13 Smooth Progress
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Yu Zhidan knew that diligence could bring wealth, but she never imagined it could bring such wealth! Two million! She hadn’t even earned two million from writing up to now! Not even counting the copyright fees!
Quickly calculating in her mind, two million in two days—that’s over forty thousand per hour! And me, I even earn while I’m sleeping!
Dream achieved!
Yu Zhidan leaned back, breathless: “Wow.”
Bo Qiao stood beside her: “Ah? Ah?”
Why that expression?
Who hasn’t fantasized about a sudden windfall landing on their head?
This feeling was completely different from when she linked her account to the screenwriter app ten days ago!
Totally different!
To put it plainly, the two hundred million sum was so vast it felt like looking at flowers through fog—illusory. Besides, it was tied up in production expenses, so Yu Zhidan always felt it was locked in a third-party account.
But this two million was different!
Yu Zhidan could even directly transfer it from the company account to herself.
—Although only in her thoughts; she definitely wouldn’t do that.
Such a fantasy made her heart pound like thunder, hands sweaty with excitement, emotions instantly soaring to the highest!
“Kid,” Yu Zhidan looked at Bo Qiao, “stick with me, there’s a bright future.”
Bo Qiao grabbed her hand, nodding wildly: “Yes, yes, especially rich! In just twenty-eight days, I’ll get six thousand yuan. Of course there’s a bright future!”
She actually caught onto Yu Zhidan’s pun so quickly.
Yu Zhidan wagged her smug finger: “Not just that.”
Bo Qiao: “Alright, alright, ‘strive for wealth’!”
Yu Zhidan: “Don’t forget each other!”
·
With Pan Yanhe settled in, Yu Zhidan’s recruitment plans went smoothly.
Bo Qiao and Xu Huang finally escaped their temporary roles and returned to their usual slack-off assistant jobs.
Xu Huang: “No more weird private messages!”
Who knew why someone would ask her that on a job app—was it a woman trying to become his mistress? What a scoundrel! She wanted to block that idiot three hundred times over.
The new hires were assigned to Pan Yanhe to organize, filling all the basic positions.
But the final confirmation list needed Yu Zhidan’s approval.
Pan Yanhe worked efficiently, and having gained authority over compensation from Yu Zhidan—unlike previous bosses who were stingy and overworked people—recruiting was no longer a headache.
At this point, who would refuse a normal salary with 9:30 to 4:30 hours and guaranteed weekends off?
Workers had suffered so much in the job market that their standards were very low.
Within a day, Yu Zhidan secured basic staff for accounting, cashier, front desk, administration, and more.
Then she reviewed the list, eliminated unsuitable candidates, returned the list to Pan Yanhe’s mailbox, and the expansion task was complete!
After all, the list had multiple candidates per position, so removing some still covered all basic posts.
Thus—
[Side Quest 1] Fully Renovated Office
“Ding dong! Congratulations on completing the basic staff configuration! Warmly celebrate Zhengzheng Film Co., Ltd.’s official launch!”
[Unlocked] A 300-square-meter office with supporting event space
[Side Quest 1] Fully Renovated Office
“Please continue refining your company’s staffing! Assist the production team with an in-person interview to earn +10 employee slots.
Reaching the quota unlocks new rewards and expands your company!”
[Task Reward] Additional 100 square meters of office and event space
Yu Zhidan also received a call from Pan Yanhe.
The other’s voice was a bit anxious: “President Yu, suddenly a group of people filled the neighboring office space, handed me the keys, and asked me to sign for it...”
Pan Yanhe and her team were originally assigning desks while she was verifying new HR documents.
Suddenly, a commotion broke outside.
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A group dressed in white work uniforms filed in, unlocked the closed neighboring office, and moved in desks, chairs, cabinets, plants, computers, even tidied up.
They worked for two or three hours.
After the bustle, the leader approached Zhengzheng Film’s front desk, requesting someone sign for the delivery.
Though this wasn’t really HR’s duty, Pan Yanhe was the most recognized person there, and everyone expected her promotion to director soon.
So she called Yu Zhidan.
Yu Zhidan: “...”
So this was the expansion!
The 21st floor where Zhengzheng was located was huge. She currently had only a hundred square meters; the rest was partitioned and locked.
Through the glass, she could clearly see the space.
The area was clean, just lacking office supplies; once furnished, it was ready to use.
Yu Zhidan thought, after expanding, she’d have to buy equipment herself—after all, there were two million more in the account now.
Unexpectedly, her “golden finger” was so considerate!
Yu Zhidan cleared her throat, suppressing her shock, and calmly said to Pan Yanhe, “Yes, I know. Go ahead and sign.”
Pan Yanhe: “???”
Yu Zhidan: “That’s our office. See how to allocate departments. Also, check the other event spaces to see if they’re arranged.”
She didn’t really know what all was included, but Yu Zhidan couldn’t show any weakness!
Pan Yanhe dazedly replied, “Oh, okay.”
Yu Zhidan: “Remember to leave on time! And tomorrow work officially starts, I’ll have interviews here.”
Pan Yanhe: “Got it, President Yu.”
After hanging up, Yu Zhidan paused for two seconds.
Then—
“President Yu! Hehehe!”
That title sounded so good!
·
Pei Zhao saw Yu Zhidan and greeted her casually.
“Out playing again?” she asked.
Not a tease, but a caring senior checking on a junior.
Pei Zhao knew Yu Zhidan was busy with her company and that she liked to stroll around Fengcheng in the mornings.
Yu Zhidan had just clocked out, carrying a bunch of braised snacks.
“Want some? It’s said to be a decade-old recipe, really tasty, so I grabbed some.”
Pei Zhao smiled: “Sure, I like that.”
They walked and chatted about the production.
Pei Zhao said the registration information was all set, uploaded to the relevant departments—for both web and TV dramas.
She also found another copyright group.
“Their show is called ‘Little Chongshan,’ quite artistic. The registration blurred the storyline but focused on romance. Our side is the female lead’s ascension outline. I still prefer the name ‘Power Grab,’” she said.
TV registration info is publicly announced monthly.
But during review, insiders usually know which shows are in preparation.
It’s not highly confidential material.
Once registration passes, filming can begin.
These are standard procedures.
Pei Zhao: “I found some assistant directors. Once we finalize the script in a couple of days, we’ll start auditions. Lang Qingwen and Zhai Duo have found actors too; the main cast auditions are coming up.”
Currently, they only notified people through connections.
If they really wanted to recruit widely, posting on social media would bring a flood of applicants.
Before bed, Yu Zhidan used the screenwriter app to check for actresses suitable for the female lead, her brother, and several major roles.
But casting differs from directing and screenwriting.
Actors’ schedules are unpredictable; maybe Actor A is fully booked today but suddenly open tomorrow; or A and B might be competing for the same role with an uncertain outcome.
Therefore, the recommended names changed each time Yu Zhidan refreshed.
Of course, if ignoring schedules, pay, and preferences, the recommendations would be overwhelming.
But the “casting notice” wasn’t just about names; its goal was “successful casting,” not “going through the motions.”
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Yu Zhidan: “My standards for main roles will be very high.”
Pei Zhao nodded: “Of course, that’s the soul!”
She understood: “Are you worried about rejecting us? Don’t think that way. If there’s a problem, just say it. If it fits, it fits; if not, it doesn’t. Anyone taking it personally shouldn’t be here.”
Yu Zhidan did have some concern, but not much.
They had discussed this when signing the contract earlier.
Having a director and screenwriter as dual cores was correct, but the only investor was Yu Zhidan.
·
Once Cai Yanni and Wen Mingshu submitted the two registrations, they joined the other three in work.
After exporting the production info, Ding Huan went online for commercial images to make a simple banner for Weibo or social media.
Wen Mingshu: “Do we upload it to the production info?”
Cai Yanni: “Ask the director; no rush.”
Wen Mingshu: “Okay, I’ll start working on the script.”
Cai Yanni munched on the braised snacks Yu Zhidan brought; the chicken feet were especially delicious—she couldn’t stop.
Pu Huamao handed her a bottle of water: “Don’t get overheated.”
Cai Yanni: “Thanks.”
Pu Huamao glanced around: “Working overtime today?”
Wen Mingshu: “Probably not; progress is good, no delays.”
She looked around the suite’s living room; everyone was in their favorite spots—sofa, balcony chair, rug.
Their postures were all kinds of odd.
Cai Yanni sat cross-legged on the floor, typing with one hand and holding chicken feet with the other.
“By the way,” Wen Mingshu’s voice caught everyone’s attention, “this is the most comfortable production I’ve ever been on.”
Yan Ling agreed: “The only one where I’m not attacked by secondhand smoke.”
Ding Huan laughed heartily.
Everyone nodded, even Pu Huamao agreed.
Yan Ling recalled bitterly: “It was awful. I went to the hospital for a cough diagnosis. They said I smoked too much. I don’t even smoke! I don’t even cook!”
Wen Mingshu: “I have chronic pharyngitis, allergic to smoke. Meetings were torture; that room was unbearable.”
Cai Yanni: “Right, none of us smoke! What a coincidence!”
Yu Zhidan hated that smell. In her previous production, she couldn’t stand it—not just because the director and producer were difficult, but because she truly despised it.
Her biological father smoked and drank, and when drunk, would hit her, always reeking of smoke. Within a meter, the smell made people want to vomit.
On the balcony, Yan Ling turned her head: “And not having to attend frequent meetings is great. With this registration, I couldn’t get it done in half a month before; edited it eight hundred times, failed, and had to come find you, blaming you.”
Hearing this, everyone shuddered.
Cai Yanni: “Don’t dredge up my painful memories!”
Wen Mingshu: “I wonder if our registration will pass... The web series shouldn’t be a problem, but the TV drama might get sent for a second review.”
Some registrations require expert re-evaluation, which complicates things.
TV drama reviews are stricter than web series.
Pu Huamao: “It’s better now; a 10,000-word outline and creative statement suffice for registration. Before, the entire script had to be submitted.”
Cai Yanni: “I hope we find the perfect actors. Ah, I love Chang’an. This role needs someone who looks sweet but is actually very resilient!”
Yan Ling: “Then you handle that character’s auditions!”
Wen Mingshu: “Shall we split the audition groups?”
With so many characters, besides main roles, some minor roles have substantial parts. These auditions are not hard but tedious.
The screenwriters can choose roles too, as Yu Zhidan agreed.
For progress, they’ll divide groups for auditions.
After all, one role might have dozens or hundreds of candidates.
Cai Yanni raised her water bottle, cheering: “Great! Let’s split the groups!”
Being able to personally see and pick the best actors would be wonderful!