Caught in Affairs with Superstar

Chapter 1504: Chapter 677: Set Visit

Yao Yuanfeng said, ”Xiao Yun has taken a liking to you, which means you have something others don’t. I haven’t seen you act yet; after this movie is finished, I’ll take a good look. If it’s suitable, I’ll tailor a few films for you.”

Zhou Yun was momentarily stunned upon hearing this from Yao Yuanfeng.

Although Yao Yuanfeng often speaks without much thought, drawing all sorts of improbable scenarios, this time he’s painted quite an ambitious picture.

Tailor-made?

Is it for real?

Zhou Yun looked at Yao Yuanfeng in surprise.

Regarding such big promises, Yu Zhiyang calmly responded, ”Thank you, President Yao, I’ll listen to Sister Xiao Yun and Brother Chi.”

Yao Yuanfeng was taken aback.

Had this been said to another actor, they would have already thanked him, but for Yu Zhiyang, this young man seemed entirely uninterested in tailor-made roles; it hadn’t stirred a single emotion within him.

Yao Yuanfeng couldn’t help but wonder if Yu Zhiyang understood the weight of his words, given his position as New Shield’s boss.

Zhou Yun, worried that Yu Zhiyang might inadvertently offend Yao Yuanfeng, intervened diplomatically, ”Then I will thank President Yao on behalf of Yu Zhiyang. With your attention, his path can surely be smoother.”

”I won’t take credit for that. With you and Song Chi guiding him, it’s hard for this kid not to succeed,” Yao Yuanfeng laughed.

Zhou Yun suddenly understood.

It turns out Yao Yuanfeng is banking on Yu Zhiyang’s potential future success, effectively making an early investment here.

At this moment, Yang Xi suddenly chimed in coquettishly, ”Why have I never seen President Yao tailor films for me?”

Yao Yuanfeng responded, ”How could you say that? Every year, the company gives you a lead role in a film; isn’t that tailor-made?”

His words immediately shut down Yang Xi.

Wen Bing kept mostly silent at the dinner table.

After lunch, once everyone had left, Zhou Yun asked Wen Bing, ”What’s up with you? I get the feeling you have some issues with Yang Xi.”

Wen Bing replied, ”It’s not really an issue—I just don’t really like her personality.”

”Oh? What did she do to offend you?”

”Not really anything specific, I just don’t like her style,” Wen Bing said. ”She’s not easy to deal with at New Shield; she holds down many newcomers, not giving them a chance to shine.”

”Huh?”

”A young girl finally caught the director’s eye and landed a role, but because Yang Xi felt threatened, she used her connections to ruin that girl’s opportunity.”

”What? Yang Xi actually did that? That’s a bit too much.”

”Yeah, that’s why I really don’t like her.”

”Alright, hearing what you said, I dislike her even more now.”

...

Yao Yuanfeng took Yang Xi back, and as soon as she got in the car, she took out her makeup bag and started freshening up.

Seeing this, Yao Yuanfeng felt very impatient.

Today’s performance by Yang Xi disappointed him from start to finish.

He never really thought Yang Xi was this foolish and inarticulate; today was especially noticeable.

Reflecting back on Zhou Yun, every word she spoke had her meaning, with nothing superfluous—sometimes joking, sometimes pursuing interests.

From a business perspective, Yao Yuanfeng genuinely admired Zhou Yun.

She’s skilled and professionally competent, with high intellect and emotional intelligence, and she’s neither pretentious nor delicate.

Compared to Zhou Yun, Yao Yuanfeng now found Yang Xi increasingly irritating.

But actresses like Zhou Yun are rare and hard to find.

Just as Yao Yuanfeng was about to close his eyes for a rest, Yang Xi suddenly turned and said, ”President Yao, I heard ’Female Assassin’ is having a sequel. How about letting me play a role? What do you think about me playing a villain?”

Feeling a headache coming on, Yao Yuanfeng took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and didn’t bother replying.

Seeing Yao Yuanfeng’s refusal to speak, Yang Xi pursed her lips and fell silent.

Inside, she was still complaining: stingy.

...

That evening, Yao Yuanfeng had a meeting scheduled with Hou Mengjie.

During the National Holiday slot, ’Four Killers’ achieved remarkable box office success. It was indeed a joyous occasion.

If only Hou Mengjie hadn’t caused some friction with Zhou Yun over the matter of Li Rui, making Zhou Yun’s return for the ’Four Killers’ sequel nearly impossible—that would have been even better.

But as things stood, Yao Yuanfeng couldn’t say much more.

Unlike Wen Bing, Hou Mengjie wasn’t a contracted director for New Shield.

If Yao Yuanfeng wanted to collaborate with Hou Mengjie on new projects, he couldn’t treat him like a subordinate.

Nonetheless, he still expressed his complaints.

”Had none of this happened, we could smoothly proceed with the sequel; it would be so much better.”

Unexpectedly, Hou Mengjie said, ”I have no intention to shoot a sequel. Yin Linglin approached me, wanting her role to be expanded in the sequel’s script. But honestly, I have no such plans.”

Yao Yuanfeng’s expression changed abruptly.

”President Yao, filming ’Four Killers’ didn’t sit well with me, and I don’t want to work with these big-name actors again,” Hou Mengjie said. ”They’re hard to manage, and I don’t want to manage them either. I want to use new talent for my next project.”

Yao Yuanfeng was puzzled.

Film might be the art of a director, but the box office isn’t something a director can solely shoulder.

The high box office for ’Four Killers’ is undeniably linked to its strong cast.

Hou Mengjie wasn’t a renowned director just yet.

If he doesn’t use big-name actors, relying solely on newcomers, even theaters might hesitate to schedule screenings.

Yao Yuanfeng couldn’t understand what prompted Hou Mengjie to think this way!

Could it be that the success of ’Four Killers’ inflated his ego into believing his work alone could drive ticket sales?

”Director Hou, using only newcomers would make the film’s PR very challenging,” Yao Yuanfeng subtly hinted.

Yao Yuanfeng had long noticed Hou Mengjie’s pride, so he was cautious in his conversations with him, wary of saying something inadvertently that might provoke his pride and make him lash out.