"Xiao Min, I know you will make the right decision."
When Zhang Shan received his call, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, her joy was beyond words, and she drew a beautiful blueprint for him on the other end of the phone.
Finally, I asked him very attentively: "Are you at home or somewhere else now? I will bring a lawyer over and sign the contract as soon as possible."
"Just an agency contract is not enough, I also want to see film contracts." Sheng Min said calmly, "One or two, movies, TV series or variety shows, it doesn't matter, the amount must satisfy me."
"How much do you want?"
Sheng Min reported a number.
Zhang Shan laughed: "You are quite arrogant."
"Whether it's worth it or not, everyone has their own judgment." Sheng Min said softly, "Mr. Zhang, and you said that the company won't mention a penny for these projects."
"I remember, I promised you, of course you are worth it."
Zhang Shan responded readily, "With your fame, this amount can be negotiated, it's not excessive... The company's previous commission was a bit higher, but that was because the contract was signed early. The company trained you in the past few years, and the money spent on you was all lost... But the new contract terms are very generous to you, you can see that."
This is not a lie, Sheng Min knows it. There are many companies eyeing him, and the number of agency contracts he wants to sign is too many to count with two hands. Dongyi may not be able to give the best resources, but in terms of money alone, Zhang Shan has indeed given the best conditions.
Zhang Shan did not forget to continue to emphasize: "Of course, the company will not ask for a penny before you get a satisfactory amount. Since I have said this, it must count. This can also be written into the contract. I will ask the lawyer to change it immediately."
Sheng Min listened calmly: "Okay."
"It's just that it would take time for me to negotiate a film contract now, and you haven't renewed your contract yet. Everyone in the industry knows that your contract is about to expire. It would be like me negotiating with a blank check, which would be more troublesome. It won't be that fast. Let's sign the agency contract first..."
"Mr. Zhang." Sheng Min interrupted her, "I believe that with your ability, these problems can be solved. You know why I agreed to renew the contract."
"If you need money, the company will transfer the money to you first."
"If there is no clear purpose for the money, the company dares to ask, but I dare not accept it." Sheng Min did not leave much room for negotiation, "Give me the film contract, I will sign it together."
Zhang Shan paused for a moment, and there was a hint of disappointment in her words: "Xiao Min, you don't believe me anymore?"
"Sister." Sheng Min changed the address naturally, "It doesn't really make sense for us to talk about belief or not now. I was very grateful to you before, and I am still grateful now, but this doesn't conflict."
There was silence on the other end for a while: "You are really different from before."
"You taught me well."
"How can I teach you?" Zhang Shan laughed, "Your boyfriend taught you well... If you want to see a film contract, that's fine. I'll go and talk to you as soon as possible. Wait for my news."
She hung up the phone, and called again within two hours.
"I have made appointments with several companies. I will go to talk to each of them face to face tomorrow. You accepted the job because of the pay, but I still need to consider the production team, ranking, and broadcast platform for you." Although Zhang Shan has faded out of the company in recent years, she is still capable of starting from scratch, and she can draw a better picture than others. "How about this, I've thought about it. Next Monday will be the company's new project press conference for next year. There will be an additional link. Your contract will be signed at the press conference. There are still two days, and I will definitely get the film contract for you."
The faint sound of electric current seemed to be mixed with the sound of an abacus. Sheng Min listened to this suggestion and silently pulled the corner of his lip.
Without hearing his reply, Zhang Shan advised, "You should have come to the new project press conference. With so many media reporters here, announcing your contract renewal may attract more attention than any of our projects next year, and it will also help raise the company's stock price. After all, you are the company's most profitable artist now. Of course, this also shows that the company values you."
"Oh." Sheng Min said without any emotion. He heard the wind rustling against the window. He turned around and saw that it was already late at night.
The winter in N City is always gloomy, with no stars or moon, and the boundary between day and night is not very clear.
Winter used to be the hardest season for Sheng Min. He would be depressed for a long time and would feel better in the spring. This winter seemed even harder, but it was also completely different. At least when he looked out the window, he no longer had the urge to jump. All he thought about was what Li Xuan was doing and whether he had eaten.
Yesterday, Sheng Min found out that he was "failed" to participate in the drama. Perhaps because she was worried that he would be in a bad mood, Sheng Min said it was not necessary several times, but Li Xuan still turned down the remaining meeting and went home with him.
This also led to the fact that the phone never stopped ringing when he woke up in the morning. From subordinates to partners, there were a lot of things waiting for him to decide. Li Xuan originally planned to accompany him for a while, but Sheng Min couldn't bear it, so after breakfast, he rushed him to the company.
He did send a message saying that he would be home tonight, but it might be a little late, so Sheng Min should go to bed first. Sheng Min knew that he was trying hard to squeeze out time because he was worried, but it was hard to measure how much more work he had to do during the day in order to spend more time with him.
"Sheng Min." After a long pause, Zhang Shan said tactfully, "You also know how badly the company's stock price has fallen. This new project launch is very important to the entire company. Logically, I should have prepared for this in the past two days, but now I have to negotiate a film contract for you, so I'll let someone else do it. After all, I don't trust others to handle your affairs."
"I'm so honored." Sheng Min came back to his senses.
"So you're still coming?" Zhang Shan said, "Didn't you teach me the other day to leave some room for others?"
"What time is it on Monday?"
The new project press conference has been preheated for a long time, if you care, you will know. Hearing him ask this, Zhang Shan was probably a little unhappy, thinking that he didn't care at all, but still said: "It starts at 3 pm, and your contract will be signed after the project introduction, around 4:30, the finale. It will whet the media's appetite. If it is announced at the beginning, I am afraid that everyone will be busy writing articles, and they will not have the mood to listen to the project. There are also a few newly signed artists, so let's announce them at the same time."
Sheng Min pursed his lips, recalling the schedule he saw on Li Xuan's computer screen yesterday. He remembered that Li Xuan was scheduled to meet with investors next Monday afternoon.
"Okay." Sheng Min said, "But don't let anyone know in advance, otherwise I can't guarantee that I can get to the press conference smoothly."
Zhang Shan seemed to weigh it for a few seconds after she finished her study. "Okay, these two days won't make a difference. Happy cooperation."
Sheng Min didn't know how he hung up the phone. He was in a daze for a long time. When he came to his senses, he was already sitting in the study with the script of "Bu Jiu Shan" in front of him.
But he couldn't remember what happened on the day Yin Qianpin gave him the complete script.
I still remember that day under the warm lights of the restaurant, Li Xuan smiled and said to him: "I have signed up for you."
Sheng Min didn't want to read any further, so he put the script behind him and closed his eyes.
"Teacher Sheng."
The makeup artist called him softly, and Shengmin opened his eyes: "Are you done?"
"Okay." The makeup artist packed up her brushes, "It's done."
"Thank you." Sheng Min looked at the person in the mirror. How long ago was the last time she wore makeup? Two months or three months, it felt like a long time had passed. It was clearly her own face, but it felt strange.
"What's wrong? Is there anything you want to change?" The makeup artist looked at his expression and said, "You have a good foundation, so the makeup should be thin."
Sheng Min shook his head: "No need."
"Then I'll go out first."
"good."
The dressing room door closed softly.
I looked at the watch and saw that there was less than half an hour left before the press conference started.
Sheng Min reached out and touched the reflection in the mirror, moving the corners of his mouth to reveal an impeccable smile.
The decision has been made, and he is willing to bear all the costs, so he cannot show any sign of dejection, but has to smile, like he is best at.
The cell phone rang suddenly, and Sheng Min was almost startled. Fortunately, the name on the caller ID was not the one he was most worried about, but it also caused a flaw in his perfect mask.
"Hello?"
"Hey!" Deng Jing's voice sounded exasperated. "Sheng Min, what are you doing? Do you really want to renew your contract? I saw someone in your super topic posted a photo of you at your company's press conference!"
Sheng Min pursed his lips.
"You're not going to renew your contract, are you?" Deng Jing slowed down his voice and asked optimistically and tentatively, "Just give your old club some face and help boost their popularity?"
"Deng Jing." He had to say, "I've already talked to Director Yin."
It was a long message. Before agreeing to Zhang Shan, he told Yin Qianpin first, but the other party didn't reply a word. Deng Jing actually knew it not today. He always felt that there was still room for redemption. Although he also advised, he had never been so angry.
Deng Jing was furious when he heard this: "You said that Yin Qianpin was going to be mad at you! So what if you've said it before? Take it back and say it again. He won't stop you from acting if you come back... Why on earth, Xiaomin? You obviously want to act in a drama, I'm not a fool and I can tell! Why did you change your mind? Yin Qianpin already said that you have a boyfriend and it doesn't matter..."
"I'm sorry." This was all Sheng Min could say.
"Who are you sorry for? You're sorry for yourself!" Deng Jing scolded, "Come back and act in your play soon. I won't take over your mess. Yin Qianpin keeps saying that I don't feel right here or act well there. Everyone knows what he means. I won't take his nagging. Come back soon... You can't have already signed the contract extension, right?"
"I... ... "
"Sheng Min?"
The door was pushed open and Zhang Shan walked in. Sheng Min covered the receiver and turned his head away.
"Are you still on the phone?" Zhang Shan was full of pride today, with delicate makeup on. "It's about to start."
"I have something else to do." He said to Deng Jing, "I'll call you back later."
He took a deep breath and hung up the phone, but the ringing started again immediately, relentlessly.
"Why don't we turn off the phone first?" Zhang Shan leaned against the door with a faint smile on her face.
Sheng Min had no expression on his face. He lowered his eyes and adjusted the mute. Zhang Shan came over and smiled, holding his arm like a pair of handcuffs: "Let's go."
In the company's top floor lobby, a meticulously decorated venue of nearly 500 square meters, reporters from all walks of life were already waiting in their positions with their cameras.
Sheng Min entered through the side door. While he was still in the shadows, some sharp-eyed reporters noticed him and the crowd immediately became excited.
"Here it comes, here it comes! Shengmin is here!"
"Really? Oh my god, are they really going to renew the contract? Aren't they saying it won't be renewed?"
"I guessed it, otherwise why would they make such a big fuss. Dongyi must be trying every means to keep him. Apart from Shengmin, they don't have any other artists of sufficient weight. The recent stock price says it all..."
"I still have some feelings for my old boss."
"Luckily Sheng Min is here. This trip wasn't in vain. I have something to write when I get back..."
Various sounds came into Sheng Min's ears one after another, and the closer he got to the podium, the clearer they became.
Not only on site, but also online. The new project launch conference was live-broadcasted, and with Sheng Min's appearance, it was like bait falling into a pond.
"No way, you're not going to renew it! Don't renew it!"
"Ah! Why are you so depressed..."
"I just have two words: run!"
…
Sheng Min couldn't run away, he walked towards what his fans called the fire pit without hesitation.
Several directors of Dongyi and a few relatively famous artists of the company were already sitting on the stage, except for the two seats next to the chairman, which were empty.
Zhang Shan took his arm and walked to her husband's side before letting go and sitting down leisurely. The couple seemed to be very affectionate as they signed their hands and left the center seat for Sheng Min.
Sheng Min smiled gently, unbuttoned his suit and sat down.
"Sheng Min!" The voices of the reporters in the audience could no longer be suppressed. The flashlights kept clicking. "You are attending today. Has your contract been renewed?"
"We heard that several companies offered you olive branches, but you finally chose Dongyi. Was it because of the friendship we have had over the years or other considerations?"
"Everyone is concerned, please answer it."
"Yes, answer it!"
…
The spotlights kept flashing, the crowd was buzzing, and the atmosphere was about to get out of control. The host quickly spoke up, using his usual routine of reviewing the past and looking forward to the future. After a bunch of nonsense, he said, "Now, please allow Mr. Zeng An, Chairman of Dongyi Culture, to give a speech."
"So has Shengmin renewed his contract now?"
"Yes, can we let Shengmin say a few words first?"
The reporters below didn't respond at all. The host was a little embarrassed for a moment, holding the microphone in his hand, not knowing what to do.
"Give it to me." Zhang Shan gestured, took the microphone, and looked at the reporters below, "Thank you very much for coming, and I understand your concern for Sheng Min. We will reply to these questions one by one later. Today is the press conference for the new project, and we have our own process. As for the question that everyone is most concerned about..."
She paused for a moment, then smiled deliberately: "I can't give you an answer right now. I hope to reveal the answer with everyone later, right, Xiao Min?"
Sheng Min smiled cooperatively. Zhang Shan had been in the circle for many years, and the reporters below gave her some face. Although they still couldn't help whispering to each other, they forced themselves to quiet down so that Zeng An could smoothly start reading his speech.
Fans outside the live broadcast camera, however, were not so considerate and left messages one after another very quickly.
"What do you mean? What does Zhang Shan mean? Is this Schrodinger's sign now?"
"You're sick, what's wrong?"
"You don't mean to sign on the spot..."
"Wait a minute, the one in front, why do I feel the truth..."
The phone screen lit up. Deng Jing couldn't get through the call so he sent a message. He was probably watching the live broadcast as well. Even the silent text showed his intense attitude.
"What are you doing, Shengmin! You want to stay in a company that is eager to squeeze you?! Don't be stupid!"
Sheng Min pursed his lips and stared at the screen. Zeng An's speech was still going on. The sound quality of the microphone was so good that it gave him a headache. The spotlights below were still flashing. Sheng Min tried to look out the window, but found that this luxurious hall had no windows and he could not see the sky.
The rain had just stopped when we left the building.
After the heavy snow a few days ago, it has been drizzling these days. A few drops of remaining water from the eaves fell on Li Xuan's deep black coat and disappeared.
To no avail, once again.
The investment manager who had been in contact politely sent him downstairs, and said with regret that he would find a way to convince the person in charge, and repeatedly emphasized that it was not Li Xuan's problem.
"I mentioned it a few days ago. I was quite interested in your company. But you suddenly changed your mind. It's strange. Let me persuade you again."
Li Xuan thanked him, but he knew in his heart that it was basically impossible to make this cooperation come true.
There wasn't much feeling of disappointment, nor was there time to be disappointed.
Financing was not coming in, and there were still a lot of other things waiting. After more than a week, the game was finally restored to online in some software stores. But the backend revenue still plummeted, and it had to be updated as soon as possible...
Li Xuan pinched his brows and parked his car in the open-air parking lot outside the fence. While thinking about something, he took out his mobile phone and wanted to call Chu Tianheng to ask him to prepare the information and go back for an update meeting. However, he found that there were several missed calls from Chu Tianheng, and there was also an unfamiliar number that was dialed several times.
Li Xuan dialed Chu Tianheng back, and while waiting for the call to be connected, he vaguely heard Sheng Min's name.
I subconsciously turned my head and saw two girls passing by the flower bed not far away. They were probably white-collar workers who had just entered the workplace. They still had a student-like look on their faces. They were looking at something on their mobile phones and whispering to each other.
"Why? Why not change it..."
"Don't be so quick to criticize it. It's not that bad. I think the casts of the plays Xiao Min has taken on are all pretty good."
"That's because he's so good. Look at what kind of life he had in the past. His company especially likes to use him to help newcomers..."
They walked further and further away. The wind was still blowing, and the branches were rustling. Li Xuan could not hear clearly. Just as he was about to ask what was going on, Chu Tianheng answered the phone.
"What's going on?" Li Xuan asked, "I just came out and my phone is off."
"Someone just came to the company to look for you."
"Looking for me? Who?"
"I don't know him." Chu Tianheng said, "He said he had something urgent to do. I asked him what it was, but he didn't tell me. But he looked really anxious, so I gave him your number and location... Then I thought it wasn't a good idea, so..."
"It's okay. Someone called me, I called back to ask. Please prepare the updated information, I will be back for the meeting in about 40 minutes."
In just a short while, when I turned around, the two people who were talking just now were no longer visible. I don’t know which company they went into next door.
Li Xuan felt inexplicably uneasy and wanted to call Sheng Min, but the unfamiliar number rang again.
"Who?"
"Li Xuan?! You finally answered the phone!" There was a man on the other end of the phone, and he seemed to be arguing with someone while talking to him.
"No, please let me in."
"Sir, I'm sorry, you can't come in without a company appointment."
"I told you, I have something urgent..."
The sound was very close. Li Xuan looked up and saw a security guard stopping a young man at the security booth.
He hung up the phone and walked over: "You looking for me?"
The man looked at him for a second, as if recognizing him: "Yes! I'm looking for you!"
He dragged Li Xuan and ran out without hesitation: "Hurry up, hurry up, it's too late..."
"No, what are you doing?" Li Xuan frowned and effortlessly broke free from his hand. He felt that this man looked familiar, but he really couldn't remember who he was. "What's the matter?"
"What's the matter? A big deal!" He then remembered that he hadn't introduced himself. "I'm Deng Jing. Did Sheng Min mention me to you? It doesn't matter whether he mentioned me or not... Come with me to stop him from signing the contract..."
Li Xuan was stunned: "What did you say?"
"I'm not a liar!" Deng Jing misunderstood and said in a tongue twister, "I may have seen you, but you may not have seen me. I saw your car when you came to pick up Sheng Min last time. Fortunately, I remember the license plate and it has a connection with the Transportation Bureau... It's too much trouble to find you..."
Li Xuan interrupted him: "Sign? Now?"
Deng Jing was also shocked when he saw his expression, and almost bit his tongue: "You don't know anything at all?"
He thought that Li Xuan did not stop Sheng Min just because he was an outsider and didn't know the ins and outs. Judging from the current situation, he might not even know that Sheng Min was going to renew his contract today.
"Sheng Min's current company doesn't treat him well at all, and they even threatened him with the matter between you two. You didn't even know about the contract, so he definitely didn't tell you about it? Yin Qianpin said he didn't mind, but I don't know what Sheng Min was thinking. He still wanted to sign... This damn company actually asked him to sign live now. They must be crazy about traffic..."
"What do you mean Yin Qianpin doesn't mind?" Li Xuan asked with some difficulty, "Didn't they choose you to play the role in the end?"
"Nonsense!" Deng Jing's eyes widened. "Sheng Min was always the choice, but he gave up on the role! Why are you dragging me into this..."
There was simply too much information coming at once, and Li Xuan felt that the blood in his body was about to solidify due to the cold wind.
"Where is Sheng Min now?" he interrupted Deng Jing.
"Dongyi Headquarters Building." Deng Jing said quickly, taking out his phone, "It's still live broadcasting... They will probably sign the contract after they finish talking about those crappy projects, who knows when..."
"Thanks."
Li Xuan said stiffly and walked quickly towards the parking lot.
He walked too fast, and Deng Jing, who also had long arms and legs, had difficulty catching up.
"I don't know what Shengmin is thinking. Why should he continue..."
As he spoke, Li Xuan had already walked to the car, opened the door, started the car, and drove away.
"Hey!" Deng Jing was jumping up and down anxiously behind him, "Why don't you take me with you?"
On the way, Li Xuan called Sheng Min several times, but the phone rang and hung up automatically, and no one picked up the phone.
The top ten hot searches were dominated by Sheng Min's name, live broadcast, contract renewal, Dong Yi... various keywords formed a vivid Ukiyoe. Li Xuan clicked into the live broadcast software, and behind the densely packed comments, he saw Sheng Min's pale and thin face.
He sat in the very center, the focus of all spotlights, with a faint smile on his face, a carefully disguised mask.
Li Xuan remembered the call he received from Sheng Min yesterday, asking him what time he would be home, and also casually asked if he was going to meet investors tomorrow afternoon.
Li Xuan thought at the time that he was just concerned about himself, and comforted him not to worry...
Why, why did you renew the contract, why did you lie to him...
Deng Jing didn't know the reason, and fans on the barrage were also asking, but Li Xuan knew it very well.
'I'll help you find a solution. I'll give you as much money as you want.'
But because he loved him.
Then he suddenly remembered that night when Sheng Min leaned in his arms, with a smile on her face, and said, Li Xuan, you are so nice.
What's so good about him? Li Xuan punched the steering wheel in frustration. He is the worst boyfriend in the world.
Sheng Min was forced to give up the long-awaited opportunity that was within her grasp for him, but she was still unaware of it.
After driving out of the tunnel, the rain started falling again without any warning. Why is the winter so long, with endless rain, snow, wind and frost
Pedestrians hurried past with their necks hunched and umbrellas held up. The wind was whistling, causing the umbrella ribs to shake and tilt, like rootless flying catkins in the wind, and were splashed with mud and water by passing vehicles.
Traffic flow slowed down due to the rain. The navigation system indicated that the destination was still 23 kilometers away and was expected to arrive at 5:07 pm.
I was extremely anxious, but the red light had turned green twice and the traffic was still motionless.
"Why aren't you moving? The one in front! Why are you blocking the way?"
This scene was so similar that Li Xuan was transported back to the day when he went to the airport to find Sheng Min.
What would happen if that day never came? Would Shengmin be freer and happier than he is now
He rolled down the window and tried to find the end of the traffic jam. Outside the window, horns honked. On the other side of the screen, the introduction of various new projects was coming to an end...
It was so noisy that Li Xuan couldn't hear the voices on the screen. He only saw the host smiling and making way for the other side. Someone walked onto the stage with a few thick documents. The excited reporters stood on the chairs, trying to get a clearer angle, and Sheng Min slowly stood up...
"What are you doing? Why is there a traffic jam again? I'm in a hurry! What a horrible weather!"
Harsh insults came from outside the car window. The red color of the congestion on the map pierced Li Xuan's eyes like a sharp knife. It was too late. Everything reminded him.
He couldn't make it unless there was a miracle.
"Don't rush the people behind us. There's a traffic police officer ahead. It looks like there was a car accident."
Car accident, car accident...
Yes.
Sheng Min was originally the miracle in his life.
Li Xuan's Adam's apple moved. The raindrops that drifted in wet his hair.
He quickly took his phone and logged into the online banking, transferred all the money into Sheng Min's card, then opened the app and took a look at Sheng Min's face.
It was dark, and the bright car lights illuminated the continuous rain and the green belt in the middle of the road.
Sheng Min was walking towards the front of the stage, ten meters, five meters...
We can't wait any longer.
This was too risky and too impulsive, it was wrong, it was the worst possible strategy, everyone knew this... However, at the critical moment, all his emotions overwhelmed his reason, clamoring for him to sit at the gambling table and bet all his chips and his fate on this big gamble.
Sheng Min's fingertips have already touched the pen.
Li Xuan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, turned the steering wheel sharply, and stepped on the accelerator hard.
The roar of cars, the sound of wind and rain were infinitely amplified and whizzed past.
And at some point, everything disappeared, and then he heard his own voice, saying to Sheng Min, I love you.
What day did it happen
It doesn't matter which day.
I love you forever.
“Bang!”
The black sedan crashed straight into the isolation belt, and with a bang, the remaining leaves fell to the ground.
"oops!"
A reporter below exclaimed in surprise. Just as the tip of the pen was about to touch the paper, the pen in Sheng Min's hand suddenly fell to the ground.
It was a very light sound, yet so harsh.
It's really unlucky, Zhang Shan thought, but she still smiled: "Good things take time, good things take time, don't be impatient."
She bent down slightly, picked up the pen that had rolled to her feet, and handed it back to Sheng Min. She looked at the cameras of the reporters below and showed a perfect smile.
One second, two seconds, no one answered.
Zhang Shan felt something was wrong.
"Xiao Min?"
She turned her head and met a pair of cold eyes.