Chinese entertainment industry has been booming since 2008.

In November 2008, the air in Beijing was already cool.

Yang Mi sat in Rongxinda's conference room, her fingertips icy cold. Looking at Li Shaohong across from her, her heart felt even colder.

Li Shaohong turned to the page about the penalty for breach of contract, lightly tapping her finger on the astronomical figure, and said calmly, "Mimi, the contract is in black and white. You can leave if you want, but you'll have to pay the penalty. The company has nurtured you for so many years; you can't just walk away like that, can you?"

Yang Mi clenched her fists. That number was out of reach for her; it was almost twice her total income over the years. Li Shaohong was certain that she couldn't come up with the money and wanted to keep her until the contract ended.

After leaving Li Shaohong's office, Yang Mi immediately dialed Zeng Jia's number, her voice weary and tinged with a barely perceptible sob: "Sister Jia, they won't release them, I have no choice."

Zeng Jia was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Perhaps we should go find Zhang Yang. He's the only one who might be willing to help us now."

"All right!"

......

At a private club, Zhang Yang met Yang Mi and Zeng Jia. However, compared to Yang Mi's high spirits last time, her eyes were less bright and her face was slightly pale.

Upon seeing Zhang Yang arrive, Yang Mi didn't even bother with pleasantries and immediately pushed a copy of Rongxinda's contract in front of him.

She cut to the chase, her voice slightly dry with nervousness: "Mr. Zhang, I need help. Rongxinda refuses to terminate the contract amicably. If I want to leave, I need to follow the breach of contract penalty clause."

Then she announced the number, took a deep breath, and looked up at Zhang Yang.

"Mr. Zhang, can the company help me pay the penalty for breach of contract?"

Zhang Yang's fingertips had already touched the contract's title page, but he suddenly stopped the moment he caught a glimpse of the emotions in Yang Mi's eyes. In those usually bright and charming fox-like eyes, there was now a dark current that he had never seen before, three parts unwillingness mixed with seven parts stubbornness, like a spark trapped in a glass cup, about to burst out at the slightest tremor.

He gently pushed the file back onto the table, the sandalwood surface reflecting her tightly pressed lips: "The company can pay the penalty for breach of contract, but what will I get in return?"

Zhang Yang's words stunned Yang Mi, her knuckles unconsciously curling up, the newly made crystal nail polish gleaming with tiny sharp edges under the light.

"Mr. Zhang, I'm going out to take this call. You two talk."

Seeing Zeng Jia leave, Yang Mi took a deep breath, her voice trembling with a sense of desperation: "President Zhang, what do you want to get?"

Zhang Yang gazed at her slightly trembling eyelashes, then suddenly leaned forward, the sandalwood bracelet on his wrist jingling softly, and burst into laughter: "Guess!"

Yang Mi's defensive shell shattered instantly. She grabbed the red wine and poured it herself. When the wine was about to overflow, she stopped, picked up the glass, tilted her head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

Because she drank too quickly, the red wine slid down her collarbone and into her collar. As she drank, tears welled up in her eyes.

"Cough cough cough!"

After coughing, she walked towards Zhang Yang with a dazed look in her eyes, then reached out her hand towards Zhang Yang's belt and slowly squatted down.

"hiss!"

......

After seeing Yang Mi off, Zhang Yang took out his phone, found Wang Jinghua's number, and dialed it.

"Sister Hua, please do me a favor and help me talk to Li Shaohong of Rongxinda about Yang Mi's contract."

Upon hearing Zhang Yang's words, Wang Jinghua was taken aback at first, then said somewhat seriously, "Zhang Yang, if you want to help Yang Mi redeem herself, it's tantamount to directly breaking ties with Rong Xinda. Rong Xinda has powerful connections in Beijing's social circles. If you do this..."

Zhang Yang raised his hand to interrupt her: "Sister Hua, I know all that you're saying, but my company urgently needs a leading lady. Good leading ladies are hard to find these days, and I think Yang Mi has great potential."

Since Zhang Yang had already said that, what could Wang Jinghua say? Having been in the entertainment industry for so long, she naturally knew a lot about the ins and outs. She didn't believe that Yang Mi was a good match.

Wang Jinghua believes that Yang Mi must have seduced Zhang Yang, which is why Zhang Yang wanted to poach her from Rongxinda.

As for not helping?

Wang Jinghua never even considered that, not to mention that Aikun Fried Chicken's valuation had doubled, she couldn't refuse Zhang Yang's request for help, especially since she had just received a 5% investment in "The Heirs" from Zhang Yang.

"Okay, I'll go and ask about it for you."

......

The production team of "The Heirs" has begun location scouting and preparations. The female lead, Jing Tian, ​​and the second female lead, Wang Like, are already in preparation. The second male lead has not yet been confirmed. Zhang Yang originally planned to invite Chen Xiaolai to play the second male lead.

However, news came from Wang Jinghua that Yang Mi's contract was negotiable and the termination fee was easy to discuss, but Rong Xinda hoped that Lin Yushen could get the second male lead role in "The Heirs".

After thinking it over, Zhang Yang felt that the conditions were acceptable. Exchanging a role for Yang Mi's contract was quite a good deal. After all, Yang Mi had put in so much effort, and Zhang Yang couldn't do something so heartless.

.....

When Li Xiaowan pushed open the sandalwood door to the study, Lin Yushen was barefoot, sinking into the leather sofa playing games. The bloody and gory images on the 65-inch screen were completely out of place with the antique rosewood display shelves covering the walls.

"Close the game."

She placed a beautifully bound stack of scripts next to the crystal ashtray, startling away the nearly extinguished cigarettes on the rim.

Lin Yushen glanced lazily at the gold-embossed cover of "The Heirs," raised an eyebrow, and scoffed, "Another second male lead? Mom, is your son destined to always be a supporting character?"

The jade bracelet on Li Xiaowan's wrist suddenly slammed against the corner of the table, making a sharp, piercing sound. She leaned over and braced herself against the sofa armrest, the shadow of which completely enveloped her son: "I had to swallow my pride and beg Li Shaohong for this role. There are plenty of people outside who want to play this role but can't get it."

Lin Yushen turned off the game controller and finally saw the spiderweb-like blood vessels in his mother's eyes. He opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

"Son, my influence in the entertainment industry is not what it used to be. Even if I wanted to find good resources for you, others wouldn't easily give me face. You're not a child anymore, you should understand my good intentions."

Lin Yushen's fist gradually tightened. Seeing this, Li Xiaowan stared at him intently and said seriously, "Son, don't mess with those girls in the crew, especially Jing Tian, ​​who plays the female lead. It's best to stay away from her. If you offend her, even if I lose face, it won't help."

Before Lin Yushen could say anything, Li Xiaowan sighed and turned to leave.

As she left, the hem of her cheongsam swept across the threshold, like a night butterfly with its wings folded.

Lin Yushen looked in the direction his mother had left, and a surge of anger welled up inside him for no reason. The next second, he suddenly slammed the game console against the wall.

.....

The preparations for "The Heirs" were naturally not kept secret from those who were interested. Wang Xiaoer soon got wind of it and learned that Zhang Yang was going to produce a new TV series, which made him very angry.

The angrier Wang Xiaoer became, and ordered his subordinates, "Make trouble for Zhang Yang. I don't want his new drama to go so smoothly. Also, spread the word that Huayi is also entering the urban idol drama market."