. Are you afraid?"

"Afraid." Dilireba nodded honestly.

"If you're afraid, that's right. But Huayi invited you to meet, so you still have to go; otherwise, if you offend them, you'll have a hard time moving in the circle."

Yang Zi took a sip of water and continued, "Why is Tang Ren good? Look at their dramas over the years; every one they film becomes a hit. Hu Ge and Liu Yifei in 'Chinese Paladin 1', Yang Mi, Huo Jianhua, Liu Shishi, Tang Yan in 'Chinese Paladin 3'..."

"You count, how many people has Tang Ren made famous in these years? One hit drama after another. Xiao Di, your image is not a bit worse than theirs, and I even think you are more beautiful than them! Your ancient costume look is definitely a great beauty."

"If Tang Ren gives you a female lead in a Xianxia drama, with your conditions, you'll be famous in minutes!"

"Wang Jinghua is also not good. She has resources, but after leaving Huayi, she is in a lawsuit with Cheng Tian. Fighting alone, who knows when the opportunity will come. What you need now is a platform to cash in on your fame; Tang Ren is the most suitable!"

Yang Zi was talking enthusiastically when she suddenly shouted, "Hey, Zhang Yishan, come over!"

A thin boy, wearing a dark green military training uniform, walked over in a sloppy manner, looking like a thief, exactly Zhang Yishan from "Home with Kids."

"Hello, school beauty classmate." He greeted Dilireba with a grin.

"Hello, you're wrong, I'm not the school beauty."

"Why be humble, it's nationally recognized, well-deserved!"

Dilireba didn't like this kind of oily talk, smiled, and didn't answer.

Yang Zi said irritably: "Monkey, don't tease her. Seriously, do you really know Hu Ge?"

"I know him, what's wrong?" Zhang Yishan touched his nose.

"Xiao Di wants to sign with Tang Ren; isn't Hu Ge the top brother of Tang Ren? Tell him to take care of her."

"No need, Xiao Zi, thank you." Dilireba waved her hands hurriedly.

"It's okay, it's a small matter. I'm very familiar with Hu Ge, I'll make a call when the time comes..."

Zhang Yishan laughed, "The school beauty wants to sign with Tang Ren? Awesome, starting from a high point, huh? Being good-looking is just different!"

Dilireba really couldn't handle it, waving her hands: "Not at all, I'm not as good-looking as Zi."

Zhang Yishan was happy, "You're not as good-looking as her? One-third of you is better-looking than her!"

"Zhang Yishan! Do you want to die?" Yang Zi was furious and got up to beat him.

Zhang Yishan ran away laughing, turning back to make a phone gesture and an "OK" sign.

It was at that moment that Dilireba made up her mind. Although she originally wanted to ask about the Huanxin company, because Yang Zi didn't mention a word about it.

But at this time, she felt there was no need to think too much, actually.

Zizi had already paved the way here, and what she said wasn't wrong at all—Tang Ren was indeed a place where fame could be turned into real money.

Giving up dance to break into Beijing alone, she had already gambled once; she was all too familiar with that feeling of burning the bridges, and she didn't want to live those confused, uneasy days without seeing a future again.

Now, she just wanted to grasp the opportunity before her tightly, and while the popularity of "Sweet Potato Sister" on the internet hadn't dissipated, fight for a future where she could stand firm.

Returning to the present, the heartache of rejecting 1.5 million faded bit by bit in her memories, and that wavering entanglement was gradually replaced by firmness.

Tang Ren, it's just a pity she didn't save the phone number.

Otherwise, she would be ready to call now and say she would follow President Cai Yinong from now on.

Just then, her phone rang, and a strange number called in out of the blue.

Dilireba hurriedly answered it.

A cold voice came from the receiver, the tone was businesslike, not at all enthusiastic like those who had contacted her before, and even carried a hint of alienation.

It wasn't Tang Ren.

Chen Nuo, listening to Qi Yuntian's self-introduction on the phone, didn't feel anything wrong with the tone.

To him, Dilireba was like a cash cow comparable to Fan Fan Binbing, with infinite potential, worthy of all-out efforts to win over.

But to Qi Yuntian, Dilireba was just a pawn in the "Huanxin Manufacturing 2015" plan.

"Huanxin Manufacturing 2015."

This was a big game of chess that Qi Yuntian, Li Jing, and the company's senior management had stayed up late for meetings, slammed tables, and drank coffee until their stomachs hurt over the past two months, and as soon as he landed in Beijing, they couldn't wait to throw it in front of him.

The goal was very grand—to build a comprehensive innovative talent system before 2015.

Covering screenwriters, directors, talent scouts, and producers, each position must have one or two capable people.

The most important thing was to build an artist echelon of the old, middle-aged, and young generations, surrounding Chen Zong to cater to the market environment where supply falls short of demand.

To put it bluntly, why was this plan introduced?

Going public was just an incidental goal, not the reason.

The fundamental reason was that the Huanxin company was currently short of people.

The kind of shortage that was desperate.

Take "No Man's Land" as an example.

Huanxin joined forces with China Film Group to throw in tens of millions, a film shot with their own money.

As a result, once Fan Fan Binbing resigned from acting, they couldn't find a qualified substitute artist to hold the stage, so they had to open the doors to external casting, and finally chose Ma Su.

What is Ma Su?

If she becomes famous, what does it have to do with Huanxin later?

How could this fit Chen Zong's style of killing two birds with one stone? It completely deviated from the Huanxin company's internal circulation principle of dramas promoting people and people lifting dramas.

Not only that.

Although there was a disagreement over "Inception," there had been a slight alienation from China Film Group during this time,

but sorry, the Hengdian Group, which they became acquainted with because of this, was a super giant even more awesome than China Film Group.

Just look at how many dramas are filmed in Hengdian every year, and you'll know; the Hengdian Group is their ancestor.

Big and small roles, really, without needing Chen Nuo's name, just grassroots operations, they could have as many as they wanted. Maybe people were even begging for it.

Qi Yuntian and Li Jing had already decided to start killing into the TV drama circle next year.

By then, the talent gap in the Huanxin company would only be greater.

And it wasn't just these.

As the Huanxin boss's name became more and more famous domestically and internationally, domestic producers and capital parties of all sizes, except for the Huayi system,

others like Yu Zheng's studio, which had just collaborated on two dramas, Chen Kexin's Renren Film, Wang Jiawei's Jet Tone Films, Zhang Weiping's New Pictures, and Bona Film Group, New Classics Media, etc., which were connected in various ways, all actively or positively contacted this side, seeking opportunities for cooperation.

Just like Zhang Yimou's "The Flowers of War" starting next year, Huanxin had already stuffed several related parties into it, but Director Zhang Yimou still smiled and didn't care at all.

It can be seen that the resources of the Huanxin company are now truly from the top to the bottom, countless.

And every day, they were really watching helplessly as a large amount of resources slipped through their fingers in vain.

Slipping away not because of anything else, but because—

Not enough people!

Although most of these resources were not top-tier big productions, nor were they good things like stepping into the sky as the male or female lead.

But, for those little newcomers who had just stepped into the entertainment circle, the supporting roles of male second or female third in these medium-sized productions were absolutely stepping stones they could only reach by standing on tiptoes, and knocking bricks they dreamed of!

Turning a blind eye to this, as a company determined to walk on two legs—artist management and content manufacturing—it really hurt.

So Qi Yuntian finally made up his mind to take this step of expanding the team; besides the execution team, there was also the management team, almost the entire line needed to be expanded.

Chen Nuo naturally fully supported and felt very satisfied with this subjective initiative that suddenly erupted after Qi Yuntian became a father and wanted to earn milk powder money for his little girl.

Developing at this rate, it was only possible for him to lie flat and enjoy life in 2024.

The key was that this pile of things didn't increase his workload, nor did he need to watch it personally,

at most, it was just expanding expenditure in the short term, what's the problem?

As for expenditure.

First of all, Qi Yuntian had bought the office space on that floor of Chaoyang SOHO too big. But now it seems just right, no need to rent extra floors.

The rest was nothing more than some human resource costs for raising screenwriters, actors, and such.

In this area,

anyway, "Inception" was being converted from 2D to 3D production, and according to the current post-production special effects progress, it couldn't be released within this year; the earliest would be the summer file next year, and even later wasn't impossible.

There were tens of millions of dollars sitting in the company account that were temporarily useless, and he was going to sign a contract with Rolex to shoot an advertisement in a few days, and then tens of millions would come in again.

According to the current idle funds, there was enough strength to provide financial support for "Huanxin Manufacturing 2015."

In this process, the only thing he had to do was, relying on this pair of fiery eyes after rebirth,

pick thorns and pick up leaks.

For example, right now.

If confirmed correct, it was a big leak that must be picked up.

【Western Region Twin Beauties, Life Winner】 achievement.

Current progress 0/2.

A little past 10:30 PM, Dilireba returned to the dormitory door in a daze.

This was an hour after she finished talking with Manager Tian from Huayi.

She slowly touched her keys, just about to open the door and go in.

Suddenly hearing a sentence from the door crack, which also mentioned her name, made her stop the action of opening the door immediately.

"... Is Xiao Di really sure about signing with Tang Ren?" This was the voice of Xu Xiyang, who usually didn't like to talk much.

Followed by Yang Zi's voice, "Yeah."

"... What about Huanxin, is she sure she's not going?"

"Yeah, she's not going. Didn't you ask that day? Huanxin company wants her not to take roles in freshman and sophomore years, and she thinks it's too slow. I also think so; Huanxin is indeed not suitable for her situation."

"... Hehe, is that so?"

"Yeah."

"By the way, I heard Huanxin is going to sign newcomers and will release an announcement in a while, do you know?"

"... I know."

"Zi, are you planning to try?"

"Me? Hahaha, I haven't thought about it. Why, do you want to sign up?"

"I'm a little tempted, but I heard they only sign a few in total. Even if I sign up, there's definitely no chance."

"It's okay, actually, think about it, Huanxin company doesn't have anything good either. Those who should be famous will be famous wherever they go, and those who shouldn't be famous won't be famous wherever they go."

"............ Strange, why hasn't Xiao Di come back yet. And Bao Wei too, don't know where they ran off to. Zi, should we make a call and ask?"

"Wait a while, they might not have finished talking yet."

The conversation ended here.

PS:

200 monthly votes plus 1000 words.

(End of this chapter)