Qi Hao just wants to shoot a commercial, meeting the system task requirements.
If Little Flying Stick's manufacturer is capable, they can invite someone themselves; he's too lazy to use his personal connections to help find female celebrities.
He can appear in the ad alone.
If a top female star could be invited, Qi Hao wouldn't refuse just because of past gossip.
Once you take the money from the merchant, they become the employer and have the right to demand cooperation within reasonable bounds.
Is it reasonable to shoot an ad with Fan Xuexue?
Definitely reasonable!
Gao Yuanyuan, An Feng, Sun Li, Huang Yi, any of his rumored associates would be reasonable.
Seeing that reasoning with the factory manager was futile, Qi Hao pretended to be aloof.
Old Tian and the factory manager discussed the stance for endorsement.
Officially, they said Qi Hao liked eating spicy strips and recently got hooked on Little Flying Stick brand. Upon learning Little Flying Stick faces operational difficulties due to health and quality standards raising costs, he voluntarily offered to endorse his beloved brand.
This statement could somewhat rationalize Qi Hao endorsing spicy strips.
It also serves as an explanation to other brands.
After Old Tian settled it, he immediately notified Qi Hao's agency.
To avoid claims of accepting work privately.
"Pfft, spicy strip endorsement, haha~" The head of the artist service department couldn't help but laugh after Old Tian left.
Qi Hao regards Old Tian as a treasure, it's not surprising he'd be conned.
"Seven million endorsement fee, not bad, but endorsing spicy strips is indeed a bit low." The deputy general manager chuckled.
"It's not just a matter of being low. This endorsement is definitely a revolutionary blow to Qi Hao's personal image. He's always pretentious, trying to maintain a cool demeanor, but spicy strips and coolness, do they relate?"
The head couldn't help but criticize.
The artists under Ziwen are generally weak, and Qi Hao is undoubtedly the cash cow under his management.
Once Qi Hao leaves after the contract ends, the artist department's revenue would drop by at least 4/5.
What's the point of his position then?
"You're right; professional matters should be handled by professionals. These grassroots folks ultimately can't be brought to the table."
The deputy general manager tossed the files onto the table, smiled, and said.
Qi Hao's spicy strip endorsement is a good thing for the business-related executives.
At least reporting to the boss would be easier.
Knowing Qi Hao wouldn't fare well after leaving Ziwen, everyone in the company feels relieved.
"Since he enjoys lousy endorsements so much, why not find him a few more while his contract is still with us, allowing him to repay our years of support?"
The supervisor enthusiastically came up with a bad idea.
"Do as you see fit. Qi Hao reaching today's success, our company contributed a lot, and we haven't recouped the investment yet; earning more isn't excessive."
The deputy general manager slightly smiled, discreetly agreeing.
The supervisor got the nod from the deputy general manager and immediately gathered the team to research what lousy endorsements Qi Hao could take.
It must be low!
Must be lower than spicy strips.
Qi Hao and Old Tian weren't aware of the petty moves ongoing with Ziwen.
They thought selling Qi Hao to Sugarman last time, making him play a supporting role for Hu Ge, was Ziwen's limit.
Never realizing capital actually has no bottom line.
Even if they knew, there wasn't much they could do.
After all, if you voluntarily endorse spicy strips, arranging other equivalent endorsements wouldn't be considered maliciously damaging the artist's image.
The spicy strip endorsement proceeded exceptionally smoothly.
Qi Hao was urging for the commercial to be filmed quickly, and the manufacturer, fearing unforeseen delays, immediately contacted the female artists they were interested in.
Fan Xuexue was contacted first.
In recent years, Fan Xuexue has been doing increasingly well, capturing the Hundred Flowers Best Actress award for "Mobile," and collaborating with Liang Jiahui in "Apple."
Last year, with her income from 34 commercials and films, she made it into the top ten celebrities for the first time, with total earnings of 37 million yuan.
Way wealthier than Qi Hao.
She collaborated with Qi Hao in "Young Justice Bao 2." At that time, she was spotted leaning on Qi Hao, who played Gongsun Ce, seemingly whispering in his ear.
This incident happened years ago.
However, last year, during a guest appearance on a variety show, she discussed the topic of ideal type, oddly mentioning, "someone like Qi Hao wouldn't be bad."
This reignited their long-quieted rumors.
CP fans, dormant for years, emerged like zombies, eagerly awaiting these artists to share affectionate interactions without proper acknowledgment.
The reason is not hard to guess.
Qi Hao has a great personal image, handsome, with strong works.
And he has many rumors.
Adding one more rumor, there's no need to worry about the consequences of mentioning him.
Fan Xuexue doesn't mind shooting a commercial with Qi Hao, but she's not keen on endorsing spicy strips, so she politely declined the offer.
Then, the manufacturer contacted An Feng.
An Feng's mother handles decisions for her currently; upon hearing it's for a spicy strip ad, she promptly helped her daughter politely refuse.
She can't accept her daughter shooting a spicy strip commercial.
Over at Gao Yuanyuan's side, the manufacturer made good progress.
This time, the manufacturer was smarter, initially not specifying it would be with Qi Hao, simply inviting her to shoot a spicy strip commercial.
After being gently declined by Gao Yuanyuan, they suggested inviting Qi Hao to join her in the shoot.
Gao Yuanyuan was amused at the time.
She said, "If you can invite Qi Hao, then I'll shoot this ad for free," and then got hit in the face by a Little Flying Stick.
They really could invite him!
Gao Yuanyuan is straightforward. Though she realized that she'd been tricked, she had no intention of going back on her word.
However, unexpectedly, once the manufacturer finally secured Gao Yuanyuan, An Feng called to say she was willing to collaborate.
That was awkward!
What does "painful yet happy" mean? It probably refers to them.
Gao Yuanyuan agreed to the shoot because they tricked her.
But why did An Feng agree?
Especially after initially refusing and then changing her mind to actively reach out.
Could it be that upon learning Gao Yuanyuan would participate, the two actresses had to compete over who would be first?
Actually, their thinking was somewhat superficial.
An Feng heard from her mother about Qi Hao wanting to collaborate on an ad, and she immediately complained to her mom.
She felt her mom was being too heartless.
Back when they filmed "The Return of the Condor Heroes," due to shooting on location, they encountered quite a few risks during production.
Qi Hao, who acted alongside her, helped her out countless times without a second thought.
There was one time when she fell into freezing water and got a leg cramp; if Qi Hao hadn't promptly noticed and pulled her out, she might have faced life-threatening danger.
It's just a spicy snack ad, isn't it?
Filming it won't kill anyone.
And what's wrong with eating spicy snacks? Her mom forbids her from eating such unhealthy treats, but she still secretly eats them often.
She hasn't had any problems from eating them.
Little Flying Stick spicy snacks are her favorite brand.
Yadda yadda~
Her mom got a headache from her talking and truly hopes her daughter doesn't keep holding onto Qi Hao's little favors.
While she is grateful he saved her daughter,
she definitely wouldn't allow her daughter to turn gratitude into something else.
If shooting the ad could repay part of the favors, her mom wouldn't mind.
Thus, they agreed to the collaboration.
The manufacturer is completely stunned.
Are their spicy snacks going to heaven?
This ad that no one wanted suddenly became desirable, with two top actresses vying to shoot it.
Perhaps the delirium of reviving the factory hasn't worn off.
The manufacturer impulsively refused to choose between An Feng and Gao Yuanyuan.
They applied for more funding from their investor, Huaren!
The folks at Huaren were amused by this situation. For a company with revenue in the billions, millions and hundreds make little difference, so they added another ten million investment.
Gao Yuanyuan didn't have to shoot the ad for free.
She and An Feng both appeared, with each receiving a "salary" of two million.
For a few dozen seconds of an ad, they could earn a sky-high salary of two million, without needing to carry the endorsement burden like Qi Hao.
Moreover, having both of them in the ad would spread the spotlight.
They naturally had no reason to refuse.
So, on the day of the shoot, it wasn't just Gao Yuanyuan who came, but also An Feng and her mother, who seemed helpless.
"Give me a bag first; is it really that tasty?" Gao Yuanyuan sat right next to Qi Hao at the shoot location, extending her fair hand in front of him.
She wasn't anything like she had been on the phone two days earlier, yelling, "Geez, you tricked me!", in a fierce tone.
"It's really quite delicious; you'll definitely fall in love with it." Qi Hao slowly tore open a bag, took a piece, and handed it to Gao Yuanyuan. When Gao Yuanyuan pulled back her hand and opened her mouth, Qi Hao helplessly put the spicy snack into her mouth.
"Oh, it's really good," Gao Yuanyuan smiled until her eyes squinted.
Old Tian covered his eyes and turned away, finding it hard to watch.
Qi Hao entered the industry young, and actresses hardly saw him as a man, which led to his lack of a sufficient sense of boundaries.
Of course, while his upper limit may have issues, his bottom line is very solid.
After all, he's strong and fit, and never falls drunk. If anyone tries to drink him under the table for something untoward, it's usually them who drop first.
After An Feng arrived, Gao Yuanyuan didn't move.
She was openly friendly with Qi Hao, with no reason to feel uncomfortable.
Yet, she greeted An Feng warmly; Gao Yuanyuan was born in 1979, and An Feng in 1987, making her a little kid in her view.
"Now, let's all discuss how to shoot this,"
The director for this task was Ding Sheng.
He graduated from Beijing Film Academy in art in '94 and was part of their director class in '01; he is now an art graduate student at Communication University.
In 2000, he directed his first film "Overreacting," with mediocre market feedback, and continued to study while handling ad shoots over the years.
He has directed over 300 TV ads, counting Fang Long and Qi Hao among his clients.
This time, Qi Hao provided the manufacturer's contact to invite him.
"Old Ding, you're the professional; you decide, and our Little Flying Stick factory manager will approve." Qi Hao trusts Ding Sheng's abilities.
"If it's one man and woman, then some sweetness will do. But one man and two women..."
Ding Sheng also felt the headache.