Benshan’s beloved disciple, starting from the 2009 Spring Festival Gala
Chapter 31 - The Contract is Finalized, Yang Mi Gets Wet

Chapter 31  The Contract is Finalized, Yang Mi Gets Wet

“Leave me your phone number.”

Qu Yi Ming shoved the business card back into Yang Mi’s hand, then placed his phone on the table and said.

“Okay, okay.”

Seeing that Qu Yi Ming didn’t take the room key, Yang Mi thought he wasn’t interested in her, assuming he was a proper gentleman who wouldn’t go for this kind of thing. She felt a sudden wave of disappointment and embarrassment. Just as she was about to apologize, Qu Yi Ming casually threw his phone on the table. Yang Mi hurriedly picked it up and saved her phone number into his contact list.

After saving it, Yang Mi handed the phone back to him with both hands, saying, “Director Qu, please remember to contact me.”

Qu Yi Ming took the phone, gave a slight nod, and said, “Call your manager here. Let’s talk business.”

“Zeng Jie, come in,” Yang Mi called out.

After placing the order, Zeng Jia, who had been eavesdropping outside the door, pushed open the door to the private room and walked in, returning to her seat.

“Let’s keep it short,” Qu Yi Ming said bluntly. “After signing next year, one film and one TV drama, both with leading roles. They will be top-tier productions, so my requirements are also high. The contract needs to be for at least ten years, with a penalty for breach of contract at one billion. Of course, the revenue share will be more generous, a 50/50 split.”

His words dropped like a bomb.

Both Yang Mi and Zeng Jia were stunned.

A leading role in one film and one TV drama, a ten-year contract, and a breach-of-contract penalty of one billion…

Is it worth it?

Yang Mi had already played the leading role in Chinese Paladin 3… what about the future…

“Director Qu, will you personally direct the film?” Zeng Jia weakly asked.

Qu Yi Ming: “Yes.”

The future definitely won’t shine brightly without joining Yi Ming Media!

But the ten-year contract period is a bit long, and the breach penalty is outrageously high. The revenue share seemed pretty fair, though. Zeng Jia and Yang Mi exchanged glances. Yang Mi gave a subtle look.

Zeng Jia understood and said, “Director Qu, can you confirm that there will be one leading role each year, either in a film or a TV drama?”

Qu Yi Ming shook his head.

“I can only guarantee that Yang Mi will have five leading roles in films and TV dramas.”

Breaking it down, it was roughly one leading role every two years, which was still pretty good. This was already a treatment close to top-tier stars. If five films or dramas result in two classic characters, it was definitely worth it. But the ten-year contract period…

Zeng Jia hesitated. She had dreams of becoming capital herself; otherwise, she wouldn’t have encouraged Yang Mi to start Jiaxing Entertainment with her two years ago.

“Director Qu, ten years is too long. Is it possible to…”

Before Zeng Jia could finish, Qu Yi Ming directly interrupted, “Yang Mi isn’t the only option. I just find her somewhat likable, which is why I’m willing to meet with you. If you can’t even agree to the most basic conditions, then we don’t need to cooperate.”

His tone was extremely domineering.

“Let the waiter bring the dishes. I’m a bit hungry,” Qu Yi Ming said.

“I agree. Ten years is fine. Zeng Jie, go ahead and tell the waiter to bring the dishes,” Yang Mi said.

“Mi Mi…”

Zeng Jia softly advised, “Zhao Ruoyao has already made a breakthrough at Meiya, we have other options.”

Zhao Ruoyao had been a colleague of Zeng Jia’s when she worked at Rongxinda. Now, she had switched to Meiya Entertainment as the Deputy Director of the Artist Management Department.

In the future, Zhao Ruoyao would likely switch again to Huanrui Century, and Yang Mi would follow her there. It could be said that the first part of Yang Mi’s acting career was closely tied to both Zeng Jia and Zhao Ruoyao.

With Qu Yi Ming as the best option, Yang Mi wasn’t interested in struggling in the declining Hong Kong film industry anymore.

“Hong Kong is too far away, I want to stay closer to home. Go ahead and notify the waiter.”

“Think about it some more…” Zeng Jia urged.

“Zeng Jie, I’ve already agreed. Do you understand?” Yang Mi said.

“Alright!”

Reluctantly, Zeng Jia went to notify the waiter. After she left, Yang Mi smiled apologetically and said, “Sorry, Director Qu. My manager is just looking out for me.”

Qu Yi Ming smiled lightly.

“I understand.”

“Director Qu, is it possible to reveal what type of movies and TV dramas will be filmed next year?”

Qu Yi Ming replied, “The movie will be a comedy. The TV drama is adapted from a romance novel that was just published recently, called A Smile is Beautiful. You can check it out when you have time.”

The company’s copyright department had acquired many novel adaptation rights.

Yang Mi nodded.

“Okay, I’ll make a note of it.”

After lunch, Qu Yi Ming said goodbye to Yang Mi and headed to the teahouse where he was supposed to meet Uncle Ben. Yang Mi and Zeng Jia returned to their residence.

On the way, Zeng Jia said, “I’ve contacted Zhao Ruoyao. If you go to Meiya, you’ll have a lot of movie resources too. It won’t be any worse than Yi Ming Media, and the contract period is shorter.”

Yang Mi rested her head against the car window and asked, “Zeng Jie, haven’t you noticed that the mainland film market is getting better and better? The Hong Kong films end up coming to the mainland for release anyway. I haven’t seen any truly outstanding ones. Director Qu said the movie he’s planning to make is a comedy, and I think it’s very likely to be the Lost on Journey sequel, which made billions at the box office. Isn’t that much more reliable than going to an unfamiliar Hong Kong? Please apologize to Zhao Jie for me. If she comes back to the mainland, we can cooperate in the future.”

Zeng Jia sighed.

“I see you’ve really been hypnotized by Director Qu, all muddled up. You’re even willing to sign a ten-year contract with a one billion penalty.”

Yang Mi replied, “If you want to be famous, you can’t be afraid of paying the price. There’s no such thing as an easy ride.”

“Sigh…”

Zeng Jia sighed again, not saying anything further. Yang Mi looked out the car window, her mind full of Qu Yi Ming’s domineering attitude just now. A man should be like that.

Hmm, though, I wonder in what other ways he’s domineering…

Just thinking about it made her feel a strange sense of excitement.