Dressed As a Cannon Fodder For the Rich and Powerful
CH 22
Translate by Hua
Chapter 22
Hearing Yu Xiaosheng’s words, Qi Xiaoyu raised his eyebrows.
Yu Xiaosheng then whispered, “It’s Orange Juice Entertainment. They want to discuss cooperation with you.”
Qi Xiaoyu stood there, frowning and thinking for a while, then nodded to Yu Xiaosheng and made an okay gesture.
He’s not a god who doesn’t eat earthly food, so how can he not take the money that was delivered to him?
This is unlike magazines, which only take a few cover shots at most and have a limited audience.
But if they discuss cooperation with Orange Juice Entertainment and can obtain resources from them, the benefits and exposure will be much higher.
Now that they have taken the initiative to extend an olive branch, it would be a waste not to take such resources.
After all, Qi Xiaoyu was going to earn money by taking the path of acting. He wouldn’t have a problem with money.
Since Qi Xiaoyu has already agreed, the next matters were easy to discuss.
The two sides immediately agreed that it would be better to meet tomorrow morning to discuss cooperation.
The attitude of the other party was so polite that Yu Xiaosheng was the first to hang up the phone after the discussion.
Before hanging up, they were still trying to curry favor with Qi Xiaoyu: “We will send a driver to pick you and Mr. Qi up tomorrow. We will also host the lunch, so if you and Mr. Qi have any dietary restrictions, just let us know.”
Then came a bunch of flattering words: “I’m really sorry to trouble you and Mr. Qi to come here with your busy schedules. It’s really an honor for our company to cooperate with Mr. Qi.”
After Yu Xiaosheng hung up the phone, he had goosebumps all over his body. He bared his teeth and made a distressed expression. “What’s wrong with everyone? What kind of drug did they take?”
He imitated the tone of the person on the phone just now and choked out, “It’s an honor for our company to be able to cooperate with Mr. Qi.”
Then he looked at Qi Xiaoyu with doubtful eyes and asked, “Do you think this is really someone from Orange Juice Entertainment? Why is it so like a scammer? Orange Juice Entertainment has its back against a big tree and never looks people in the eye. Can they really say something like that?”
He shook his head vigorously as he spoke. “This whole thing always felt strange somewhere; is there really a time when pie falls from the sky?””
During Yu Xiaosheng’s self-directed and self-acted period, Qi Xiaoyu’s mind was spinning very fast, and he had already guessed what was going on.
He patted Yu Xiaosheng on the shoulder and said, “Brother Yu, let’s go. Don’t think so much. Go back and call the front desk of Orange Juice Entertainment to check the number and ask if there is such a person.”
Yu Xiaosheng looked at Qi Xiaoyu and smiled. “Your brain is turning pretty fast now, kid.”
Qi Xiaoyu didn’t reply; he was concerned about other things. “What kind of cooperation does Orange Juice Entertainment talk about?”
“Probably one advertisement, several variety shows, and TV dramas.”
Qi Xiaoyu thought for a while and then asked, “What’s the price I’m getting for taking these now?”
Yu Xiaosheng glanced at Qi Xiaoyu with a slightly incomprehensible expression. “The advertisements are around 500k168246.35 to 600k; the variety show is probably 100k213649.27 an episode; and for the TV series, it’s probably between 50k to 100k per episode as well.”
“Oh”, Qi Xiaoyu nodded and couldn’t help asking, “How much does a villa in the western suburbs of this city cost? Do you know?”
Yu Xiaosheng glanced at Qi Xiaoyu again and said jokingly, “The villa in the western suburbs is worth at least 100 million, ok? So you had your eyes on that place. The villas there are not only expensive but also not something that ordinary people can buy. Without a net worth of one billion or so, people won’t sell it. With your current assets, you’d better act a little humble. Don’t try to be fat in one bite.”
Qi Xiaoyu didn’t answer. He calculated silently in his mind. He had to pay back 20 million to Xun Qian and spend another 100 million to buy a villa. However, he only received 500k for an advertisement and 100k for a variety show. Not counting the money allocated to the agency… If he can’t become a top star, it seems that the road to making money is still quite far.
“Take it easy,” Yu Xiaosheng said in a drawn-out tone.
“When you become a big name like Tang Yuning, Lu Shanshan, and Qi Moli, you can earn 10 million from an advertisement and 20 million from a variety show, then you can start thinking about a villa in the western suburbs.”
*****
The next day, he went to discuss cooperation with the people from Orange Juice Entertainment.
The other party sent a car to the gate of Star Entertainment to pick up Qi Xiaoyu and Yu Xiaosheng, as they said on the phone.
The driver, wearing snow-white gloves, got off the shiny Bentley and opened the door for Qi Xiaoyu.
Zheng Zhengyi, the general manager of the Orange Juice Entertainment Artists Department, smiled and invited the two of them in.
The other party not only had a good attitude and thoughtful service but also provided a generous resource package, including an advertisement for a milk brand, a variety show on satellite TV, and two IP dramas.
Zheng Zhengyi looked at Qi Xiaoyu’s face during the whole process and said, “This banana milk commercial was shot in collaboration with Xue Qingchu. After the shooting, the promotion was very intensive.”
Xue Qingchu is a young flower of the new generation. In the past two years, she has filmed several popular idol dramas.
“This variety show is produced by Longjiang Satellite TV. It’s a laid-back show in which the guests run restaurants while traveling. Mr. Qi, see if you have any ideas to join.”
After introducing the above resources, Zheng Zhengyi pushed the materials of two TV series in front of Qi Xiaoyu, saying, “These are all projects invested in by our Orange Juice Entertainment. The male and female protagonists and some roles have already been determined, which is quite difficult to change. So you can take a look at the rest of the roles and pick whatever you like.”
Zheng Zhengyi’s attitude was respectful, without any flaws. People who don’t know may think that he is Party B and Qi Xiaoyu is the sponsor.
He rubbed his hands together and looked at Qi Xiaoyu. “Look, Mr. Qi, what happened before was really all a misunderstanding. A great man rarely stoops to the pettiness of the villain’s mistakes. Please don’t take it to heart. We will arrange for Gu Lei to apologize to you right away.”
Qi Xiaoyu showed a polite and business-like smile but did not answer directly. He said in an ambiguous tone, “It’s hard on you, Manager Zheng.”
He has dealt with all kinds of people, and he knows how to handle the weaknesses of this kind of person best. He can’t appear uninterested, and he can’t show too much gratitude. There must be a little gratitude in it and a sense of distance.
Yu Xiaosheng licked his back molars with his tongue and sat down next to Qi Xiaoyu in the posture of a big brother, trying his best to cooperate with Qi Xiaoyu’s performance.
After getting in touch these days, he feels more and more that Qi Xiaoyu is not only different from before but also mature and sophisticated. From the interview in Youth Weekly to meeting the people from Orange Juice Entertainment today, he originally wanted to advise Qi Xiaoyu on how to deal with it, but looking at the current situation, Qi Xiaoyu is completely at ease and can handle it himself.
After Zheng Zhengyi gave the resources, Qi Xiaoyu and Yu Xiaosheng discussed it and decided to take the banana milk ad next. It took less time to shoot the ad, and the results were quick. The price given by Orange Juice Entertainment was 800K, higher than Yu Xiaosheng’s estimation yesterday.
The 800k is divided into two parts, half for the company and half for Qi Xiaoyu.
This is already a large amount of income for Qi Xiaoyu at the moment.
For variety shows, Qi Xiaoyu also agreed to get in touch with the program team first.
Whether it’s getting along with people while traveling or cooking and running a restaurant, it’s something Qi Xiaoyu is good at, and a good performance can capture a lot of fans.
Only TV dramas can’t be decided for the time being. They have to read the script first before making a decision. After all, it takes a long time to be on the crew to make a drama. If the script and characters chosen are not good, it will be a waste of time.
Saying goodbye to Zheng Zhengyi and on the way back to the company, Yu Xiaosheng couldn’t help but ask, “That variety show is good. It aired for one season this year, and the effect is not bad, but you can get a lot of fans if you can cook. Do you know how to cook?”
“Of course.” Qi Xiaoyu smiled. “Don’t believe me? Shall I cook for you next time?”
Yu Xiaosheng pulled down the corners of his mouth on both sides with a look of disbelief. After a while, he said, “I still don’t feel real. Today is the easiest cooperation I’ve had in over ten years. Which resource wasn’t torn apart in the past? Today is too fast; it’s as fast as a dream.”
After he finished speaking, he turned his head to look at Qi Xiaoyu. His eyes became sharper. “Xiao Yu, tell the truth. What kind of ecstasy soup did you pour into Orange Juice Entertainment?”
Qi Xiaoyu smiled, showing a pure and harmless expression. “I really don’t know; maybe… this is their way of apologizing for what happened with Gu Lei, as well as their previous behavior.”
Yu Xiaosheng was full of doubts in his heart. He guessed that this matter had something to do with Qi Xiaoyu, but if Qi Xiaoyu didn’t say anything, he couldn’t help it.
The two talked about their future work arrangements, and then they parted ways and went back to their homes.
When Qi Xiaoyu returned to Xun’s house, he found that the clothes he ordered at the sewing studio had already been delivered.
Qi Xiaoyu recalled the clothes-ordering time he saw on the official website of the sewing studio, saying it would take a season, but with Xun Qian’s card, it took less than a week. The clothes were altered to his size and delivered in only four or five. Xun Qian’s reputation was indeed great.
A total of 5 sets of clothes and 5 sets of accessories were neatly hung in Xun Qian’s cloakroom.
There are velvet materials, checked patterns, satin, woolen, single-breasted, and double-breasted. They are all big-name designs, neatly cut, and ironed without any wrinkles.
Butler Cheng took out a velvet black suit and said, “Do you want to try it?”
The clothes that Qi Xiaoyu took from Xun Qian before were all high-quality in terms of fabric and cutting, but after all, there was a difference in the body shape of the two; although Xun Qian looked weak, he was about 1.8 meters tall and had broad shoulders, so his clothes are always ill-fitting for Qi Xiaoyu.
Now that he’s wearing clothes tailored for him, his demeanor is completely different.
Seeing the young man with straight shoulders, a slender waist, and slender legs outlined by the suit in the mirror, Butler Cheng couldn’t help admiring, “It’s really good. You look just as good as when the Third Master first put on a suit when he was seventeen or eighteen years old.”
Then he said, “Xiao Yu, try it first; I’ll ask the third master to come over and have a look.”
*****
Yu Xiaosheng returned home at night, had dinner, and took a shower again, only to recover from today’s smooth sailing.
He was lying on the sofa in a bathrobe, with his legs crossed, a cigarette in his left hand, and a mobile phone in his right hand.
He made a call to Qi Xiaoyu and Ren Fei at the same time.
As soon as the group was pulled together, he said, “To celebrate Xiaoyu’s acceptance of the new commercial and variety show, I’m going to invite everyone to dinner this Saturday night. What do you want to eat? You choose yourself.”
When Qi Xiaoyu heard this, he tidied up the cufflinks carefully and quickly replied, “I can’t make it on Saturday. How about Sunday?”
Ren Fei said at the same time, “I want to eat the Chongqing Meiwa hot pot in Maoming Park. I heard that it is difficult to line up. I haven’t eaten it yet.”
After hearing Qi Xiaoyu’s voice, Ren Fei cheerfully called out again, ”Sunday is fine, then you have to make up another meal, Xiao Yu. I heard brother Yu say you can cook, but I have never eaten your cooking. When will you make some for me?”
Qi Xiaoyu was in a good mood today. The fact that he’d soon earn his first sum of money made him happy. He was also satisfied with the new clothes, so he smiled and replied, “What do you want to eat?”
Ren Fei deliberately used a coquettish voice to say, “I like everything Xiaoyu makes.”
Qi Xiaoyu said cheerfully, “That’s fine; next time I’ll come to the company to cook for you.”
Xun Qian, who was sitting in a wheelchair outside the door, listened to the lively chat inside and leaned against the back of the chair with his head supported by his hand, not making any movements.
The light of early winter dusk shines in through the window without curtains, falls on the side of his face, and casts high and low shadows on the carpet.
Butler Cheng stood behind him, neither advancing nor retreating for a moment.
Xun Qian’s character is really unpredictable. Even though Butler Cheng watched him grow up, he often couldn’t tell whether Xun Qian was happy or angry.
But he knew that whenever Xun Qian held his head like this and lowered his eyes, although he looked lazy, he was probably quietly angry.
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Chapter 22
Hearing Yu Xiaosheng’s words, Qi Xiaoyu raised his eyebrows.
Yu Xiaosheng then whispered, “It’s Orange Juice Entertainment. They want to discuss cooperation with you.”
Qi Xiaoyu stood there, frowning and thinking for a while, then nodded to Yu Xiaosheng and made an okay gesture.
He’s not a god who doesn’t eat earthly food, so how can he not take the money that was delivered to him?
This is unlike magazines, which only take a few cover shots at most and have a limited audience.
But if they discuss cooperation with Orange Juice Entertainment and can obtain resources from them, the benefits and exposure will be much higher.
Now that they have taken the initiative to extend an olive branch, it would be a waste not to take such resources.
After all, Qi Xiaoyu was going to earn money by taking the path of acting. He wouldn’t have a problem with money.
Since Qi Xiaoyu has already agreed, the next matters were easy to discuss.
The two sides immediately agreed that it would be better to meet tomorrow morning to discuss cooperation.
The attitude of the other party was so polite that Yu Xiaosheng was the first to hang up the phone after the discussion.
Before hanging up, they were still trying to curry favor with Qi Xiaoyu: “We will send a driver to pick you and Mr. Qi up tomorrow. We will also host the lunch, so if you and Mr. Qi have any dietary restrictions, just let us know.”
Then came a bunch of flattering words: “I’m really sorry to trouble you and Mr. Qi to come here with your busy schedules. It’s really an honor for our company to cooperate with Mr. Qi.”
After Yu Xiaosheng hung up the phone, he had goosebumps all over his body. He bared his teeth and made a distressed expression. “What’s wrong with everyone? What kind of drug did they take?”
He imitated the tone of the person on the phone just now and choked out, “It’s an honor for our company to be able to cooperate with Mr. Qi.”
Then he looked at Qi Xiaoyu with doubtful eyes and asked, “Do you think this is really someone from Orange Juice Entertainment? Why is it so like a scammer? Orange Juice Entertainment has its back against a big tree and never looks people in the eye. Can they really say something like that?”
He shook his head vigorously as he spoke. “This whole thing always felt strange somewhere; is there really a time when pie falls from the sky?””
During Yu Xiaosheng’s self-directed and self-acted period, Qi Xiaoyu’s mind was spinning very fast, and he had already guessed what was going on.
He patted Yu Xiaosheng on the shoulder and said, “Brother Yu, let’s go. Don’t think so much. Go back and call the front desk of Orange Juice Entertainment to check the number and ask if there is such a person.”
Yu Xiaosheng looked at Qi Xiaoyu and smiled. “Your brain is turning pretty fast now, kid.”
Qi Xiaoyu didn’t reply; he was concerned about other things. “What kind of cooperation does Orange Juice Entertainment talk about?”
“Probably one advertisement, several variety shows, and TV dramas.”
Qi Xiaoyu thought for a while and then asked, “What’s the price I’m getting for taking these now?”
Yu Xiaosheng glanced at Qi Xiaoyu with a slightly incomprehensible expression. “The advertisements are around 500k168246.35 to 600k; the variety show is probably 100k213649.27 an episode; and for the TV series, it’s probably between 50k to 100k per episode as well.”
“Oh”, Qi Xiaoyu nodded and couldn’t help asking, “How much does a villa in the western suburbs of this city cost? Do you know?”
Yu Xiaosheng glanced at Qi Xiaoyu again and said jokingly, “The villa in the western suburbs is worth at least 100 million, ok? So you had your eyes on that place. The villas there are not only expensive but also not something that ordinary people can buy. Without a net worth of one billion or so, people won’t sell it. With your current assets, you’d better act a little humble. Don’t try to be fat in one bite.”
Qi Xiaoyu didn’t answer. He calculated silently in his mind. He had to pay back 20 million to Xun Qian and spend another 100 million to buy a villa. However, he only received 500k for an advertisement and 100k for a variety show. Not counting the money allocated to the agency… If he can’t become a top star, it seems that the road to making money is still quite far.
“Take it easy,” Yu Xiaosheng said in a drawn-out tone.
“When you become a big name like Tang Yuning, Lu Shanshan, and Qi Moli, you can earn 10 million from an advertisement and 20 million from a variety show, then you can start thinking about a villa in the western suburbs.”
*****
The next day, he went to discuss cooperation with the people from Orange Juice Entertainment.
The other party sent a car to the gate of Star Entertainment to pick up Qi Xiaoyu and Yu Xiaosheng, as they said on the phone.
The driver, wearing snow-white gloves, got off the shiny Bentley and opened the door for Qi Xiaoyu.
Zheng Zhengyi, the general manager of the Orange Juice Entertainment Artists Department, smiled and invited the two of them in.
The other party not only had a good attitude and thoughtful service but also provided a generous resource package, including an advertisement for a milk brand, a variety show on satellite TV, and two IP dramas.
Zheng Zhengyi looked at Qi Xiaoyu’s face during the whole process and said, “This banana milk commercial was shot in collaboration with Xue Qingchu. After the shooting, the promotion was very intensive.”
Xue Qingchu is a young flower of the new generation. In the past two years, she has filmed several popular idol dramas.
“This variety show is produced by Longjiang Satellite TV. It’s a laid-back show in which the guests run restaurants while traveling. Mr. Qi, see if you have any ideas to join.”
After introducing the above resources, Zheng Zhengyi pushed the materials of two TV series in front of Qi Xiaoyu, saying, “These are all projects invested in by our Orange Juice Entertainment. The male and female protagonists and some roles have already been determined, which is quite difficult to change. So you can take a look at the rest of the roles and pick whatever you like.”
Zheng Zhengyi’s attitude was respectful, without any flaws. People who don’t know may think that he is Party B and Qi Xiaoyu is the sponsor.
He rubbed his hands together and looked at Qi Xiaoyu. “Look, Mr. Qi, what happened before was really all a misunderstanding. A great man rarely stoops to the pettiness of the villain’s mistakes. Please don’t take it to heart. We will arrange for Gu Lei to apologize to you right away.”
Qi Xiaoyu showed a polite and business-like smile but did not answer directly. He said in an ambiguous tone, “It’s hard on you, Manager Zheng.”
He has dealt with all kinds of people, and he knows how to handle the weaknesses of this kind of person best. He can’t appear uninterested, and he can’t show too much gratitude. There must be a little gratitude in it and a sense of distance.
Yu Xiaosheng licked his back molars with his tongue and sat down next to Qi Xiaoyu in the posture of a big brother, trying his best to cooperate with Qi Xiaoyu’s performance.
After getting in touch these days, he feels more and more that Qi Xiaoyu is not only different from before but also mature and sophisticated. From the interview in Youth Weekly to meeting the people from Orange Juice Entertainment today, he originally wanted to advise Qi Xiaoyu on how to deal with it, but looking at the current situation, Qi Xiaoyu is completely at ease and can handle it himself.
After Zheng Zhengyi gave the resources, Qi Xiaoyu and Yu Xiaosheng discussed it and decided to take the banana milk ad next. It took less time to shoot the ad, and the results were quick. The price given by Orange Juice Entertainment was 800K, higher than Yu Xiaosheng’s estimation yesterday.
The 800k is divided into two parts, half for the company and half for Qi Xiaoyu.
This is already a large amount of income for Qi Xiaoyu at the moment.
For variety shows, Qi Xiaoyu also agreed to get in touch with the program team first.
Whether it’s getting along with people while traveling or cooking and running a restaurant, it’s something Qi Xiaoyu is good at, and a good performance can capture a lot of fans.
Only TV dramas can’t be decided for the time being. They have to read the script first before making a decision. After all, it takes a long time to be on the crew to make a drama. If the script and characters chosen are not good, it will be a waste of time.
Saying goodbye to Zheng Zhengyi and on the way back to the company, Yu Xiaosheng couldn’t help but ask, “That variety show is good. It aired for one season this year, and the effect is not bad, but you can get a lot of fans if you can cook. Do you know how to cook?”
“Of course.” Qi Xiaoyu smiled. “Don’t believe me? Shall I cook for you next time?”
Yu Xiaosheng pulled down the corners of his mouth on both sides with a look of disbelief. After a while, he said, “I still don’t feel real. Today is the easiest cooperation I’ve had in over ten years. Which resource wasn’t torn apart in the past? Today is too fast; it’s as fast as a dream.”
After he finished speaking, he turned his head to look at Qi Xiaoyu. His eyes became sharper. “Xiao Yu, tell the truth. What kind of ecstasy soup did you pour into Orange Juice Entertainment?”
Qi Xiaoyu smiled, showing a pure and harmless expression. “I really don’t know; maybe… this is their way of apologizing for what happened with Gu Lei, as well as their previous behavior.”
Yu Xiaosheng was full of doubts in his heart. He guessed that this matter had something to do with Qi Xiaoyu, but if Qi Xiaoyu didn’t say anything, he couldn’t help it.
The two talked about their future work arrangements, and then they parted ways and went back to their homes.
When Qi Xiaoyu returned to Xun’s house, he found that the clothes he ordered at the sewing studio had already been delivered.
Qi Xiaoyu recalled the clothes-ordering time he saw on the official website of the sewing studio, saying it would take a season, but with Xun Qian’s card, it took less than a week. The clothes were altered to his size and delivered in only four or five. Xun Qian’s reputation was indeed great.
A total of 5 sets of clothes and 5 sets of accessories were neatly hung in Xun Qian’s cloakroom.
There are velvet materials, checked patterns, satin, woolen, single-breasted, and double-breasted. They are all big-name designs, neatly cut, and ironed without any wrinkles.
Butler Cheng took out a velvet black suit and said, “Do you want to try it?”
The clothes that Qi Xiaoyu took from Xun Qian before were all high-quality in terms of fabric and cutting, but after all, there was a difference in the body shape of the two; although Xun Qian looked weak, he was about 1.8 meters tall and had broad shoulders, so his clothes are always ill-fitting for Qi Xiaoyu.
Now that he’s wearing clothes tailored for him, his demeanor is completely different.
Seeing the young man with straight shoulders, a slender waist, and slender legs outlined by the suit in the mirror, Butler Cheng couldn’t help admiring, “It’s really good. You look just as good as when the Third Master first put on a suit when he was seventeen or eighteen years old.”
Then he said, “Xiao Yu, try it first; I’ll ask the third master to come over and have a look.”
*****
Yu Xiaosheng returned home at night, had dinner, and took a shower again, only to recover from today’s smooth sailing.
He was lying on the sofa in a bathrobe, with his legs crossed, a cigarette in his left hand, and a mobile phone in his right hand.
He made a call to Qi Xiaoyu and Ren Fei at the same time.
As soon as the group was pulled together, he said, “To celebrate Xiaoyu’s acceptance of the new commercial and variety show, I’m going to invite everyone to dinner this Saturday night. What do you want to eat? You choose yourself.”
When Qi Xiaoyu heard this, he tidied up the cufflinks carefully and quickly replied, “I can’t make it on Saturday. How about Sunday?”
Ren Fei said at the same time, “I want to eat the Chongqing Meiwa hot pot in Maoming Park. I heard that it is difficult to line up. I haven’t eaten it yet.”
After hearing Qi Xiaoyu’s voice, Ren Fei cheerfully called out again, ”Sunday is fine, then you have to make up another meal, Xiao Yu. I heard brother Yu say you can cook, but I have never eaten your cooking. When will you make some for me?”
Qi Xiaoyu was in a good mood today. The fact that he’d soon earn his first sum of money made him happy. He was also satisfied with the new clothes, so he smiled and replied, “What do you want to eat?”
Ren Fei deliberately used a coquettish voice to say, “I like everything Xiaoyu makes.”
Qi Xiaoyu said cheerfully, “That’s fine; next time I’ll come to the company to cook for you.”
Xun Qian, who was sitting in a wheelchair outside the door, listened to the lively chat inside and leaned against the back of the chair with his head supported by his hand, not making any movements.
The light of early winter dusk shines in through the window without curtains, falls on the side of his face, and casts high and low shadows on the carpet.
Butler Cheng stood behind him, neither advancing nor retreating for a moment.
Xun Qian’s character is really unpredictable. Even though Butler Cheng watched him grow up, he often couldn’t tell whether Xun Qian was happy or angry.
But he knew that whenever Xun Qian held his head like this and lowered his eyes, although he looked lazy, he was probably quietly angry.
Support me on ko-fi for extra releases !