After a long day and night of shooting, Shang Wan had barely slept for three hours when the director’s phone call once again dragged her out of her dreams.
With her hair tousled, she let out a long yawn and, as if by rote memory, blurted out the usual line: “Is it time to start filming? I’ll be right there.”
The director fell into an eerie silence for two seconds before saying, “No, not yet.”
Shang Wan had just woken up, her mind still a bit foggy, yet she could still detect a hint of inexplicable awkwardness in the director’s tone.
Shang Wan immediately grew alert. “Director, is something wrong?”
No way, no way!
It couldn’t be like her original world, where halfway through filming, the investor would wave a pen and replace her again!
Or maybe, like when she was twenty-five, the investor went bankrupt halfway through, and the crew disbanded on the spot?
Director Zhou Pingyuan’s silence this time stretched even longer.
After several breaths, he finally spoke, his words tinged with difficulty: “The big scenes took too long to shoot, and the budget allocated to us by the investors is running a bit short—
“Nan Zhi, there’s a fundraising event tonight. Why don’t you come with me and Producer Xue to try and secure some investment?”
Shang Wan: “That’s it?”
Her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, instantly settled.
Having encountered too many unexpected troubles on set before, she had almost developed a conditioned reflex.
But—
Shang Wan lowered her head in thought, feeling a bit worried.
With Director Zhou’s extravagant, money-burning filming style, even if he were given a mountain of gold, he’d manage to spend it all if things continued this way.
Would the production really be ruined by him?
Although the female lead was in this drama, and it was bound to be a hit.
But she, the villainous supporting female character, was also in it, which meant the drama could very well flop.
Who knew whose halo would shine brighter in this clash of magic?
Shang Wan paused before continuing to ask Director Zhou: “Director, am I the only lead actor going to the fundraising event?”
Director Zhou: “…”
His guilt was deafening.
Before Shang Nanzhi joined the crew, Director Zhou’s biggest daily worry was how to guide the “pretty face” in her acting once she arrived, and whether his reputation as a professional director would be tarnished by her fans after the drama aired.
Fortunately, although Shang Nanzhi, the “pretty face,” joined the crew half a month later than others, her acting skills were far better than he had expected.
Director Zhou had to admit that it had been a long time since he had seen such a naturally gifted actor.
With exquisite production, substantial investment, dedicated actors, and the mesmerizing chemistry among the leads on camera, Director Zhou couldn’t help but start polishing every shot.
He thought, “The Palace of Dawn” might just become his masterpiece.
Little did he expect that as the scenes grew more and more stunning, the production’s financial hole grew deeper and deeper.
Damn that Xue Ren—
Director Zhou gritted his teeth. Knowing full well that the crew was running out of money, Xue Ren hadn’t let the finance department remind him and had allowed him to squander the entire budget!
What kind of producer was he?!
If it weren’t for the auditor calling him this morning, demanding to know where all the crew’s money had gone, he wouldn’t have even realized they were broke!
Director Zhou was sweating bullets under the auditor’s questioning. As soon as he hung up, he stormed off to confront Xue Ren.
But as soon as they met, he saw the man frantically signaling to him from afar.
Director Zhou suppressed his anger, enduring Xue Ren’s lecherous glance, and immediately asked him why he hadn’t been more careful with the budget.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Xue Ren’s expression turned even more obscene.
Xue Ren mysteriously asked him, “Old Zhou, have you heard?”
Director Zhou’s temper flared even hotter. “Heard what? Can you fix whatever’s wrong with your eyes before talking to me!”
Ignoring Director Zhou’s constant verbal abuse, Xue Ren pulled him close as if about to reveal some earth-shattering secret, whispering, “It’s about Shang Nanzhi from our crew—she’s gotten together with the young Fu CEO of the Fu Group!”
Director Zhou’s mind went blank for a moment.
He asked, “Which young Fu CEO?”
It couldn’t be that mediocre, useless second son of the Fu Group, could it?
Director Zhou’s thoughts wandered for only a second.
After snapping back to reality, he immediately redirected his anger toward Xue Ren again. “Don’t you dare change the subject! What does Shang Nanzhi’s private life have to do with our crew running out of money?”
Xue Ren was exasperated. “How is it not related!
“On New Year’s Eve, the heir to the Fu Group, the young CEO Fu Chen, personally announced in front of a crowd that Shang Nanzhi is his official girlfriend.
“Isn’t it obvious he’s serious about her?”
Xue Ren spoke with animated excitement. “Think about it—with this connection, if we reach out to the Fu Group through her, pulling in a few tens of millions in investment for ‘Zhao Ming Palace’ wouldn’t be too much to ask, right?”
He grew more confident as he spoke. “Would CEO Fu really stand by and watch his girlfriend’s crew shut down?”
Director Zhou: “…”
So this bastard Xue Ren had been scheming this all along!
On the other end of the phone, Shang Wan was still waiting for Director Zhou’s response.
Director Zhou felt a headache coming on.
As a director dedicated to his art, asking one of his actors, “Nan Zhi, our producer Xue noticed how rich your boyfriend is, so he encouraged me to spend the budget recklessly during filming. I was foolish enough to actually run out of money. Now, could you ask your partner to invest another few tens of millions for us?”
This was harder than asking him to die!
Director Zhou remained silent for a long time, and Shang Wan sensed something was off.
She didn’t press further.
With many half-familiar colleagues in the crew and plenty of awkward situations, she was used to it.
She tilted her head slightly and asked the System to check which companies would attend the crew’s investment meeting tomorrow.
After a long period of adjustment, the System had completely understood Shang Wan’s intentions.
As soon as Shang Wan spoke, the System immediately shared the data it had already gathered: “Both the Fu Group and the Gu Group are invited companies, but I cannot confirm whether Fu Chen, Fu Duo, or Gu Xun will attend.”
Hearing this answer, Shang Wan blinked.
She said, “Tongtong, you understand me so well! Truly, people in love share a telepathic connection!”
Her tone was so cloying it could give listeners goosebumps three layers thick.
System: “…”
Thanks, but it wasn’t human.
And—
Host should save that sweet talk for coaxing the Capture targets!
On the other end of the phone, Director Zhou was so conflicted he was almost tearing his hair out.
Just as he was about to toss this difficult problem to Xue Ren and make him make the damn call, Shang Wan’s response reached his ears: “Alright, Director Zhou, please send me the time and location of the investment meeting.””
Director Zhou felt as if he had been granted a reprieve, wishing he could kowtow to Shang Wan on the spot.
He knew it—Shang Nanzhi was truly the most sensible actress he had ever worked with!
He’d definitely hire her for his next project!
At six o’clock the following evening, the crew wrapped up unusually early.
The actors, who had been driven half-mad by filming overnight scenes, cheered excitedly in the group chat, declaring they would sleep like the dead in their hotel rooms tonight.
Shang Wan, however, had no such luck. After hurriedly removing the makeup and hairstyle of the princess, changing her clothes, she rushed off with the director and producer to the investment promotion event.
She finished work late and arrived slightly behind schedule.
The venue was already crowded, buzzing with conversations.
A group of industry veterans and major investors chatted over drinks, appearing quite harmonious.
Director Zhou and Producer Xue naturally had plenty of acquaintances in the industry.
Before they could pull Shang Wan aside to discuss investments with the Fu Group, several actors surrounded them, enthusiastically raising their glasses to toast.
Shang Wan quietly stepped back, planning to take advantage of the two being occupied and ask the System to help locate someone. Just then, an unfamiliar face suddenly appeared beside her.
The person approached and called out her name: “Miss Shang Nanzhi.”
Shang Wan was taken aback, then saw the person extend a business card toward her.
Glancing down at the card, Shang Wan immediately recognized the person’s identity: the secretary to the chairman of the Fu Group.
Shang Wan rolled her eyes inwardly.
That old bastard Fu Jiayan really was like a lingering ghost.
Shang Wan stood still with a forced smile, making no move to take the card, and asked coldly, “Do we know each other?”
The secretary across from her was clearly accustomed to such situations. She smiled gently, appearing calm and composed.
She said, “Miss Shang, there’s no need to be dismissive. I’m here today to speak frankly with you.
“I’ve looked into it. The production you’re currently working on is running out of funds and struggling to continue.
“But that’s not a problem. Our Chairman Fu has said that as long as you agree to break up with Young Master Fu, the Fu Group is willing to increase your production’s budget at any time, with no upper limit.
“Chairman Fu also asked me to tell you that if you agree, the Fu Group will additionally offer you 100 million yuan as compensation for your loss.”
Upon hearing the staggering figure of 100 million yuan, Shang Wan exclaimed inwardly: “!”
She frantically called out to the System in her mind: “Tongtong, Tongtong, can you just electrocute me now?”
The System: “Huh?”
What nonsense was the Host spouting now?
Shang Wan: “I’m so scared.”
The System was utterly confused.
Wait, was there something unclean here?
Shang Wan: “I’m really scared. I’m afraid I won’t be able to resist and agree to her terms!”
The System: “…”
The person before her spoke calmly, as if investing hundreds of millions was nothing more than a worthwhile business deal if it could bring their young master back to his senses.
Watching her composed demeanor, Shang Wan felt her heart bleeding.
That was 100 million yuan!
Did anyone understand how long it would take to earn that much money?
These damned capitalists!
What pained her most was that she was about to reject 100 million yuan for Fu Chen!
If this bond didn’t immediately increase to 100, she would definitely turn on Fu Chen right then and there.
Shang Wan’s heart ached as if it were bleeding. After a long pause, she finally managed to say with difficulty, “Why does Chairman Fu think 100 million yuan can buy A-Chen’s and my love?”
After speaking, she wore an expression of unbearable distress.
As if she had suffered some immense insult.
After pushing through several rounds of toasts and finally squeezing over, only to hear that the Fu Group was willing to provide additional investment to the crew, Producer Xue was just about to rush over and nod in agreement when he was instantly struck by Shang Wan’s merciless refusal: “…”
It’s over. I’ve messed up.
It was clearly an internal staff member of the Fu Group who told him that Young Master Fu was planning to invest an additional sixty million in their crew just to make his girlfriend smile, assuring him not to worry about money.
No one mentioned that there were additional conditions attached to this!
How can rich people play so dirty?!
Director Zhou, however, was moved by Shang Wan’s response.
He sighed, “This is true love.”
Producer Xue: “Are you out of your mind?!”
Shang Wan, at the center of the storm: “Ahhhhhhhhh!”
System: “…”
If the Host keeps screaming like this, it’s really going to glitch.
Shang Wan said tearfully, “It hurts, it hurts so much!”
She pressed her chest hard, feeling as though her heartache was suffocating her.
Who could understand the pain of missing out on a hundred million?!
Across from Shang Wan, Fu Jiayan’s secretary calmly looked at her, showing no disappointment, only a rather regretful expression.
She said, “Then I’m afraid the crew you’re part of will have to disband—
“If you refuse to break up with Young Master Fu, starting tonight, the Fu Group can guarantee that not a single cent will flow into the account of the ‘Zhao Ming Palace’ crew.”
Eavesdropping Producer Xue: …
Director Zhou, who had just been moved: …
It’s over, it’s over. The sky is falling.
Shang Wan quietly looked at the person before her, listening as the threat echoed in her ears.
At such a moment, she couldn’t help but smile.
She retorted, “What makes you think not a single cent will flow into our crew’s account?”
What an absolute joke.
As a top-tier female star, Shang Nanzhi’s savings from over the years could be used by her.
Fu Chen’s collaboration with her could also serve as leverage for his personal investment.
The cards Shang Wan held in her hand were far more numerous than when she lived in a basement all those years ago. How could she possibly be threatened into shutting down by some old geezer with only a few years left to live?!
Since she had come to this world, she would never allow the character she portrayed to be tarnished again.
The chairman’s secretary before her calmly watched Shang Wan, her gaze filled with pity.
She said without any personal emotion, “You can try.”
Try to see if one person can hold out against a family that holds sway over everything.