Chapter 23 Signing a Company
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Back in the car, Wen Chu clicked on Director Tang's profile picture. She knew Qi Yuan was going to audition, but she couldn't stay still either. She still had to fight for it.
She edited: Director Tang, I have successfully terminated the contract with the stuntman. From now on, I am free.
Director Tang quickly replied to her: Congratulations, that’s great, I’ll give you a chance to audition.
Wen Chu: Thank you. I just need you to wait for me for a few days.
Director Tang: It’s okay, just come when you are fully prepared.
Director Tang: But since you've terminated your contract and are stepping out from behind the scenes to the screen, are you planning to sign with a company? I think having a company would be much more convenient than working on your own, at least you'd have more resources.
Wen Chu paused, she hadn't thought of this yet.
"What? Did the Tang people leave you a chance?" Xi Ning asked.
Wen Chu came back to his senses: "I stayed, but he asked me if I would sign with an agency."
Xi Ning raised an eyebrow. "Oh, yes, there's also this. It's a pity that our company doesn't have this business. Otherwise, you could just sign with our company. There are many agencies in Beijing, but there are only two top agencies: Xinghe and Hengyue. You definitely can't go to Xinghe, though. Qi Yuan won't let you get ahead. Hengyue, on the other hand, has produced many top-tier actors and has abundant resources, but they're also in short supply. Although they and Xinghe are enemies, they also check and balance each other. Actually, it wouldn't be bad if you could sign with them, but I'm afraid..."
"I'm afraid that once the contract is signed, they won't take you seriously."
Wen Chu was also worried about this. Hengyue also had struggling actors who found it difficult to make a name for themselves, let alone her. She had no background, and unless she met a mentor in the company, this path would be difficult.
Xi Ning knocked on the steering wheel and said, "If that's the case, we can only find a small company, and a small company that has the courage to accept you."
Wen Chu hummed.
Although new troubles had arisen, it was still a good thing to be able to terminate the contract. Back at the apartment, Xi Ning went to the company, and Wen Chu called his parents.
Tell your mother that you have terminated the contract.
Ye Qifang was very happy on the other end of the phone. She smiled and asked, "Will you sign with the company again? Will the company give you a role to play?"
Wen Chu paused, picked up the kettle and watered the plants. She said, "Well, I will sign with a company, but I'm not sure where I will sign."
"It's okay, as long as I can sign. It's been more than eight years. Mom often thought that if this path doesn't work out, then why not just come back? It seems I was worrying too much."
Wen Chu felt a little sad. She had thought about it before. If she couldn't bear it anymore, she might as well go home. But Qi Yuan probably wouldn't buy her a ticket. She smiled and said, "Mom, I won't go back for now. I'll try my luck first. If I can't make it, I'll see."
"good."
After hanging up the phone, Wen Chu tidied the green plants on the sofa cabinet. Although Xi Ning didn't smoke much at home, he would still smoke when he stayed up late or was stuck on a manuscript, so he needed green plants to add some oxygen to the room.
At this time.
The doorbell rang. Wen Chu took his crutches, stood up, and asked, "Who is it?"
"Gu Cheng." A pleasant man's voice came from outside. Wen Chu paused and asked from behind the door, "What's the matter?"
"Your feet need care."
Wen Chu looked down at her feet, which were still wrapped in thick medicine. It didn't hurt much, but she didn't know when she could get treatment.
She opened the door.
Gu Cheng stood outside with his hands in his trouser pockets, holding a medicine box in his other hand. Wen Chu met his gaze and said, "The doctor didn't tell me that I needed care or anything like that."
Gu Cheng looked into her eyes and said, "Because I stopped him and told him to only notify me."
Wen Chu paused: "Tell me how to take care of it, I will do it myself."
"You can't come by yourself." Gu Cheng walked forward and asked in a low voice: "Can I come in?"
Wen Chu subconsciously raised her hand to block the door. She looked up, and Gu Cheng lowered his eyes, looking into hers. She might not have noticed that with her blocking the door like this, at this distance, he could kiss her lips with just a light touch. He said, "The nursing steps are quite complicated. The medicine on the wound needs to be peeled off slowly."
"It's okay if you can't go in. You can put a chair in the entrance and take care of it."
There are six households per floor in the apartment. There are always people coming and going at the door, sometimes they are tenants, sometimes they are owners, and sometimes they are couriers.
Sitting by the entrance door with it open is like a monkey, always available for passersby to see. Wen Chu lowered his eyes and took a step back. The injuries on his heels and shoulders were all left over from the breakup.
He closed the door with his backhand.
Wen Chu walked to the sofa with a crutch and sat down, staring at his swollen ankle.
Gu Cheng casually put down the medicine box, rolled up his sleeves, took a look at the overall layout of the apartment, and asked, "Is there a basin in the bathroom? Which one can I use?"
Wen Chu replied: "Blue."
Gu Cheng headed for the bathroom. He pushed the door open with one hand and saw the basin hanging behind it. He took it out. The women's bathroom had a light, fresh scent, tinged with the same gardenia shower gel Wen Chu often used. He knew this was the house he lived in with Xi Ning, so he didn't look any further. After filling the basin with water, he returned to the sofa.
He squatted down, held her little feet, and the veins on the back of his hand were slightly visible.
Wen Chu subconsciously pulled back, but Gu Cheng held her tightly, preventing her from doing so. His fingertips touched the gauze wrapped with medicine and tried to untie the knot. "Keeping the medicine wrapped all the time is not good for the wound's recovery."
Wen Chu lowered his eyes: "I know, but I don't dare to touch the wound. The doctor didn't say anything."
Gu Cheng said nothing more, carefully removing the gauze layer by layer. After being wrapped for so long, it indeed had a rotten herbal smell. Wen Chu still subconsciously wanted to shrink, to hide, but then she realized that she and he were no longer a couple, so she didn't need to worry about her image. He removed the gauze and threw it in the trash can.
Gu Cheng used new gauze, dipped it in water, and carefully wiped the remaining medicine residue on her feet.
It also restored her fair and delicate little feet. When the two of them were quarreling, he held her little feet and dragged them in front of him, leaned over to kiss them, and pressed her little feet to prevent her from escaping.
These have all happened.
Wen Chu didn't show any expression, she didn't think about these things.
Gu Cheng's eyes flashed, his expression did not change, and his movements remained the same.
He had two buttons undone at the collar, and a faint scent of tobacco wafted into the air, a very light, minty-like scent.
It doesn't smell bad.
After washing his feet, Gu Cheng pressed the wound with his fingertips and looked up at her: "Does it hurt?"
Wen Chu shook her head. She felt it carefully. Gu Cheng said, "I'll press it a few more times. If it hurts, tell me. If it doesn't hurt, it's almost healed."
"Okay." Wen Chu was also looking forward to it.
Gu Cheng pressed it several times, and it seemed that he had some skills. Wen Chu raised her eyebrows. She hugged the pillow and felt a little excited. Seeing that she had not said anything, Gu Cheng raised his eyes.
Her eyes lit up slightly.
She meant it was happy.
Gu Cheng looked at her for a few seconds: "Don't it hurt anymore?"
Wen Chu clutched her pillow tightly and shook her head. If he hadn't been there, she would have gotten up and walked around a bit to show her happiness. Gu Cheng nodded. He dug into the medicine box and pulled out a new ointment. He opened it, squeezed some onto his fingers, and gently rubbed it evenly onto her feet. He said, "This is a repair ointment. Use it once morning and night."
Wen Chu agreed and took the ointment.
After finishing, Gu Cheng picked up the basin, went into the bathroom, poured out the water in it, rinsed the basin, hung it back on the door, and walked out with water droplets on his arms.
Wen Chu looked at her feet for several times, then raised her eyes and said, "No need to take care of them, right?"
Gu Cheng hummed: "No need."
He closed the medicine box, looked at her, and asked, "What are your plans next?"
He asked about being an actor in front of the screen.
Wen Chu pressed the pillow in her arms, looked at him for a second, and shook her head: "I haven't decided yet, I'll think about it slowly."
Gu Cheng nodded.
He glanced at his watch. It was noon. Wen Chu leaned on her crutches and stood up, occasionally trying to step on her foot. She opened the door and said, "Drive slowly."
Gu Cheng stood there for a few seconds carrying the medicine box, nodded, and walked out.
"I ordered one..." Before he could finish his words, Wen Chu closed the door.
Gu Cheng: “….”
Wen Chu put down his crutches and tried to walk again. The pain was gone. It was great. The doorbell rang at this time. Wen Chu turned around and asked, "Who?"
He went and came back?
The delivery man's voice came from outside the door.
"Your meal is hanging at the door."
Wen Chu paused and opened the door. There was only one meal outside. She took a look and brought it in. The order showed Gu Cheng's name. It was ordered by him.
Wen Chu sent him a message.
Wen Chu: I got the takeaway, don’t order next time.
He didn't reply.
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When Xi Ning came back in the evening, Wen Chu didn't need to use the crutches anymore. She stood by the dressing table and cooked. Seeing this, Xi Ning said happily, "Is your foot okay?"
"Yes!" Wen Chu walked a few steps to show her.
After Xi Ning finished her observation and confirmed that everything was fine, she was even happier: "Then we can start contacting agencies. I've selected several. You can audition and sign with the agency at the same time."
"good."
That's what they said, but when Wen Chu and Xi Ning contacted these companies, after they heard Wen Chu's name, saw Wen Chu's photos and experience, they all refused. No one wanted to sign.
Wen Chu didn't know what was going on.
Xi Ning stopped the other person in the conference room and asked, "Is it because he's a little older?"
The other party shook his head and left in a hurry.
Some staff members were watching them from outside, pointing and making comments. Xi Ning pulled Wen Chu away. After getting into the car, she frowned and said, "These agencies clearly said they wanted to sign a few more actors, but they all rejected you. What's the meaning?"
Wen Chu leaned back in her chair, looking at the building with the company's name on it. She said, "My face is too similar to Qi Yuan's. There's only one Qi Yuan in the entertainment industry. Adding another like me would be just imitating others. I'm sure there will be a lot of people scolding me as soon as I appear. No one wants to take that risk."
Xi Ning rolled down the car window, lit a cigarette, and said, "Bah, if I were them, I would sign. Why? Your face looks like Qi Yuan's, and that's what popularity is. It's natural to have popularity as soon as you debut, isn't it good? I don't believe they don't know this. It's not that they don't want to sign, but they don't dare to sign."
Wen Chuxin's heart jumped.
She didn't want to think about it that way, but it did...seemed to be the case. She said, "Are Xinghe and Qi Yuan obstructing us?"
Xi Ning put out his cigarette and started the car. "Of course, who else could it be besides them? They're the big guys in the Galaxy industry. They can freeze someone out with a stomp of their feet and prevent you from signing a contract. It's normal. Qi Yuan has a background and her status is there. There's no benefit in offending her, so they don't dare to sign."
Wen Chu looked at the buildings outside with amusement.
Termination of the contract was not smooth.
At that moment, Xi Ning and Wen Chu both received a Weibo push notification: Xingyao Media had just established a new agency department. Weibo immediately lit up. Fans were asking why this department had suddenly been established. Were there any artists they wanted to sign? Who was it for?
Wen Chu just finished reading this Weibo post.
I received an email from Xingyao Media. The CEO of Xingyao said: Mr. Wen, we want to sign you. Let’s meet when you are free.
Wen Chu was slightly stunned.
Xi Ning put down the phone and looked at Wen Chu: "It seems that your ex-boyfriend set it up for you."
Wen Chu was still dazed, holding the phone. Xi Ning received another call. When she heard what the other party said, her eyebrows raised. She smiled and turned her head and said, "There's an old-fashioned agency that hasn't signed many new people in recent years. But they said they'd like to meet with you. However, this agency is a bit small. Do you think you'd consider it?"
Wen Chu glanced at the email from Xingyao.
She whispered, "If I sign with Xingyao, I'll run into Gu Cheng often, and I'll be under his control."
Xi Ning nodded: "Of course."
"Then let's go to another one." Wen Chu said. Xi Ning smiled and turned the steering wheel: "Okay."
This established brokerage firm isn't located in the central district, nor in the east, south, or north city districts, but rather in the old part of the west city district. Many companies used to be here, but they've gradually moved away over the years, leaving for the other three cities. This company is still here, in an office building renovated from an old house.
As soon as I walked in, I saw many photos of veteran actors hanging on the wall. The person who came to greet Wen Chu was a very young woman in a professional suit and short hair. She pushed open the door and said, "Sit down."
Wen Chu sat down.
The man sat down opposite her, looked at her face, pinched his chin, and said, "I heard that you were Qi Yuan's stand-in before?"
Wen Chu nodded.
She raised an eyebrow. "It's rare for a stuntman to step in front of the camera. No one has the courage to do so, and of course the main actor wouldn't agree to it either."
Wen Chu said: "Yes."
The woman smiled. Her name was Zhu Ru. She said, "Our company is now a retirement home. It's very idle, and our resources can't compare to other companies. I'm used to leisure time, and I feel that this semi-retirement life is boring, so I want to sign someone else to liven up the company. All the agencies in Beijing have been warned not to sign you, except Xingyao and us. Oh, Xingyao just set up an agency department, you know. I think they should have contacted you, right?"
Wen Chu hummed.
She smiled and said, "As for us, our company is too old and didn't receive any warning, so you now have two choices: one is Xingyao, and the other is to sign us."
"Xingyao is a media company. They definitely don't have as much experience as us."
She raised her hand, and her assistant opened the PPT. She pointed at the screen and said, "We also brought in some actors in the early years. Take a look. If you think it's okay, we can discuss the terms of the contract..."
Wen Chu looked at the actors flashing by on the screen. He had seen all of these actors on TV. Some of them had been very famous, but that was in their early years.
But this was also the company's former glory. Nowadays, there are almost no new people coming out of the company, so time stopped six years ago.
Xi Ning approached Wen Chu and said, "This company has both good and bad sides. It has its advantages. The good thing is that no one is competing with you for the top spot. The bad thing is that they haven't produced a new artist in six years, and the company's resources are extremely scarce."
Wen Chu looked at the screen quietly. Just a few hours ago, she had been rejected again and again, but now there was such a company, which had also had excellent actors in the past, ready to accept her.
She didn't really have much to pick on.
Xi Ning continued, "However, they dared to sign you to a company at this critical moment. Your ex-boyfriend is powerful and influential, but this company is also very brave and fearless. This shows that they are a good company. As for resources, they will have them if they accumulate them slowly."
Wen Chu thought so too.
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The author has something to say: Here it comes.
This chapter continues with 100 red envelopes, see you tomorrow.
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