After Reuniting with My Aloof Movie Queen Childhood Friend - Chapter 9.1

“The crew disbands, the producer and director run away, and Zhizhi is bankrupt. But your Yeye is still here! Such a big company, anyone can find it on a map. If over a hundred people surround your company building demanding unpaid wages, how will your company continue to grow?”

Wu Buxing’s face turned green as he looked through the accounts. Ji Youyi figured he was mentally slapping the past version of himself who had impulsively invested in film. But that wasn’t why she was here.

She tapped the table and continued: “OK, I know CEO Wu is an honest and law-abiding entrepreneur. You won’t let it go to the Labor Bureau or end up in a lawsuit in the news. You can afford to lose 750,000, and you don’t care about a loss of over a million. But again, you might not understand the industry. Actually, encountering this is a good thing. Most people wouldn’t let this opportunity slip away.”

“Why?”

“This drama has already cost 1.5 million. That includes not just your 750k, but Zhizhi’s 750k as well. If you don’t film it, Zhizhi’s 750k has nothing to do with you. But if we actually finish the drama, it’s like you invested 750k less than usual! You get independent production rights, exclusive say in the project, and when the project goes online and shares profits, the money goes entirely into your pocket alone!”

“This kind of opportunity only comes when luck is on your side. Halfway through the investment, the partner goes bankrupt and withdraws, giving you their 750k for free. CEO Wu, don’t you agree? Where else in the world can you find such a good deal?”

Of course, Ji Youyi wouldn’t tell him that many film projects can’t be sold for a good price after filming, and the profit often doesn’t match the investment, leading to bankruptcies and runaway bosses.

Wu Buxing was clearly swayed. “But if I film it, don’t I still have to invest more money?”

Ji Youyi let out a long sigh, shaking her head as if caught between laughter and tears. “CEO Wu, don’t we sell the drama once it’s made? You can sell it to any platform. At a conservative estimate, it’s easy to sell for a million, right? You invest another 900,000 and sell it for a million. Tell me, haven’t you made a profit?”

“Moreover, money is secondary. You’re an insider, so you must understand what is most expensive these days.”

Ji Youyi counted on her fingers for him. “By filming this drama, your brand name in the industry is established, your company’s credit goes up, Wen Yang gets famous, and invitations will come pouring in!”

“Also, your company needs to recruit new talent, right? There are so many agencies, why would young people choose ours? Because our company is capable! We have experience producing dramas. If they sign with us, they get to act. Naturally, everyone will scramble to get in.”

“With a larger pool, you get better artists. The company’s business level rises, its reputation improves, resources become abundant, and it feeds back into the company, a virtuous cycle!”

Wu Buxing was listening with boiling blood. He rubbed his head as if trying to press down the lid of a rattling, boiling kettle. “Then, then… even if I want to film, I can’t. The director and everyone else ran away.”

Having started the fire, Ji Youyi now began to smile slowly.

She looked down, organizing the documents in her hand. She seemed non-threatening, but she was firmly in control of the conversation. “CEO Wu, filming is never a simple matter.”

Her eyes were calm as she sighed softly. “Think about it. If this project could be easily realized, wouldn’t everyone be making this money? Why would it be our turn? Obtaining the ‘sutras’ means crossing eighty-one tribulations.”

“Then, then… right! Then you tell me, how do we find a director and all that?”

Seeing the “kettle” across from her about to scream, Ji Youyi finally handed over a folder. She said composedly, “I have experience in directing and producing, and I’ve participated in S+ projects. If CEO Wu trusts me, you can hire me. This is the project proposal I’ve drafted, please take a look.”

Wu Buxing’s brain cooled slightly. He looked at Ji Youyi, finding her somewhat familiar but unable to remember who she was.

He hesitated. “I’ll think about it.”

Ji Youyi had no objection. “Understood. Then you think it over, CEO Wu. I have an appointment at eleven to discuss investment with another boss. I’ll head out first.” As she spoke, she stood up to leave.

“Wait, why do you have an appointment with someone else?” Wu Buxing panicked instantly.

Ji Youyi shrugged. “I naturally have to account for the possibility that you won’t invest. Time is money. The crew is currently paralyzed, but the rent for the venue and equipment is still burning. Every day we delay filming is another day of lost money for the investor. 3 million invested over 20 days, calculate how much that is per day.”

150,000 a day! Wu Buxing’s math was excellent, and he reached the answer immediately.

He could almost see stacks of cash burning, and his heart bled. “I’ll invest! I’ll invest! Don’t look for anyone else. This drama, Yeye will produce it independently. Start filming immediately!”

On the return trip, Ji Youyi didn’t spend a single cent. Wu Buxing arranged a private car to take her back to the set.

The driver was the man in the suit. He held a wide smile as he opened the car door for her, bowing as he invited her in. Ji Youyi took the coffee handed to her with both hands but didn’t say thank you.

The scent of the car air freshener was too strong, so Ji Youyi opened the back window and leaned against it, checking her phone.

Li Zhulan lived up to being the “mother” of the script. In just a few hours, she had sent over a new outline.

The setting before the “rebirth” remained unchanged. After the rebirth, the female lead, Cao Qiu, no longer got sidetracked by a romance line. Instead, she focused entirely on self-growth and protecting her family, while taking revenge for her past life.

The people who bullied her in her previous life were set up one by one. Those who tried to insult her in this life were stepped on and crushed. The original male lead was turned into a villain. A climax of the plot involved a powerful official being framed and imprisoned by the Prime Minister’s daughter.

Along the way, she made two close friends.

One was the original male lead’s childhood sweetheart, Ning Li. After seeing the male lead’s true colors, she chose to help Cao Qiu and played a major role in the showdown against the male lead. She was optimistic, cute, clever, and brave, a warm companion on Cao Qiu’s path of revenge.

The other was Princess Song Qingyan.

Princess Qingyan’s maternal family was of low status, and she had suffered bullying since childhood, nearly becoming a sacrificial lamb in her brothers’ power struggle.

However, she remained calm on the surface while being incredibly intelligent and insightful. With Cao Qiu’s support, she ultimately seized the throne, becoming the first empress of the dynasty, while Cao Qiu, who assisted her, became the first female Prime Minister.

Princess Qingyan was originally a minor character appearing only a few times. Because the role was so small, even the casting hadn’t been taken seriously. Now, with a stroke of Li Zhulan’s pen and a massive injection of plot, she was turned into the third female lead.

After reading the outline, Ji Youyi reviewed the character description for Princess Qingyan several times. An increasingly clear figure emerged in her mind.

On her phone, Li Zhulan sent a message nervously: [Xiao Ji, what do you think? I feel like I wrote Cao Qiu to be too “bad,” I’m afraid the audience won’t like her.]

Ji Youyi replied: [They won’t.]

Ji Youyi was talking nonsense, she wasn’t actually sure.

In the past, she had only filmed popcorn commercial movies and had never stepped outside the two miles radius of the film circle. She didn’t understand the preferences of web drama audiences.

But she had to use firm commands to soothe the creator’s anxiety. Only when the creator’s inner core was stable could the work be complete, the audience be comfortable watching it, and the production company make more money.

Ji Youyi’s mind wasn’t on the female lead for the moment.

She was flipping through the scenes for Princess Qingyan, imagining the character’s every frown and smile. Her mood was inexplicably good.

[Song Qingyan has more effective screen time than Ning Li, she is the true second lead. Polish her well. I have a very suitable candidate to recommend, she will definitely perform brilliantly.]

Li Zhulan: [Wow, who?]

Ji Youyi couldn’t help but smile, replying mysteriously: [An amateur friend of mine. She’s incredibly beautiful and has great temperament. You’ll understand when you see her. I plan to work hard to “trick” her into coming over.]

Amateurs are great, amateurs are cheap!