Chapter 0136: Understanding Is Everything

Wang Jinghua was among the earliest batch of agents in China, starting as an agent for singers in 1991. At that time, the music industry had content ahead of the system, and very few people knew what an agent was. When she first started as an agent, she had only over eight hundred yuan in her pocket, no fixed office, and carried a bag around everywhere—a typical 'briefcase company.'

By 1993, at the invitation of Chen Daomin, Wang Jinghua moved into film and television agency work, leveraging the connections she had built to become an agent for celebrities.

An agent's income mainly came in two ways: one was directly sharing in the celebrity's earnings, making them the white-collar workers of the agency industry. This was relatively rare, and there was no fixed standard for the split. Wang Jinghua belonged to this category.

Simply put, agency companies might split with artists 80-20, 70-30, or even 50-50, and the agent would take a corresponding commission from the fee. Since celebrities had different values, agents' incomes varied greatly.

The other type was the black-collar workers of the agency industry—employees who received a fixed salary from the agency company, with no direct relation to how much the celebrity earned each year. Except in rare cases, like if a celebrity's value jumped from one million to five million in a year, the boss might consider a raise, but most of the time they got a fixed salary.

For an agent like Wang Jinghua, to put it bluntly, the more the celebrity earned, the more she earned. If the celebrity didn't take roles, she had no income.

That was why Zhao Fusheng had said what he did, because he knew very well that if an agent played dirty, no matter how talented a celebrity actor was, in the end, they would fade into obscurity.

In a society full of filth, if kindness has no place to be used, then arm yourself to the teeth.

Zhao Fusheng never intended to be a meek and mild person, because he knew very well that this was a world where the wicked ruled. Facts had repeatedly proven that bad people could be heinous and gleefully unbridled; they were both evil and shrewd. In a society of the strong, naturally the wicked held sway.

To live better, you had to be stronger than these bad people.

How dirty the waters of the entertainment industry were, Fan Baobao didn't know, Zhao's parents didn't know, Li Yuan had no concept at all, but Zhao Fusheng, who had been immersed in the advertising circle in his previous life for many years and knew some inside stories of the entertainment industry, understood it all too well.

He didn't need to guess what Fan Baobao had sacrificed to achieve fame and success in his previous life.

But back then, he had been powerless; now, Zhao Fusheng was confident.

Wang Jinghua looked at Zhao Fusheng, his words still echoing in her ears. She frowned and said, 'Xiao Zhao, maybe this question is inappropriate, but can you tell me, what do you mean by 'hidden rules'?'

Zhao Fusheng smiled slightly: 'Very simple: if Baobao signs with you, you have to guarantee that she doesn't have to take roles she doesn't want. You have to ensure that no one forces her to attend dinners she doesn't want to. How about it, Sister Hua, can you guarantee that?'

Wang Jinghua was stunned. What she valued in Fan Baobao was the effect brought by the Qingzui lozenge ad. It was no exaggeration to say that because of Runshengyuan's ad, Fan Baobao had become the image of purity in many people's eyes. In Wang Jinghua's view, as long as she maintained this style, she would surely become hugely popular. She was absolutely confident in her judgment.

But the problem was that the demands Zhao Fusheng raised were simply unreasonable. Not to mention anything else, just the clause about not attending dinners was enough to cause trouble.

China had always been known as a nation of foodies since ancient times; many things were discussed over drinks at the dinner table. Having been an agent for so long, Wang Jinghua couldn't remember how many times she had taken her artists to interviews at dinner tables. Now Zhao Fusheng was making such a demand, which really put her in a difficult position.

But soon, she noticed the last part of Zhao Fusheng's words. She furrowed her delicate brows: 'Do you mean you have a way to help Baobao get resources?'

With her rich social experience, she clearly understood from Zhao Fusheng's words that even if Fan Baobao had no roles to take, Zhao Fusheng still had a way to ensure her exposure.

'That depends on you,' Zhao Fusheng said with a half-smile, looking at Wang Jinghua.

Wang Jinghua frowned deeply: 'What do you take me for? Xiao Zhao, let me tell you, Sister Hua may not be a big shot, but if the artists under me don't want to do something, no one can force them to do anything.'

Pfft!

At the first sentence, Zhao Fusheng inexplicably thought of a joke and burst out laughing. Under Wang Jinghua's strange gaze, he waved his hand: 'It's nothing, Sister Hua, I just thought of something funny.'

'What is it?' Wang Jinghua asked, utterly baffled, completely unable to understand what he was laughing at.

After laughing, Zhao Fusheng turned serious: 'Sister Hua, let's be straightforward. Fan Baobao is a newcomer, still in college. Compared to the established actors and celebrities under you, she can bring you the least profit—we both know that. Still, I hope you can help her get some opportunities. Rest assured, I will give you corresponding returns.'

To be fair, after Zhao Fusheng said this, Wang Jinghua's first thought was that this young man must have lost his mind.

After all, life isn't a TV drama. A young man in his early twenties, obviously not even finished with college, sitting in front of her and brazenly saying that he would give her returns in the future.

Wang Jinghua's first reaction was really that this guy must have forgotten to take his medicine.

But it had to be said that there was indeed a reason why some people could achieve success.

We always say that times create heroes, but we have to admit that often, at the crossroads of life, without certain special factors, those successful people can make unexpected choices.

Like Wang Jinghua at this moment. Although she was full of doubt about Zhao Fusheng's words, she unexpectedly nodded and said to Zhao Fusheng, 'Okay, I agree. As long as Fan Baobao agrees to have me as her agent, I will agree to both demands. She doesn't have to take roles she doesn't want, and I guarantee that those messy things won't come to her. The name Wang Jinghua still carries some weight in the circle.'

She was telling the truth. Although she hadn't officially started her own company, everyone in the circle knew that Wang Jinghua had great influence over the celebrities under her.

More importantly, if Zhao Fusheng could deliver what he promised, Wang Jinghua wouldn't mind whether Fan Baobao had roles to take or not. If she had no roles, naturally there would be no need to worry about certain sordid matters, since investors and directors alike controlled actresses through the power of role selection.

Looking at Wang Jinghua, Zhao Fusheng smiled. He really hadn't expected that after hearing his conditions, Wang Jinghua would agree outright.

This surprised him quite a bit. He had originally considered how to entice her if she refused.

But unexpectedly, this woman Wang Jinghua had agreed.

With that in mind, Zhao Fusheng smiled and looked at Wang Jinghua: 'Sister Hua, I believe it won't be long before you are extremely happy with this decision.'

Wang Jinghua was taken aback. Before she could speak, Zhao Fusheng laughed and said, 'Let me reintroduce myself. I am Zhao Fusheng, Art Director of Future Advertising Creative Department.'

Future Advertising?

Wang Jinghua was instantly speechless. At that moment, she felt as if she were dreaming.