Chapter 483 - 267: Chairman Qi, I Want to Get Ahead

"Chairman Qi, I want to get ahead!"

Mao Xiaotong decided to go all in. It wasn’t like she was some innocent, untouched maiden, after all.

After terminating the contract with her previous company, the opportunities available to her had become pitifully scarce.

Even her role in *Thirty Years Old* was one she had barely managed to land on the strength of her acting alone.

’But how many more times could she get this lucky?’

She watched Gu Pan secure a role with her own funding, effortlessly landing a female part with screen time that rivaled Jiang Shuying’s.

Mao Xiaotong was now completely determined.

Rather than continue to languish in obscurity in the industry...

...she might as well take the initiative for once and find herself a powerful industry sponsor.

’And honestly, was there a better sponsor in the entire industry than Qi Sheng?’

Young, handsome, rich, generous...

Countless positive attributes flooded Mao Xiaotong’s mind.

As for her van supposedly breaking down, that was just an excuse she had made up on the spot.

"If you’re considering joining Universal Entertainment, I can give you that opportunity to get ahead."

Qi Sheng wasn’t particularly interested in Mao Xiaotong.

He’d had plenty of girlfriends who were far more beautiful than her.

But her acting was undeniably good, and she certainly had potential.

Although Mao Xiaotong was currently just a third-tier starlet...

...once *Thirty Years Old* aired, she would be nominated for a Bai Yulan Award for Best Supporting Actress.

She would quickly rise to become a popular second-tier actress, with both solid acting skills and a good reputation.

Signing her now would definitely not be a loss.

Mao Xiaotong hesitated. After leaving her previous company, she had been determined to go independent.

But Qi Sheng remained perfectly composed, without a trace of the eagerness she had imagined.

If she refused Qi Sheng, she might offend a terrifyingly powerful investor with an unknown background.

"I can give you a B-Level contract, the standard for a second-tier actress. The company will only take a forty-percent commission."

"I’ll guarantee you the lead role in at least one TV series with a budget of over one hundred million each year, as well as a major supporting role in a big-budget film."

After laying out his terms, Qi Sheng took a bottle of champagne from the car’s mini-fridge.

He poured himself a glass and began to savor it slowly.

When Mao Xiaotong heard she would be guaranteed the lead role in a TV series with a budget of over one hundred million every year...

...and have the chance to play a major supporting character in a big-budget film...

...any thoughts she had of going independent began to fade.

There was no helping it; the terms Qi Sheng offered were just too tempting.

Her struggles over the past few years had taught her the harsh realities of trying to make it on her own.

Many roles she coveted had ended up going to someone else.

Quite a few actresses had shot to second-tier fame with just a single role.

’And that was even when the director had clearly wanted her for the part.’

’But she stood no chance against the powerful company backing her rival, which snatched the role right out from under her.’

HUFF...

Mao Xiaotong took a few deep breaths, her mind finally made up.

"Chairman Qi, I’m willing to join Universal Entertainment!"

’Going independent before had been a matter of necessity.’

’Now that such a golden opportunity was being extended to her, if she didn’t seize it tightly...’

’...then she would be a real fool!’

"Good. Now you can give your performance. Show me just how badly you want to get ahead."

Qi Sheng swirled the champagne in his glass, a look of cruel amusement on his face.

"Mmm..."

Mao Xiaotong silently rose from her seat, her petite frame squatting down in the back row.

Luckily, this was an extended, five-seater Phantom.

Not only was the wheelbase extra long, but it also had no transmission hump in the center.

COUGH...

Mao Xiaotong stared in shock at the enormous thing before her, unable to stop herself from gulping.

’No wonder Panpan was crying so miserably in the dressing room. This is just insane, isn’t it?’

She could even smell the faint, lingering scent of what had come before.

Seeing the arrogant way Qi Sheng was sipping his champagne, Mao Xiaotong didn’t dare refuse.

From the moment she had agreed to join Universal Entertainment...

...her career for the next ten years was in Qi Sheng’s hands.

’If you want to make it big, you have to be willing to make sacrifices.’

Mao Xiaotong took a deep breath and slowly lowered her head.