Chapter 11: The company has no regrets. I always feel like there’s no such thing as free lunch…
Qiao Zhizheng's first job in the entertainment industry was as the second female lead in a web drama. It wasn't a big or small role, but it was one that many extras would have to wait a long time to get.
Qiao Zhizheng got it so easily. At first, Qiao Zhizheng thought it was her talent. However, there is no shortage of talented people in the entertainment industry who are buried because they lack suitable opportunities. After being enlightened by Qiao Zheng, Qiao Zhizheng looked back on what happened and went to find the person who introduced her to the crew. Only then did she realize that all this came so easily because Lou Heng had made a call behind the scenes.
Qiao Zhizheng thanked Lou Heng for this matter.
Lou Heng asked her with a faint smile on his face, "I've read the script, and that role suits you. How's life on set? Have you been bullied?"
It was just a polite remark, but Qiao Zhizheng smiled awkwardly.
Lou Heng noticed something was wrong and asked her what was going on.
Qiao Zhizheng told the story without any subjectivity.
Lou Heng smiled coldly, "These people really don't give me any face at all."
Lou Heng took the opportunity to propose a plan to Qiao Zhizheng that he had been thinking about for a long time.
"...I'm planning to start an entertainment company. If you come, I'll pay off all your debts..."
Qiao Zhizheng listened to Lou Heng calmly, and was not happy about Lou Heng's words "pay off all your debts". There is no free lunch in the world. As a ruthless businessman, Lou Heng paid, and he must want to get more from Qiao Zhizheng.
What surprised Qiao Zhizheng was that Lou Heng actually appreciated this little bit of her value.
Lou Heng was very kind to people who could bring her wealth and value. She asked her to sit down and poured tea for her personally.
The aroma of tea wafted by, and Lou Heng didn't say too much politely and got straight to the point.
"As long as you stay in my company for ten years, I will spare no effort to train you with the best resources I have. After ten years, all debts between us will be written off. If you're still worried, we can go to a law firm to draft and sign a formal contract and have it notarized."
Qiao Zhizheng said nothing, just looked at Lou Heng quietly.
Lou Heng's eyes were gentle and she asked with concern, "What's wrong, Zhizhi? Do you have any other questions? Just tell me directly. Auntie has watched you grow up and will not harm you."
Qiao Zhizheng looked calm, thinking to herself, calling me by my nickname Zhizhi and referring to herself as Auntie, it's obvious that she wants to build a closer relationship and maximize the benefits of this negotiation.
Qiao Zhizheng smiled, looking very considerate of Lou Heng, "Aunt Lou, I don't have any problems."
Lou Heng said, "Then let's pick a day when you're free and go sign the contract."
Qiao Zhizheng shook her head. "No, I'm just thinking, I'm just a little-known actor, and I don't know whether my future will be good or bad. If I become famous thanks to Auntie, that would be the best, and it would be worthy of Auntie's hard work. If I don't achieve anything, wouldn't it be a shame to Auntie's hard work in cultivating me, and I would feel guilty."
Lou Heng smiled faintly, Qiao Zhizheng smiled slightly, and they looked at each other across the coffee table, neither of them spoke first.
Qiao Zhizheng knew that she owed him a large sum of money and was inferior to him. After a while, she took the initiative to find a way out. "Mr. Lou, do you have any other options? I don't want to disappoint you, Mr. Lou, nor do I want to let your kindness down."
The conversation became more formal when the address was changed to Mr. Lou.
The smile on Lou Heng's lips fell, "Yes, there is, but it's not as good as the previous condition."
Qiao Zhizheng was humble and said, "I'll know if it's good or not only if Mr. Lou tells me."
Lou Hengzhi said, "It's the same as what I said before. I'll help you pay back the debt and become your sole creditor. Come to my company, and I'll use the resources I have to train you. If you can become famous and make money, that's great. If not, I won't provide you with any more resources. You'll have to work for me for the rest of your life to pay off the debt. Of course, I believe you'll be the former."
"Boss Lou trusts me so much?"
"I'm always very good at judging people." Lou Heng continued, "When your debt is paid off, you'll be free. However, I believe that you will voluntarily stay when the time comes."
Without Qiao Zhizheng asking, Lou Heng spoke up, "I'm sure that in a few years, my company will become the most coveted company by all artists in the entertainment industry, and you will become our company's most dazzling artist." Lou Heng spoke confidently, "By then, you won't need me to persuade you to stay; you'll stay on your own."
Qiao Zhizheng quickly made a decision in her heart, a sincere smile appeared on her face, and she extended a hand to Lou Heng. "Boss Lou, you will be my boss from now on. Please take good care of me."
Lou Heng extended her hand back and shook it. "Don't be so polite. I've watched you grow up. Call me boss in front of others, but keep calling me Auntie Lou in private."
Qiao Zhizheng gave a sincere smile, "Okay, Aunt Lou."
Lou Heng let go and slapped her forehead. "Oh, Auntie suddenly remembered. You said that the director was dishonest before, right? His subordinates made mistakes and didn't tell me. Just wait, Auntie will teach them a lesson for you. Dishonest people will never be dishonest again."
The two of them smiled knowingly at the same time.
After Qiao Zhizheng left, Lou Heng's assistant came in and asked her, "Boss Lou, there are so many newcomers in the entertainment industry for you to choose from. Why did you choose such an unknown girl?"
Lou Heng pressed a button and the curtains slowly opened. It was a one-way mirror, and people outside could not see inside. However, Lou Heng standing inside could see the extravagant life on the first and second floors. Here, money was casually stuffed from one person's hand into the pocket of another person with a fawning expression as if it were worthless.
Those who give money enjoy the flattery on others' faces, while those who flatter others cannot feel their own flattery and only think that they have won the favor of those in power.
Lou Heng asked the assistant, "What do you think of Qiao Zhizheng's appearance?"
After careful consideration, the assistant replied to Lou Heng, "The bones and skin are absolutely perfect, but it's a pity that the pearl has been covered in dust."
Lou Heng smiled, "Pearls are covered in dust, but what I am best at is discerning pearls. Wealth and luck can support people. In time, she will achieve great success."
Lou Heng looked at the girl who gave the money and waved casually. The people around him retreated tactfully. The girl went to find her companion. The two of them talked about something, and the smiles on their faces were arrogant and contemptuous.
"If she had agreed from the beginning, I would have reconsidered signing her. Instead, she chose the second path. Only someone who wants to control their own destiny is worth my resources and support. Only someone who wants to reach the top is worth it. Someone without fighting spirit is not worthy of my table."
Lou Heng has always been like this. Either he does nothing and keeps silent, or he does it to the best of his ability and shocks everyone.
On the other side, Qiao Zhizheng went home, said hello to his grandmother and took a shower, then walked into Qiao Zheng's room. Qiao Zheng was leaning on the bed, spinning a Rubik's Cube in her hand.
Qiao Zhizheng walked to the bed naturally, took off her shoes and got on the bed, and the first thing she said was, "I think Lou Heng is not an ordinary person."
Then he added, "I suspect she already knew about what happened to me before, but she just let it go and didn't express her opinion, waiting for me to take the initiative to find her."
Qiao Zheng's fingers nimbly fiddled with the Rubik's Cube in her hand, "Hmm."
Qiao Zhizheng supported herself on the bed with her palms and leaned over to look at Qiao Zheng's serious expression. "Why aren't you surprised at all?"
Qiao Zheng: "Accident."
"I feel like you know a lot."
Qiao Zheng: "I know."
Seeing her perfunctory attitude, Qiao Zhizheng didn't get angry. She continued to talk about her conversation with Lou Heng, then collapsed on the bed with a long sigh. "It's a nine-digit debt. As long as I work in her company for ten years, I can say goodbye to it completely. I actually refused." Qiao Zhizheng said to Qiao Zheng in disbelief, "I actually refused like that! Can you believe it?"
Qiao Zheng's eyes were occupied by the colorful Rubik's Cube, and she replied perfunctorily, "But you don't regret it."
Qiao Zhizheng nodded. "No regrets. I just don't think pie will fall from the sky."
Qiao Zheng didn't answer.
Qiao Zhizheng continued, "What exactly did she like about me? Although I am indeed good-looking, have a talent for acting, have many specialties, and a good personality..."
When Qiao Zhizheng said this, Qiao Zheng spared a moment to glance at her, "You're right."
Qiao Zhizheng rolled around on the bed, holding her head. "But I'm not famous at all, and I rejected her once. What on earth did she see in me?"
Qiao Zheng paused while spinning the Rubik's Cube and said to her with the tone of someone who had experienced it, "She liked the fact that you rejected her."
"real?"
"Tsk. You're so annoying."
Qiao Zhizheng shut up in grievance. While Qiao Zheng was concentrating on turning the Rubik's Cube, Qiao Zhizheng looked at her carefully, and the more she looked, the more frightened she became.
How come these eyebrows, these eyes, this nose, these lips are exactly the same as when I look in the mirror? Are there really two identical leaves in the world?
Qiao Zhizheng's surprise was broken when she raised her eyes. With a "click", the Rubik's Cube completed its final return to its original position, and all the same colors met on the same side.
Qiao Zheng's eyes were cold, and when Qiao Zhizheng met her gaze, he felt a chill on his back. The familiarity of Qiao Zheng's face was mostly dispelled by this glance. Looking again, it seemed that Qiao Zheng's eyelids were thinner, her nose was straighter, her eyes were bigger, and especially her cold eyes, as if the person in front of Qiao Zheng was not a person, but a dead object without any life fluctuations.
"Have you seen enough?"
Hearing Qiao Zheng's question, Qiao Zhizheng nodded and said hesitantly, "You are really beautiful."
Qiao Zhizheng clearly saw the interest in Qiao Zheng's eyes. A small stone fell into the cold icy lake, and the ripples created by the water circled and hit the surrounding thin ice. "So, who do you think is more beautiful between the two of us?"
Qiao Zhizheng said without hesitation, "You! You are the prettiest."
Qiao Zheng narrowed her eyes, like a kitten stretching out lazily after a good sleep in the sun. In a rare good mood, she praised Qiao Zhizheng, "You have good taste."
Qiao Zhizheng grinned foolishly.
Qiao Zheng's good expression immediately disappeared and she frowned, "Don't laugh."
Qiao Zhizheng subconsciously responded, "...when he smiles, he doesn't look like him anymore?"
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Sister Qiao (holding her forehead): I didn’t seem so stupid before, did I? [Oh oh oh][Oh oh oh][Oh oh oh]
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