Chapter 156 – Generous Tang Fei

Chapter 156 - Generous Tang Fei

It was the day of the Farm Goddess program team's visit, a day for everyone to unwind after a tense period of work.

In Tang Fei and Jiang Xiaoying's room, only Tang Fei remained.

Jiang Xiaoying was holding a pile of snacks, showing off her dialect to her manager while insisting that they go mountain climbing together. The petite manager, who lacked physical stamina, turned pale with fear.

In the end, Jiang Xiaoying's manager still accompanied the little ancestor up the mountain.

Jiang Xiaoying: "I want you to always be my manager. Our industry has such high demands; if you don't take care of your health, I'm afraid you might switch professions and abandon me."

Who could resist a pretty girl's teary-eyed persuasion and heartfelt words?

Jiang Xiaoying's Manager: "Alright, I'll risk my life to accompany you, my noble friend."

Jiang Xiaoying's face lit up, and her tears dried up in a second: "Let's go! Let's set off!"

Her manager sensed something amiss: "Did you trick me?"

...

Outside Tang Jiang's room.

Zhou Weichuan appeared at the door, dressed in a crisp, all-white handmade shirt with a warm smile on his face.

The sound of knocking echoed.

"Is anyone there?"

Upon hearing the noise, Tang Fei opened the door and was momentarily stunned by the sight of Zhou Weichuan's smiling figure bathed in sunlight, as if the one she had been waiting for had finally arrived.

"Host, may I come in?"

Tang Fei blinked and peered behind Zhou Weichuan. "Boss, why are you here? What about Ah Zhou and the others?"

Zhou Weichuan's smile faltered slightly. Tang Fei suddenly sensed that something was bothering him, making him seem a bit uneasy in front of her.

Zhou Weichuan offered a polite and gentle smile, a default expression he often wore when unsure of how to react.

He faced Tang Fei with a guilty conscience.

Before coming, he hadn't expected to encounter such a challenging choice.

Zhou Weichuan said, "He and Hai Sheng are currently in the process of connecting with the 'Immortal Melody of Six Realms' project. The Five Elements Deity Melody has been renamed to this."

Tang Fei's brows knitted together in confusion. "Didn't I say I wouldn't shoot it? Why are they still connecting with the project?"

Zhou Weichuan looked at Tang Fei, attempting to speak several times but failing to do so.

Finally, Tang Fei impatiently asked, "Boss, is there some sort of incident? Am I no longer able to participate in the casting for this project?"

Zhou Weichuan shook his head. "No, the project itself isn't a problem. The producers of Immortal Melody of Six Realms are very sincere, and they're still trying to persuade us. That's why the connection is still ongoing."

Tang Fei responded, "I think the script is decent, but once a decision is made, we shouldn't backtrack. A simple rejection would suffice, instead of prolonging their hope. Let them swiftly choose someone else."

To conceal his anxiety, Zhou Weichuan turned aside to pour himself a glass of water.

After taking a sip, Zhou Weichuan explained slowly, "Screenwriter Liu Ling has agreed to show us the complete script and sign a contract guaranteeing no script alterations. It will be produced under Time Culture Investment, and you can also share in the profits."

Moreover, Director Nie Xiangyin is skilled in classical aesthetics and has a great handle on pacing. This production team is currently the top configuration for ancient fantasy dramas.

With such sincerity, I can't reject them outright."

Tang Fei was skeptical. "Is that so?"

She felt something was off, but couldn't quite put her finger on it.

She still trusted Zhou Weichuan; at least, his decisions had never caused any issues. She had been living comfortably under his plans.

Staring into his eyes, she tried to read his thoughts.

Zhou Weichuan remained silent, constantly sipping water. Under Tang Fei's gaze, his eyes wandered, then eventually seemed to focus as he nodded. "Yes, that's right. Actually, this project is quite good."

With the conflict between the two projects, he would definitely find a way. There must be a solution.

Tang Fei: "Aren't they eager to start filming? Not only does it clash with the variety show, but what if I get cast in the latter? Would they want me to juggle both roles? I believe that one should fully commit to a good project. Juggling roles not only causes inconvenience to the production team in terms of scheduling, but also affects the actor's performance."

Zhou Weichuan looked at Tang Fei with a sincere promise. "I will absolutely not let you juggle roles."

Tang Fei nodded. "I'll leave it to you, boss. I can focus on filming then."

"A Zhou isn't here, and there's something I have to ask of you."

Zhou Weichuan secretly let out a sigh of relief. His uncertainties made his promises seem weak when facing Tang Fei.

Tang Fei took out the book for Zhou Weichuan and explained in detail the requirements for publishing and establishing the fund. Usually, Zhou Weichuan was always in sync with Tang Fei and would follow her lead, but this time, he tried to dissuade her from this idea. "It's very difficult to get a publishing permit, and pure wuxia novels are already outdated. Nowadays, novels incorporate new elements. Forget about making profits to invest in a specialized fund; it'd be great if we don't incur losses. Do you plan to pour all your hard-earned money into this just for the sake of hearing a splash?"

Tang Fei replied, "You can read through the book. I guarantee that it will make money! It's so captivating that people won't be able to put it down."

These books were one hundred percent guaranteed to make a huge profit!

The decline of wuxia referred to the decline in the film and television adaptations, not the novels. The genre had never truly taken off in novel form! How could it be said to be declining? These classics were absolute killers.

The decline of wuxia films and TV dramas was due to the advancement in special effects technology. Fantasy and xuanhuan genres offered more visually stimulating experiences. Given similar storylines, audiences naturally gravitated towards those with more special effects.

But!

These classic wuxia novels by Jin Guliang weren't merely about visual stimulation!

With just these few books, she could take enough photos to earn for two decades.

Zhou Weichuan said, "What we like might not necessarily be what the masses enjoy."

Tang Fei was anxious. How could she explain this? She was a hundred percent sure that these books would appeal to the masses. In a world with relatively minor cultural differences, tastes wouldn't differ too much. These were books that had been popular among Chinese communities worldwide for decades.

It was impossible to change someone's mindset in a short time.

She knew these books were timeless classics, market-tested masterpieces over several decades, but Zhou Weichuan was unaware of this.

Frustrated, Tang Fei gave up trying to convince him and straightforwardly said, "If you don't do it, I'll let A Zhou handle it. Anyway, I'm determined to publish them! If they become profitable and popular, I'll sell the film and television rights to the company at a lower price."

Zhou Weichuan found Tang Fei's stubbornness and unreasonable appearance rather charming.

Considering the incident with Immortal Melody Six Realms, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. He no longer argued with Tang Fei about publishing the books.

If they lost money on this, they could make it up elsewhere. Besides, losing money to Tang Fei didn't really count as a loss.

Zhou Weichuan: "If you insist, I'll take care of the publication for you, and you won't have to pay a dime. Considering that you sold me the copyright at a bargain price, the company will cover the publishing costs as a bonus to you. Is that acceptable, First Sister?"

Tang Fei's stubborn expression softened, and she nodded with a smile. "Sure, very much so. I give credit to the company; the copyright fee is already paying for the publication. The company is making a great deal here."

Zhou Weichuan chuckled. "Alright, the company is indeed making a good profit."

"I'll let you see my generosity in the future. Trust me."

...

In He Zhuhua's resting room.

He's agent hurried in. "Sis Zhuhua, the young actress you had your eye on might not make it. Time Culture wants Tang Fei to take on both 'Foster Mother' and 'Immortal Melody of Six Realms.' If that happens, Director Mi definitely won't choose an artist who isn't fully committed to the project. No matter how well she performs, Director Mi won't pick her."

He Zhuhua replied, "I heard Tang Fei's agent is her brother, He Zhou, right? It's said that one can't handle too many tasks at once. I'll find a chance to have a heart-to-heart talk with Tang Fei."

Agent: "He Zhou might be the designated agent, but it's the General Manager of Time Culture, Zhou Weichuan, who makes the final decisions. He personally oversees Tang Fei's schedule and projects. He Zhou doesn't have much say in this."

He Zhuhua's relaxed demeanor shifted. An artist's confusion was different from a company's. The damage a company could inflict was immense and not easily swayed by persuasion. "Zhou Weichuan? Lately, many people in the industry have been praising him for his accomplishments. So, is he acting out of his mind now? What kind of production is 'The Foster Mother'? It's written by Wang Qingge, a favorite among award committees, with high ratings and numerous accolades. It even has mainstream promotion.

How can 'Immortal Melody of Six Realms' compare? It's a loss for a small gain!"

You're treating Tang Fei as your own daughter, getting so worked up!

The agent looked uncomfortable. "Sis Zhuhua, there's a rumor going around. It might not be true, but do you want to hear it?"

Seeing her agent's hesitant expression, He Zhuhua suspected that the rumor was indeed credible, and changing Tang Fei's casting situation would be challenging.

She furrowed her brows deeply. "Tell me, why is this girl's fate so bitter?"