Bai Lu got scammed, but I became a superstar through e-commerce.

Qingxiao stood in the corridor outside the teahouse, watching Bailu walk out.

Her eyes were a little red, and she was gripping the bag strap tightly.

When Qingxiao saw her come out, a smile appeared on his lips. He took two steps forward and said, "Congratulations, Bai Mengyan. Your dream has come true."

Bai Lu looked up at him. His expression showed genuine happiness for her, but she shook her head.

"I did not sign it."

Qingxiao's smile froze at the corners of his mouth, slowly fading away. He looked down at her face, trying to find the answer in her eyes.

Why?

Bai Lu didn't answer immediately. She turned her head, her gaze falling on the quiet light at the end of the corridor, and then she smiled.

"It suddenly occurred to me that being a star might just be a dream. And since it's a dream, it's something that can't be realized in reality."

After she finished speaking, she reached out and, for the first time, took Qingxiao's arm and pulled him toward the elevator.

There was no explanation, no sense of grievance; it was as if a very important decision had been made.

Qingxiao was pulled forward by her, and turned his head to look at her profile.

Bai Lu thought to himself: Qingxiao, I gave up my best chance to enter the entertainment industry for you. If you ever bully me again, I'll definitely bite you to death.

But she didn't say it aloud; she just held him a little tighter.

The following week, Bailu changed.

She settled into the office of Tianmen Film and Television and began taking orders from modeling agencies in bulk—Taobao shops, wholesale catalogs, and brand autumn/winter catalogs. As long as the price was right and the fabric of the clothes wasn't too bad, she would accept them.

Qingxiao saw it all.

In the past, Bai Lu was very selective in choosing merchants.

After being photographed wearing cheap synthetic clothing that left her covered in red spots, she never took on those kinds of low-quality jobs again.

But now Bailu doesn't discriminate; as long as the schedule allows, they'll accept any order.

It was normal for her to shoot four scenes a day, sometimes up to five, from six in the morning to nine at night. After returning, she would lean against the chair in the sample room, too tired to even take a shower, and fall asleep immediately.

She continued taking orders the next day.

They accepted it on the third day as well.

Qingxiao didn't ask her anything.

Every night, he would fold her new clothes for the next day and place them next to her bag, and fill her thermos with hot water and put it in her bag. He thought she must have talked to Yu Zheng about something.

Something must have gone wrong with the signing.

But if she doesn't say, he won't ask.

He knew what she didn't want to say, and even asking her six times wouldn't get a word out of her.

Finally, on a Thursday afternoon, Qingxiao obtained Yu Zheng's private number through Yuan Shuang from Cat Tree.

He called.

The two agreed to meet at the teahouse, the same one Bai Lu had visited last time.

Yu Zheng was wearing a dark blue Chinese-style jacket today, with a string of Bodhi roots wrapped around his wrist, and he showed no emotion whatsoever.

He poured Qingxiao a glass of white peony tea and pushed over a plate of crispy candy, as if the two friends were chatting casually.

But Qingxiao knew that the person sitting in this tea room was one of the most powerful and controversial screenwriters and producers in the entertainment industry.

"Teacher Yu, Bai Lu talked to you that day, and I only found out later. She didn't tell me." Qingxiao paused, "She didn't sign."

Yu Zheng nodded and then explained the whole story.

Qingxiao felt a surge of emotion; this little girl was really quite silly.

"So I was thinking, could we try a different way of collaborating?"

Yu Zheng turned the teapot in his hand, then looked up.

Qingxiao took a script outline out of his briefcase and placed it next to the tea tray.

It was the same show he worked on with Chen Yu and Bai Lu called "My Girlfriend is a Little Savage".

Yu Zheng glanced at the cover but didn't say anything.

"This is my script. Tianmen Film and Television can provide funding. Bai Lu doesn't necessarily have to become a contracted artist with Huanyu. We can sign a drama contract for three or five years. She will only work with Huanyu on TV dramas, and she can arrange other matters herself. We won't sign a full contract, but a split contract. She will only sign the film and television contract on the Huanyu platform."

Yu Zheng neither said it was good nor bad.

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers gently circling the rim of the purple clay cup.

"You know quite a bit. The model you're talking about is called a split contract in the industry. Instead of signing a full contract, the film and television contract is signed separately with a company, and the artist handles all other matters on their own."

He placed the purple clay cup back on the tea tray.

"Our company has worked with non-contracted artists before, so it's not unprecedented. But you should also know that Huanyu's own project resources are limited. If a script comes out and our internal assessment is that it can be a hit, then our own contracted artists will definitely be the first choice."

"I understand, Teacher Yu." Qingxiao's voice was steady, neither humble nor arrogant. "Bai Lu has another advantage: she's not afraid of hardship and loves learning. No matter if she's playing a supporting role, a small part, or going to a remote film crew, she'll never say no. You won't lose out by signing her."

Yu Zheng picked up the cup, the tea swirled on the rim before settling back down. His palm remained pressed against the purple clay cup, and he said nothing.

Qingxiao continued, "Moreover, I can also act as an investor to bring Bai Lu into the production team with his own capital."

This sentence made Yu Zheng's eyes light up.

Qingxiao noticed this detail and pressed his advantage: "Teacher Yu, our choice isn't just about you. It's simply that I admire and respect your abilities and style. It's understandable that your company keeps the best resources and projects for its own artists, but I can provide more scripts separately."

"Teacher Yu, this is essentially a powerful collaboration between us; let's explore a possibility."

Yu Zheng thought for a moment and then asked, "What exactly is your relationship with Bai Lu?"

"We're currently in a collaborative relationship," Qingxiao said steadily. "We won't be dating for now. She'll focus on acting, and I'll focus on keeping the platform afloat."

Yu Zheng nodded and pondered for a long time.

"President Qing, no matter where Bai Lu goes in the future, she will be grateful not for the opportunity I gave her, but for the opportunity you created for her when she had no other chance. Go back and tell her that Huanyu wants to sign her. Not a full contract, but a project contract. Our company will prepare scripts for her, starting with supporting roles. After the trial period, if her performance is satisfactory and she gains audience favor, then we can discuss specific projects."

Qingxiao did not respond.

Yu Zheng stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked out of the tea room. As he brushed past me, he said, "Next time, don't take that roundabout route through the cat's tree. Just call me directly. I might be more interested in you..."

Qingxiao felt a chill in his heart. He had known Yu Zheng's orientation for a long time, and today's look confirmed it.

Qingxiao sighed. Why did he have to be tall, handsome, fair-skinned, and clean-cut?

It's one thing for a rich woman to have her eye on someone, but this guy also showed up?

When Qingxiao returned to Tianmen Film and Television, Bai Lu was lying on the table in the sample room calculating the week's order accounts.

A dozen or so price lists were spread out in front of her, and the calculator was on. Her fingertips were red from being rubbed together, and she was typing rapidly.

Bai Mengyan.

Bai Lu didn't look up, continuing to type away at the form.

He handed her the contract confirmation, and she reached out to take it without even looking up.

Then she saw the words "Huanyu Film & Television" on the cover.

Her fingers froze.

"Confirmation of contract signing. It's not a full contract, but a split contract. The film and television contract is with Huanyu Entertainment to produce TV series, and you'll be responsible for everything else. This plan means you've agreed to it, binding yourself to Huanyu Entertainment, making you film their shows, and other companies won't take your place. But you're still yourself."

Bai Lu held those few pages of paper, looking on incredulously.