On the other side, Zhang Zhifeng, after being lectured by Brother Li, was also deeply troubled.
*Sigh*.
Which director doesn’t want to pursue art and ideals in their purest form?
But to realize his art, his lofty ideals, his work…
All of it required money.
The advantage of having investors step in was that when shooting large-scale scenes, he had ample funding and could fully capture the images he envisioned.
The price, however, was replacing the male lead.
He stared at the computer screen, where the audition footage of the new male lead, Lin Shiran, played on repeat, his heart torn.
Lin Shiran was a recently popular idol. Since debuting, he had gained massive fans through his humble and gentle image, and lately he had been looking to transition into acting. He extended an olive branch of investment, but on the condition that the male lead role be given to him.
One hundred million yuan in investment.
For the sake of money, Zhang Zhifeng damn well compromised.
But Lin Shiran was never the kind of face that really caught the eye. Fans tried to save face by calling it a ‘light, understated look,’ saying it was the kind that felt comfortable to look at. The problem was, though, that the male lead of <Last Shot” was supposed to be sharp-edged, with a very distinct personality—almost stubborn, a bit obstinate.
Lin Shiran’s aura didn’t match the male lead at all, not to mention his stiff, numb acting.
With a heavy sigh, Zhang Zhifeng clicked open Shao Yuye’s audition footage again.
Comparing the two, Shao Yuye won by more than just a little.
Both of them were still far from professional actors in terms of acting, but Shao Yuye’s clumsy performance had a perfectly timed sense of youth and rawness to it.
It fit exactly with the male lead’s early ‘green rookie’ stage.
On one side, money.
On the other, the male lead he truly wanted.
On one side, reality.
On the other, ideals.
Zhang Zhifeng silently covered his face.
Just then, his phone rang again.
He glanced at it, it was a call from Shao Yuye’s agent.
Zhang Zhifeng sighed and clasped his head with both hands.
He didn’t have the heart to answer.
But the call kept coming, relentlessly.
In the end, he picked up and snapped angrily, “I’ve already made myself very clear to you. Breaking the contract was my fault. I’ll transfer the penalty fee to you in full—”
From the other end came the light, clear laugh of a young woman, like spring water brushing gently over his heart.
Zhang Zhifeng froze. He felt as though he’d heard this voice somewhere before, but couldn’t remember where.
When she sensed that he had calmed down, Shen Wanwan spoke.
Straight to the point, without a word of nonsense.
“How much did they offer? I’ll pay three times that.”
Zhang Zhifeng: !
He took several deep breaths in a row and said shakily, “They invested one hundred million…”
One hundred million wasn’t a small amount.
And she was casually talking about three times that.
Three times meant three hundred million!!
More than enough for him to go all out with this project!
Shen Wanwan, on the other hand, seemed to think it wasn’t much at all.
She said lightly, “Oh. Then from now on, I’ll fully fund it.”
Zhang Zhifeng: !!!
Having already experienced interference before, he probed cautiously, “Do you have any special requirements on your side?”
“I do.”
Those two airy words made Zhang Zhifeng’s heart sink.
Of course there were!
Sigh… he was destined to become capital’s lackey.
On the other end of the line, Shen Wanwan said unhurriedly.
“I have only two requirements.
“First, you make this movie properly.”
Wasn’t that obvious?
His works were like his children, he would definitely take them seriously!
Full of anticipation, Zhang Zhifeng asked, “Then… what’s the second requirement?”
Without realizing it, he had already developed deep respect for this young woman.
“—Shao Yuye is the absolute male lead.”
Zhang Zhifeng’s eyes lit up.
Wasn’t this like someone handing him a pillow just when he was dozing off?!
He clenched his fist excitedly. “You mean it?!”
A little girl saying something like this so boldly felt oddly out of place—yet convincing.
“Mm.”
Shen Wanwan gave him the address of Shao Yuye’s company.
“Once the contract is signed, the three hundred million in startup funds will be transferred to your account immediately.”
So this was the power of capital?
So simple.
So crude.
So wonderful.
“I’m coming over right now!”
After hanging up, Zhang Zhifeng calmed down a little.
He felt that the girl had a kind of magic about her. Her tone was rather cool, but her words carried an exceptional persuasiveness. You’d forget her age, her sweet voice—what you felt was an overwhelming urge to trust her.
Now that he thought about it more calmly, could this be some kind of prank from Shao Yuye’s side after the role change?
But on second thought, Shao Yuye didn’t seem like someone who’d do something that boring.
Either way, he decided to make the trip.
What if…
What if this was real…
After hanging up, Shen Wanwan quietly waited for Zhang Zhifeng to arrive.
Shao Yuye, standing beside her, was a little unhappy. Every time something happened, his sister had to step in for him, it made him feel embarrassed. But Shen Wanwan was domineering by nature. Since she had decided to reclaim his dignity for him, she wouldn’t allow any objections.
All he could do was mutter softly, “…I didn’t even want to act that much, anyway.”
“Really?”
Shen Wanwan’s tone sounded regretful. Shao Yuye was just about to nod when he heard her say in a slightly sulky voice, “I thought I’d get to see my Brother act…”
Shao Yuye: “!”
Damn.
His sister wanted to see it?!
He instantly felt like he’d been injected with adrenaline.
“I’ll act! I’ll act! I really want to act!”
Shen Wanwan chuckled softly.
“Mm.”
Although the most satisfying outcome would have been to slap the <Last Shot> director in the face and make her Brother someone they could never hope to reach, she had read the script.
There was a scene in it where the male lead reconciles with his mother.
That counted as a tiny bit of her own private selfishness.
Glancing at her Brother, who looked like he’d been pumped full of adrenaline, she continued in a deliberately tea-sipping, faux-innocent tone:
“But if you don’t want to act, then forget it. When the director comes later, Brother Li can just send him away…”
Shao Yuye: “How could that be okay?!
“I’ll act, I’ll act, I actually quite like that role!”
“Really?”
Shen Wanwan looked at him with wide, pleading eyes and blinked. “Brother, don’t force yourself.”
“Not forcing myself at all, not at all. I really love acting!”
Brother Li stood off to the side, wearing a look that was hard to describe as he watched Ah Ye being completely wrapped around his sister’s finger. He helplessly rubbed his forehead.
If only Shen Wanwan could spare half a brain cell for her Brother, how great would that be?
Half an hour later, Zhang Zhifeng arrived.
When he finally saw Shen Wanwan, he suddenly remembered why the voice on the phone had felt so familiar earlier. Wasn’t that female voice Shen Wanwan’s?
So Shen Wanwan had been standing up for Shao Yuye?
Their relationship was actually that close?
Seeing him staring at Shen Wanwan, Shao Yuye said casually, “My sister.”
Zhang Zhifeng’s eyes flew open.
His mouth was so wide open you could probably stuff an egg into it.
One shocking revelation after another.
He stuck firmly to the principle of don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask and obediently shut his mouth.
After both sides finished negotiating the relevant matters and signed the contract, Brother Li asked one question:
“Do you need to pay compensation?”
“Pay my ass!”
Zhang Zhifeng snapped irritably. “They told my side to finalize the publicity for the costume photos before transferring the money. They only talked about an intention to cooperate, we haven’t even signed a contract yet!”
Brother Li was stunned. “Then isn’t that just an empty promise?”
“Who isn’t giving empty promises these days?”
Zhang Zhifeng sighed quietly. “I can’t help it. I’ve polished this script for three years. I really want it to turn out well. If it weren’t for the lack of money… I would’ve cast Shao Yuye as the male lead from the very beginning. *Sigh*…”
He turned to Shao Yuye and apologized, “I’m really sorry.”
Shao Yuye shook his head casually, not taking it to heart at all.
“It’s fine.”
Shen Wanwan delivered the final verdict: “It will definitely be good.”
At the same time, the 300 million had already been transferred into Zhang Zhifeng’s account.
Zhang Zhifeng had never had this much money in his bank account in his entire life. He was so shocked that he couldn’t even speak properly. “You… I… this…”
Shen Wanwan took the initiative to extend her hand. “Happy cooperation.
“I’m an investor. I trust my judgment.”
Those two sentences alone were more than enough respect.
Zhang Zhifeng wiped his eyes. “Alright. I definitely won’t let you down!”
He walked out of Shao Yuye’s company building, completely different from when he’d arrived full of worry. This time, even his steps carried an air of swagger. After some thought, he called Lin Shiran.
“Hey, Xiao Lin, I’m really sorry, but I’ve decided not to use you after all…”
Lin Shiran replied arrogantly, “Director, you’d better think this through. If you don’t use me, that one hundred million is gone.”
Before, Zhang Zhifeng had been held hostage by this kid with money, speaking meekly and carefully.
Now, he suddenly felt a sense of ease, lifting his chin and speaking with confidence:
“I have a new investor who put in three hundred million, so… sorry about that.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of Lin Shiran smashing something came through the line.
Zhang Zhifeng happily hung up.
Two days later, the <Last Shot> production team released its official announcement.
Shao Yuye would be starring as the male lead, shocking many people.
This would be his debut on the big screen, and many felt Zhang Zhifeng was being bold, perhaps even reckless, in his casting choice.
But the ‘Yu Yu’s were overjoyed when they saw the news.
[Wow! Brother Ye is acting in a movie, awesome!]
[Looking forward to actor Shao Yuye! He’ll definitely bring us surprises!]
[Hehehe, big thumbs up that this movie has no romance plot!]
Very soon—
#ActorShaoYuye#
#ShaoYuyeLastShot#
shot straight to the trending searches.
Lin Shiran stared at the announcement post, clenching his fist.
Shao Yuye…
It was still Shao Yuye!
A vicious glint rose in his eyes.
“It’s time to tear off this man’s hypocritical mask!”