Chen Yanping was utterly bewildered by Chu Xiaxing's logic. After a moment of silence, she couldn't help but exclaim, "You really know how to talk…"
Chu Xiaxing: "So, what's your decision?"
Chen Yanping's eyes flickered slightly. She hesitated, "Can you really help me sell my previous drama again?"
Chu Xiaxing: "Of course. If you don't believe me, we can discuss the rating first, then talk about The Immortal Doctor of the Great Song Dynasty."
Chen Yanping vaguely said, "Actually, I don't have much say during internal screenings…"
Chu Xiaxing: "Cut it out! You're in charge of production; you can definitely handle this."
The platform's acquisition team would definitely deliberately suppress the rating of The Distant You in My Heart, but Chen Yanping was in charge of production, so her opinion would appear more fair and objective, potentially more effective than directly approaching the acquisition team. Chu Xiaxing wasn't about to let Chen Yanping get away without paying a price. Since she offered to help her sell the drama, she naturally wanted to gain some benefits.
Chen Yanping struggled for a long time before finally nodding in agreement. She muttered, "You really aren't like other directors at all, not even talking about art…"
Chu Xiaxing chuckled, “But isn’t that exactly the kind of director you’re looking for? I can talk to you about art, the problem is, you’re not interested in hearing it.”
Chen Yanping had previously suffered at the hands of directors who only talked about art. Now, no matter how eloquently others spoke, she only cared about the project's costs and profits. Chu Xiaxing naturally spoke differently depending on the person she was facing. If the producer wanted to hear about art, she would only talk about art. If the producer wanted to hear about making money, she would only talk about making money.
If you don't know the psychological needs of the person you're talking to, then no matter how long you chat and argue, it's all in vain, a complete waste of effort.
After Chen Yanping left, Han Chuning was pleasantly surprised by the change in the producer's attitude, but she couldn't help but feel a little worried. "But she hasn't confirmed The Immortal Doctor of the Great Song Dynasty thing yet?"
Chen Yanping had only agreed to help with the rating of The Distant You in My Heart, but hadn't directly confirmed that Chu Xiaxing would be the director.
Chu Xiaxing calmly said, "She wants to see my abilities first before making a decision. Help me make a phone call."
Chu Xiaxing guided Han Chuning on how to make the call, teaching her niece how to introduce herself, and then contacted an old acquaintance at the TV station. The other party's attitude was quite friendly, and their tone was very amiable when talking to Han Chuning. Upon hearing Han Chuning's idea, they only said that she could send the drama to the station for review another day.
After Han Chuning hung up, she knew that helping Chen Yanping sell the drama was halfway done. She then curiously asked, "Aunt, who was that person?"
"That's the little girl who used to be an intern in my crew, kind of like Assistant Jingjing now. She doesn't have much ambition, and her abilities aren't outstanding, but her advantage is that she values loyalty and righteousness, which is better than many people." Chu Xiaxing explained. "I used to have some connections, which you can't use now, but these kinds of people will be willing to take care of you."
Chu Xiaxing knew very well that many people around her needed her help, but after she left, they might not necessarily look after Han Chuning. It was quite realistic. When she had Han Chuning make calls, she would only call the right people.
Chu Xiaxing helped Chen Yanping recover some of the costs of her previous drama, and Chen Yanping, as promised, helped with the rating of The Distant You in My Heart. After the final cut of the drama, the video platform would conduct another round of ratings, and finally determine the acquisition price based on the rating level, and discuss the remaining distribution channels.
The Distant You in My Heart successfully rose one level. With its low-cost production, it achieved a medium-cost rating, already recovering its costs and making a small profit before it even aired. There would be other revenues after it was broadcast.
Inside the company, Xia Hong was quite surprised to hear the news. He had dabbled in investing in some dramas before, but the money was like throwing it into the water, impossible to recover before airing. Looking at the platform's rating results, he was completely baffled, exclaiming, "No way, no way, can it really make money like this? Is Song Wenye a lucky charm?!"
Xia Hong: No wonder he can be a senior executive in the group. He can really make money even with blind investments, unbelievable!
Song Wenye used to say that Chu Xiaxing knew how to direct, and Xia Hong always treated it as a joke, mocking his friend for being a fool. Now, thinking about it carefully, he was so stupid. He clearly had countless opportunities to build relationships with the crew, but in the end, he watched her terminate the contract and run away.
Xia Hong decisively called Song Wenye to report the good news of making money, while also regretting, "I regret it! I shouldn't have agreed to terminate the contract. I should have forced her to make dramas in the company. If we had accumulated three or four dramas, the company would really take off!"
The output of film and television companies isn't high. Some small companies may have only produced one drama. Having three or four dramas would be considered a decent size, and continuous output for many years would even give them hope of going public. Of course, having too many backlogged dramas in the company would also be risky, but since the dramas directed by Chu Xiaxing recovered their costs before airing, the risk rate was obviously low!
Song Wenye also didn't expect the recovery to be so fast. He was a bit surprised. Hearing Xia Hong's vision, he couldn't help but say directly, "If you think she can make the company take off, would she allow you to be the boss?"
Xia Hong: "?"
Xia Hong: “What do you mean by that? You think I’m not fit to be the boss? This is wu wei er zhi—governing by doing nothing. It’s a management style too!”
Song Wenye thought of Xia Hong's hobby-like management style, and then thought of the several loss-making film and television companies under his friend's name, and frankly said, "Wu wei is true, whether or not it zhi [governance] is unclear."
Xia Hong: "???" Is he mocking me?
Xia Hong angrily said, "Then who do you think she would allow to be the boss? Could she allow you to be her boss? Fine, fine, fine, you're so capable, then go ahead, be her boss. All you do is pick on me! I’m not fighting you for it. You go be her boss! Look at the way you talk!”
Xia Hong felt like an old wage slave. He helped Song Wenye and Chu Xiaxing connect, but in the end, he was disliked by both sides and didn't get any credit. Naturally, he felt like an unwanted third wheel and felt indignant.
Song Wenye: "I'm going to tell Uncle Xia about your new car…"
Xia Hong: “Oh, you’re mad now, huh? I struck a nerve, and now you’re mad? You just don’t want me to be her boss. What, can’t handle it? Are you a sore loser?"
Song Wenye: "…"
Song Wenye, hearing Xia Hong's teasing retorts, was too lazy to pay attention to him and simply hung up the phone. He thought of Chu Xiaxing again and felt a little helpless. He originally wanted to repay a past favor, but unexpectedly, Duan Chengyan's incident occurred, and the project with low expectations also recovered its costs. Instead, he owed her more and more.
Although his original intention wasn't to ask her to make money, he was now indeed making money through her. The situation seemed to be in a deadlock. The more he wanted to repay the favor, the more unclear it became.
On the other hand, after the rating of The Distant You in My Heart was completed, the finished product had to wait for scheduling and promotion, and be broadcast online according to the video platform's arrangements. After Chu Xiaxing left the editing room, she didn't receive any news from Chen Yanping for a while, but one day, she suddenly received a call from her.
Chen Yanping: "Are you busy today? Do you want to come with me to meet the lead actor?"
Chu Xiaxing blankly said, "I'm not busy, but why would I meet the lead actor with you?"
Chen Yanping was quite surprised: "Aren't I your producer?! Directors should meet the lead actors!"
Chu Xiaxing: "?"
Chu Xiaxing calmly said, "You haven't even signed a contract with me yet. Without formal agreement, who would recognize you?"
Chu Xiaxing always valued industry rules. She would never work for free without a contract. In this industry where scams are so common, it's better to be cautious.
Chen Yanping: "???"
Chen Yanping exclaimed, "So, now that the screening and rating of The Distant You in My Heart is over, you think I have no more use, and your attitude is completely different?!"
Chu Xiaxing: "You know it well. Now, quickly renew the contract, and I'll change my attitude. No money, no work."
Chen Yanping was both annoyed and amused: "I have your contract in my bag right now. Just come over!"
Chu Xiaxing decisively said, "Okay, Director Chen, I'll be there right away."
Chen Yanping: "…"
Before long, Chu Xiaxing met Chen Yanping at a high-end restaurant. They briefly finalized some details of the contract, but the lead actor they were supposed to meet hadn't shown up yet. After Chu Xiaxing finished discussing her contract, she couldn't help but ask curiously, "Which lead actor are we meeting?"
Chen Yanping explained, "We just finished selecting the female lead for The Immortal Doctor of the Great Song Dynasty. It's Zhang Anluo, have you heard of her?"
Chu Xiaxing honestly shook her head. "No, what has she acted in?" She usually remembers the dramas but not the people, and doesn't have much impression of female celebrities of this caliber. There's a bit of a generation gap.
Chen Yanping: "She acted in Minghua: Clouds of Time."
Hearing about the famous drama, Chu Xiaxing was completely bewildered: "Is there a female actor named Zhang Anluo in Minghua: Clouds of Time? I don't remember the female lead or supporting actresses having that name."
Minghua: Clouds of Time was produced by Chu Xiaxing's familiar team, and she even provided some script suggestions in the early stages, helping her friends brainstorm. It was a classic drama back then.
Chen Yanping: "No, she played a maid named Cuicui in it."
Chu Xiaxing: "…" Are people redefining the word 'acted in' now?
Chu Xiaxing joked, "Then if you put it that way, hundreds of extras in Hengdian have acted in Minghua: Clouds of Time. There are so many big scenes in that drama…"
Chen Yanping glared at her, reminding her, "Don't say that in front of her later!"
Chu Xiaxing curiously asked, "Why did you choose her as the female lead?"
Chen Yanping's expression was subtle as she explained, "It's a request from above. She's played the second female lead in several big dramas, and her popularity is considered pretty good now. They want to push her up further, but these kinds of things are hard to say…"
Chu Xiaxing roughly understood Chen Yanping's concerns. The video platform probably had a partnership with Zhang Anluo's agency, and they would work together on some projects. But Zhang Anluo hadn't played a lead role before, and her high popularity as a supporting actress didn't mean she could handle the lead role.
The female lead's role in The Immortal Doctor of the Great Song Dynasty was very important, and Chen Yanping was naturally worried that it would be a disaster, but she couldn't go against the higher-ups' wishes.
Chu Xiaxing and the others waited in the quiet and elegant high-end restaurant. Zhang Anluo finally arrived late, surrounded by her staff. She wore sunglasses and was dressed in luxury brands, but the combination didn't look high-end. Instead, it had a flaunting quality, completely different from the gentle and kind maid Cuicui in the drama.
Chu Xiaxing took one glance and more or less understood that Zhang Anluo didn’t have the fate to be famous. Though she certainly had the ambition for it. Her style of dress leaned toward the tacky and pretentious.
Zhang Anluo sat down surrounded by her assistants. Chen Yanping, looking at the many staff members, also felt a headache. She gently said, "Anluo, let your team rest at the table next door. Everyone has been working hard."
Chen Yanping felt that today was a private meeting, but Zhang Anluo had brought so many people, which was a bit inappropriate, even bigger than some famous actors. However, Chen Yanping always knew how to handle people, and she was skilled in the art of speaking, so she wouldn't directly express her dissatisfaction.
"Okay, then you guys go over there first." Zhang Anluo turned her head and instructed her assistant. She finally turned back amidst the chaos, took off her sunglasses, and said, "I didn't expect Producer Chen to want to meet so early. The other projects I’ve been on never moved this fast in prep. Today’s a bit rushed for me.”
Hearing Zhang Anluo's tone, Chu Xiaxing immediately showed a look of great interest. It seemed that Zhang Anluo looked down on this drama!
Zhang Anluo actually didn't want to come today. She wasn't very satisfied with The Immortal Doctor of the Great Song Dynasty. Although the script was well-written, the producer and director didn't seem very reliable. She was also the highest-ranked actor, so this project seemed quite risky.
Although Zhang Anluo hadn't played a lead role before, the production teams she had worked with were quite excellent, so she felt that she wasn't on the same level as Chen Yanping and Chu Xiaxing. Chen Yanping and Chu Xiaxing's attire was also relatively low-key, especially Chu Xiaxing, who was simply unadorned. Zhang Anluo felt that she was just a small-time director.
Zhang Anluo: "What would you two like to drink? Their red wine here is good. Drinking a little can promote blood circulation and nourish the skin. Or should we open a bottle?"
Chen Yanping: "What do you want to drink? I'll order."
Zhang Anluo looked at the silent Chu Xiaxing and tentatively asked, "Which region's red wine does the director usually like to drink?"
Chu Xiaxing frankly said, "I don't know where the wine at home is from." The red wine at her house was all Chu Qiuyi's doing. She wasn't interested in these fancy things.
Zhang Anluo's eyes revealed a knowing look. She pointedly said, "There are many tricks with red wine. It's better for the director to drink less off-brand wines…"
Chen Yanping smiled and tried to smooth things over: "I don't understand it at all either. Why don't you choose a bottle?"
Zhang Anluo: "Then I'll have to accept your offer. Director, you can try it today and see if this wine is different from the one at your house…"
Chu Xiaxing understood that this childish person was trying to give her a hard time. She wanted to suppress her before joining the crew. Although the crew should listen to the director, it also depended on the actors' ranking. Zhang Anluo clearly felt that her ranking was high, so she didn't restrain her words at all.
"Chu Xiaxing!"
Chu Xiaxing was about to open her mouth when she suddenly heard a familiar shout from the side, and her expression froze. She turned her head and saw Chu Qiuyi, smiling brightly. She couldn't help but ask in surprise, "What are you doing here?"
Chu Qiuyi strode straight toward her, then glanced at the two unfamiliar women at the table and grumbled, "You're really something. I’ve been trying to get you to meet up for ages, and here you are happily having lunch with other people…"
Hearing the familiar sour tone, Chu Xiaxing immediately felt a headache coming on. She explained, "Stop making trouble. I'm talking about serious business with people."
Chu Xiaxing: I actually ran into this ancestor here. What bad luck!
Chen Yanping, looking at the mature and beautiful Chu Qiuyi, asked in confusion, "This is…"
Chu Qiuyi sat down next to Chu Xiaxing as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and naturally said, "Oh, hello, I'm Chu Xiaxing's older sister. My name is Chu Qiuyi."
Chu Xiaxing looked at her younger sister in disbelief: "???" Are you planning to rebel?!
Zhang Anluo looked at the extraordinarily beautiful Chu Qiuyi in shock. At first glance, she could tell that the other party came from an extraordinary family. Chu Qiuyi was the epitome of a showoff, and she immediately felt that her own attire paled in comparison.
So-called showing off is something that those who understand will naturally understand, while those who don't understand are like outsiders.
Chu Xiaxing didn't care about these things, so she didn't mind. Zhang Anluo cared a lot about these things, so she lost some of her momentum.
Chu Qiuyi glanced at the nouveau riche-like Zhang Anluo, and immediately turned her eyes to the side, as if she looked down on the other party's tasteless dressing. She lowered her head and glanced at the wine on the menu, then covered her mouth in surprise and said, “No way, seriously? People still drink this kind of wine? You’ve got my wine sitting untouched at home, and you came out to sip on swill? You’re acting like you've never seen good wine before…"
Zhang Anluo's face immediately turned ugly: "…"
Chu Xiaxing, hearing the familiar pretentious tone, couldn't help but rub her temples, stopping her: "That's enough…"
Chu Xiaxing: She's a seasoned showoff as soon as she opens her mouth!