Entertainment: Oh no, I've become the sect leader!

"Wait a minute!"

After confirming that he wasn't hallucinating or dreaming, Xu Kong asked in a hoarse voice, "You have... not just a friend of yours, but a large apartment with a view of the Bund, right?"

"Yes." Liu Xia blinked and said, "My family bought it for me."

So... you're also a rich woman?

Thinking about the more than ten million yuan in debt he was carrying, Xu Kong felt instantly resentful.

Wouldn't it be better if the world had one more rich person?

"If your family can afford to buy you a large apartment on the Bund, why are you arguing with me about your salary?"

The original owner initially paid Liu Xia a salary of 10,000 yuan per month.

After Liu Xia argued his case, the price was raised to 12,000 a month.

Liu Xia spent over a month pestering the original owner of this body in order to get a two thousand yuan raise.

Of course, the main reason was that the original owner had dismissed the other people in the studio, which caused the young lady's workload to increase dramatically, and she felt a little guilty about it.

"That's my wages, it's different."

Speaking of this, Liu Xia said in a strong voice, "I put in the work, so of course I should get the compensation I deserve."

These words resonated deeply with Xu Kong, who had been a fellow beast of burden in his past life, leaving him momentarily speechless.

How many cattle and horses are not receiving the wages they deserve?

"How much does your rent cost per month?" Xu Kong asked.

"Thirty thousand yuan a month," Liu Xia replied.

"Twenty thousand!"

Although he felt a sense of empathy like a cow or a horse, Xu Kong was now in the boss's position.

He was determined to get back the two thousand yuan that had been given to Liu Xia.

"Twenty-eight thousand." When it comes to money, even a young woman is very calculating.

"Twenty-two thousand."

"Twenty-five thousand."

Xu Kong felt that he had a strange connection with the number 2.5.

"Then let's make it 25,000."

He was already satisfied with the 5,000 yuan discount, but he still asked, "By the way, what's your bottom line?"

"Twenty thousand yuan." Liu Xia replied without hesitation, "That's the cost price."

Xu Kong: "..."

Hastily!

His expression was rather unpleasant.

The young woman, on the other hand, was overjoyed and began packing her luggage.

While packing, he kept muttering nonsense, saying something like, "I got another five thousand yuan raise."

It made Xu's liver ache a little.

"I'm planning to cut costs and increase revenue," he finally said, unable to contain his anger.

"Hmm?" Liu Xia tilted her head and looked at Xu Kong.

"The studio's expenses have gone a bit over budget this month, so we won't be hiring anyone else later," Xu Kong said earnestly. "The cleaning is your job. Good luck, I believe in you!"

Liu Xia: "..."

Liu Xia was already mentally prepared for Xu Kong's stinginess.

After all, he was her boss for over a year.

"Then I'll ask my best friend to help me with the cleaning." The young woman's eyes lit up, and she had an idea: "Half a day's work will only consume enough for one hot pot meal."

Xu Kong naturally had no objection, since he had saved money anyway, but he still added a word of caution: "Your best friend can't pack her luggage."

No matter how much he fades from popularity, he's still a top star, so it's important to keep it a secret.

"I know, Brother Kong," Liu Xia patted his chest, his voice trembling. "Don't worry."

Xu Kong: ...

Suddenly, he felt that his resentment at having "overpaid rent" for Liu Xia had lessened considerably.

However, the rent was only five thousand yuan more expensive.

This is incredible!

It was totally worth it!

...

Before Xu Kong could even experience a few days of living in a prime river-view apartment in Shanghai, news came from Xu Yejing.

She secured an outdoor variety show for Xu Kong.

Although it's a new variety show produced by Zhejiang TV this year, the lineup of guests is very strong.

Unfortunately, Xu Kong can only be a guest who is half a guest and half a regular guest at the moment.

After all, the drama he filmed at the beginning of the year has not been released, and the public's impression of him is still in the midst of the "chicken essence" scandal.

A permanent presence is impossible.

We can only fly the plane first, test the market's reaction, and then discuss the next step of cooperation.

And this opportunity for a guest star—

According to Xu Yejing, those were precious opportunities she obtained only after paying a huge price: "going to her grandmother's house for dinner for three consecutive weeks!"

I just don't know what kind of bizarre food they ate that could come at such a high price.

"They said your persona and role on the show are meant to attract attention," Xu Yejing explained. "The new show has just started filming, and they're using you to draw public attention and help the regular guests adapt to the show's environment more quickly."

"To draw enemy fire?"

"It just means getting scolded."

"My role... is to get yelled at?" Xu Kong frowned, and before Xu Yejing could continue explaining, he asked directly and purposefully, "How much do they pay you?"

It's okay to get criticized.

As a sect leader, how many times have netizens criticized him?

In his previous life as Xiao Heizi, Xu Kong knew exactly how much criticism the sect leader had received.

But if you're going to take the criticism for someone else, then you'll have to pay extra!

After all, it's his reputation, which he relies on for his livelihood, that's being jeopardized.

"One million for one episode," Xu Yejing said. "This price is very competitive; it's already at the maximum salary level set by the higher authorities."

Xu Kong nodded. One million for a guest star was indeed the maximum salary stipulated by the authorities.

But this price is definitely not the maximum salary for this variety show.

After all, according to the information provided by Xu Yejing, there are other top celebrities, film emperors and rising stars among the regular guests.

These people's prices won't be lower than Xu Kong's.

"So, all in all, I should get 600,000?" Xu Kong hesitated for a moment before asking.

Xu Yejing watched Xu Kong hesitate and ponder for a long time, thinking that he wanted to compete for stardom or change from a guest to a regular guest, but she never thought he would be struggling with such a question.

For a moment, she didn't know what to say.

"It's taxable."

After a full half minute of stunned silence, she finally spoke: "Our company abides by the law and must pay taxes as required. There's no room for negotiation on that."

Even with legitimate tax avoidance, a tax rate of at least 25% applies to a million dollars...

Xu Kong quickly calculated in his mind: "Then I should get forty-five, right?"

"More or less." Xu Yejing nodded.

"Then I'll take it." Xu Kong nodded.

In his previous life, as Xiao Heizi, he also knew about the sect leader's salary on a certain male variety show.

That works out to roughly a million per episode.

This price sounds much lower than the exorbitant salaries that netizens are used to, but if it doesn't involve certain business, it's not low at all.

Anyway, Xu Kong can accept it completely.

After all, you can earn forty-five yuan just by recording for a day or two. This job is too easy!

When will recording begin?

"The official recording starts the day after tomorrow," Xu Yejing said. "You're a guest star who was added at the last minute, so you'll have to leave for Hangzhou this afternoon."

"So urgent?"

"We need to record a pilot episode first, so you can get to know Director Tong and the guests better," Xu Yejing said. "The car the company provided for you is already downstairs."

"OK..."