Going home for Chinese New Year, I squeezed onto a bus with three energetic young women.

After downing two bottles of beer, Wang Wei really opened up.

Only Li Mengmeng was there, sucking on a bottle of AD calcium milk with loud slurping sounds.

"Fatty, tell me." Bai Li put down his chopsticks and pointed at Wang Wei's bitter face: "What's going on with your web series studio?"

Mentioning this, Wang Wei immediately gritted his teeth, his face turning red.

He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray with such force that it looked like he was going to crush someone's face.

"What else could it be?" Wang Wei gave a bitter laugh, his voice hoarse.

"That girl was someone I dated in college. You know, I studied directing. After graduation, I didn't want to work for someone else, so I thought I'd start my own studio and make short vertical-screen dramas."

"Back then, short dramas were just becoming popular, and I made a little money."

"As a result, that woman... said she wanted to manage the money, so I handed over all the finances to her."

"Who knew her damn ex-boyfriend would come back? He was her ideal man. A few sweet words from him and he stole her away."

Wang Wei clutched his hair, his eyes red-rimmed.

"I want to find that despicable couple right now and skin them alive!"

Bai Li listened, tapping her fingers absentmindedly on the table.

This kind of thing happens all the time.

He then leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice:

"Your web series studio, even though the funds were embezzled, you still have connections, right? You're familiar with publicity, operations, and all those other miscellaneous channels, aren't you?"

Wang Wei nodded, and when the topic turned to his professional field, the dejection in his eyes lessened somewhat:

"I'm familiar with it. I've been doing this for the past few years. As long as you have a script, actors, and start-up capital, taking off is just a matter of minutes."

"We lost money before because the scripts were terrible and the actors were too expensive and acted like divas," Wang Wei sighed. "The short drama market is actually quite hot now, but it lacks good content."

"Lacking content?" Bai Li laughed, a meaningful laugh. "If I told you I have the script, the actors, and the funding, would you be interested?"

Wang Wei was stunned: "Brother Li, don't be ridiculous. I believe you have money, the Panamera is right here. But the script and the actors..."

"Have you forgotten what I do for a living?" Bai Li chuckled, took out his phone and waved it: "I can earn enough to buy a Panamera by writing novels. Writing a short drama script is like a game-changer."

As for actors, aren't these young, energetic girls the best actors?

They were beautiful and loyal; Lin Xiaoshuang and Zhang Qian even gave themselves to him. It's better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish.

I can't keep them like caged birds forever, relying on rebates to support them. I need to help them truly get out of their predicament and realize their self-worth so that they can truly be proud of themselves.

Wang Wei's eyes lit up.

Indeed, Bai Li got full marks on her essays in high school, and she had a whole host of ingenious ideas in her head.

"What about actresses?" Wang Wei asked doubtfully. "Where can we find them? These days, anyone with even a little bit of looks costs a lot."

Bai Li turned her head and looked at Zhang Qian, who was wiping Li Mengmeng's mouth.

"Far away, yet right before my eyes."

Wang Wei followed Bai Li's gaze and was completely dumbfounded.

"Sisters-in-law... sisters-in-law?"

"It's not just them." Bai Li's lips curled into a meaningful smile as he thought of Lin Xiaoshuang and the others. "I also have three little girls who listen to me."

"Do you think it's more interesting to cast a group of professionally trained but over-the-top internet celebrities, or a group of genuinely hardworking young women who have risen from humble beginnings?"

Bai Li leaned closer and lowered his voice:

"Today's audiences are tired of those fake, sweet romance dramas. They want to see something real, exciting, and wild."

"These girls, as long as you give them money and respect, they're more willing to go all out than anyone else."

"And..." Bai Li glanced at Zhang Qian, "There are stories in their eyes."

That kind of fierce determination after being slapped in the face by life, that kind of desperate desire to climb up the ladder, can't be acted out.

Wang Wei stared blankly at Zhang Qian and Li Mengmeng.

indeed.

"But... are they willing?" Wang Wei hesitated.

"What do you think?" Bai Li raised an eyebrow.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Qian raised her head, her eyes filled with a resolute determination, as if she were taking an oath to join the Party.

"I'll do whatever my brother tells me to do. Forget acting, even if he just tells me to..."

"Stop." Bai Li interrupted her dangerous statement: "It's just acting, serious acting, and there are no kissing scenes or scenes with physical contact."

"I want to go too!" Li Mengmeng held up the AD calcium milk as if it were a torch. "I can help Brother Bai Li too!"

Seeing this scene, the fire in Wang Wei's heart reignited.

If it really works out...

No need to pay exorbitant salaries, with a script written by a master like Bai Li, and a group of beauties who naturally generate buzz...

"Brother Li!" Wang Wei suddenly stood up, picked up his wine glass, his hand trembling:

"If this works out, I won't take a single penny of my future earnings; it'll all be yours! I just want to... I just want to prove myself!"

I'll trample those two bastards under my feet and show them that I can still fly without them!

"Nonsense." Bai Li clinked glasses with him. "Even between brothers, accounts should be settled clearly. Money should be divided as it should be. Once you've turned your life around, go and slap that woman's face hard."

"Okay, I'll send you the script after the New Year."

"good!"

Wang Wei tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.

This wine is finally not sour anymore.

After chatting for a while, everyone had almost finished eating.

"Boss, check please!" Bai Li called out.

"Oh, no need!" Aunt Zhang wiped her hands on her apron as she walked over. "Awei already paid when he went to the restroom."

Bai Li paused for a moment and looked at Wang Wei.

The fat man was chuckling foolishly, scratching the back of his head:

"Well... even though I'm broke right now, I can still afford to treat you to this meal. Don't mind, Brother Li."

The white flesh felt warm inside.

This is Wang Wei.

Even if you're so poor you're about to sell your body, you still have to maintain that last bit of dignity in front of your brothers.

He didn't say anything about transferring the money back, because that would be slapping Wang Wei in the face.

He simply patted Wang Wei on the shoulder: "Okay, remember this one. I'll treat next time."