Chapter 64 Chapter 64 I will rely on you for support from now on, Mr. Shao...
The phone was picked up almost as soon as it rang.
"Chen Zhuo." Li Yaqi's voice was slightly hoarse, and it was obvious that she was very nervous. "I was just about to call you."
"Sister Yaqi, are you okay?"
Li Yaqi smiled bitterly. "It all happened so suddenly, I was a bit caught off guard. I just finished a meeting with some investors."
Chen Zhuo paused for a moment: "Then...what is the current attitude of the film company?"
"Chen Zhuo, we can't act rashly now," Li Yaqi said. "You know the best solution is to change the director, but if we do that now, it would mean that all the preparatory work for the entire crew would have to be overturned and started over again. The investors don't agree with this plan."
"Yes, I know Sister Yaqi." Shen Zhuo understood Li Yaqi.
The core team of photographers, art directors, and props was essentially brought in by Qiao Xinyue. The pre-production set design had already taken over a month to prepare. If the director changed, the new director would undoubtedly have to rebuild the existing set. This would increase costs, and if new investors were to come in, the original investors' investment would be diluted. No matter how you looked at it, the investors wouldn't agree.
But understanding is one thing, but Chen Zhuo is Guan Siyu's agent, and her primary concern is to protect Guan Siyu's interests. If the director is not changed, she actually has the same idea as Bu Fan's team, and announcing her withdrawal is the best way.
Li Yaqi was silent for two seconds before slowly saying, "We're preparing to issue a statement emphasizing that all casting decisions were made after the script was finalized and have nothing to do with the director's personal behavior. However, we will not be making any statement regarding Qiao Xinyue's accusations for the time being."
Chen Zhuo recognized her conservative plan and frowned. "This statement won't work. The online outcry against Qiao Xinyue is too strong right now, and we don't know if he's actually guilty of any crime. If the investigation turns out to be true, the longer it drags on, the worse it will be for the crew. Bu Fan's agent just called and said an endorsement agent has asked her to withdraw from the project. If it's delayed a few hours, we might be the first to collapse."
"And once this gets out, Guan Siyu and Bu Fan will be the ones to bear the brunt of the blame... Sister Yaqi, we can't do this."
"That's not what I meant." Li Yaqi sighed, her voice lowered. "But right now, there's no evidence to convict Qiao Xinyue. His stance is too clear. What if there's a reversal later? The loss would be too great. Chen Zhuo, we all know this public opinion isn't just a random incident. Don't you think someone's behind this?"
"Of course I've thought about it." Chen Zhuo paused and changed his words. "But now public sentiment has taken the lead. Regardless of whether public opinion is manipulated or not, support for Chen Shan is already overwhelming. Even if Qiao Xinyue's sexual assault was falsely accused, his infidelity is a fact. If the film company does nothing, they will easily be seen as the opposition."
"I understand." Li Yaqi said a little tiredly, "It's not that I won't consider changing directors, but Qiao Xinyue has to take the initiative to withdraw. Otherwise, it will be difficult for me to explain to the investors. Please wait for me. I will go talk to Director Qiao. As for Si Yu, please help me stabilize the situation. Please."
Shen Zhuo sighed inwardly and said he would wait for her news.
After hanging up the phone, Shen Zhuo heard a knock on the door. He looked up and saw Guan Siyu coming.
"Si Yu, you've come just in time." Chen Zhuo forced a smile. "You know about Director Qiao's incident, right?"
Guan Siyu walked over to the single chair in front of Chen Zhuo's desk, sat down and said, "I know."
"What idea?"
Guan Siyu raised his eyebrows: "The fastest way right now is to change the director. Qiao Xinyue is in the spotlight right now and it's not suitable for him to continue filming."
"Of course." Chen Zhuo said, "But Li Yaqi may not be able to get the investors, and Bu Fan's team has contacted me and is considering withdrawing. If she withdraws, I think-"
"If she quits, I will continue filming."
Shen Zhuo was stunned for a second, then frowned: "What did you say?"
Guan Siyu looked at her without any averted gaze: "I will definitely film this play."
"Si Yu, tell me the truth, the reason you insisted on taking this role wasn't because of Bu Fan, right?" Chen Zhuo thought for two seconds. "Why is that? Can you tell me?"
Guan Siyu said, "Sister Chen Zhuo, it doesn't matter why I took this movie. Besides, this is a pretty good script, isn't it? Besides, Qiao Xinyue is really not suitable to direct this script. If we replace him, maybe a more suitable director will appear and the film will be more complete."
Chen Zhuo felt that Guan Siyu's words were like a layer of gauze. She couldn't see what was underneath the gauze, but it made her feel a little uneasy for no reason.
"If Bufan withdraws, investors are likely to withdraw their investment, and the project will be shelved."
Guan Siyu raised his eyebrows and smiled at her: "No, this project will go on, believe me."
While Shen Zhuo was looking confused, Guan Siyu stood up and walked out.
Soon after, the official crew of "Fog Lights" issued a statement saying that all casting and production processes of the crew strictly abide by relevant laws and regulations, strive to create a professional and respectful creative environment and firmly oppose any form of sexual harassment or unspoken rules.
The statement avoided the main issues and did not mention Qiao Xinyue at all. As Chen Zhuo said, netizens did not buy it and continued to criticize it.
Two hours later, Qiao Xinyue issued an apology on Weibo: "I, Qiao Xinyue, would like to respond to the relationship with Chen Shan. I apologize for occupying public resources. I did act inappropriately in my emotional handling, especially in our intimate relationship, causing hurt and misunderstanding to Chen Shan. I am willing to take responsibility for the negative impact this has caused, and I sincerely apologize to those who once trusted me."
I have decided to suspend and withdraw from all ongoing acting and directing work effective immediately, to fully reflect on and rectify my mistakes. However, regarding the online accusations of sexual assault, I must solemnly clarify: these are grossly false, and I have never committed any illegal acts. The relevant online recordings are taken out of context and are misleading. I have entrusted a team of lawyers to handle the matter in accordance with the law and resolutely defend my legal rights.
After reading the statement, Shen Zhuo didn't breathe a sigh of relief. Changing the director is easy to say, but when something like this happens in the project, big directors look down on it, and small directors dare not use it. I don't know when this project can be started again.
However, Qiao Xinyue's own explanation can at least give Bu Fan room for negotiation.
Li Yaqi called Chen Zhuo to discuss the filming schedule. Even if a director could be found now, the new director would need time to familiarize himself with the script and assemble a team, so the original start date would inevitably be postponed.
Guan Siyu's schedule was relatively light in the second half of the year. Aside from "Fog Lights," the rest of the schedule was filled with magazine shoots and endorsement deals, making it relatively easy to adjust. Chen Zhuo said that once a new start time was set, if it did conflict with other commitments, she would find a way to accommodate. Li Yaqi repeatedly said "thank you."
"But Sister Yaqi, can Bu Fan's matter be postponed?" Guan Siyu was easy to talk to, but Bu Fan was not, as her schedule was very tight.
Li Yaqi sighed, "I was just worried. She can only postpone the start of filming by 20 days at most, otherwise she will have to withdraw from the project."
This was within Shen Zhuo's expectations. She pondered for a moment and said, "How about this, Sister Yaqi, if I have suitable actresses, I'll recommend a few to you for reference, and you can use them as backup."
Li Yaqi's heart warmed and she said, "Chen Zhuo, thank you, really."
"Well, isn't this all for the good of the project?"
After hanging up the phone, Chen Zhuo sent a message to Guan Siyu, telling him that the start time would be postponed for a few days, and the specific time would be notified by Li Yaqi, and asked him to read the script at home. Guan Siyu replied with a very well-behaved emoticon package, agreeing.
For several days, there was no news about Li Yaqi, but Qiao Xinyue's scandals continued to trend. Chen Zhuo was also busy, securing a special guest spot for Guan Siyu at the WUNSEE Group's next spring/summer couture show, where she would also serve as the collection's experience officer.
All the scripts received were boring. Shen Zhuo rejected several of them in a row and was called to Yang Ruize's office.
The reason was that she turned down an offer to star in a big-budget movie.
The director is Pan Liheng, a multi-billion dollar box office magnate. He's made over a dozen blockbusters, collaborating with renowned film stars and once considered a box office powerhouse. Unfortunately, times and the market have changed. His grand narratives, stylistically focused on war and action, are no longer popular. Two years ago, a fantasy costume film he directed and wrote himself collapsed midway due to budgetary issues with special effects. After its unfinished production, it was sold to a platform, skipping theatrical release and earning a dismal 4-point rating on the website.
A producer had recommended the script to her, and a film company was looking to invest in it and was looking for actors. It was still a fantasy drama set in ancient times, with the same ridiculous worldview and crude character motivations. After reading it, Shen Zhuo remained silent, his emotions mixed.
She couldn't understand why some professional directors wouldn't work with professional screenwriters. Was it because they had no self-awareness, or were they just looking to redeem themselves?
She declined outright.
But Yang Ruize disagrees.
"Chen Zhuo, how many good scripts are there now? It's good enough as long as there are projects, popularity and money to be made." He said, as if sneering at Shen Zhuo's "idealism".
Chen Zhuo gritted his teeth and insisted: "Even if I agree to take it, Guan Siyu may not be willing."
"He's a newcomer, why should we be so picky?" Yang Ruize's tone turned cold. "You're his agent. Do you know how much money and resources the company has spent on supporting and training him? Are we doing charity work, huh?"
He paused, his tone becoming more aggressive. "And what about Li Yaqi's project? How's it going now? I heard the investors are pulling their funding, and there's no sign of it starting. You're turning down so many offers now. What are you waiting for? A miracle? Are you so sure that project will go ahead? Can you take your company and your artist seriously?"
Shen Zhuo's face suddenly darkened, and there was fire in his eyes.
What the hell is he talking about?
If she didn't take the company seriously, she wouldn't have worked there for nine years from her internship to now and still not left. If she didn't take the artist seriously, she wouldn't have tried so hard to help Guan Siyu get projects and win awards.
"I know you're married to a good husband now and you don't need money at all. Otherwise, you might as well just go home and be a wealthy wife. Why bother going to work?" Yang Ruize knew after the last dinner that Chen Zhuo was married to the president of Dreamora.
He lightly said "rich lady", denying her efforts and ignoring her contributions.
Shen Zhuo's brain was buzzing with anger, "If I don't want to go to work, then I won't go to work. Do you think this is a good place? I don't want to do this anymore!"
Yang Ruize didn't expect Chen Zhuo to really say he would resign, and was obviously stunned.
Chen Zhuo turned to leave, opened the glass door and was about to step out, but she took two steps back: "I haven't taken my annual leave this year yet, plus my wedding leave, which is a total of twenty days, starting from next Monday. I'll come back after my leave and take over."
Before Yang Ruize could reply, she walked out directly. When she returned to the office, she happened to meet the HR who was about to hand her the assistant candidate for recruitment.
Shen Zhuo said, "No need for an interview. I'm going to take a 20-day vacation."
HR nodded in understanding: "Then let's meet again when we get back?"
Shen Zhuo said, "I'll resign when I get back."
hr: "Okay...ah?"
Shen Zhuo smiled at her, went straight back to the office, packed up his things, and left!
When he got home, it was only seven o'clock. Chen Zhuo sent a message to Shao Chengzhang, and he said he had a dinner party in the evening.
Shao Chengzhang: "No overtime tonight?"
Chen Zhuo: “Yeah.”
Shao Chengzhang intuitively felt that Shen Zhuo was in a bad mood. Usually, she would reply with "Yeah" or "Yeah", rarely just "Hmm".
Shao Chengzhang: "Then remember to eat, I will go home early tonight [kiss]"
A little after nine o'clock, Shao Chengzhang returned home and found Chen Zhuo lying on the sofa. He walked over and leaned over to kiss her, stealing a deep and passionate kiss.
"Um..." Chen Zhuo held his face, asked him to stop, and said with a slight breath, "I want to tell you something."
"Um?"
"Starting from next Monday, I'll be free." Shen Zhuo said with a smile.
Shao Chengzhang reacted in two seconds: "You resigned?"
"Hmm." Shen Zhuo rubbed his cheek with his fingertips, "I'm going to rely on you for support from now on, Mr. Shao."
Shao Chengzhang smiled and pecked her again: "I couldn't ask for more."
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