My capital is quite large.

Looking at Tang Yan's sweet and innocent face, the lingering shadow in Yang Mi's heart surged up again.

She leaned close to Tang Yan's ear, her voice trembling slightly, carrying a hint of shared sorrow and panic that she herself was unaware of:

"Tangtang, tell me the truth... After the boss bought you, did he... did he make you do anything? Or... force you to agree to any conditions?"

Tang Yan was completely confused by the question and blinked, "No. The boss had me sign a new contract in the conference room with a 50/50 split, and since I was going back to Hengdian anyway, he gave me a ride on the plane. The boss was looking at documents the whole way and didn't say much to me."

"Nothing? Nothing at all?!"

Yang Mi's voice involuntarily rose half an octave, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Seeing Yang Mi's distraught expression, as if she had seen a ghost, coupled with her pale face and slightly trembling lips, a flash of lightning suddenly struck Tang Yan, who was already intelligent and sensitive.

She got it!

The boss signed her on a normal business buyout, and the contract was a standard one.

Why did Yang Mi ask that question? Why was Yang Mi so sensitive and fearful about being forced to do something by her boss?

There's only one answer—Yang Mi was forced to do it! And it was definitely the kind of terrible price that's hard to talk about!

Seeing the sudden surge of fear and pity in Tang Yan's eyes, Yang Mi's heart clenched.

She then realized that she had asked too many questions and been too blunt due to an excessive stress response! She had exposed her embarrassing secrets to her colleagues!

"Uh...no, it's nothing. I was just worried the new boss might have a bad temper, so I asked casually..."

Yang Mi gave an awkward dry laugh, quickly released Tang Yan's hand, smoothed her hair to cover her embarrassment, and turned away.

The moment she turned around, Yang Mi's fingernails dug deeply into her palm.

It wasn't until this moment, seeing Tang Yan unharmed and having only signed a lucrative contract, that she finally understood!

Li Feng doesn't have that perverted fetish of forcing female celebrities everywhere! He only sleeps with female artists for business purposes!

And the reason I suffered that catastrophic disaster...

It's all because she thought she was so clever!

It was because she relied on her fame to be outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, thinking she could wrestle with capital, and refused to report for duty, thus touching Li Feng's absolute authority as the superior!

If she had been like Tang Yan, or like Li Xin and Yang Yang, and had obediently gone to Shenzhen to submit to their masters after receiving the contract...

She can now receive a top-tier contract with a 50/50 split of profits cleanly and legitimately, becoming the leading lady heavily promoted by Haofeng Network!

regret.

Boundless regret gnawed at Yang Mi's internal organs like a venomous snake.

However, there is no medicine for regret in this world.

That brand is forever etched on her body, a reminder of the foolish price she paid for being so clever.

……

Meanwhile, in the rest shed on the other side.

"Oh my! Mr. Li, this is truly a rare guest! What brings you to our film crew again?"

When Cai Yinong saw Li Feng walk in, she immediately greeted him with a big smile and personally poured him tea.

She now sees Li Feng as if he were a god of wealth radiating golden light.

"Mr. Cai, you wouldn't come here without a reason. I'm here today to give you money, of course."

Li Feng didn't beat around the bush. He sat down in the chair with a commanding air, picked up his teacup, blew on it, and looked up at Cai Yinong.

"Today, I want to take Liu Shishi's contract with me."

Upon hearing this, Cai Yinong's hand, which was pouring tea, suddenly stopped, and the smile on her face instantly froze.

"Mr. Li...you're really tearing my heart out."

Cai Yinong put down the teapot, her face turning somewhat grim. "Shishi is our own daughter, whom Tangren Media has personally cultivated! All of our company's resources are now being poured into her. She played Long Kui in 'Chinese Paladin 3,' and we're even preparing to tailor-make several leading roles for her! This isn't something that can be settled for a few million."

Although Yang Mi is popular, in Tangren's plans, her status is far lower than that of Liu Shishi, the direct descendant of Tangren Media, who is known as the "Little Liu Yifei".

Cai Yinong is making it clear that Liu Shishi is not for sale by the Tang people.

"Mr. Cai, in the business world, nothing is unsellable. If something is not for sale, it's just because you don't have enough bargaining chips."

Li Feng leaned back in his chair, watching Cai Yinong's protective demeanor, a cold smile of complete control curling at the corner of his mouth.

"I know that Tangren Media is currently preparing for that Qing Dynasty time-travel drama, 'Scarlet Heart.' With the acquisition of the rights to that big IP novel, plus the initial preparations for costumes, props, and sets, the company's working capital must be almost completely depleted, right?"

Cai Yinong's pupils contracted, and she was secretly alarmed: How could this General Manager Li know so much about Tangren's internal financial situation?!

"Twenty-five million."

Li Feng gave her no time to think and threw out an astronomical figure that was enough to knock Cai Yinong unconscious.

"RMB, cash in full. We'll sign the contract today, and the money will be deposited into Tangren Media's corporate account tomorrow."

Li Feng leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Cai Yinong. "President Cai, with these 25 million, you can film 'Scarlet Heart' however you want. All you have to do is hand over a Liu Shishi who isn't quite a household name yet."

Twenty-five million?!

Upon hearing this number, Cai Yinong's breathing instantly became heavy, and her heart pounded wildly in her chest!

This isn't a premium, this is outright robbery!

In 2008, even the transfer fee for a top-tier actress would never have been as high as 25 million!

"When you start filming 'Scarlet Heart,' I can leave Shishi to you to complete the filming. I can also contribute an additional 15 million in investment, accounting for 30% of the total investment. However, the online broadcasting rights will belong to Haofeng."

Twenty million plus fifteen million equals forty million?

With this money, Tangren could easily sign ten or eight more promising talents, and even make "Scarlet Heart" the top costume drama in China!

The so-called "dearest daughter" and "not for sale" crumbled instantly in the face of this heavy number.

Cai Yinong's expression changed in just a few seconds; her initial wariness and embarrassment were completely replaced by ecstasy.

She slapped her thigh, laughing so hard her crow's feet crinkled together: "President Li! Your generosity is unparalleled in the entire Chinese entertainment industry! I, Cai Yinong, am completely impressed!"

"It's Shishi's good fortune to be with a wealthy and powerful boss like you! This man, I, Tangren, will release him!"

Li Feng looked at Cai Yinong's money-grubbing expression and smiled disdainfully.

Forty million is indeed a high price, but for Haofeng Network, which makes money hand over fist every day, it's just a few days' worth of revenue from overseas Apple Stores.

Moreover, getting 15 million for the guaranteed blockbuster "Scarlet Heart" is a win-win situation no matter how you look at it.

The third puzzle piece was successfully recovered.