Chapter 26 Scandal [VIP]
Chapter Summary: A Breaking News
A good bird chooses its tree to perch on.
Mu Zhi had long wanted to switch jobs, but the time wasn't right.
Currently, she cannot afford the penalty for breach of contract if she requests to terminate her contract with the company.
Most importantly, given her current status as a relatively unknown figure in the industry and her popularity comparable to a March internet celebrity, if a major agency or film company like Xingyao Entertainment or Shengyu Media were to sign her and pay her breach of contract penalty, that would be a good opportunity.
They must pay an equal price.
Therefore, it's foreseeable that the contract length and the percentage of profits taken will not be low. Jumping from Xinghe Culture to another company, in order to obtain what is currently considered good film and television resources, one would have to sign a contract of 10 years or more, essentially jumping into another huge pit.
Without sufficient bargaining chips, one has no say at the negotiating table.
“It’s not the right time yet,” Mu Zhi said.
If she wants to pursue a career in film and television, she needs to produce at least one work that demonstrates her value and potential in the field to other companies. Only then will other companies actively seek her out, giving her the greatest leverage in negotiations.
Compared to short-term resources and temporary benefits, Muzhi values long-term development.
Lanxing Media, General Manager's Office.
"President He, everything has been arranged. After the official announcement tomorrow, major media outlets and marketing accounts will immediately follow up with publicity."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work."
He Zhiyue noticed the hesitation on Ji Binghe's face, dropped his languid sitting posture with his long legs crossed, and looked down to adjust his watch: "Director Ji, is there anything else?"
It's okay to suggest but speak freely.
Ji Binghe hesitated and said, "President He, Lanxing Media will officially announce the first batch of artists under the company tomorrow. I suggest removing Xia Xinyan's name and not announcing it for the time being."
Expressing her concerns, she said, "Xinyan just debuted and immediately announced her signing with Lanxing, which inevitably leads to various speculations among netizens."
He Zhiyue had differing opinions. "In the internet age, secrets are hard to keep hidden. Announcing Xia Xinyan as an artist under Lanxing alongside so many established and famous artists is, in my opinion, a plus. As for Director Ji's concerns..."
"For celebrities, both negative and positive publicity generate buzz, and I believe you will handle it well."
With that tall hat placed on her head, Ji Binghe was speechless.
She recalled how this young man had come to her asking her to "come out of retirement," a rich second-generation heir who had never been involved in the entertainment industry inviting her to build an entertainment empire together.
Ji Binghe found it ridiculous; she only agreed because He Zhiyue had given her too much.
Although Lanxing has not officially "opened for business" yet, they have been working together for nearly a year. He Zhiyue's superb learning and adaptability, decisive and efficient style of doing things, and unique vision have constantly refreshed her understanding and greatly changed her perception.
I dare not underestimate this younger brother anymore.
However, her ex-husband's infidelity, a failed marriage, and some of the filth she witnessed in this circle instilled in Ji Binghe a deep-seated prejudice against men, viewing them as creatures driven by their lower instincts.
So there's something she needs to confirm.
"President He, I'm personally mentoring Xia Xinyan, and there's something I need to confirm with you. During Xinyan's competition, you repeatedly showed your support for her with 'spaceship' in the live stream, seemingly giving her special attention?"
Undeniably, He Zhiyue's actions garnered Xia Xinyan a lot of attention and even created a "strong admiration effect," which greatly boosted Xia Xinyan's popularity.
But Ji Binghe had to be upfront about the unpleasant things, clearly stating, "I don't want any of my artists to be in a relationship during their rising career."
Especially with the boss.
He Zhiyue was taking a sip of coffee when Ji Binghe's words made her choke, and she quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe her mouth.
When Xia Xinyan is mentioned, He Zhiyue finds it difficult to express his feelings back then; to describe it in four words, he is unable to control himself.
Initially, he was recommended to visit a nearly bankrupt company overseas to investigate a boy band that had been training for three years. Male idols were currently quite well-paid and popular in the entertainment industry. However, he stumbled upon Xia Xinyan dancing alone in the practice room at the company and immediately chose her.
The next step was to quickly arrange for her to return to China and sign a contract to become an artist with Lanxing Media, and send her to participate in "Chasing the Light Girl".
He Zhiyue once thought that he had feelings for Xia Xinyan.
While watching the live broadcast of the first performance of "Chasing the Light Girl", he had an uncontrollable urge to spend money on Xia Xinyan, and in a moment of impulsiveness, he sent 50 "spaceships".
After calming down, I realized how inexplicable this peacock-like display of attention was.
During the second live performance, the urge to spend money on Xia Xinyan resurfaced, and I couldn't help but spend another 50 yuan. Then, during the final performance, the appearance of another girl truly captivated He Zhiyue. It wasn't because this girl was particularly beautiful, had a great figure, or gave a mesmerizing performance.
Instead, looking into that person's eyes, it felt as if he had broken free from some kind of constraint, and his mind cleared up. The impulse to spend money on Xia Xinyan faded away.
He Zhiyue felt as if she had suddenly regained her senses and asked herself: Did she like Xia Xinyan?
What do I like about Xia Xinyan? I can't really say.
When they first met and he watched the live stream, he was captivated by Xia Xinyan as if he were under a spell.
But now that the "Chasing the Light" competition has ended, He Zhiyue thinks of Xia Xinyan the same as all the other artists under his management: he can only appreciate and have high hopes for her.
He Zhiyue coughed lightly and stated, "Director Ji, rest assured, my relationship with Xia Xinyan is simply that of boss and employee."
Just as Ji Binghe was about to feel relieved after receiving this assurance, she heard her boss say, "Director Ji's reminder has reminded me of something."
"Could you please keep an eye out for someone for me, Director Ji? Mu Zhi."
"That trainee who was so good-looking, I burst into tears instantly, but didn't debut?"
He Zhiyue nodded, "Yes, it's her."
One week after the debut of the girl group Five Flowers, a bombshell announcement suddenly broke online.
Lanxing Media, a subsidiary of He's Group, has made a high-profile announcement of its entry into the entertainment industry, officially announcing the signing of 10 artists, including veteran artist Feng Chongxian, popular actress Liu Rui, newly crowned TV King Yin Xiuran, rising star Mao Hongjun, and popular idol Xia Xinyan.
#LanxingMedia# suddenly became the number one trending topic!
The hashtag for artists under Lanxing Media quickly became a trending topic on Weibo, sparking heated discussions among netizens.
"!!! Almost all of them are A-list celebrities! Awesome!"
"This company is on a roll! No wonder it has such a powerful backer!"
"No wonder actress Liu Rui's endorsement deals have been booming lately; it turns out she signed with a new company. Lanxing Media seems pretty impressive."
"Is the tripartite balance of power among the three major entertainment agencies in China about to be broken? Let's get this party started!"
"Holy crap, I just realized that besides Xia Xinyan, the other nine people signed by Lanxing are all actors. And they're all well-regarded, award-winning, and talented actors!"
......
During her participation in the "Chasing the Light" competition, Xia Xinyan stood out among the trainees with the label #IndividualTrainee# on her body, gaining a lot of attention.
Now, just one week after their formation, they have quickly announced that they have signed with a company.
The hype surrounding the talent show hasn't died down yet, and it's already gaining momentum.
As soon as the news of her signing with Lanxing Media came out, netizens dug up her past: Xia Xinyan had been a trainee overseas for 4 years and terminated her contract and returned to China before her former company went bankrupt!
There are suspicions that Xia Xinyan had already signed with a company before appearing on the show.
The number of times Xia Xinyan trended on social media during the competition was also tallied, and she trended the most among the 101 trainees. Netizens pointed out that Xia Xinyan's center position was manipulated behind the scenes by Lanxing Media and was promoted by capital! They mocked the national producers who supported Xia Xinyan for being used as pawns by capital without realizing it, and for thinking that they had voted for an amateur trainee.
They directly criticized Xia Xinyan for ruining her public image.
Mu Zhi wasn't surprised at all when she saw Xia Xinyan's news online; her initial guess had indeed been confirmed.
Xia Xinyan was indeed sent to participate in the talent show by her company and was "protected" all the way.
However, Lanxing Media should have anticipated this situation when they officially announced the signing of Xia Xinyan, right?
Curious about how the "washing" will proceed?
Soon, #XiaXinyanResponds# became the top trending topic, and she posted a long response.
Mu Zhi opened the article and patiently read through Xia Xinyan's long post.
It is mainly divided into three parts.
First, she recalled the arduous training she underwent as a trainee overseas for four years, saying that she had drifted like duckweed in a foreign country for many years without achieving anything and was too ashamed to mention it. She only hoped to focus on the present and was very grateful to "Chasing the Light Girl" for giving her a stage to realize her dreams.
Secondly, the explanation given was that the cooperation with Lanxing Media was only officially established in the last few days, and the signing with the agency was for better development. A screenshot of the contract, blurred out to show only the date and the individual's name, was posted.
Thirdly, she emphasized her background and how difficult it is for ordinary people to pursue their dreams, expressing gratitude to her grandmother for her support. She promised to build roads and do charity work in her village when she is able, hoping to pass on everyone's love and support and help children from similar backgrounds have the opportunity to go to school and pursue their dreams. She welcomed everyone's supervision...
In the end, "There was no deception; I was chosen by the votes of all the national producers. Thank you to my fans, thank you to everyone who supports me. Without your love, there would be no Xia Xinyan today. [heart]"
Xia Xinyan adopted a very humble attitude.
Public opinion quickly reversed.
Marketing accounts widely reposted Xia Xinyan's lengthy response, defending her and stating that her family's financial situation was indeed difficult, and it was not easy for a young girl to spend four years as a trainee overseas. They also argued that Xia Xinyan's talent on the "Chasing the Light" stage was undeniable, and urged people to stop with conspiracy theories.
Xia Xinyan's fans were so touched by this incident that they became even more devoted to her.
The investigation into Xia Xinyan is far from over. Her response, "I was chosen by the national producers through votes," reminded netizens of Xia Xinyan's mysterious wealthy fan during the competition.
There is only one abbreviation, "H".
Then, the real show began.
The owner of Lanxing Media has been revealed: He Zhiyue, the second son of the He Group. Isn't H the capital letter of the character "He"?
Some netizens have boldly revealed that Xia Xinyan's wealthy fan is the owner of Lanxing Media!
Mu Zhi, having caught up in the gossip, suddenly realized something. She remembered the novel "The Boss Spends Money to Spoil Her Debut." So, the author had arranged for Xia Xinyan's official partner to be her company boss, the second young master of the He Group? It seems that's the truth. "Spending money" not only refers to the charity donations during the live performance, but also that the company spent a lot of money to promote Xia Xinyan.
Rich second-generation domineering CEO X popular idol, that's got the vibe.
The resourceful netizens somehow managed to get a photo of He Zhiyue, seemingly taken secretly during an employee meeting. He was sitting in the main seat with his hair neatly slicked back, wearing a well-tailored suit, and listening attentively to the employees' reports.
With her eyes lowered, her features were obscured, yet her exceptional good looks, comparable to a male celebrity, were undeniable. Most importantly, He Zhiyue's long, slender hands unconsciously twirled a pen between her fingers—a seemingly ordinary gesture, yet incredibly alluring.
The powerful aura emanating from the photos has netizens exclaiming, "The domineering CEO in novels now has a real-life counterpart!"
Pulling out a radish brings out mud, and then new melons appear.
A paparazzi-style marketing account posted a six-grid photo of He Zhiyue and Liu Rui having lunch together at a high-end restaurant last month, jokingly asking if the boss of Lanxing had used his good looks to win over the popular actress.
With a handsome man and a beautiful woman, the comments section is full of jokes: Could the two be dating?
Mu Zhi recognized the outfit Liu Rui was wearing in the photo as the one she had encountered during the advertisement shoot. It seemed that Liu Rui had been picked up by a luxury car after the shoot that day, which was the car of He Zhiyue, the boss of Lanxing Media.
It's really ambiguous.
As the gossip spread further and further, Xia Xinyan not only escaped unscathed but also gained a wave of popularity.
Mu Zhi was impressed by the speed and professionalism of Lanxing Media's public relations response.
Later, it was revealed that Xia Xinyan's agent was Ji Binghe, once hailed as the top agent in the industry, and currently serves as the director of talent management at Lanxing Media...
Mu Zhi was a little envious of Xia Xinyan, the female lead. With such a powerful backer, her career was bound to be very successful.
Compared to Lanxing Media, Xinghe Culture is utter garbage!
If Lanxing Media were to truly become the largest entertainment agency in the industry, as described in the book... Mu Zhi was somewhat tempted.
However, she disliked the fact that the boss of Lanxing Media had a scandal with an employee.
After Mu Zhi, who was so full from watching the drama unfold, went offline.
Missed out on the rumors surrounding boss He Zhiyue and actress Liu Rui, as well as popular idol Xia Xinyan, that Lanxing Media's official Weibo account quickly denied them...
[Author's Note]
I'd like to recommend a friend's completed, no-romance, female-centric career novel, "Top Star Reborn as a Manager." The synopsis is as follows:
A car accident leads to the rebirth of Qu Yanran, a top-tier actress, as Xu Zhiyi, the management director of a rival company.
It was linked to a "top broker" system.
If you successfully promote five A-list or top-tier celebrities, you can reverse time and go back to avoid death.
Current list of artists:
Number 1 is a popular idol who has been rumored to be dating someone she collaborated with on a variety show.
The second child star is a veteran actor with 20 years of experience, but has no representative works.
She became a sensation after acting with No. 3, but has faded into obscurity in the last two years.
Number 4 is a newbie who is tone-deaf, and the company wants to send him to participate in a girl group audition.
On his first day after leaving the entertainment industry, a popular idol requested to terminate his contract.
Qu Yanran put herself in Qu Yanran's shoes: Agreed! The penalty for breach of contract is in place, we'll complete the formalities tomorrow!
Popular idol: ? ? ? Do you even know what I'm saying?!
The original owner was parachuted into the position of brokerage director, and within a month, scandals broke out about her sexually harassing young male celebrities and making her female artists accompany her for drinks.
After Qu Yanran was reborn, her artists discovered that their manager had changed her personality.
A knock on the door in the middle of the night. The male actor opened the door, trembling: "Sister Xu, what's wrong so late?"
The script was slammed onto the door, and the person walked in. "I'll rehearse with you! You've been getting yelled at every day for acting these past few days, how can you sleep?"
Male actor: "???"
During a dinner to discuss collaboration, a producer repeatedly urged Xu Zhiyi and her female artists to drink.
"Excuse me, we came from the hospital and received an IV cephalosporin treatment."
Producer: "......"
The general public thought that Xu Zhiyi wouldn't be in her position as the brokerage director for long and would be fired, but she's only gotten more and more secure in her position.
A few years later.
Several artists under his management became wildly popular, and he tearfully thanked his agent:
Top-tier actress: "She's my older sister!"
Top male idol: "She is my life mentor!"
Three-time Golden Horse Award winner: "She taught me how to act!"
......
Netizens: "???" Are agents this complicated too?
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