Chapter 56: Six and Eight
Gu Wanrong stood up and left without looking back.
Guan Chun, who had been acting as a silent observer, followed her.
Li Zongcai made no attempt to stop them. He thought he could use Wu Yongzheng, Gao Zhimei, and Ma Yuanzhi to gain more leverage.
Only when Gu Wanrong walked towards the elevator without looking back did he panic. He realized that while she had offered those conditions casually, she wasn’t just giving him whatever he asked for.
He couldn’t be sure he could get more by holding onto Wu Yongzheng and the others.
Li Zongcai stood up abruptly and chased after Gu Wanrong, “Ms. Gu, I accept your three conditions.”
Gu Wanrong glanced at him, her gaze returning to the elevator’s ascending numbers.
The elevator arrived, the doors opened, and Gu Wanrong stepped inside.
“Ms. Gu, let’s talk more,” Li Zongcai pleaded.
Gu Wanrong pressed the close button, giving Guan Chun a look. Guan Chun subtly positioned herself outside the elevator.
The doors closed.
Gu Wanrong vanished from Li Zongcai’s sight.
“Miss, are you Ms. Gu’s…?” Li Zongcai asked Guan Chun excitedly.
“I’m Ms. Gu’s subordinate at Yi Shang Entertainment, Mr. Li,” Guan Chun replied.
Gu Wanrong had given the order to recruit Wu Yongzheng and the others, and she had personally negotiated. Seeing that there was room for negotiation and Gu Wanrong’s look, Guan Chun planned to continue the talks after Li Zongcai’s attempt to convince Gu Wanrong failed.
Li Zongcai invited Guan Chun, “Let’s talk in the meeting room.”
In the meeting room:
“Mr. Li, let’s replace the Fu Zhenzhu Bao endorsement with a cover in one of the five major fashion magazines. The other conditions and the severance pay remain unchanged. That’s Yi Shang’s final offer.”
Guan Chun substituted one of the four original conditions with a magazine cover. It sounded like a fair trade.
“The endorsement can’t be removed,” Li Zongcai protested. He could use the Fu Zhenzhu Bao endorsement to get resources for Lu Chi, the leading actress in Under the Phoenix Throne.
“If it’s not possible, we’ll stop negotiating,” Guan Chun sighed. “I really hoped Yi Shang could get Director Wu, Screenwriter Gao, and Mr. Ma. That’s why I stayed to talk.”
Guan Chun made a move to leave.
A 20% increase in Douyin publicity would boost Under the Phoenix Throne‘s views. Two years of rent saved, and a magazine cover to trade for further benefits.
They exchanged two low-output directors/screenwriters and a veteran supporting actor. Still a good deal.
Li Zongcai stopped Guan Chun. “Fine,” he said, acting as if he was losing out.
“Mr. Li, pleasant cooperation.” Guan Chun shook hands with him.
Guan Chun immediately informed Gu Wanrong.
The negotiation went as planned. The first two conditions were tempting, and the Fu Zhenzhu Bao endorsement sealed the deal.
But Gu Wanrong couldn’t just offer any endorsement, so she let Li Zongcai become greedy, then walked away, prompting his regret. She’d use a magazine cover instead of the endorsement.
Guan Chun then reported to Tong Shenwu, receiving this reply:
Resumption of work; contract termination on the first day.
Official notification after the holiday; you’re the new planning director.
Guan Chun was thrilled. She then informed the three from Hua Rui:
Guan Chun: Contract termination with Hua Rui on the first workday after the holiday; Yi Shang will take you in.
She’d use the time off to make up for the lost holiday, a paid vacation.
…
9:30 AM.
At Yun Jing Hotel, one of the most luxurious hotels in Si Jiu City, a peculiar and awkward scene unfolded outside the presidential suite.
Ten people in matching butler and maid uniforms stood quietly on one side, their expressions calm, their demeanor elegant. On the other side, six strong, serious men and women stood silently.
The leaders of both groups were women. One was older, around forty; the other was young, with short hair. They waited patiently for the suite door to open.
The hotel manager rushed over, whispering, “Yun Jing Hotel doesn’t allow filming. Where’s the director?”
The seven on the left glared, making the manager and his staff flinch.
Silence fell.
The woman on the right stepped forward, speaking quietly yet authoritatively, “We’re waiting for Ms. Wanrong, who is a guest here.” She then presented their hotel booking information.
The manager, unconvinced, checked the records and confirmed the bookings, awkwardly apologizing as he left.
However, some people kept glancing back, curious about the unusual group. They resembled a scene from a viral short video.
Half an hour later:
Gu Wanrong woke up, reached for her phone, and looked at the time: 10:12 AM.
9:25 AM
Tong Shenliu: We await your instructions, Ms. Wanrong.
9:25 AM
Tong Shenba: We are here to ensure your safety, Ms. Wanrong.
“They’re early! I told them to rest! They’ve been waiting for over half an hour!”
Gu Wanrong rushed to the door without getting dressed.
“Ms. Wanrong!”
The uniformed group bowed; the other group lowered their heads.
Gu Wanrong opened the door, stepping back in surprise. She shook her head, “Impossible!”
She quickly closed the door, muttering, “I must be dreaming of some cheesy short video.”
“No, I’m awake.”
She cautiously opened the door a crack, widening her eyes, “This… this is real!”
The scene from the short video was happening in real life! Gu Wanrong felt embarrassed.
Her toes curled. A fully completed five-courtyard Siheyuan at number 10 in Qingnan Hutong stood before her.
Gu Wanrong took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and opened them again, fully opening the door.
“Come in,” she said calmly.
Tong Shenliu and Tong Shenba’s teams entered.
Silence filled the suite.
Gu Wanrong sat on the sofa, clutching a pillow, unable to speak. She was experiencing social anxiety.
Tong Shenliu and Tong Shenba realized their behavior made Gu Wanrong uncomfortable and waited patiently.
Gu Wanrong finally spoke softly, “Please, don’t bow like that.”