His True Colors

Although contracts varied depending on one's status, the gap should not have been this outrageous. The production team clearly only wanted to make money and had no intention of taking responsibility.

After hearing that, Xiao Ming gave an inscrutable smile. He was handsome to begin with, and his smile was naturally beautiful too. His peach-blossom eyes curved upward, adding a few touches of flirtatious charm.

But the faint mockery in his expression made Producer Li feel as though his heart had been stabbed, leaving him utterly embarrassed.

"Not to mention that I'll be filming long-term afterward, the production team approached me because the traffic I brought in the first episode was high enough, wasn't it? Producer Li, if this is the sincerity your production team is showing in inviting me, then I'm sorry, but there's no need to continue this discussion." Xiao Ming remained calm throughout, not looking at all like someone who knew nothing about this.

The amusement in Qu An's eyes deepened. Exactly. He was a Peking University student, after all. How could he really be some little fool?

Of course, Producer Li could not simply let him leave. He had come with the task of making sure Xiao Ming signed on.

"Then what are your requirements?" Producer Li's form of address had changed, showing that he was finally taking Xiao Ming seriously.

"Even inflation causes prices to rise. Based on my current traffic, which is still climbing, a fee of two hundred thousand is still open to discussion. I hope the production team will openly tell me how this percentage is divided and how much the share is. I also want to retain the right to intervene if the production team maliciously edits my footage."

"Alright, I'll make a call and report this now. Please wait a moment, you two." Producer Li's palms were drenched in sweat, and he could barely hold onto his phone when he stood up.

"You're quite good at negotiating," Qu An said with a smile.

"I just don't understand the entertainment industry. It doesn't mean I don't understand anything. I've done several internships before and often ran into companies with contracts full of unfair terms. Besides, I studied economic law." His major required two professional internships as well as a graduation internship. Practice brought true knowledge; his learning had never been limited to bookish study.

"Very impressive." Qu An did not stint on praise.

"You flatter me." Xiao Ming said so, but there was a faint trace of pride in his eyes.

The smug little kitten seemed to be glowing, becoming even more adorable.

Producer Li returned before long. After discussing it with the others, he finalized a new contract. "The new contract will be delivered shortly. Take a look at what you'd like to eat. My treat, as an apology."

Neither of them stood on ceremony. It was already noon, and they had come out without eating.

By the time they had almost finished eating, the new contract arrived. Everything inside was clearly stated, with nothing unreasonable left. As for the pay, the base fee had been raised to five hundred thousand. Regarding the revenue share, based on the traffic he had individually brought in during the previous episode, his pay for the following episode would increase by ten percent of the traffic personally contributed by his screen time.

Xiao Ming thought that was normal too. The production team definitely had to make more money. Although his popularity was currently rising, there was no telling what would happen later. There were still ten episodes left to film, and this fee was already very high. Some guests probably did not even earn as much as he did.

Still, being willing to offer such a contract showed that the production team had high expectations for him. That was why they dared to pay him five hundred thousand per episode. It was practically like buying him out.

Once both sides reached an agreement, the contract was officially signed. Producer Li also reminded them that they would be heading to Yellow City the day after tomorrow to film the third episode.

Moreover, unlike the first two episodes, after urgent discussions, the production team had slightly altered the format for filming the third episode.

Originally, each episode was filmed first and then released after editing. Before then, viewers could only learn the episode's contents through the next episode's preview at most a week in advance.

This time, in order to salvage the impact caused by Yuan Yangming, the production team decided to test the waters with the third episode by livestreaming the hunters' perspective for an hour and a half through their cameras. However, footage of guests being successfully captured would be cut off immediately.

The production team did not want to reveal too much about the show, but they also wanted to whet the audience's appetite and make them watch with curiosity.

Once a filming location was confirmed, news of it would leak out. There were many fans and passersby who would scout the location in advance or visit afterward, so livestreaming only the hunters' perspective was still quite feasible.

And it would only last around an hour and a half, which was not long for a livestream. Although switching camera feeds behind the scenes would take more effort, why turn down something that could make money?

Qu An knew about this. The show had contacted Zhu Fei long ago and explained the situation to her.

After Xiao Ming confirmed that he would take on a regular role in the show, Qu An had also briefly told him about it.

Xiao Ming had calculated the approximate filming schedule for the remaining episodes. After school started, he might still need to film one or two episodes, but it should not affect him much.

He was a full-time graduate student in a three-year program, but he could complete all his courses early. There was no rush regarding research projects and the like.

He did not have many courses. If he packed them tightly, he could actually finish them all in half a year. After that, he would only need to complete his own research project. So there was no conflict in scheduling, and that was one reason he had agreed to take the remaining ten episodes of Full Speed Ahead!.

Since they would be going to film the show together, Qu An suggested that Xiao Ming stay another night.

Thinking that he was more comfortable in Qu An's home than at a hotel, Xiao Ming did not refuse.

Until they left, Qu An had not said anything in front of Producer Li. He looked as though he had merely come along to go through the motions and watch the show. But Producer Li, whose back was soaked in sweat, did not dare think so. Qu An was saying that Xiao Ming had his backing.

No matter what, the production team would have to weigh the relationship between the two of them. Producer Li had seen plenty of such things and simply assumed Qu An was keeping Xiao Ming, without considering anything else.

On the way back, Qu An kept looking at his phone. Xiao Ming assumed he had work to handle and did not disturb him. Once they got home, Qu An went straight back to his room to make a call.

Zhu Fei: "Qu An, I've managed you for ten years now, haven't I?"

Qu An: "Yes."

Zhu Fei took a deep breath before continuing from the other end of the line. "Tell me honestly. Are you interested in that Xiao Ming? Xiao Le told me that you went to look over his contract for him today. I already felt something was off when you ate with him, and then you had him stay at your home. I remember you being very territorial."

"Interested?" Qu An muttered to himself. "Sister Fei, I don't know either. I just think he's quite interesting."

There was silence on the other end for a moment before Zhu Fei spoke again. "How long have you known each other?"

Qu An: "Less than a month."

"Less than a month?!" Zhu Fei's voice rose. "Qu An, do you even understand him? What if he deliberately approached you? Your mother has told me about your situation too. I've watched you all these years, so I know. Your mother entrusted you to me, and I have the responsibility to look after you."

"Sister Fei..." Qu An sounded a little helpless. "I know what I'm doing."

"Fine, but if anything really happens, you have to tell me. Also, your follow-up appointment is next week. Don't forget, and don't make excuses not to go."

"I know." He was not particularly resistant to follow-up appointments. He simply felt they were unnecessary.

But... ever since meeting Xiao Ming, he seemed to have changed somewhat. He should go take a look next week after all.

After Xiao Le finished that call last night and informed Qu An in advance, he had left early today.

Now only Xiao Ming and Qu An remained in the house. What Xiao Ming was doing now was not something he could let others see—or rather, something Qu An could not know about.

After infiltrating the fan group, his deep understanding of Qu An, coupled with the extra videos, had already caught the attention of the fan club's upper management. He had also seen the fan club's recruitment notice for a financial officer.

The original financial officer could no longer continue due to personal reasons. Everyone in the fan club had their own duties, and it was difficult to pull anyone else over to fill the position, so they began recruiting again. Interested applicants had to contact the fan club's management first and undergo several rounds of review.

Xiao Ming easily passed the first few rounds, which covered his understanding of Qu An, his personal résumé, and his knowledge of fan club operations.

Their résumés did not require photos, perhaps to protect the fans' safety. They would only need to show their faces during the later interviews.

Xiao Ming smoothly advanced to the online interview. The online interview required the camera to be turned on, but masks were permitted. So after discussing the contract today, he completed that interview after returning in the evening and received a notice for the final in-person interview.

The in-person interview was scheduled for Yellow City, which happened to be the day the show was filming. Xiao Ming immediately knew it was because some of them planned to attend an offline event there, which was why they had set the interview there.

But that happened to save him a great deal of trouble, so he was happy to go along with it.

Xiao Le did not appear until the day they were leaving for Yellow City. Their flight from Yue City to Yellow City was at eight in the evening.

It was obviously the height of summer, yet Xiao Le appeared in a long-sleeved turtleneck that looked unbearably hot.

"Xiao Le, aren't you hot wearing so much?"

Xiao Le looked embarrassed, his face slightly red as he stammered that he was not hot.

Qu An's eyelid twitched. After so many years in the entertainment industry, even if he had never eaten pork, he had at least seen pigs run. He was not completely ignorant. Seeing Xiao Le like this, he immediately understood what had happened.

His usual smile vanished. With a hint of hostility, he sent someone a message.

[Qu An: Congratulations on winning him over.]

[Qu An: But could you not be so impatient?]

[Qu An: In his current condition, he can't go film the show with me.]

[Gu Wenjun: I don't want him going with you either, but he said it's his job. There's nothing I can do. I can't refuse my wife.]

[Gu Wenjun: Besides, I'm pretty aggrieved too, okay? I woke up early this morning and my wife was already gone.]

[Qu An: Take him away. I don't want people thinking I'm the kind of person who sleeps with his own assistant.]

[Gu Wenjun: Screw you. I'll take my wife away right now.]

Xiao Le's real name was Chen Anle. Before becoming Qu An's assistant, he had met Gu Wenjun by chance, and the two of them had always had a somewhat ambiguous relationship.