I really didn't intend to make a living based on my looks.

The Fourteenth Prince didn't have many scenes to begin with, only seventy or eighty, and it took almost two months to film. Finally, it was time for the last scene.

This scene depicts the Fourteenth Prince being demoted to guard the imperial tombs, and Nian Suyuan coming to see him off.

Jiang Chen, dressed in dark blue armor, stood inside the palace gate.

Tong Liya, dressed in a light blue qipao, stood outside the palace gate.

The director yelled "Action!" and the two men looked at each other.

Jiang Chen's lips twitched, as if he wanted to say something, but he swallowed it back.

He raised his hand and, through the crack in the door, touched her fingertips.

Tong Liya's tears fell silently down her cheeks.

"Stop! Go!"

The entire audience applauded.

Tong Liya wiped away her tears, walked over and patted him on the shoulder: "Alright, bro, filming's wrapped up."

Jiang Chen took off his helmet: "Sister Ya Ya, let's work together again in the future."

"There will definitely be a chance," Tong Liya said, her eyes still red. "See you in Yanjing then. Come visit your sister when you have time, and there will be plenty of crayfish."

"Then I'll be waiting."

After filming wrapped, Jiang Chen went to the production team.

The accountant, a middle-aged woman wearing glasses, checked the documents, took an envelope from the drawer, counted it, and pushed it over.

"Eighteen thousand, fourteen thousand fourteen after tax. Sign here."

For newcomers like him who don't have an agency, the production team usually withholds their personal income tax directly.

Actors' remuneration is considered labor remuneration, and the tax deduction rate is 20% according to national regulations. There is no threshold for taxation.

Earn 1,000, get 200 off; earn 10,000, get 2,000 off. No deception, young or old.

Of course, the big names in the industry are different. They have companies and finance teams, and they sign "after-tax contracts" or use studios for accounting, so their tax deduction rate is much lower.

Some even use dual contracts and separate accounts...

Some small film crews will play tricks like "installment payments" or even "settlement after release," often dragging things out for a year or two.

Yu Zheng's production team was quick to pay, mainly because the amounts were small.

Including the 6,400 yuan song fee I received from the contract I signed before joining the group, I ended up with a little over 20,000 yuan in total.

This is all his current net worth.

After putting the money away, he returned to the hotel and took out two gift boxes from his luggage that he had prepared beforehand, each printed with the words "Jinan Specialty".

One box contained jujubes with donkey-hide gelatin and crispy candy, which he gave to the director.

"Director Zhu, this is just a small snack I brought from my hometown. It's nothing but a token of my appreciation. Thank you for your guidance and care during this time."

Director Li Huizhu patted him on the shoulder and said a few words of encouragement.

The other box contained some ready-to-eat Pingyin rose cakes and hawthorn cakes, which he distributed to some of the crew members.

Relationships and reputation are built up little by little!

The next morning, Jiang Chen dragged his suitcase to the station.

The long-distance bus station in Hengdian is not big, and the waiting hall is full of people. The air is filled with the smell of instant noodles and sweat.

He had to take a bus to Hangzhou East Railway Station first, and then transfer to a train.

He was looking for the ticket gate when someone called out to him from behind.

"Brother!"

Tong Liya stood at the door, wearing a mask and a baseball cap, carrying a bag in her hand, panting as if she had run there.

"Why are you here?" Jiang Chen was taken aback.

"I'll see you off," Tong Liya said, handing him the bag. "Here's some food for the journey, so you don't go hungry."

When Jiang Chen opened it, he found it stuffed full of bread, mineral water, braised eggs, and chicken legs.

"Sister Ya Ya, are you treating me like a pig to be fed?"

"You're a pig anyway, alright, stop joking. Study hard when you get to Yanjing, don't embarrass our film crew."

"It won't get lost."

The two remained silent for a while.

Tong Liya extended her hand: "See you in Yanjing."

Jiang Chen took her hand, gently pulled her into his arms, and hugged her.

Tong Liya patted him on the back, "Let's go, stop dawdling, the car's about to leave."

Jiang Chen released her hand, took a small box out of his pocket, and put it into her hand.

"This is for you, it's nothing valuable, don't be offended."

When Tong Liya opened it, she found a small ginkgo leaf bookmark, made of brass, with clear veins, exquisite but not ostentatious.

She paused for a moment, then looked up at him.

"You said you liked ginkgo trees last time. I saw some at a stall in the scenic area and bought them on a whim," Jiang Chen said casually. "I use them when I'm reading. Don't always use tissues as bookmarks; it's cheap."

Tong Liya, clutching the bookmark, smiled and said, "You're quite observant."

"Of course, it's a basic quality of an actor."

"Alright, get lost."

Jiang Chen dragged his suitcase through the ticket gate and waved to her as he turned back.

Tong Liya stood at the entrance of the waiting hall, clutching the bookmark in her hand, watching his figure disappear into the crowd.

I felt inexplicably melancholy...

When she returned to the film set, Yang Mi was sitting on a small stool drinking water. Seeing her approach, she casually asked, "That guy's gone?"

"Okay, I'm leaving."

Yang Mi screwed the bottle cap on, her gaze falling on the gift box in Tong Liya's hand. She paused, then said, "Oh, you even gave me a gift?"

"Um."

Yang Mi didn't say anything, unscrewed the water bottle and took another sip. Her expression didn't change much, but the water bottle was slightly deformed from her grip.

"You'd accept it just because he gave it to you? Why didn't you take the necklace I gave you?"

"That's too expensive, I'm afraid I'll lose it."

Yang Mi rolled her eyes at her, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something but then she swallowed it back.

She put the water bottle aside, stood up, patted her pants, and said in a nonchalant tone, "Okay, keep it safe so you don't lose it."

Tong Liya glanced at her and suddenly smiled: "Do you also want to go see him off?"

Yang Mi paused, turned her face away, and muttered, "Who wants to take him? I'm too busy."

That bastard only gave Yaya a gift!

So annoying!

Seeing her awkward expression, Tong Liya smiled and shook her head, then turned to touch up her makeup without teasing her further.

Yang Mi sat alone on a small stool, feeling inexplicably empty inside.

While I was lost in thought, my phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket.

When I took it out, it was a text message from Jiang Chen.

"Honey, I'll be giving you the song 'The Power of Love' to sing from now on. I've calculated it, and it's sure to become your signature song."

"But you're a rich woman, so the copyright fee can't be small. Don't ask why, just know that I've done some calculations and you're the most compatible person with this song in your life."

Yang Mi stared at the text message, stunned for a full three seconds.

She subconsciously pursed her lips, subtly curving them upwards in a tiny arc, before quickly pressing them back down.

"Pah, who wants to sing your songs? How corny are you?"

After replying to the message, she read it over and over again three times.

You little rascal, you've got some good taste!

She opened the lyrics file Jiang Chen had sent and began to hum softly.

I will dedicate my entire life to supporting you.

There are too many troubles in this world that we should forget.

You drift in the sea of ​​suffering, just like you used to be.

Looking back, I realized that I had already stepped out of the mortal world!

The more I sing this song, the more addictive it becomes.

Oh no, it seems like this kid really has us under his thumb!

……