Hollywood, I became a legend with special effects.

Chapter 47: The Truth Game

Thursday morning, December 22th.

Less than two days had passed since Jiang Yu gave him two weeks to consider the matter at the Hunan restaurant.

Jiang Yu was reviewing the final trailer for "The Witch" in his office when the internal phone on his desk rang.

It was the voice of Xiao Zhao, the receptionist, tinged with barely perceptible excitement: "Mr. Jiang, Ms. Liu Yifei and her mother, Ms. Liu Xiaoli, are visiting without an appointment. What do you think...?"

So fast? He had thought they would need at least a week to process the information, consult a doctor, and weigh the pros and cons.

"Please ask them to sit in the small conference room for a moment, I'll be right there." He hung up the phone, his face not showing much surprise, but rather an air of knowing full well that this was indeed the case.

He didn't get up immediately. Instead, he quickly glanced at the briefing David had sent him on his computer screen about the recent activities and preferences of "Black Swan" director Darren Aronofsky. He also looked at the important dates marked on the calendar and got a general idea of ​​what was going on. Then he straightened his shirt cuffs, got up, and left the office.

In the small conference room, Liu Yifei and her daughter were already sitting on the sofa by the window.

Today, Liu Yifei wore a light blue shirt and simple black trousers. Her long hair was draped smoothly over her shoulders, and her makeup was light. She looked more formal than when she was at the Hunan restaurant last time.

Liu Xiaoli wore a well-tailored champagne-colored suit, her hair neatly styled, still dignified and gentle, but with a hint of tension and caution in her eyes.

This was Jiang Yu's third time meeting Liu Xiaoli.

The first time was a brief chat on the set of "The Forbidden Kingdom," and the second time was last year in a hospital ward filled with anxiety and gratitude.

This mother possessed a classical elegance, and always spoke in a gentle voice. Jiang Yu could sense the unwavering determination to protect her daughter beneath that gentleness.

"Mr. Jiang, I'm sorry to bother you." Seeing Jiang Yu enter, both of them stood up. Liu Xiaoli spoke first, her tone polite and considerate.

"Ms. Liu, Yifei, please sit down, don't be shy." Jiang Yu gestured for them to sit down, and then sat down on the single sofa opposite him. His secretary, Xiao Liao, quickly brought in three cups of tea, then quietly left and closed the door behind her.

"Mr. Jiang, I'm sorry for coming without prior appointment," Liu Yifei said, her slightly clenched fingers revealing a hint of nervousness. "Regarding the 'Black Swan' project, my mother, my rehabilitation doctor, and I have discussed it in detail, and we have already made up our minds."

Jiang Yu nodded, gestured for Liu Yifei to continue, and calmly looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

Liu Xiaoli picked up the conversation, her tone sincere: "President Jiang, first of all, Qianqian and I really want to thank you. Last year at the hospital, you pointed out that road to Qianqian. To be honest, I had some doubts at the time, thinking that you were probably just trying to comfort the child and let her focus on her recovery. I didn't expect you to remember it all this time and come up with such a high-quality project plan that is so suitable for Qianqian so quickly."

She glanced at her daughter, her eyes filled with heartache and pride. "After Sisi told me about it, I didn't sleep well all night. On one hand, I was happy for her to have such an opportunity; on the other hand, I was worried about her health, and... whether her current situation would affect your project."

She paused, seemingly considering her words, but ultimately decided to be frank: "President Jiang, there are some things I feel I need to let you know. Xixi is currently in China... and things aren't going smoothly for her to get acting roles."

Jiang Yu picked up his teacup and gently blew on the water, indicating that she was speaking.

"The process of finally settling on that role in 'The Forbidden Kingdom' last year was actually quite bumpy."

Liu Xiaoli lowered her voice, "Huayi originally hoped that Qianqian could sign her domestic agency contract with them as a condition for recommending her to the project. At the time, in order to secure the opportunity, her godfather and I did verbally promise to give her priority consideration. Later, we gained a deeper understanding of Huayi's internal operations, especially their arrangements and requirements for young female artists."

She paused, not stating it explicitly, but a clear look of disgust flashed across her brow: "Both Sisi's father and I felt that such an environment was not suitable for Sisi. We've protected her very well since she was little, focusing solely on acting. We've always tried to avoid exposing her to social events, drinking parties, and some of the bad practices in the industry. So, in the end, we politely declined the contract."

She sighed, "Perhaps because of this, Mr. Wang from Huayi felt that we weren't 'sensible' enough and didn't follow the 'rules'. Since then, it has been difficult for Xixi to get good opportunities in the domestic film industry, especially in projects closely related to Huayi. There have even been more rumors about her being difficult to work with and having a complicated background. After the release of 'The Forbidden Kingdom,' some of the public opinion was not very friendly."

Liu Yifei listened quietly to her mother's words, her eyes lowered. She did not refute her mother's words, but gently clenched her hands on her knees into fists.

Jiang Yu listened quietly, his face expressionless, showing neither sympathy nor surprise.

He was all too familiar with the power dynamics and unspoken rules within this industry. As a leading private film company in China, Huayi Brothers certainly had the power to influence resource allocation to a certain extent.

Liu Xiaoli's decision is understandable from a mother's perspective, but from a business cooperation perspective, breaking a promise will indeed offend people. Both sides have their own positions and problems.

"Huayi is an important film company in China," Jiang Yu said, his voice low but with a certainty. "But the film market has never been something that one or two companies can completely cover or control. Especially when we are discussing a project like 'Black Swan'."

He paused, his tone remaining calm: "Regarding the projects operated by Light Chaser Pictures, whether it's the investment scale, the production team, or the target market, Huayi Brothers currently has no say in them. In this small corner of the domestic market, they may have some influence, but they are far from being able to control everything."

These words were not spoken in a strong tone, nor did they show much emotional fluctuation, yet they conveyed an undeniable confidence and transcendence.

It's as if it's stating a very simple fact: we're no longer playing the same game.

Liu Xiaoli's tense shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly, and Liu Yifei also raised her head, looking at Jiang Yu with a glint in her eyes.

"So," Jiang Yu steered the conversation back to the core, "you don't need to worry about what impact this will have on me or the project. What I need to consider is whether the actor is suitable for the role, and whether the actor is prepared to pay a huge price for it."

He looked at Liu Yifei: "What's your decision?"

Liu Yifei took a deep breath, sat up straight, and met Jiang Yu's gaze frankly: "Mr. Jiang, I've decided to accept this challenge. I'm willing to give everything I can for the role of Lin Xin. I've already had a detailed consultation with my rehabilitation doctor, and after his assessment, he believes that my body can withstand the high-intensity ballet training that will be required."

Liu Xiaoli added from the side, "President Jiang, if the project requires it, Qianqian can start preliminary training immediately. We will fully cooperate in terms of time and energy. As for the contract, we completely trust Light Chaser Pictures and will handle it according to the most professional standards."

Jiang Yu looked at the mother and daughter in front of him. The mother was a shrewd protector and negotiator, while the daughter showed a maturity beyond her years. They were a good combination.

"Okay." Jiang Yu didn't waste any more words. He got up and walked to the conference table, picked up the intercom, and said, "Xiao Liao, have Director Li from the legal department bring over the standard actor service contract template. Also, notify Xiao Wang, who is in charge of pre-production coordination for 'Black Swan,' to come over as well."

He put down the phone and walked back to his seat: "Now that we've made the decision, let's proceed according to the professional process. Today, we can sign a preliminary training and service intention agreement, clarifying the rights and obligations of both parties during the training period, confidentiality clauses, and priority negotiation rights if we are selected for a role through audition. The formal performance contract will be discussed in detail after the director approves the audition."

Liu Xiaoli and Liu Yifei both nodded in understanding.

Soon, the legal director and project assistant walked in with the documents.

Jiang Yu gave a brief explanation, and then the legal representative explained the terms of the agreement to Liu Yifei and her daughter in detail.

Liu Yifei signed her name on several documents, her handwriting clear and elegant.

Jiang Yu, as the company representative, also signed and stamped the document. When the last agreement was exchanged, the atmosphere in the small conference room was noticeably different.

"Welcome to the early preparations for the 'Black Swan' project." Jiang Yu extended his hand to Liu Yifei.

Liu Yifei grasped his hand; it was dry and warm, with a comfortable grip. "Thank you, Mr. Jiang, for this opportunity. I will do my best."

"I look forward to your performance." Jiang Yu released his grip and said to Xiao Wang, "Take Yifei to the project office to have an initial meeting with the training team leader and familiarize her with the environment. Ms. Liu, you can come along too."

Liu Xiaoli quickly thanked them, and after watching them leave the small conference room, Jiang Yu returned to his office.

He stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window and signed a promising but currently struggling actor, much like investing in a stock that was temporarily undervalued but had real value.

Jiang Yu recalled the flame of renewed determination and do-or-die courage in Liu Yifei's eyes after she signed the document.

That's the look in a true actor's eyes when they see hope in the face of despair.

He sat back down at his desk, turned on his computer, and sent an email to David and the core team of the Black Swan project:

"Project Update: The first Asian actress to be nominated for the lead role has been confirmed as Chinese actress Liu Yifei. She signed the initial training agreement today. Training will begin next week. Please coordinate with North American ballet resources, prepare to receive the mid-term training evaluation report, and prepare for a possible director's audition. Maintain confidentiality."

Click send.

Almost simultaneously, his personal cell phone vibrated.

I picked it up and saw it was a text message from Liu Yifei, containing only two simple words:

"Thanks."

Jiang Yu looked at those two words, and the corners of his mouth curved upwards almost imperceptibly. Then he put down his phone and immersed himself back into the endless work documents in front of him.