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Yuan Jing took a deep breath, her eyes glued to Ye Mingzhao, unable to look away even a little!

The young assistant standing some distance away watched her sister once again make such a shamelessly lovestruck expression and let out a long, anguished sigh!

It was over! She'd been completely wrapped around his finger!

Sure enough, after seeing Ye Mingzhao's impeccably perfect, golden-ratio face up close, Yuan Jing immediately surrendered without resistance and bluntly invited him to play Little Zhuge. "As long as you agree to take the role, name your terms. I'll coordinate all the scheduling. I can offer the highest rate in the industry."

Yuan Jing held up one hand to Ye Mingzhao. "Five million! Five million after tax for half a month of filming! Isn't that a great deal?"

With complete confidence, Yuan Jing compared Yu Mingze and the Beggar Prince production unfavorably. She was well informed and had long known that Ye Mingzhao had joined the Beggar Prince crew as a newcomer, playing two roles by himself, for a pre-tax salary of four million!

Of course, Ye Mingzhao had parachuted into the cast as a newcomer and taken on the two major burdens of male lead and biggest villain. That weight could not compare to playing an important but low-screen-time role in Realm Strategy.

Yuan Jing shrewdly blurred that distinction, emphasizing only the half-month schedule and five-million after-tax pay. This truly was the greatest sincerity Yuan Jing and the Realm Strategy production could offer!

Yu Mingze was sharp-eyed and clear-minded, so naturally he saw through the little scheme Yuan Jing had left unspoken. He sneered inwardly, practically ready to laugh in disdain. Still, they were all industry colleagues, and Yu Mingze could not exactly pick a fight with Yuan Jing. He could only look eagerly at Ye Mingzhao. "Our production just started filming. You're playing two roles in the drama, and your workload is huge!"

Ye Mingzhao smiled and gave Yu Mingze a gentle look. "I understand."

Then he looked apologetically at Yuan Jing, who was also watching him eagerly. His manner was mild, but his refusal was crisp and decisive. "My role in Beggar Prince is very demanding, and I'm a newcomer with no acting experience. If Mingze and Director Li hadn't pushed through all opposition to let me play two roles, I wouldn't have had the chance to enter the entertainment industry as an actor. So right now, I only want to give my all to the work in front of me. I don't want to let down my friend's and Director Li's expectations. I truly don't have the energy to consider other roles. I'm grateful for Producer Yuan's kindness and your faith in me. I hope we'll have the opportunity to work together in the future."

A newcomer! Carrying such major responsibilities on his previous production! Only wanting to give his all to the role at hand! Not wanting to juggle productions!

Ye Mingzhao's tone was gentle, but his words were airtight. Not only did he reject Yuan Jing's invitation from every angle, he also took the opportunity to praise his friend and benefactor for recognizing talent and standing firm against opposition. Yu Mingze's expression immediately brightened. An invisible fluffy tail behind him swayed back and forth as he shot Yuan Jing a smug glance.

Yuan Jing looked at Ye Mingzhao again and again. His response only made her more certain that Ye Mingzhao could play Little Zhuge well.

But there was no chance! Ye Mingzhao's reasonable, well-grounded, and polite rejection had directly blocked every possible avenue for Yuan Jing to keep persuading him. She even had to praise the young man's character! He knew gratitude and repaid kindness! His integrity was precious!

Yuan Jing looked somewhat disappointed.

The Ye family, who had silently watched the entire exchange, exchanged smiles. They appreciated Yuan Jing's discerning eye, but they liked Ye Mingzhao's clear-cut refusal even more.

In life, people faced countless opportunities and choices. Only those who knew what to take and what to give up had a chance to go higher and farther.

A person's energy was limited. Even an acknowledged genius needed time to adapt when abruptly stepping into an entirely new field. If Ye Mingzhao scattered his focus to take on a minor role that paid five million, causing his performances as the male lead and second male lead in Beggar Prince to fall short of their best, it would undoubtedly disappoint people. It might even affect his future as an actor—if Ye Mingzhao truly intended to pursue this profession seriously.

Surely Ye Mingzhao himself understood the pros and cons involved.

And Ye Mingzhao's decisions had never disappointed anyone.

"We've all felt Miss Yuan's sincerity. I'm sure we'll have opportunities to work together in the future," Mrs. Ye said with a smile, effortlessly easing the somewhat heavy atmosphere.

Yuan Jing forced herself to perk up and exchanged a few more pleasantries with Mrs. Ye.

After Yu Mingze led the Ye family away, the young assistant hurried over and said in exasperation, "Sis, I know you're obsessed with looks, but wasn't your attitude just now a little too enthusiastic?" It had practically been fawning!

The young assistant gathered her courage and complained, "You gave them our bottom line right away. If they refused, we wouldn't even have any room to negotiate!"

"What do you know?" Yuan Jing casually glanced at her assistant, with not the slightest trace of sadness or disappointment on her face. "Do you know who those people were?"

The young assistant blinked in confusion.

"The chairman of Ye Group, the chairman's wife, the executive president, and the marketing director!" A sharp gleam flashed through Yuan Jing's beautiful almond-shaped eyes. "A mere five million means nothing to those people. All they wanted was an attitude."

Yuan Jing understood that well, so she had simply laid all her cards on the table and displayed her greatest sincerity. Even if the deal fell through, at least she could leave them with a good impression!

"This isn't the time to haggle over every little thing. If you don't put enough on the table, they won't even be interested in hearing your offer."

Weighing someone's child on a scale in front of their parents was something that could only be done with child stars whose parents served as their agents.

For a family like the Yes, sincerity that was not absolute was absolutely insincere. It would be a real loss if they failed to secure a collaboration and offended them in the process.

The young assistant suddenly understood! She had been wondering—although her sister was obsessed with faces and voices, there were as many handsome men and beautiful women in the entertainment industry as carp crossing a river. Her Sister Yuan had never lost all sense of propriety around anyone else to this extent.

So it had been an act for them to see!

"What do you mean, an act?" Yuan Jing fiercely flicked her assistant on the forehead and wailed, "I'm genuinely heartbroken! My Little Zhuge! Such a perfect Little Zhuge! The Little Zhuge Heaven bestowed upon me! Gone! Just like that, gone!"

Seeing Yuan Jing beat her chest and stomp her feet, the young assistant thought for a moment before comforting her, "Look on the bright side, Sis. At least you've preserved your freedom to buy milk tea!"

Yuan Jing: "..."

Chapter 19

That evening, under Yu Mingze's arrangements, the Ye family checked into the only five-star hotel in Hengzhou Film and Television City.

Ye Mingzhao, along with the other actors and crew members, stayed at an inn closer to the set so they could get up early the next day for makeup and filming.

Only then did the Ye family learn that Ye Mingzhao had to start his makeup at four in the morning.

"Your line of work is truly hard," Mrs. Ye could not help remarking.

Yu Mingze immediately said, "Don't worry, Auntie. I'll take good care of Zhaozhao and won't let him work too hard."

Chairman Ye waved a hand. "There's no need to give him special treatment. Since he chose this profession, he must have made adequate preparations. Just treat him the same as everyone else."

Li Zhengzheng, who had rushed over immediately after wrapping for the day, heard that and could not help rolling his eyes inwardly. You make it sound so noble—then don't come at all!

A tiny little launch press conference had brought the entire Ye family!

Director Li Zhengzheng had been filming in the industry for over twenty years, yet this was the first time he had eaten a lavish lunch freshly prepared on set by a Michelin chef. All the ingredients had been flown in from overseas. Even the assorted vegetables and eggs used as side dishes had been freshly picked and shipped from the Ye family's own farm.

Afterward, someone knowledgeable calculated that the meal had cost at least six figures. The air freight alone had started at twenty thousand US dollars!

Everyone had eaten happily, but in Director Li's eyes, the lavish feast was no different from the Feast at Hongmen. It plainly demonstrated how highly the Ye family valued Ye Mingzhao, as well as their dissatisfaction with the little incident at the launch press conference.