053 Dealing with Wenbao

Ever since Gu Yan held the press conference, the number of applicants for the auditions reached unprecedented heights. With only one day left until the week-long application period closed, the first round of preliminary auditions was scheduled to take place in three days. The auditions were set in Hangzhou. Regardless of which city they came from or where they registered, all participants had to arrive in Hangzhou before the auditions commenced, or else be disqualified. The tight schedule kept Gu Yan extremely busy, yet she relished such a fulfilling life.

"Alisa, which company do you intend to award the contract for organizing the auditions?" asked her assistant, Lan Ruo. Back in the United States, such matters were entirely up to her, but upon returning to China, Gu Yan insisted that all decisions required her personal approval.

"In your opinion, which companies are currently the most suitable?"

"There is no denying your influence in China; entertainment agencies both large and small have applied to host these auditions." Lan Ruo glanced at Gu Yan's expressionless face and continued, "Among them, Tianhong Enterprise, which has emerged prominently over the past three years, is an exceptionally good choice."

"How so?" Gu Yan tossed the documents in her hand onto the desk and raised an eyebrow. Tianhong? Could there really be such a coincidence in this world? She wanted to see what reasons her capable, calm, and astute secretary of the past three years would use to convince her.

"Your new drama, *The Most Important Person*, is set in the hotel industry, and Tianhong Enterprise happens to own a five-star hotel that we can use as our shooting location. This will save us a considerable amount in funding. Although the company is relatively new, its potential is immense. Even Boss Han holds Tianhong's owner in high regard; otherwise, he wouldn't have signed Wei Hao's first production in China with them."

"Is that it?" That alone was not enough to persuade her.

"Actually, among the competing companies, the appearance of the Zheng Corporation came as quite a surprise," Lan Ruo said cautiously. As her assistant, she naturally knew that the young master of the Zheng family shared an extraordinary relationship with her boss.

Gu Yan remained silent, offering no reaction. She knew that Yingqi's participation in the bidding was certainly not as simple as merely seeking more opportunities to be near her.

"My investigation shows that over the past three years, the Zheng Corporation and Tianhong have been locked in fierce rivalry. Wherever Tianhong is, the Zheng Corporation spares no effort to compete. For instance, this time, even though the Zheng Corporation is strictly a food enterprise, they insisted on contending for a role in the film and television industry, which goes entirely against their core business." Hearing this, a trace of warmth melted Gu Yan's icy heart. If she still failed to understand Yingqi's motive after all this, she truly would be a fool.

"Give it to the Zheng Corporation."

Lan Ruo was about to say something, but thinking better of Gu Yan's demeanor, she closed her mouth and remained silent. Her boss’s word was always law, and whichever company was chosen would not make much of a difference to them anyway. She believed in Alisa's undefeated myth; even a company on the verge of bankruptcy could be brought back to life with just one of her dramas.

Having settled all matters, Gu Yan suddenly remembered to call and check on an old friend.

"Annyeonghaseyo!"

"Your Korean has gotten much better," Gu Yan said in a low voice.

"Ah—Xiao Yan, you heartless woman, you finally remembered to call me! It's been three years. Where on earth have you been hiding? And what is this about a divorce? Others might not know, but how could I, Cai Mei, not understand you? You were someone who loved Shen Hong to the point of dying for him—how could you just drop him and get a divorce? Didn't you always teach me to keep my composure..." The person on the other end of the line sounded exceptionally excited.

"How have you been living in Korea?"

"How do you think?" He was so dazzling, radiating infinite brilliance. Five years of guarding each other through thick and thin had finally won her his love. Yet the distance between them remained vast...

"Xiao Mei... come back to China. I can make you an overnight sensation, radiating so brightly that you can stand proudly by his side without having to endure idle gossip."

"Haha! Xiao Yan, three years without seeing you, and you've actually become humorous," Cai Mei laughed heartily on the other end.

"Alisa is my English name." Hearing this, the laughter on the other end vanished, replaced by silence. Alisa—how could Cai Mei, as the lover of a top Korean artist, have never heard that name? Even an artist of Li Min's caliber would find the opportunity to collaborate with her entirely out of reach.

"I am currently casting for a new drama, which tells the workplace story of university graduates interning in a hotel. The three of us majored in hotel management, yet none of us ever experienced that internship period." As Gu Yan spoke, she felt a stinging sensation in her nose. "Let us fulfill the regrets we never lived, even if only within a drama."

"Actually, Li Min..."

"Bring him back to China with you. The leading man and leading woman of this drama belong to the two of you, and no one else. This is a promise."

"No..." Cai Mei anxiously refused. "It's fine if the male lead is him, but I won't participate." Scandals already surrounded them; she could not appear on screen with him again, nor could she selfishly ruin him.

Faced with Cai Mei's firm attitude, Gu Yan could do nothing. They really were true friends, both absolute fools. They always considered the person they loved first, yet in the end, the ones who suffered the deepest wounds were always themselves.