Huayu: Please leave me alone, I really want to retire from the entertainment industry!

Chapter 41 Target: Chaoge

Song Ze leaned back on the sofa.

For an ordinary newcomer, a few words of "hard work pays off" at this point would be enough to win over a devoted fangirl.

But he's not a life coach.

Having been given a second chance at life, the most annoying things are internal strife and self-pity.

"Because I've taken a liking to you."

A single, casual remark.

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

one second.

two seconds.

Just as Song Ze was wondering if the girl had dropped her phone into the toilet.

A burst of unrestrained laughter erupted from the receiver.

The shock made him move his phone half an inch away.

"Really?" Bai Mengyan's nasal tone vanished instantly. "Then what do you like about me? I'll go work on it right away and try to get certified and start working as soon as possible."

Before Song Ze could reply, her speech suddenly quickened.

"But we need to settle things first. Are you planning to marry into the family or move in as a son-in-law? I need to prepare the contract in advance."

The sound of tapping on the phone screen came through the receiver.

"Let me search for a marriage contract template first. What's the going rate for a bride price? If it's too high, I'll have to go back and discuss it with my dad to see if we can pay in installments. Like, two years interest-free."

Song Ze was so angry he laughed.

These are people born to make a living in the entertainment industry.

One second they're wiping away tears, the next they're talking about a marriage contract with you.

"Stop searching. Go wash up and go to sleep. Come find me at Xingyao Entertainment at 10 a.m. tomorrow."

"Received! I promise I won't be late."

The phone hangs up.

Clean and efficient.

The next day. 10:00 AM.

Xingyao Entertainment, third-floor office.

Zhang Juan pushed open the door and came in, carrying a cup of coffee.

She pulled out a chair and sat down, her chest heaving.

"You really scared me to death yesterday. You directly overturned the table with a local tycoon like He Zhengwei, and even brought out Liu Yifei and Sa Dingding. My phone has been ringing off the hook with calls from my colleagues, all trying to get information out of you, asking which big shot in the Beijing circle you've hooked up with."

Song Ze looked up from behind the computer screen.

"A small matter."

He opened the drawer, took out a document, and pushed it in front of Zhang Juan.

"Sign this person up. A top-tier contract. Allocate company resources to the first tier."

Zhang Juan opened the file.

The girl in the headshot is wearing a white T-shirt and laughing carefree.

The resume was excessively clean: no formal training, no agency, and only two short films that don't even have a Douban entry.

Snapped.

Zhang Juan closed the file and pushed it back.

"Song Ze, I understand you admire her. But a company isn't a charity. Are you going to sign a complete novice to an A-list contract right away?"

She leaned forward.

"An A-level contract means a guaranteed base salary of two million per year, a dedicated management team, and a publicity budget of tens of millions. What makes her so special?"

Song Ze did not take that document.

He leaned back in his chair.

"Her name is Bai Lu."

Zhang Juan was taken aback. "The resume says Bai Mengyan."

"This is the name I just chose. You don't need to understand it, just sign it according to this standard."

Zhang Juan opened her mouth to refute.

"In less than three years, she will be the company's most valuable asset."

There was no explanation.

Only with unwavering certainty.

During the time Zhang Juan followed Song Ze, she witnessed his absolute control in the recording studio and his meticulous calculations of investors.

But this is the first time I've made such a judgment about an ordinary person.

She stared at Song Ze for five seconds.

They compromised.

She picked up the documents and dialed the legal department's internal line.

"Prepare a newcomer A-level contract. Name: Bai Lu. Bai as in daytime, Lu as in dew. Need it immediately."

1:30 PM.

Meeting Room No. 6, Xingyao Entertainment.

Bai Mengyan sat at the conference table.

The air conditioner is blowing cold air.

She clutched the forty-plus-page A-level brokerage contract, flipping through it from beginning to end, then from end to beginning again.

Her finger hovered over the penalty column, and a long string of zeros made her dizzy.

Song Ze pushed the door open and came in, with Zhang Juan following behind.

Bai Mengyan immediately stood up.

"Teacher Song, did you get the wrong contract? The base salary is two million. You're not trying to trick me into signing it so you can sell me off to northern Myanmar, are you?"

Song Ze pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Those two kidneys of yours won't even sell for two million."

Zhang Juan handed over a pen.

"Ms. Bai, Song Ze guarantees your commercial value. The contract complies with broadcasting regulations and has no hidden traps."

Bai Mengyan took the pen, her hand still trembling.

"Can I really sign?"

"sign."

Song Ze flipped to the last page of the contract and pointed to the signature section.

"From today onwards, your name is Bai Lu. You are a contracted artist with Xingyao Entertainment."

He stood up, walked around the conference table, and patted her on the shoulder.

"From now on, you'll be my junior sister. I'll protect you if anything happens."

Bai Lu looked at him.

Having been picked and chosen in this circle for so long, this was the first time someone had told her with such certainty—"I've got your back."

She lowered her head, signed her real name on the contract, and wrote two more words next to it.

White Dew.

After signing, she looked at the two words and pursed her lips.

"Good soil."

Zhang Juan put away the contract and went to follow the procedures.

There were only two people left in the meeting room.

Bai Lu muttered about how unsophisticated her name was while taking out her phone.

Open Weibo, change your nickname, and submit for review.

The movements were fluid and graceful.

Song Ze stood behind her, able to see the screen clearly.

The alternate account I used for three years has now been renamed "Bai Lu Tongxue" (meaning "Classmate Bai Lu").

Song Ze took two steps back, took out his phone, and took a picture of her back.

Open WeChat Moments and upload.

Caption: Welcome to our new junior sister @白露同学. She says her name is old-fashioned, but she's quite honest about changing her Weibo name.

Click send.

Five seconds later.

Bai Lu's phone vibrated.

A reminder to pay special attention to.

She opened WeChat, glanced at it, and froze.

Her face instantly turned red to the roots of her ears.

"Song Ze!"

She lunged at her.

"Delete it! It's too embarrassing!"

Song Ze dodged to the side and held his phone up high.

"It's already been posted. The boss even gave it a thumbs up, and Zhang Juan praised your strong execution skills in the comments."

"I don't want to hear it! Delete it now!"

Bai Lu jumped up to reach for the phone.

The two men walked around the conference table twice.

Bai Lu suddenly stopped.

She took a step back, straightened the hem of her disheveled T-shirt, and cleared her throat.

"Fine. I'll reluctantly accept the title of 'Senior Brother' today."

She reached into her pocket, pulled out a lollipop, and slammed it on the table.

"However, according to the rules of our god-sister community, becoming an apprentice requires mutual effort."

Song Ze suppressed a laugh, "Okay, go ahead."

Bai Lu raises one finger.

"First of all, once I become famous and release a single, you have to write all the songs for me, and you're not allowed to raise the price. You have to offer a friend's price with a huge discount."

"Reasonable. Approved."

Bai Lu raised her second finger.

"Secondly, when we film variety shows together in the future, you are not allowed to steal my spotlight, and you must let me win when playing games."

"no problem."

Bai Lu lowered her hands and put them on her hips.

"at last--"

"besides?"

"Hurry up and find me a reliable sister-in-law. Your ex-girlfriend scandals are trending every day, seriously damaging my illustrious image as a future top star."

She stepped forward and patted Song Ze's arm.

"Don't feel pressured. I can support you if I don't get any work. I've signed the contract, so you'll definitely have more gigs in the future. Your sister-in-law will be in charge of buying bags and watches, and your junior sister will be in charge of paying the bills. We have a clear division of labor, so you won't be taken advantage of."

Song Ze looked at the girl in front of him who was talking nonsense.

This is the true White Dew.

Bai Lu is a wild and untamed girl, genuine and vibrant, who has never had any idol baggage.

In this circle full of calculation and hypocrisy, this vitality is the most precious and scarce resource.

The meeting room door was pushed open.

Zhang Juan walked in carrying the contract attachments stamped with the official seal.

"The process is complete. Finance has already deposited Bailu's first-month salary into her account. What's next? Should we schedule her physical education and vocal lessons?"

"No."

Song Ze turned around.

"Contact Yu Zheng Studio."

Zhang Juan was taken aback. Yu Zheng was known in the industry for his bad temper, but his methods of promoting newcomers were also top-notch.

"Inquire about the current casting progress of the 'Chaoge' drama series. Obtain the audition notice."

He pointed to Bailu.

"Arrange for her to join the production team before next Wednesday. She will be auditioning for the role of General Deng Chanyu."