Two thousand US dollars?
This was a sum Meng Jingwei dared not even imagine.
But she knew one thing clearly: she could command such a high salary because of the endorsement of Steve Arthur and Ji Lanfeng, and because of her excellent martial arts skills.
“Director, actually… you don’t need that much,” Meng Jingwei felt she didn’t deserve it. “I’m only performing this one fight scene, and the money you’re offering is too much. I feel unworthy.”
Meng Jingwei’s words made Johnsen laugh heartily. “Hahaha… With your abilities, you are worth this price. Moreover, I am looking forward to future collaborations.”
Action actors are becoming increasingly rare. Many fight scenes rely on wirework or special effects, failing to achieve the effect Johnsen desires.
He constantly keeps an eye out for action actors and values them highly.
This was also why Johnsen was willing to wait for Meng Jingwei all day.
Although he had adopted a very serious attitude earlier, it was a reflection of his rigorous approach to work, not a personal affront to Meng Jingwei.
After all, he had seen many women with natural beauty like hers. When people recommended others, they were always full of praise, only for the results to be disappointing or the individuals to be incompetent in various aspects.
The facts proved that waiting for Meng Jingwei was indeed worthwhile.
“I also look forward to working with you.”
Meng Jingwei nodded, her face beaming with a smile.
She was very fortunate. Fortunate that when she first signed with Lü Sen, the contract was very humane because she was the god-granddaughter of Old Madam Qing.
The contract stipulated clearly: apart from modeling, it would not interfere with any of her other developments, including being a streamer or an actress…
Moreover, the contract was only for one year.
After entering Huayu Media, Meng Jingwei discovered that the lowest entry threshold for those models was a three-year contract.
Yet, she only had one year.
Later, when she became familiar with Lü Sen, she brought up the contract. Lü Sen then said, “When we signed the contract, knowing you were Old Madam Qing’s god-granddaughter, we didn’t expect you to stay with the company for long. If we had known Old Madam Qing wouldn’t interfere with your work, you wouldn’t have escaped the three-year contract.”
Prominent families generally disliked actors.
After all, on screen, actors were seen embracing this person or kissing that person.
Although it was a requirement of the job, it could not be accepted by truly affluent families.
It was natural for Lü Sen to have such concerns.
However, what Meng Jingwei did not know was that Lü Sen signing her to a one-year contract and not interfering with any of her other developments was not his original intention, but rather Qing Muye’s instruction.
After a phone call ‘admonishing’ Lü Sen, how would Lü Sen dare to sign Meng Jingwei to a long-term contract?
Unless his Huayu Media was to be dissolved!
“It’s already late today. You can shoot this scene tomorrow,” Johnsen said, and then remembering Meng Jingwei had prior commitments, he asked, “Do you have time?”
After chatting with her for a long time, Johnsen had already inquired about her contract with Huayu Media.
He confirmed that Meng Jingwei’s contracted company would not interfere with other matters, and he even praised Huayu Media as a conscientious company. Naturally, he felt at ease about collaborating with Meng Jingwei.
“I have time tomorrow,” Meng Jingwei nodded enthusiastically, unable to conceal her excitement.
Afterward, Ji Lanfeng and Steve once again invited Meng Jingwei for dinner. The three of them went to a hot pot restaurant and found a secluded corner to sit.
Because they were all wearing masks, dressed casually, and maintaining a low profile, they did not attract the attention of others.
The three conversed happily, and the meal concluded at half past nine in the evening.
As they exited the hot pot restaurant, Ji Lanfeng remembered that Meng Jingwei hadn’t driven to the set. “It’s so late, I’ll drive you back.”
“No need, I can take a taxi back.”
Meng Jingwei politely declined, “It’s more convenient for me to take a taxi.”
It would take half an hour to drive to her apartment from here, and he would not get back to his hotel until past ten o’clock at night.
It was too late, and Meng Jingwei worried that if he didn't get enough rest, it would affect his filming the next day.
More importantly, Ji Lanfeng had a special identity. If he were photographed sending her back to her apartment, who knew what sensational gossip the entertainment media would publish the next day.
“Fussing around like this, it’s not like your fiercesome personality.”
Ji Lanfeng, dressed in casual wear, wearing a black baseball cap and a mask, stood beside Meng Jingwei and playfully tapped her on the head. “Hurry up and get in the car. By the time you’ve wasted with your chatter, we could have already driven you there.”
“Steve, let’s go, we’ll take her back together. And then back to the set.” He then said to Steve.
“Good idea.” Steve readily agreed.
Meng Jingwei felt it would be impolite to refuse, so she got into Ji Lanfeng’s car. However, she did not give the address of her apartment but instead said, “Let’s go to Xihua Children’s Hospital. A friend of mine just gave birth, and I need to accompany her for a while.”
“Alright.”
Ji Lanfeng started the car, turned on the navigation, and headed straight for Xihua Children’s Hospital.
“Jingwei, if you have any more questions you don’t understand, feel free to ask me anytime,” Steve asked Meng Jingwei, who was sitting in the passenger seat.
He found that although his time spent with Meng Jingwei was short, he was quite intrigued by this woman.
They had common topics and interests, and their pleasant conversations made Steve feel an inexplicable sense of regret at not having met her sooner.
“Oh, okay. I…”
Meng Jingwei’s words were interrupted by Ji Lanfeng after only a few syllables. “Why call her Jingwei? ‘Fiercesome’ suits her better.”
“Fiercesome? Isn’t that name a bit unpleasant?” Steve was amused by Ji Lanfeng’s remark, revealing a row of pearly white teeth, looking handsome and charming.
“It’s her exclusive nickname; it doesn’t sound unpleasant at all.”
Ji Lanfeng replied earnestly, then looked up through the rearview mirror at Steve sitting in the back, laughing heartily.
His uninhibited demeanor was a stark contrast to his cool persona on screen.
Meng Jingwei couldn’t help but tease, “If your fans knew you were such a goofball, would they regret being your fan?”
Because Ji Lanfeng’s usual stern expression made him appear cold and domineering, he mostly took on roles as the CEO in scripts.
His extremely high颜值 and his talented acting skills had garnered him countless fans.
“I don’t care about those things.”
Ji Lanfeng’s hands were on the steering wheel, and he replied to Meng Jingwei while driving.
“I’d believe that if pigs could fly. If you didn’t care, with your personality, you’d inevitably attract admirers. How could you be so low-key?”
Having watched a lot of entertainment news, Meng Jingwei gradually understood that the glamorous on-screen personas of celebrities were completely different from their private selves.
Therefore, many celebrities deliberately crafted personas.
Over the years, with constant exposés, many top stars had their personas shattered, some even ending up in prison for drug use, while others with chaotic private lives were directly banned.
She had seen Ji Lanfeng on television before and thought that Ji Lanfeng’s goofy personality, so contrary to his public image, managing to maintain his facade for so long without collapse was truly remarkable.
“I’m not interested in those women,” Ji Lanfeng said with a sigh. “Most of them have ulterior motives. How many are as silly as you? So there’s no need to associate with them; you might end up in trouble.”