When others threatened Chen Xiliang’s livelihood, he never feared fighting back!

Just to run his business well, he’d given up his stable job and divorced his unsupportive ex-wife. Now that someone wanted to trample his life’s work, Chen Xiliang was ready to bite back.

“The situation isn’t as serious as you think. Now that you’ve finished the advertisement, come to Beijing. Ji Ya’s fashion show is set for the 24th, come watch it with us. Oh, if Zhang Xiao is willing, invite her to Beijing too.”

Zhang Xiao used to be in a local drama troupe before transferring to the film studio, where her organizational ties remained. She needed the studio’s approval for any travels.

Xia Xiaolan knew future artists would face similar restrictions, with schedules managed by their agencies, unable to decide their own filming or event appearances.

Artists in both 1985 and 2015 had limited freedom, but in 2015 artists earned considerable income. Even though Zhang Xiao was filming movies in 1985, her salary plus film fees barely exceeded regular workers’ wages, far from true wealth.

So when Luna invited Zhang Xiao to film advertisements as their “spokesperson,” she happened to be available and packed for Guangzhou immediately upon hearing the payment.

Luna would have paid Wang Mingming eighty thousand yuan.

Zhang Xiao cost only one-eighth of that, but it was still astronomical for mainland actresses who typically earned hundreds or thousands per film. Zhang Xiao was interesting – she worked efficiently for her pay without any pretense.

Hearing this, Xia Xiaolan believed they could maintain a long-term collaboration, hence asking Chen Xiliang to invite her to Beijing.

Perhaps they’d arrange interviews for Zhang Xiao to discuss her connection with Luna. With Ji Ya making her move, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t remain passive.

Zhang Xiao had earned over ten thousand yuan for a very short advertisement – just two days of actual filming, excluding travel time.

The money came so quickly, that she felt uneasy.

When asked to go to Beijing, Zhang Xiao didn’t hesitate at all.

She had no current filming commitments anyway and wanted to work harder, worried Chen Xiliang might ask for a refund otherwise!

At thirty, Zhang Xiao remained unmarried for her acting career. Her slightly round face gave her a youthful appearance beyond her years, and her personality was very cheerful.

Xia Xiaolan’s first impression was quite positive.

After picking her up from the airport, Zhang Xiao exclaimed dramatically, “You’re so beautiful! Your face belongs in movies, you’d look amazing on camera!”

Unlike Du Zhaohui’s condescending tone when suggesting Xia Xiaolan act, Zhang Xiao’s voice carried genuine amazement and admiration. Zhang Xiao typically played righteous leading roles, her face shape and demeanor limiting her range.

Xia Xiaolan had exactly the kind of small face Zhang Xiao wanted.

Zhang Xiao was also beautiful, with a righteous, wholesome daughter-in-law-type charm, quite down-to-earth.

Her exaggeration made Xia Xiaolan laugh, “Acting requires talent. Sister Zhang Xiao wins awards on the big screen, while I’d be all awkward in front of cameras. You have a commanding presence, born to be a leading lady. At most, I could play your character’s maid!”

1980s China had inclusive beauty standards – round faces and square faces were both appreciated, with movie actors all looking different. In the new millennium, female celebrities all adopted small pointed faces, which looked slim on camera but became monotonous over time.

Xia Xiaolan spoke sincerely, which put Zhang Xiao at ease.

It seemed they wouldn’t ask for a refund… Luna’s payment was so generous, that Zhang Xiao couldn’t help worrying. Chen Xiliang followed Xia Xiaolan’s lead, and Zhang Xiao, who’d progressed from local propaganda team to drama troupe to film studio, wasn’t just the straightforward person she appeared to be.

One needs both ability and emotional intelligence.

In the mainland entertainment industry, it wasn’t capital that made stars, but organizational trust and support, followed by audience appreciation.

After dealing with Wang Mingming’s difficulty, Chen Xiliang was particularly satisfied with Zhang Xiao.

Xia Xiaolan also found 1985 mainland actors quite good – unpretentious and without airs, treating acting as genuine work. Most of them loved their profession, never complaining about fatigue, content just to have roles… Like Zhang Xiao taking extra work, worried she wasn’t doing enough to justify her pay.

Professional and ethical.

“Must have been brain-dead before…”

Why look for Hong Kong stars when mainland actresses offered such good value? That was just asking for trouble!

Pleased, Xia Xiaolan asked if Zhang Xiao could stay in Beijing recently to support brand promotion, possibly doing several interviews.

Zhang Xiao agreed immediately.

Xia Xiaolan discovered how modest she was – forget managers, she didn’t even have an assistant.

She’d just hopped on a train to Guangzhou for the advertisement, trusting the intermediary’s guarantee against fraud.

She handled everything herself, finding it odd to hire an assistant – what couldn’t she do herself? She couldn’t afford an assistant anyway, and the film studio wouldn’t provide one.

Though she’d filmed several movies and was popular, she was a junior at the studio. Even the national treasure-level actors ahead of her didn’t have assistants!

“So nobody helps manage your wardrobe and makeup?”

Xia Xiaolan’s question confused Zhang Xiao – why would someone need help deciding what to wear? There were makeup artists for filming, but she just handled it casually otherwise.

Xia Xiaolan sighed deeply.

The difference between Zhang Xiao and Wang Mingming was that of actress versus celebrity.

Actresses needed looks, but not exclusively.

Understanding Zhang Xiao’s situation, Xia Xiaolan smiled warmly. Watching her smile, Chen Xiliang sitting nearby thought silently: Grandaunt Xia is going to deceive people again!

It wasn’t strange for a twenty-year-old to deceive a thirty-year-old.

With Xia Xiaolan’s mind, Chen Xiliang believed she could convince anyone from 3 to 80 years old. Younger or older wouldn’t work – younger children wouldn’t listen to her, and older people were too confused with unclear speech for communication.

But for ages 3-80, if Xia Xiaolan wanted, she could generally convince them all.

He heard Xia Xiaolan say sweetly: “Sister Zhang Xiao, you’ve won Best Actress – how can you not have an assistant managing miscellaneous tasks? And for public appearances, your wardrobe and makeup should have dedicated staff. Luna will hire an assistant for you, and handle your wardrobe and makeup too. What do you think? You won’t need to pay for any of this personally.”

Zhang Xiao was stunned.

Could such good things exist – getting paid for advertisements, provided with an assistant, wardrobe, and makeup, all without spending money?

“No, no, that would be wasting your money!”

Money is never wasted – what’s spent here will be earned back elsewhere.

Zhang Xiao had public recognition but lacked a fashionable image. Xia Xiaolan planned to sign her for several years and completely makeover her appearance.