Chapter 40.1: Still Need a Sister?

　　You want to cast me for the ad? Are you sure you’ve got the right person?

　　Setting his teacup down, Su Ling masked his astonishment with a warm smile. “Thank you for your consideration, Director Dou, but I must admit, I know little about shooting ads. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be the best fit for the task.”

　　As news of Lin Yun’s drug scandal made headlines everywhere, it was no surprise that the ad shoot would not proceed as planned. So, when Director Dou and Ruan Wenya showed up early in the morning, Su Ling was not at all taken aback as he knew they were probably here to discuss precisely that.

　　What took Su Ling by surprise was that Director Dou had actually set his sights on him.

　　Though Director Dou expected Su Ling to decline, he did not expect it to come so quickly. With a resigned sigh, he shared, “I take it you saw yesterday’s trending topic on Weibo? With Lin Yun’s scandal, we’re forced to put the ad shoot on hold.”

　　Ruan Wenya chimed in, “The owner of the guesthouse reported it to the police last night. So Lin Yun was taken away by the officers and hasn’t returned since.”

　　A look of shock crossed Su Ling’s face. “Lin Yun was arrested?”

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　　One could only say that Lin Yun brought this upon himself.

　　Su Ling took a couple of sips of his tea, then raised an eyebrow. “So… you want me to be in the tea plantation ad?”

　　Su Ling could empathize with Director Dou and Ruan Wenya’s urgency after losing their actor, but to pin hopes on him for the role? To him, it was nothing short of a desperate gamble.

　　Director Dou pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and spoke with utmost seriousness, “Mr. Su, your physical attributes are exceptional, so I sincerely hope you’ll consider it.”

　　Feeling somewhat flustered, Ruan Wenya confessed, “I know this puts you in a difficult position, but we wouldn’t have brought it up if we weren’t in such a rush. We’ve signed a two-week shooting contract with the advertising agency, so there isn’t enough time to find the right actor.”

　　If they could not find an actor, the entire advertisement project would go down the drain. Not only would they lose the money, but she would also fail President Qi’s task. At that point, her job as a sales manager — and her entire career — would be on the line.

　　Su Ling did not respond immediately. Instead, he slowly finished his tea before querying, “Do you have any specific requirements for the actor? Must it be a man?”

　　Director Dou’s eyes gleamed for a moment, as if he had sensed a way forward. “What do you mean, Mr. Su?”

　　Su Ling chuckled, “I could recommend someone to you, but she’s still a student at a film academy.”

　　Director Dou’s face lit up with excitement as he exclaimed, “It doesn’t matter if she’s a student! As long as she fits the criteria, we’re open to anyone — male or female!”

　　As for popularity? That was no longer even a consideration.

　　When it was revealed that Lin Yun had been using drugs, word quickly spread that he had been detained while shooting an advertisement at Mount Phoenix. Surprisingly, the scandal did not tarnish the brand but instead brought tremendous attention to Dewfall Tea. For him, the shoot was simply a bonus. As long as the advertisement showcased the breathtaking beauty of the tea plantation, highlighted Dewfall Tea’s rich history and culture, and featured his performance capturing the tea’s color, fragrance, and flavor, that alone would be enough to achieve his goal.

　　Ruan Wenya sighed in relief, her curiosity sparking. “May I ask who you’re thinking of recommending, Mr. Su?”

　　Su Ling’s peach blossom eyes curved into crescent moons as he broke into a radiant smile. “My sister, Su Qi. She’s an undergraduate at BY Film Academy.”

* * *

　　Just as Su Qi’s performance class came to an end, her phone rang with her brother’s name flashing on the screen.

　　She gasped in shock as the news of her brother arranging an advertisement for her sank in. “What? Me, in an ad? Really?”

　　The moment she exclaimed, all eyes in the classroom turned to her.

　　Ji Fang grabbed her arm, practically bouncing with excitement. “Wow! Xiao Qiqi! Has someone asked you to do an ad? That’s amazing!”

　　Dizzy from Ji Fang’s vigorous shaking, Su Qi raised a finger to hush her, then turned back to confirm with her brother.

　　On the phone, Su Ling explained everything in detail. Due to Lin Yun’s mishap leading to the termination of the contract, they urgently needed an actor. As the owner of the tea plantation, he recommended her for the role. After reviewing Su Qi’s photos, the director was quite taken with her appearance and aura, while the Tea Trade Association had no objections. After some negotiation, they sealed the deal with a five-million-yuan¹ CNY 5,000,000 is approximately US $690,732.00. paycheck.

　　Five million yuan?

　　Su Qi was left speechless, her eyes wide with disbelief.

　　Some of her classmates made thousands or tens of thousands from side gigs, but she could hardly believe that her very first advertisement would bring in five million.

　　“They originally planned to offer two million² CNY 2,000,000 is approximately US $276,193.60. , but I managed to get them to raise it to five million for you,” Su Ling explained. “Since they were prepared to pay Lin Yun ten million³ CNY 10,000,000 is approximately US $1,380,968.00. , I’ve saved them half the money.”

　　Su Qi was left speechless by what she had just heard.

　　Brother’s logic is nothing short of brilliant!

　　“Of course, there’s some risk involved in taking this ad,” Su Ling remarked seriously. “With Lin Yun’s issues, his fans are in an uproar. Taking this on would be like holding a ticking time bomb; it could easily backfire, and you might face their wrath. If you’re not comfortable with it, we can always decline.”

　　“I’m not afraid!” Su Qi declared resolutely. She had worked hard to get into the film academy, fully aware of the challenges the entertainment industry held. If she shrank back now and missed her chance, she could end up with nothing in the future.

　　“Just as I expected from my sister,” Su Ling praised. “I’ll send someone to pick you up this afternoon and take you to Mount Phoenix.”

　　“Okay… Thanks, Brother!” Su Qi hung up the phone, a rush of happiness flooding through her as if she were in a dream.

　　I can’t believe I’m going to see Brother today! I’m so happy!

　　“What’s going on, Xiao Qiqi? C’mon, tell me! You have an older brother? How did I not know that?” Ji Fang urged, curiosity written all over her face as she slipped her arm around Su Qi’s shoulders.

　　The sound of her booming voice jolted Su Qi back to reality. A sweet smile spread across her face as she replied, “My brother lined up an ad for me. The deal’s already set, so I just need to show up for the shoot.”

　　“Wow! Does your brother still need a sister? I’d make a great one!” Ji Fang offered with a playful grin.

　　Su Qi lifted her chin slightly and raised an elegant eyebrow. “Not at all.”

　　Ji Fang’s expression fell in an instant, her shoulders slumping in disappointment. “Why does it have to be like this?” she sobbed. “I just want a good older brother too!”

　　Su Qi cheerfully packed her things, ignoring Ji Fang’s dramatic fake sobbing in the background.

　　“Tsk, it’s just an ad. What’s the big deal?” A harsh voice cut through the air, leaving an uncomfortable sensation in its wake.

　　Ji Fang cast a glance at the girl sitting in the front row and sneered, “No matter how bad she is, she’s still better than those who fail at every audition.”