He plays Feng Yuxiu, and his girlfriend is a fairy-like beauty.

The following afternoon.

Ye Mo found the coffee shop according to the address sent by Liu Yifei.

Hidden deep in the alley, with no sign at the entrance, it has two crooked locust trees.

He sat down in the corner of the private room and waited for ten minutes before the door was pushed open a crack.

Liu Yifei suddenly appeared.

He wore a baseball cap pulled down to his eyebrows, a mask covering half his face, and an oversized tracksuit over it.

She closed the door and began to take off her gear—her hat, her mask, and her workout clothes, which she draped over the back of the chair, revealing a simple white T-shirt underneath.

"Three layers inside and three layers outside, and it's 28 degrees Celsius outside." She sat down and fanned herself with her hand.

"Is this a date or a prison break?"

"Pretty much. My mom's been like she has radar these past few days; she can pinpoint my location no matter where I am." Liu Yifei poured himself a glass of cold water and gulped down half of it. "When Sister Zhang comes later, be serious and stop acting so nonchalant. I had to pull several strings to get this appointment with her."

"Sister Zhang?"

"Zhang Yuan is a veteran in the industry. She has managed three artists, two of whom have won the Best Actor award, and one of whom switched to film and received a Hong Kong Film Award nomination."

"The last artist she managed retired from the industry and got married the year before last, so she's been idle ever since. It's not that no one is looking for her, it's that she's selective. All the companies that approached her were big ones, but she didn't accept any of them—she said she didn't want to manage artists who would send her twenty voice messages every day asking what she was wearing."

"She'll come just because you ask her?"

"I don't have that much influence. I asked Deng Chao for help. She was the manager for Chao's first film, and the two of them have a good relationship now. Chao mentioned you to her, and she agreed as soon as she heard your name."

Why?

"She said she watched the scene in 'Brotherhood of Blades' where they had to pay extra, and she went back and watched it four times." Liu Yifei put down her cup. "She also said she watched Feng Yuxiu's film, and she said that an artist like you can make a name for yourself—you have real talent, you don't need hype."

The door to the private room opened.

Zhang Yuan walked in. She was in her early fifties, with short hair, wearing a plain linen shirt, no makeup, and thin-rimmed glasses. She had a very quiet demeanor.

It wasn't the cold kind, it was the steady kind.

He put the canvas bag he was carrying on the chair next to him, nodded to Liu Yifei, and then turned his gaze to Ye Mo.

She sized him up for two seconds.

"Ye Mo is thinner than in the movie."

"I've been busy lately." Ye Mo stood up and shook her hand.

"It's normal. With your level of popularity, it's already quite an achievement to be able to sit down and have a cup of coffee." Zhang Yuan sat down, took off her glasses and wiped them. "Feng Yuxiu was the first, and Ding Xiu was the second. Both of them were supporting roles, and both of them had memorable scenes. The last person in the industry who could make a supporting role stand out was decades ago. Now, among artists of your age, your popularity index and the depth of discussion are far ahead."

"Sister Zhang, you're exaggerating."

"It's not an exaggeration, I've checked the data." Zhang Yuan's tone was very flat, like a university professor reading a paper.

"Your online discussion volume accounted for 37% of the total for 'Kung Fu Jungle,' while Zeng Zidan accounted for 40%. He was the protagonist, and you were the supporting actor. After the premiere of 'Brotherhood of Blades,' your discussion volume surpassed that of Nie Yuan. A supporting actor outshines the protagonist online—this is not a coincidence, but the choice of the audience."

Liu Yifei didn't interrupt, but the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

Ye Mo picked up the teapot and poured Zhang Yuan a cup of tea.

"Sister Zhang, I won't beat around the bush. I'm very grateful that you came, but there are a few things I need to make clear beforehand."

"you say."

"First, I don't sign with a company or with any performance-based agreements. My agent only represents me and isn't tied to me."

Zhang Yuan nodded.

"Secondly, I decide what roles I take on. You can choose, screen, and offer suggestions, but the final decision rests with me."

"Can."

"Third, you won't interfere in my private life, I won't create scandals, I won't cultivate a persona, and I won't participate in variety shows that require me to put my private life on display." Ye Mo put down the teapot, looked at her, and said, "If you can accept these terms, we can cooperate."

Zhang Yuan was silent for two seconds.

Then she laughed.

It wasn't a polite laugh, but a laugh that said, "I knew it."

"The conditions you've proposed are completely opposite to those of the companies I rejected before. Do you know what that means?"

"This means you no longer have to listen to celebrities sending you twenty voice messages every day asking what to wear today."

Zhang Yuan paused for a moment, then turned to look at Liu Yifei.

Did you tell him exactly what I said?

Liu Yifei raised his hands, looking innocent: "I just gave a brief explanation."

Zhang Yuan turned around and looked at Ye Mo again.

"The reason I haven't taken on any artists in recent years is simple—I'm tired, not physically, but mentally."

"You have to teach newcomers, coax popular ones, and be patient with big names. The three points you just mentioned all tell me the same thing—you don't need me to worry about you."

She put on her glasses. "This kind of cooperation model is actually the easiest for me. I just help you screen resources, review contracts, and schedule appointments. You handle the rest yourself and get a fixed commission. I don't have to answer calls from artists who are drunk in the middle of the night."

"Then it's settled?" Ye Mo asked.

"It's settled. I'll draft the contract and send it to you tomorrow." Zhang Yuan took a folder out of her canvas bag, flipped to a blank page, wrote a few words, and then closed it. "But there's something I need to say in advance—"

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Yifei's phone rang.

She glanced down at the caller ID, and her entire posture instantly changed.

My shoulders were tense, my back was straight, as if I had been pulled down from above by an invisible thread.

"My mom," she mouthed.

Ye Mo and Zhang Yuan both fell silent.

"Mom—I'm out—having coffee with a friend—um—just a regular female friend—I'm going back right now—"

As she spoke, she stood up, quickly pulling her hat, mask, and tracksuit from the back of the chair and putting them on like a fire drill. "There are no men here, don't worry—I was just going to the bathroom and you called—"

Her mother was still muttering on the phone, "I'm not like that, you just disappeared while I was in the bathroom."

After hanging up the phone, she had wrapped herself up completely.

The baseball cap was pressed down to his eyebrows, and the mask was pulled down to his chin.

Ye Mo leaned back in his chair, looking at her with a slight smile on his lips.

"Didn't you bring a female friend? How come you're a guy?"

"This is like trying to hide something obvious. Let's get going." Liu Yifei slung her bag over her shoulder, glanced back at Zhang Yuan, and said, "Sister Zhang, you two discuss the contract. I have to go now."

Zhang Yuan adjusted her glasses, her expression calm.

Ye Mo watched Liu Yifei's retreating figure as she opened the door and left, and chuckled.

After Liu Yifei left, the two of them finalized the matter.

Both parties are quite satisfied.

---

On the way back, Ye Mo dialed Liu Yifei's number.

I answered it after it rang once.

"The way you were afraid of your mom today was like something out of a spy movie; you disappeared as soon as you went to the bathroom."

"You think you're not afraid?" Liu Yifei's voice was very low, she must still be in the car, "If I were to tell her right now—Mom, I've been with Ye Mo for over a year, I know where he lives, guess what? She would definitely come to your door with a knife and attack you."

"Is your mother that violent?"

"I'm not violent normally, but that's a different story when my daughter is dating." Liu Yifei changed her tone. "Has your agent sorted things out?"

"It's all settled. Zhang Yuan is doing well. Thank you."

"No need to thank me, your business is my business." She paused for a moment, "They came to see you so late tonight, you should thank them properly tonight."

"understood."

"I'm home, bye."

"Um."

Ye Mo put down his phone, and the night view of Yanjing (Beijing) drifted in from the alleyway outside the window.

........