Director Fan clicked his tongue in admiration. “Tianjiao has real boldness! But Xiao Wen truly has the talent. She deserves for Tianjiao to give her shares.”
Director Fan thought Tianjiao had given Wen Ying some shares to keep her. Such moves were common. Many top stars held shares in their own companies. Binding interests worked better than mere affection.
Mrs Wang did not want Wen Ying looked down on. She explained on purpose. “It is not the company giving shares to Wen Ying. She put in her own money to buy them. In short, she has great say in our company.”
After Wang Jun transferred his shares to his son Wang Shuang, Mrs Wang became a pure wage earner.
No matter how high the salary for a worker, it could not match the joy of being the boss. Every bit of profit Mrs Wang created for the company ended up shared with Wen Ying. Thinking this way, Mrs Wang longed even more to go home and be a housewife again. What was the point of striving? Lying flat felt so comfortable!
She could only blame her foolish son Wang Shuang for not measuring up. He blocked Mrs Wang’s dream of lying flat.
Wen Ying went from a simple original author to a “capitalist”.
Director Fan’s pupils shook. He stood up and shook hands with Wen Ying solemnly. “I was rude.”
Wen Ying just smiled. “Whether or not I am a Tianjiao shareholder, I am still the ‘Xiao Wen’ you know.”
That was truly different.
At this moment, Director Fan’s attitude towards Wen Ying held not just fondness, but two parts respect too.
No wonder Director Fan seemed worldly. It was simple human nature. Wen Ying knew this well. She showed no odd change. Calmly, she settled a preliminary cooperation intent with Director Fan.
This year, Zhang Guangzhen had two dramas to air. The one he wrote for Jiaxin, Xie Qian said was set for April this year.
For Tianjiao’s side, Yuan Fenghui wanted July airing. To avoid clashing with Jiaxin’s slot.
Such serious dramas won on quality. They did not suit the promo tricks like for “With the Galaxy”. Yet Yuan Fenghui insisted on the July prime slot. Director Fan risked something to buy the rights.
Director Fan felt a bit troubled. “Xiao Wen, to be frank, price and such are easy to talk. Your company’s dramas sell without worry. It is just the slot issue we need to discuss more. You heard of the romance queen’s new drama Xu Mei joined before, right? That one wants July too this year.”
The romance queen’s new drama, Xu Mei took early on. Back then, Xu Mei had not broken with Director Guan to jump to Jiaxin.
After Xu Mei left, Director Guan still tried to ruin her chance. He wanted someone else to take the role from Xu Mei. But Xu Mei relied on her new persona and perfect fit for the part. The romance queen’s production team liked Xu Mei a lot. They ignored Director Guan.
After so long in shooting and production, the drama with Xu Mei was finally ready to air.
In this light, not just screenwriter Zhang Guangzhen had two dramas airing this year. Xu Mei had two too.
Hearing the romance queen’s new drama wanted July too, Wen Ying paused a moment. She did not press Director Fan.
“Of course we can show samples. Once post-production finishes, we will send it to you first. Tianjiao dramas always seek perfection. Post-production should wrap by late April. You know Teacher Zhang has another drama airing early April. Why not watch that one’s quality first? Then we confirm the slot?”
Wen Ying did not push hard. She left the choice to Director Fan.
Director Fan grew hesitant as expected.
As Director Fan said, Hunan TV lacked no funds to buy rights.
Money no longer blocked their cooperation. Slot arrangement was the key.
Wen Ying’s suggestion held least risk for Director Fan. Zhang Guangzhen had never written serious dramas before. Watching the April one helped Director Fan decide better.
But this way, risk shrank for Director Fan personally. For the station, it grew.
Because then other stations could see Zhang Guangzhen’s skill in serious dramas too. What if they vied harder against Hunan TV?
Director Fan felt torn both ways. Wen Ying kindly let him think it over.
“We are so close. Under same terms, we will surely pick you first.”
Wen Ying comforted Director Fan.
Director Fan’s head ached. “Alright, let me think more!”
Caught in a tangle, Director Fan had no mind to keep them. After some chit-chat, he saw Wen Ying and Mrs Wang off.
In today’s talks, Mrs Wang only assisted at first. After laying groundwork, she let Wen Ying handle it. Once out of the office, Mrs Wang praised Wen Ying freely. “Your negotiation skills are so shrewd!”
Mrs Wang felt no jealousy at all.
She felt very gratified.
Wen Ying now focused on the college exam. No time for Tianjiao matters. Once Wen Ying entered university, with less school pressure than now, could she handle Tianjiao’s daily affairs?
Mrs Wang thought she could hold on another year or two. Then go home as housewife. Thinking this, her steps lightened.
Wen Ying thought to herself, how could it not be shrewd? Even a fool learned after two lifetimes.
Anyway, before it was Director Fan urging Yuan Fenghui daily. Now she kicked the ball back to Director Fan. Time for him to tangle alone.
Wen Ying and Mrs Wang left. Director Fan paced in his office.
A subordinate knocked and entered. He whispered a few words to Director Fan. Director Fan nodded in satisfaction. “Well done!”
The subordinate echoed. “These people see ‘Fish Against the Current’ blow up. They want to copy her success. Imitations never match the real thing’s worth. Their eyes fall far short of yours. You spotted ‘Fish Against the Current’s’ creation potential early.”
Director Fan ate up this flattery.
In truth, on second thought, Wen Ying saw through TV talent show tricks early. Now buying into Tianjiao as shareholder, what was strange about that?
“She has more than creation potential. She is not on the same level as ordinary creators now. That rotten whale and stinky鲍, in two years, may have to beg her for a living!”
The subordinate did not get Director Fan’s words. Director Fan did not explain.
The variety episode Wen Ying recorded aired just before winter break ended. Director Fan’s promise worked. The team edited honestly. They highlighted Wen Ying as main guest.
Once the show aired, “Crown of Thorns” went on formal sale too.
Lan Jing’s screen time fell short of Wen Ying’s. But her beauty truly caught viewers’ eyes.
Wen Ying was pretty too. But Wen Ying exposed often. To viewers, she lacked mystery.
Lan Jing differed. Her debut “Her Gentleness” did not catch fire. Only with this variety episode did she enter public view. She gave viewers fresh appeal! After all, as a beautiful writer, Lan Jing earned the title fully.
A busybody started a forum poll. They put photos of several female writers, including Wen Ying, for comparison. Lan Jing’s votes nearly matched Wen Ying’s. Such a ranking pleased Bao Lixin much. But it drew huge backlash from Wen Ying’s readers.
In readers’ hearts, Xiaoyu won on talent. Looks just added bloom.
Now Wen Ying’s photo went online for beauty contests, readers felt utterly speechless!
What left readers more speechless came next. Some readers bought “Crown of Thorns” out of curiosity. Clearly different roles, different job settings. Yet after reading, they felt they read “With the Galaxy” again. They closed the book and checked the title. No mistake. It truly said “Crown of Thorns”!
