Chapter 157: 《big Shot》
Jin Sui took a sip of beauty tea, neither salty nor bland: “Which one are you asking about?”
Jin Ming: “…”
“The movie you’re planning to prepare and film with Chi Ye.”
Jin Ming glanced at Jin Xia, who was meticulously “folding clothes” with her head down, then turned back and added: “That project that’s doomed to fail and shatter spear and sunk sand.”
“Sister-in-law went easy on you when she beat you.”
Jin Sui chuckled upon hearing this: “You didn’t even think about it. How could a project you look down on possibly lose money?”
“Besides, Chi Ye’s popularity has been pretty high lately. Even the guaranteed amount can make it back.”
Jin Ming was furious, but then he remembered they were at home. Last night, Jin Sui had held the Old Master and cried half the night, and in the end, the Old Master had rarely gotten emotional about his daughter and wiped away tears.
—The cherished pearl 1.0 was gradually returning, so he really didn’t dare to be too presumptuous.
“I’ve said it from the start: Xia Xia is the one and only choice for those big productions I directed.”
“With her ability, if she took on those projects, they would surely have been great successes by now, instead of diving into filming this TV series. Now that the show has wrapped up, what are her plans next?”
Jin Ming faced his sister, but he was asking Jin Xia.
Jin Xia pretended not to hear, turning a deaf ear, and continued wrestling with the “clothes.”
Jin Sui was speechless: “You two are right here in the living room. What can’t you say to each other’s face? Why use me as a mouthpiece?”
Jin Ming was embarrassed and annoyed: “This person has a narrow mind and still holds a grudge against me from old conflicts, avoiding speaking to me!”
“Huh?!”
Jin Xia frowned upon hearing this, looked up at her uncle, and nodded: “She went easy on you when she beat you. She should have beaten you hard!”
“See!”
Jin Ming broke.
Jin Sui: “…”
Xia Xia had become increasingly filial since getting involved with Chi Ye, and the little girl stuck to her “time concept” as always: if she said one year without paying attention to Jin Ming, then one year it was!
Sis is so principled, sis!
Jin Ming saw that neither of the two in the living room was paying attention to him, so he angrily stood up and returned to his room.
Once he left, Jin Sui looked at Jin Xia: “What have you been practicing over there?”
“Folding clothes.”
“Why practice that?”
“For packing suitcases.”
Jin Sui: “?”
She raised an eyebrow: “Packing for whom? Do you need to pack your own luggage yourself?”
Jin Xia looked up and giggled: “Aunt, no need to probe. I won’t say.”
Jin Sui: “…You think I won’t know if you don’t tell me?”
“Forget it.”
She fully understood Jin Xia’s current state, like seeing her younger self. Seeing her so “enthusiastic,” she skipped the topic.
She changed the subject: “Did you get your uncle and third uncle to ‘sponsor’《Xing Ni》?”
“Ah, not really. I just used some snacks from their company, stuff to wear… and clothes.”
Jin Sui was speechless: “And that’s not sponsorship?”
Jin Xia thought about it and shook her head: “Teacher Chi said this is helping them. Anyway… keep the good stuff in the family.”
Jin Sui: “?”
She was speechless for the third time and didn’t know what to say.
Xia Xia this child was deeply poisoned, even worse than she had been back then!
Bang.
At that moment.
Jin Ming, who had just returned to his room, came downstairs again, sporting a bruised eye, pointing upstairs in a rage: “From today on, even if I run around outside and lose everything, even if I end up selling laughs and accompanying drinks, I absolutely won’t ask you for another penny!”
“Speak human, Jin Ming. I’m still pregnant. If you keep yapping, don’t blame me for coming downstairs to beat you!”
Jin Ming paused, then repeated emphatically: “From now on, I’ll lose everything outside. I’d rather go out and accompany drinks than ask you for another cent!!”
“Oh, then go accompany drinks.”
Jin Ming: “…”
He shook his head, muttering “unreasonable” and “woman’s view,” preparing to storm out in anger and cry.
But when he glanced at his sister in the living room, he suddenly stopped, thought for a moment, leaned in and asked: “By the way, I heard you helped Old Three get《Singer》sponsorship? Will your company’s artists participate this time?”
“Just in time, on my end…”
…
Noon.
Chi Ye Studio.
“Your biggest announcement next is《Singer》… This really is a pleasant surprise.”
Chi Ye sat in the office, with Teacher Shi and Sister Wang sitting opposite.
Because Teacher Shi’s agency contract with her previous company had just ended not long ago, after dinner last night, they signed an intent contract early this morning.
This was why Sister Wang said they could proceed with the formalities anytime.
Once this contract was signed, the rest was just formalities. It shouldn’t take long before Teacher Shi officially became Chi Ye Studio’s “first workhorse,” inheriting her role from《Jian Ni》, kuku “getting to work.”
“Yeah, we didn’t expect such a popular program to invite us… President Chi, didn’t you get an invitation?”
Sister Wang was curious.
《Singer 2025》was basically the top music variety show in internal entertainment circle, the biggest stage gala in the music industry at the end of every year.
Back then, Tomato TV’s《Voice of Nature》was basically a copy of《Singer》.
But whether in singer resources, heritage, popularity, attention-grabbing power, or even value,《Voice of Nature》was far inferior to《Singer》.
A simple example.
The so-called champion King of Singers in《Voice of Nature》was just a program title, but the overall champion and King of Singers in《Singer》was recognized across the industry.
It had 8 years of history, with nearly every edition producing “hidden gems from the sea,” and new King of Singers rising to stardom, becoming one of the few true hall-of-fame stages in the Chinese music scene today.
—Yes, hosted by Mango TV, Chi Ye’s old friend.
So Sister Wang was curious.
Even if《Singer》hadn’t planned to invite Chi Ye before due to “strength” reasons, after《Bridge of Fate》, they should have sent an invitation announcement.
Moreover, Chi Ye had a good relationship with Mango TV since debut, and later had connections from hit variety shows like《Jian Ni》《Time With You》.
There was no reason for Mango not to invite him.
“Oh, I was invited.”
Chi Ye paused, his expression calm: “But I’m about to enter the crew, so I can’t make time right now and can’t be a debut singer.”
Sister Wang suddenly understood, then glanced at Teacher Shi: “Well… then we…”
“Go. This one you can go for. This time, I’ll aim to get Teacher Shi back to the top and snag a Little Diva title.”
Chi Ye looked at Teacher Shi: “How do you plan to thank me?”
Sister Wang: “Huh?”
Speaking so bluntly?
She didn’t know that Chi Ye understood Teacher Shi too well. Saying it this way was to avoid making her feel too burdened, constantly thinking of “thanking” him.
Sure enough.
Hearing this, Teacher Shi was speechless for a moment, then softly said: “I… I’ve practiced. Call me anytime you want to learn.”
“Ah, perfect timing. No time like the present—today it is.”
Teacher Shi: “…”
Sister Wang: “…”
Chi Ye thought to himself, what do you know? This is quick exchange for quick return, and…
He really was about to enter the《Big Shot》crew. The flowery poses he’d drawn earlier were enough, but if he could become even better, he didn’t mind drawing more from Teacher Shi.
—After《Bridge of Fate》went viral, not only had his popularity and reputation improved, but his favorability had also surged back to over twenty million.
Loaded.
That afternoon.
Chi Ye had Teacher Shi “practice” in one of the studio’s gyms, while starting to draw.
This time, after “assessing” Teacher Shi’s movement fluency, he unhesitatingly used the advanced scroll.
The result was that this targeted draw was incredibly satisfying. Ten million yielded a full eight advanced “fight scene” skills. Combined with his daily body training ever since drawing Teacher Shi’s skills last time.
Chi Ye felt he could now be considered a “fight scene expert.”
“Alright, that’s it for today… I’ll enter the crew soon. After formal signing, have Sister Wang contact Keke.”
That evening, Chi Ye generously rewarded once, mainly because Teacher Shi was too earnest. When he said he wanted to see her practice results, she put in 100% effort, fighting all afternoon with huge stamina drain.
And Teacher Shi was actually quite dissatisfied with Chi Ye’s “just watching” but “not practicing” learning style.
Last time she was puzzled; this time she unusually pointed it out.
Chi Ye thought it made sense. He had to put on a show, so that afternoon he also “went through the motions” with several action sets, deliberately showing slight clumsiness.
Even so, Teacher Shi was still shocked, her gaze toward Chi Ye changing.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Chi Ye felt guilty.
“You have more talent than me.”
Chi Ye: “…Indeed. If I weren’t so busy, the Boxing King title would be mine!”
Teacher Shi fell silent.
So after dinner, Teacher Shi wasn’t too worried about his upcoming fight scenes in the crew.
She discovered Chi Ye was really amazing; he seemed to know everything and picked it up instantly…
Unlike her, who trained daily without fail, purely through effort to keep up with him!
…
Chi Ye wasn’t aware he’d risen another level in Teacher Shi’s heart.
The second day, he received a call from the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager had rarely spent the Mid-Autumn Festival at home this year, but once the holiday passed, she had to get busy again.
Truly busy this time.
Look at this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival Gala: Sister Qianzi had《Bridge of Fate》, Shang Youshu appeared on Tomato TV and wrapped an ancient costume drama plus entered a movie crew.
Sheng Ning didn’t need mentioning; her workload was always just below Sister Qianzi’s, but before becoming capital, Sister Qianzi’s workload was nothing to her.
So, as the most “chill” among the Four Little Flowers unknowingly, Jin Xia’s career was facing certain challenges.
Several new 00 Little Flowers were surging this year, like the 00 flower Jiang Li Wan who exploded with Peng Chen at the beginning of the year, plus newcomers gradually pushed by major companies. Competition pressure was huge.
—To film《Xing Ni》with Chi Ye, she had actually paid a lot. These butterfly effects weren’t obvious before, but the further along, the greater the impact.
No wonder Jin Ming was angry; he really felt Jin Xia had been delayed too much.
“I’m entering a big movie crew this time. With me not by your side, take good care of yourself!”
Listening to the Empress Dowager’s “order” on the phone, Chi Ye nodded: “Don’t worry, I guarantee I won’t let myself croak in the crew.”
Jin Xia: “…That really won’t do. Aunt’s crew can’t have that kind of thing; it would affect her company’s reputation.”
Chi Ye: “?”
“Hmph, if you say that again next time, I’ll go along with it and anger you to death!”
Seeing Chi Ye silenced by her words, Jin Xia smugly said: “Remember, you’re not allowed to die. If you die, you have to die by my side, got it?”
Chi Ye: “…I was wrong. I shouldn’t have messed with your mouth.”
“Good that you know.”
Jin Xia chatted with Chi Ye a bit more, then Jin Sui’s call came to Chi Ye’s mobile: “Alright then, Aunt is calling me. Hanging up first.”
“Yeah, call her Aunt more, let her get used to it slowly.”
“Okay.”
“Plan successful!”
“Hanging up?”
“Bye-bye.”
They hung up, and Chi Ye answered Jin Sui’s call: “Hello? Aunt!”
On the other end.
Jin Sui heard the enthusiastic address, was confused for two seconds, then said with a dark face: “Who are you calling!”
“Does Aunt need something?”
Jin Sui: “…I told you to sign up for a class to practice fight scenes before. Did you?”
“I did. Found a ‘master’ and learned quite a bit.”
Jin Sui heard Chi Ye’s tone with no trace of lying and ground her teeth: “Impressive… Fine, come on then. See you in the crew.”
“Okay.”
Chi Ye hung up, a bit puzzled: “Why did the last sentence feel off?”
…
“Really knows how to talk off the cuff.”
Hong Kong, Guang Ying Shi Meng.
Jin Sui stared at her phone and said to Zhang Jie: “He might not know I’ve been secretly observing him. After finishing《Xing Ni》, he went to the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala. No sign of him learning from anyone during that time. What class did he sign up for? Air class?”
Zhang Jie laughed beside her: “Didn’t you find him a teacher? I think his acting skills should be fine. Mainly fight scenes—there’s a professional martial arts instructor. If not, there’s a stunt double. Why worry?”
She had another sentence unsaid.
If worse comes to worst,《Big Shot》investment isn’t big, and it’s not your company’s main project. Anyway, it’s “family,” so treat it as spending money for fun and laughs.
“You’re right.”
Jin Sui nodded, but then shook her head: “Money is a small matter. What I value more is being honest! Look at him lying through his teeth. If Xia Xia really ends up with him later, won’t she be fooled into… me!”
Zhang Jie: “…”
“This brat, this time I must ‘discipline’ him in advance for Xia Xia, adjust him a bit. Otherwise, it’ll be harder later!”
Jin Sui had an idea, stood up and instructed: “Change the schedule. I’ll stay two days when《Big Shot》starts filming. Perfect timing—he promised my movie theme song and hasn’t delivered… This kid isn’t fooling me again, is he? Drawing big pies for months??”
“Lying addict!”
Zhang Jie ignored these words and nodded: “Okay, I’ll arrange it.”
…
A week passed in a flash.
During this time, Chi Ye recorded a version of《Bridge of Fate》with Sister Qianzi, but neither was too satisfied. With tight schedules, they could only hold it for now. The next day, Chi Ye flew straight to Hengdian and arrived at the film and television city.
Entering the《Big Shot》crew, starting filming his first movie work.
…
Meanwhile.
That evening.
《Singer 2025》officially aired.
