Chapter 602 - 598: Some Starve While Others Drown

Lily Sterling nodded in understanding. But since this was her first time dealing with a brand endorsement in her year-plus in the industry, she didn’t know the ropes and asked Amy uncertainly, "Amy, would that be a little difficult?"

Amy and Paul exchanged a glance, and Amy answered honestly, "It’s definitely going to be challenging. The brand considers a lot of factors. While your momentum and potential are excellent, there are many competitors, so we can’t be one hundred percent certain."

Connie patted Lily’s hand. "Business negotiation is a game—that’s true with brands and with competitors. But in the end, the goal is always a win-win, mutually beneficial outcome. The way I see it, considering your current career trajectory, the ’Brand Friend’ title is barely better than nothing. It won’t give your career much of a boost, you’d even be seated in a corner at brand events, and it’s a two-year contract."

"The other key point they’re considering is how new you are to the industry. If you landed the MIUMIU ’Ambassador’ title after just over a year, it would be unprecedented in entertainment."

Before Lily could respond, Beau chimed in, "Plus, artists are focusing more and more on high-end endorsements these days. The competition gets fiercer every year. Lily, if you manage to land this deal, you have no idea how many people will envy you. Of course, there’ll be plenty of jealous ones, too."

Lily gave a wry smile. ’Plenty of people are already jealous of me.’ She received all sorts of abusive and hateful DMs on social media every day, but she had grown completely immune to them.

"You two do your best, but we’re not budging on the endorsement title." Connie gave Amy and Paul their bottom line for the negotiation.

They both nodded. Now they knew what to do.

After they left, Lily asked Connie, "Connie, was the endorsement the only reason you wanted to see me?"

"No. You’re coming with me in a bit; we have important business," Connie said, taking her coat from the rack. She didn’t forget Beau. "Didn’t you have something you wanted to talk about? Now, or after I get back?"

Beau grinned and held the glass office door open for Connie. "We can talk on the way. I’ll walk you out."

Connie gave a wry smile and led Lily out.

Beau hurried to catch up, lowering his voice to ask Connie, "Connie, I heard the production team for *The Simple Life* sent Lily an invitation? They want her as a guest star for the new season?"

Connie shot him a look. "You’re seriously behind on the news."

"What do you mean?" Beau froze.

Connie pursed her lips. "The production team did reach out to our team, but I turned it down the moment it landed on my desk."

"What? Why?" Beau exclaimed in shock. "But that’s one of the most popular variety shows in the country! It just went viral again not long ago because of that meme with Chef Warner and the poisonous green beans. Wouldn’t going on the show be a guaranteed way to boost her exposure?"

Beau couldn’t understand it. Lily was on a hot streak, right in the middle of her rise to fame. Invitations were pouring in, yet Connie had rejected such a great opportunity for exposure.

"You said it yourself—poisonous green beans. I’m worried Lily would get food poisoning," Connie said, half-joking.

The elevator arrived, and they all stepped inside.

Beau knew Connie was joking. She and Chef Warner were good friends, so that definitely wasn’t her real concern.

And sure enough, Connie paused before explaining seriously, "Lily doesn’t do variety shows."

It was an explicit clause written into her contract when she was signed. She wouldn’t appear on any entertainment or variety shows unless it was to promote a new series, and even that was subject to negotiation.

Lily herself had absolutely no interest in them either.

Beau looked at Lily in surprise, but she simply offered a faint smile.

Seeing her reaction, Beau could only sigh in resignation. He then heard Connie ask him, "Is that what you wanted to see me about? What’s it to you?"

Beau looked troubled. "The company assigned me a few artists to manage," he said. "They have a little bit of a name, but none of them are really taking off. I was thinking that if Lily did the show, you could help me negotiate a package deal to get one of my artists on as well. We’re all from the same company, right? We should give each other a leg up when we can."

"I’ve only heard of veterans bringing along rookies, not a rookie bringing along another rookie. Our Lily is still a newcomer herself. If we try to negotiate a package deal and piggyback someone onto the show at this stage, what’s that going to do to her reputation?" Connie retorted, displeased. "I think quitting drinking must have addled your brain."

"I’m at my wit’s end, Connie. New artists are popping up left and right, and resources are stretched so thin. My clients can’t land any acting roles, can’t get on any variety shows... some of them have resorted to doing promotional events for supermarket grand openings in third-tier cities."

Seeing how worried and distressed Beau was on behalf of his artists, Lily was deeply moved.

The few successful artists he had personally built up from the beginning had all recently terminated their contracts to strike out on their own. Seeing that he now had the time and the proven ability, the company had saddled him with a few mediocre artists, hoping he could replicate his past success.

But the entertainment industry had changed. No matter how capable Beau was, he wasn’t a miracle worker. Casting directors couldn’t always do him favors, so he was feeling increasingly powerless.

Yet he couldn’t bear to watch the artists under his care go without work, so he jumped at any opportunity he saw.

He had hoped to ride Lily’s coattails for a small piece of the pie, but Connie had flat-out rejected such a golden opportunity.

Compared to his artists, it was a classic case of feast or famine.

As they exited the elevator, Connie also sighed wistfully. She stopped and looked at Beau, her voice softening. "Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. There will be opportunities. If not this one, then another."

Beau’s head drooped listlessly. Finally, Lily, who had been standing by, couldn’t help but speak up. "Beau, if other opportunities come up, I’ll help you fight for a spot for your people."

Hearing this, Beau’s head shot up in shock. He stared at Lily in disbelief. "Lily, are... are you serious?"

Lily smiled and nodded. "Of course. I think you’re an exceptionally good agent, and I’m happy to help you."

After having the artists he’d built from the ground up all leave to strike out on their own, anyone else would have found it difficult to ever put their heart and soul into managing artists again.

But Beau didn’t seem to care. Or perhaps he had cared, but then he’d moved past it. He was still responsible for the artists under him and fought for them with everything he had.

As an artist herself, Lily could empathize. Having an agent like him was a blessing for any performer.

"I haven’t been exposed to many scripts yet, but my sister invests in a ton of film and television projects. When the time comes, submit your artists’ portfolios, and I’ll put in a good word for you. I can’t guarantee the size of the roles, though. In the end, it will still come down to the production’s needs and the artists’ own qualifications and skills."