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Sister Na had just gone to the hospital yesterday and was officially diagnosed as pregnant.
This news was an enormous and completely unexpected surprise for both her and Chen Jianhao.
After all, neither of them was young anymore, and getting pregnant at this stage wasn't easy.
Given the circumstances, it was naturally impossible for Sister Na to continue working with the Wandering Band. Other than activities already under contract, all announcements and performances would have to end.
For a high-risk pregnant woman like her, the most important thing now was to nurture and protect the pregnancy.
Upon hearing the news, Lu Chen immediately gave her a call.
But it was Chen Jianhao who picked up.
It didn't matter much either way. Lu Chen smiled and said, "Brother Jianhao, congratulations on becoming a father!"
Chen Jianhao responded quickly, "Did you see Big Qing?"
Lu Chen laughed, "Yes, where's Sister Na?"
Chen Jianhao said, "Whatever you have to say, you can say it to me. She's not allowed to use her phone anymore."
Lu Chen was momentarily speechless. 'Was that level of caution really necessary?'
Of course, he could understand how they felt. He chatted briefly with Chen Jianhao and said he'd visit Sister Na once he returned to Beijing.
Just as they were about to end the call, Chen Jianhao hesitated for a moment and said, "Dong Yu and Su Qingmei are there too, right? The two of them have had a tough time. They came with Big Qing because they're hoping you could help them out. If it's not too much trouble, give them a hand. They'll definitely repay the favor in the future."
Lu Chen replied, "Brother Jianhao, I understand. Don't worry, just focus on taking care of Sister Na."
Chen Jianhao chuckled and then hung up the phone.
After finishing the call with Chen Jianhao, Lu Chen exchanged a few pleasantries with Dong Yu.
Lu Chen had a good impression of the general manager of Qingyu Media, she was elegant, poised, and beautiful. She didn't have the petty mindset of a small-time actress, she was someone who could actually get things done.
Dong Yu took the opportunity to introduce the three people who had come with her, two men and one woman.
They were all very young. The men were handsome, and the woman was pretty. All of them had the physical presence and appearance typical of idol stars.
All three were newly signed artists under Qingyu Media who had just debuted.
While they chatted, the dishes began to arrive one by one.
By this point, everyone was already starving, so they didn't waste time talking and just dug in to fill their bellies.
After eating half a basket of shrimp dumplings, Dong Yu wiped the oil from the corner of her mouth with a napkin, then raised her glass to Lu Chen and said, "Lu Chen, I'd like to offer you a toast."
Lu Chen put down his chopsticks, picked up his glass, and smiled. "Director Dong, no need to be so formal. We all know each other. I'll drink this, and if you have something to say, just say it. If I can help, I definitely will."
Dong Yu couldn't help but feel emotional.
Just half a year ago, Lu Chen was still a bar singer and part-time waiter at Daylily Bar.
Now, half a year later, he had become a well-known singer in the entertainment industry, opened his own studio, and his albums were selling like hotcakes. Not only that, he now had the ability to launch new stars. He even wrote, directed, and starred in his own TV drama; he was developing on all fronts.
Lu Chen's musical talent was already enough to make others envious, but who would have thought he could write scripts too? The first TV drama he starred in had been airing with soaring ratings, leaving everyone… speechless!
If they'd known he had such potential back then, Qingyu Media should've done whatever it took to sign him.
Unfortunately, no one can predict the future.
What's missed is missed. Now that Lu Chen had grown stronger and more independent, it was their turn to come knocking on his door.
Truly, life is unpredictable.
Dong Yu also knew that Lu Chen was being so straightforward just now, likely because of something Chen Jianhao said.
Otherwise, her own personal influence might not have been enough; Lu Chen had no reason to seek her help.
Before she could even speak, Su Qingmei jumped in: "If you want to help, it's simple!"
She added, "Just arrange some roles for Little Yang and the others!"
The three newcomers immediately perked up, their bodies visibly tense. They stared at Lu Chen, their eyes full of excitement, anticipation, nervousness, and awe, like they were awaiting judgment from a god.
The TV drama "'Autumn in My Heart'", which Lu Chen was currently filming, had already become a hit. On the Waves blog platform, discussion of the show had exploded.
Aside from Lu Chen himself and the lead actress, Chen Fei'er, several of the supporting actors had also gained a ton of popularity.
In the entertainment industry, film and TV are the fastest path to stardom, faster than music or variety shows. One hit series or movie can catapult an actor to fame overnight, turning them into a first-tier celebrity in the blink of an eye.
At first, "'Autumn in My Heart'" wasn't expected to do well, but now it had become the dark horse of ratings, high in both reputation and profits. Who wouldn't be jealous?
If any of them could even leech a bit of that limelight, land even a minor role, it could become a huge talking point for publicity.
That's why Dong Yu and Su Qingmei had come personally, and even brought Qin Hanyang along.
But Lu Chen could only smile awkwardly: "Manager Su, if you're talking about ''Autumn in My Heart',' I'm really sorry. There's nothing I can do."
Each role is like a turnip for each hole, when "'Autumn in My Heart'" began filming, all the major roles were already cast.
Now that they'd filmed over ten episodes, there weren't many episodes left. How could he just squeeze in new roles for these three?
Unless it was just background extras.
But giving them walk-on parts, what's the point of that? That would be more of an insult than a favor.
Actually, Qingyu Media wasn't the first to come knocking. Ever since 'Autumn in My Heart''s ratings started climbing steadily, Qian De Brothers had been constantly bombarded by people trying to get in. By the later stages of production, even random passersby with just one or two lines were already fully booked, there simply weren't any open roles left.
This is a characteristic of weekend dramas that are aired while still being filmed. Aside from the main cast, supporting characters can be freely adjusted, they can be added, cut, or even replaced. In extreme cases, even the main characters can be swapped out, just revise the script.
Conventional dramas are fully filmed before airing, so they don't offer that kind of flexibility.
Su Qingmei frowned. "Not even any small roles?"
She hadn't expected to land anything major, that just wasn't realistic. What she hoped was that their company's rookies could gain some experience, maybe build a bit of popularity and résumé along the way.
'Autumn in My Heart' was red-hot. Any actor who had even a minor appearance would be looked at differently when auditioning for future projects.
Dong Yu shot her a glare. "Meimei!"
When asking for a favor, you need the right attitude. Even if you don't grovel, you can't be bossy either.
Su Qingmei's pampered heiress temper had always been a headache for Dong Yu.
Su Qingmei pouted.
Lu Chen smiled lightly and said, "'Autumn in My Heart' only has 20 episodes. At this point, it's really too late for new roles. But next year, I'm planning to invest in a new series."
Dong Yu's eyes lit up. "A new series?"
If Lu Chen had told her, before filming 'Autumn in My Heart', that he was planning to invest in his own TV drama, she would've laughed it off as a joke, "You? Make a TV show?"
The TV and film industry is vast and treacherous. Without the right strength and know-how, you can't survive.
Many naive outsiders, seeing how lucrative it looks, rush in with pockets full of cash, hoping to make quick money or even exploit the hidden rules of the industry. But more often than not, they end up losing everything.
Even industry veterans have countless stories of crashing and burning.
But now, Lu Chen, through one not-yet-finished series, had firmly planted his flag in the entertainment world.
Judging by the current momentum of 'Autumn in My Heart''s viewership, it might not become a cultural phenomenon, but there's no doubt it's already a hit.
With credentials like that, his next show will draw immense attention.
Missing out on 'Autumn in My Heart' was a shame, but landing a role in the next production would still be a major win.
Lu Chen smiled. "It's still under wraps for now. I've already started drafting the script. When the time comes, have them come in for auditions. All other things being equal, I'll give them priority."
Dong Yu's face lit up with joy. "Thank you so much!"
Lu Chen had already said this much, if she still wasn't satisfied, that would just be unreasonable.
Opportunities are given by others; reputation is earned by yourself.
If Lu Chen had really puffed up his chest and said, "Bring them all, pick any role you like," then he'd be a fool.
At Dong Yu's cue, the three rookies each raised their glasses and toasted Lu Chen to express their gratitude.
Even setting aside the chance they'd just been given, just getting to know someone like Lu Chen was hugely beneficial for them.
There was a saying in showbiz circles: Lu Chen has the Midas touch, whoever he favors, becomes a star.
Wandering Band and MSN were the best examples of this.
If those were examples from the music world, then now, the rising popularity of Zhang Liwei and Hu Yang were solid proof of his influence in the TV and film scene.
Zhang Liwei played the second female lead, Cui Xin'ai, in 'Autumn in My Heart', while Hu Yang portrayed Han Taixi.
Especially the latter, his popularity in the show was second only to Chen Fei'er and Lu Chen.
It was even said that Lu Chen originally pitched the script to Baolong Pictures, but was rejected.
Now, Baolong Pictures was regretting it so hard their guts were twisted!
All of this was undeniable proof of Lu Chen's tremendous influence. He could make himself a star, and make others stars too.
People like this are the most sought-after in the entire entertainment industry.
Lu Chen smiled and accepted their thanks graciously.
The reason he was willing to give Qingyu Media a chance and save face for Dong Yu wasn't just because of Chen Jianhao and Qin Hanyang, it was also about expanding his own network.
From the moment he stepped into the entertainment industry, Lu Chen adopted a strategy of independence + mutual benefit.
Independence meant not signing with any entertainment agency, he wanted full control over his own destiny.
Mutual benefit meant choosing trustworthy partners to help him grow stronger as he moved forward.
Lu Chen Studio doesn't sign artists, doesn't operate as a talent or production company, and even withdrew from the highly promising Zhongchou crowdfunding platform, keeping only a minority stake. He had always shared profits with his partners and never hoarded the rewards.
The fact that Lu Chen had been able to rise so smoothly was inseparable from this strategy.
Think of Flying Stone Records, Qian De Pictures, Rainbow Agency, and now Qingyu Media.
By giving up some profits, he gained more partners, more friends, and broader connections.
And with every new connection, his roots in the industry grew deeper.
Without a solid foundation, all glory is like a castle built on sand; one wave and it crumbles.
This is Lu Chen's philosophy.
(End of Chapter)