644: Chapter 328 What did you say you wanted to knead?

After a full five seconds, Sister Hong finally asked as if uncertain,

"What did you just say you were making?"

"Sugar sculpting," Li Ye repeated. "You know, the kind on the street, the blown sugar art."

"Li Ye!"

Sister Hong's voice was filled with helplessness and exasperation.

"Are you crazy! What time is it now, and you still have the mood to joke like this? I'm telling you, so many eyes are watching our film right now. You want to cast a complete amateur, a street vendor, to play Long Er? If this gets out, the stock price of phaeton Media will drop!"

"He's not a vendor, he's an artist."

Li Ye's tone was calm, yet carried an irrefutable strength.

"Sister Hong, trust my judgment."

"I..." Sister Hong felt a blockage in her chest. Of course, she trusted Li Ye's judgment. From the song 'As Desired' in 'My People, My Parents,' to every song afterward, and then to the box office miracle of 'Forever Young,' this young man had never disappointed her.

But this time, it was simply too preposterous.

Li Ye didn't give her much time to dwell on it and continued,

"Have the Legal Department prepare a contract. A special guest actor contract, the highest specification one."

"The remuneration will be five hundred thousand after tax."

"What?!"

Sister Hong was truly shocked this time.

Five hundred thousand to hire a sugar sculptor?

This wasn't just preposterous; this was burning money!

"Li Ye, calm down! For five hundred thousand, I can help you negotiate with any A-list supporting actor in the industry!"

"They can't act out the Long Er I want."

Li Ye interrupted her.

"The Long Er I want must inherently carry the sorrow of a small man crushed by fate, coupled with the boastful swagger of someone dazed by sudden wealth. Master Ni Daqiang possesses all of that."

"His name is Ni Daqiang?"

"Yes."

"Tomorrow morning, I will bring him and his wife to the company to sign the contract. You'll see then."

After saying that, Li Ye hung up the phone, not giving Sister Hong a chance to argue back.

He knew that although Sister Hong complained verbally, she would ultimately handle everything perfectly.

He looked up at the moon in the sky; his mood was better than ever.

Fugui, Jiazhen, Long Er...

The framework for 'To Live' was now set.

The next day, early morning.

A steady, low-key black phaeton slowly stopped in front of the 'Ni Family Courtyard' entrance.

The car wasn't flashy, but anyone knowledgeable could tell it was quite valuable, making it completely out of place in this dilapidated alley.

The car door opened, and the man who stepped out made both Ni Daqiang and Zhang Guifen, who were peering out the door, freeze simultaneously.

He wore a well-tailored dark gray casual suit that accentuated his tall, straight figure.

His hair was meticulously combed, and his stubble was shaved clean, revealing a sharply defined jawline.

The entire person looked refreshed, with an air of confident strategy in his eyebrows.

This... was this the 'migrant worker' who was wearing an old jacket yesterday, slurping noodles while sitting on his small stool?

This demeanor, this presence, was exactly like the big bosses they saw on TV!

The elderly couple exchanged a look, seeing deep disbelief in each other's eyes.

"Uncle Ni, Aunt Zhang, good morning."

Li Ye spoke with a smile, his voice still gentle.

That familiar voice finally brought the couple back to their senses.

"It's... it's Director Li..."

Ni Daqiang's voice was somewhat stuttered.

Zhang Guifen quickly looked Li Ye up and down. The last trace of doubt in her eyes vanished in the face of this car and this attire.

A swindler wouldn't possess this kind of bearing.

"Director Li, you... you are too kind, coming to pick us up personally."

Zhang Guifen's attitude was a hundred and eighty degrees warmer than yesterday.

"It's what I should do."

Li Ye naturally opened the car door for them.

The couple had never ridden in such a fine car in their lives. When they sat down, their bodies were stiff, and they didn't know where to put their hands or feet.

The phaeton smoothly pulled out of the alley and merged into the traffic.

Inside the car, the only sound was the faint whisper of the air conditioning.

Ni Daqiang and his wife nervously watched the street scenery rapidly receding outside the window, not daring to say a word.

Li Ye saw their constraint in the rearview mirror and took the initiative to ease the atmosphere.

"Auntie, what do you usually eat in the morning?"

"Ah? Just... just some porridge and a steamed bun," Zhang Guifen quickly replied.

"After we sign the contract, I'll treat you two to a good meal at noon."

"No, no, no, no need, it's too much trouble for you!"

Chatting along the way, the car finally stopped in front of a highly modern office building.

The four large, flowing characters of "phaeton Media" shone brilliantly in the sunlight.

When Li Ye led Ni Daqiang and his wife through the main entrance, the two beautiful receptionists immediately stood up and bowed respectfully.

"Hello, CEO Li!"

The voices were crisp and loud.

"CEO... CEO Li?"

Zhang Guifen, following behind, felt her heart skip a beat upon hearing that address.

She had thought the title 'CEO' was just the young man bragging yesterday.

Now it seemed every word he had spoken was the absolute truth!

Li Ye led them directly to the CEO's office on the top floor. Sister Hong and the legal team were already waiting in the reception area.

After a round of introductions, the professional legal staff began to explain the contract details to the elderly couple clause by clause.

From working hours to accommodation standards, and even personal insurance, every point was clearly written out, fully safeguarding the actors' rights.

When they saw the remuneration section, where the words "Five Hundred Thousand RMB Only (After Tax)" were written in black and white, Ni Daqiang's breathing stopped.

His hand began to tremble uncontrollably.

Zhang Guifen clutched her husband's hand tightly, her fingernails almost digging into his flesh, just barely maintaining her composure.

There were no issues with the contract.

Ni Daqiang wrote his name stroke by stroke, solemnly, in the signature area.

The feeling wasn't like signing a contract; it was more like establishing a new milestone in his life.

After signing, Li Ye stood up and extended his hand.

"Teacher Ni, welcome to the cast of 'To Live'."

The address, "Teacher Ni," made Ni Daqiang's eyes well up, and he almost shed a tear.

He had lived most of his life, and this was the first time someone had shown him such respect.

Sugar sculptor, old man, damn old man... He had heard countless appellations, but the word 'Teacher' was something he dared not even imagine.

He hurriedly wiped his hands on his clothes before carefully shaking Li Ye's hand.

"Li... CEO Li... No, Director Li, I... I will definitely act well!"

With the matter settled, Li Ye insisted on driving the couple back personally.

Zhang Guifen couldn't refuse and had to agree.

On the way back, the atmosphere in the car was noticeably more relaxed.

Zhang Guifen started talking more, constantly praising Li Ye for being young and promising, and even subtly asking if he had a girlfriend.

Li Ye just smiled and offered non-committal replies.

The car stopped at the mouth of the alley again.

Li Ye turned off the ignition, preparing to get out and walk them to their courtyard entrance.

As he pushed open the car door, a small, slender figure shot over like a small cannonball from the side, about to slam into the hard car door.

"Watch out!"