Something’s wrong. Very wrong.
Since Su Chengzi had mentioned that our production team would approach Li Wanbai, it couldn’t be groundless rumors. Even if she had been monitoring Canyang Entertainment’s movements all along, it would be impossible for her to know that Li Wanbai would participate in our variety show before Canyang Entertainment had even extended an invitation.
She looked up at Chen Jie and blurted out: “Has ‘We’ already sent me an invitation?”
Chen Jie froze completely, her face showing surprise: “How did you know?”
Now everything made sense.
Li Wanbai frowned deeply: “Did you reject the show or…”
“Does that matter? You wouldn’t participate anyway!” Chen Jie interrupted urgently, startled. “Whether we directly rejected it or gave the opportunity to someone else, as an artist, you have no right to interfere with the company’s executive decisions, do you?”
Li Wanbai’s expression shifted subtly.
This was all baggage left over from her past ten years.
After working at Canyang Entertainment for ten years, she still didn’t hold any shares. Without shares, her relationship with the company remained strictly hierarchical – she had no right to interfere with company decisions or choose her own resources.
The company was the knife, she was the fish on the chopping block, with no freedom in anything she did.
Only now did Li Wanbai belatedly realize that she could only accept whatever the company gave her.
However, it wasn’t completely without room for negotiation.
“Your company just wants me to take on more endorsements, handle more commercial work, and make more money. But if I’m unwilling, no amount of assignments you arrange will be useful,” Li Wanbai said softly.
Chen Jie’s eyes immediately darkened: “What are you trying to say?”
Seeing Li Wanbai’s calm expression, she had a sudden thought and said gently, “I was too harsh just now, but think about it – isn’t this reasonable? If the company doesn’t make money, you don’t make money either. Everything we do is for your benefit.”
She cursed inwardly – this was the downside of entertainment companies. After spending enormous effort and money to cultivate a flagship artist, once they gained influence, they would start ordering the company around and refusing to cooperate.
Indeed, the executives’ decision was correct – don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
The company had decided to let Li Wanbai develop naturally while focusing on cultivating Ye Xiruo. She had originally been hesitant about this approach, but now it seemed they should indeed move forward with it sooner.
Unaware of Chen Jie’s convoluted thoughts, Li Wanbai curved her eyes and said: “I know you mean well, but the method is problematic. Why don’t we both compromise? I’ll help the company secure more endorsements, handle more commercial work – I can work nonstop for months without problem. But my condition is – I want to appear on that variety show ‘We’.”
Chen Jie glared at her: “You think you can just appear because you want to? They don’t need anyone else now!”
“I don’t care about that. That show originally extended an invitation to me, but the company chose someone else to take my spot. This was originally my resource, and I have the right to choose whether to participate or not. Now I choose to participate.” Li Wanbai left the rest unsaid, but everyone present was smart enough to understand.
Since she chose to participate, the company would have to figure out how to handle the missing spot.
Whether they removed the person who took her resource or humbly asked the production team for an additional spot – none of that concerned Li Wanbai.
Chen Jie was so angry she gritted her teeth, yet there was nothing she could do. Just as Li Wanbai had said, that spot was originally meant for Li Wanbai. Currently, Canyang Entertainment had no one else capable of taking on major responsibilities besides Li Wanbai. Even Ye Xiruo, whom they were trying to groom, couldn’t compare to Li Wanbai at this point.
“Alright, I understand. I’ll discuss it with the higher-ups.”
At this point, she paused and glanced discreetly at Li Wanbai. Why did this girl suddenly seem so much sharper?
In the past, Li Wanbai never questioned the company’s decisions. If the company wanted her to take on endorsements, she did; if they wanted her on variety shows, she complied. She had never been this difficult to deal with before.
While Chen Jie thought Li Wanbai had become smarter, Li Wanbai herself felt she was finally using her head.
Excitedly, she told Su Chengzi about what had happened.
Upon hearing this, Su Chengzi immediately put down the fried chicken she was holding. “You actually did that? Traded a three-month endorsement for a chance to appear on our variety show?”
“Yes,” Li Wanbai nodded, but seeing Su Chengzi’s displeased expression, her heart began to race. “Did I make a mistake?”
“A huge mistake! Your thinking is completely backwards!” Su Chengzi stood up, her face shifting between emotions as if she were suppressing anger. “What kind of rotten company is this, exploiting you like this? First, you need to understand that whether it’s endorsements or variety shows, the company makes money either way. The only difference is how much. So what if it’s less? Even a small profit is still profit! Originally, it was a choice between the two, but you went ahead and took on both for the company. You’re the one doing all the work, while the company reaps the rewards. You’re being sold out and still helping them count the money!”
Su Chengzi’s tone was full of indignation, though it wasn’t directed at Li Wanbai. “Canyang Entertainment is downright disgusting!”
Li Wanbai swallowed hard. “What should I do now? I’ve already agreed to it. I read the contract carefully, and the offer was just too good!”
The current Li Wanbai was still the same person from ten years ago—someone who hadn’t even attended college and whose idea of a windfall was the 500 yuan she received for Children’s Day. Now, in the company, deals worth 5 million were commonplace, and it was hard not to be tempted!
Su Chengzi stroked her chin, deep in thought. “They don’t want you on variety shows for two reasons. First, the profit share from variety shows is indeed smaller. Second, appearing on variety shows increases your exposure. More importantly, if you ever manage to clear your name, the ‘blackened celebrity seeking attention’ strategy won’t work anymore. The company won’t be able to use you to generate more traffic. What will happen to the other artists then? They’re probably afraid that if you really make it big, you’ll leave the company. But you must appear on that variety show!”
“Yes, yes, exactly,” Li Wanbai nodded repeatedly. “The reason I compromised was because I really want to be on that show.”
Because she wanted to be on the show, she had to negotiate clearly with the company.
Li Wanbai couldn’t rashly contact the variety show’s producers directly. Even if she did, without any free time in her schedule, she wouldn’t be able to film. She might also end up having to pay breach-of-contract penalties—whether to the variety show or the endorsement—and either way, the fines would be astronomical.
This variety show was Li Wanbai’s only chance so far to clear up the misunderstanding with Yu Baichuan.
Human communication is so fragile. When one party is determined not to communicate with another, there are simply too many ways to avoid it.
“Variety shows… reputation rehabilitation… and…” Su Chengzi murmured to herself, suddenly looking up at Li Wanbai. “You’re actually the biggest loophole.”