Entertainment: I am the peak

Chapter 497 Help!

The script for "The Wandering Earth" continued to be developed even a month after Li Qiutang left, with a draft being sent to director Li Qiutang, executive producer Chen Zhixi, and script consultant Professor Wang Hongwei's email addresses without fail.

Li Qiutang rejected another version of the script for "The Butterfly Lovers," which tormented Li Qiang to the point of near death.

Li Qiutang is currently at Mojing Tianhe Yanjing Company looking at the completed clips of "Mojin: The Lost Legend".

The post-production special effects are 80% complete, and it will be finished in another two months.

Li Qiutang is generally satisfied with the current results.

While Li Qiutang was having a meeting with the visual effects supervisor and post-production coordinator for "Mojin: The Lost Legend," Liu Yifei was at home receiving Jiang Yiyan, a college classmate she hadn't seen in a long time.

After not seeing her for more than half a year, Jiang Yiyan looked much more haggard, as if she had a million things weighing on her mind with nowhere to say them.

"Pai Pa, have a seat, what would you like to drink?" Liu Yifei was happy to have a friend visiting, so she didn't ask too many questions and just warmly greeted her.

"Whatever, water is fine with me," Jiang Yiyan said weakly.

"What's wrong?" Liu Yifei poured a glass of water and placed it in front of her, smiling.

Jiang Yiyan didn't say anything, she just chatted idly with Liu Yifei.

The two chatted about their student days. Jiang Yiyan said how close they used to be, and that Liu Yifei gave lipsticks to all the girls in the class after returning from Hong Kong.

“Back then we were all country bumpkins, we’d never been to Hong Kong before,” that’s true. “We were so happy to have a lipstick from Hong Kong.”

Liu Yifei was also very happy to say this, saying, "It's just a lipstick. Now that I think about it, I didn't give you anything nice."

"Back then we didn't know anything, and we didn't recognize the value of good things. The lipstick was pretty good."

We talked about embarrassing things that happened when we were in school, and then about the current situation of our classmates: who became a teacher, who is still acting, who got married and retired from the industry, who went back to their hometown and can't be contacted anymore, and who emigrated abroad.

"Our class is considered a star class, right?"

"Of course it counts." If the 02 class doesn't count as a star class, then the film academy hasn't had a star class in nearly 10 years.

"If we include Director Li, then our class is even better than the class of '96."

Liu Yifei laughed and said, "He's from the directing class, what's the point of him getting involved in our acting class?"

Jiang Yiyan became happier and happier as they chatted, and her mood improved a lot: "There are no people in his year of directing class. If you recruit him, he will naturally be considered a member of our acting class."

Speaking of Li Qiutang, Jiang Yiyan began to inquire about him: "What is Director Li doing now? He must be very busy."

"He leaves early and comes home late, and I don't know what he's busy with. It's either filming or company business."

"Your company must have made a lot of money during this summer's box office season, right?"

"I don't manage the company's affairs, and I don't know how much the company makes."

But Jiang Yiyan said, "That won't do. You're the boss's wife. You have to participate in the company's work. Only a partnership between husband and wife can last."

But Liu Yifei had absolutely no interest in the company's business. Jiang Yiyan even said, "I read online that the company made at least 20 billion last year. You two are a couple, so half of that 20 billion belongs to you."

Liu Yifei wasn't stupid; she knew what Jiang Yiyan was talking about, but she still pretended to be naive and said, "The 20 billion belongs to the company, not just him."

"As the founder and chairman, Qiu Tang always takes the lion's share."

Liu Yifei laughed and said, "His salary card is with me."

“How much is the salary?” Jiang Yiyan said. “What chairman relies on a salary? You need shares and dividends.”

Li Qiutang's salary as chairman is less than 200 million yuan a year.

Liu Yifei was already dissatisfied with Jiang Yiyan's words, saying, "Their entrepreneurship and management have nothing to do with me, so why should I take their shares?"

Jiang Yiyan sensed Liu Yifei's dissatisfaction, so she quickly changed the subject and talked to Liu Yifei about her honeymoon trip that had just ended.

Jiang Yiyan had traveled to many places and could really chat with Liu Yifei about travel. After chatting for a while, as noon approached and Liu Yifei hesitated about whether to invite Jiang Yiyan to stay for lunch, Jiang Yiyan finally revealed the real reason for her visit.

It was difficult to say, but she had to.

"Yifei, does your company have any films or TV shows coming out soon?"

"I really don't know that," Liu Yifei said, genuinely unaware. "The company shoots so many dramas every year."

Jiang Yiyan said, "If you have any suitable roles, please recommend them to me."

Liu Yifei laughed and said, "Are you still short of roles? You played Wuqing so well, I'm sure a lot of people are looking for you."

However, Liu Yifei was unaware of the truth.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yiyan suddenly began to sob.

"Yifei, I... I haven't been on set for almost a year."

"No way?" Liu Yifei was incredulous.

Jiang Yiyan shouldn't have ended up like this. Although "The Four Great Constables" didn't sell very well, three installments in three years kept her in the spotlight and allowed her to build connections with some people in the Hong Kong entertainment circle. She shouldn't be without acting opportunities.

Jiang Yiyan couldn't stop crying and had no choice but to tell Liu Yifei the whole truth.

She's about to go bankrupt.

The bull market of the past year made her complacent and she felt that she had a knack for making money and was born to be an investor and a boss. Therefore, after filming "The Sword of the Three Young Masters" last year, she turned down all film offers and focused on investing, which offended many people.

At the time, she had eight figures in cash in her account, and it didn't even start with the number 1, so she didn't care about the small amount of money in the entertainment industry.

However, the stock market crash since June this year caused her assets to shrink by more than 70% overnight.

All she has left are a few houses she bought as an investment a couple of years ago, and a few million yuan in cash.

It still seems like a lot, but the entertainment industry she works in is a money pit, and her fixed monthly expenses reach six figures. This amount of money can only last for a maximum of six months.

Not to mention she also has a lot of debt.

"I have no other choice, Yifei," Jiang Yiyan said, crying. "I want to act, but they all don't want me anymore. You're Boss Qiu's wife, you have to help me." Jiang Yiyan pleaded, holding Liu Yifei's hand.

Liu Yifei was at a loss for words. This was the first time she had encountered such a situation, and she didn't know what to say.

Her friend's plight was worthy of sympathy, but Liu Yifei really didn't know how to help.

"But I... I don't know what to do either."

"Help me book a few movies. I'm not picky, and I'm fine with lower pay." What she wants is to maintain her popularity and fame through movies, and then monetize that fame.

The pay is only a few dollars!

Jiang Yiyan knew that Liu Yifei was in a difficult position, so she said, "Just like you helped Shu Chang, you should help me out too."

Shu Chang's resurgence in popularity is widely attributed to the help of Li Qiutang and Liu Yifei.

It is true that she helped Shu Chang, but times have changed.

Liu Yifei also shared her difficulties: "I don't have access to the company's resources. Shu Chang got the role by Qiu Tang directly contacting the production team. I can lend you some more money to help you through this period."

But to Jiang Yiyan, Liu Yifei's words were nothing short of heartless.

It means that she helped Shu Chang but didn't want to help her, or perhaps she looked down on herself and felt that she wasn't worthy of her and her husband's help.

But when you need someone's help, you have to say something nice: "Xixi, please, helping one is the same as helping two. Shu Chang has stood up for herself now, please help me too."

Liu Yifei's heart softened at that moment.

(End of this chapter)