NOVEL WEB Chapter 130: Give Me a Role
"President Li, are you going to act personally?"
Wen Lan was taken aback by the question, and even Wei Jia gave a surprised look towards Li Jing.
Li Jing nodded: "That's right, I'm a bit interested in acting, and this is a good opportunity to experience it. Preferably a role that leaves a deep and pleasant impression on the audience."
"This..."
Wen Lan looked troubled, glanced at Wei Jia, and explained: "President Li, we've already confirmed our leading actors, and the success of a film greatly depends on the actors' performances..."
"I know, don't worry, I never intended to play the lead role."
Li Jing cut in, waving his hand: "The lead role has too much screen time, I don't have the energy or time to be tied up with you in the crew.
I just want an acting experience, but of course, I need more than just a few seconds on screen, so I need a role.
The role should ideally be one that the audience finds favorable and memorable, which satisfies my need to act and gives me a sense of achievement when the film is released."
Hearing that Li Jing wasn't aiming for the male lead, Wen Lan breathed a sigh of relief, but then felt troubled again by his further requests.
This film has many roles, and they're all very grounded, ordinary small-town characters.
If Li Jing just wanted to play any role, Wen Lan had plenty of roles to offer him to choose from.
But to meet his conditions, it couldn't just be a few-seconds role, so it had to be a fairly significant supporting role at least. Your support at MV^LEMP^YR keeps the series going.
Thinking of this, Wen Lan decided to stick to her principles, carefully choosing her words, she cautiously explained:
"President Li, you've read the book 'Mortal', it's about the lives of ordinary people and the changes of the times, all the main characters are ordinary people from small towns, you, such a big boss, might not really fit..."
"Ordinary people from small towns suit me just fine!"
Before she could finish, Li Jing immediately smiled: "Don't think I was pampered since childhood, I actually grew up in a poor family in a small town, so movie roles like that are quite fitting for me."
"You grew up in a poor family in a small town?"
Wen Lan gave him a strange look, shaking her head helplessly: "President Li, there's no need to joke about your background just for this role..."
"I'm not joking, give me a role first, if I really can't act well, you can always replace me can't you?"
Seeing Li Jing say this, Wen Lan knew he was compromising, and under Wei Jia's signaling eyes, she finally took a deep breath, looked seriously at Li Jing, and nodded: "Alright, I'll think about it carefully and see what role suits you."
Then she added: "President Li, as one of the main investors of this film, you may also keep an eye on our project's filming progress and funding usage at any time, and I'll report any major issues to you promptly."
"Alright, then have someone follow up with me on future procedures."
Li Jing nodded casually.
He wasn't particularly concerned about whether the five million investment would return, but rather more interested in experiencing acting in a movie.
Having indulged in many high-end experiences recently, he found a newfound motivation to fulfill his childhood dreams.
Like being an actor in a movie. Not only Li Jing, I'm afraid most youths who love watching TV and movies dreamed of appearing on screen and being recognized and remembered for their roles.
Seeing Wen Lan already contemplating a suitable role for him, Li Jing couldn't help but reflect:
Having money is truly great, you can act when you want and choose any role you wish.
If he finds the acting experience enjoyable, he might even consider producing a movie starring himself.
Something like saving the world, a superhero, a martial arts master, or even an ancient emperor, might all be worth a try.
With money comes freedom, after all.
Experiencing life as one desires is the essence of enjoying it.
After confirming the cooperation details, the atmosphere at the table became much more relaxed and harmonious.
And with the earlier interlude, the three of them became less formal with each other, making the conversation more familiar and direct.
At this point, Li Jing picked up a crab, and while peeling it, jokingly said to Wen Lan: "Director Wen, why not also arrange a girlfriend for my role and let Wei Jia play her?"
Hearing this, Wen Lan was startled and quickly looked towards Wei Jia, not expecting Li Jing to make such a joke with her.
Yet, Wei Jia wasn't as angry as Wen Lan anticipated, instead rolling her eyes and replying on Wen Lan's behalf: "I don't have as much time to waste as you do, playing around with life. I still have to manage my company."
Hearing this response, Li Jing simply shrugged and continued eating his crab.
But Wen Lan was astonished, since she noticed Wei Jia wasn't upset by Li Jing's teasing and didn't reject the idea of playing his girlfriend, only mentioning she didn't have time to act.
This implies... if she had time, Wei Jia would agree??
Realizing this, Wen Lan couldn't help but widen her eyes slightly, glancing at the aloof Wei Jia, then at the relaxed and composed Li Jing, thinking there must be something going on between these two.
But considering Wei Jia's personality, she also felt it couldn't be possible.
Wei Jia was famously known as an ice goddess, how could she possibly be won over by a man...
Yet the facts were right in front of her, she could guarantee that something must have happened between them after they left the private room.
And whatever happened was the key to their sudden progress in their relationship.
Thinking of this, Wen Lan couldn't help but secretly scrutinize Li Jing again, increasingly feeling that this seemingly ordinary man was anything but ordinary.
...
After dinner.
The three of them walked out of the restaurant, Li Jing didn't drink at all, while Wei Jia and Wen Lan had several glasses for apologizing earlier, so he smiled at Wei Jia: "Shall I give you a ride home?"
"No need, who knows what other intentions you might have."
Wei Jia brushed off his offer with a slight annoyance, then said, "We'll get a driver ourselves, come back to me when you've sorted out your other women, then maybe I'll consider you."
Li Jing knew she was referring to his other women as 'old second, old third, old fourth', and couldn't help but touch his nose, not responding verbally, he then turned to wave them off: "Alright then, ladies, I'm off."
Then he turned back to Wen Lan with a smile: "Director Wen, one of my teenage dreams was to act in a movie, make sure to give me a good role, I'm looking forward to it."
Hearing this, Wen Lan promptly nodded earnestly: "Rest assured, President Li, I will give this matter special consideration."
Wei Jia watched as Li Jing drove away without a backward glance, her lips parted slightly, but ultimately she didn't call out to him again.
Thinking of today's meeting with Wen Lan for investment, which ended up affecting her personally, Wei Jia felt she had fallen into a trap and couldn't help but say to Wen Lan: "Wen Lan, your movie better become a big hit, or else I genuinely got the short end of the stick."
Wen Lan didn't catch the implication in her words, answering: "Don't worry, I won't let your investment go to waste, trust my capability, this movie will certainly become the most important work for my breakthrough."
Wei Jia didn't respond to her ambitions but explained: "It's not the money I'm worried about losing, for your movie, I practically sold myself."
"Come on, when have you been so... wait?! What did you say???"
Wen Lan suddenly turned to look at her in disbelief: "You sold yourself?! You and Li Jing really..."
"Alright, it's not as exaggerated as you think, we only left the private room for so long, it's impossible to do an entire set of actions. If he really was that quick, I wouldn't want him anyway."
Wei Jia, being straightforward and candid, didn't plan on hiding anything like a little girl in front of her best friend.
Seeing her friend's shocked look, she instructed: "When Li Jing goes to the film location for acting, keep an eye on him for me. If he dares to get involved with any actresses, let me know."
"What... what do you plan to do?" Wen Lan's face turned slightly unnatural, suddenly feeling that things were getting much more complicated.
"Hmph, what else can I do? This guy refuses to give up his other women to be with me, I just want to see what his taste is like. If the women he picks are really bad, I'll naturally think of a way to stop them."
Wei Jia folded her arms over her chest, regaining her lofty demeanor: "Do those women have the class to share the same man with me, Wei Jia?"
Wen Lan's mouth twitched slightly, she laughed dryly, unsure if securing the investment was a good thing or a bad one...