Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 547 Liu Xiaolv Ventures Alone into the Dragon's Den

Yao Beina stood at the entrance of the 301 Hospital, her fingers trembling slightly as she clutched the diagnosis report.

The midday sun in October was like a blunt knife, shaving the female singer's shadow thin and blurry. She watched the ambulances speeding past in the parking lot, their flashing red and blue lights leaving a scorching afterimage on her retina.

beep...

"Mom, no one's answering." Yao Beina pursed her lips and looked at her mother, looking rather lost and confused.

Once people have something to rely on, they habitually stop thinking, especially now that such a difficult reality is before them.

Li Min didn't think too much about it. She put her arm around her daughter's shoulder and walked out, saying, "We'll wait for Qianqian to come back in a little while. That's how it is when there's a baby at home; you can't leave her alone all the time."

"We'll go find your dad first. He went to the Central Conservatory of Music this morning to find two old classmates to help you get a hospital."

Yao Beina glanced at her mother, hesitated, and said, "Qianqian said she'll make arrangements. You and Dad should remember to pay the fees first. I have some in my card."

“No need, your dad and I have money.” Li Min understood what her daughter meant. In Beiping, where medical resources are even more expensive than housing, it was already quite good to be able to ask someone to help contact the best attending physician and surgeon. This favor had to be repaid, not to mention anything else.

Li Min and Liu Xiaoli were old colleagues in the song and dance troupe. Even though the mother and daughter have now almost crossed into another social class, they still need to be careful about some things if they want to maintain their friendship as old colleagues and fellow townsmen.

Otherwise, not only would this precious friendship turn sour, but it would also be difficult for my daughter, with her strong personality, to hold her head high in the future.

Yao Beina was certainly strong-willed. If she weren't, why would she have stormed off the stage because of the shady dealings in the Na Ying team? If she weren't, why would she have risked a relapse to work frantically to prove herself, only to end up with nothing she could do?

Watching her daughter skillfully drive towards the brake, Li Min, in the passenger seat, couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.

She had just secretly inquired about the costs with other patients:
The total cost, including the breast-conserving surgery (over 10 yuan), 2-8 cycles of chemotherapy (around 12 yuan per cycle), and other miscellaneous examinations and fees, amounted to over one million yuan.

Fortunately, my daughter has a position in the Navy Political Department, and the reimbursement rate for medical care for military personnel is very high, so the personal burden is less than 20%.

The key issue is that some better treatment options or imported drugs are not covered by medical insurance.

For example, the trastuzumab used for HER2-positive patients, which the doctor from 301 just mentioned, was expensive in 2009 and not fully covered by medical insurance.

This is a targeted therapy drug that is currently recommended in clinical practice. It can be used in conjunction with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. A course of treatment with imported targeted drugs costs 10 to 20 yuan.

That's over a million more.

Furthermore, the hospital and doctor that Liu Xiaoli's daughter contacted for her must have been top-notch in Beiping. Could the price be calculated like it is now?

The "premium" for good doctors in Jiangcheng is already quite high. Considering this, the more than 100 million yuan that my husband and I brought together might not be enough.

What about the termination fee?

Li Min thought to herself that she should make plans as soon as possible. Just as she was about to ask her daughter about the termination fee, Yao Beina's phone suddenly rang.

"You drive, I'll carry it for you." Li Min answered the phone, her tone becoming more cheerful: "Qianqian, it's your Aunt Li Min."

In Wenyuhe Prefecture, Liu Yifei, who had just finished putting the two little ones to sleep with Liu Xiaoli, pressed the speakerphone button and asked, "Hello, Auntie! Have you arrived in Beiping yet?"

"You arrived last night? Okay, my mom's here. She told you to come over for dinner with Uncle Yao when you have time."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Liu Yifei got down to business: "What did they say about Sister Nana's matter when we went to the hospital this morning?"

"Mom, give it to me." Worried her mother might not be able to explain clearly, Yao Beina briefly described her situation and then mentioned the phone call Liu Huan had just given her:
"Sisi, I'll listen to you. I'm going to go there this afternoon to settle things with the 'Empresses in the Palace' crew, and then I can focus on my treatment."

She said softly, "The production manager of the film crew called me and asked me to come over to talk about terminating my contract. It might... it might involve discussing the penalty for breach of contract."

"This song was written by Liu Huan for 'Empresses in the Palace,' right? Given your situation, the production team..."

"How much is the termination fee?" Xiao Liu, quick-witted, stopped talking and asked the crucial question instead.

Yao Beina took a deep breath, trying to remain calm and gripping the steering wheel firmly: "The opening theme and three incidental songs are a package deal of 40 yuan, and the penalty for breach of contract is three times that amount."

Li Min, who was standing next to her, felt a sinking feeling in her heart. This number was too high!
On the other end of the phone, Liu Yifei sighed inwardly. The treatment was too low, and she couldn't help but worry about her childhood friend's current financial situation.

Yao Beina did not follow the quick-fix packaging route of Super Girl or Super Girl. After The Voice of China, she signed some commercial performances and endorsements, but still chose to work hard at the Navy Political Department.

40 seems like a lot, but after taxes and the portion that has to be paid to the Navy, the actual amount received is not much.

For a top-tier singer, Sun Nan's fee for singing "Without Shame" for "Young Justice Bao" in 2000 was already as high as 40 yuan;
Liu Huan's price for singing the theme song "I Want to Become an Immortal" for the 2000 TV series "Journey to the West: The Sequel" was around 50 yuan. This year, the price for singing the theme song "Phoenix Soaring" for the TV series "Empresses in the Palace" was as high as one million yuan, which is also due to the premium he received for his performance at the Olympics.

But for Yao Beina, who can only be considered a "talented young singer" now, the package price of 400,000 yuan for these four songs is already quite good.

Li Min was secretly worried. Given the current situation, even if she chose to treat her daughter at a regular hospital, the total cost, including her daughter's nutrition and other expenses, would be no less than two or three million yuan.

And then there's the penalty for breach of contract?
Faced with the same numbers, Liu Yifei was also secretly worried. Dong Shuangqiang found Xu Binghe, a big name at the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, who was also their fellow townsman from Hubei Province and later became an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

The entire process, including professional nursing care, examinations, and imported targeted drugs, costs approximately three million yuan.

And then there's the penalty for breach of contract?
Her concern wasn't about the amount of money involved, but rather how to persuade Yao Beina's family to accept the help while respecting their self-esteem.

Having a connection but no kinship, such a large sum of money is not something that an old classmate or fellow villager with normal social boundaries and moral values ​​can easily accept.

Economic pressure is pressure, and so is mental pressure.

Liu Xiaoli gave her daughter a wink, signaling her not to worry about the money for the time being.

But now, Xiao Liu didn't need her prompting at all. He stopped beating around the bush and asked directly, "What time in the afternoon are we meeting at? Where?"

"3:30, at the Beiping Television Art Center near Zaojunmiao, Xixi, you..."

“We’ll arrive around 3 PM. Let’s meet up and discuss the details. Take a picture of the contract and send it to me. I’ll have the legal department at Wenjie take a look.”

She paused for a moment, then said softly, "My mom looked through old photos for a long time last night. There were photos of you teaching me to sing 'Hanyangmen Garden,' photos of us eating popsicles together under the old locust tree, and so many more."

"Life is full of challenges, and I consider myself extremely lucky; I almost became mute." The girl's gentle voice and smile seemed to come from the microphone:
"It's okay, every difficulty is a challenge, I'll get through it with you. Life is so short, no one can be left behind."

Yao Beina's hands trembled slightly as she gripped the steering wheel. The gentleness and determination on the other end of the phone were like a dull knife, slowly prying away at her forced strength.

"kindness……"

She hurriedly responded, afraid that she would completely break down if she said another word. She hung up the phone, turned on her hazard lights, pulled over to the side of the road, and could no longer hold back her tears as she buried her face in the steering wheel.

Oh oh oh!
No matter how well she tried to hide it, she still caught a glimpse of her mother's panic and furrowed brow when she heard about the penalty for breach of contract. This sudden misfortune and financial distress left her feeling extremely embarrassed.

Xiao Liu's gentle voice was like a key, unlocking her sealed vulnerability:
All the fears he didn't want to show, all the forced dignity he maintained, all the embarrassment that flashed through his mind when his mother frowned—all crumbled at this moment.

Li Min, in the passenger seat, also shed tears. Knowing that her daughter needed to release her emotions, she gently patted her back without saying a word.

The former singer from the Jiangcheng Song and Dance Troupe looked out the car window at the desolate autumn scene in Beiping, and her heart was filled with emotion.

In the blink of an eye, all the glitz and glamour that people envy and are insanely jealous of, such as being the wife of a billionaire or a top female star, vanished from her mind...

All that remains is a summer oil painting of the Yangtze River shrouded in mist. In the painting, Liu Yifei is only the size of Youyou now, like a snow-white glutinous rice ball held in Liu Xiaoli's arms.
The cement ground of the cultural troupe's compound was scorching hot from the sun. As she grew a little older, she wore a simple white dress and cloth shoes embroidered with little ducks on her soft feet, and she stumbled after her older sisters.

After her parents divorced, the little girl seemed to become much quieter, always sitting calmly on the back of her dancer mother's bicycle, silently on the way to various theater troupes.

Until I left my homeland and went abroad with my mother to a distant place.

Fate bestowed countless gifts upon her, and in return, it sent down frost and snow.

The hidden pain of childhood divorce, the loneliness of wandering in a foreign land, the tempering of public opinion storms, and the love-hate relationship with the time traveler.

But in Li Min's eyes at this moment, no matter how much time has passed or what has happened, this gardenia that grew in the summer moisture of Jiangcheng in August has an innate warmth and resilience.

Like a little sun, it transforms the biting cold into warmth that shines on others.

Li Min's emotion did not prevent "Little Sun" from hesitating at this moment. Liu Yifei hung up the phone and looked at her elderly mother: "I still have to go out for a while."

Liu Xiaoli nodded: "Should we call Xiaolu?"

Xiao Liu glanced at the time on his phone. It was afternoon in Beijing, but it was already the quiet early morning in Vancouver. "Forget it, let him sleep."

"If we could just pay to terminate the contract, it would be incredibly simple. Paying a penalty for breach of contract is only fair."

She paused, then joked, "But if someone is being unreasonable, even if they're not afraid of a nobody like me, don't I know how to use their power to intimidate them?"

"Is that right, son? Who told your dad to be such a bad guy, everyone's afraid of him?"

Liu Yifei looked at Tiedan, who was curiously looking up when he heard her speak, and happily picked him up and gave him a loving kiss.

Perhaps feeling a bit annoyed, Liu Tiedan stretched out his pale arms to "ugly reject" his toothless old mother, muttering incoherently.

"It's best to be careful with your words and actions. It's just a matter of money anyway, so don't cause trouble for Xiaolu." Liu Xiaoli smiled and then got up, pushed open the door to leave: "Wait for me for a while, and watch the child."

The elderly mother returned to her villa room, and shortly after, she came back and, quite lavishly, slammed a China Construction Bank card onto the table in front of her grandson and granddaughter:
"The hospital you contacted was already expensive, and with this damn breach of contract penalty on top of that, their family is probably in big trouble."

Liu Xiaoli gestured to the card on the table: "This is the money I've saved over the years, more than four million. The password is your birthday. You can keep it with you and give it to them in case they need it."

"Mom, are you alright?" Liu Yifei asked, both amused and exasperated. "Do you even need to think about this money? Hurry up and put it away, or your son-in-law will scold me if he finds out."

"I'm not bragging, but I can easily spend tens of millions now, and it's all thanks to Lu Kuan's money." Xiao Liu said arrogantly, "It's just that I'm a bit lazy now and want to stay home with the baby, otherwise I would go out for a stroll for quite a while."

Of course, there are many people on the internet who say that she is dating a billionaire or a rich man, especially her fans. But judging from Liu Yifei's own living expenses and consumption level, she actually earns far more money than she can spend.

Putting aside the washing machine, if she were to operate at full capacity, she would be a top-tier money-making machine among female celebrities.

However, it's not really necessary; this family is already too wealthy to afford to be rich again.

Liu Yifei pushed the bank card further in: "Hurry up and put it away. What I'm worried about right now is how to persuade Yao Beina's family to accept the money. You know her personality..."

"Do you think I'm being polite to you two?" Liu Xiaoli didn't answer for a while, glanced at her daughter's chubby grandson in her arms, and gave her daughter a helpless glare.
"If you give this money to Yao Beina, she might not accept it because of her strong personality."

"But if I give it to Li Min in my name, she will definitely accept it. That's the difference, understand?"

Liu Yifei was a little confused. Feeling the warmth of Tiedan's body in her arms, she asked in bewilderment, "What's the difference? Why is it so easy for you to collect money? Does Aunt Li Min recognize people?"

Liu Xiaoli sighed deeply, and then said earnestly, "Although you are a mother now, you don't understand, and you may never understand, the helplessness of watching your child suffer because of financial difficulties."

"For a mother, saving her daughter's life, even if it means spending more money to reduce her suffering, is something she would do without batting an eye, even if it meant cutting a piece of her own flesh."

She waved her hand at Xiao Liu: "I don't know if Yao Beina will accept it, but if you've made your point clear, Li Min will definitely accept it."

"If you don't accept it, tell me and I'll talk to her again."

Liu Yifei was stunned.

She stared blankly at her mother, while Tie Dan, in her arms, unconsciously scratched at her clothes with his warm little hands. The soft touch turned into a sharp shock that pierced her heart.

The wealth and glamour that the world envies have, to some extent, long since isolated her from the most ordinary human suffering.

There are some loves in this world that cannot be elevated even by mountains of gold and silver.

Xiao Liu pursed his lips and remained silent, but a scale of life appeared before his eyes:

On one end is self-esteem, on the other is the child's breath. What mother in this world would hesitate?
My mother's spine is sometimes very strong; it can bear a thousand pounds of weight without breaking an inch.
A mother's spine can sometimes be soft, willingly bending into a bridge for the sake of her children's survival.

Liu Yifei naturally thought of the drama "Reply 1982" that she routinely wrote every night, and the role she was to play in that story.

Thanks to Liu Xiaoli's guidance as a new mother, her understanding of the character and mindset has become more profound.

With her face pressed against her son's, Xiao Liu quietly took another step forward on this creative timeline that will last for almost ten years.

This is a gift from life's myriad flavors and diverse forms, and also a performance lesson quietly handed to her by fate amidst joys and sorrows.

……

No. 2, Jia, Zaojunmiao, Haiding District, Beijing, Beiping Television Art Center.

Zheng Xiaolong was handling official business while wearing his reading glasses, but he felt inexplicably uneasy.

Two days ago, Wu Ershan's statement about a certain rich man's pro-Han stance seemed to be both true and false, but it poured cold water on this "elderly director" who was preparing to make a large-scale "Qing Dynasty drama".

Why did I have to encounter something like this at this particular time?
Over the past two days, he has conducted extensive research and investigation. By comparing Wu Ershan's assessment with the richest man's past statements and actions, it is not difficult to find that he does indeed highly admire Hanfu, history, and other national cultures.

Leaving aside distant examples, didn't his female celebrity wife just a few months ago "struggle" with other female celebrities to organize an online Hanfu (traditional Han clothing) awards ceremony while fighting against the Korean wave?
This has sparked a wave of Hanfu fever. Now, three or four Hanfu experience halls have quietly sprung up in Houhai and Nanluoguxiang in Beiping. Hanfu shops on Wenjie and Taobao Mall are "lined up" online. This trend has even spread to many university clubs, with college students becoming loyal fans.

Zheng Xiaolong himself is Han Chinese, but he cannot control the color of the circle he is rooted in. This is the basis for his rise to power and the basis for his survival.

For example, Yingda, a close friend, had a prominent family background that was key to the group's initial growth; one can investigate his father for details.

However, he's getting worse and worse. After divorcing Dandan, he started to neglect his work. Recently, in addition to starting "Yingda Storytelling", he also invested in ice hockey because of his son.

Zheng Xiaolong wondered if he should give him a call. After all, the Ying family had countless students and old friends in the cultural world over the years. This matter wasn't a business fight, and in the end, it would still come down to reasoning and arguing.

Thinking ahead, what is your reasoning, Lu Kuan, that we who film Qing Dynasty dramas are wrong, have ideological problems, and promote dross culture?

Does your action incite ethnic hatred and undermine ethnic unity?
Zheng Xiaolong himself can give a detailed answer to the first question.

Putting aside other issues, the creation of certain Qing Dynasty dramas has, to a certain extent, glorified many Qing Dynasty emperors and feudal dregs.

When the legendary screenwriter Liu Heping adapted Er Yuehe's novel "Yongzheng Dynasty" for the big screen, it became a national sensation, far exceeding the impact of an ordinary TV series. It reshaped the public's understanding of Emperor Yongzheng and even a period of Qing Dynasty history, portraying him as a lonely emperor who was determined to reform but bore the infamy of history. Later, when the series was still airing, some Manchu culture associations and Ai family descendants felt that the drama had "brought glory to their ancestor" and extended sincere invitations to screenwriter Liu Heping to a banquet to express their gratitude in person, which Liu Heping politely declined.

In the latter's view, the grand narrative of "Yongzheng Dynasty" is not a glorification of a particular ethnic group, but rather a profound depiction of ancient Chinese political reforms, human struggles, and historical tragedy that transcends ethnicity.

He seeks a historical perspective of "sympathetic understanding," rather than a simple glorification of a particular era or special consideration for a certain ethnic group. Accepting such an invitation would likely contradict his original intention of serious reflection on history and equal examination in his creative work, so he felt it was "not quite appropriate."

But Zheng Xiaolong was a little confused about the second question. Why would this richest man want to touch such a sensitive red line just for his "Han supremacist" stance?

That makes no sense.

Moreover, by doing this, he is going against half of the entertainment and arts circles. If you don't believe me, just count them one by one. Even in Hong Kong, there are Kara Hui, David Chin, the Derek Yee brothers, Rosamund Kwan, and Zhou Xuemei, who belong to the same clan. You wouldn't be so unreasonable and arrogant as to ban so many people, would you?
It's meaningless and unnecessary.

Everything is still unknown. We'll probably have to wait and see how Yao Beina, who claims to be ill today, reacts to this.

With a splitting headache, Zheng Xiaolong sighed deeply, glanced at his watch, and saw it was almost 3:30.

He wouldn't show up himself, so he specifically arranged for the production manager to talk to him, just to have some room for maneuver. However, before he could even make an internal call to inquire, his subordinate called first.

"Director Zheng, Old Chen from the security office specifically informed you, as instructed, that Yao Beina did not come alone."

"Who else?"

"Liu Yifei".

Zheng Xiaolong's heart skipped a beat: "Her? Alone?"

"Yes, just the two girls."

Director Zheng, who is fifty-six years old this year, can be considered a seasoned veteran. He has been involved in all aspects of the TV drama and arts circles, and has dealt with countless thorny issues. He was really dumbfounded by this news.

Wu Ershan's warning seems to be coming true; Yao Beina's matter is indeed not so simple, and being related to Liu Yifei is being related to Lu Kuan.

But what was his thinking when he sent his own wife to cause trouble?

They simply hired a shameless litigious lawyer to wreak havoc, demanding contract termination without paying any penalty. Regardless of whether Yao Beina was genuinely ill or not, they used the pretext of the "Empresses in the Palace" drama crew bullying a seriously ill female singer to create massive public pressure, which then escalated to a level of criticism against the Beijing entertainment circle and its prevalence of Qing Dynasty dramas.

Isn't this the reasonable route?

Zheng Xiaolong hesitated for a few seconds, then hung up the phone without saying a word and called Zhao Sha, the assistant director of the actors' group at the center.

Such and such, such and such.

Why did Zheng Xiaolong, who was in charge of the Beiping Television Art Center, "change commanders at the last minute" and ask Zhao Sha, who was hailed as China's most senior "assistant director," to receive him and test his abilities?
First of all, Zhao Sha is a woman, and her main job is as an assistant casting director, which involves "reading people's expressions and communicating effectively."

She has little difficulty communicating with the two girls who came today, and it's unlikely that she will offend anyone or cause any negative effects.

Secondly, it's all because of this uninvited guest today, Consort Liu.

Zhao Sha is Liu Yifei's senior at the Beijing Film Academy. She worked with Liu Yifei on "The Return of the Condor Heroes". Chinese people always want to find an acquaintance to act as an intermediary in everything they do. Isn't this the best acquaintance?

The shrewd Old Zheng solemnly assigned work to his subordinates, then frowned and lit a cigarette by the office window, wondering whether he should pretend to have work to do and personally go to meet the richest woman.

……

To be honest, Zhao Sha, who was appointed to this critical task, was also quite bewildered at this moment, no less bewildered than her former boss who had given her the instructions.

Although it can't be said that I was appointed during a time of defeat or ordered to act in a time of crisis, what's with you, Lao Zheng, asking me to test the richest man's wife and ask her if her husband intends to kill "Empresses in the Palace" and Qing Dynasty dramas?

Is this a battle that a damn casting assistant director like me can even get involved in?

As the casting assistant director, Zhao Sha is well-known in the industry for her ability to discover new actors and coordinate the schedules of big stars. This kind of work requires maintaining long-term contact with the agents and agencies of actors of all ages, which is a great test of one's communication skills, and she also has a fiery personality.

She cursed Old Zheng in her heart for being inhuman, then took out her treasured tea from the small refrigerator in the office, brewed some water, and then estimated the time it would take for the two to come upstairs, sitting on the sofa and waiting anxiously.

How should we probe later?
Ugh, that old rascal Zheng! He's so annoying!

Liu Yifei was unaware that because of her arrival, her old acquaintance Zhao Sha had already elevated her former leader's artistic image to the level of an old scoundrel in her mind. Guided by the staff, she arrived at the office with Yao Beina, whose eyes were slightly red.

Hmm? Zhao Sha?

Before Xiao Liu could react, Zhao Sha, who had already heard the footsteps, opened the door to greet her, "Qianqian! Long time no see!"

Liu Yifei was slightly stunned, then smiled sweetly: "Sister Sha! It really is you! How could you..."

"Oh! Are you casting for 'Empresses in the Palace'?"

Xiao Liu knew what kind of character Zhao Sha was and what methods she used. At this moment, his mind raced, and he guessed that perhaps the production team had some kind of premeditated plan and specially sent this person to "welcome" him.

"Hello, Beina! Please come in. The tea has just been brewed and is ready to be enjoyed right now!" Zhao Sha, being a natural social butterfly, didn't neglect Yao Beina and pulled the top actress inside, inviting them to sit on the sofa.

Liu Yifei glanced at the green tea and got straight to the point: "Sister Sha, Sister Nana is having some health issues and can't drink tea."

Components in tea, such as tannins, may interact with medications. Caffeine and tea polyphenols may also irritate the gastrointestinal tract, affecting nutrient absorption and immunity.

Yao Beina has now begun full-scale preparations for the war of resistance.

"Oh dear! How careless of me, haha! May I ask if it's convenient for me to ask..."

"Breast cancer." Yao Beina had just spoken with Liu Yifei outside. There was nothing wrong with the contract. They could have negotiated amicably today and parted ways. If it didn't work out, she could just pay the penalty and leave. There was nothing to fuss about.

Zhao Sha was taken aback, her habitual smile fading slightly as she looked Yao Beina up and down, whom she didn't know very well.

They were all women, and she couldn't help but sigh softly, then she remembered the task Zheng Xiaolong had given her...

Damn it, that old bastard Zheng is a real piece of work. How could he have the nerve to negotiate three times the penalty for breach of contract with such a young girl suffering from a serious illness?

Old leader, Old Zheng, old thief, old bastard.

I wonder what level Zhao Sha will be able to upgrade Zheng Xiaolong to after talking with Liu Yifei and Yao Beina today.

The atmosphere was slightly awkward, but Zhao Sha skillfully started to build rapport and reminisce: "Qianqian, look at you now, you're as happy as a flower!"

"Back when 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' was being filmed in Jiuzhaigou, you were suspended by wires flying around the waterfall, which scared all of us out of our wits."

"I was planning to go back to Jiuzhaigou with my husband and children this year, but unfortunately many of the landscapes were destroyed after the earthquake."

Xiao Liu sipped his tea slowly, fully aware of Zhao Sha's feigned friendliness, knowing that such small talk often led to things that were difficult to say in person.

Although it's unclear what she's going to say, interrupting the enemy's "offensive intentions" is always a good idea.

The top actress put down her teacup and smiled, "Yes! The success of 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' was largely due to your correct casting choices, Sister Sha. It's one thing for me, but Yang Mi was also discovered by you, and she seems to be doing very well now."

"No, no, Yang Mi... well, not really." Zhao Sha was caught off guard by this sudden attack and her mouth twitched slightly, her face looking a little embarrassed.

Zhao Sha participated in two TV series, "The Condor Heroes" and "Empresses in the Palace," and discovered two roles that are widely considered to be highly fitting for her characters and have become classics:

Yang Mi's Guo Xiang, and Jiang Xin's Hua Fei.

Why did Liu Yifei bring up Yang Mi to disrupt Zhao Sha's probing?

Others may not know, but casting directors like Zhao Sha, who have dealt with various celebrities and agents over the years, must know that the many people on the internet who are criticizing Liu Yifei are die-hard fans of LeTV Culture and Yang Mi.

They accept money and provide their own dog food.

Xiao Liu himself didn't care about such trivial matters at all, but now that he was pointing it out to Zhao Sha, it was a subtle way of teasing her.
Sister Sha, let's not try to build a personal relationship. We're here on official business today!

Zhao Sha was heartbroken. If this were an ordinary celebrity, or even a popular one, she wouldn't care.

Once the contract is signed, I don't care what the reason is; just pay the penalty and leave.

I dine with a big-name director, what business is it of yours whether an actor likes me or not? Actors should be mindful of their own feelings!

However, this girl was likable even when she was just a little girl.
Furthermore, her current identity and status are just as Liu Yifei herself described, "borrowing the tiger's power." Whenever she appears before the world, she always represents the will of two people.

How could Zhao Sha dare to be negligent?
This society is always realistic. If Yao Beina had come alone a few days ago, the atmosphere on the scene would have been very different. She might have been overwhelmed by the probing and interrogation arranged by Zheng Xiaolong.

While she hesitated, Liu Yifei said directly, "Sister Sha, I've also had a lawyer review the contract that Sister Nana signed with you. The matter is very simple."

"You could talk to Director Zheng or the Arts Center and if possible, we could part ways amicably. We appreciate the Center's humanitarian spirit."

“If we follow the procedure, we will have no complaints and will pay the penalty today. The patient needs to focus on hospital treatment and has no time or reason to waste time with you.”

"If you ask me, why would we have to pay a penalty for breach of contract? This is such an unfair arrangement," Zhao Sha complained, half-jokingly. "If I could make the decision, I would just write something for you to take today, and we wouldn't have to talk about money again."

"But the reason why the center is so focused is because it has put a lot of effort into this drama, 'Empresses in the Palace,' and many people rely on it for their livelihood. Therefore, it is very careful and attentive to all aspects of the work."

The worldly casting director paused, gritted his teeth, and tentatively said, "Sisi, how about this? I'll go and report to the higher-ups and see if we can postpone Bella's recording and singing time. We can wait until she's better before she joins the crew and goes to the studio!"

"Although there are more songs, wouldn't it be better if we could coordinate them?"

Yao Beina's eyes lit up. This was the best outcome she had ever imagined. She wouldn't have to worry about the more than one million yuan penalty for breach of contract, nor would she have to trouble her childhood friend to pay for it for her. Even if it was a bit tiring, she could just stay awake and finish the song.

"No, let's just terminate the contract. We don't have much time, so let's not waste any more time, Sister Sha." Liu Yifei glanced at her best friend's expression and immediately refused. This lingering and unclear breakup would be very detrimental to the latter's treatment and recovery.

Indeed, in her previous life, Yao Beina was eager to return to work, which eventually led to the cancer cells metastasizing extensively to her bones and muscles, ultimately resulting in her death.

When Zhao Sha saw that the richest man's wife refused without even thinking, her heart sank.

Old bastard... Old Zheng's worries are actually quite reasonable. He has already put forward these conditions, but the other party insists on terminating the contract now. Isn't this drawing a line and preparing for war?
At the very least, they were deliberately keeping their distance, right?
At the very least, it shows that he genuinely dislikes, is indifferent to, or is unwilling to watch period dramas featuring queues, right?
If it were someone else, even if you hated me filming period dramas, what could they do to me?
But if it were this person, if he really wanted to use some means to hinder the filming and release of "Empresses in the Palace", although it would be easy to reveal his overly domineering side and offend the old Beijing circle, the Eight Banners, and the traditional art circle of Beiping, he could definitely do it.

Looking at Liu Yifei, whose face was clear and beautiful, Zhao Sha gritted her teeth and decided to take it a step further.

It's not all because of "Empresses in the Palace". Now I have to think about myself too. If the richest man is really here to start a war, and I'm going to get myself into a dead end because of this drama, then what's the point?
Whether it's a fight to the death or a fight to the death, it's not something someone like me can get involved in; that's for important people.

"Sissi, we're old acquaintances. I met Director Lu on the set of 'The Return of the Condor Heroes'. He... he even tried to recruit me to Wenjie, haha."

Xiao Liu had never heard of this before, but it was true that the washing machine company liked to poach people from all over the place. He went to the city bureau to make a statement, and it seemed that they had poached the captain of the criminal investigation team.

Unable to resist making a move to get closer to her, Zhao Sha immediately spoke her mind: "Xixi, does Director Lu...do you not like Qing Dynasty dramas? Just give me a hint, and I'll keep this to myself. I won't say a word to anyone else."

She gave another awkward laugh: "Of course, if you don't consider Sister Sha one of your own, well... sigh! I understand, I understand..."

Liu Yifei felt absolutely no ill will towards Zhao Sha. She found Zhao Sha's behavior quite amusing, a perfect portrayal of the lives of ordinary working professionals. She thought it would be great if she could play such an interesting role herself someday.

But her words were a bit strange. What did she mean by "Director Lu doesn't like Qing Dynasty dramas"?
He doesn't like it! But what does that have to do with Yao Beina coming to terminate her contract today?
Of course, Xiao Liu was unaware that the traitor Wu Ershan had "fueled" this whole affair, directly revealing Boss Lu's "Han supremacist" nature and helping Zheng Xiaolong and others fill in the blanks with the whole logic.

It's fine to say that Wu Ershan is a traitor who stirs up trouble, but isn't it the truth that he calls Boss Lu a "Han supremacist"?
It's not necessarily a big mistake.

Although he wasn't quite a Han chauvinist, Lu Kuan did strictly forbid the company from developing Qing Dynasty palace drama IPs, and he and his wife would often scoff at the latter in casual conversations, something Liu Yifei was well aware of.

But now, a big question mark appears in her mind: what are Zhao Sha, Zheng Xiaolong behind her, and the Beiping Television Art Center thinking?
They already knew, so why did they specifically ask this question?

Does he think that his presence today is at his behest, that he is trying to force Yao Beina to terminate her contract, and that he is deliberately targeting her and trying to stir up trouble?

……

Ironically, after spending half a day brewing tea and trying to get information out of her, Zhao Sha inadvertently revealed all her secrets.

It wasn't that Xiao Liu was much more shrewd or worldly-wise than her; it was that Zhao Sha herself was "blinded by concern."

Liu Yifei's goal today is to negotiate; if negotiations fail, she'll pay up and leave. But no matter what, even if she's caused a huge mess, someone will bail her out.

But Zhao Sha is different. She may be considered a big name in the domestic film and television industry, but she has to flatter and deal with even Zheng Xiaolong, let alone Boss Lu, who even Zheng Xiaolong finds difficult to deal with.

It's true that Xiao Liu is incredibly cunning, but this isn't a fair contest in itself.

Over the past seven or eight years, she'd become a little con artist herself, following the "little fairy." Seeing an opportunity, her mind raced. Ignoring Zhao Sha and the others' motives and logic, she immediately launched into a half-truth, half-liest, deliberately mysterious act:
"I can't really say for sure, but it was indeed him who asked me to accompany Sister Nana to terminate the contract today. As for the rest... Sister Sha, you can see for yourselves, I don't understand."

Liu Yifei pressed on: "I reiterate my previous request: a peaceful termination of the contract or compensation for breach of contract. We must give you an answer today! We can't just keep dragging this on with the patient like this."

Just as Zhao Sha was stunned by the blow, Xiao Liu rubbed her hands and said gently, "Sister Sha, I don't want to make things difficult for you. We've known each other for so long. Why don't you go and ask the center's leaders, whether it's Director Zheng Xiaolong or anyone else, if that's alright?"

Liu Yifei was incredibly cunning. After observing Zhao Sha's expression and analyzing her opponent's logic and hidden worries, she spoke entirely in accordance with the other party's guesses, neither admitting nor denying, so as not to leave any ammunition for her husband to cause trouble.

But the assertive and decisive tone implied in her words forced the "Empresses in the Palace" production team to make a decision immediately today.

It would be best to terminate the contract peacefully, so that I wouldn't have to worry about how to pay the money upfront, and Yao Beina could save some burden.
If a peaceful termination of the contract is not possible, pay the money and leave, invest in treatment, and stop arguing.

Zhao Sha, who considered herself to be "worldly-wise and knowledgeable," was made agitated by the richest man's wife's series of moves. She thought to herself that this little girl was almost a thousand-year-old fox, and even if she tested her until tomorrow, there would be no result.

It's better to sell this. Even if the decision requires a penalty for breach of contract, it won't offend anyone.

She immediately patted her thigh and stood up: "No problem, I'll go find Director Zheng right now, please wait a moment."

Five minutes later, a suppressed question came from the director's office on the third floor of the Film and Television Arts Center:

"What! She really said that?"

(End of this chapter)