Chapter 68 Chapter 68 You say you love me, but you seem...
The private jet was a gift from Shao Song. Both brothers have one, but Shao Chengzhang usually flies with his subordinates when he goes on business trips. This time, it was because of Shen Zhuo that he was transferred out.
No wonder Shen Zhuo could video chat with him.
The flight lasted six hours, and it was almost dawn when she got home. Shen Zhuo did nothing on the plane except edit a few photos Shao Chengzhang had taken of her and post them on WeChat Moments.
Shao Chengzhang took a look and found that there was not a single photo of him and her in the nine-square grid, as if he had never been there.
"I'm not even in any of these." Although he had some complaints, he still gave Chen Zhuo a thumbs up and saved all the beautiful photos of his wife.
"Why not?" Chen Zhuo looked at him. Seeing him raise an eyebrow, she clicked on a photo of herself looking into the camera and enlarged it to show him. "Look, I have you in my eyes."
How could it be calculated like this? This is too unfair... But he couldn't help but curl his lips. What was going on?
*
The next day, Chen Zhuo arrived at the company early in the morning and bought some refrigerator magnets with local characteristics for her colleagues with whom she had a good relationship. She also formally announced to everyone that she was resigning.
Several directors had worked with Shen Zhuo for several years. They had heard from HR that she was leaving, but they hadn't considered it possible. But when they realized it was true, they were momentarily disappointed. Everyone gathered around, saying they had to have dinner together that evening.
Shen Zhuo agreed to all of them, smiling and agreeing until he was done with the greetings before knocking on Yang Ruize's office door.
"Come in."
She pushed the door open and stood in front of the desk. "Boss Yang, I'm here today to handle my resignation and confirm Guan Siyu's subsequent agent arrangements. I'm here to take over."
"Well, you don't have to worry about that. I have made arrangements."
"I don't know who you have arranged, but I suggest that Cheng Zhen take over." Cheng Zhen is Chen Zhuo's agent with very good comprehensive abilities in the company. She is more assured that Guan Siyu will cooperate with her.
"Cheng Zhen is not suitable. She already takes care of three children. It's not appropriate to give Guan Siyu to her. Zhao Jiayu has also terminated her contract, so let Yufei take care of him." Yang Ruize said.
Chen Zhuo couldn't help but frown. Most of the artists Yu Fei managed were youth idols, mostly starring in web dramas, which was completely different from Guan Siyu's development style. Yang Ruize clearly didn't want to allocate more resources to Guan Siyu.
Chen Zhuo wanted to fight for it again, but was interrupted by Yang Ruize in a fake tone, saying, "Chen Zhuo, you have been in the company for so many years, you must have feelings for it. Although you have resigned, you can come back and visit us when you have nothing to do in the future. Come and sit down, okay."
Chen Zhuo responded with a half-smile and said "Okay".
The moment she left the office, Shen Zhuo couldn't hide the bitterness in her heart. She was sad because she felt like she had let him down.
We had clearly agreed to walk together, but I didn't expect that she would be the first to get off the car.
Moreover, Yang Ruize is very likely to give up Guan Siyu. Looking back on this journey, she feels heartbroken and regretful.
Back in his office, Chen Zhuo began to edit the message, typing and deleting, deleting and typing again, deleting and revising, and it took him a long time before he sent it to Guan Siyu.
After gathering all the relevant documents on hand, Chen Zhuo handed the office hard drive to Yu Fei.
Because Zhao Jiayu had contacted Chen Zhuo instead of her when she terminated the contract, she felt a little uncomfortable. Although she was polite on the surface, her tone could not hide the slight dissatisfaction.
"Oh, Mr. Yang too..." Yu Fei took the hard drive and inserted it into her laptop. She glanced at the folder and muttered to herself, "I'm busy enough taking care of Yue Bin right now. I've been busy with so many announcements lately that I can't even get enough sleep... Now you give me someone else, how can I have the time..."
Chen Zhuo ignored the "hidden meaning" in her words and smiled faintly: "I have sorted out all the notices for you. There was an international director Antoine before, and Si Yu participated in his audition. He sent feedback on the audition some time ago, saying that the performance was very good, but the character's personality is in the revision stage and the final result is still uncertain. The only film he is sure to join in the second half of the year is "Fog Lights", and if nothing goes wrong, it will start shooting in early October. I will recommend the producer to you later, you can contact each other." When she was still on vacation, Li Yaqi called her and said that they had found a new director and had begun to prepare to set up the crew.
Yu Fei raised her eyebrows upon hearing this. "It's just one play? It's quite relaxing." She smiled and said, "Sister Chen Zhuo, I don't understand why you want to resign. Guan Siyu's schedule is not so bad. I'm accompanying Yue Bin on a schedule right now and can't sleep for more than a few hours a day."
"It's not a matter of being busy. When I was managing Bu Fan and the others, we were much busier than you are now. We never had time to sit in the office." Chen Zhuo chuckled and continued, "As agents, our most important thing is to discover their abilities and add value to them, rather than blindly taking advantage of whoever is popular. Otherwise, we will only waste our time and energy, and then terminate the contract and leave."
When Yu Fei heard the last four words, her smile froze, and she knew that she was referring to Zhao Jiayu.
"If there's nothing else, I'll leave first. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me."
Chen Zhuo saw the message from Guan Siyu after he returned to the office. In response to her informing him of his resignation and handing over his work to a new agent, he replied with "OK" as usual, as he did in his usual work responses, and said nothing else.
Although Chen Zhuo didn't expect Guan Siyu to say anything to keep her, they had worked together for two years after all. It would be a bit too hurtful to just reply "OK" when he learned that she had resigned. Chen Zhuo sighed and shook his head, then continued to complete the remaining finishing work.
In the evening, Chen Zhuo asked the leaders of the publicity, public relations, business and fashion departments to go out for dinner together. When they learned that Chen Zhuo was planning to open a studio, they all supported him.
Nadia sighed, "If there's a place that needs us, don't give Yang Gou any face, it's better to take us all away." Nadia is five years older than Chen Zhuo. She is planning to buy a house and get married with her boyfriend. After getting the mortgage, she dare not resign at all. Even if she is not satisfied with her current job, she can't help but feel that the salary is pretty good.
"Oh my God, how big do I have to be to be able to afford you guys?" Shen Zhuo said with a smile. The combined salary of the people in front of him was over 100,000 yuan a month.
"Wait until the day you become big and strong." Nadia winked at her.
Shen Zhuo, who was pinned with hope, smiled and said, "Okay, okay, I will definitely work hard!"
*
There's no such thing as a completely impenetrable wall in the industry. After Chen Zhuo officially resigned, Bu Fan was the first to call her, asking if she'd like to join the studio. Bu Fan's offer was better than Jingxi's, but after careful consideration, Chen Zhuo declined. Over time, she continued to receive numerous emails and messages from artist studios, offering her opportunities, but she declined them all.
Of course, Chen Zhuo has considered whether to continue being an agent or start his own business and open a studio. However, being an agent in a studio does not give you much say. Big artists only need someone to help them screen projects, and Chen Zhuo really wants to dig out a group of good actors.
Shen Zhuo stayed at home for a whole week, conducting market research and positioning, determining the characteristics of the studio, and writing a business plan.
Chen Zhuo plans to adopt a "small but fine" model and conduct in-depth operations on each signed artist. The target customers are selected in two directions. One is to incubate pure newcomers, and the other is to select mature artists who already have a base of works but still need breakthroughs or actors with a very personal style.
However, what gave Chen Zhuo the most headache was making a budget, such as estimating the basic costs of the studio, planning the operating model and the source of income.
She roughly calculated the costs of registered capital, team salaries, and office space, and found them to be frighteningly high. However, she did not have much savings. After thinking for a long time, she only came up with one solution.
The weather at the end of September was very pleasant. The sky was as blue as if it had been washed by water, and it was transparent without a trace of impurities. The dry sunlight shone through the gaps between the leaves that were beginning to turn yellow.
Chen Zhuo walked out of the bank in the sunshine.
She had just completed the loan procedures and mortgaged the house in Zhonghu for the second time, borrowing 2.2 million yuan, but it was still not enough, so she drove to Ms. Chi's place.
When Ms. Chi heard that Shen Zhuo wanted 800,000, her eyes widened.
"What do you want so much money for?" It's not that Ms. Chi doesn't want to give it. She has saved a total of one million in her life as a dowry for her daughter. However, Chen Zhuo got married in a hurry and said he didn't want a betrothal gift or dowry, so the money has been kept with her.
"Have you been cheated?" Ms. Chi was worried and confused.
Chen Zhuo explained: "How could I be deceived? I need to have registered capital in my account to open a studio, and I also need to rent an office and so on. I need money for all aspects in the early stage."
"Does Chengzhang know?"
Chen Zhuo nodded: "He knows."
Ms. Chi frowned. "He's so rich, but he can't give you 800,000 yuan. Why does he have to ask you for it from me?"
Chen Zhuo said, "He only knows that I opened a studio. I didn't tell him anything else. His money is his money."
"What you said means my money is not my money anymore?"
Chen Zhuo said, "I've already told you, I'm borrowing it from you. I'll return it to you later."
Ms. Chi was confused: "You two are married, his money is your money, why are you still borrowing it?"
Chen Zhuo sighed silently: "I just don't want to talk to him about the money... Forget it, if he doesn't want to lend it to me, then don't lend it to me. I'll go mortgage the car."
Ms. Chi became even more anxious when she heard this: "When did I say I wouldn't give you this money! I don't know what you are thinking about every day. You have already resigned, but you still bother to open a studio?" As she spoke, Ms. Chi walked into the room and took out a passbook from the drawer of the bedside table.
He handed the passbook directly to Chen Zhuo, "You have to pay interest when you borrow money from the bank. You're giving them money for free. There's one million in it. Take it all. This money was originally prepared for you."
When Shen Zhuo heard this, her nose felt a little sore, and she took it: "Well, thank you, Mom."
Ms. Chi asked, "Let's eat here tonight. I'll make noodles with soybean paste."
Chen Zhuo hadn't eaten Ms. Chi's fried noodles for a long time. The noodles she made at home were as good as any noodle shop outside. She nodded and said, "Okay."
*
When she came back from Ms. Chi's place in the evening, Shao Chengzhang was already at home.
He took the bag from her hand, took her hand and asked, "Did you go to your mother's house today?"
Shen Zhuo nodded.
"Is there nothing you want to tell me?"
"Hmm?" Chen Zhuo looked up at him. "What?"
Shao Chengzhang was stunned for a second, then raised the corner of his mouth and lowered his eyes to hide the disappointment in his eyes: "Nothing, has the studio been going smoothly these days?"
"Well, sure. Let's book an office tomorrow and then go to the Industry and Commerce Bureau to apply for a business license." Chen Zhuo didn't mention the money at all.
Shao Chengzhang replied calmly: "If you need me for anything, just tell me."
"Okay, don't worry about me, I'm fine." Shen Zhuo smiled.
Shao Chengzhang said "hmm" and said nothing more.
Chen Zhuo devoted himself to the studio. He discussed the name with Jiang Jun for two days, and then removed the names that had already been registered before finally deciding on "Xinghe Entertainment".
On the day he took the business license home, Shen Zhuo went to the study and took it to Shao Chengzhang to "show off", but Shao Chengzhang's expression remained indifferent, and Shen Zhuo noticed that something was wrong with him.
"Aren't you happy?" she asked.
"No," Shao Chengzhang replied, "I'm very happy for you. Your studio is on the right track, isn't it?"
"Then why do you have such a fake smile on your face? I haven't heard you say a word all night." Shen Zhuo leaned over to look at him, his hands on the edge of the table.
Shao Chengzhang looked up at her and asked, "What do you want me to say? Congratulations? I've already said it."
"What's wrong with you?" Shen Zhuo frowned slightly. "Is there anything that makes you unhappy? You can tell me."
"What about you? Will you tell me if you have anything to say?" Shao Chengzhang asked instead of answering.
Shen Zhuo was puzzled: "Yes, why do you ask?"
Shao Chengzhang stared at her and asked, "Then why did you need money? You would rather go to the bank to get a loan or ask your mother for it, but you didn't tell me at all? Even when I asked you, you didn't tell me?"
Shen Zhuo was stunned and subconsciously asked him: "Did my mother tell you?"
"It doesn't matter who told me." Shao Chengzhang said, "Chen Zhuo, do you know we are married? We are one. Why do you always have to separate us so clearly? You are yours, I am mine. Have you ever really thought about 'us'?"
"No, I can handle this. Why should I take your money?"
"Look, you still think this is my money and I'm your husband. Have you ever thought about it?"
Shen Zhuo was speechless: "I... I just think I can do it myself. I don't need your help. I can do all this by myself."
"Yes, you never needed me." Shao Chengzhang said, "Who am I in your heart? Do you really love me?"
Chen Zhuo retorted: "How can you say that? Of course I need you. I just don't want to rely on you for everything. It doesn't mean I don't care about you! Is this hard to understand?"
"How could I?" Shao Chengzhang's voice didn't rise at all, but became calmer. "Chen Zhuo, what I care about is that your first reaction when you encounter difficulties is never 'Let's solve it together', but 'I'll handle it myself, don't bother him'. You say you love me, but it seems like you are drawing a line between us."
"No!" Shen Zhuo's tone was a little anxious, "I'm not drawing a line, I just want to do my own thing!"
"Well, it's always your own business. You also said that you don't want to rely on me. You don't even want to give me the most basic trust and dependence."
"Why wouldn't I give it to you? Why are you always wondering if I need you? If what you want is someone who needs you, thinks about you, and revolves around you all the time, then I'm sorry, I can't do that. I've been used to being independent since I was a child, and I just don't like to trouble others. If you don't like it, then go find someone else—"
The words came out like a knife.
The air suddenly stagnated.
Shao Chengzhang's expression changed slightly, and after a few seconds of silence, he asked in a cold voice, "Chen Zhuo, do you know what you are talking about?"
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