Rebirth: Spoiling the Obsessive Film Emperor Chapter 257

Chapter 257: Keeping Them Guessing

It was no secret that Donghuang Qingyan was preparing to transition, and his fanbase was already aware. It just hadn't been publicized yet because the roles hadn't been finalized. 

Anticipation was definitely high.

And it wasn't just the fans who were eagerly waiting; many companies and artists were also watching closely, hoping to get a piece of the action.

Now, at this particular moment, in this particular situation, Yin Chengjue brought it up.

Fang Nan immediately thought of something, and his heart inexplicably clenched. "You... don't tell me you've..." managed to negotiate one or two roles for the drama that Donghuang Qingyan is leading?

With the gimmick of the Eastern God [Dongshen] attached to it, even if it was just a cannon fodder supporting role, the company's PR could still promote it like crazy!

With that kind of publicity, even a completely unknown newcomer, just starting out in the circle, could be hyped up to at least half-decent popularity, as long as their looks were decent!

Having been an agent for over ten years and managing countless artists, how could Fang Nan not be clear about this kind of operational strategy?

So insidious! To have resources like this and hide them until now to bring them up!

If Yin Chengjue had mentioned it earlier, he would have done everything in his power to secure the role for his own artist, no matter what!

Even if Yin Chengjue had already assigned the role to someone else, he could still leverage publicity momentum and the influence of his artist's fans to make a fuss and snatch that role away!

As long as they were still in the same company, with his artist's level of fame, what role could they possibly want that they couldn't get their hands on?!

But now, he had already paid the liquidated damages for himself and his artists, signed the contract termination agreement. To get this role now, it wouldn't be competing with an artist from the same company, but with artists from other companies!

The difficulty would only be greater!

In just a few seconds, Fang Nan's mind had raced through countless twists and turns, finally arriving at a clear realization.

What bullshit about the company falling into a public opinion crisis!

This must have all been staged by Yin Chengjue himself! 

His suspicions were confirmed when Yin Chengjue slowly said, "In The Da Yan Dynasty, there's one character who, for years, has been the 'white moonlight' of scholars in their poems and writings."

Yin Chengjue: "The book 'The Da Yan Dynasty' is just one of countless works written by literati throughout history chronicling this era. Over the years, using this book as a template, many directors have brought the historical allusions of the Da Yan Dynasty to the screen. Various versions have been adapted again and again, adding many new and old elements. The personalities of each character vary somewhat across different directors' versions. But among them all, there is only one character whose personality has never been altered in any version."

Yin Chengjue: "That is, the National Teacher during the reign of Emperor Wu of Yan, Leng Fanqing."

Fang Nan's eyes flickered slightly.

The agents who had decided to stay could no longer sit still, chiming in one after another: "Boss! Did you secure the role of Leng Fanqing in the drama led by the Eastern God?"

"Boss, stop keeping us in suspense and just tell us!"

"Boss, are we assigning someone directly, or is there an audition?"

"Hey, hey, hey, you people from other companies, could you move aside? You're interrupting our worship of the boss's mighty image!"

"Exactly, don't block the doorway, time to go. Our temple is small, we can't accommodate you great Buddhas. Find another place to seek your offerings!"

With resources on the line and knowing the company hadn't abandoned them, those who stayed gained some confidence. Especially observing that Yin Chengjue didn't seem to stop them from retorting against Fang Nan and his group, they grew bolder, finally venting what they had wanted to say but dared not before.

"Hmph! In the past, whatever good resources the company had were always sent your way first. What was left over after you picked through them was ours. All the high-priced commercial endorsements and fashion spokesmodels were yours. The company spent so much resources and effort nurturing you, yet the moment the company ran into trouble, you were the first to flee. In just a few days, you've already found your next company, paid the liquidated damages, truly afraid of having even the slightest connection left with Huansheng."

"Exactly, exactly. Whenever something good comes, they're the first to reach out. When trouble strikes, they're the fastest to run away. Ungrateful wolves!"

"Who are you calling an ungrateful wolf?!" The first-tier male artist under Fang Nan finally couldn't hold back. He was still brooding over the fact that he wasn't sure he could get the male lead role in Journey Back from the Sea, while here, some nobody artist from the company had landed the male lead. Hearing someone call them ungrateful wolves, he immediately snapped back. "What do you mean, the company gives resources? If it weren't for talent and hard work, the company could give all the resources in the world and still not make someone successful! It all depends on my own effort! Don't attribute every good thing to the company. I've made the company how much money over the years? Everything I got, I deserved!"

Fang Nan frowned deeply. "Yu He!"

Yu He: "What! I just want to say it! The company's problems aren't my fault, they're someone else's! Why should I have to sacrifice my future to pay for someone else's mistakes? If you can't provide me with better development opportunities, what's wrong with me choosing a place that can? Water flows downhill, people strive for higher places. I'm just making the most normal choice there is!"

At that moment, Fang Nan could only regret not having taken this hothead away sooner.

Yin Chengjue smiled, though there was a hint of coldness in it. "Your reasoning does sound like it makes sense, but you missed one point: contractual spirit."

"Your arguments seem to align with common human sentiment, but they completely lack contractual spirit. In your view, even if you sign a contract, as long as you have money, you can easily break it for the sake of your future. Just pay the liquidated damages, and you can keep climbing higher." Yin Chengjue tapped the list on the table. "For you, this might work once, maybe twice. With enough capability, perhaps three or four times. But what about after a few more times?"

Yin Chengjue: "After a few more times, your credibility with others will be greatly diminished. And your employers, worried that you might jump ship at any moment, will become more guarded against you. You might still find another company, but you may not get their best resources anymore because they won't trust you. They'll be wary, afraid you'll take the benefits and run away."

Yu He had clearly never considered this problem before. Until now, he had always thought his decision was perfectly correct.

"Of course, I'm not denying your perspective either," Yin Chengjue added. "You paid sufficient liquidated damages according to the contract, you've taken responsibility for your choice. I respect your choice too. It's just that we stand from different viewpoints, so we reach different conclusions."

Yin Chengjue: "When the day comes that you no longer want to be an artist, want to switch careers, open your own studio, recruit artists, start your own entertainment company, then your perspective will be the same as mine."

Yu He fell silent.

"Mr. Yin," Fang Nan didn't want to hear Yin Chengjue brainwash his artist any longer. What he wanted to know now was... "Have you already decided who will play the character Leng Fanqing?"

"Mm, decided long ago. But it wasn't me who decided, they specifically requested the person. I'm just responsible for arranging the placement." Yin Chengjue didn't mind answering.

Fang Nan: "Who is it?"

Not just Fang Nan, everyone present was extremely curious, as if trying to stretch their ears to hear.

But Yin Chengjue deliberately kept them guessing at this moment: "But, why should I tell you? To make it convenient for you to go back, use it for publicity, and try to steal my artist's role?"

Yin Chengjue gestured towards the door. "Please."

This was a clear dismissal!

Realizing Yin Chengjue had no intention of telling them, Fang Nan asked no further questions and quickly left with his artist.

The others also left one after another. The termination agreements were signed, the liquidated damages paid. Further pestering would be pointless. With so many people watching, it would only make them look foolish and accomplish nothing.

Of course, some were already starting to regret it, pestering to try and sign back on, but they were all rejected.

After the meeting, some were pleased, others worried.

There was nothing else to do that day, so Yin Chengjue took Rong Yu directly home.

Passing through the food market on the way, the two disguised themselves a bit and raided the meat section.

When it came to food portions, these two big guys never skimped on themselves. If it weren't for the home gym, fully equipped with exercise machines, and their ability to stick to daily workouts (in various aspects), with their eating habits, they'd turn into a couple of pigs within a year.

"Brother, were you doing that on purpose today?" Rong Yu laughed. "Why didn't you say who got the character role?"

Yin Chengjue put on an apron and turned around for Rong Yu to tie the strings.

Yin Chengjue: "Whether I said it or not, it's yours anyway. They'll find out when the time comes. Leaving a bit of suspense, maybe they'll even launch a voting poll online, stir up some publicity... Free promotion, so convenient."

Rong Yu understood. "You discussed this with Xi Bei that day?"

Yin Chengjue: "Initially, he wanted you to play Emperor Wu of Yan. But I didn't agree."

Rong Yu: "Huh? Why?"

"..." Yin Chengjue turned back, his fingertip gently tilting Rong Yu's chin up. "You ask me why? In their adaptation of 'The Da Yan Dynasty', that Emperor Wu of Yan has a beloved. Do you think I'd let you be all lovey-dovey with someone else? Even if it's just acting, no way!"

Rong Yu looked up at Yin Chengjue, his eyes curved into a smile. "So brother let me play the aloof, elegant, transcendent National Teacher instead?"

Yin Chengjue didn't deny his own selfishness. "Besides, you were just lacking a role like this."

Rong Yu: "Oh? Is it because I lack a role like this, or... because brother wants to see it?"

Yin Chengjue: "..." Ahem, ahem, ahem! It's not that I want to see you in that kind of noble, cold, ascetic, aloof role!

Rong Yu said slowly: "I've read some unofficial historical records. That cold and ascetic National Teacher, actually, he had a lover too."

Yin Chengjue: "That's just unofficial history. Besides, Donghuang Qingyan already sent me the script. There's no romantic subplot for the National Teacher in it."