The Dinner Party

"If I remember right, Jade Steps Ode was shelved for two years, wasn't it? Xiaobai, do you regret it?" Zou Yan joked. "You nearly became a top star."

"No," Xie Yibai said openly. "Looking at things now, I'm no worse than those two, am I?"

"That's true." Zou Yan couldn't stop smiling at him.

With the pleasantries over, Yin Ran asked, "Yibai, why do you want to change agents?"

Xie Yibai had a clear reason for changing agents. His current agent was conservative in his thinking and mediocre in both vision and ability, making him inadequate to support Xie Yibai's career plans for the next five years. He wanted someone better, someone who could help him reach greater heights. He explained this clearly to her.

"Mm, I like ambitious young people, but Yibai, what do you mean by reaching greater heights?" Yin Ran looked at him. "You're already very successful as a television actor. You have lots of fans, the general public likes you, and audiences respond to your work. Every drama you make has a reliable baseline of views, and the projects seeking you out could keep you booked for the next ten years. What part of your current situation are you dissatisfied with?"

"I don't want to act in idol dramas anymore," Xie Yibai said with a wry smile. "People can't stay young forever."

He didn't want to go from playing a senior disciple to playing a master, then a sect leader or an elder.

"You understand what happens to actors of my type. If we don't seize the chance to change direction, sooner or later we'll be replaced."

"So changing direction is what you personally want, not a target or plan the company has set for you?"

"It's absolutely what I want."

Resting her chin on her hand, Yin Ran said, "Being known for your acting skills is hard work. Are you sure?"

Xie Yibai said, "I'm determined."

"As long as you have the will, and your efforts live up to your talent, I believe you'll succeed." Yin Ran's gaze suddenly sharpened, and a smile curved her gorgeous red lips. "If you want me to develop your acting career from here on, let's be clear about one thing first: my commission isn't low."

When Xie Yibai renewed his contract with Dusk Star Entertainment two years ago, he had negotiated an upgrade. He had the right to entrust matters in specific areas to independent agents. For instance, an outside specialist team had handled his commercial and fashion opportunities over the past two years.

However, his personal studio operated under the company, and the film and television projects brought to him were still under its control. Which parts of his representation Yin Ran wanted to take over, and what percentage she would receive, would have to be discussed in person with his boss, President Hao. His lawyer would also have to be present.

A traffic star was a highly sought-after asset, and competing for control of his film and television work was no different from snatching food from a tiger's jaws. Hao Jun wouldn't agree to it, but Zou Yan was the one behind the arrangement. Out of respect for him, if not for anyone else, Hao Jun would have to consider it. After all, in business, harmony brought wealth.

Hao Jun had already given his tacit approval for Xie Yibai to meet Yin Ran in private. Xie Yibai was genuinely curious what terms Zou Yan had offered to make his boss, who was shrewder than a monkey, willing to give up a piece of the pie in exchange.

Because Yin Ran had to rush off to a reception, the meeting ended after a short while. Zou Yan drove him home, and while they were stopped at a traffic light, he said, "It wasn't much. Doesn't your company produce its own dramas? Long-form video has been on the decline these past few years, and the platforms are losing their shirts year after year. No kind of drama is easy to sell, so I promised to help him package and sell them."

Xie Yibai said in surprise, "Our company has it that bad? If long-form dramas aren't doing well, why are so many new ones still going into production every year?"

Zou Yan said, "Someone always makes money. Besides, there are so many mouths to feed in this business. If productions don't start filming, what's everyone supposed to live on?"

"That doesn't sound promising. Is it the same with movies?"

"There's a difference. The return rates aren't the same. Say I invest a total of 200 million in a thirty-five-episode drama and sell it to platforms and TV stations. The return rate is 200 to 300 percent at most; the absolute most I can make is three times my investment. But if I make a movie with the same budget, its box office could be ten or twenty times that."

Xie Yibai said, "So everyone makes movies for money?"

"Sure. If not for money, what else? Art?" Zou Yan said self-mockingly. "High returns mean high risks. Everyone fights to get in, but not many can stay. Take your company's in-house dramas: as long as they sell, your boss can recover his investment. It's just a question of how much he makes, and even if they flop, the platform covers the loss. Of course, a lot of platforms have been burned so badly by losses that they only pay half upfront now. The balance isn't paid until the drama meets performance targets after airing. Movies, on the other hand, have no safety net when they lose money. Tens or hundreds of millions going down the drain is a common occurrence. That's why you'll notice that no matter how badly a TV drama flops, people can keep making them. But if a movie flops, both the director and the actors take a serious hit. Those who have faded from the spotlight or aren't big names may not get any work for years afterward."

Xie Yibai couldn't help remembering his youth campus movie, which had received a rating of 4.6 and performed miserably at the box office. No wonder no one had asked him to make another movie since. Breaking out in a sweat, he said, "Aren't you talking about me...?"

"Haha, that's how it works anyway, but don't worry. My movies never lose money," Zou Yan said proudly. "So what if it's an art film? Our art is worth money."

Xie Yibai had never met anyone more decisive than Zou Yan. Trusting the way Zou Yan handled things, he couldn't help confiding something that had been weighing on his mind. "Brother Yan, changing agents isn't the only thing troubling me lately."

Traffic had backed up. Zou Yan drove into the long line of cars, then rolled down the window, took both hands off the steering wheel, and turned to look at him seriously. "What's troubling you?"

Chapter 14: The Dinner Party

Xie Yibai's trouble was Xing Zhanyun.

When Xing Zhanyun didn't show up, he could pretend the man didn't exist, but sooner or later they were bound to meet.

The following evening, he would attend a private dinner as a brand ambassador. The organizers would seat him at a table with senior management and VIC clients.

He was ninety percent sure that as long as he showed up, Xing Zhanyun would come along to join the fun.

An event he couldn't decline and a meeting he couldn't avoid added up to a great deal of pressure for Xie Yibai. He was someone who hated trouble, and he lacked the resolve to make a harsh declaration and cut things off cleanly. His vague, lingering attitude always made people think they had a chance, and perhaps that was why Xing Zhanyun never gave up on him.

If only the answer to every question were "yes" or "no," and all he had to do was nod or shake his head. But the world was complicated, and a person's nature wasn't something that could be changed at will. Whenever Xie Yibai ran into a thorny problem, he relied on others to advise him.

Zou Yan was the opposite kind of person.

In response to the trouble he had confided, Zou Yan said, "Can't you just turn him down to his face?"

"I have turned him down, but he keeps pestering me. Blocking him doesn't help either. His family has spoiled him rotten, and he won't respond to reason or pressure. I don't dare offend him, either." Xie Yibai put on a tormented expression, his head drooping softly, all fluffy like a wilting dandelion.

He had inherited not only his mother's beauty, but also the same timid expression she wore when showing vulnerability. Beautiful people had their colors, and his base color was pure white. Sometimes he was bright and radiant as a pearl; at others, he was dull and covered in dust. What never changed was how delicate, gentle, approachable, and endearing he was.

Like jade, but not lifeless, Zou Yan thought. His heart and voice softened together as he said, "Then shall I talk to him?"

"If only he'd listen to reason." Once Xie Yibai reached a certain level of frustration, he would bounce back from rock bottom, his words turning sharp. "He's not even as sensible as Little Biscuit."

"Little Biscuit?"

"My puppy."

Zou Yan burst out laughing and comforted him. "All right, all right. I'll go with you tomorrow night. He can't do anything to you."

Xie Yibai liked being reassured. This must be what people online called emotional value. He nodded and said, "Yeah! But Brother Yan, do you have an invitation?"

Traffic started moving, and Zou Yan turned his attention back to the road. "It's just an invitation. I can get in without one."

Later, Xie Yibai thought it over again. He didn't really expect Zou Yan to do anything for him; all he wanted was this kind of emotional support.

The nature of Zou Yan's work meant he couldn't completely separate business from his personal life. Just like his efforts to win Xie Yibai over and pursue him, it was both his career and a matter of his tastes and feelings. He was destined to be constantly on the move and worrying all day, but honestly, the person who caused him the most sleepless nights had always been the one he trusted most.

When Sheng Ke received word that he was going to skip work, he didn't reply. He called him directly.

"What is it? Going off to date again?"

"I haven't started dating him yet, so I need to try harder."

"What are you going to do this time?" Sheng Ke couldn't quite accept that after pouring in so much effort and resources, Zou Yan still had to play the lowly simp so often seen in romantic relationships, accompanying the person who had all the advantages to do things described as romantic but spelled boring.

"Attend a dinner party," Zou Yan said, revealing his real intention. "If I remember right, you're pretty close with that brand's head of Asia-Pacific, aren't you?"

The fashion industry liked to team up with movie stars to build brand images. Sheng Ke was the most influential young director of the moment, and his looks were no worse than a star's. He had gained a batch of fans for his looks as soon as he debuted, and a luxury brand had admired his talent and appearance and invited him to shoot a short perfume commercial.

The finished film had delighted the artistic director and also led to personal friendships between Sheng Ke and that circle of executives.

But that had been a couple of years ago. Sheng Ke said, "I haven't been in touch with them for a long time."

"Get me an invitation. I'm counting on you."

"You're accompanying him to a dinner party, and he won't even give you an invitation?"

Zou Yan said reproachfully, "Are we brothers or not? You have to make excuses over a little favor like this?"

Sheng Ke gave a cold laugh and hung up.

Zou Yan looked at his phone screen but didn't call again. A few hours later, Sheng Ke sent him a screenshot on WeChat showing that it was done. After all, Zou Yan was a prominent producer, and his family background and status made him a member of high society. Giving him an invitation wouldn't reflect badly on them. It was clearly a small matter, a favor that took hardly any effort, and he didn't know why Sheng Ke was putting on airs.

But in life, actions mattered more than intentions. Anyone who helped him out was a true bro.

Zou Yan happily went to message Xie Yibai: I have an invitation. See you tomorrow

Xie Yibai: Wow! You got it already? You're amazing, Brother Yan! /thumbs-up

Zou Yan was overjoyed. He immediately forwarded the message to Sheng Ke, adding: Hehe, he said I'm amazing /playful