Chapter 58 He is not a kitten.

Both management companies arranged to meet at a coffee shop.

The person who received him at Oriental Entertainment was a middle-aged man whose professionalism was evident from his attire and demeanor.

"Let me introduce myself first. I am Zhao Wei, an artist manager at Oriental Entertainment."

He handed Xia Mian a proposal: "This is the packaging plan I made for you. Take a look."

With just one glance, Xia Mian could sense that the other person was an exceptionally assertive individual. He opened the proposal and instantly understood the reason for that assertiveness.

Resources, benefits, and compensation distribution are all excellent.

I'm just a little tired.

The project proposal outlines his plans for two web dramas in the first year, both with him as the second lead or higher, two variety shows on major platforms, and interspersed interviews and guest appearances. Apart from advertising shoots and fashion resources, which are yet to be confirmed, everything else has been planned in detail.

Filming web dramas is inherently slow; once you're on set, it can take two or three months to get out. On major platforms, variety shows come one episode after another, plus all sorts of other miscellaneous things. Xia Mian felt that this kind of life was a bit too rich.

“If you think there are no problems,” Zhao Wei added, “we can schedule a day to sign the contract after the termination procedures are completed. If you encounter any problems with the termination, we can also help you move forward.”

"Thank you," Xia Mian put away the proposal. "I'll think about it and get back to you as soon as possible."

Presumably because he had never been rejected before, Zhao Wei was visibly taken aback: "Is there something you're unhappy with about the project? Mr. Xia, you should know that after all these events, you're practically invisible in the public eye. It's much harder to package you than for a newcomer. Besides, your age isn't an advantage at all. Signing you is already an exception."

"Isn't cooperation about getting what you need? If you can't see my value, you won't make an exception for me."

Zhao Wei looked at Xia Mian for a long time, then suddenly smiled: "Actually, what really attracts me is your personality. So I won't beat around the bush. Think it over carefully—not choosing Dongfang will definitely be your regret."

Xia Mian smiled and said, "Thank you."

The person in charge of liaising with him at Changhai Century was an older woman named Lü Dan.

Unlike Qian Hui, Lü Dan was particularly intellectual, and her voice was like a gentle breeze: "Is it cold outside? You're not wearing enough clothes, wear more."

She first inquired about Xia Mian's well-being before getting down to business: "Xia—may I call you that? We at Changhai are here with 100% sincerity to facilitate this collaboration. Here is your proposal, take a look."

Xia Mian took the document, opened it, and found two blank sheets of paper tucked inside: "What does this mean?"

Lü Dan smiled and took out a pen from her Hermès bag: "Write whatever you want."

Does she mean that she can choose whatever percentage of the profits she wants, what resources she wants, and how she wants the work to be arranged?

Xia Mian was so surprised she couldn't speak. After a long while, she asked, "I want to make a movie now. Will you make it for me?"

Lü Dan crossed her legs: "No problem. You should know that the largest sector of Changhai Investment is film and television."

"I want to be a global ambassador for Chanel. Can you make that possible for me?"

"Yes. But it will take two years. In addition to brand fit, luxury brands also need to consider the market when choosing a spokesperson—that is, popularity and brand awareness. I need to push you into that position first."

"What if I want to take a break for a year or two..."

"Then take a rest and recharge for the work ahead."

"Joke." Xia Mian smacked her lips.

This is too unreal.

The conditions Lü Dan offered him almost made him think he was the boss of Changhai Century, with the entire company revolving around him and all resources being tilted towards him alone.

If you want to work, you get good projects; if you don't want to work, you can take any day off. This isn't being treated like a beast of burden; it's being treated like an emperor emeritus!

Seeing his expression, Lü Dan smiled even more politely. No one but a fool could refuse such a condition.

Xia Mian picked up her coffee cup, took a sip, and said, "I've already paid the bill. Thank you for taking the time to talk to me today, but I'm not considering your company anymore."

The elegance that Lü Dan had maintained since entering the room finally cracked at this moment, her face full of astonishment: "Why?"

"Because... even if you're going to be a beast of burden, you have to act like one."

Since he has chosen this path, he will not be afraid of hardship.

Therefore, he needs someone who can help him plan his career path clearly and step by step, rather than someone who flatters him and treats him like royalty.

Humans are inherently lazy. If you rest and play when you're tired from work, your mind will wander further and further away, and your professional skills will gradually be forgotten.

Moreover, knowledge comes in stages, and everyone has their own area of ​​expertise. If he really treats entering the entertainment industry as a hobby, he can just find a recording studio to record a song and release it when he's bored, or he can simply invest a million or two in a low-budget web series and play the lead role himself.

Why do we have to sign with a company?

Having worked in the industry for many years, Lü Dan was a perceptive person and instantly understood what he meant.

Her attitude towards him was finally no longer the previous insincere politeness: "Alright, I wish you a bright future. You can ask me anything you don't understand in the future. The entertainment industry is a deep and dangerous place, and it's easy to get scammed... Of course, you probably won't."

Someone is backing him up.

Xia Mian thought she was being praised for her intelligence and was quite pleased with herself: "Thank you, Sister Dan. I was thinking of collaborating again in the future, but after thinking about it, I think it's better if we don't have that opportunity."

That means he's fallen out with his current company again.

"Hahaha..." Lu Dan burst into laughter at his words.

Half an hour later, in the chairman's office at the Kepler Group headquarters.

"Not signed?"

“Yes.” The assistant glanced at the boss. “He said that if you’re going to be a beast of burden, you should act like one.”

Zhou Pingchuan frowned: "Cows and horses..."

"This is an internet slang term, mainly used to describe working people, roughly meaning that working people are driven like cattle and horses."

"He...did he really say that?"

"Yes, that's what Changhai said. And Changhai said that they were already considering signing Mr. Xia before you gave your feedback."

Yes, Changhai Century is wholly owned by Kepler Investment, which is one of the many subsidiaries of the Kepler Group.

In other words, no matter how you look at it, Changhai Century is actually Zhou Pingchuan's company. It's just that the equity structure is relatively complicated and not obvious on the surface.

Xia Mian remembered it because of the "relying on a sugar daddy" incident. When netizens were showing the encyclopedia entry for the Pule Group, he saw the company, glanced at it, and didn't pay any attention to it.

The signing of Xia Mian was also instructed by Zhou Pingchuan to be handled by his assistant. He trusted his assistant's abilities, so he only asked Changhai to be more lenient on the contract terms.

Because he naturally assumed that such a willful and easily angered cat, such a cat that slept in until almost noon every day, should not be able to endure hardship, and he was deeply aware of his own pampered nature.

And naturally, the assistant revealed Xia Mian's identity to Changhai.

Changhai naturally sent his gentlest agent with a blank contract.

In short, their various self-righteous attitudes caused the company to lose a promising talent and a cash cow.

This is absolutely outrageous, sob sob sob.

Zhou Pingchuan grunted in acknowledgment, and the assistant closed the door for him and left.

Just then, Cheng Qi called, his voice as irritating as ever: "How's it going? Have you arranged a job for your little cat yet?"

Zhou Pingchuan had been attending forums abroad for some time and hadn't paid much attention to Xia Mian. It was only through the efforts of the assistant and Cheng Qi that they pieced together a general picture of the situation.

It was Cheng Qi who suggested that Changhai sign Xia Mian.

“Changhai approached him, but he didn’t agree,” Zhou Pingchuan said.

"...Huh? Is the offer less favorable than other companies? That can't be, you're the very, very, very top boss!"

“Also, he’s not a kitten,” Zhou Pingchuan opened his desk drawer, where a rose necklace lay, its diamonds sparkling and its pigeon-blood red dazzling. “I… underestimated him.”

He was not a domesticated kitten, but a wild rose blooming on a cliff, delicate and bright, glistening with trembling dew.

But when the storm comes, he also has the courage to spread his wings against the wind.

He even embraced the raging wind.

Zhou Pingchuan took out the forgotten necklace, rubbed it in his palm for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "I heard that your second aunt likes to be a matchmaker?"

"Dajinjie" means matchmaker. Because Cheng Qi's second aunt was frail since childhood, she always believed in the legend of accumulating good fortune through matchmaking. She was usually enthusiastic about matchmaking and even showed a tendency to develop into a professional matchmaker. Many couples in the circle were successfully introduced by her.

Moreover, she has a deep understanding of folk customs and manages everything in a proper and respectful manner.

“…Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap, holy crap,” Cheng Qi realized something and was shocked. “Our third brother has finally made up his mind to break the hearts of all the unmarried socialites? In a few days, Houhai will be filled with their tears and the tide will rise.”

Zhou Pingchuan had no patience to listen to Cheng Qi's joking nonsense, but in the end, the other party reminded him: "You haven't picked out a wedding house yet, have you? Go to my project and choose any one as a wedding gift for you."

Aside from a period when he lived away from home with his wet nurse during his childhood, he had always resided at the Zhou residence. Now that he was setting up a new home, the Zhou residence could be renovated, but…

Thinking of some people's complaints: "Why doesn't your family have a shuttle bus? My calves are so sore from walking!" Zhou Pingchuan closed his eyes and said: "Send the design drawings of your family's best project to Xia Mian."

"I'm afraid that won't work. Dragon Seal No. 1 requires verification of qualifications, and your cat probably doesn't meet those requirements..."

Before he could finish his nonsense, Zhou Pingchuan silenced him with a busy signal.