One

Do not forget, you will not receive any remuneration during the period of being shelved

Alas! If her father were still alive, how could she have come to this?

She casually mentioned it, but unexpectedly, Brother Wei, as the most dedicated agent in the industry, truly seized the opportunity to push her into the fire pit

One month after the prologue

If I remember correctly, it should be the repayment date for your house in Toronto, right? And your sister's tuition for the next semester...

... ...

Rest assured, the lifetime brilliance of our esteemed elder... he will safeguard it

This temperament, which is cultivated through experience, allows one to perceive a distinguished identity, even if there is not a single logo of a renowned brand on their entire body

I suddenly feel a bit unwell, so please have the company replace me with someone else. How about replacing me with Luo Qing? She will definitely be very grateful to you

Whatever, being buried alive is fine too

It is uncertain whether it is because they first met in October, but he always evokes in her the imagery of late autumn, that season of maturity, much like the feelings he inspires— a profound yet unoppressive sky, a rich but not scorching sunlight, a sharp yet not bone-chilling breeze, a cool but not biting drizzle, and leaves that are weathered yet not desolate

Then go in

The time she spends on various false social engagements is no less than the time spent on filming and attending various appointments. For her, an acting career is nothing more than wearing low-cut outfits that men love, spraying on designer perfumes that exude a strong scent of hormones, applying vibrant makeup that does not conceal her natural beauty, and navigating through various arrangements set by her management company and agents

It is precisely due to her exceptional acting skills, honed over many years of hard work, along with her foundational training in short track speed skating, that she has navigated the entertainment industry, rife with unscrupulous individuals, with relative ease for many years. Although she has not suffered any significant losses, to speak candidly, she has not gained any substantial advantages either. Otherwise, with her seven years of refined acting skills and the seven years of youth she has invested, coupled with a top-tier management agency and a dedicated agent, how could she still be merely a second-tier actress, neither fully popular nor obscure, at this point? Quality scripts and major productions have never cast her as the leading lady.

Do not forget that the remuneration for first-tier and second-tier actors is vastly different

With boundless anticipation for the leading lady's remuneration, Jian Ru entered the luxurious private room with a goddess-like elegance. The next moment, she clearly saw the man seated in the main position and without a word turned around and exited the room.

She tilted her head slightly back, facing the familiar yet unfamiliar face before her, drawing closer, and closer, until an unusual ripple stirred in his calm eyes

This means that he has no money

At last! How many years has she yearned for this unattainable dream of beauty!

It is precisely because she did not have a good father that she fell into the entertainment industry at the age of seventeen, and it has been eight years since then

Unintentionally, his fingertips grazed her partially exposed collarbone, the perfect amount of pressure making her feel a slight numbness in her bones. "Such beautiful skin, I can barely enjoy it, how could I bear to strip it away... At most, I would just dismantle your bones..."

Oh?! After the initial defeat, she persevered. I remember not long ago there seemed to be a highly publicized sexual assault scandal, and the involved person's father was a very prominent singer... Alas! What a pity, a lifetime of brilliance has been completely ruined by his incompetent son.

Jian Ru immediately smiled like a lotus flower just blooming, "I feel much better."

Mr. Wei did not respond, clearly showing his disagreement with her proposal

She returned him a sincere smile. "You understand me; I only know money, not art. As long as the remuneration is reasonable, I don't care whether I am the leading lady or the second female lead"

Wei Ye forcefully poked her mind, buried under money, and said, "Can you stop desperately trying to dive into the money pit?! Here, under the Tiananmen Gate, money is of no use at all"

She gently touched his collar, "Well, let's give it a try..."

She considers her threats to be quite lethal, yet the other party did not even raise an eyebrow, "That's just fine; I have long grown tired of this nine-to-five job, a change of work would be good."

... ...

She found this statement reasonable and nodded in agreement: "Then let's wait until I meet someone who can truly elevate me from the second tier to the first tier, and you can sell me at a good price all at once."

Due to his understanding of her, Wei Ye escorted her all the way to the door of the private room but still felt uneasy, waiting at the door and watching her enter.

In a moment of daze, when she regained her senses that had been captivated by his beauty, she remembered that the man before her had just said—he would break her bones

Zheng Wei gazed at her silhouette, the ripples in his dark eyes transforming into a strong sense of possession

She concealed the sudden panic that arose within her with a confident and charming smile, "Director Zheng, I heard that you are about to be promoted. If, at this moment, the media were to expose a scandal about you abusing a female star, it would likely ruin your career even if you could reach an out-of-court settlement with me, wouldn't it"

Mr. Wei quickly blocked her at the corner of the corridor. "Where are you going? Don't tell me you're going to the restroom; you've already been there three times before you came here."

Her agent, Mr. Wei, has admonished her more than once with frustration, saying: "Can't you dedicate yourself to the art?"

In contrast, the minuscule flow of people and vehicles resembles dust, drifting in this city, without a place to belong. Jian Ru gazes up at the city where she has lived since childhood; it always feels so unfamiliar, as if it has never belonged to her, but only to a select few who possess endless privileges

Peeling and cramping

Really? What is the background? Could it be that he is a grandfather from Shanxi? Jianru's eyes immediately lit up, and she became particularly diligent in touching up her makeup

Her agent, Mr. Wei, continued to patiently and persistently guide her: "Tonight, as long as he is pleased, not only could you be elevated to a top-tier status, but it is also possible for you to become the leading figure. You should handle it as you see fit"

Even if it is tiresome, she must cater to the tastes of the "audience," displaying charm when it is time to be charming and adopting an air of nobility when it is time to appear noble and aloof. Sometimes, for the sake of the plot, she also has to pretend to be innocent, even though she herself finds it somewhat disgusting; however, there are indeed viewers who buy into it

Wei Ye felt a twinge of compassion from her gaze, "Alright, alright, I will wait for you outside"

Then, let's give it a try; I would like to see which media dares to expose my scandal

"Someone has a good father..." He gestured to his shoulder, "A row of stars, you know what I mean"

Mr. Wei looked at her with suspicion

Tonight's dinner gathering was originally organized by an investor from a major production who wanted to "assess" the female actors. The company had initially scheduled two rising stars and a highly promoted newcomer to attend, but suddenly decided to include her as well.

This is the entertainment industry, a circle that entertains the public

I beg you, I promise this is the last time. No matter what man you arrange for me next time, I will comply!

She walked away gracefully in three-inch high heels

She hesitated for a moment, pretending to be dizzy as she held her forehead, "Sir Wei, I really do not feel well"

Change of personnel? The usually good-tempered Mr. Wei is angry: "When have you ever acted like a big shot? Why now? Don't you fear that the company will put you on ice?"

In recent years, having witnessed the vicissitudes of life, she has finally come to realize a fact—whether a woman is successful is not determined by how many designer shoes and bags are in her wardrobe, or how much money her bank card can swipe, but rather by whether she can provide her child with a good father

Before leaving, Jian Ru hurriedly grabbed Wei Ye's sleeve. "Wei Ye, this time you must wait for me at the door. When you see me come out, no matter what, you have to take me away. Please do not let me fall into his hands."

Watching Wei Ye walk away with a face full of disappointment, as if he were lamenting the failure of iron to become steel, Jian Ru couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. She knew he was tough on the outside but soft on the inside; otherwise, how could he still not have successfully marketed her by now? Just as she was feeling pleased, she turned around and saw a face that could easily overshadow even the most popular male stars.

I have a grudge against him, a grudge as deep as the sea! If I fall into his hands, he will definitely skin me alive and pull out my tendons. To enhance her credibility, she forcibly squeezed out a few tears from the corners of her eyes, paired with a trembling gaze. "It's true..."

The smile at the corner of her mouth was as stiff as ice

He appeared to be leisurely leaning against the wall, with a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, a smile that revealed no discernible joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness

In this day and age, having a good father is indeed more important than anything else

... ...

Jian Ru nodded knowingly. The "Red Second Generation," a generation that has recently gained significant prominence in the political arena

At first, she thought it was the result of Mr. Wei arguing vigorously at a high level, but later she learned from an informed source that the real reason was that the investors had invited an important guest, who claimed to be a loyal fan of hers for many years. The company promptly canceled her magazine interview scheduled for that evening and sent her to accompany the guest

The van sped through the night, with towering buildings flashing by in succession, each more opulent than the last, each more grand than the one before, as if they were striving to showcase the power and status of their owners to the fullest extent

Her smile was stiff, not because she was afraid of his words "I'll break your bones," but because it had been a long time since she had faced Zheng Wei's face, which could easily outshine male stars, at such a close distance, leaving her somewhat startled and flustered.

... ...