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During this time, Wei Linxuan, who had quite a talent for business, happened to be discussing a partnership with a designer to establish a clothing brand.

The designer, who had spent his entire life making custom formalwear, said excitedly, "This time, we'll become leaders in fashion."

"You'll definitely become a fashion master who shocks the world." Wei Linxuan smiled as he flattered him, then put away the preliminary cooperation agreement they had signed.

"...You really do scrape the ground bare and pluck feathers from passing geese!" On the way back, after learning that Wei Linxuan had closed another deal, Lu Heng sighed.

"That expression is usually used to describe corrupt officials. How can you use it on me?" Wei Linxuan glanced at Lu Heng with a magnanimous expression. "But considering your academic performance, I forgive your poor choice of words and limited vocabulary."

Lu Heng gave a dry laugh. "Well, thank you so much!"

"No need to thank me." Wei Linxuan raised a brow as he looked Lu Heng over, then suddenly grinned mischievously. "But really, you do have the constitution of someone who brings prosperity to his boss. Ever since I signed you on behalf of Huaxia Imperial Entertainment, my luck has been exceptionally good. Everything I do goes smoothly. Even taking you shopping once can lead to a business deal. I think it's necessary to raise your breach-of-contract penalty tenfold. Keeping you at the company to stabilize its feng shui would be good too."

There was such a saying?

Lu Heng glanced at Wei Linxuan. He really could spout nonsense with a straight face.

On February 20, the main cast and crew of Autumn Dew White gathered at Beijing Airport. The actors attending the Oscar ceremony this time were male lead Yue Sennan, female lead Zhou Jingxiao, second male lead Rong Xiu, third male lead Liu Jiawei, veteran actor Gu Daihong, who played the troupe owner, and the two guest actors, Zhao Miao and Lu Heng.

They had not seen each other for more than half a year, and since this was their first meeting after the New Year, they exchanged New Year greetings in the VIP waiting lounge. Liu Jiawei even teased Lu Heng with a smile. "How's the character biography coming along? Director Mai said he'll be checking your homework when filming starts."

"I've written half of it, but I have quite a few questions." Lu Heng sat beside Liu Jiawei and was just about to discuss the script with him when Rong Xiu, seated on Liu Jiawei's other side, leaned over and said, "I also heard about Xiao Heng going to Hong Kong for an audition. Too bad I hadn't wrapped up filming at the time. When you start shooting, Brother Rong will come visit the set."

Rong Xiu paused, then added with a smile, "I'll bring you something delicious."

The others immediately burst into laughter at Rong Xiu's addition. Lu Heng's foodie nature had clearly become deeply ingrained in everyone's minds. Zhao Miao was even more exaggerated, immediately pulling out two bags of chips from his suitcase and waving them around. "I'll feed you~"

Yue Sennan sat in another row of seats, coldly watching their lively chatter. He could not help saying, "Speaking of which, Xiao Heng really has had good luck. Your debut film was nominated for the Oscar Best Foreign Language Film, and the second film you acted in is Director Mai Chengliang's major production. I'd say ninety-nine percent of artists in the industry don't have your kind of luck."

Zhao Miao smiled faintly and said casually, "Luck is also part of one's strength. Besides, luck is not something you can envy your way into. Just like how some people scheme desperately to rise to the top, only to lack that little bit of luck."

The moment he said it, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

After Autumn Dew White wrapped filming, Star Entertainment heavily promoted Yue Sennan and invited a well-known domestic director to tailor a New Year comedy specifically for him. Unfortunately, after the film's release, neither its box office nor its reviews were satisfactory. Its total investment of forty-five million had not even been recouped. Yue Sennan's ambitious plan to rise to the top had completely fallen through.

Zhao Miao looked at Yue Sennan with a smile and said, "There have always been rumors in the industry that Mr. Yue is a ratings king but box-office poison. Because the films you starred in performed so poorly, even your former company, Huaxia Imperial Entertainment, was unwilling to promote you in films, which was why you jumped to Star Entertainment. But now it seems even Star Entertainment's resources couldn't save Mr. Yue's big-screen career. As expected, a person's fortune is not something others can envy."

Having his face slapped so directly, Yue Sennan's expression immediately darkened. He took a deep breath, seemingly suppressing his anger, and gave an unusually helpless bitter smile. "It seems Xiao Miao has quite a big issue with me. I've already said that the company's willingness to invest forty-five million in making a film for me was a decision made by the board of directors. It wasn't up to me. You really don't need to reject me so much. No matter what, we're colleagues, aren't we?"

Zhao Miao sneered at that and said without restraint, "Stop pretending to be innocent in front of me. Don't think I know nothing. But as your senior, I'll offer you one piece of advice: films and television dramas are very different. Even if you were once the ratings champion, that doesn't mean your fans are willing to spend money to see you in a movie theater. Don't get too impatient just because you're getting older, or the company will be the one losing money. Wen Nailing may be willing to spend forty-five million promoting you, but that doesn't mean she can afford to lose twenty million. If you really squander away what little capital she has, then her days as your financial backer will be over."

"Since we're in the same company, I can only remind you that you can't kill the chicken to get the eggs!"

There was far too much information in that statement. Not only Yue Sennan, but even the other actors in the VIP waiting lounge changed expressions.

Zhao Miao seemed completely unaware, raising his brows in feigned puzzlement. "Actually, I've always found it strange. I could never understand why you abandoned your former employer and moved to Star Entertainment. No matter what, you were promoted by Huaxia Imperial Entertainment, and the first film you acted in made money for the company. The box office of your later films wasn't good, but that was just bad timing. Huaxia Imperial Entertainment never said they were giving up on you. They only had you take television roles while attending artist training classes to hone your acting, and they never restricted you from taking outside film roles. So why did you choose to betray Huaxia Imperial Entertainment?"

Yue Sennan's expression was extremely unpleasant. He stared coldly at Zhao Miao and sneered. "It seems you have a very favorable impression of Huaxia Imperial Entertainment!"

"No one will believe such low-level provocation. Do you really think anyone will believe that you whispered in Wen Nailing's ear that I had privately contacted Huaxia Imperial Entertainment and would leave the company once my contract ended? No one here is stupid. At most, they're just using your existence to keep me in check. They think my temper is too big and I'm hard to control, but they're reluctant to let go of a cash cow like me. Of course they need someone to play the bad cop and someone to play the good cop to coax me along!" Zhao Miao sneered back. "Otherwise, why do you think the company executives passed over my film for someone like you? Do you really think it's because you're good at sweet-talking people? But things like that probably won't happen again. After all, no one is foolish enough to go against money."