Chapter 50: Chapter 49 The Number 1 Female Artist

The car reached the Second Ring Road.

Bai Xin hurriedly ran out; she had to rush to play a female Ba Lu soldier who gets directly sacrificed to a bomb.

All she got to do was show her face.

The pay was three hundred a day, a true small-time actor.

Before she left, she even said, “Goodbye, uncle.”

The cruel passage of time indeed; He who once was the middle school bully, had now become the “uncle” in others’ mouths.

He really knew only two people in the entertainment circle.

One was Zhao Liying, and the other was Director Yang Jiancheng.

In the entertainment industry, you can’t just find projects to invest in with money alone.

Good projects are even scarcer resources and for someone like him with no connections in the entertainment industry, calling him a newbie wasn’t an overstatement.

What’s more, the little over a hundred million in his pocket was nothing worth mentioning in the industry.

Any slightly famous person has their little goals.

First, he needed to find an office space.

It was definite he couldn’t afford, nor was there any need, to rent an entire building.

After much consideration, he still rented a place at the most concentrated area of high-rise buildings in Capital City.

CBD.

This area was also the Capital City business center, a gathering place of big shots.

Chen Pingsheng rented a modest five hundred square meters office at a high price in Guomao Building and officially established Tengying Entertainment.

The main reason for renting here was convenience.

Right next door were the “two underpants.”

The CCTV Headquarters Building.

And Capital City’s tallest building, CITIC Tower.

Also known as the CITIC Group Headquarters Building, standing 528 meters tall.

Only in such a place could one truly feel small.

His office might have been rented out, and the location was luxurious, but from the boss to the cleaning lady, it was just him for now.

Tengying Entertainment, as the name implied, was primarily about investment in the entertainment industry.

Chen Pingsheng, having nothing to do, sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling window and took the initiative to call Yang Jiancheng, informing him that he had arrived in the Second Ring and it would be convenient for him to come over.

He then called Zhao Liying, whom he hadn’t been in touch with for a long time, and decided to discuss the future investment work of Tengying Entertainment after they arrived.

Specific details on how to proceed.

Zhao Liying arrived quite quickly; she had bought herself a small Mercedes-Benz.

As long as one can take the lead in the entertainment industry, the income is quite high.

It’s not a big deal to buy a car or house after one drama.

Star quality nurtures people, and Zhao Liying had already shed her initial greenness and became a somewhat famous artist in the industry.

“Chen,”

“Liying, look, thanks to you, your brother Chen has also started an entertainment company.”

Zhao Liying’s smile was still sweet, and her great rapport with the audience was for a reason.

It really warms the heart.

“That’s great.”

Zhao Liying sat down casually across from him, and Chen Pingsheng poured her a cup of tea.

“Liying, that Legend of Lu Zhen you’re in is about to finish shooting, right?”

“Yes, Director Yang is quite efficient, and it’ll definitely wrap up in another month,” she replied.

Zhao Liying then asked him, “Chen, are you opening this entertainment company to sign and cultivate your own artists, or just for investment?”

“Is there a difference?” he asked.

“The difference is quite significant.”

Zhao Liying explained, “If you’re only looking to invest, then once the TV drama airs, it will have nothing to do with you. But if you sign the talent, should this TV show become a hit, your company can take the lion’s share of the artist’s subsequent commercial performances, endorsements, and the like. Even if this artist takes on other TV shows later, your company would still take at least half of their fee, ensuring a steady stream of income.”

Nurturing talent certainly brings high income, but he simply didn’t know how.

Chen Pingsheng said, “As you know, I used to be a street vendor who also helped people move in my spare time. I don’t really know much about the entertainment industry, let alone managing artists.”

“Chen, I, Zhao Liying, hope to become the first artist under your banner. I hope you won’t look down on me,” Zhao Liying stood up and said very earnestly.

Without him, Chen Pingsheng, she might still be wandering about playing bit parts.

People should be grateful. In the past six months, many big companies had wanted to sign her, but she hadn’t agreed because of him.

Chen Pingsheng waved his hand to refuse, “Don’t be silly. With my little knowledge and household, I’m afraid I might hold you back if you join me.”

“Chen, don’t be too modest. You may not know much about the entertainment circle now, but give yourself some time, and I believe you’ll do better than anyone.”

“Do you believe in me that much?”

“Absolutely.”

Zhao Liying cracked a smile, “Chen, didn’t you grow Tengsheng Dried Fruits so big in just a year?”

“The entertainment industry is just like that; it’s mainly about finding good scripts and directors, and then finding people who truly want to be actors. It definitely won’t be harder than selling dried fruits.”

“You make me feel confident.”

Chen Pingsheng laughed, “We’re not strangers to each other, and since you believe in me, I certainly can’t let you down. Here’s what we’ll do: any scripts you are interested in, I’ll invest in. For any role you star in, the company will only take ten percent of the fee, and whoever you want to collaborate with, we’ll make it happen.”

Three conditions fully affirmed Zhao Liying’s independence at Tengying Entertainment.

Such terms are unprecedented in any company.

He was fully empowering her. For the things he didn’t know, there was no need to force himself; he’d let the professionals handle it.

Zhao Liying didn’t expect to receive such preferential treatment just upon joining.

The first condition fully ensured she could freely choose scripts in the future.

More importantly, Tengying would invest in whatever she set her sights on.

This was unheard of for any artist in the industry.

The second term naturally assured her of definite income.

No company takes as little as ten percent, no matter how popular the artist is.

The third condition goes without saying; the worst fear for an actor is finding a good script, only to have a non-talented, popular star shoved in by capital as a co-star.

In such cases, despite all her efforts, failure would be inevitable.

With these three conditions, she would be an absolutely unique presence in the entertainment industry.

“Chen, let’s hurry up and sign the contract. You’re not allowed to back out.”

“Don’t rush. I have a small gift for you first,” Chen Pingsheng asked, “Where are you living now?”

“I bought a small apartment here,” she replied.

“My sister-in-law has become obsessed with flipping properties recently. So, I’ll have her buy a luxurious flat for you in Shijingshan as a signing gift. That way, we can be neighbors in the future.”

Chen Pingsheng called Song Yanxi; he wanted to emulate Liu Bei.

He could only imitate him, after all, as he truly didn’t understand the entertainment industry.

Even with Golden Finger’s assistance, it would be difficult for Tengying Entertainment to truly flourish without a female Zhuge Liang to strategize.

A luxury flat in Wujingshan would cost at most six or seven million, a drop in the bucket compared to the future earnings of a big star.

For Tengying Entertainment’s first female artist to live in a small apartment?

That wouldn’t do at all.

As the saying goes, no pain, no gain.

Zhao Liying was floored by his grand offer.

The key matter was, she didn’t even know when she had become so valuable.

She was just a little-known actress, not even third-tier yet.

“If that’s how you run your business, I could live off you for a lifetime.”