The third installment was officially set to begin filming on Saturday. Strangely, Wen Tingli didn’t receive the newly revised script until Friday, and the moment she read it, she flew into a rage on the spot.
The Graceful Detective series had always centered on female university student Fu Zhenzhen solving cases as the main plot. But the third installment’s script had inexplicably added a male lead named Lin Ajun—a gangster hoodlum. Fu Zhenzhen falls for him at first sight, stops properly investigating cases, and her mind is filled with nothing but her “Brother Ajun.” At one point, she even misses a crucial opportunity to confront the murderer face-to-face because she’s out on a tryst with Lin Ajun, and in the end it’s Lin Ajun who spots the murderer in the crowd and “heroically” captures him.
In the film’s final scene, Fu Zhenzhen gazes at Lin Ajun with deep affection and says: “Brother Ajun, I truly can’t live without you.”
How was this still the sharp, spirited Fu Zhenzhen at all?!
Wen Tingli went to find Liu Menglin.
Liu Menglin was busy discussing matters with Manager Liu of [REDACTED] and others. Seeing her, he feigned surprise: “Now what’s the matter?”
Wen Tingli swallowed her anger and set the script on the desk. “Boss Liu, what exactly is going on here? Where did this Lin Ajun come from?”
“He’s your co-star. Lin Ajun—played by the King of Film, Zhu Xiaozhou. We waited a long time for his schedule to open up. Several of the board elders unanimously felt your looks would complement each other beautifully—once the two of you appear together on screen, you’ll truly be a match made in heaven… heh heh, just wait for the third installment to break box office records again.”
Wen Tingli gritted her teeth. “Why did no one mention any of this to me beforehand?”
“This is the third installment’s secret weapon. Of course we had to wait until filming began to announce it publicly. Once the news breaks, the film is bound to be a hit before it even premieres. Graceful Detective‘s old fans have been waiting for Fu Zhenzhen’s Prince Charming to appear—now here comes Zhu Xiaozhou playing Lin Ajun, falling in love with Fu Zhenzhen. Just imagine what a sensation that will cause!”
“So Fu Zhenzhen falls in love and becomes unable to even recognize the murderer? Chasing after some hoodlum while disregarding her own best friend’s safety? Boss Liu, I hope you still remember the film is called Graceful Detective, not some Little Sweetheart of the Handsome Hoodlum!”
Liu Menglin’s face darkened. “Who do you think you’re talking to?! You’re taking yourself far too seriously. Making a film requires considering many factors—this isn’t a solo stage show for you, Wen Tingli. Zhu Xiaozhou is already locked in. Are you planning to stage a rebellion? Don’t think this film can’t do without you. If you don’t want to act, there are plenty who will. The company can make a star out of Wen Tingli—it can just as easily make one out of a ‘Bai Tingli’ or ‘Zhu Tingli’!”
Wen Tingli choked back a retort.
Liu Menglin brushed her aside indifferently, turning back to discuss tomorrow’s press conference with the other managers, adding with a smile: “…our preliminary estimate has the third installment’s box office at a baseline of one hundred eighty thousand. For the fourth installment, to further boost ticket sales, we might add a bit more intimacy between Fu Zhenzhen and Lin Ajun. Remember how popular Street Lovers was a few years back?” (note) “That kissing scene caused quite a sensation. When it’s Wen Tingli and Zhu Xiaozhou’s turn, we could do a romantic on-screen kiss too.”
Manager Bai and the others shot quick glances at Wen Tingli, but Liu Menglin spoke with full confidence: “Don’t worry, she’ll do it. If the company hadn’t given her the chance to star in Graceful Detective, she never would have become Golden Film’s biggest female star. She’ll figure out her own worth.”
But Wen Tingli said flatly, “I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed this time. Forget the fourth installment—I won’t be performing in the third one either.”
Everyone in the room exchanged glances. Liu Menglin, having apparently just been through the whole Huang Yuanshan affair, appeared considerably more composed than the others.
“Have you thought this through?” he said icily. “Once certain words are spoken, they can’t be taken back.”
Wen Tingli quickly steadied her emotions and said in a level voice: “Boss Liu, you and I aren’t enemies. Even if we disagree, there’s no need to make things too ugly. My request is simple: revise the third installment’s script. Fu Zhenzhen is the soul of Graceful Detective. We shouldn’t gut the soul of the entire film just to court attention. If you insist on not changing it back, then you and I can only part ways amicably.”
Liu Menglin’s face turned ashen as he looked left and right. “Listen to her—truly, ‘near vermilion, one turns red; near ink, one turns black.’ You’re getting more and more like Huang Yuanshan in temperament. Wen Tingli! Don’t say I didn’t warn you—Huang Yuanshan comes from a distinguished family, she has the capital to be willful. But you? You’re just an orphan girl who came from Ping’an Lane. Today you walk out of Golden Film’s doors; tomorrow you might be sitting on the bench with nothing to do. Western houses, cars, fine clothes—from now on, don’t even dream of them. The film market changes by the day, and a star’s fall from grace can happen overnight. Without a company’s protection, you’re nothing!”
Wen Tingli smiled faintly. “Thank you for your heartfelt words, Boss Liu, I’ve taken them to heart. But I’ve already made up my mind. Today you can disregard my opinion and drastically alter my role; tomorrow there will be an even more outrageous script waiting for me. By then, my personal will won’t be worth a single copper coin. I don’t want to reach that point.”
She smiled slightly. “A couple months ago, a senior colleague told me not to let vanity blind my eyes, and to always cherish my talent. Looking back now, she truly was a woman of foresight and wisdom. I ought to heed her words.”
Liu Menglin burst into mocking laughter. “A wise woman? You mean Huang Yuanshan, don’t you! Too bad she herself is like a clay Buddha crossing a river, unable to protect even herself. You don’t know yet that she was just swindled out of a large sum of money the other day, do you? She took the money to rent a factory building on Xietu Road, ran into a fake landlord, and handed over three years’ worth of rent all at once—yet never got the building.”
Wen Tingli was startled—these past two days she’d been busy with the third Graceful film’s start, and hadn’t had time to visit Huang Yuanshan, so she knew nothing of this.
“That’s Huang Yuanshan for you! Outside of filmmaking, she’s naive as a child in everything else. You think once you defect to her side, you’ll still get to comfortably shoot your own films in a studio the way you did at Golden Film? Don’t even think about it. Starting a company is just the first step—running one is what really gives people headaches. Once she’s burned through what little family fortune she has, the two of you will end up on the streets. Are you planning to go begging alongside her?”
As Liu Menglin spoke, he watched Wen Tingli’s expression closely, and seeing her look thoughtful, assumed she was wavering. He couldn’t help but sit back down smugly.
Just then the promotions department manager came to ask about the film’s promotional photo spread, and someone else rushed in, panting: “Zhu Xiaozhou is here.”
Liu Menglin signaled Manager Bai to go help Wen Tingli to her feet.
“There, there, no need to be so stubborn. Look how much the company values you—so many actresses would kill for the chance to work with Zhu Xiaozhou. Manager Bai, tell the photographer that this time the couple’s poster absolutely must reference Hollywood’s Boudoir Dreams—have Wen Tingli nestled in Zhu Xiaozhou’s arms, Zhu Xiaozhou teasingly flicking her forehead, tell him to smile a bit more wickedly, that’s what fans eat up nowadays. For the later shots, have Zhu Xiaozhou embrace Wen Tingli, and Wen Tingli’s eyes must be full of tenderness—that’s what’s called a proper romantic epic…”
Wen Tingli abruptly cut him off: “Boss Liu, I should be taking my leave. I’ll have someone deliver my resignation letter to you later.”
Liu Menglin’s face changed several times. “You want to leave? Fine, but first pay the company ten times the compensation stipulated in your contract.”
Wen Tingli said with a smile: “Boss Liu really does forget things easily. I’ve never signed a long-term contract with the company—where would this so-called breach-of-contract compensation come from?”
Liu Menglin’s temple throbbed violently, cursing himself for being so blinded by anger that he’d forgotten just how difficult Wen Tingli was to manipulate.
Earlier that year, he had tried to use the studio fire incident to pressure Wen Tingli into signing a ten-year employment contract with the company, only to be deftly outmaneuvered by her. After that, Wen Tingli had grown wary, and had only ever agreed to single-picture contracts with the company from then on.
The company paid her monthly, and her fees were calculated film by film. She even refused to use the company’s cars and drivers. As for advertising fees, those were settled separately according to a set percentage.
This was one of the reasons he’d always been wary of Wen Tingli—after all, he had no contract in hand to hold over her.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He said sharply: “Have Duan Miaoqing come for a costume fitting immediately! Get out of my sight right now! One last reminder: I, Liu, am no philanthropist, and Golden Film is not some place you can come and go from as you please. If you ever try to come back, it will be absolutely impossible!”
Far from being angered, Wen Tingli instead stepped forward and bowed deeply to Liu Menglin.
“Boss Liu, Golden Film was where I got my start in this industry. Toward you and the company, I feel nothing but boundless gratitude. That it’s come to this is truly a last resort—you have your difficulties, and I have my principles. Though I’ve decided to leave the company now, deep down I still consider you and my colleagues family. If there’s ever anything I can help with in the future, just say the word.”
“Don’t try to charm me with these hollow words! Just wait until you’re suffering right alongside Huang Yuanshan. Over there, they probably can’t even pay wages, let alone handle public relations, negotiations, or bookkeeping.”
“Doesn’t Sister Huang have me now?” Wen Tingli said with a radiant smile. “Whatever she’s not good at, I am.”
Liu Menglin watched, dumbfounded, as Wen Tingli gracefully walked away, then said petulantly to the others in the room: “Absolutely insufferable arrogance. With her level of ability, she’ll last two months at most. Let’s see her tough it out to the end—just don’t come crawling back to us begging once she’s got nothing left to eat!”
By the time Wen Tingli arrived at the Huang residence, Huang Yuanshan was frantically going over accounts, at her wits’ end.
Just as Liu Menglin had said, Huang Yuanshan was a genius at filmmaking but lacked experience in everything else. A full week after resigning, the new company had only recruited three staff members, everything was in complete disarray, and due to the swindling incident, they still had no studio space secured.
By rights, Huang Yuanshan, having been in the industry for so many years, should have had plenty of friends across various circles. But she’d always had an odd temperament—the more she needed help, the more afraid she was of troubling her friends. She hadn’t breathed a word to anyone about her resignation.
When Wen Tingli entered, she didn’t even greet Huang Yuanshan, instead going straight for the telephone receiver on the desk.
“Mrs. Pan, it’s me,” Wen Tingli said sweetly. “Have you finished that tea from last time? I’ll bring you more tomorrow… It’s only been a few days, but I’ve already missed you. Oh, didn’t you mention a friend of yours has an old factory building to lease out? Yes, yes, someone wants to rent it—nothing gets past you… That someone is me. You’ll have to get your friend to lower the rent a bit, since you dote on me so much.”
As she spoke, she laughed into the phone: “It’s settled then. I’ll come find you first thing tomorrow morning, and we’ll drink tea and play mahjong together…”
Huang Yuanshan stared at Wen Tingli in bewilderment, and once she’d hung up, couldn’t help but ask: “What are you doing here at my house?”
Wen Tingli walked over and flipped open the new company’s ledger beside Huang Yuanshan. “Huh, why were yesterday’s expenses so high?”
“We just bought a batch of carbon arc lamps and five hundred feet of film stock—wait, never mind that, why are you looking at my ledger? Graceful three starts filming tomorrow. Don’t tell me you have nothing to do right now.”
“I have nothing to do. I quit.”
“Have you lost your mind?!” Huang Yuanshan sprang up from her chair like a coiled spring.
Wen Tingli pushed her firmly back down. “What’s there to make a fuss about? Whatever reason you quit for, that’s my reason too. I hereby announce that as of today, I, Wen Tingli, am formally joining Ms. Huang Yuanshan’s new company.”
Huang Yuanshan’s voice trembled slightly: “Are you serious? You’re not joking with me?”
Wen Tingli felt an inexplicable surge of emotion and leaned in with a smile: “Do I look like I’m joking? Sister Huang—no, I should call you Boss Huang now. Your company just opened and already landed a big star—now that’s a good omen. Quick, stand up and applaud!”
Huang Yuanshan clapped twice out of reflex, but the moment she realized their so-called “company” consisted of just the two of them, she snapped back to her senses: “I wasn’t wrong—you really are out of your mind. Giving up a ready-made career as a movie star to come join me in this wasteland. I don’t need your help here. Go back right now!”
Wen Tingli plopped herself down. “There’s no going back. If I don’t leave, Liu Menglin will find some way to force me into playing lovebirds with Zhu Xiaozhou. Now that I’ve thought it through—fame isn’t the main thing. If a person wants to accomplish something real, they first need a say in things. Tomorrow I’ll go to Mrs. Pan’s and rent that factory building. I heard the place is about two thousand square meters, enough to build both a studio and offices. Once we have a location, next is hiring people. Sister Huang, you alone can handle both cinematography and directing. For bookkeeping, I already have someone in mind—we’re still short a makeup artist, costume designer, production assistant, and publicity manager. That’s our top priority right now.”
Huang Yuanshan listened as she laid it all out systematically, her expression gradually shifting from stunned to elated: “I’ve already secured costumes—old Zhou. I was the one who brought her into the industry originally, and when she heard I was starting a company, she was very willing to come help me. But she’s still finishing up with another production crew, so she should be able to report to us in about a week.”
Wen Tingli brightened and quickly crossed “costume designer” off the list on the paper.
“For makeup, I’m planning to bring in Gu Jie—he studied film makeup specifically in France, and no one in the industry has more experience than him. We’re on good terms, but he does everything strictly by the book, and the price he’s quoting is very high. I’m still hesitating over whether to agree to it.”
“How much is he asking?”
Huang Yuanshan gestured a number. Wen Tingli didn’t hesitate: “Agree to it!”
Huang Yuanshan waved her hands in alarm: “Just hiring him alone would cost enough to hire four or five makeup artists. The company’s still just starting out, we can’t be so extravagant.”
“Think about it—why does he dare ask for that price? Precisely because he’s the top figure in this field. The earlier the stage we’re at, the more we need someone of his caliber to establish our reputation. This is called ‘striking first to gain the advantage.'”
Huang Yuanshan thought it over and couldn’t help but laugh. “Makes sense. Alright, I’ll invite him to dinner later. For the publicity department, I’m planning to recruit Li Zhen, the former deputy editor of Hujiang Daily‘s supplement section. He has extensive connections in the press circle. After resigning, he went to Hangzhou to start a magazine. I spoke with him on the phone the day before yesterday, and he said he needs two days to consider before giving me an answer.”
Wen Tingli’s eyes lit up: “Isn’t he the one who wrote The Glory and Decline of the Local Silent Film Era? Sister Huang, you’re actually able to recruit talent like that? Don’t give him time to think it over—you should go to Hangzhou tomorrow yourself and sign the employment contract with him in person, so as not to leave room for complications.”