Caught in Affairs with Superstar

Chapter 356: Chapter 311: Rise: 147

Zhou Lan warmly embraced the director and said, ”Knowing you’re the director of this commercial, I felt relieved. With you here, I’m sure the ad will turn out great.”

Zhou Yun asked, ”Sister Lan, so you knew Director Xu before. Why didn’t you introduce him to us earlier?”

Zhou Lan replied, ”You can’t blame me for that. I only found out about it yesterday.”

”It was really a last-minute gig to save the day; the director the brand had originally found bailed last minute, and I was asked to help.”

”There was such a thing?” Zhou Lan asked with surprise, ”Who was that director before? So unreliable, I need to take note to avoid them in the future.”

Zhang Guodong smiled and waved his hand, saying, ”Don’t ask about it from me, we’re all in the same industry, it would be like I’m spreading bad words about people intentionally.”

”Alright then, it’s even better with you stepping in.” Zhou Lan said, ”Who came up with the creative for today’s ad?”

”The ideas came from the brand side, I just executed based on their directions,” said Zhang Guodong, ”The most crucial thing for this ad is to be beautifully shot and look good.”

He seemed to remember something, turned his head to Yu Zhiyang, and said, ”Little Yu, come here.”

Everyone looked at Yu Zhiyang.

Yu Zhiyang touched his trousers and seemed somewhat at a loss.

He walked over, greeted Zhang Guodong and Zhou Yun with a nod, and asked, ”Director, what can I do for you?”

”What else? Hurry up and meet everyone.”

Zhang Guodong said to Zhou Yun, ”This is Yu Zhiyang, a newcomer. He will be playing someone who secretly loves you later.”

Looking at Yu Zhiyang’s expression, he seemed somewhat embarrassed and unsure how to handle this situation.

Zhou Yun smiled lightly and stretched out her hand, saying, ”Hello.”

Yu Zhiyang looked at her in surprise.

He hurriedly extended his hand to shake hands with Zhou Yun.

”Hello.”

Zhang Guodong patted Yu Zhiyang’s shoulder and said, ”Okay, go get ready, don’t mess up later, our time is precious.”

Yu Zhiyang nodded earnestly and said, ”Alright.”

He left.

Zhang Guodong glanced at Yu Zhiyang’s receding figure and sighed softly.

”It hasn’t been easy for him.”

”How so?” Zhou Lan asked with curiosity upon hearing Zhang Guodong’s sigh.

Zhou Yun also wanted to know why Zhang Guodong said it was not easy for Yu Zhiyang.

Considering Yu Zhiyang’s connection, what could be difficult for him?

Zhang Guodong said in a low voice, ”You guys don’t know, this kid didn’t study acting specifically. He has family issues and has been working to make money to fill in the financial holes at home. Six months ago, he was noticed and signed by an agency. That agency is cruel; knowing he needed money, they offered him a one-time sign-on fee of one hundred thousand yuan but demanded a ten-year contract, and the poor kid signed it for the money.”

Zhou Yun said, ”Isn’t that a mutual agreement? What’s so difficult about it?”

Zhang Guodong gave a wry laugh and said, ”He was a top scorer in the college entrance exams. If not for the family crisis, he could have chosen between Tsinghua and Peking University, been one of the leading talents by now. Instead, look at him. At the time I interviewed him, I heard that the company he signed with is really heartless, taking on any job for him, even making him keep company at drinking parties.”

Zhou Lan frowned deeply.

”Which company did he sign with?”

”You’ve probably never heard of them; they’re called Iron Red, just a small workshop, not legit,” said Zhang Guodong.

Iron Red?

Even the company’s name sounds pretty direct.

”This company only has him as a signed artist,” Zhang Guodong curled his lips, ”The owner isn’t even from the industry. I heard the company’s backer is a wealthy woman who took a fancy to him at first sight and wanted to keep him. But the kid has a strong backbone and refused outright. Knowing his situation, she had someone set up this shoddy company, used a front to sign him, and only after signing the contract and selling himself to the company did she come out and coerce him into submission. He wouldn’t agree, and she was ruthless enough to take on any job for him, according to the contract he couldn’t refuse, and if he didn’t fulfill the contract, he would have to pay compensation. All that, just to force him into compliance.”

Zhou Yun’s brows furrowed upon hearing this.

But this news did not quite fit with her previous impression of Yu Zhiyang.

If Yu Zhiyang’s situation was so bad, then who reached out to Luo Hengzhang to put in a good word?

Zhou Yun looked at the rest of the crowd again.