CHAPTER 9
Rewinding time back half an hour.
Qin Yinong pushed the door open and entered. As the owner of the studio, she naturally didn't have to follow the usual protocol of reporting in.
An Ling was on the phone, and upon seeing Qin Yinong enter, she nodded slightly, gesturing for her to wait for a moment. Qin Yinong sat on the couch and waited. Guan Han, who was also waiting nearby, said to An Ling's assistant, "A glass of warm water."
The assistant went to the water dispenser to get the water. As she stood next to Qin Yinong, she sensed her sharp gaze constantly falling on her, making her feel uneasy.
She was just a small assistant!
Every time she poured water for Qin Yinong, she would be stared at like this for a while. Sometimes even An Ling would join in. Could it be that they were afraid she would poison the water?!
The assistant absurdly thought in her mind, while maintaining a respectful and composed expression, placing the glass of warm water on the coffee table in front of Qin Yinong.
Qin Yinong smiled politely with curved eyebrows and eyes. "Thank you."
An Ling's assistant wasn't used to being seen by her often, and her resistance was not that strong. Her face flushed slightly for a moment, and she shyly and softly said, "You're welcome."
An Ling, who happened to glance over her phone at the moment, raised an eyebrow: "..."
She's messing around with her everywhere again!
Frustrated, she waved her hand to dismiss the assistant, preventing the scene of a big bad wolf teasing a little white rabbit from unfolding in front of her.
"I have something to discuss with you." An Ling finished her tasks and sat on the single sofa next to Qin Yinong. She cleared her throat and assumed a posture ready for a lengthy discussion.
Qin Yinong showed a respectful attitude. "Go ahead."
She and An Ling had a cooperative partnership. Six years ago, when Qin Yinong had established a foothold in the entertainment industry and resolved some legal disputes, her mentor, Director Han Yuping, who had introduced her to the film industry, suggested that she find a manager. It was challenging to go solo, and it would be a distraction. So he recommended An Ling, who had recently left a famous media company.
An Ling was a well-known top-tier manager in the industry. Due to some unpleasant incidents with her previous company, she had become weary of the industry and had been on vacation for a while. When An Ling met Qin Yinong, they instantly hit it off. Like business professionals, they openly discussed the terms, and both were satisfied, so they decided to collaborate.
An Ling was responsible for negotiating resources for Qin Yinong, while Qin Yinong focused on acting and earning money, giving An Ling a commission. Later, when the studio began signing new artists, An Ling became the head of the artist management department, overseeing the overall operations and alleviating many of Qin Yinong's concerns from behind the scenes.
"Your B&H endorsement is expiring soon, and there is interest from France to renew the contract. We need you to fly to Paris in the near future to sign the renewal contract and shoot a new promotional video. They want to feature it on their official website, but the exact dates haven't been finalized yet." An Ling read the first item from the folder she was holding.
Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow. "Are the contract terms the same as before? I remember their financial report last year was particularly impressive. They ranked sixth or fifth in BrandZ's list of the top ten global retail brands?"
"Fifth, they moved up two spots." An Ling replied. "So I renegotiated the terms for you."
Qin Yinong flashed a faint smile, indicating for her to continue.
An Ling continued reading.
Apart from being on set filming movies, Qin Yinong's schedule was filled with magazine shoots, advertising endorsements, attending business events, and private dinners—these were the main tasks assigned by An Ling.
Although Qin Yinong gained considerable fame in the first few years of her career, resources were scarce. After all, no one wants to endorse products with a tainted artist.
When she entered the film industry and won the Golden Laurel Award for Best Actress with her first art film, "Hazy," people started speculating about her alleged improper relationship with the already-married director, Han Yuping. It was even said that the jury awarded her the prize out of respect for Han Yuping's reputation. The most outrageous claim was that she had seduced all the jury members with her body, turning it into the "biggest scandal in the history of the Golden Laurel Awards." Ironically, despite the criticism that the jury had been bribed, Qin Yinong was the only one to bear the brunt of the accusations.
However, shortly after the Golden Laurel Awards ceremony, "Hazy" was nominated in the main competition section of the Venice International Film Festival, and Qin Yinong was also nominated for Best Actress. Overnight, the same media outlets and crowds that had previously mocked and ridiculed her suddenly suffered from collective amnesia. They either remained silent or started praising her as a shining star of Chinese cinema. In the end, "Hazy" returned empty-handed, and the media once again performed a drastic change in their tone, viciously criticizing her.
Afterwards, Qin Yinong went on a winning streak at domestic award ceremonies, winning her second, third, fourth... glittering trophies filled her cabinet. At the age of twenty-four, she stepped onto the awards stage at the Cannes International Film Festival, becoming the youngest Cannes Best Actress in the history of Chinese cinema.
The news spread throughout the country, causing a nationwide sensation.
The domestic media went crazy, and on the day she returned to the country, the airport was packed with people. Qin Yinong was tightly protected by several bodyguards as she faced relentless pursuit from the media. She remained silent, hurriedly leaving the scene.
Even though Qin Yinong ignored them, the domestic media spontaneously sang praises for her achievements. They listed her astonishing progress in just two years, sparing no compliments. Their genuine emotions made it seem as if Qin Yinong was the ultimate muse in their hearts, rather than the fallen woman they had criticized just a few days ago.
It wasn't until six months later that she publicly accepted an interview with a reputable and authoritative media outlet. When asked about the impact of the public criticism on her in recent years, Qin Yinong maintained a graceful smile and replied, "It didn't have any impact. I am an actress, and I just want to focus on doing my job well." After a brief pause, she added softly, "They were wrong, not me."
Qin Yinong's resources came from the honor she earned through one film after another and one trophy after another. From domestic to international recognition, her name and larger-than-life posters adorned the walls of commercial centers around the world. The sparkling glass display windows showcased her achievements, making her a household name, known by everyone.
An Ling finished speaking and handed the folder to Guan Han. Guan Han was responsible for organizing Qin Yinong's schedule.
When it came to endorsements, Qin Yinong remembered something and let out a soft sigh, furrowing her brows slightly. "Can we possibly raise Yaoyao's title for that jewelry brand? Just a little bit higher?"
An Ling's eyes widened, looking at her with a shocked expression that seemed to say, "You must be joking with me."
Pretending not to understand, Qin Yinong blinked and said, "Why not?"
An Ling held back her anger for a moment but couldn't contain it any longer. She lowered her voice and said, "Do you know that R&D never looks for spokespersons in China? Do you know how hard I fought for her to secure this opportunity? Do you know that her current title is the spokesperson for the entire Chinese region? She's already the first and only one, and you want to raise it even higher? Do you want her to become the global spokesperson? Who do you think you are, Qin, the renowned actress?"
An Ling sneered and laughed in frustration. "Either you're crazy, or I'm the crazy one. You choose."
"I'm the crazy one." Qin Yinong sheepishly touched her nose and smiled, trying to please her. "I was just asking, I didn't mean that she had to be promoted."
An Ling: "Hmph."
Qin Yinong sighed and chuckled, adopting a negotiating tone. "If not globally, then do you think there's a chance for her to be the spokesperson for the Asia-Pacific region?"
An Ling was infuriated and turned to leave.
Qin Yinong quickly grabbed her arm and said, "I was just asking, I was just asking."
An Ling sat back down again and scoffed, "Alright, I know you. You're always trying to get benefits for her through me."
Qin Yinong pretended to sigh, "Since she's with me now, I can't just give her nothing, can I?"
"What do you mean by giving her nothing? That lousy manager of hers, besides making her go out and accompany people with drinks and smiles, taking on some insignificant roles, what use is she? Her movies, her endorsements, her advertisements, her magazine covers, which one of those wasn't given by you?" An Ling sneered. She had been in the industry for so long, well aware of these unspoken rules, and Qin Yinong was a model example of a benefactor in the entertainment world.
Qin Yinong chuckled lightly and corrected her, "It was given by you. You've worked hard. An, aren't you tired? Shall I give you a massage or knead your shoulders?"
An Ling clicked her tongue, "Stop flattering me, it's annoying." But the corners of her lips silently curled up.
Qin Yinong's eyes slightly curved, seizing the opportunity to strike while the iron was hot. She said, "Manager An, regarding Yaoyao being the spokesperson for the Asia-Pacific region..."
Tang Ruoyao had just won the Best Actress award, so there was still a chance to negotiate her conditions. Of course, it was mainly because of An Ling's extensive connections. Over the years, they had achieved success together, and their networks had expanded compared to before.
An Ling looked away from her, then glanced at her again, with a meaningful look in her eyes.
Qin Yinong locked eyes with her, feeling inexplicably uneasy.
An Ling smirked and asked, "Are you really so concerned about her? Do you really treat her as your kept lover?"
An Ling had long suspected that all of Qin Yinong's schedules were arranged by her. With limited personal time, she either visited her family or met with Tang Ruoyao, her little lover. It was Tang Ruoyao this, Tang Ruoyao that, and it made An Ling's ears calloused. Who treats their benefactor like this? In her opinion, there was clearly a deep emotional attachment.
Qin Yinong shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah."
An Ling cared even less and shrugged her shoulders. "No chance of being the spokesperson for the Asia-Pacific region then. After all, she's just a little lover. No need to allocate such high-level resources for her."
The corner of Qin Yinong's mouth twitched.
An Ling raised an eyebrow and calmly crossed her arms, looking at Qin Yinong.
The nonchalant smile on Qin Yinong's face gradually disappeared, and she looked at her manager, An Ling, with a serious tone as she said each word, "She is the person I like."
An Ling understood, and at the same time, she felt a sense of relief. "I knew-"
"Manager An," Qin Yinong gently interrupted her. After saying those words, she returned to her carefree demeanor. She elegantly crossed her slender legs, rested an arm on the back of the sofa, lazily propped her forehead with her hand, and let out a shallow yawn, chuckling. "Did you just want to hear those words from my mouth?"
An Ling: "..."
Indeed she did, but Qin Yinong's behavior made her doubt whether provoking her was right or wrong.
"You've heard it." Qin Yinong tugged at the corner of her lips, a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "So can we skip this topic?" She paused, her eyelashes drooping slightly. With a hint of weariness, she added, "Regarding Yaoyao's endorsements, I hope you can fight for more opportunities for her."
An Ling suddenly felt a twinge of regret.
Her mind quickly raced, and as Qin Yinong's aura grew increasingly subdued, a spark of inspiration flashed in her mind. Yes!
"Scripts!" An Ling said. "There have been quite a few scripts looking for you. Do you want to take a look?"
"Are there any genres that I haven't done before?" Qin Yinong perked up a bit at the mention of scripts and casually asked.
Qin Yinong was known for her prolific output, so over the years, she had acted in numerous types of films. An Ling quickly ran through them in her mind and blurted out, "Yes. But..."
"But what?"
An Ling walked back to her desk and bent down to retrieve a stack of printed A4 papers from a drawer. "You can take a look for yourself."
Intrigued by An Ling's mysterious demeanor, Qin Yinong's curiosity was piqued, and she flipped open the first page of the script.
After reading the character descriptions and relationships on the first page, Qin Yinong burst into laughter and exclaimed, "I've never acted in a film like this before."
It turned out to be a same-sex themed film, and to make it more taboo, it involved a forbidden teacher-student relationship.
——————
A little entertainment industry knowledge:
Levels of brand ambassadors: In terms of regions, Global Ambassador > Asia-Pacific Ambassador > Greater China Ambassador > China Ambassador
Based on products: Overall Ambassador > Sub-line Ambassador > Series Ambassador > Product Ambassador
In the story, China is referred to as Huaxia. Tang Yaoyao's title is the Greater China Brand Overall Ambassador, which is extremely prestigious. Without a sponsor, she wouldn't be able to secure such a high-profile position. ﹁_﹁
PS: All brands mentioned in the story are fictional, and the characters have no real-life counterparts. Please do not relate them to reality.
MZNRGN's Note:
5 new chapters release today because why not! Enjoy reading^^
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