Chapter 136. The joint meeting
"Brother Ren."
Xiao Rin entered the room with slow steps as she looked around the meeting room.
Chief Han was also besides her.
"You are finally here. Sit down."
Ren said as he sipped his coffee. He was not sleeping much these days because of all the work that he had acc.u.mulated for himself.
"Who is she?"
Xiao Rin glanced at Ying Yue besides Ren. Her eyes were filled with little hostility while Ying Yue was staring at Xiao Rin with stars in her eyes.
"You were interested in the movie, «A born star», right?"
"Yes. Brother Ren, I heard some rumours about it. Are the rumours really true?"
Her gaze became one with worry when Ren said that. She forgot about Ying Yue for a second and retracted her gaze from her.
"Yes, the rumours are true and I called you to ask you about something."
Ren said as he laughed.
"Really! I thought that the rumours were true but you really went all out this time."
Chief Han suddenly said but he became silent once he perceived that the atmosphere was serious.
Xiao Rin continued after that.
"Yes, I liked the screenplay but Brother Ren, why are you asking that?"
She asked that with some expectations and confusion in her eyes.
"Then, What do you think about playing the female lead in it?"
"Huh??"
That was the trigger that shocked both Xiao Rin and Chief Han.
Especially Chief Han, he looked like someone who has just heard that that he has a terminal illness or something.
"Meet Director Ying Yue. She is the writer and the director of «A born star»."
Ren said as he glanced at Ying Yue and she smiled slightly.
"The director!?"
When she heard that, Xiao Rin stood up from her seat and bowed to her.
This discipline was embedded into her since her trainee days.
She no longer showed the hostility she had shown earlier, she was acting like a meek hamster now.
"You don't have to bow to me. I am just a rookie and unknown director."
Ying Yue was slightly startled by her and it took a minute for Ren to calm down the situation.
"I really liked your acting in your drama and I think you are just like the female lead I imagined. I want you to play the female lead in my movie."
"I, I also liked your screenplay."
Xiao Rin said as she showed a baffled look. She was glancing at Ren from time to time.
"Actually, we were thinking about the female leads for the movie and Director Ying's first choice was you."
"Really?"
"Yes, I am playing the male lead. We were asking you to be the female lead in the movie? We want to ask if you want to do…..?"
"I will do it."
Before Ren could finish his sentence, Xiao Rin answered with a lighting speed.
'Female lead!'
The last time she acted with Ren was when they acted in the drama together and even then, they were acting as brother and sister.
But playing the female lead against him was different. She felt her cheeks becoming hot, thinking about it.
A light blush appeared on her cheeks when she glanced at Ren.
"Wait a minute! What about the CEO? Have you persuaded her about it?"
Chief Han asked suddenly.
He was busy handling Xiao Rin's schedule, that's why he didn't knew anything about it.
"I have already talked about this, with CEO Xu. We are even going to a meeting together after this."
"A meeting?"
"Yes, a meeting to finalise the investments."
* * *
"It looks like everyone is here. Let's start the meeting then."
CEO Wang said as he glanced around the room.
There were many people in the room but the main members were Ren, CEO Xu, CEO Wang himself and the last person was the President of Grave films, the company which was the largest distributor in China.
He was called President Tang.
As Ren and CEO Wang was thinking about the remaining investments, Grave films has contacted them about it.
It was a great thing for them and they agreed in an instant.
"Our company is willing to fund the remaining 7 million USD in the budget but we have a condition."
President Tang was a old man in his 60s. He was man who had seen various phases of the movie industry and was someone who was at the apex of distributing films for many years.
To stay there was not a ordinary thing, he was a cunning person.
"What type of condition?"
"We will take half of the sells of the albums produced."
Since it was a musical drama, there would of course be a album produced and it was a great way to gain some profit.
That's why, songs are really necessary in a musical drama.
Investment companies can easily earn from them.
"That will not do, President Tang, you know that our company is mostly handling the album production. You are asking for too much."
CEO Xu said with a smile.
She was like a cunning fox sitting in the room. She can't let other's take advantage of her.
"CEO Xu, think about it, although the hype is too much around the project, it is still a musical drama which is a non mainstream genre in China."
He glanced at Ren before continuing his words.
"And although we don't have any problems regarding Xin Ren as the male lead, we don't know what to think about Xiao Rin as the female lead."
"President Tang, are you belittling her or me?"
"CEO Xu, I don't mean it that way. I am just saying that she has too little experience and people in our company is really against her. Why don't we take someone like Xie Yujing as the female lead."
"Yes, her and Mr. Xin Ren's drama is still ongoing. I think they have a great chemistry between them."
A person besides President Tang said. He was also from Grave films.
"President Tang, I think you haven't met Xiao Rin yet and don't know her talent. I think she would be suitable as the female lead."
CEO Wang suddenly said.
He has already thought about the matter and decided that Xiao Rin was suitable for the female lead part.
Even Ying Yue liked her as the female lead.
"I still think Xiao Rin would not be suitable as the female lead."
President Tang said as he cupped his hand.
President Tang was still dissatisfied with her as the female lead.
At that moment, Ren suddenly opened his mouth.
"Can I say something about this matter?"
He was silent till now but as he saw the atmosphere becoming bad, he opened his mouth.
Everyone gazes was on him at that moment.
Ren gulped before starting to speak.