Goddess Strategy GL - Chapter 7

“This is the material received yesterday from Brand B’s PR team. This morning, Sister Susan communicated with them, and the rough cooperation framework is out. She explicitly asked me to make sure you read it. Sister Susan’s intention is for you to put aside your personal grievances and attend this VIP launch party with Ms. Ren.”

Brand B specializes in high-end jewelry, and its recently launched watch series is inspired by red and white roses, romantically interpreting the subtle relationship between urban women.

This “Red and White Rose Night” is themed around this idea. Ren Xi and Zhao Xin are the only two invited entertainment industry figures, and they will be the central focus of the party.

The two first-tier actresses—one passionate like fire, the other cold as ice—are rivals vying for the spotlight yet share a mysterious private relationship. This perfectly fits the theme. The PR manager had the idea for Zhao Xin and Ren Xi to collaborate when the product was still in its initial form, but the plan was shelved due to their famously hostile relationship. It wasn’t until Ren Xi’s defeat in the C brand endorsement battle, which fueled rumors of their discord, that the brand’s PR team seized the opportunity to contact both their studios to organize this party.

This is a win-win strategy: it gives the watch series sufficient celebrity endorsement and also dispels the rumors of their feud.

Zhao Xin opened the folder again, meticulously turning page after page. Xiao Yuan was a little anxious: “We are about to start filming. Sister Susan said to give her an answer soon… You can look at it later; the detailed plan hasn’t actually been finalized yet.”

Zhao Xin didn’t speak. She just sped up a little, finished flipping through the folder, and returned it to Xiao Yuan: “Is Ren Xi going?”

Xiao Yuan said: “I heard she already agreed.”

Zhao Xin said: “Then what reason do I have to refuse?”

Xiao Yuan said happily: “Then I’ll call Sister Susan right away.”

Zhao Xin said: “Go ahead.”

Xiao Yuan opened the car door and got out. Zhao Xin rested her head on her hand and looked out the window. Groups of young girls walked by, laughing and holding arms, full of youthful exuberance and boundless energy.

They were probably girls the director found from a local university, just like her and Ren Xi back then.

More than ten years ago, she never thought she would one day become a huge star attracting worldwide attention. She had a few good friends, dated simply, and lived the repetitive life of “dormitory-library-classroom.”

At that time, she had already caught the attention of all the boys in the school. Many secretly watched her and the equally outstanding-looking girl beside her. Soon after, a production crew came to the school to select extras, and unsurprisingly, both she and Ren Xi were chosen. The director of that crew was the same Director Wang who later made her famous across the country with the series Empress Wu Zetian.

At 170cm, she wore a Tang Dynasty dress and stunned everyone, naturally being included in Director Wang’s talent pool. However, after three months of secret training, she returned to school.

Because at that time, she hadn’t secured the role.

Who could have thought that she would later stage a comeback, replacing the lead actress at the last minute, and then forming an “iron triangle” with Director Wang and another male actor, sweeping major awards?

Over the past decade, Director Wang is still as strict as ever but remains kind and approachable in private, but she has changed. All the actors, famous or not, from that original crew have changed.

“Director Wang, can you tell us how you selected Zhao Xin? There were so many beauties in the Foreign Language Department back then!”

Director Wang laughed: “It’s about chemistry, right? As a director, you must have an eye for talent. If you feel this person can do it, she definitely can.”

“Details, details.”

“I’m old, I can’t remember.”

“See, see? You’re being perfunctory again.”

The group of young female extras surrounded Director Wang, chattering with questions. Director Wang was skilled at deflecting. The naive girls didn’t realize he was deliberately steering the conversation away from that topic. Ye Ruoqing saw a crowd of extras gathered here and thought the bald man might be among them, so she rushed over to look for him.

Director Wang noticed her immediately.

Chemistry… While it plays a part in casting, Zhao Xin’s success showed that the compatibility between the director and the actor is also extremely important.

The girl in front of him had excellent physical conditions, but she was too young and impatient. Polishing her would probably take a lot of time.

Director Wang felt he no longer had the energy for that and could only wait for a later director to discover her. Ye Ruoqing, focused on singing, had no interest in clinging to a famous director.

However, Director Wang was interested in something else. He saw Ye Ruoqing preparing to leave with a disappointed look and quickly called out to her: “Did you see Zhao Xin?”

The surrounding girls’ eyes all darted towards her.

Ye Ruoqing pointed to her nose: “Are you calling me?”

Director Wang said: “Yes.”

Ye Ruoqing: “Didn’t see her.”

Director Wang asked: “I thought you knew her. Zhao Xin rarely gets a ‘NG’ in such a situation. I thought she saw someone familiar. It seems like you stumbled over your lines and stunned her.”

Ye Ruoqing touched her pocket, looking at the director with vigilance: “You won’t deduct my wages, right? That ‘NG’ wasn’t entirely my fault.”

Director Wang said: “Don’t worry, I won’t deduct your money. Have you memorized your lines?”

Ye Ruoqing painfully took out the slip of paper: “You are the director, right? Sorry to offer a suggestion, but could you let the extras know in advance next time you decide to add lines?”

In his many years as a director, this was the first time he had an extra give him advice: “…Alright, then I’ll switch you to a role that doesn’t require you to memorize lines.”

Ye Ruoqing happily threw the slip of paper into the trash can: “Really? Thank you so much.”

The production assistant ran over and told Ye Ruoqing to quickly change out of her costume. Ye Ruoqing took off the clothes and asked: “What am I supposed to change into?”

The production assistant neatly folded the clothes Ye Ruoqing had taken off, then pointed to a straw mat on the side: “You don’t need to change anything. Just lie down there and remember to leave your feet exposed.”

Ye Ruoqing: “…”

The surrounding extras expressed profound sympathy.

After the day’s filming was done, Ye Ruoqing walked out of the studio and finally received a call from the bald man: “Little Ye girl, come and get your wages.”

“Where are you? I didn’t see you all day.”

“Something came up, so I left. Walk forward; I’m waiting for you at the station.”

Ye Ruoqing met the bald man at the station. When the bald man saw her, he pulled out an envelope for her: “Here, today’s pay.”

The thin stack was clearly more than what one or two RMB bills could account for. Ye Ruoqing took the envelope and counted: “Twelve hundred? Is the crew that generous?”

The bald man said: “No, two hundred is today’s wage; one hundred is for the ‘Special Extra’ role, and another hundred is the bonus for your wailing and lying down later.”

“Then where did the extra thousand come from?”

“I don’t know that. They said someone from the crew specifically gave it to you.”

“…” Zhao Xin’s face instantly flashed through Ye Ruoqing’s mind, making her so angry that smoke seemed to pour from her seven orifices.

“Damn it, is she deliberately messing with me? Is she addicted to being a creditor?”

“Who?”

“Nothing. Is this crew still filming tomorrow?”

“Should be. I’ll ask for you tomorrow.”

Ye Ruoqing returned to the crew the next day to be an extra. The crew members said that Ye Ruoqing’s “playing dead” skill was flawless, and she never slacked off or chatted, so she could be cast in all the lying-down roles for the next few days.

But she lay there playing dead for several days and never saw Zhao Xin. She asked the crew members, who said Zhao Xin didn’t have any scenes for the next few days.

She tried to find the legendary producer to get Xiao Yuan’s contact information, but after asking around, she got nowhere.

The feeling of being in debt was truly awful, especially to a cold and aloof beauty. Ye Ruoqing was moody these days. Bai Xiaoli had gone back to her hometown, she hadn’t found Zhao Xin, and she also had to endure daily harassment from someone who claimed to be the director of some management company.

The man harassed her at the film studio during the day and bombed her with calls at night, constantly praising Ye Ruoqing’s good looks and figure, calling her a promising talent.

Ye Ruoqing, her face smeared with soot on the set, glared and rolled her eyes, so angry she wanted to punch him.

The man continued to boast, comparing Ye Ruoqing to the contemporary Garbo and the next Ren Xi.

“Look at you, so tall, with a small face, you must be very photogenic…”

Ye Ruoqing was rubbing her hands together, ready to fight. Anyway, she hadn’t found Zhao Xin, and there were no more “playing dead” roles lately, so she figured she’d vent her anger first before leaving.

“Hey, you’ve been lingering here for a few days, do you have a work permit?” A female voice cut in. The two turned around. Xiao Yuan stood in front of the man with a stern face, holding out her hand: “Show me your ID. If you don’t have one, leave immediately, or I’ll call security.”

“Who are you?” The man sized up Xiao Yuan. “Where’s your work permit?”

“I don’t need a work permit. I’m from Zhao Xin’s studio. Got a problem with that?”

Xiao Yuan sneered. The cute, gentle girl instantly became fierce and imposing, earning Ye Ruoqing’s deep admiration. When the man heard she was from Zhao Xin’s studio, he quickly pulled out his business card and bowed and scraped: “So it’s Zhao Xin’s studio. My surname is Li, just call me Little Li. I’m the director of Shentian Management.”

Xiao Yuan took the business card without even looking at him: “Understood. Go do whatever you were doing. We’re both busy.”

The man hesitated for a moment and left.

Xiao Yuan tossed the business card into the trash can: “How did you get tangled up with someone from this kind of shady agency?”

Ye Ruoqing said: “If you had arrived any later, I would have punched him.”

Xiao Yuan said: “Be careful in the future. Don’t pay attention to anyone who tries to talk to you. This kind of business is getting rampant now. Keep your wits about you, and don’t easily give them your phone number.”

Ye Ruoqing was almost moved: “Little Yuan Face, you’re so nice…”

Xiao Yuan said: “I have a lot to do. I have to go now. Talk to you next time.”

Ye Ruoqing stopped her: “Where is Zhao Xin?”

Xiao Yuan asked: “Why are you always looking for our Boss?”

Ye Ruoqing said: “Why don’t you ask her why she keeps giving me money?”

Xiao Yuan said: “To buy you a train ticket home.”

Ye Ruoqing said: “You two are absolutely annoying.”

Xiao Yuan said: “You won’t listen when we tell you, and you call us annoying. You’ve seen it yourself: today it’s Director Li, tomorrow it will be Boss Zhang or Young Master Xie. Do you really think the entertainment industry is a pure quān (circle)? You are too naive!”