Huayu: I am the manager of Xiaohua (a popular Chinese entertainment company).

Chapter 120 Wang Churan: I'll hit a Zhang Yimou girl?

After briefly discussing the script and other details with Zhang Jingyi, Zhang Jingyi and her homeroom teacher prepared to leave.

Li Han got up and saw the two off.

"Jingyi, it's a bit urgent today. I'll introduce you to Zhang Kai later. He's our company's agent, as well as some other colleagues. I'll also introduce you to Zhou Ye later," Li Han said.

"Mmm." Zhang Jingyi, holding the script in her arms, looked up at Li Han and nodded her little head.

The three of them left the office while talking.

Just then, a tall girl came out from around the corner, followed by a middle-aged woman, and in front of her was Li Han's assistant.

It was Wang Ran and her mother.

Looking at Li Han, Wang blinked in surprise, then glanced at the girl next to him who was holding something, and his brows furrowed slightly.

This is----

Li Han also noticed that Wang Ran had arrived. He looked up at her, then whispered something to Zhang Jingyi before she prepared to leave.

The two girls brushed past each other, their eyes meeting briefly.

"Who is this?"

Turning her gaze away, Wang Ran looked at Li Han with a bright smile on her face.

"Senior."

"Senior, someone from the Shanghai Theatre Academy?" Zhang Jingyi turned her head curiously and looked at him with a puzzled expression, then looked away and continued walking.

"Ran, this must be Auntie. Hello, Auntie." Li Han looked at Wang Ran's mother and reached out to shake her hand.

"Senior, what was that just now—" Wang Ran asked curiously.

"Oh, Zhang Jingyi, a freshman at the Beijing Film Academy this year, the female lead in my movie," Li Han said with a smile.

"Alright, let's come inside and talk."

"Huh? Her!?" Wang Ran turned his head to look, but Zhang Jingyi had already left.

"That plain-looking girl?"

Wang Ran was wearing exquisite makeup, while Zhang Jingyi was completely bare-faced, making her look rather rustic compared to her.

"No, what makes her so special? She doesn't have the air of a star actor at all." Wang Ran frowned, then followed her mother into Li Han's office.

The teacup Zhang Jingyi had left behind was still on the coffee table. Li Han gestured to his assistant to tidy it up, and then the group sat down.

"Auntie, I think Ran has already told you the details, right?" Li Han said, looking at Wang Ran's mother.

"Yes, I've explained the details, but there are some things I'd like to ask you about, Mr. Li," said Wang Ran's mother.

"Just say the word." Li Han raised his hand and pinched his nose.

Signing contracts with two people and communicating with them in a single day left Li Hanzhen feeling quite exhausted.

Afterwards, Li Han and Wang Ran's mother discussed Wang Ran's future development, with Li Han making empty promises.

"However, you just got into the Shanghai Theatre Academy, and you'll definitely be an actress in the future. If you sign with other small companies, they can only give you scattered web dramas, not as the lead, but as a supporting role. The investment is low, and the exposure is low. But I can give you leading roles in period dramas, as well as various big-budget dramas invested in by Tencent in the future. There will be no binding, no suppression of the show, and reasonable revenue sharing." Li Han said to Wang Ran.

"You have great potential and shouldn't be held back by small contracts. I'm not here to make empty promises, but to help you pave the way for success."

"Mmm-hmm." Wang Ran nodded. All she could think about was the dream of becoming the female lead in an ancient costume drama that Li Han had promised her.

"Auntie, please take a look at this contract with Ran," Li Han said, handing the contract to the two of them, who then accepted it.

"Auntie, I know you're worried that your daughter might be scammed, have her studies disrupted, or suffer injustice—or even be sexually exploited."

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"But I can also promise you that I will never interfere with Ran's drama classes, nor will I force her to socialize, nor will I force her to create scandals. We will also respect her wishes regarding the roles she takes and her various activities."

Being sexually exploited? That's called mutual affection! What kind of "unspoken rules" are you talking about? That sounds awful!

As for her studies, if she wants to act more in the future and doesn't want to go back to school, she can't blame Li Han for that. He said he would respect her wishes.

"————" Hearing Li Han's words, Wang Ran's mother didn't say anything. Anyway, you've said all the nice things.

"So, senior, should we sign now or—" Wang Ran asked excitedly as he listened to Li Han's words.

Before coming, she had inquired about Li Han and knew about this senior at the Shanghai Theatre Academy. He was not the kind of scoundrel or hooligan, but rather very capable and talented.

Wang Ran was a bit impulsive, but her mother was very calm. She glanced at her daughter and guessed that she had been coaxed by Li Han's "female lead in an ancient costume drama".

My daughter had acted before and had told me more than once that she envied the female lead in the crew, who had a bunch of people around her every day, while she was practically ignored in the crew.

"Why don't you take it back and let your lawyer take a look?" Li Han said.

Before Wang Ran could speak, her mother said, "Okay, Mr. Li, if possible, I'd like to go back and take a closer look at the agreement."

same."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ran glanced at his mother, blinked, and remained silent.

"Okay, no problem—Auntie, have you found a hotel yet?" Li Han nodded and said.

"Not yet, I just got off the plane and came over," Wang Ran's mother said.

"I'll arrange the hotel then—" Li Han said, getting up and calling to his assistant as he pushed open the door.

Soon, Wang Ran and her daughter entered the hotel.

"Mom, my senior wouldn't lie to me, so why didn't he sign it just now?" Wang Ran asked, frowning in confusion as she came in.

"How do you know he won't lie to you?" Wang Ran's mother turned to look at her. Her daughter was not at all like her usual aloof and sensible self.

"You were swayed by his drama featuring the female lead and want to settle things quickly, but you have to be careful. Otherwise, you'll end up losing money and being taken advantage of—this is for your own good."

Wang Ran crossed her arms and rolled her eyes helplessly.

"Okay, Mom, I'll do what you say—"

The next day, in Li Han's office, Wang Ran and Li Han officially signed the contract.

"Welcome to the team, Ran." Li Han looked at Wang Ran and shook hands with him.

Wang Ran also shook hands with Li Han with a bright smile.

"Ran—" Li Han looked at Wang Ran with one hand supporting his cheek.

"I currently have a modern drama that needs a second female lead, and I plan to cast you in it. Filming is scheduled to begin in the second half of the year."

Wang Ran's eyes lit up upon hearing this. So they're already arranging resources for him?

"Senior, what show is it?" she asked quickly.

"Off Track, a modern urban suspense drama," Li Han said, pursing his lips. He was referring to the second female lead in "Off Track."

"The series will likely be filmed in Chongqing."

"Chongqing—" Wang Ran blinked.

"Yes, you and your aunt should go back to the Shanghai Theatre Academy and complete the leave of absence procedures," Li Han said.

"Should I just take a break from school?" Wang Ran asked immediately upon hearing this.

"————" Li Han looked at Wang Ran and said, "I remember you took a leave of absence from school in your previous life, and you didn't even pick up your graduation certificate, or maybe you didn't get it?"

"Yes, then you'll move to Beijing. I'll have my assistant find you a place. Initially, the company will cover your rent. Regarding..."

The female lead for this drama has already been cast, but the production team is still in the planning stages.

"Senior, who's the female lead in this movie?" Wang Ran frowned. Could it be another freshman?

Since we're all freshmen, why can't I be in this drama? Am I really that bad in terms of figure, looks, or anything else?

"An ordinary student from the Beijing Dance Academy—" Li Han said.

"From Beijing Dance Academy?" Wang Ran raised an eyebrow at Li Han. Why are people from Beijing Dance Academy showing up?

"Senior, a student from Beijing Dance Academy—" Wang Ran couldn't help but smile as she looked at Li Han, gently licking her lips with her pink tongue. This guy isn't even from a professional dance background.

"Students from the Beijing Dance Academy are really nothing special." Li Han smiled at Wang Ran.

"But her teacher is awesome."

"Teacher?" Wang Ran was taken aback.

"Her name is Liu Haocun, her teacher is Zhang Yimou, and she has already signed with Director Zhang's studio. People like Liu Haocun are usually called 'Zhang Yimou's girls'," Li Han said with a smile.

"A Zhang Yimou Girl—" Wang Ran couldn't help but twitch his lips and let out a bitter laugh. This person was actually a Zhang Yimou Girl? I was even thinking of trying to get the lead role.

I hit a Zhang Yimou girl!?

Seeing Wang Ran lower his head and remain silent, Li Han smiled.

"However, there's no need to underestimate yourself. You're no worse than anyone else. Even the second female lead can shine."

Damn it, the only ones who became popular in "Raging Storm" were the second male lead, the second female lead, and the third female lead? My poor older sister.

"Mm." Wang Ran looked up at Li Han and nodded with a smile.

After signing the contract, Wang Ran and her mother returned to Shanghai. Meanwhile, in Beijing, the actresses who starred in the film "Better Days" were studying their scripts, and Meng Ziyi had a new drama about to start filming.

As for Meng Ziyi, her contract hasn't ended yet. After it does, she and her agent will prepare to join Li Han's studio.

Tian Xiwei and Li Yitong are still filming outside, but Li Yitong will be returning soon after filming wraps up.

Li Han also introduced Zhang Jingyi to Zhang Kai, so that he could arrange an assistant for her after she officially joined the film crew.

Zhou Ye also learned that Li Han had already chosen the female lead, and she asked Li Han for his name out of curiosity.

"Your junior, a freshman at Beijing Film Academy this year," Li Han replied.

"Tch, she must be really good-looking."

"I can only say—about the same as you," Li Han said with a smile.

"Hehe————" What Zhou Ye didn't know was that what Li Han said about "almost" was really true.

That evening, Li Han had dinner with Sun Zhonghuai from Tencent and the investors of "Better Days," a film in which Li Han and Tencent also invested.

During the meal, the conversation shifted from movies to Tencent's various upcoming dramas.

"The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber?" Li Han looked at Sun Zhonghuai in front of him with some doubt.

"Yes, this drama is currently in preparation and is also a major ambitious project for Tencent." Sun Zhonghuai nodded with a smile.

"This drama—" Li Han recalled the reviews of this drama after it aired in his previous life.

"This drama is currently seeking investment, and the male lead was decided a long time ago—Zeng Shunxi—" Sun Zhonghuai continued.

Li Han remembers that the 19 TV series "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" did not receive very high praise. The most criticized aspect of the series was its slow motion. Every action scene was filmed in slow motion, which caused severe visual fatigue for viewers.

Another point is that the male and female characters have too much makeup on their faces, making them all whiter than each other, with the men being whiter than the women, and the women being deathly whiter.

This has led many viewers to complain that they can't tell who the actresses are in the show, as they all look pretty much the same.

Despite the numerous criticisms of this drama, "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" was quite popular, at least it made the two female leads, Zhao Min and Zhou Zhiruo, played by Chen Yuqi and Zhu Xuyue, famous overnight.

However, the two did not seize the opportunity well, and their popularity gradually declined. Zhu Xuyue is still doing well, at least she is still a figure in the entertainment industry, but Chen Yuqi has completely disappeared.

Li Han has no interest in participating in this drama. Not only has the male lead been decided, but he also doesn't have the time. However, he is still very interested in putting a few people in the cast.

"Have the actors for Xiao Zhao and Yin Li been chosen yet?" Li Han asked.

"Not yet, Teacher Li Han, you—" Sun Zhonghuai looked at Li Han.

Are you interested in participating?

"There's no need for me to participate; the male lead has already been cast," Li Han said with a smile.

These days, actors can be changed even if they've been cast. Sun Zhonghuai smiled, but seeing that Li Han wasn't interested in participating, he didn't say anything more.

Zeng Shunxi is from Shenzhen and is an actor that Tencent plans to heavily promote in the future. They have high hopes for him. However, if Li Han really wants to play Zhang Wuji, Tencent will definitely replace Zeng Shunxi without hesitation.

"If the actresses for Xiao Zhao and Yin Li haven't been cast yet, I'd like to recommend Bao Shang'en and Hu Lianxin," Li Han said.

"Oh, those two!" Sun Zhonghuai looked at Li Han, thinking for a moment. These two were also part of Tencent's Rising Star Program.

"Let Bao Shang'en play Xiao Zhao, and Xiao Hu play Yin Li," Li Han said.

"What do you think?"

"I think it's feasible. These two people's appearance and temperament are indeed very suitable for these two roles." Sun Zhonghuai nodded.

Li Han smiled upon hearing this, picked up the cup in front of him and clinked it with Sun Zhonghuai's, then said some polite words.

"Has the cast for 'Joy of Life' been finalized?" After a few rounds of drinks, Li Han asked about the drama.

Li Han did want to play the male lead in this drama, but firstly, the drama clashes with his own, and secondly, the filming time is too long—this drama is expected to be filmed for a full six months.

"Zhang Ruoyun has been cast as the male lead, Li Qin as the female lead, and Chen Daoming as the Emperor Qing—" Sun Zhonghuai said, wiping his face.

"How's the investment and business attraction going?" Li Han asked again.

"It's alright. The original work is a big IP, and many people have high hopes for this drama. We also have high hopes for it internally," Sun Zhonghuai nodded and said.

"Haha, Mr. Sun, given our friendship, can I slip someone in?" Li Han joked.