Huang Yuanshan pulled out an old ticket to show Wen Tingli: “Great minds think alike. But as they say, man proposes, heaven disposes—I’d just booked the ticket yesterday when this whole mess broke out, and now the ticket’s gone to waste. Now that I have you helping, I can finally get moving again.”
Wen Tingli sighed with deep feeling: “Starting a company is never this easy. I should have come to help you sooner. Tomorrow, go boldly to Hangzhou and recruit him—I’ll handle everything on this end. Now, about the actors—I’ve done the math, and the two films will need at minimum eight or nine principal actors. Do you have suitable candidates in mind?”
“Two films?” Huang Yuanshan blinked in surprise. “Isn’t it just the one film about the female workers at the Hongmian cotton mill?”
Wen Tingli shook her head. “On the way here, I kept thinking about what Liu Menglin said. Arrogant as he was, one thing he said was true: the factory girl film is likely to lose money. The company’s just starting out—we can’t afford to bet everything on a single film.”
“What do you mean, then?”
“We should shoot another film of a different genre at the same time—ideally something that audiences love, so we have a safety net at the box office.”
“The problem is, what would we shoot?” Huang Yuanshan spread her hands. “We don’t even have a ready script on hand. Even if we recruit an excellent screenwriter quickly, a script can’t just be written to order overnight.”
“Listen—why don’t we do what Boss Liu did with Yue Zhaoyun’s Beauty of the South, and buy the rights to one of the most popular serialized novels around, adapting it into a film? Sister Yue’s new story hasn’t been started yet, but I heard from Yan Zhenzhen that Zhuang Xiaosheng’s new serial Twin Pearls has become quite popular lately—Yan Zhenzhen is completely obsessed, buys every issue without fail. Why don’t we try approaching Zhuang Xiaosheng?”
Huang Yuanshan’s eyes lit up. “With his reputation plus your fame, this film would be a hit even if it tried not to be. The only thing is, though Zhuang Xiaosheng’s name isn’t as well-known as Yue Zhaoyun’s, his temperament is notoriously eccentric. Other people either love money or love fame, but he does things purely according to his mood.”
Wen Tingli lowered her head, thinking. “I remember Yan Zhenzhen once analyzed a particular characteristic of this writer for me—hmm, what was it she said… I vaguely recall it had something to do with Sister Yue. Let me go find Yan Zhenzhen and dig up more information on this man’s background. Once I’ve thoroughly studied this newly popular author, I’m sure we’ll find an opening.”
Huang Yuanshan was overjoyed, sprawling sideways on the sofa, exclaiming over and over: “Wen Tingli, without you as my strategist, I don’t know how long I’d have been floundering about. These past few days I’ve been like a headless fly buzzing around aimlessly—the moment you arrived, a thousand-pound weight lifted off my shoulders.”
“A single person starting a company is naturally an uphill battle, and with my qualifications, striking out on my own would have been a pipe dream. Without Sister Huang leading the way, I never would have found the courage to take this step. But I believe that as long as the two of us join forces, we’ll find a way to break through. I remember Sister Huang telling me that back in the day, Golden Film was just a ten-person workshop. Look how it’s developed into a formidable company today. If they could do it, so can we!”
After all this talking, Wen Tingli’s throat felt parched. She got up, poured herself a glass of water, and took a big gulp. “Sister Huang, let’s name our new company.”
Huang Yuanshan sat bolt upright, speaking in an unusually solemn tone: “The company was founded by the two of us together. I’m called Yuanshan, and you’re called Tingli. ‘Yuanshan’—’distant mountain’—suggests distant scenery stretching endlessly, ascending peaks to admire the view; hidden within it is the character for ‘peak.’ ‘Tingli’—suggests standing gracefully, beautiful in appearance and bearing; hidden within it is the character for ‘elegant/outstanding.’ Combining the two—how about we call it ‘Xiufeng’ [Elegant Peak]?”
Xiufeng.
Wen Tingli silently turned the two characters over in her mind. The name seemed to carry its own glow, filling her chest with boundless light and hope.
Climbing high peaks, seeking beautiful scenery; turning back suddenly, the elegant mountain peak lies beneath one’s feet…
Looking back on her own journey—wasn’t it exactly that: “climbing a higher peak, seeking a farther view”?
She felt a surge of emotion in her heart.
“What a good name, couldn’t be better!”
All her ambitions and aspirations seemed to crystallize into clarity and shape the moment this name appeared.
Huang Yuanshan too was overcome with emotion, turning away to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye, then immediately turning back and solemnly extending her hand to shake Wen Tingli’s. “From today onward, you and I are co-owners of Xiufeng Film Company. Let’s work together to make ‘Xiufeng Film Company’ flourish, and turn it into something utterly unique in the film market!”
Wen Tingli nodded, then shook her head. Under Huang Yuanshan’s startled gaze, Wen Tingli smiled. “I’m greedy, Sister Huang. Since Xiufeng was founded by the two of us, it shouldn’t just be ‘utterly unique’—it should also be ‘unrivaled and unmatched.'”
Huang Yuanshan laughed heartily. “Now that’s the Wen Tingli I know! If we’re not going to do it, fine—but if we do it, we do it to the fullest!”
Both of them were women of action. After a quick lunch, they split up to handle separate tasks. Huang Yuanshan arranged to meet with the renowned makeup artist Gu Jie, while Wen Tingli called Yan Zhenzhen, only to find she happened to be out on a study trip. Wen Tingli quickly had someone deliver her calling card to Zhuang Xiaosheng’s residence, planning to try approaching him herself first.
Unexpectedly, Zhuang Xiaosheng flatly refused to see her. She waited alone in her car for half an hour with no result, and had no choice but to head back. Passing by the school, she parked her car and went to the school library to borrow some old newspapers about Zhuang Xiaosheng to study.
Just then, a reporter named Chen Qiufeng called her unexpectedly. He worked at Minle Evening News and often gave Wen Tingli firsthand tips on industry news.
The two of them had known each other for a while, but they’d really only grown close the previous month. That night, Minle Evening News had arranged an exclusive interview with Wen Tingli, and the reporter dispatched was Chen Qiufeng. As luck would have it, he got into a car accident on the way, and by the time he arrived at Golden Film Company, he was a full hour late—Wen Tingli, busy filming her next scene, had already gone into the studio.
Chen Qiufeng was thus left standing outside Golden Film’s gates, at a complete loss for what to do. He was still junior in his career, and this time he’d not only offended a popular star but also damaged the newspaper’s reputation. If he returned empty-handed, he might well lose his job.
A few hours later, Wen Tingli emerged after wrapping for the day and unexpectedly spotted someone pacing pitifully by the entrance. After learning the full story, and thinking back to her own early days breaking into the industry, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy, and readily agreed to let Chen Qiufeng photograph and interview her.
The shoot ran until past two in the morning, yet Wen Tingli remained cheerful and easygoing throughout, and even remembered to buy Reporter Chen a late-night snack when they wrapped.
Chen Qiufeng repaid the kindness in kind. From then on, whenever he heard any insider news from the film or literary world, he passed it along to Wen Tingli first thing.
This time, Chen Qiufeng’s tone was extremely anxious: “Miss Wen, have you had a falling-out with Golden Film? This afternoon, Boss Liu of Golden Film personally delivered a press release to our office announcing plans to replace the female lead of Graceful Detective 3. Is this true?”
Wen Tingli steadied herself. “It’s true. It’s a long story. What exactly did Liu Menglin’s article say?”
“I secretly copied it down in the proofing room. Let me read it to you.”
The headline read: “This Season’s Film Market Delivers Its Biggest Surprise Yet: Major Cast Overhaul for Graceful Detective 3! Film Emperor Zhu Xiaozhou and Miss Duan Miaoqing to Star Together as the Leads in the Graceful Series!”
The body text was far more biting: “The plot of the third installment is even more twisting and dramatic than its predecessors, with the addition of many high-difficulty martial arts sequences. After reading the script, Miss Wen Tingli expressed that she felt unable to take on the role. To ensure the film’s quality, the production had no choice but to switch to Miss Duan Miaoqing, who is skilled in martial arts scenes. Miss Duan has years of industry experience, is known for her professionalism and modesty, and has previously worked with Zhu Xiaozhou twice before, with excellent chemistry between them. This arrangement is a win-win for all involved—audiences can look forward to this celebrated golden pair of the film world delivering an extraordinary third installment!”
Having read this far, Chen Qiufeng couldn’t help but add: “Miss Wen, this article is all backhanded compliments—it’s practically saying outright that you’re incompetent and unprofessional.”
None of this surprised Wen Tingli in the slightest. She’d known Liu Menglin wouldn’t be able to swallow his anger so easily.
“That’s not all—there’s another piece scheduled to run tomorrow evening, with an even more scandalous headline. It reads—” Chen Qiufeng cleared his throat, “‘One Face in Public, Another in Private: How Unseemly Is This Actress’s True Character?'”
“…Riding high on her recently surging fame, she deliberately chose the eve of production to make outrageous demands, insisting the studio double her fee, or else she would refuse to perform, bringing production to a standstill and leaving dozens of crew members stranded. Sources say this is not the first time this actress has used such tactics to threaten a production studio. If allowed to continue getting away with it, it would surely corrupt the standards of the entire industry. As such, the film company in question has resolutely switched to another, superior actress for the role…”
“This is absolute nonsense!” Wen Tingli was so furious her vision practically sparked.
Chen Qiufeng scratched his head anxiously. “Miss Wen, our Minle Evening News is nearly the highest-circulation evening paper in the city. Once this article runs, it’ll severely damage your public image. Even without naming you directly, anyone can tell it’s about you. The piece is still being proofread in the editorial room, but it’ll go to print soon—you need to come up with a countermeasure quickly.”
“I have an idea. Thank you for the tip, Xiao Chen.”
The moment she hung up, Wen Tingli began rubbing her temples.
Liu Menglin’s move this time was truly vicious. This way, everyone would assume the recasting of Graceful 3 was entirely her own fault.
Once this article ran, Liu Menglin and Golden Film would win public sympathy, Graceful 3 would gain advance publicity and curiosity from the public—while she alone would reap nothing but a torrent of criticism.
A lawsuit was unwinnable, since the article never named her directly.
What about publishing a clarification statement in the papers? No, that would utterly alienate Zhu Xiaozhou and his fans—after all, she’d refused to work with Zhu Xiaozhou precisely because she didn’t want the role of “Fu Zhenzhen” to become a mere accessory to a handsome hoodlum.
Zhu Xiaozhou had entered the industry earlier than her, had broader connections, and had always enjoyed a good reputation in the film world. The public wouldn’t understand her reasons for suddenly refusing to perform—they’d only assume she was trying to steal scenes from Zhu Xiaozhou. At that point, not only would Zhu Xiaozhou’s fans rise up to condemn her, but even Graceful‘s longtime devoted fans would grow resentful.
So this clarification statement absolutely could not be published, or she’d fall right into Liu Menglin’s trap.
But if she didn’t respond directly, she’d inevitably be branded “an ungrateful wretch,” “unprofessional.” Everyone knew she’d gotten her start at Golden Film and had always been highly valued by the company—unless truly pushed to “the last resort,” her former employer wouldn’t come forward to expose their own prized star. Therefore, “all the blame must fall on her.”
Not only would her personal image plummet, but more importantly, it would damage the future prospects of their Xiufeng Film Company. She and Sister Huang’s new film hadn’t even started shooting yet, and it was already being cast under a shadow—this was what worried her most.
She paced in circles around the room like an ant on a hot skillet, then abruptly stopped in her tracks. No, she couldn’t just sit and wait to be destroyed.
“What? You want our paper to pull Liu Menglin’s press release? Miss Wen, are you joking with me? The layout’s already set, it goes to print in half an hour—why on earth would I agree to such an unreasonable request?”
In the editor-in-chief’s office at Minle Evening News, Editor-in-Chief Ding Hengjun shook his head and waved his hands repeatedly at Wen Tingli.
Wen Tingli’s smile didn’t waver. “In your position, I wouldn’t want to pull the piece either—no news story could be more eye-catching than this one from Liu Menglin: ‘Popular actress recast by her studio over exorbitant demands.’ Anyone passing a newsstand would buy a copy just to find out more. Your paper’s sales are bound to look very promising. But have you considered—once this runs, you won’t just be offending me and my fans, but many other industry professionals who are on good terms with me as well.”
“Is Miss Wen threatening me? You clearly don’t understand the culture of this business. Those of us in news don’t take a few idle threats seriously.”
Wen Tingli sighed softly. “I merely want to tell you, Director Ding, that everyone who has ever worked with me knows I, Wen Tingli, am professional and reliable. Liu Menglin’s claims won’t hold up to scrutiny. My departure from Golden Film was the result of various unavoidable circumstances. This so-called ‘salary dispute’ is a complete fabrication on Liu Menglin’s part. The truth will surface soon enough, and by then, Minle Evening News will be the one who started this rumor. You’re no short-sighted man, Director Ding—why bring trouble on yourself over such a small profit?”
Ding Hengjun’s eyelids twitched. “Miss Wen, I don’t wish to judge this dispute between you and Liu Menglin—you have your side, he has his. But our paper has always prided itself on fairness. If Liu Menglin can criticize you, then you’re welcome to strike back too. How about this—I’ll agree to print a ‘clarification statement’ from you on the front page tomorrow, how’s that?”
Wen Tingli’s expression turned subtly knowing. She simply stared quietly at Ding Hengjun until his gaze began to flicker uneasily, then slowly withdrew her eyes. She opened her handbag and pulled out a manuscript, holding it up between her fingers and waving it slightly.
“Let’s make a deal, shall we? I’ll trade you one even more eye-catching story. I guarantee you—this article in my hand will bring your paper far more benefit than that piece of Liu Menglin’s. And the best part is, there’s absolutely no risk involved.”
Ding Hengjun eyed the paper between her fingers suspiciously. “It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s just… Liu Menglin owed me a big favor from before, and this time he’s giving me an exclusive. We’ve already drafted headlines for the next several days’ stories. Swapping out a feature at the last minute would throw the whole newsroom into chaos.”
“‘Miss Wen Tingli to Star in Rising Author Zhuang Xiaosheng’s New Work, Twin Pearls‘—how’s this headline?” Wen Tingli said unhurriedly.
Ding Hengjun froze for a moment, then abruptly stood up. “Zhuang Xiaosheng? You’ve bought the adaptation rights to his Twin Pearls?”
Wen Tingli continued at an unhurried pace. “‘Tomorrow at noon, at the Lilac Grand Hotel, Miss Wen Tingli and renowned director Ms. Huang Yuanshan will jointly hold a press conference, where the two will announce a bombshell piece of news.’ How’s this headline?”
Ding Hengjun could no longer contain himself. He strode over, reaching to snatch the paper from Wen Tingli’s fingers, but she deftly withdrew it back into her handbag. “Pull Liu Menglin’s article, and I’ll hand these two stories over to your paper for publication.”
She paused, then added: “Exclusively!”
Ding Hengjun couldn’t help but swallow, though his expression still showed hesitation.
“Going forward, all of Twin Pearls‘ production updates and behind-the-scenes photos will also be published serially in your paper’s supplement, running for months, right up until the premiere. Still—entirely exclusive.”
She emphasized those last two words. Ding Hengjun still hesitated, so she added in a tempting tone: “You know they call me the ‘box-office elixir’ out there. I’m one brand name, Director Huang is another, and now there’s Zhuang Xiaosheng’s name added to the mix. With three brand names all gathered in your paper’s supplement, need you worry about your sales failing to double over the next few months? How much heat can Liu Menglin’s exclusive really give you—a few days at most? You’re a smart man, Director Ding, surely you know how to weigh your options.”
Ding Hengjun scratched his head, then, steeling himself, nodded. “Fine! It’s a deal. Tonight, I can hold off on running Liu Menglin’s piece, but I can’t afford to offend him too badly either—I’ll hold it for one night at most. By tomorrow noon, if what you’ve told me turns out to be false, or if anything unexpected comes up, I’ll have to fall back on Liu Menglin’s exclusive to save the day. Don’t blame me for turning on you then, Miss Wen.”
“Deal!” Wen Tingli declared decisively.