Start by Spending One Billion [Entertainment Industry]

"What is the director up to?"

Zhou Zhi, the male lead of *The Path of Life*, sat next to the female lead, Lin Aike, while touching up his makeup with a small mirror. He couldn't help but sneak curious glances ahead.

Up front, their director, Wan Bao, who was usually frowning and tense, now had an expression of barely contained joy. He kept looking up repeatedly, as if waiting for someone.

The drama had a modest budget, and they couldn't afford big stars. The most accomplished actor in the crew was Lin Aike, who had played a minor role in a moderately popular drama, earning her a small fanbase and a bit of recognition in the fiercely competitive entertainment industry.

Though she wasn't a big name in the industry, within this small crew, everyone treated her with respect. However, she wasn't the type to let it go to her head. The crew was so tight on budget that they only had one makeup artist, who was often too busy. So, like Zhou Zhi, she sat on a small stool, touching up her own makeup.

Hearing Zhou Zhi's question, Lin Aike also looked up, her pretty face showing curiosity. "The director has been there since four o'clock. It's been an hour now, hasn't it?"

Zhou Zhi glanced around and lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret. "Did you know the director went out yesterday?"

Though she didn't know what it was about, Lin Aike couldn't help but lower her voice too, mimicking his conspiratorial tone. "No, I didn't. Who told you?"

"Sister Wang mentioned it." Sister Wang was the crew's only makeup artist, though her actual job was sound engineering. The crew couldn't afford a dedicated makeup team, so Sister Wang, who loved doing makeup, had stepped in.

Zhou Zhi whispered, sharing the gossip, "Sister Wang said the director rushed out last night to secure funding. He thought it would take a few days and even made work arrangements, but he came back today."

His eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Don't you think it's strange that he came back so quickly and seems so happy? Do you think he got the funding?"

Lin Aike felt a surge of hope too. She glanced at the director, who was pacing around in circles, and said with growing excitement, "It must be. He does look really happy."

The director hadn't smiled since the investors pulled out.

The actors in the crew were all hoping the director could secure new funding. After all, they weren't big stars, and every acting opportunity was precious. They had worked so hard, hoping the drama would succeed once it aired.

Lin Aike shared the same sentiment. After her last drama aired, she had gained a bit of fame, but it was only a minor role. Most of the offers she received were for supporting roles, like the fourth or fifth female lead, never anything more substantial.

*The Path of Life* was the only project willing to cast her as the female lead. She had high hopes for the script and was even more impressed after joining the crew. Though the director's perfectionism made filming grueling, it also increased the chances of the drama doing well after its release.

So when the crew ran into financial trouble, Lin Aike secretly hoped the director would pause production to secure funding. She was even willing to turn down other projects and wait for filming to resume.

Unfortunately, her agency didn't share her enthusiasm. Seeing the crew struggle to secure funding, her agent had already started selecting her next project, ready to pull her out as soon as the director gave up.

Lin Aike didn't want to leave, but her agency didn't care about her opinion. In fact, they were displeased with her for trying to persuade them to let her stay.

Thinking of this, she sighed, her hope overshadowed by pessimism. "But our crew doesn't seem that impressive. Can we really attract significant investment?"

"Even if it's not a lot, we can make do with less," Zhou Zhi said, cherishing his rare opportunity to play the male lead. "As long as we can finish filming and get it aired, that's enough."

As they both wrestled with their hopes and worries, a line of vehicles appeared in the distance.

Zhou Zhi's eyes widened. "Cars! There are cars coming!"

Lin Aike was confused. "What's the big deal about cars?"

Their filming location was in a remote mountain area with winding roads. It wasn't unusual to see a few cars passing by.

"But look at those cars!"

Lin Aike stood up and followed Zhou Zhi's gaze. Her pretty eyes widened, and even she, who always cared about her image, couldn't help but murmur, "Oh my god..."

On the mountain road below, a convoy of imposing SUVs was approaching. There were at least ten of these black beasts, their combined presence exuding an overwhelming aura of power.

Even Lin Aike, who wasn't interested in cars and couldn't recognize the brand, could tell these vehicles were expensive and imposing.

"Each of those cars costs at least three million," Zhou Zhi, who knew about cars, couldn't help but calculate. "And there are so many of them. That's over thirty million right there."

Not only were they shocked, but even the director, standing ahead, looked stunned. After the initial surprise, his expression quickly turned to joy, as if he had realized something.

The cars soon arrived at the mountaintop. Fortunately, the area was spacious enough to accommodate them. The vehicles parked on either side, and the driver of the central car got out to open the rear door.

A young, beautiful woman stepped out.

Sheng Quan removed her sunglasses (though the weather didn't really call for them—she just wanted to make an impression) and gestured for the people in the cars to start unloading.

It had to be said, while the system didn't provide money, it never fell short in other areas. Just the perks from her first mission included these twelve SUVs, conveniently purchased in Wuzhou and ready for her to pick up.

Individually, a three-million-yuan SUV might not compare to her twenty-million-yuan luxury car, but a convoy of over a dozen imposing black SUVs was a different story. They had turned heads all along the way.

For Sheng Quan, this wasn't just about showing off. It also gave her the confidence to make a grand entrance. After all, people judge you by your appearance first.

The crew members, who hadn't even met her yet, were already in awe of this suddenly appearing young woman. As they wondered what was going on, they saw their usually stern and unsmiling director, Wan Bao, warmly greet her with a smile.

"You're here! What an honor, what an honor!"

Sheng Quan smiled and shook his hand, introducing the man who had walked up beside her. "This is Yu Xiangwan, the person I mentioned on the phone. From now on, he'll be the production supervisor for our crew."

Yu Xiangwan extended his hand with a smile. "Director Wan, I look forward to working with you."

Wan Bao immediately shook his hand. "Hello, hello! No need for formalities. We're all colleagues now."

As the primary investor, Sheng Quan needed to appoint a reliable and steady production supervisor to oversee the crew's progress. In other words, Yu Xiangwan was her eyes and ears in the crew—her representative.

Wan Bao naturally understood this and was ready to cooperate fully. The production supervisor was essentially the financial manager of the crew, overseeing every expenditure. Every financial transaction had to be approved by Yu Xiangwan before being reported to Sheng Quan.

In short, if the crew needed money, they had to get the supervisor's approval.

Wan Bao hadn't heard of Yu Xiangwan before and wondered if Sheng Quan had brought him in from elsewhere.

A major investor who could invest ten million in a drama and arrive in a convoy of luxury cars was someone to be taken seriously. Her appointed supervisor was definitely someone to cooperate with.

Sheng Quan watched the two shake hands with a smile. She hadn't chosen just anyone. With the advantage of having read the book, she naturally made the most of it.

Yu Xiangwan had appeared in the book more often than Wan Bao. The book mentioned several times how he, as a production supervisor, had coordinated numerous crews to successfully complete their projects, overcoming various challenges along the way.

Many viewers only pay attention to the director and actors when watching a drama, often overlooking the contributions of the behind-the-scenes staff. But after delving deeper, Sheng Quan realized how crucial a good production supervisor was to a crew's success.

Yu Xiangwan was born to be in the production business. The book details his journey into the industry at the age of eighteen, where he spent over a decade climbing the ranks and accumulating rich experience. It wasn't until he was thirty-two that he finally seized an opportunity to shine, and from then on, his career steadily progressed.

A smart man with a strong ability to learn, Yu Xiangwan quickly noticed Sheng Quan's desire to understand the ins and outs of the entertainment industry when he first joined her side. Throughout their journey, he used his deep, pleasant voice, laced with humor, to explain and enlighten her.

So, this place was truly a paradise for those who appreciate good looks. Even Yu Xiangwan, whose profession was production, was quite handsome.

Of course, he didn’t reach the level of a celebrity, but he could certainly be described as refined and presentable. With a clean-cut appearance and a pair of glasses, his subtle smile reminded Sheng Quan of the elite type—outwardly polished but secretly cunning.

And indeed, Yu Xiangwan was exactly that kind of person.

However, beyond his competence and looks, there was an even greater quality that made Sheng Quan choose him: his deep sense of gratitude. When his adoptive mother fell ill, he was willing to "sell himself" to help cover her medical expenses.

Sheng Quan had helped him, and in return, he was willing to dedicate his complete loyalty to her.

Of course, he wasn’t without flaws. For instance, his moral compass wasn’t always clear, and in the book, he was a controversial character. But after weighing the pros and cons, Sheng Quan still decided to use him.

During their first meeting with Director Wan Bao, Yu Xiangwan subtly and effortlessly gathered a rough understanding of the current situation within the crew. When Director Wan Bao offered to treat everyone to a meal, Yu Xiangwan smiled and said:

"Miss Sheng mentioned that since it’s her first time visiting the set, she brought some food and drinks for everyone. Since it’s mealtime, why don’t we distribute them first?"

This was a move to win over the crew for Sheng Quan, while also solidifying her position as the top investor on set.

Unfortunately, Wan Bao didn’t pick up on this at all.

He was simply delighted. Food? A big boss visiting and bringing food? It had to be better than the usual boxed meals.

Thinking this, Wan Bao nodded repeatedly, "Great, great, thank you, Miss Sheng. You guys, come over here, help unload the food from the car. This is our investor, Miss Sheng. All these treats were brought by her for the crew..."

Sheng Quan chuckled inwardly, while Yu Xiangwan remained composed. His priority was ensuring Sheng Quan’s unshakable position within the crew. If Wan Bao hadn’t cooperated, Yu Xiangwan wouldn’t have hesitated to act fiercely, like a mad dog, to secure the best interests for his master.

But since Wan Bao was willing to play along, that was naturally the best outcome.

The entire crew was called over to share the meal, and in doing so, they learned that their production had secured a major investor.

Though the exact investment amount wasn’t disclosed, the sight of over a dozen SUVs just for transporting food, coupled with the director’s unmistakably flattering smile, made it clear that the sum was substantial.

The production could continue!

And with even more funding to spare!

All thanks to the seemingly young Miss Sheng standing before them.

The lead actors were brought over by the director to greet Miss Sheng. Some of the younger actors were a bit nervous, but all of them displayed varying degrees of flattery, whether subtle or overt.

Sheng Quan, on the receiving end of this attention, found it quite enjoyable. Who wouldn’t be happy being surrounded by a group of people fawning over them? Especially when these actors were all good-looking, a feast for the eyes of any admirer of beauty.

Too bad it was only for a short while.

Yu Xiangwan, smiling, chatted casually with the assistant director, naturally gathering more information about the crew while occasionally glancing over at Sheng Quan.

He noticed that Sheng Quan’s gaze often lingered appreciatively on the most attractive actors, her eyes occasionally revealing a hint of delight.

Yu Xiangwan smiled faintly. Though he hadn’t spent much time with Miss Sheng, it was clear she enjoyed being around beautiful people.

He turned to the assistant director and said, "Let’s arrange a dinner with the lead actors tonight. I’ll take care of the arrangements."

The assistant director readily agreed.

That evening, during dinner, Sheng Quan found herself seated between the most beautiful actress in the crew, Lin Aike, and the most handsome actor, the male lead Wang Zheng.

What a feast for the eyes.

These actors, who would have been considered top-tier even in her past life’s entertainment industry, spent the entire meal chatting and laughing with her. Seeing their flawless skin up close was an added bonus, and the conversation alone lifted Sheng Quan’s spirits significantly.

After dinner, on the way back to the hotel, Sheng Quan couldn’t help but admire the photos she had taken with the lead actors on her phone.

She was in an exceptionally good mood—having enjoyed the scenery, indulged in good food and drinks, and met several attractive actors. And now, as she basked in her joy, her loyal subordinate was diligently working beside her.

No wonder her boss in her past life always seemed so energetic. Having a loyal subordinate who anticipated her every need and thought ahead for her—who wouldn’t be happy?

Just as she was thinking this, the loyal subordinate, Yu Xiangwan, who had been quietly working on his laptop, closed it, adjusted his glasses, and looked over at her. His narrow eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses were calm but intent.

His voice was magnetic, the kind that exuded reliability, and his tone was steady as he spoke. Yet, the content of his words was anything but ordinary:

"If you like them, I can arrange for your favorite actor to accompany you tonight."

And by "accompany," he didn’t just mean for dinner.

Yu Xiangwan’s expression was serious, clearly not joking. He was genuinely suggesting this and was already pondering how to make it happen.

Sheng Quan: "..."

Isn’t this a bit too loyal?