BDB Chapter 41

Feng Ke’s efficiency was swift.

Upon receiving the instructions, he began to screen candidates from the daily auditions, selecting the one who resembled Jiang Rao the most and sending her photos and videos to Li Jueyan’s email.

Of course, he wasn’t looking for someone who resembled Jiang Tang, but rather someone who looked like Jiang Rao.

Feng Ke quickly understood Li Jueyan’s intentions. There had been a conflict between Li Jueyan and his dream goddess, but he couldn’t let go of her.

What could one do when they desired something they couldn’t have? Naturally, they had to find a substitute!

After sending photos for over a week, Feng Ke still hadn’t received any notification from Li Jueyan about wanting to meet any of the candidates.

However, Feng Ke was self-aware.

His self-awareness wasn’t about his ability to select people but about the fact that it was rare to find a girl as delicate as Jiang Rao who also possessed two different qualities.

Having seen the pearl, how could he possibly be interested in these fish eyes?

Feng Ke’s thoughts were correct.

Li Jueyan was more discerning than anyone.

He received emails from Feng Ke every day, but none of them made his heart race even slightly.

Among the girls, there were those who resembled Jiang Rao. Some had noses like hers, some had mouths like hers, and some had eyebrows and eyes similar to hers.

Yet, when combining their other facial features, none could match even 50% of Jiang Rao’s charm.

After being single for over twenty years, he understood the principle of being selective rather than settling. Placing an unsatisfactory imitation under his nose wouldn’t make him happy; it would only irritate him.

Naturally, he had no interest in seeing them.

What puzzled him was that each time he looked at the photos sent by Feng Ke, her image would appear in his mind.

Each time her image appeared, his heart would tighten, making it hard for him to breathe.

Under these circumstances, Feng Ke called, “Young Master Li, the set is ready, and the schedules of several important actors have been coordinated. We should follow the contract and proceed with the shoot. Do you think we should finalize the role of Ruan Li as well?”

“Go ahead.”

“The photos I sent you these days are of the shortlisted candidates. Which one do you think we should finalize?”

“I’ve forgotten.”

“Ah?”

“Feng Ke.” Li Jueyan paused. “Do you think I’m idle?”

“No, no.”

Feng Ke certainly didn’t think he was idle.

The Li Group had countless enterprises, with hundreds, even millions, of employees relying on the Li Group for their livelihood.

The entertainment industry only accounted for a small portion of the Li Group’s vast business empire, so it was natural that Young Master Li wouldn’t spend too much time on it.

However, for Li Jueyan, the film “Yanyan” was not just any project but one of the most important things on his mind at that moment.

The purpose of the call wasn’t really to consult about finalizing the role of Ruan Li but to ask—“Young Master Li, I’m considering having Jiang Rao play Ruan Li. Is that okay?”

Li Jueyan pursed his lips. “Didn’t I say that you, as the director, should make such decisions on your own?”

He said that, but Feng Ke was genuinely afraid that if he made the decision on his own, Li Jueyan, the financial sponsor, might withdraw his investment and run away.

A script abandoned by Li Group would never find any other investor in the country.

“Young Master Li, could you give me a definite answer? My comprehension isn’t very good, and I’m afraid I might misunderstand your intention.”

Li Jueyan frowned, “Is it her and only her?”

Feng Ke replied, “She is full of charm and though her speech is reserved, she is also gracious. I think she’s the best fit for the role of Ruan Li. I don’t want to miss out on such a promising candidate.”

Li Jueyan was silent for a moment. “I’ve heard that actors in this circle often have to accompany investors for meals? Have her accompany me for a couple of meals. If she agrees, I’ll use her.”

With that, he hung up the phone.

This wasn’t a violation of the contract; he wasn’t obsessing over her. If she wanted to enter the entertainment industry, she had to follow its rules.

The desk was cluttered with contracts, but Li Jueyan lost interest in reviewing them.

He knew Feng Ke would get back to him, so he waited for a response.

About ten minutes later, his phone rang again. As soon as he answered, Feng Ke’s voice came through, filled with frustration. “Young Master Li, it looks like there might not be any meals. She doesn’t intend to join the industry.”

Li Jueyan’s heart skipped a beat, but his tone remained indifferent. “She doesn’t want to have dinner with me?”

Feng Ke sighed, “No, it’s not about the meals. She doesn’t plan to enter the industry at all. She says she can’t act and never considered becoming an actress.”

“Did you offer her too little?” He remembered her honestly telling him that her only wish was to become wealthy.

Besides marrying a rich man or winning the lottery, becoming a star was likely the only way to fulfill her wish.

Feng Ke hurriedly responded, “For a newcomer, isn’t a 2 million yuan fee quite reasonable, Young Master Li?”

“Increase it.”

“How much?”

“Add as much as she wants.”

With that, Li Jueyan hung up the phone again.

About half an hour later, Li Jueyan received a text message.

[Young Master Li, I’ve increased the fee to ten million, which is comparable to the rate for second-tier stars. However, she still refused. I told her that as long as she was willing to join the cast, she could name her price, but she just apologized and hung up the phone.]

Li Jueyan glanced at the message and then flipped his phone face down on the desk.

After rubbing his temples, he called for Xiao Zhang. “What did she do yesterday?”

By this time, Xiao Zhang knew exactly who “she” referred to. After the day the president was drunk and had a conversation with Miss Jiang in the car, and then kept smoking, he had dared to ask, “President Li, do you really like Miss Jiang? But I remember you were very fond of Madam not long ago, and in the end, you were the one who initiated the divorce. Smoking a lot harms your lungs; there’s no need to do this to yourself for one person.”

Li Jueyan took a puff from the cigar beside him and said, “Jiang Rao is the Madam you speak of. At least for the past six months, the Madam you referred to has been her. She married on behalf of Jiang Tang, who had been in a rehabilitation center in Country M during that time.”

“But do you want me to tell you if I like her?” He scoffed, “I don’t like someone so heartless. I’m so excellent; how could I not find any woman I want?”

Xiao Zhang took a while to process this and then hurriedly agreed.

However, he didn’t believe President Li’s words.

If everything from beginning to end was Jiang Rao, then judging by President Li’s current behavior, he certainly couldn’t forget her.

Men are like that with their first loves.

They say one thing and feel another. It’s inertia, inertia!

As expected, over the following days, while organizing the president’s email, he kept seeing photos of girls resembling Jiang Rao being sent from Director Feng Ke.

Yet, the president showed no reaction.

He also kept asking about “her” daily activities.

Tsk tsk.

In response, Xiao Zhang said, “Miss Jiang finally started her photoshoot work yesterday. Since she’s a newcomer, the shooting didn’t go very smoothly. They started at six in the morning and shot until nine in the evening. Each outfit’s shooting fee is 30 yuan, and Miss Jiang shot a total of 124 outfits, earning a payment of 3,720 yuan.”

Saying this, Xiao Zhang handed over the photos.

Looking at the photos, Li Jueyan’s expression gradually darkened. “Changing clothes in public?”

Xiao Zhang replied, “She wore a vest and safety shorts underneath, and there were assistants helping to block with curtains.”

Li Jueyan’s eyes remained fixed on the photo.

In the picture, she was smiling at the people around her with bright, gentle eyes. Although there was someone holding up a curtain beside her, she was much taller than them.

Her tender, white arms extended beyond the curtain’s coverage, paired with that dazzling smile, creating an innocent allure.

Li Jueyan thought she was glowing with beauty.

After a moment, he took a deep breath, grabbed the coat from the back of his chair, and said, “I’m going to Hangcheng. Send me the contract and all the upcoming work details electronically.”

He regretted it, he had changed his mind.

What was he so proud of?

She was a temptress—who could possibly replace her?

——