Huayu Entertainment: Starting with Exorcising Evil from a Film Queen

Chapter 88 Persuading with Great Effort (3K)

Looking travel-worn, Chen Zhixi pushed open the office door, threw her bag on the sofa, and collapsed.

Zhang Ze immediately poured a glass of warm water and handed it over.

"How's it going? Did you find it?"

Chen Zhixi took the water glass, tilted her head back and took a big gulp, then let out a long sigh of relief.

"The role of the poor mother is secured; Hao Lei is willing to take it."

Zhang Ze paused slightly as he was organizing the storyboard.

"Hao Lei? She's willing to take on such a low-budget project?"

This name is very well-known in the industry.

He's a drama fanatic with explosive acting skills, but his personality is also notoriously fierce and difficult to deal with.

A few years ago, while filming "Summer Palace", she not only broke up with Deng Chao, with whom she had lived for three years, but also became the subject of much controversy due to the explicit content.

"If the script is good, she'll accept the role."

Chen Zhixi put down her water glass, her tone resolute.

"She is a pure actress. And because that film was banned, she is in a very awkward position right now. She urgently needs a high-quality work that can win awards to prove herself, and she also needs to take some time to reflect."

Zhang Ze nodded.

Hao Lei's acting skills are beyond doubt. His explosive power and sense of brokenness make him the perfect choice to portray the poor mother who is bent over by life but remains resilient.

"And what about the other actress? The one who plays the rich woman?"

Zhang Ze pressed for an answer.

That role requires an innate sense of superiority, as well as vulnerability and confusion when faced with unexpected changes.

Chen Zhixi sighed and shook her head.

"We haven't found the right person. Either their temperament is too vulgar, and they can't portray that kind of pampered elegance; or their fees are too high, and we can't afford them."

Just then, the phone on the table vibrated, breaking the silence.

Zhang Ze answered the phone, and Li Xiaozai's slightly tired but joyful voice came through the receiver.

"Zhang Ze, I've finished filming. I just arrived at the airport. Are you still in Beijing?"

Zhang Ze's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Li Xiaoran.

With fair skin, beautiful features, and a gentle temperament, the languid elegance that emanates from her very being perfectly embodies the image of a middle-class housewife.

More importantly, given their relationship, the film fee could easily be repaid with sex.

Want hundreds of millions? You can have hundreds of millions!

"exist."

A slight smile appeared on Zhang Ze's lips as he picked up the coat hanging on the back of the chair.

"Wait there, I'll come pick you up."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Ze turned to Chen Zhixi and said, "I have to go out for a few days."

Chen Zhixi frowned. "This is a crucial period for the production team's preparations. Where are you going?"

"Go find an actress!"

"Where to look?" Chen Zhixi was taken aback.

"Airport."

Zhang Ze left two words and strode out of the office.

The arrival gate of Terminal 2 at Beijing Capital International Airport was crowded with people.

Zhang Ze lowered the brim of his baseball cap and leaned against the railing at the arrival gate.

He didn't hold up a sign; his gaze pierced through the crowd, fixing on each and every passenger who came out.

Twenty minutes later, a tall figure appeared pushing a luggage cart.

Li Xiao was wearing a long khaki trench coat and a pair of huge sunglasses that almost covered half of her face.

She walked slowly, her shoulders slightly slumped, revealing the fatigue of a long flight.

Zhang Ze strode forward and took the cart handle from her hand.

Li Xiaoran paused, then recognized the person through her sunglasses.

She took off her sunglasses, revealing a pair of slightly puffy but still bright eyes.

"Have you been waiting long?"

"Just arrived."

Zhang Ze pushed the car with one hand, and with the other hand he naturally put his arm around her shoulder, half-embracing her and leading her to the parking lot.

Li Xiao stopped struggling and even leaned her weight on him.

Although there were many people around, everyone was in a hurry and no one noticed the two people behaving intimately.

I sat in the borrowed Audi, the enclosed space isolating me from the noise outside.

Li Xiao leaned back in his chair, let out a long breath, and turned to watch Zhang Ze start the car.

"Didn't you say you were preparing for a movie? How come you have time to pick me up?"

"Taking in investors is a director's job."

Zhang Ze skillfully steered the car, merging into the traffic on the airport expressway.

Li Xiao paused for a moment, then realized he was joking and patted his thigh.

"Stop talking nonsense, I don't have any money to invest in you."

The car sped along, heading towards Li Xiaozai's apartment near Chaoyang Park.

Once inside, Li Xiaoran kicked off her high heels and stepped barefoot onto the floor.

The room was very warm. She unbuttoned her trench coat and casually hung it on the hanger. Underneath was a fitted black knit sweater that accentuated her voluptuous curves.

"I'm starving! The airplane food is awful."

She rubbed her stomach and headed towards the kitchen.

Zhang Ze followed behind, watching her open the refrigerator and take out a carton of milk and a few slices of bread.

"You come back and this is all you eat? Forget it, don't eat it. I'll make you some noodles. Go take a shower and relax."

Zhang Ze frowned, reached out and took the cold milk from her hand, putting it back on the table.

He rummaged through the refrigerator for a while and found two eggs and a handful of noodles.

When Li Xiao came out of the bathroom again, drying her wet hair, two steaming bowls of plain noodles were already on the table.

Li Xiaoran was indeed starving. Ignoring the heat, she picked up the noodles and ate them in big bites.

After drinking the hot soup, a blush rose on her face, and fine beads of sweat appeared on the tip of her nose.

Zhang Ze sat opposite her, barely touching his chopsticks, just quietly watching her.

After finishing the last bite of noodles, Li Xiao put down his chopsticks and sighed contentedly.

She looked up and met Zhang Ze's extremely aggressive eyes.

She was all too familiar with that look in her eyes.

"I just finished eating—"

Li Xiaoran's voice was a little soft, and she leaned back instinctively.

Zhang Ze stood up, walked around the dining table, and went to her side.

He bent down, placed his hands on the armrests of the chair, and encircled her in the middle.

"Only when you're full can you have the energy to work."

Before he finished speaking, he bent down, picked up Li Xiaozai, and strode towards the bedroom.

Li Xiaoran exclaimed in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

The bedroom door was slammed shut by a heavy heel.

Two hours later.

Only one bedside lamp was on in the bedroom, casting a dim, yellowish light.

Li Xiaoran lay lazily on the bed, her shoulder exposed outside the blanket bearing several red marks.

She didn't want to move a single finger.

Zhang Ze leaned against the headboard and asked casually.

"What are your plans after you've rested for the past few days?"

Li Xiaoran buried her face in the pillow, her voice muffled, "What plans could I possibly have? Just staying home, sleeping, gardening, and playing with the dog. I just finished filming a movie, I'm exhausted. If my agent dares to give me any more gigs, I'll break up with him."

Zhang Ze turned to his side, his fingers twirling her long hair that was scattered on the pillow.

"Perfect timing! I have a job I can do. No wire work, no all-nighters, just filming in Beijing. Want to give it a try?"

Li Xiao suddenly opened her eyes and turned to glare at him.

"Zhang Ze, are you even human? I'm already like this, and you still want to conscript me?"

"Don't let the good stuff go to outsiders."

Zhang Ze stubbed out his cigarette, leaned closer to her, and said, "Lead actress, playing a wealthy woman. In terms of presence, in the entire Beijing entertainment industry, no one but you can pull it off."

Li Xiaoran rolled over and lay flat on her back, looking at the ceiling.

"I don't even know what kind of show it is!"

"It's called 'Like Father, Like Son.' It tells the story of two families whose babies were switched at birth. It's an art-house film, aiming for awards."

Zhang Ze summarized it simply: "You need to play a pampered rich lady who is both vulnerable and has to maintain her dignity after encountering unexpected changes."

"It suits your temperament perfectly."

"You're the one putting on airs."

Li Xiaoran rolled her eyes at him, but her tone clearly softened.

She did want to rest, but for a good actor, encountering a good script is like a drunkard smelling fine wine.

Moreover, this is Zhang Ze's first film.

"How much is the pay?" Li Xiaoran asked.

"The production crew is poor and can't afford a high price."

Zhang Ze asked matter-of-factly, "How about paying with my body?"

Li Xiaoran laughed in anger and kicked him.

"Get lost! What was that? An audition?"

Zhang Ze seized the opportunity and gently rubbed it in his hand.

"That was a prepayment."

Li Xiaoran tried to pull her foot back, but she didn't have the strength.

The tingling sensation traveled up from the soles of her feet, and a blush appeared on her face.

"Send the script to my email." She pulled the blanket over her head. "We'll talk about it tomorrow. Right now, I just want to sleep."

Zhang Ze looked at Li Xiaozai, who was huddled up in a ball, and knew that the matter had been settled.

With the toughest lead actress secured, the production team's preparations have entered a fast track.

In that temporary office in Chaoyang District, the printer ran day and night.

Chen Zhixi demonstrated a level of execution that surprised Zhang Zedu.

To save money, she didn't rent a dedicated photography studio, but instead turned her attention to real-life scenes.

The script requires the main setting to be a high-end apartment with tasteful decor that reflects the owner's social status.

The rent for these houses is extremely high, amounting to a huge sum even when calculated daily.

Chen Zhixi spent two days visiting several newly opened upscale residential communities in the East Fourth Ring Road area.

Finally, they found a property for sale and went directly to the sales office to speak with the marketing director.

"We're the film that's going to Cannes to win an award. Zhang Ze directed and starred in it, with Li Xiaoran and Hao Lei also starring. If your house even makes an appearance in the movie, it'll be the best thing ever."

Using this argument, coupled with Zhang Ze's current popularity, Chen Zhixi managed to secure a one-month lease on a fully furnished model apartment in Panhai International at an extremely low price, under the guise of a model apartment promotion collaboration.

As for the dilapidated grocery store run by her poor father, Chen Zhixi went straight into the alleys of the southern part of the city.

She found a small shop that was about to close down because it was going to be demolished.

Just when the shop owner was worried about what to do with the remaining stock, Chen Zhixi bought all the expired snacks and surplus daily necessities in the store without saying a word, and also rented the store.

The rent is negligible; the only condition is that you have to clean up the trash for the boss after the shoot.

"This woman is born to be a film producer."

Looking at the budget sheet submitted by Chen Zhixi, Zhang Ze couldn't help but admire it.

The previously tight budget became much more manageable thanks to her almost effortless scheme.

February 26th, the second day of the second lunar month, is the day the dragon raises its head.

In Tongzhou, Beijing, at an abandoned factory compound.

This place was temporarily transformed into the film crew's opening ceremony venue.

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