Wen Ying guessed that Yu Tianlin had successfully extorted money from Hu Man twice by threatening to expose their “fake romance”. Yuan Fenghui’s smile carried a deeper meaning.
“Exposing the fake romance and hype? Where is the fun in that when happily admitting the relationship and revealing more romantic details can earn even more? Anyway, Yu Tianlin is already done for in the entertainment industry. As long as he is shameless enough, he can live off Hu Man for a lifetime. Forget it, you are still too young. I would not expect you to understand if I explained.”
Living off “romantic details” for a lifetime?
Wen Ying’s eyes widened a full circle.
She felt she understood.
What Yuan Fenghui meant could not possibly be sex tapes or talking about “bedroom matters” in detail on talk shows, such operations, right?
Such things were rare in domestic entertainment but common abroad. Many celebrities had their personal privacy exposed after divorce. Some ex-partners would sell intimate videos to the highest-bidding TV station or discuss bedroom details extensively in interviews, even publishing “memoirs” about their shared life experiences. If unlucky enough to encounter such an ex, the celebrity would truly be milked for life!
With such incidents happening often, celebrities had learned their lesson. Before divorce or breakup, they would first appease their partner, pay sufficient severance, sign confidentiality agreements. After parting, they could still be “friends”, preventing the celebrity’s privacy from being exposed.
In China’s environment, forget female stars; even a male star facing such a ferocious ex would be ruined. If Yu Tianlin threatened Hu Man with “romantic details”, he could indeed get money.
But was not Yu Tianlin and Hu Man’s relationship fake?
Could those two have done everything adults could do while hyping the rumour?
Yuan Fenghui glanced at Wen Ying’s expression and suddenly realised. “So you do understand.”
Wen Ying denied it vehemently, waving her hands repeatedly. “I do not understand, I do not understand… I do not want to understand! Anyway, regardless of the reason, Yu Tianlin succeeded in extorting twice before. The third time Hu Man refused, so he came to Rong City for her, right?”
Yuan Fenghui nodded lightly. “It seems that way!”
“But how do you know about Hu Man paying the first two times?”
Hu Man would surely keep such matters highly confidential.
Wen Ying had always thought Yuan Fenghui’s intelligence network in the entertainment industry was incredibly powerful, as if she had spies everywhere. Wen Ying even suspected there was nothing in the entertainment circle that Yuan Fenghui did not know!
Yuan Fenghui crooked her finger and flicked Wen Ying’s forehead lightly. “Were you not claiming to know nothing? Then why ask so many questions? Little children think too much and will not grow tall!”
“… I think I am not short.”
Wen Ying muttered.
The two joked for a bit before Yuan Fenghui got to the main point. “Yu Tianlin coming to Rong City to corner Hu Man is the primary aim, but I worry he might cause us trouble along the way. Your vigilance is right. This person now has nothing left to lose and could easily smash the jar if it breaks. The company security has heightened alerts these days. Mengjiao and the other two always have bodyguards when going out. I will arrange one for you too. Are you not starting school in a few days? It is safer in school than outside. I will have the company driver pick you up and drop you off.”
“Arrange a bodyguard for me, and a driver for school runs?”
Wen Ying refused. “No, no, no, that is too exaggerated. Mengjiao and the others need bodyguards when travelling; they are big stars. I am not!”
Yuan Fenghui curved her lips into a smile. “You think you are not a big star? You are very objective and clear-headed about others, but when it comes to yourself, you are always shrouded in mist. The book signing is proof of your popularity. At your signing events, the readers who come to support you are no fewer than a star’s cheering fans, right? And your novel sales compare favourably to a popular singer’s album sales. You suffer only because text spreads less conveniently than music. Writers lag behind singers in fame… but that does not stop brands from wanting to invite you to events, or even seeking you for endorsements!”
Wen Ying was truly shocked this time.
“Brands inviting me to events, and endorsements?”
“Yes. With your great image, some brands want to align with a ‘cultural’ theme. Inviting you to events is not strange. The endorsements came knocking in the last few days. The signings showed some brands your market appeal. Do you want to take these activities and endorsements?”
Yuan Fenghui hinted to Wen Ying that the appearance fees quoted by those merchants were not low. If Wen Ying was interested, Yuan Fenghui could help negotiate higher.
A pile of banknotes waved before Wen Ying, tempting her.
Attending events was so simple.
Speculating in property and investing in shares required capital, but events needed no outlay. This money-making speed was like robbery.
Wen Ying swallowed involuntarily, then refused painfully. “I do not want to take them.”
What right did someone frantically catching up on summer homework have to accept activities?
Xie Qian was not in Rong City now, but he would return in a few days.
And Manager Chen seemed to have sheathed her claws lately, turning into a kind mother, speaking to Wen Ying with utmost gentleness.
But Wen Ying dared not test how much stimulus Manager Chen’s gentleness could withstand.
Yuan Fenghui felt a touch of regret.
Wen Ying’s resolve was truly impressive!
Outsiders called Wen Ying, Li Mengjiao, Yun Chen, and Zhang Yangning the “Tianjiao Four Sons”. The latter three were truly Tianjiao’s signed artists, but Wen Ying was not.
Wen Ying was Tianjiao’s in-house screenwriter, a shareholder, but solely not an artist.
Yuan Fenghui had never given up on signing a “management contract” with Wen Ying, making her the rightful leader of the “Tianjiao Four Sons”. But with Zou Weijun overseeing before, Yuan Fenghui’s goal had not been achieved.
Zou Weijun had just left on her front foot, and Yuan Fenghui wanted to try on her back foot. As expected, Wen Ying refused again. No matter, time was plentiful. Wen Ying had concerns now, but Yuan Fenghui figured waiting patiently another year would see all her worries cast aside!
Yuan Fenghui cared about the safety of Wen Ying and the others but overlooked her own. Wen Ying felt that if Yu Tianlin came looking for trouble, the most dangerous person was actually Yuan Fenghui.
“If you do not want a bodyguard, then neither do I!”
Wen Ying’s attitude was firm, not minding using a shareholders’ meeting to achieve her goal. Yuan Fenghui could only compromise. “Fine, I will station two people by my side too, alright?”
That was more like it.
Wen Ying’s expression relaxed, and a trace of amusement flashed in Yuan Fenghui’s eyes.
Other companies poached with high salaries and promises of shares, so why would not Yuan Fenghui leave?
Because no matter where she jumped, she could not find this group of people at Tianjiao again!
…
While Wen Ying was discussing matters with Yuan Fenghui, at Ji Xin Film and Television Company in the magic city, Xu Mei, who had jumped to Ji Xin some time ago, finally met Ji Xin’s boss for the first time.
Ji Xin’s boss was actually Xie Qian!
Xu Mei had no time to digest this when she saw another old acquaintance at the subsequent investor meeting.
Xu Mei was utterly numb.
Ji Xin’s boss was Xie Qian, and the investor Ji Xin had pulled in turned out to be coal boss Mr Jin. Round and round it went; Xu Mei still had to star in a play invested by Mr Jin. Xu Mei looked utterly resigned. What kind of karmic tie was this!
