Two days later, He Mei had completed all the relevant procedures. Zhou You commissioned a legal team in Shanghai to draft a share agreement. Signatures were made, and the transfer went through. This efficiency was due to He Mei’s strong execution skills and the abundance of tourism resources in Thailand. A team could be assembled at any time.
Zhou You hadn’t gone out these past two days either—he was genuinely tired. He spent time watching the crew at work and resting at the hotel.
“Director Xu, once we wrap up, I’d like to treat the entire crew to a three-day trip to Chiang Mai. Everyone’s been working hard lately,” Zhou You said to Xu Zheng.
“Mr. Zhou, you’re too kind. It’s really unnecessary. We still need to head back for post-production. Not everyone’s involved in that—those who need to go back can, and those without urgent tasks can stay and have some fun here. It won’t be many people,” Xu Zheng replied.
Zhou You glanced at the crew. “It’s not much of an expense. You’d just need to cover a few extra days at the hotel. Tickets and attractions aren’t expensive. Since we’re abroad, we shouldn’t be too stingy. If I hadn’t come, fine, but since I’m here, I have to treat everyone.”
Seeing Zhou You’s sincerity, Xu Zheng found it hard to refuse. If he turned it down, the crew would probably resent him forever. Besides, as a first-time director, building a team wasn’t easy, and there would be more opportunities for collaboration in the future.
“Alright, I’ll head to the crew first. Thank you, Mr. Zhou,” Xu Zheng said, going along with it.
Beside him, Shi Wenxiu looked utterly dejected. Zhou You had been having fun for days without taking her along, and now she had to stick with the crew for their trip.
Zhou You had no idea what she was thinking. If he did, he’d probably find it amusing: *Thailand of all places? If I take you out, how am I supposed to enjoy myself?*
Still, she was his future mentor’s daughter, so he had to show some concern. “What’s your next move? Any companies interested in signing you?”
“Not yet. I’m about to graduate, and I don’t know what to do,” Shi Wenxiu said, looking troubled. Her situation was awkward—neither here nor there. Those with prospects had already signed contracts, while those without had quit the industry entirely.
Zhou You knew this film would be a hit. If she waited until after its release to approach a company, she might get better terms—or she could skip signing altogether and set up her own studio.
But setting up a studio required connections, and Zhou You couldn’t fully support her. He invested in at most two or three films a year. What would Shi Wenxiu do afterward? She wasn’t his own daughter, so he couldn’t go all out for her.
To be honest, their relationship wasn’t that close. If it were Wang Le, whose mentor had been so good to him, he’d definitely pull out all the stops.
In the past, he’d been naive. The more he understood, the more he realized how much effort his mentor had put into securing him a university teaching position—effort he’d wasted.
Even after Zhou You turned it down, when he visited his mentor’s house once, the man said nothing. Some feelings just stayed buried in the heart.
Zhou You spotted Wang Baoqiang and Huang Bo standing nearby, not filming at the moment, and called them over.
“Xiu Xiu, what do you two think? You’re both veterans—give me your advice,” Zhou You asked bluntly.
Huang Bo and Wang Baoqiang had gotten to know Zhou You over the past few days and understood his personality.
Wang Baoqiang spoke first. “Brother You knows I started as an extra. I used to dream of a company signing me, but later I realized signing comes with a lot of headaches. If you have resources, going solo is pretty good.”
Huang Bo, seeing Wang Baoqiang had spoken, felt he had to chime in. “I’ve been around a lot too. I’ve signed with a few companies, but in the end, working alone is more freeing.”
Zhou You understood. At their level, they were practically semi-independent.
If he recommended a company and it turned out to be a bad deal, how would that be handled later?
“Alright, I get it. From now on, if you have resources, share them with Xiu Xiu. When you make your own films, I’ll invest,” Zhou You promised. Both of them would eventually direct, and their first films had made money—even if *Buddies in India* had poor reviews, it still turned a decent profit.
Every actor dreamed of directing. Moving from acting to directing was an industry norm.
The two exchanged a glance at Zhou You’s words. They helped him into a chair, one massaging his arm, the other his leg.
Wang Baoqiang grinned, gently kneading his leg. “Brother You, that’s too formal. Xiu Xiu is our little sister—we’ll take care of her, don’t worry.”
Huang Bo, still in makeup, tossed his long hair back as he worked on Zhou You’s shoulder. “Mr. Zhou, I’m Xiu Xiu’s senior. Sure, I went to a vocational school, but it’s still the same school. I’ve already been sharing my secret techniques with her.”
This was a win-win: one traded the future for the present, the other traded the present for the future.
Shi Wenxiu couldn’t help but laugh. Their antics were a bit exaggerated, but the scene was ridiculous, especially with both still in costume.
Still, she was sharp. She quickly grabbed some fruit and handed each of them a small pineapple.
“I’ve been on set lately, and Brother Qiang and Brother Bo have been looking out for me, teaching me a lot. Please keep looking after your little sister.”
“No problem. I’ll recommend you for roles when I can.”
“You’re young. Try different roles and see which path suits you.”
Seeing their promises, Zhou You felt pleased. For Shi Wenxiu, getting roles was enough. Fame or not, that was beyond his control.
After all, even Tian Tian, who later had big names supporting her, never really took off.
As long as she could make a living, he’d paved the way for her. The rest was up to her.
“Xiu Xiu, go home and talk it over with Professor Shi. Decide whether to sign with a company or go solo. Even if you sign, wait until this film comes out. Without a standout work, you’ll be at a disadvantage,” Zhou You stressed repeatedly. This was a big decision.
“Thanks, Brother You. I’m already content. Getting to act in a film and work with so many famous actors—I’ll take it slow. No rush,” Shi Wenxiu said sincerely. She’d gone from having no hope to being on the edge of the entertainment industry, which was a pleasant surprise.
Many of her classmates had signed with companies under minimal guarantees, almost like indentured servitude. Even that was considered decent. Some had even moved behind the scenes. She’d been hesitating too, until her father ran into Zhou You.
Those who’d faced life’s hardships fared better. Those who peaked early often declined. If Shi Wenxiu were unsatisfied and overly ambitious, Zhou You would have no choice but to find a new doctoral advisor.
……
As the end approached, Xu Zheng shouted, “That’s a wrap!” The entire crew erupted in cheers. Filming had been grueling, and while Thailand was a nice place to visit, the heat was unbearable.