Chinese Entertainment: Becoming a Superstar After a Breakup

Chapter 84 Let him go

Jiaxing is in a bit of chaos right now.

After Dilraba shared her thoughts, she had just stepped outside when Zhao Ruoyao called Zeng Jia directly. Zeng Jia's brows were furrowed.

The next day, after visiting Jaywalk Studio, Dilraba returned to her apartment and said everything she needed to say.

Zeng Jia and Zhao Ruoyao were discussing this matter at the company, along with another person, Yang Mi, who was filming in Beijing. Given what had happened, she was bound to go back to the company to find out the truth.

The Yang Mi of today is not the same Yang Mi whose equity was diluted after various capital operations in later generations. Strictly speaking, Jiaxing is now Yang Mi's personal accessory, and the entire company survives by sucking her dry.

She's just willing to be exploited. She can only earn her own paycheck, but the production team won't pay her for the shows she doesn't act in.

However, if there is a company with some artists who earn salaries, and she gets a share of those salaries, and the company can also produce its own dramas, that's capital. Of course, she would be willing to become a bloodsucker, using her influence to promote the company and the artists, bringing her benefits in every way.

Dilraba is very important to Jaywalk Studio, and naturally she is also very important to him. This is something that Shen Ze can't compare to.

Shen Ze's resources are something they could give to anyone, since he's not a main character or an important role. But when it comes to Dilraba, although she's not a big star, she's an artist who's been cultivated by the company and gradually recognized by the outside world. If one of them leaves, the loss will be huge.

Dilraba already has her own fans. After "Swords of Legends", her Weibo fans increased rapidly and now she has nearly two million fans. Although there are many fake Weibo fans, the number can still represent some level of popularity.

Besides her and Hawick Lau, Dilraba is the most well-regarded actress in the company. The company promoted her for the female lead in "Six Doors" not because she was obedient, but simply because she was the most suitable. Yang Mi couldn't just go on her own.

If Dilraba really leaves, the company can't stop her, but the end result will be a lose-lose situation, which Jiaxing doesn't want.

"What exactly happened that you want to terminate the contract for no reason?" Yang Mi asked. She knew about it last night, but she had been working late into the night filming and knew the details of the situation very well.

"She doesn't want to terminate the contract; she just wants to use her own termination as leverage to force the company to let Shen Ze go," Zhao Ruoyao said.

"Reba is such an honest girl, how did she end up like this? Does she know how much this behavior is affecting her?" Yang Mi said.

"But she did it anyway. Shen Ze, Shen Ze, as long as she's involved with this person, Reba is completely different," Zeng Jia said.

"Could Reba's decision be just a spur-of-the-moment thing?" Yang Mi said.

"Look, they've even sent over the termination letter. She's really not joking," Zeng Jia said helplessly.

"She's threatening the company; she really doesn't care about anything anymore. The company can destroy her. She's not like Shen Ze," Zhao Ruoyao said.

"But will it ruin her?" Yang Mi asked.

"Yeah, she's irrational, but we can't be irrational. She's still young, and all she thinks about is love. It's hard to believe she's been bewitched by Shen Ze. She's using her future to help him. She's so love-struck," Zeng Jia couldn't help but complain.

"So, what are your plans?" Yang Mi asked.

"What can we do? Hengdian is waiting for her. If she doesn't join the crew, the company will be in breach of contract," Zhao Ruoyao said.

"They gave in?" Yang Mi understood.

"There's nothing we can do. Shen Ze is just a nobody and won't cause any trouble. It's just that he's not a decent person, and we don't want him to leave so easily."

However, the matter between the company and Shangshi is urgent, and we have already reached a critical moment in our discussions, so it's best to avoid any major changes.

Reba is immature, but she is indeed the most recognizable female artist the company presents to the outside world besides you. The company no longer has the ability to continuously promote leading roles for female artists, as their popularity is limited to begin with.

After "Six Doors," she has this resume, which allows her to officially access leading actress resources. Next, "Diamond Lover" is also going to air. Tang Yan has really had a lot of hit dramas this year. If "Diamond Lover" continues her popularity, she will have no shortage of resources for a while.

"We can't let the people we've worked so hard to promote go to waste like this. As for Shen Ze, let him go. If it really comes to the point of litigation, we're a new company, and it will affect our ability to recruit new talent in the future." Zeng Jia made her decision. Suing an artist is a lose-lose situation. The artist will certainly not be recognized by other agencies, who will think that you might run away at any time. But the same goes for the company; newcomers are also afraid of going in and not being able to get out.

"Ruoyao, tell Reba about this indirectly. Don't let her think that the company is so easily threatened."

As for Shen Ze, I'll provide a contract. Letting him go is fine, but the company isn't a charity, otherwise everyone will have to learn from this.

"One and a half million is the maximum amount within a reasonable range. Even if we go to court, it will be more than one million in two years. It all depends on whether he is willing to spend money to buy time," Zeng Jia said.

"I understand," Zhao Ruoyao said.

"It's good that things are resolved. I'm going to catch up on some sleep and rest while our male lead is filming GG," Yang Mi said.

"It's not easy, Xiao Mi, to find someone busier than you," Zeng Jia asked.

"Endorsements, commercial performances, variety shows, music—she's doing it all. When will our company be able to cultivate someone like that? Then I can sit back and count my money," Yang Mi said.

"In the entire entertainment industry, there's no one comparable. These guys who came back from Korea are all pretty amazing, especially their fans. But if he were in our company, the amount would skyrocket. Two top-tier celebrities betting 300 million is nothing, it would have to be 1 billion," Zeng Jia said.

That's how it was settled.

That afternoon, Dilraba sat in the same office. She hadn't expected it to be resolved so quickly; she was still heartbroken.

"It's hot, the company is willing to let Shen Ze go entirely because of you. But a contract is a contract. All the company can do is not deliberately delay his contract period."

"One and a half million, that's a lot," Dilraba said.

"Is it a lot? It's hot, isn't it? If he joined the company and didn't earn a penny, that would indeed be a lot, since the company would still have to pay him a salary. But his pay isn't low; he earned 500,000 for 'Wu Xin: The Monster Killer' alone."

"But, never mind, let him see. Um, Sister Jia, how much have I earned this year?" Dilireba's words made Zeng Jia understand. Looking at this pretty girl, Zeng Jia thought, "Are you under some kind of spell?"

"Don't even think about it. Your income this year will definitely be enough, but it's only halfway through the year. A lot of your income is expected. You've only received 50% of your salary from 'Six Doors' so far."

"It's not nice to put it this way, but your actions because of a man were indeed a bit irrational."

Dilireba didn't listen at all, watching as the contract was put into a file bag. This document would eventually be sent to Shen Ze's lawyer.

(Three more chapters to go, will be posted before midnight)