While Han Yutong required constant attention, it was difficult to keep tabs on other artists. As the boss, Su He couldn't just do nothing. So, she had to learn how to be a manager and personally take artists to their engagements.
Of course, it wasn't smooth sailing at first. Before people knew Su He's identity, her words carried little weight. However, Su He had no intention of flaunting her status as Mrs. Lu.
"Boss, Feng Hua production team made a last-minute change. Pei'er's role has been given back to an artist from another company, and they want her to play a mute girl with no lines," her assistant reported urgently upon seeing her boss. "Pei'er is really upset right now and refuses to go to the set. If this continues, she might even lose the mute girl role."
Pei'er was a newcomer signed by the company. She debuted a year earlier than Han Yutong and gained popularity through a poorly produced web drama. Her face was undeniably beautiful. Although her acting skills were still a bit lacking, with proper training, she was destined for great success. Pei'er came from a wealthy family, reportedly owning several companies. She was essentially a rich young lady trying out the entertainment industry, so she was naturally a bit spoiled and couldn't tolerate any hardship.
Su He locked her car door and strolled unhurriedly towards the hotel where the production team was staying. "Where is she now?"
"In her room. She just threw a tantrum and broke a lot of things," the assistant followed closely, explaining.
Su He tutted. "Just as I expected, a rich girl's temper!"
Yan Pei'er's accommodation was a high-end suite. The young lady would never subject herself to discomfort. Even though the pay for this drama wasn't much, she was doing it for fun. Feng Hua was a big production intended for broadcast on a major network. Yan Pei'er's casting as the third female lead was not only due to the company's strong recommendation but also her own efforts. The director immediately decided on her after seeing her face. To have her role snatched away at the last minute would understandably make anyone unhappy.
"I read the script for Feng Hua before. The mute girl's role isn't extensive, but it's quite memorable," Su He recalled Xu Jing mentioning it, remarking that the most striking female character was this mute girl.
"The mute girl has no lines at all; it all relies on her acting. Pei'er... she might not be able to handle it!" The assistant had worked in other companies for several years and managed many artists, so she naturally knew the importance of a role to an actor. Without a representative work, it would be difficult to achieve much in the future. Yan Pei'er's acting was a bit green. If she couldn't perform well, she would only serve as a foil and be quickly forgotten. The third female lead was a princess, a character with a distinct personality and the unattainable white moonlight the male lead pined for. This setting alone was enough to garner favor.
Yan Pei'er had been doted on since childhood and had always considered herself the princess of Lin City since her debut. She believed this role perfectly suited her status. Therefore, she was throwing a tantrum and refusing to back down.
"Does the contract specify which role?" Su He asked.
"That's where the investors were sly. It only mentioned the salary, not the specific character," the assistant replied indignantly. They thought signing the contract meant it was a done deal, never expecting such a turn of events.
Su He stopped at the door of the room and instructed the assistant to open it. Inside, Yan Pei'er was silently shedding tears, wiping her eyes with tissues. Hearing the click of the lock, she stubbornly held back her tears. "Who is it?"
"Me." Su He entered, carrying her bag.
"Little Boss?" Yan Pei'er looked at Su He, visibly surprised. How could it be her? The nickname "Little Boss" was what the company employees privately called her. In many people's eyes, Lu Yanbei was the actual major shareholder, the true big boss. Su He was merely the legal representative.
"Where's Sister Jing?" Yan Pei'er pouted, swallowing the words she was about to say. Su He knew that most people in the company viewed her as a hands-off boss who didn't involve herself much. Decisions were often made by several senior executives after discussions. They didn't believe she had the ability to solve problems.
Su He rubbed her temples. "She's busy and can't get away. What's this I hear about you wanting to go on strike?"
"They were in the wrong first, changing my role without authorization!" Yan Pei'er grumbled indignantly.
"Does the contract, in black and white, state which role you were given?" Su He asked.
Yan Pei'er pursed her lips. After a moment, she said, "But it was agreed upon back then that it would be the princess role. Many people were present, how can they go back on their word!"
"You've been in the industry for quite some time now, haven't you found a way to survive?" Su He suddenly felt that this young girl was truly spoiled, completely lacking any sense of impending danger. "A drama is only considered final once it has been fully aired. The preliminary preparations, filming, post-production, and review processes are all subject to change at any moment. Is it strange for roles to be changed temporarily? They even change actors directly!"
"But I prepared for this role for so long, isn't it all for nothing?" Yan Pei'er scoffed, unconvinced. "How can it be for nothing? At least, when acting opposite the other characters, you'll know their personalities and how to perform. Furthermore, acting skills are honed through playing different roles. The roles you've played before were all the same: either a well-bred lady or a rich young lady. You might not be tired of them, but the audience is!"
"Isn't it good to try something new?" Su He's persuasion calmed Yan Pei'er down. However, the mute girl's role didn't have pretty costumes and was rather disheveled, completely clashing with her image.
Su He understood her concerns and continued to persuade her. "Actually, I think the most outstanding character in this drama is the mute girl. Although her ending is quite tragic, she's absolutely unforgettable. If you play it well, it will bring you unexpected rewards."
"I don't have any lines, how am I supposed to act?" Yan Pei'er was no longer fixated on the role change itself, but rather felt the role had little screen time and no room for her to showcase her talent.
"Who says you can't portray a good character without lines?" Su He took out her phone and showed her several similar roles. There were older and younger actresses. "Interpreting a character isn't solely about dialogue. Your every glance, smile, and gesture can add value."
Yan Pei'er took the phone and sat on the sofa, looking at it intently. Seeing that Yan Pei'er was successfully convinced, the assistant gave Su He a thumbs-up, impressed. The boss was truly amazing! Su He winked at her, signaling her to help Yan Pei'er clean up the room. The scattered shards of glass were unsightly. She didn't know how the residents downstairs felt, but Su He's head ached just looking at it. Although the bottles weren't expensive, it would be bad if someone got hurt.