Chapter 0891: Unexpected

After finishing the call with Zhao Fusheng, Zheng Yao dialed Dong Chenxi.

“President Zheng, is there something?”

Receiving Zheng Yao’s call, Dong Chenxi was quite surprised. Normally, Zheng Yao didn’t involve herself in Future Film’s affairs.

After all, although it was a subsidiary of Future Advertising, Future Film was essentially semi-independent. The company’s operations and management were handled by Dong Chenxi and Bai Jie, with Zheng Yao acting as the big boss.

As the boss, she could enjoy the company’s dividends, but generally, few bosses interfered with their managers’ management—it was an unspoken rule.

“Is Fusheng’s girlfriend, Fan Baobao, at Huayi?” Zheng Yao didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point with Dong Chenxi.

Dong Chenxi was taken aback and nodded in surprise: “Yes, her contract is indeed with Huayi. I heard it was personally signed by Wang Jinghua.”

As a mutual friend of Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao, Dong Chenxi naturally knew about this. She believed Zheng Yao also knew, so what did Zheng Yao mean by bringing it up now?

Before Dong Chenxi could collect her thoughts, Zheng Yao continued: “It’s like this. I think, since we already have our own film company, maybe we can acquire her contract.”

Zheng Yao said the last sentence in a declarative tone, not as a question.

Dong Chenxi was initially surprised by her words, but then she understood. In her interpretation, this was Zheng Yao’s way of tying Zhao Fusheng down and keeping him at Future Advertising.

After all, everyone knew Zhao Fusheng’s position at Future Advertising. If he left, it would be an unbearable loss for the company.

That being the case, keeping his girlfriend at Future Film would at least provide a bargaining chip if such matters ever arose in the future.

“We can negotiate the contract with Huayi, but the cost…” Dong Chenxi hesitated. Although it seemed trivial, it wasn’t easy to pull off.

“Don’t worry about the cost. Just sign her.” Zheng Yao said decisively.

In her view, since Zhao Fusheng had asked her to handle this, no matter the cost, as long as the goal was achieved, it was fine.

Dong Chenxi was startled by Zheng Yao’s tone, but on second thought, it wasn’t surprising. Given Zhao Fusheng’s standing at Future Advertising, it made sense.

“Alright, rest assured. I know what to do.” Dong Chenxi said slowly.

After hanging up, Dong Chenxi rubbed her head, feeling a bit baffled. Why had Zheng Yao suddenly taken an interest in this? Could it be that tensions between Zhao Fusheng and the head office had been strained lately?

But then she thought again, it seemed unlikely. Zhao Fusheng and Zheng Yao had been collaborating since the startup days, and there had been no reports of discord. Moreover, knowing them, even if they fell out, they wouldn’t resort to such petty tactics.

After much thought, she concluded that this was simply Zheng Yao’s attempt to win over Zhao Fusheng and bind him more tightly to Future Advertising.

After pondering for a while, Dong Chenxi called Bai Jie over.

“What’s up? You need me?”

Bai Jie walked into Dong Chenxi’s office, looking puzzled and a bit curious.

She was now in charge of external affairs, constantly busy and exhausted. But thanks to Zhao Fusheng’s earlier advice, she had never resorted to using feminine wiles or similar tactics in public relations.

“It’s like this. Contact Huayi and see if we can acquire Fan Baobao’s contract.” Dong Chenxi said to Bai Jie.

Bai Jie was taken aback: “Fusheng’s girlfriend?”

She naturally knew Fan Baobao, though not as well as Dong Chenxi did.

Dong Chenxi nodded: “President Zheng’s idea.”

“Alright, I understand. I’ll contact Wang Jinghua right away.” Bai Jie said with a smile upon hearing this.

In her view, this was no big deal. If it were a top star, it might be troublesome, but Fan Baobao was just a newcomer, and not a particularly valuable one. Acquiring her contract, in Bai Jie’s opinion, would be effortless.

But as it turned out, she was wrong.

Huayi quickly responded: Wang Jinghua disagreed!

“What?”

Bai Jie was bewildered after receiving the call from Huayi: “Why disagree? She’s not a big star, just a newcomer. Is it really necessary?”

Gripping the phone, she even wanted to ask the Huayi executive if they had lost their minds, clinging to a newcomer who had never even played a lead role.

“Sorry, President Bai. Our President Wang believes Fan Baobao has promising future prospects.” A department manager from Huayi Brothers’ agency said politely to Bai Jie.

Bullshit!

Bai Jie cursed inwardly. She knew the truth. Fan Baobao had barely made any decent works; the few films and TV shows she participated in were through Zhao Fusheng’s connections, not Huayi’s. In fact, Huayi had essentially left Fan Baobao to her own devices. Now they claimed to value her? It was nonsense!

“Manager Zhou, I think there might be some misunderstanding. Future Film and its predecessor Future Advertising have always had a good cooperative relationship with your company. We’re interested in Fan Baobao because she has shot many commercials under our company. Please discuss with President Wang. If possible, we’re willing to pay to buy out the remaining years of her contract.” Bai Jie said patiently to the Huayi representative.

Manager Zhou on the other end was also puzzled. Future Advertising seemed sincere. Fan Baobao was just an ordinary signed artist with three years left on her contract. The company had invested few resources in her, and she brought little profit. He had heard she got some roles thanks to her good relationship with Jiang Wen, but they were mostly minor, dispensable parts. Why would anyone be interested in her? And what surprised him most was that President Wang had directly vetoed the proposal upon hearing about it.

This was truly astonishing!

What surprised him even more came a day later: Huayi Brothers’ headquarters called directly. Wang Zhonglei wanted to see him!

Manager Zhou suddenly felt that this newcomer’s contract was not so simple after all.