Magnate Tycoon: How Did Simply Enjoying Life Make Me a Male God?

"The guy acting opposite Dai Weiwei?"

Wen Lan was a bit surprised that Li Jing would ask about this, but she didn't think much of it and answered directly, "He's somewhat better than Dai Weiwei, but still not up to my standards. Perhaps he's been affected by Dai Weiwei's state. I've already asked him to go back and re-study his role."

Hearing this response, Li Jing felt a slight tremor in his heart.

Wen Lan's reply once again aligned with what Yang Xiaoxiu had said.

It seems that Yang Xiaoxiu wasn't exaggerating. She had indeed seriously studied the script. Although she was playing a very minor role, her understanding of the character was more profound than that of the second female lead and the second male lead.

Thinking of this, Li Jing walked alongside Wen Lan on the filming site and asked, "Are you familiar with the actress Yang Xiaoxiu? I just encountered this girl, and she mentioned she's also part of the crew."

"Yang Xiaoxiu?"

Wen Lan frowned slightly, first instructing the production assistant ahead to quickly order meals, then replied, "I have some impression, but don't remember too clearly. This show is a collaboration with the Celestial Sea Drama Academy, and we invited quite a few students from their school to play supporting roles, many of whom I'm not very familiar with either."

As she spoke, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the assistant director not far off. She waved and called him over before asking, "Did you bring in this girl, Yang Xiaoxiu, for the audition?"

"Yang Xiaoxiu?"

The assistant director seemed surprised by Wen Lan's question. He glanced at Li Jing beside her, then answered honestly, "Yes, a student from the Drama Academy, playing a waitress. But Director Wen, didn't you say the composition and lighting of those shots were not right, and they might be scrapped?"

He then followed up with, "Do you think Yang Xiaoxiu's performance was poor? If she's not up to it, I'll just replace her. There are plenty of students from the Drama Academy; replacing her would be very simple."

"No need, I was just asking."

Wen Lan signaled the assistant director to continue with his work, then turned to Li Jing and said, "Yang Xiaoxiu is indeed part of our crew, but these supporting actors were mostly selected by the assistant director, and since filming just started, there are many new actors I'm not very familiar with."

Li Jing nodded in understanding.

But remembering that girl who claimed to have read the script dozens of times, she might not even know that her only shot had already been scrapped.

He then thought of a question and curiously asked, "Director Wen, are the roles of the first, second, and third female leads arranged according to acting skills?"

"How could it be?" Director Wen laughed and said, "The role you get depends on many factors, including fame, acting skills, resources, and appearance — it's a comprehensive consideration."

As she spoke, she glanced at him with a half-smile, "President Li, haven't you also played an important supporting role? Do you think you got this role purely through your acting skills?"

At these words, Li Jing was momentarily speechless.

Indeed, he had secured an important supporting role through investment, so how could roles be completely determined by acting skills?

Then Wen Lan became a bit more serious and continued to explain, "But we do have our bottom lines. Although acting skills aren't the deciding factor, they are very important; otherwise, this film would already be in chaos.

That's also why, when you asked for a role, President Li, I thought for a long time before finding a suitable one for you. Honestly, if you were a forty-year-old boss with no respect for acting, I'd rather forgo that investment than agree to it. The quality of the film must be the top priority."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing nodded, understanding that the other party was subtly reminding him to take his role seriously.

Afterward, Wen Lan organized the crew to shoot a few scenes.

However, Dai Weiwei, the second female lead, still hadn't adjusted her state. Note: Check M_VLEMPY_R for any corrections.

What hindered her from playing this role well wasn't her mindset, but insufficient preparation and lack of solid basics, issues that couldn't be changed by sitting aside and adjusting for dozens of minutes, even if she really wanted to perform well.

But for someone unprepared, no matter how much they want it, they can't seize the opportunity when it comes.

Due to Dai Weiwei's unsatisfactory state, the atmosphere on set became dull, especially seeing Wen Lan's grim expression; no one dared to smile.

Then, lunch for the filming site was delivered, which was Li Jing's first time eating on set, and he found it somewhat novel.

Wen Lan's crew was just in the suburbs, so they chose to collaborate with nearby restaurants, with specialized delivery vehicles bringing over boxed lunches.

The boxed lunch consisted of two meat dishes, one vegetable, and a bowl of soup.

Not too lavish, but adequate.

Li Jing was surprised that not only the ordinary staff but also Wen Lan and other key leaders were all eating the same boxed lunches.

"I thought you management types would order something fancier."

Li Jing remarked as he sat at a wooden table, eating his boxed lunch, speaking to Wen Lan, who was doing the same beside him.

"Our budget isn't high, not like those big commercial films with plenty of funds."

Wen Lan picked up a piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks and said plainly, "And these meals are quite good, fully nutritious. Why can't they be eaten? Filming is about work, not luxury."

Li Jing nodded, shrugging, "That's true, thanks to Director Wen for treating me to a boxed lunch."

Wen Lan paused her chopsticks, rolled her eyes, then continued eating, "You're welcome."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing couldn't help laughing out loud. Wen Lan glanced at him and joined in the laughter.

Seeing this, Li Jing said, "Your smile is quite nice; there's no need to keep a stern face all day."

Wen Lan's smile immediately disappeared, her tone turning cold, "Stop right there, don't use your flirting skills on me. I'd never compete with my best friend's man."

"Your best friend?"

Li Jing was taken aback, then realized, shaking his head, "I'm not Wei Jia's man."

Wen Lan raised an eyebrow, "You're not?"

Li Jing smirked, "To put it accurately, she could be my woman, but I certainly am not her man."

Hearing Li Jing's words, Wen Lan's expression became odd, then she shook her head, "I see now, you're indeed a match for Wei Jia. I'm really looking forward to seeing who'll win in the end."

...

The next day, Li Jing went with Wen Lan and the props department head to negotiate with the boss of the flower company, searching for a new flower field.

To Wen Lan's surprise, the flower field project created by the flower company was extremely suitable for their crew's shoot, and she immediately decided on that location.

Thus, under Li Jing's mediation, Wen Lan's crew and the flower company reached a collaboration agreement, with the company responsible for supplying all the flowers and plant arrangements needed by the crew going forward.

After the negotiations concluded, Wen Lan and the head of the props department went to the flower field again for a site inspection, while Li Jing and the flower company's boss waited beside the flower field.

"Manager Li — oh, no, it's President Li now."

The flower company's boss was a dark-skinned middle-aged man. He looked at Li Jing with some surprise, sighing, "I didn't expect that just a few months after we last met, you'd already become a film investor. We old guys really can't keep up with the times."

Li Jing smiled, "President Wang, your focus on building such a large flower business is already impressive. We might have many opportunities for collaboration in the future."

"Haha, then I count on President Li to take care of my business."

Afterward, watching Li Jing and the others drive away, an assistant approached the company boss, Wang Hongqi, and said, "President Wang, it's amazing how Manager Li bounced back so quickly after being laid off. Truly remarkable."

"Indeed, I just saw the watch on his wrist — it's a Patek Philippe."

Wang Hongqi shook his head, his expression complex, "Last time I went to buy one and couldn't even get it, but he's already wearing it.

So, in Tianhai, never underestimate anyone. Today, you may look down on someone; tomorrow, they might rise beyond your reach, so we must always stay humble and reliable in our actions."

As he spoke, he further instructed, "This business came to us thanks to President Li's introduction. I've heard of Wen Lan — she's a young director with potential. If we can maintain a long-term cooperation with her, there might be big projects in the future.

President Li's favor must be remembered, and if he ever needs anything from our company, make sure to inform me directly."

"Understood, I got it."