I really don't want to make bad movies!

Afterwards, Xia Ming and Kiwi drafted a preliminary contract.

Kiwifruit invested 60 million yuan as the primary investor and issuer.

Xia Ming served as the director and participated in the film's production as the chief producer.

In addition to a fixed director's salary of three million yuan, he also enjoys a share of the profits from the investors.

As for the profit-sharing ratio, that will depend on the composition of the investors later.

Ultimately, the project was registered under the name of Yang Xianghua, who wielded the most power.

Therefore, Yang Xianghua also needed to bring a senior producer from Kiwi Fruit to communicate with Ju Jingyi's studio to further improve the contract.

The production team was recruited by iQiyi and can be assembled within a week at the latest.

……

"Come on, Xia, let me treat you to dinner."

After the meeting ended, Huang Xuke led Xia Ming to prepare to leave.

Xia Ming thought about it and did not refuse.

"You guys in the short video section are working so late?" As he passed by the work area, Xia Ming noticed that no one had left their workstations.

"Internet companies, that's normal. We're still in the process of creating a new partition, and we're very busy."

Huang Xuke joked, "It's so much more fun being a director. After filming, you can just rest and wait for your share of the profits."

"I'm busy too, okay?"

Xia Ming wasn't lying; he had endless things to deal with every day.

"Oh, right," Huang Xuke stopped, "there's something I need to ask you."

"Come and sign an autograph for my employee, she's a fan of yours."

"Xiao Cheng! Look who I brought!"

Xia Ming followed Huang Xuke's gaze and saw a tiny girl huddled in a corner workstation.

As soon as Huang Xuke's voice rang out, the dark light on her face instantly turned bright, making her round-framed glasses reflect light.

"Haha, Mr. Huang, why aren't you off work yet?"

Xiao Cheng lay on the table, holding the mouse and keyboard, his smile a little forced.

Huang Xuke looked at her suspiciously: "I just finished a meeting, what are you doing? You're acting so suspiciously."

"Really? No."

Xiao Cheng has soft features and large eyes, which appear even larger with the help of glasses. Her eyelashes flutter when she blinks.

Xia Ming glanced at the taskbar and saw a small penguin icon, which was clearly the Tencent Video logo.

"I want to see what you're doing." Huang Xuke reached out and tried to grab the keyboard.

Xia Ming patted him on the shoulder and said, "Senior, I'm hungry. Didn't you say you had something to ask me?"

These words made Huang Xuke stop what he was doing, and he smiled sheepishly, "Oh right, I almost forgot."

Xiao Cheng felt like he had been granted a pardon and frantically winked at Xia Ming in gratitude.

"Xiao Cheng, let me introduce you. This is Xia Ming, the director of 'The Swindler'."

"ah?!"

Xiao Cheng was startled. He suddenly straightened his legs, which had been tucked in his seat, and stood up abruptly, bowing to Xia Ming.

"Hello!"

Then, she looked up, straightened her messy bangs, and said seriously, "I'm a fan of yours, 'The Swindler' is so good!"

That's quite an upright attitude, Xia Ming couldn't help but smile and reply, "Thank you for your support."

Xiao Cheng rummaged through the box, pulled out his phone, removed the case, and presented it to Xia Ming with both hands: "Please sign this for me!"

Xia Ming signed her phone case.

"Let's go, let's go eat."

Having helped his employee fulfill his wish, Huang Xuke also felt extremely hungry, so he put his arm around Xia Ming and prepared to leave.

Xia Ming suddenly saw Xiao Cheng's computer screen.

That's the backend software for iQiyi's employees, displaying the list and data of all creators under the Star Map Project.

Xia Ming saw the name of the commentator Riyue in it, and also saw Xiao Cheng's full name - Cheng Cheng.

Is this Cheng Cheng the specialist in charge of my account?

"Wait a minute."

Xia Ming stopped Huang Xuke, pointed at the screen, and asked, "Has this commentator's account been banned?"

Huang Xuke was taken aback upon hearing this, then angrily retorted, "Xiao Cheng, be mindful of protecting data privacy!"

"Oh, Mr. Huang, I was wrong."

Cheng Cheng reacted quickly, pressing ALT+TAB with her left hand to switch, but was startled when she saw the Tencent Video interface pop up, and quickly switched back.

Fortunately, Huang Xuke did not see it.

After reprimanding Xiao Cheng, Huang Xuke became very interested in the topic Xia Ming had raised: "You also watch Sun and Moon commentary?"

Xia Ming laughed and said, "The internet says that Riyue's analysis of 'Mao Pian' is the best, so of course I've been following it."

"Hehe, of course, he is a top-quality blogger promoted by our Kiwi, and the winner of the previous 'Big Hornet' fan creation competition."

"Then why was your account banned?"

Huang Xuke waved his hand: "It was a minor copyright issue, but it's been resolved. The ban will be lifted in the next couple of days."

"That's good, otherwise it would be such a waste."

"Haha, actually I was thinking that if there's a chance, I'd like you and Riyue Commentary to attend an offline event together, or do an interview, focusing on 'Mao Pian'."

"The most knowledgeable commentator on 'The Swindlers' on the entire internet, exchanging ideas with the director himself, wow..."

Huang Xuke stroked his chin, his mind filled with plans for the future: "If we can secure the rights to a second season, this kind of thing will definitely generate buzz!"

"..."

Xia Ming didn't know how to answer.

"Hey, let's eat and chat at the same time. Don't stand here and disturb their work."

Before leaving, Huang Xuke also instructed Cheng Cheng: "Pay attention to your words, soothe the emotions of 'Sun and Moon Commentary,' and don't let the account ban and traffic restrictions affect the quality of his work."

Cheng Cheng shouted energetically, "Received!"

After saying that, Huang Xuke went to press the elevator button first, leaving Xia Ming to rest on the side.

This is a mixed-use building combining commercial and office space. Their group is on the seventeenth floor, and the elevator won't be able to get up there for a while.

While waiting for the elevator, Xia Ming stood at a distance and observed Cheng Cheng slacking off at work.

He wanted to know how Cheng Cheng would soothe Riyue's emotions.

After seeing Huang Xuke walk away, Cheng Cheng retreated back to her workstation.

She placed the phone case that Xia Ming had just signed on the table and took a picture of it.

Soon, Xia Ming's phone vibrated.

Upon taking it out, he saw that it was a message sent to him by Cheng Cheng.

[Envious, aren't you? A signed copy of "The Swindler" by director Xia Ming! Haha, want one? I'll give it to you.]

Xia Ming replied with a question mark.

How can this be proven?

Cheng Cheng was struck dumb, frozen in place, completely unable to think of how to prove it.

She stood up, leaning on the table, and looked towards the elevator. Seeing that Huang Xuke was still there, she turned and looked around.

Soon, she saw Xia Ming standing in the distance playing on his phone, and hurriedly ran up to him.

"Director Xia! Director Xia!"

Xia Ming put away his phone and asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

"Let's take a picture together, okay?"

"OK."

Seeing Xia Ming agree so readily, Cheng Cheng was overjoyed and danced with delight.

She turned on the front camera to fix her makeup, then switched to the beauty camera, and stood close to Xia Ming, making a peace sign.

But soon, she discovered a huge problem—she was too short!

Even if you stand perfectly straight, you can only reach Xia Ming's chest.

Xia Ming also noticed the problem, so he squatted down and smiled in front of the camera.

Cheng Cheng was so moved she almost cried, and the beauty filter in the camera made her look even more teary-eyed.

"Director Xia, let's make a heart shape with our hands, it looks better that way."

"it is good."

Xia Ming bent his palm and made half a heart shape.

However, Cheng Cheng pressed the shutter button directly.

"Hehe, just kidding."

After receiving the photo, Cheng Cheng skipped back to her workstation, bowing repeatedly to Xia Ming in gratitude.

Xia Ming smiled and waved goodbye, then saw Huang Xuke urging him from the elevator entrance, "Xia, hurry up!"

"They're here."

Xia Ming took out his phone as he walked.

Cheng Cheng sent three upturned nose emojis, showing off a photo of herself with Xia: "[A photo with Director Xia! Aren't you envious?]"

Looking at the photo of himself with a cat filter, big eyes and a small mouth, Xia Ming couldn't recognize himself at first.

He pulled out a passport photo from his album, sent it with the message: "[This is a photo of Director Xia that I found online; it's clearly not the same person as yours]."

"ah?!"

Cheng Cheng was dumbfounded, but it really was Director Xia!

I always use too much beauty filter when taking photos with my best friend, and I miscalculated!

She hurriedly looked up, wanting to take another picture with Xia Ming, but saw that the elevator doors had already closed.

"Waaah—"

Her attempt to show off failed, and she slumped onto the table like a deflated balloon, staring blankly at the photo with the peace sign and half a heart.