Huayu: This producer has no bottom line.

Chapter 114 This promise can be given

April 15, Yanjing West Railway Station.

At 1:38 p.m., the T70 train from Urumqi finally pulled into the station after a 38-hour journey.

Holding a sign that read "Gulinazar Baihtiyar," Wang Li stood at the exit and immediately recognized the mother and daughter from the crowd.

Because that girl was just too conspicuous.

He couldn't possibly hide among a group of weary travelers.

She had her hair tied in a ponytail and was struggling to drag a large suitcase.

Beside her was a slightly plump middle-aged woman with a dark scarf wrapped around her head, clutching two woven bags in her hands, her eyes warily scanning everything around her.

Wang Li has seen all kinds of beauties in the entertainment industry over the years.

But when that face emerged from the crowd, she was still taken aback.

"Hello, are you Gulnazar and her mother? I'm Wang Li from Life Vision Media."

The middle-aged woman looked Wang Li up and down, then glanced back at her daughter before slowly nodding.

"Are you Sister Wang who made the phone call?"

"Yes, it's me. You can just call me Xiao Wang."

Wang Li smiled and took the woven bag from her hand, then led the mother and daughter outside.

"You must be tired from the journey. Have something to eat and rest. Mr. Ren said that nothing else is scheduled for today. You should all get some rest and we can talk again tomorrow."

Naza's mother shook her head. "No need to rest. Let's talk today. We have to go back tomorrow."

Wang Li was stunned for a moment, then met those serious eyes and understood.

The round-trip train tickets, the salary deducted for taking leave—every extra day spent means more money.

She took out her phone and sent a message to Ren Pingsheng.

"Mr. Ren, the person has arrived. Nazha's mother said she wants to talk today."

The reply was very quick.

"Okay, see you at the company."

The studio was temporarily tidied up.

While Ren Pingsheng stood by the window waiting, he pondered how to start the conversation.

He had a general understanding of Naza's situation.

My father is in poor health, my mother is an ordinary worker, and I have an older sister who is already working.

This family was already barely able to afford to continue supporting their daughter's dance studies after the father became seriously ill; sending her alone to Beijing to venture into the entertainment industry was nothing short of a gamble.

Therefore, he has to be pragmatic and show the other party something definite.

There was a knock on the door, and Wang Li led the mother and daughter in.

Ren Pingsheng turned around and his gaze met Nazha's.

He really didn't expect the difference between the photo and the real person to be so big.

The girl with a ponytail and no makeup in the photo was already pretty enough, but when she stood in front of me in person, the impact was something that a still photo could never convey.

However, he only paused for a moment before returning to normal.

"Hello, Auntie, I'm Ren Pingsheng."

Naza's mother squeezed it; her palms were rough, and she gripped it tightly.

"Director Ren, I've searched your name online, and I've also watched your film 'Old Boys'."

Ren Pingsheng was slightly taken aback, then smiled, "Auntie watches web dramas?"

"I didn't look at it before, but since you want to sign my daughter, I need to know what you do."

Her Mandarin had an accent, but she spoke very clearly.

This is a mother who came only after she had done her homework.

"Please sit down, Auntie."

The four sat down at the tea table, with Naza next to her mother, remaining silent.

Ren Pingsheng noticed that her fingertips were slightly red, which were marks left from rubbing them when she was nervous.

"Auntie, then I'll get straight to the point," Ren Pingsheng said without much small talk. "We want to sign Gulnazar as an actress. The contract is for five years, split 60/40, with her getting 40% and us getting 60%."

Naza's mother's eyebrows twitched, but she didn't say anything.

The 40/60 split was meaningless to her; she didn't even understand the rules of the industry. To her, the split was just two numbers.

That's not what she cares about most.

"Director Ren, may I ask you a few questions?"

"Please speak."

"I consulted before coming here, and the entertainment industry... is quite complicated," she carefully chose her words, "Your company wants to sign my daughter as an actress, and I'd like to know the specific arrangements? After signing the contract, will she have to do everything you say?"

"No," Ren Pingsheng shook his head, "We will first arrange for her to go to a training institution in Yanjing, or to learn acting from the company's veteran actors for a short period of time. After that, we will let her play some small roles in short dramas, learning and practicing at the same time."

"But she has the right to know about every project. If she really doesn't want to, she can communicate with us," Ren Pingsheng added.

"What if she doesn't want to go, but you insist on making her go?"

"The contract will clearly state the rights and obligations of both parties. The company cannot force the artist to work against their will. But conversely, if the artist does not cherish the opportunity that the company deems suitable and fails to meet the agreed workload within a year, the company has the right to terminate the contract."

Wang Li, who was standing next to her, pushed a sample contract over at the right moment. "Auntie, this is our contract template. You can take it back and have a lawyer look at it. There's no rush to sign it."

Naza's mother took the contract, but instead of opening it, she asked her second question.

"Is the contract like what's said online, that you can't leave once you sign it? Director Ren, my daughter can apply to the performing arts troupe next year. If she gets in, what happens to the contract?"

There was a moment of silence in the conference room.

Wang Li glanced at Ren Pingsheng subconsciously.

Being in a performing arts troupe was a secure job within the system, meaning a stable income and a respectable status.

For a family where the father is bedridden, this is far more important than a brokerage contract.

But from the perspective of a talent agency, you invest several months of resources to train a newcomer, only to have them pack up and go take the civil service exam.

Which company would accept this?

Ren Pingsheng's answer was so straightforward that it surprised everyone.

"If Nazha really gets accepted into the performing arts troupe next year, we will terminate her contract unconditionally and will not charge her a single penny in breach of contract fees."

Wang Li's eyelid twitched.

Naza's mother was stunned. "What did you say?"

"Auntie, the performing arts troupe is much better for you than this place. I can't let a family's hopes be dashed or a child's secure job go to waste."

Ren Pingsheng spoke with utmost sincerity.

He knew that the performing arts troupe would undergo reforms next year, suspending recruitment to the public, which was why she later participated in the art exam.

This promise will not be kept, but it can be given, and it must be given.

Because it didn't just break down a clause in the contract, but rather a mother's emotional defenses.

Sure enough, Naza's mother stared at him for a while, and the wariness in her eyes finally relaxed a little.

"You...you're quite honest."

"I would never lie to a mother," Ren Pingsheng smiled. "If you're not comfortable with this, we can include it in a supplementary agreement."

He turned to look at Nazha, who had remained silent.

The girl had her head down, but you could see her eyelashes trembling slightly.

"Nazha".

"Huh?" She looked up abruptly, somewhat at a loss.

"I have a question for you: your own thoughts are more important than your mother's."

Ren Pingsheng looked into her eyes and asked calmly, "Why do you want to join the performing arts troupe?"

Naza's lips moved, her eyes darted away for a moment, then looked back at her.

"Because...because my dad is in poor health, and the illness he was diagnosed with last year will cost a lot of money."

She lowered her head, her fingers twisting the hem of her skirt.

"The work in the performing arts troupe is stable, with a fixed salary every month, and I can continue dancing. It's not that I don't want to be an actress... but being an actress doesn't necessarily mean you can make money, but the performing arts troupe definitely can."

When she said the last sentence, her voice was almost squeezed out, as if she was afraid of being overheard, or as if she was afraid that she would waver after saying it.

Ren Pingsheng remained silent for a few seconds.

Too many young people who dream of becoming stars only see the spotlight and the red carpet.

But for the eighteen-year-old girl sitting in front of me, the starting point of her dream was the cost of her medicine.

This kind of person will either never become famous, because she's not crazy enough.

Either she'll become incredibly famous, because she knows better than anyone the cost of losing.

"Nazha," Ren Pingsheng tapped the table, "Listen up, I won't stop you from joining the cultural troupe. What I just told your mother will be written in black and white in the contract."

"But you still have almost a year before that."

He held up one finger. "You can use this year to experience firsthand what this industry is really like. After a year, you can make your choice."

He looked at her and said, "Going to the performing arts troupe or staying is fine. But at least by then, you'll be making a decision based on a thorough understanding, not because you don't understand and are afraid to choose."

Naza raised her head, her eyes filled with hesitation and expectation.

She glanced back at her mother, who remained silent for a long time.

She looked at Ren Pingsheng, then at her daughter, and finally took a deep breath before placing the contract sample she had been clutching onto the table.

"Director Ren, that supplementary agreement you mentioned..."

'

"The contract will be ready soon."

"Then I need to show it to a friend first; he knows the law."

"No problem, you can ask anyone to take a look. If there's anything you don't understand after they've looked at it, feel free to contact them."

Naza's mother nodded and didn't say anything more.

But she finally let go of her hand that was on the table.