“Teacher Yuan, thank you for not treating me like a child and brushing me off, for telling me the truth.”
Yuan Fenghui could have brushed her off.
Casually make a promise, ask her to write a script.
Once Wen Ying submitted the “script,” Yuan Fenghui could keep asking for revisions, and through rounds of revisions, maybe a year or two would pass, Wen Ying’s time consumed on this matter, her energy overly occupied, not only failing to become a screenwriter but possibly affecting her academic performance.
As for Yuan Fenghui, she wouldn’t be affected at all, in the process of making excuses to stall Wen Ying, Yuan Fenghui would have long secured enough of Li Mengjiao’s goodwill, signed Li Mengjiao’s agency contract, and completed her goal.
If Wen Ying didn’t become a screenwriter, not only could she not resent Yuan Fenghui, she’d have to thank Yuan Fenghui for her “dedicated guidance,” and even Li Mengjiao would trust Yuan Fenghui more, after all, Yuan Fenghui “valued” Li Mengjiao’s friend so much, surely she’d treat Li Mengjiao herself even better!
Wen Ying guessed that Yuan Fenghui must have considered such a tactic before, yet Yuan Fenghui changed her mind at the last moment and told her the truth, a more sophisticated and cunning psychological strategy: Yuan Fenghui was assessing whether Wen Ying was easy to deceive.
Such confrontations weren’t unfamiliar to Wen Ying.
They were very common in the workplace.
Wen Ying had dealt with all sorts of clients, some judged a lawyer’s competence not only by whether they’d won similar cases before but also by whether the lawyer was confident and assertive enough.
Clients were indeed customers, law firms took their money and had to serve them.
But legal services were highly professional, a soft, easily bossed-around lawyer would naturally make clients doubt their expertise!
A capable lawyer didn’t need to be subservient, at least in their professional field they had to stick to their ideas, based on Wen Ying’s experience, when she was assertive, clients would back off and cooperate better with her work.
Yuan Fenghui wasn’t much different from those clients.
Yuan Fenghui tested her, weighed her, and, thinking she might not be easily fooled, told her the “truth,” if Wen Ying couldn’t keep up with Yuan Fenghui’s moves, the stage would belong to Yuan Fenghui, even if rejected by Yuan Fenghui, both Wen Ying and Li Mengjiao would be very grateful to her, fools deserved to be led by the nose by the clever.
Yuan Fenghui used such tactics on Wen Ying, yet Wen Ying still had a good impression of her, because if Li Mengjiao was really entering the entertainment industry, following a visionary and resourceful agent was far better than following a foolish one.
The former would properly protect Li Mengjiao, this money tree, the latter, even if wanting to protect, lacked the ability.
So after discovering Yuan Fenghui’s tactics, Wen Ying wasn’t angry but rather pleased, “As for writing, I’m still exploring and learning, I know my own level, if I get a chance to work with Teacher Yuan in the future, that’d be great, for now, Mengjiao’s album is more important.”
Yuan Fenghui was a bit surprised.
She felt Wen Ying wasn’t lying.
This was too magnanimous, wasn’t it?
Yuan Fenghui dropped her earlier probing, asked about Wen Ying currently contributing to youth magazines, and gave Wen Ying an email address on the spot, “If it’s not too much trouble, could you send me your published works to take a look, although I can’t promise to let you be a screenwriter, Mengjiao’s album needs MV story scripts, you’re friends, you must know Mengjiao well, I think you could try this job.”
This was a development Wen Ying hadn’t expected.
Yuan Fenghui really valued Li Mengjiao.
Li Mengjiao couldn’t hold back anymore, her excitement broke through Xie Qian’s immobilizing glance, urging Wen Ying, “Just listen to Teacher Yuan, send your works to her, if you could write the MV story script for me, that’d be awesome!”
Yuan Fenghui didn’t seem to be pretending politeness, Li Mengjiao herself was very expectant, all Wen Ying had to do was send the novels already published in magazines to Yuan Fenghui, it might not be Yuan Fenghui herself reviewing, perhaps an assistant or the like, but what did that matter, Wen Ying had nothing to lose.
She agreed readily.
Li Mengjiao was especially happy, Yuan Fenghui also liked Wen Ying’s straightforwardness.
Yuan Fenghui even made up her mind, even if Wen Ying’s story structure and creativity were a mess, she’d find a way to arrange some temporary work for Wen Ying.
With a friend involved, Li Mengjiao would be more dedicated during album production.
No one wants to be looked down on by friends.
Thinking this, Yuan Fenghui couldn’t help but look at Xie Qian again.
Xie Qian had been quiet since coming in, playing the listener’s role, but just sitting there, who could ignore him?
Yuan Fenghui couldn’t resist her inner impulse, “Classmate Xie, would you like to participate in the MV shoot, just a part-time gig, consider it helping Mengjiao out.”
Before Xie Qian could speak, Li Mengjiao already shouted, “That won’t do, with Xie Qian in the MV, who’d seriously listen to my singing, they’d all buy the album for Xie Qian, he’s too good-looking, he’d steal the show!”
If Xie Qian’s photo was on the album cover, forget her female fans, the girls at the provincial key school would want to buy ten copies each to collect.
Sales would spike, but whose credit would that be?
Li Mengjiao felt this was cheating, albums sold more due to Xie Qian’s beauty weren’t her true ability!
Yuan Fenghui turned to Ascertain whether Li Mengjiao was genuinely naive or pretending, Wen Ying was struggling to hold back laughter, even Xie Qian showed a smile, smoothly rejecting Yuan Fenghui:
“Teacher Yuan, I respect Li Mengjiao’s opinion, this is her album, she has the final say.”
Xie Qian had no interest in the entertainment industry to begin with, Yuan Fenghui could maneuver Li Mengjiao, but not him.
Many birds in the forest are not as good as one in hand, Yuan Fenghui felt it was a pity but didn’t press Xie Qian.
Wen Ying covered for Li Mengjiao, “Teacher Yuan, Mengjiao’s personality is just like that, I think her ability to stand out in the talent show and gain fans’ love has a lot to do with this personality, it’s just that she lives ‘authentically,’ her friends have to work harder, we’re outsiders to the album, we’ll have to trouble you to put in more effort.”
Yuan Fenghui nodded, Wen Ying added:
“Mengjiao’s personality not only attracts fans, we friends all like her a lot, if someone gives her a bit of kindness, she’ll return threefold, the delicate straightforwardness of Rongcheng girls is fully embodied in her.”
Yuan Fenghui gave Wen Ying a deep look.
Where did this little monster come from?
She’d said all the good and bad things herself.
So to be Li Mengjiao’s agent, one must treat this little princess like an ancestor, not suppressing her personality traits?
Giving a stick then offering two sweet dates, saying Li Mengjiao is a person of true character, unmoved by profit, only sincerity could earn her recognition.
No matter how good the contract, it wouldn’t attract Li Mengjiao, to sign her, one must play the emotional card.
Yuan Fenghui was already doing this, but with Wen Ying’s emphasis, Yuan Fenghui felt something was off.
A truth that a 36-year-old career woman might grasp, coming from a 16-year-old female student’s mouth, was indeed quite strange.
Yuan Fenghui didn’t get angry, instead laughed, “Classmate Wen, now I’m really looking forward to the story scripts you write!”
More insightful than her peers, maybe she could actually write high-quality story scripts.
Wen Ying’s eyes curved with her smile.
Indeed, entertainment magazines can’t be fully trusted, Yuan Fenghui’s personality very much suited Wen Ying’s taste.
Wen Ying didn’t know other agents in the entertainment industry, if Li Mengjiao was really entering the industry, Yuan Fenghui was currently her best choice!
Yuan Fenghui insisted on treating Wen Ying and Xie Qian to dinner, giving Li Mengjiao plenty of face.
Leaving the hotel restaurant, Wen Ying was very satisfied.
“You’re very happy?”
Xie Qian walked beside her, asking softly.
Wen Ying nodded vigorously, “Li Mengjiao’s luck is great, isn’t it, meeting Teacher Yuan.”
One thing changed, many subsequent things changed.
Li Mengjiao joined the talent show a year early, the show’s popularity was higher than in her previous life, Li Mengjiao took second place, and met Yuan Fenghui, who came from Taiwan to develop in the mainland. The timing wasn’t too early or too late, everything was just right.
If earlier, Yuan Fenghui’s career focus was still in Taiwan, even if she noticed Li Mengjiao through some channels, she wouldn’t have left her Taiwan career for her.
Later, next year, the Super Girl competition would be fiercely competitive, even if Li Mengjiao made it to the finals, with more choices, Yuan Fenghui’s pick might not have been Li Mengjiao.
Wen Ying was happy for Li Mengjiao, even the most talented need a mentor’s discovery, Yuan Fenghui was Li Mengjiao’s mentor.
With Yuan Fenghui watching, Li Mengjiao, after twists and turns, would still enter the entertainment industry, her destiny’s path completely different from her previous life.
Li Mengjiao joining the talent show a year early brought such big changes, would Xie Qian transferring to Rongcheng early have the same effect?
With Li Mengjiao’s example, Wen Ying looked forward to Xie Qian’s destiny changing, she was happy for this!
But the second reason for her happiness, she couldn’t tell Xie Qian now.
Xie Qian didn’t understand the other reason for Wen Ying’s happiness, but thinking of today’s events, he couldn’t help but smile.
His mother Zou Weijun’s changes.
Li Mengjiao meeting a capable producer.
Wen Ying getting the chance to write story scripts for Li Mengjiao’s album.
Every matter was good, every matter made Xie Qian happy.
“Remember to email Teacher Yuan when you get back, I saw her attitude later was serious, not just polite talk.”
Yuan Fenghui’s attitude shifted, she’d changed her view of Wen Ying, this was an opportunity Wen Ying earned herself.
At Li Mengjiao’s talent show, Wen Ying had told him about her writing dreams, her eyes then were like a lake under the morning glow, shimmering and breathtaking, Xie Qian couldn’t forget even if he tried.
If writing made Wen Ying happy, Xie Qian hoped this happiness could last long.
Everyone has dreams.
But not everyone has the courage and perseverance to chase their dreams.
Xie Qian was happy, Wen Ying was one of the few with action and perseverance, having a friend like Wen Ying, Xie Qian felt inspired, gaining more courage to face life.
So, transferring to Rongcheng was indeed the most correct decision he made.
…
Wen Ying and Xie Qian left, Yuan Fenghui was still sighing:
“Your two friends are really great, you should learn from them!”
One with outstanding looks, but not flashy, reserved and steady.
One very smart, but her intelligence wasn’t off-putting.
Li Mengjiao’s personality wasn’t suited for a reserved route, but if she could learn some of Wen Ying’s cleverness, why would Yuan Fenghui worry about Li Mengjiao suffering in the industry?
Li Mengjiao said confidently, “If they weren’t good, could I be friends with them? Teacher Yuan, actually I have other great friends, if you’re interested, I can introduce them all to you?”
Yuan Fenghui showed some interest, “They want to be stars?”
Li Mengjiao shook her head.
Yuan Fenghui felt exhausted: Then why introduce them, I’m a producer, not a nanny!
Why did she pick this one?
Choosing Xu Mei or Zhang Yangning, those two would’ve been trying to please her, right?
For a moment, even a strong woman like Yuan Fenghui couldn’t help but fall into self-doubt.
But the harder Li Mengjiao was to handle, the more Yuan Fenghui refused to admit defeat, determined she could manage Li Mengjiao!
